Thursday 7th August

Thursday, 7 August 2025 06:00

By Steve Haigh

The owners of Yeovil Town Football Club say that they are hopeful of concluding a deal with Somerset Council to buy back Huish Park very soon. Hestercombe House and Gardens near Taunton has gone into administration. The Government is eyeing up the possibility of using brownfield land near railway lines in Somerset for house building...and more

The owners of Yeovil Town Football Club say they’re hopeful of concluding a deal with Somerset Council to buy back Huish Park very soon. Executive Chairman of Yeovil Town, Stuart Robins, says they’re in detailed negotiations about taking back ownership of the stadium and surrounding land from Somerset Council, who bought Huish Park in 2022 during a period of financial uncertainty at Yeovil Town.

Trains will start calling at Crewkerne station again from next Monday, but with a much-reduced service. Network Rail says the hot weather has impacted clay embankments on the Exeter to Waterloo line, making it unsafe for trains to travel at normal speeds. As a consequence, trains were stopped from calling at Crewkerne station on July 22nd.

Hestercombe House and Gardens near Taunton has gone into administration. The trustees of the 16th-century property blame a drop in visitor numbers and increased running costs, including the increases in employer NI contributions, for their financial problems. For the time being, Hestercombe House and gardens will remain open as usual.

The government is eyeing up the possibility of using brownfield land near railway lines in Somerset for house building. It believes up to 40,000 new homes could be developed on surplus brownfield sites near railway stations, depots and other infrastructure across the UK over the next 10 years. The Department of Transport says it can’t confirm at this stage whether brownfield sites close to railway stations in Somerset will be allocated for new house building.

A Somerset farmer says dog owners should practice training their dogs without livestock present. James Small, a member of Somerset NFU, was commenting on proposed new legislation to strengthen protections for farmers against livestock worrying and dog attacks.

The most popular baby names in Somerset in 2024 were Charlie, William, Harry and Oliver for boys, and Isla, Emily, Olivia and Amelia for girls, according to the Office for National Statistics. Muhammad was the most popular boy's name in England and Wales last year Olivia was the most popular girl’s name.

More from News

Friday 13th March

The first of the new medium lift helicopters being built by Leonardo in Yeovil for the RAF will be delivered in 2031. Somerset Council has launched a public consultation on planned new charges at its two hundred public car parks. More women in Somerset are said to be taking up walking football... and more
Thursday 12th March

A Yeovil headteacher says he’s concerned about plans to stop giving school holiday food vouchers to families on low incomes. The owner of Yeovil Town is calling on fans to be patient as he continues his overhaul of the National League side. A high voltage fault is being blamed for plunging 1700 homes into darkness in the Ilminster area... and more
Wednesday 11th March

Plans have been submitted to convert two properties in Yeovil into houses of multiple occupation. A new court date has been announced for a Yeovil man charged with attempted murder. An engineer who has worked at the Leonardo factory in Yeovil for 40-years has won a top industry award... and more
Tuesday 10th March

Police say a fire at the former Oscar Mayer food factory in Chard was started deliberately. Yeovil College says it would have been adversely affected had Leonardo not won the contract to build new medium-lift helicopters. A seven-foot dragon will be visiting towns and villages in our area during the next few weeks to promote Somerset Day... and more
Monday 9th March

Two Wildcat helicopters from 815 Squadron at RNAS Yeovilton have arrived in Cyprus to help protect RAF Akrotiri from further Iranian drone strikes. New figures show that 40 people were killed on Avon and Somerset’s roads in the last 12-months. A Somerset man has been recalling the day 60-years ago when he was a passenger on the last train on the Somerset and Dorset Railway... and more
Friday 6th March

Defence Minister Luke Pollard has been explaining why it took the government so long to confirm a contract for the Leonardo in Yeovil to build new medium lift helicopters for the RAF. Police are investigating a break in at a pet shop in Ilminster. Somerset Council is to stop using red ink on council tax reminder letters... and more
Thursday 5th March

Two military helicopters from RNAS Yeovilton are being sent to Cyprus to help bolster UK’s defences amid the US-Israel war with Iran. Yeovil Town Council is seeking legal advice over the closure of the hyper acute stroke unit at Yeovil Hospital. Flood warnings have been lifted on the Somerset Levels... and more
Wednesday 4th March

A man has died in a fire in Wincanton. Somerset Council is planning further cuts of twenty-one million pounds to help balance its books. A campaign to raise £30,000 for a minibus has been launched in Chard... and more