Monday 8th December

Monday, 8 December 2025 06:00

By Steve Haigh

Plans to build 150 new homes in Ilminster have been scrapped. A Somerset councillor has been jailed for 26 months. Marks & Spencer wants to build a new Food Store in Ilminster. Poundland has announced that it’s shutting its store in Middle Street in Yeovil...and more

Plans to build 150 new homes and commercial premises on the former Horlicks factory site in Ilminster have been scrapped. Dairygold Co-operative Society Ltd first submitted a planning application to redevelop the site on Station Road in January 2019, followed by a revised proposal in November 2024. But now, without explanation, the Irish-based developer has formally withdrawn the application.

A Somerset councillor has been jailed for two years and two months for his part in a climate demonstration on the M25. Michael Dunk, who represents Frome West for the Green Party, was part of a group of Just Stop Oil protestors who climbed gantries on the M25 in November 2022. They were protesting about the government's plans to license 100 new oil and gas projects. Three of his fellow campaigners were also jailed, while two were given suspended sentences.

Ilminster is on a list of places identified by Marks & Spencer for a new Food Store. Bridgwater and Wellington are also on the list of 12 places in Somerset where the retailer would like to open a food store. M&S says it’s looking for an empty retail unit in Ilminster on a two-acre site, with 21,500 square feet of floor space, parking for 150 vehicles, and easy access to all major roads.

Poundland has announced it’s closing its store in Middle Street, Yeovil. The company, which new owners acquired in June this year, is closing around 70 outlets nationwide, but will keep the Poundland store on the Houndstone Business Park in Yeovil open.

Yeovil Hospital's maternity unit may reopen in stages rather than all at once, according to Somerset NHS Foundation Trust. The special care baby unit and inpatient maternity service at Yeovil Hospital were closed in May following safety concerns. It was later announced that the unit would reopen in April next year. Now, the Trust has said it can’t confirm that the entire facility will reopen on the same day or whether a graded approach will be taken to ensure staff and patient safety. Since the closure, 453 babies have been delivered that would otherwise have been born at Yeovil. Of these, 215 were born at Dorset County Hospital in Dorchester, 178 at Musgrove Park Hospital in Taunton, 31 were home births, and 29 were at other hospitals, including the Royal United in Bath.

The RSPCA is appealing for people to provide temporary homes to the many hundreds of cats in their care. The number of cats being cared for by the charity has doubled over the past five years to 1,700. The RSPC says it needs people to act as car foster carers for which they will pay all bills, including vet expenses, and food costs. More information can be found on the RSCPA website.

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Monday 19th January

The government is facing increasing pressure to clarify whether it will order new medium-lift helicopters from Leonardo in Yeovil. Somerset Council is spending £5 million on new laptops. A new singing group is being set up in Yeovil for people living with dementia...and more
Friday 16th January

The go-ahead has been given to build 200 new homes at Ilchester. Taunton Town Council is increasing its share of the Council Tax by 3 per cent a year. Somerset is featured in a new Agatha Christie drama being shown on Netflix from this week...and more
Thursday 15th January

The company behind a proposed tidal lagoon between Watchet and Minehead says it could create up to eight thousand jobs. A third councillor on Somerset Council has joined Reform UK. St Margaret's Hospice says this year’s Christmas tree collection scheme raised forty-seven thousand pounds...and more.
Wednesday 14th January

The union representing workers at Leonardo in Yeovil says it needs a clear answer from the government on whether the Yeovil factory will be awarded a contract to build new medium-lift helicopters for the RAF. Somerset Council says more support will be provided to foster carers. A bird flu surveillance zone remains in place over the Somerset Levels...and more
Tuesday 13th January

The Government says it won’t bring forward a decision on buying new helicopters from Leonardo in Yeovil. A bird flu surveillance zone remains in place over the Somerset Levels. Yeovil’s temporary police station on Horsey Lane is to close at the end of the month....and more
Monday 12th January

Leonardo is threatening to shut its Yeovil factory. Somerset Community Foundation says there's still time to donate money to its Surviving Winter Appeal. The Swan Theatre in Yeovil is staging a number of special performances to mark its 50th anniversary...and more.
Friday 9th January

A Yeovil man has been arrested and then de-arrested after a collision in Dorset. A Somerset food manufacturer could be expanding its Wincanton base. A new dementia-friendly choir has been launched in Yeovil...and more.
Thursday 8th January

Adam Dance MP is welcoming developments in his campaign to support neurodivergent schoolchildren. Somerset was the star of the small screen last night, thanks to BBC comedy ‘Can You Keep A Secret’. A Yeovil gymnastics club has hosted a VIP guest...and more.