Thursday 16th October

Thursday, 16 October 2025 06:00

By Steve Haigh

Two mothers in Chard are calling on carnival organisers to make carnivals more accessible to children with special educational needs. 4,000 people have been put on a waiting list at a new NHS dental practice in Somerset. Channel 4’s ‘Love It or List It’ is looking to feature properties in Somerset in a new series... and more

Two mothers in Chard are calling on carnival organisers to make carnivals more accessible to children with special educational needs. Belinda Bishops-Parsons and Livvy Brown want quiet zones and sensory tents provided on all carnival circuits. They claim carnivals are not considerate of SEND children, with noise from floats at “dangerous” levels. They’re also concerned about a lack of barriers to protect children, coin throwing, and lack of accessible toilets and parking. Both say they want to work with carnival committees to make the experience of watching carnivals more welcoming for all.

4,000 people have been put on a waiting list at a new NHS dental practice in Somerset. Wellington Dental Care opened this week and had to close its waiting list due to the high number of requests for appointments.

A road in Combe St Nicholas will close to traffic next week. Ham Farm Lane will shut for 3-days beginning on Monday for Openreach to carry out ducting work.

Lib Dem Somerset Council member for Ilminster, Councillor Val Keitch, has been granted leave of absence from attending meetings until April of next year due to ill health. Councillor Keitch will still be handling casework and can take part in meetings virtually. It’s the second time in less than 2-years that Councillor Keitch has been granted leave of absence on health grounds from attending Somerset Council meetings.

Smokefree Somerset is in Chard today hoping to persuade local people to sign up to its ‘What’s Your Why’ pledge to quit smoking. Smokefree Somerset offers support to people to take the first step towards a healthier, smoke-free future. Today’s session is being held at Tesco on Tapstone Road in Chard up to midday.

Channel 4’s ‘Love It or List It’ is looking to feature properties in Somerset in a new series. Production company, Raise the Roof, says it wants to hear from homeowners facing the dilemma of renovating their home or putting it up for sale and moving to a new home. To apply to be in the new series of Kirstie and Phil’s ‘Love It of List It’ go the Channel 4 website.

The Newt at Bruton has been named in a list of the UK’s top fourteen hotels. In the new edition of the Michelin Guide, the Newt was commended for its architecture and interior design; overall personality and character; quality and consistency of service.

More from News

Wednesday 15th October

The maternity unit at Yeovil Hospital is to reopen within the next six months. There’s been a further delay to reopening Yeovil’s Octagon theatre. No CrossCountry trains will run through Somerset this weekend due to planned industrial action by the RMT union...and more.
Tuesday 14th October 2025

Film and TV crews have given Somerset's economy a £4 million boost in the last 12 months. Around 100 people have objected to plans to build 325 new homes in Crewkerne. Somerset Council is asking the public to report anyone they see sleeping rough...and more
Monday 13th October

Yeovil MP Adam Dance is urging people to join a campaign for improved support for children with dyslexia. An opposition Conservative member of Somerset Council says businesses will suffer a ‘terrible blow’ if plans go ahead to sell off five Yeovil town centre car parks. A Yeovil man has been jailed for three years... and more.
Friday 10th October

Union members at Leonardo sites across the UK, including in Yeovil, have voted to go on strike after rejecting a 3.2 percent pay offer. GWR has apologised for not providing a visually impaired Yeovil women with an escort to cross between platforms at Pen Mill station. A walnut grower in Somerset is calling on supermarkets to stop importing the nuts from aboard and to sell the ones he grows instead... and more
Thursday 9th October

Police are appealing for witnesses to a break-in at The Crossing Café on Preston Road in Yeovil. A Yeovil Pharmacist says a 70 percent of people booking an online covid jab are not eligible this year. A former doctor in Chard has won through to the semi-finals of BBC Mastermind...and more
Wednesday 8th October

A child safeguarding review is underway following the murder of a two-week-old baby boy at Yeovil Hospital. Somerset’s been chosen for a pilot scheme in which drones are used to monitor environmental emergencies. Yeovil nightclub, Club Neo in Stars Lane, has got a new owner and is changing its name... and more
Tuesday 7th October

Somerset Council says affordable homes built in the county will be given to people with a ‘local connection’ to the area. Emergency services were called to a single vehicle collision involving a Royal Mail van. A new audio installation has been recorded by local vocal groups for Montacute House this Christmas... and more.
Monday 6th October

A father who murdered his two-week-old baby son on Yeovil District Hospital’s neonatal ward has been jailed for life. A Yeovil man has been charged with attempted murder after a firearm incident. Plans are underway to turn an area of unused land in Chard into a community peace garden... and more.