Thursday 4th December

Thursday, 4 December 2025 06:00

By Steve Haigh

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

The Chief Constable of Avon and Somerset Police says her force is doing all it can to reduce anti-social behaviour. Speaking to BBC Radio Somerset, Sarah Crew acknowledged that police resources for dealing with anti-social behaviour were limited, but insisted her officers were making a difference.

Somerset Council has deferred a decision on introducing Sunday car parking charges. The Council was proposing to introduce charges for its car parks, which are currently free on Sundays, to ensure consistency across the county. But following a public consultation, in which a majority of people said they were against the proposal, the Council’s Climate and Place Scrutiny Committee has recommended that, for the moment, not implementing the charging policy.

People living in deprived areas in Somerset are being fast-tracked for elective hospital treatment following the introduction of a new scoring system. Somerset NHS Foundation Trust says patients who met specific criteria are being treated at Musgrove Park Hospital three to four months sooner than other patients. The Trust says the new scoring system will shortly be introduced at Yeovil Hospital to help reduce waiting times for surgery for specific patient categories.

Somerset Road Safety is asking drivers to make sure their cars are winter-ready. National Highways say that winter breakdowns on motorways and A-roads have risen by 21% over the last five years.

This week marks the 80th anniversary of the first JET aircraft landing on an aircraft carrier at sea. The record was achieved by Royal Navy test pilot, Captain Eric 'Winkle' Brown, who flew a Sea Vampire onto the deck of HMS Ocean off the Dorset coast. The Sea Vampire is currently on display at the Fleet Air Arm Museum at RNAS Yeovilton.

More from News

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.