Thursday 15th January

Thursday, 15 January 2026 06:00

By Steve Haigh

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.

The company behind a proposed tidal lagoon between Watchet and Minehead says it could create up to 8,000 jobs during the construction phase. It’s claimed the eleven-billion-pound scheme will provide enough electricity for around two million homes.

Somerset MP's, including Yeovil MP Adam Dance, have had a meeting with the Local Government Minister, Alison McGovern, over concerns that Somerset Council is being ‘short-changed’ over the funding of statutory services like adult social care and children’s services. Last week, the Leader of Somerset Council, Bill Revans, warned that in the absence of more central government support, council tax in Somerset is likely to rise by 11%. But the Conservative MP for Bridgwater, Ashley Fox, says Somerset Council should be making further savings.

People across Somerset are being asked to track the arrival of spring by recording seasonal changes in nature. The 'Signs of Spring' survey invites people to report sightings of seasonal indicators such as daffodils, snowdrops and bumblebees on the Field Studies Council’s website.

A third councillor on Somerset Council has joined Reform UK. John Cook-Woodman has represented Highbridge and Burnham South for more than 16-years as a Conservative. He says he thinks Reform are 'best-placed to deliver for Britain'.

St Margaret's Hospice says this year’s Christmas tree collection scheme raised a record amount. Every year, the charity collects used Christmas trees in exchange for a donation, raising 47,000 pounds this year.

Part of Crewkerne town centre is closed to traffic this week. South Street is shut between Cropmead and Kithill until Saturday for resurfacing work. Two diversion routes are in operation, one for cars and the other for HGVs.

More from News

Tuesday 3rd March

A woman from Ilminster has been jointly charged with another woman after a man’s body was found inside a car in Cornwall. Somerset businesses, involved in the supply chain for Leonardo, have welcomed the news that the Leonardo factory in Yeovil is to build new medium lift helicopters for the RAF. Plans have been submitted to build thirty-two homes in Milborne Port... and more
Monday 2nd March

The Leonardo factory in Yeovil has won a multi-million pound contract to build new medium lift helicopters for the RAF. A doctor, who previously worked at Yeovil Hospital, has appeared in court charged with illegally accessing NHS computers. A new Construction Innovation Centre has opened at Yeovil College... and more
Friday 27th February

The CEO of Leonardo has suggested the UK government could make an announcement immindently about ordering new medium lift helicopters to be built in Yeovil. A family run hardware business in Yeovil has gone into administration. The Lord Lieutenant of Somerset has been named the new patron of Somerset Chamber of Commerce... and more
Thursday 26th February

Workers at Leonardo in Yeovil have been to Downing Street to hand-in a petition calling on the government to back British jobs. The decision to grant planning permission to upgrade Yeovil's Octagon Theatre has been enthusiastically welcomed by staff who work there. The search is on to find a defibrillator that has gone missing in Chard... and more
Wednesday 25th February

Plans have been passed to carry out a £15 million upgrade of Yeovil’s Octagon Theatre. A new medical unit providing NHS and private treatments has opened in Shepton Mallet. Manor Court Community Primary School in Chard is celebrating after receiving a Gold Artsmark for excellence in arts and cultural education...and more
Tuesday 24th February

First Bus has announced changes to bus timetables on routes across Somerset. A Somerset drone company is celebrating getting through the audition round of ITV’s Britain's Got Talent. A public footpath in South Somerset is set to remain closed for up to two years... and more
Monday 23rd February

Yeovil MP Adam Dance is warning of a scaling back of jobs at the Leonardo helicopter factory in Yeovil. Work is underway on the multi-million-pound refurbishment of Yeovil police station. The A361 across the Somerset Levels has reopened... and more
Friday 20th February

10,000 incidents of potholes on Somerset’s roads have been reported to Somerset Council in the past four weeks. The Met Office is warning of more unsettled weather into March for Somerset. The Crowshute link in Chard will close for eight nights next month for road repairs... and more