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 12th June

It's claimed the increasing availability of drugs such as ketamine and cocaine has normalised drug use among young people in Somerset. The trial of a man accused of killing his one-month-old son in Chard begins today at Bristol Crown Court. A stone pillar outside the Langport Arms Hotel in Langport has been replaced after it was destroyed in a car crash... and more
Thursday 11th June

Sir Keir Starmer has paid tribute to the three aircrew from RNAS Yeovilton who died in last week's helicopter crash in Devon. Two men have been arrested and stolen vehicles seized following a major multi-agency operation in South Somerset. An event highlighting opportunities for women in the aerospace industry has been held in Yeovil... and more
Wednesday 10th June

The public will be consulted on how best to spend fifty million pounds of government funding to tackle flooding in Somerset. Avon and Somerset Police are backing a new road safety campaign aimed at reducing motorcycle fatalities. New welcome signs have been installed at entrances to the Mendip Hills National Landscape... and more
Tuesday 9th June

The government has announced a £50 million investment to strengthen Somerset’s flood defences. A woman from Stoke-sub-Hamdon has been banned from driving for 14 months after admitting drink-driving. Somerset Council has been told it must improve its adult social care services... and more
Monday 8th June

Plans for a new railway station in Langport remain stalled in Whitehall, according to Somerset Council. Plans to build 50 new homes in Broadway, near Ilminster, have been refused. The new water fountains in Yeovil’s Triangle, in Lower Middle Street, are being switched off during very hot weather because of safety concerns... and more.
Friday 5th June

A new NHS dental practice in Crewkerne says it won’t start operating at full capacity until July due to staff shortages. Somerset Council says it has no plans to show England matches in the World Cup on the Big Screen in Yeovil town centre due to safety concerns. A Somerset family has been thanked after completing a 73-mile walk raising money for a third world charity... and more
Thursday 4th June

An investigation continues today into the crash of a Royal Navy helicopter, based at RNAS Yeovilton, in which all three aircrew were killed. Somerset Council has confirmed that a new operator will take over several leisure centres across the county. The new live-action Masters of the Universe movie, filmed in Somerset, is released this week...and more
Wednesday 3rd June

A Yeovil man has appeared in court charged with assaulting three police officers. Somerset Council has begun legal action to recover more than £320,000 owed by housing developers. The line-up has been announced for this year’s Ilminster Midsummer Experience...and more