Thursday 1st February

Thursday, 1 February 2024 06:30

By Steve Haigh

Yeovil MP Marcus Fysh says the government is not to blame for the financial crisis at Somerset Council. Dog walkers in Somerset are being reminded to keep their animals under control after multiple reports of livestock worrying. A girl in Queen Camel, who's been running a mile every morning before school, has raised nearly eleven thousand pounds for charity...and more.

Yeovil MP Marcus Fysh says the government isn’t to blame for the financial crisis at Somerset Council. The Council wants to cut spending by £100 million and increase the council tax by ten per cent to avoid going bust. Speaking in Parliament, Marcus Fysh accused the Liberal Democrat run authority of missing an opportunity to save tens of millions of pounds when Somerset Council was formed to replace the county council and district councils. Last week, the Treasury pledged an extra £600m for councils in England, after more than forty MPs including two from Somerset warned that local councils were not getting enough funding from the government.

Dog walkers in Somerset are being reminded to keep their animals under control after multiple reports of livestock worrying. Avon and Somerset Police received numerous complaints of sheep worrying earlier this month, which resulted in some animals dying and others being seriously injured.

The funeral takes place in Somerton today of Councillor Dean Ruddle. Councillor Ruddle who has died aged 59, represented Somerton on Somerset Council and was Chairman of Somerton Council. Following a private funeral service this morning, a public memorial service will be held in Edgar Hall starting at 2 pm. Those attending are asked to wear something bright and colourful to reflect Dean’s outstanding personality.

Nearly a third of women aged between twenty-five and forty-nine in Somerset are not attending their cervical screening appointments, according to new figures. The findings come from a study of women offered a screening, six weeks after giving birth.

A girl in Queen Camel, who has been running a mile every morning before school, has raised more than ten thousand pounds for charity. Mia, who’s 11, has been running in memory of a family friend who died of cancer for the charity Sarcoma UK. She completed her final run yesterday and says the whole thing had been very tiring.

More from News

Friday 12th December

The Chief Executive of Somerset Council, Duncan Sharkey, has admitted to making mistakes in cutting jobs. Yeovil MP Adam Dance is supporting a Lib Dem initiative to introduce a new ‘Farm First’ training scheme. Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance has launched an appeal to help buy a second helicopter... and more.
Thursday 11th December

A man has appeared in court in connection with an attack in Wincanton. A member of Somerset Council, jailed for 26 months for taking part in a Just Stop Oil protest, may not have to stand down as a councillor. NHS Somerset has announced that changes to stroke services at Yeovil Hospital will "go live" in the spring of next year...and more
Wednesday 10th December

Avon and Somerset Police say 62 drivers were arrested in the first week of the Christmas drink and drug driving campaign. A reindeer farm near Yeovil thinks it may have to close after being told it needs a Zoo licence. Father Christmas has made a special delivery of presents to Charlton Farm Children's Hospice in Somerset...and more
Tuesday 9th December

The Police and Crime Commissioner for Avon and Somerset has criticised the government for axing the role. Police are appealing for witnesses to a road traffic accident near Ilminster in which a woman was seriously injured. Residents of Freedom Avenue in Yeovil are raising funds for charity with a big display of Christmas lights...and more.
Monday 8th December

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
Friday 5th December

Police are appealing for witnesses after an assault on a man in Chard. Lloyds Banking Group has announced a date for closing the Halifax in Yeovil. Train journeys on the Castle Cary to Taunton line will be disrupted next week due to engineering work. The mental health charity MIND in Somerset has produced a Christmas advent calendar... and more.
Thursday 4th December

The Chief Constable of Avon and Somerset Police says her force is doing all it can to reduce anti-social behaviour. Somerset Council has deferred a decision on introducing Sunday car parking charges. People living in deprived areas in Somerset are being fast-tracked for hospital treatment...and more
Wednesday 3rd December

Fire crews have rescued the driver of a car that got stuck in floodwater near Ilminster. Avon and Somerset Police are urging people going out to celebrate this Christmas to book a taxi or use public transport. A woman from South Petherton has come top at the British Down Syndrome Swimming Championships...and more,