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
The government says it won’t bring forward a decision on buying new helicopters from Leonardo in Yeovil, despite a threat from its Italian owners to shut the Yeovil factory if the order does not materialise. Leonardo says it will close the Yeovil factory on March 31st if the contract for new Medium Lift Helicopters for the RAF is not confirmed. Speaking in the Commons, Yeovil MP, Adam Dance, said the consequences of losing the Yeovil factory were unthinkable. In response, Defence Minister Luke Pollard said talks with Leonardo were ongoing but that no decision would be made about the order until the Defence Investment Programme had been completed.
A bird flu surveillance zone remains in place over the Somerset Levels. Avian influenza was first detected near Bridgwater in November, and a protection zone with tighter biosecurity still operates in the area. Cases of Avian flu have also been reported in commercial flocks near Tiverton and Winsford on Exmoor.
Yeovil’s temporary police station on Horsey Lane is to close at the end of the month. The building is relocating to Brympton Way to begin refurbishing Yeovil Police Station.
The future of a housing development in Wincanton remains uncertain. It follows a decision by Devonshire Homes, which is building 31 homes in the Dancing Green development, not to provide the promised £240,000 towards new community facilities. Somerset Council, backed by Wincanton Town Council, has refused the developer’s request after studying its financial assessment of the housing scheme.
Wells Cathedral has announced a major refurbishment of its historic Grand Organ. 5,000 organ pipes are to be removed and cleaned as part of a £3 million project.
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
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
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
A woman from Ilminster has been jointly charged with another woman after a man’s body was found inside a car in Cornwall. Somerset businesses, involved in the supply chain for Leonardo, have welcomed the news that the Leonardo factory in Yeovil is to build new medium lift helicopters for the RAF. Plans have been submitted to build thirty-two homes in Milborne Port... and more
The Leonardo factory in Yeovil has won a multi-million pound contract to build new medium lift helicopters for the RAF. A doctor, who previously worked at Yeovil Hospital, has appeared in court charged with illegally accessing NHS computers. A new Construction Innovation Centre has opened at Yeovil College... and more
The CEO of Leonardo has suggested the UK government could make an announcement immindently about ordering new medium lift helicopters to be built in Yeovil. A family run hardware business in Yeovil has gone into administration. The Lord Lieutenant of Somerset has been named the new patron of Somerset Chamber of Commerce... and more
Workers at Leonardo in Yeovil have been to Downing Street to hand-in a petition calling on the government to back British jobs. The decision to grant planning permission to upgrade Yeovil's Octagon Theatre has been enthusiastically welcomed by staff who work there. The search is on to find a defibrillator that has gone missing in Chard... and more
Plans have been passed to carry out a £15 million upgrade of Yeovil’s Octagon Theatre. A new medical unit providing NHS and private treatments has opened in Shepton Mallet. Manor Court Community Primary School in Chard is celebrating after receiving a Gold Artsmark for excellence in arts and cultural education...and more
Friday 6th March
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Wednesday 4th March
Tuesday 3rd March
Wednesday 25th February
