Thursday 12th February

Thursday, 12 February 2026 at 05:00

By Steve Haigh

The government says it's ‘working flat out’ to arrive at a decision on ordering a new medium lift helicopter with Leonardo in Yeovil. We’re being asked to suggest where new electric vehicle charge points should be installed in Somerset. A new project is inviting people to look up and help map Somerset’s night skies... and more

Defence Minister, Luke Pollard, has reiterated that the government is ‘working flat out’ to arrive at a decision on ordering a new medium lift helicopter with Leonardo in Yeovil. Speaking during an emergency debate in Westminster Hall in London, the Defence Minister, said the government will not allow the decision to ’time out’ but did not provide a date when a final decision will be made. The Yeovil factory’s Italian owners have said that if the contract to build a new medium lift helicopter for the RAF, worth up to £1.4 billion pounds, is not forthcoming by March 31st the Yeovil site will shut. Yesterday’s debate, organised by Yeovil MP, Adam Dance, and attended by other Westcountry MP’s, discussed the closure threat to the Yeovil site and pressed the government to act faster on the medium lift helicopter order.

The Minister for Flooding has been on a visit to the Somerset Levels. Emma Hardy MP said the government was putting £75m into flood defences this year in Somerset and was looking at funding a tidal barrier for Bridgwater. Meanwhile, Bridgwater Conservative MP, Sir Ashley Fox, has welcomed the government’s intervention, but says what is needed is a long-term dredging and pumping plan on the Levels.

We’re being asked to suggest where new electric vehicle charge points should be installed in Somerset. Somerset Council is planning to fit 1600 low-powered charging sockets near homes, on local roads and in places with high footfall. The Council says the charging points will benefit people who don’t have off-street parking and are unable to install a charge point at home. You can submit a suggested locations online via the Somerset Council electric vehicle charging page.

A new project is inviting people to look up and help map Somerset’s night skies. The Somerset Star Count, led by CPRE Somerset, the local branch of the Campaign to Protect Rural England, runs from this Saturday for one-week, and asks people to count the number of stars they see within the Orion constellation. The CPRE say the data will help to assess light pollution across Somerset.

Entries are being invited to this year’s Ilminster Literary Festival children's writing competition. There are four age categories; five to seven, eight to 11, 12 to 14, and 14 to 16. Organisers say young writers should use their creativity, writing stories on a topic of their choice. Entries, which can be submitted individually or through a school, close on Friday, March 27th.

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Monday 26th October

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