Thursday 6th August

Thursday, 6 August 2026 at 06:00

By Steve Haigh

A local man and convicted former neo-Nazi, selected by the Conservatives to stand in Crewkerne South in next year’s local elections for a seat on Somerset Council, has pulled out after a backlash against his candidacy. A charity that runs children's homes in Somerset is terminating its contract early following a critical report by Ofsted...and more

A local man and convicted former neo-Nazi, selected by the Conservatives to stand in Crewkerne South in next year’s local elections for a seat on Somerset Council, has pulled out after a backlash against his candidacy. Joshua Bonehill-Paine was convicted of racially harassing Jewish former Labour MP Luciana Berger in 2016, while already serving a separate jail sentence for sharing antisemitic posts. Tory leader Kemi Badenoch had defended the decision to select him as a candidate, saying he had been rehabilitated and her party "believes in second chances". Mr Bonehill-Paine has confirmed that he won’t now stand in next year’s local elections and has been offered a position as an anti-extremism adviser to the Conservative party.

Resurfacing work is to be carried out on the A30 between East Chinnock and Haselbury Plucknett to make it safer for motorists. The road was resurfaced in May this year when the temperatures were above 30 celsius, causing the bitumen binder to melt and increase the skid risk for drivers. Somerset Council says the contractor, Kiely Brothers, has agreed to pay for the repair works, which will take place in early September.

People in Somerset have been given more time to comment on plans that will shape the county until 2045. The consultation on the draft Somerset Local Plan, which sets out a vision for housing, jobs, and infrastructure in the County over the next 20 years, has been extended to August 9th.

A Crewkerne man has been jailed for 10-years for multiple sexual offences. Richard Bennett, aged 66, of Bowhayes, in Crewkerne, was convicted of sexual activity with a child under-16 and the sexual assault of a woman when he appeared at Taunton Crown Court. Bennett was also put on the sex offenders register for the rest of his life.

A charity that runs children's homes in Somerset is terminating its contract following a critical report by Ofsted which led to one of its homes closing. Somerset Council signed a 10-year contract with Homes2Inspire, run by the Shaw Trust in 2022, but the contract will now end in 2027.

A new playground and sports area is being built at Manor Court Primary School in Chard during the summer break. An early-years learning centre at the rear of the school has been demolished to make way for the new playground and sports area.

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Thursday 29th October

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Wednesday 28th October

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Tuesday 27th October

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Monday 26th October

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Friday 23rd October

Somerset is the 11th most challenging place in England to be a child according to a report. Dorset, Somerset and Wiltshire could have its own elected ‘Wessex Mayor’ by 2028. Cricketer, Ian Botham returns to the county this weekend... and more.
Thursday 22nd October

The NFU says that testing for the virus Bluetongue needs to be sped up. Construction of new flats on Yeovil’s Grimsby Corner site will officially begin next year. The Met Office has issued a yellow warning for wind tomorrow... and more.
Wednesday 21st October

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