Thursday 8th May

Thursday, 8 May 2025 06:00

By Steve Haigh

Somerset Council says it's dealing with up to 800 reports of potholes on the County's roads every week. Events are taking place across our area today to mark the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day. Sixteen doctors’ surgeries in Somerset, including four in South Somerset, are set to expand. A Martock man hopes to set a world record by jumping off the world's fourth-tallest mountain in a wingsuit...and more.

The Lib Dem Leader of Somerset Council, Bill Revans, says the county's roads have been a victim of "perfect pothole weather." Councillor Revans says recent weather was partly to blame for the state of Somerset's road surfaces, which he admitted was "far from ideal." He says Somerset Council gets up to 800 reports of potholes every week.

Events are taking place across our area today to mark the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day. On this day, May 8th 1945, fighting in World War Two in Europe finally ended. In Yeovil, an event is being held at St John’s Church starting at 4:30 this afternoon, and everyone is welcome to attend.

Sixteen doctors’ surgeries in Somerset, including four in our area, are set to expand, providing more appointments to local patients. It follows confirmation of government funding to upgrade more than 1,000 GP practices across England. The surgeries in our area to benefit are:

Church Street Surgery, in Church Street, Martock
Church View Medical Centre, on Broadway Road, Broadway
Langport Surgery, on North Street, Langport
Wincanton Health Centre, on Dyke’s Way, Wincanton

The A30 between Crewkerne and Haselfbury Plucknett will be closed from 7 p.m. tonight to 6 a.m. tomorrow. This closure will allow patching works to take place before surface dressing later this summer. A diversion will be in place while the road is closed.

A Somerset man hopes to achieve a world record by jumping off the world's fourth-tallest mountain in a wingsuit. Tim Howell from Martock will attempt to break the record for the world's highest base jump, which involves jumping from a fixed object using a parachute or wingsuit, 8,300 meters from Mount Lhotse in the Himalayas. Tim last attempted to set a new world record jumping from the same mountain last year, but it was cut short by bad weather.

Entries are still open for this year’s Bristol, Bath, and Somerset Tourism Awards. The awards are a chance for tourism and hospitality businesses to show off their success and honour their teams. Entries close on Sunday, May 18th, and businesses are allowed to enter as many categories as they are eligible for.

More from News

Friday 31st July

Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service says July has been its busiest month ever for emergency calls. Police have recovered a 1970s Austin Mini pick-up stolen in Shepton Mallet. A specialist spinal injuries service at Yeovil Hospital has treated three hundred patients in its first year... and more
Thursday 30th July

The Environment Agency has declared a drought across Somerset as the hot weather takes its toll on the county's water supplies. Police are appealing for witnesses following a fatal road traffic accident near Crewkerne. A bowls player from Yeovil has won a silver medal at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow...and more
Wednesday 29th July

Police have arrested two suspects in connection with a series of moped thefts in Chard. A combine harvester has been destroyed in a farm fire at Forton, near Chard. A bowls player from Yeovil has won a silver medal at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow... and more
Tuesday 28th July

The former Beales department store in Yeovil could be brought back into use as part of a wider masterplan for the future of the town. A yellow heat health alert is in place across Somerset from nine o’clock this morning until nine o’clock on Friday morning. A Somerset farmer says this year is the driest on his land since 1976... and more
Monday 27th July

Gooch and Housego, based in Ilminster and one of the town’s biggest employers, has been sold in a multi-million-pound deal to an American private equity firm. A father who shook his four-week-old baby to death at a house in Chard has been sentenced to life in prison. A doctor who works for the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance is one of five people to have jointly set a new world record for rowing around Great Britain... and more
Friday 24th July

Avon and Somerset Police are warning people to watch out for scammers posing as Amazon. The CEO of the company that provides Somerset's recycling is warning of a major incident if people continue to put used batteries in waste bins. A former Yeovil pub could be demolished to make way for a major hotel expansion.
Thursday 23rd July

The West Country is officially one step closer to being declared in drought. Somerset Council says it's remodelling its service after a children's home was closed following an inspection. A new McDonald's planned off the M5 at Bridgwater could create up to 120 local jobs... and more
Wednesday 22nd July

Two men have been jailed for stealing electrical items and cash from a property in Yeovil. Somerset Council has defended its use of Yeovil’s new performance area in The Triangle, in Lower Middle Street. Tintinhull Primary School, near Yeovil, has won a top national award for outdoor play... and more