Tuesday 13th October

Tuesday, 13 October 2026 06:00

By Steve Haigh

Plans have been passed to build 760 new homes on the southern edge of Yeovil. Somerset Council has admitted it doesn't know how many young people are not in education, employment or training. An event is being held in Crewkerne for people looking for information about health and social care... and more

Plans have been passed to build a major housing development on the southern edge of Yeovil. 765 homes will be built as part of the Keyford urban extension, opposite Yeovil showground, on the A37 Dorchester Road. The main access to the development will be off the Red House roundabout, with a new roundabout built close to Two Tower Lane. The developers have set aside £8.6m for a new primary school and £490,000 to expand one of the town's GP surgeries, with £2m provided for new sports pitches.

Somerset Council has admitted that it doesn't know how many young people are not in education, employment or training, so called NEETS. It follows the collapse of Careers South West Ltd who were given a contract to the compile the data. Somerset Council says the contract has been brought back in-house but due to delays setting up a new system of data collection, no up-to-date figure are available for the number of NEETS in the county.

A road in Ilminster is closed to traffic tonight and again tomorrow tonight. The Beacon, from its junction with The Heights to the junction with Old Way, is closed for Openreach to lay new cabling. The closure also impacts Whitelackington and Ilton.

Four new Deputy Lieutenants have been appointed to support Somerset’s Lord-Lieutenant, who is the King’s representative in the county. They are Professor Georgina Andrews, Professor Trudi Grant, Lord Mark Sedwill and Melanie Squires.

An event is being held in Crewkerne later this week for people looking for information, advice or support about health and social care. The event offers the chance to speak with representatives from Adult Social Care and the Financial Assessments and Benefits team from Somerset Council, together with NHS Somerset, and takes place at the Community Hospital, in Middle Path, Crewkerne, this coming Friday.

More from News

Monday 12th October

Two people were arrested on suspicion of racially motivated public order offences during an anti-immigration protest held in Yeovil at the weekend. Women in Somerset now have access to two brand new mobile breast screening units. A drought permit has been approved for Wimbleball Lake on Exmoor which is currently only 18% full...and more
Friday 9th October

A controversial new one-way traffic system in Bridgwater is to be changed back to a 2-way system. Plans to cut support funding to young carers in Somerset have been scrapped. A new website has been launched in Chard bringing together everything residents and visitors need to know about the town...and more
Thursday 8th October

Somerset Council is to press ahead with increases to parking charges at its car parks. Police say increasing numbers of young people in Somerset are riding e-scooters illegally. Wells market has received national recognition...and more
Wednesday 7th October

Somerset Council says it's started talks about what do with the Brewhouse theatre in Taunton after it closes at the end of the month. A Chard man has been sentenced for keeping multiple different dogs despite being banned from doing so. NHS van drivers based in Bridgwater who supply hospitals in Somerset with essential medical equipment will walk out on strike next week... and more
Tuesday 6th October

Prince William is visiting Ilminster today, where he will launch ‘Ready Together’, a new initiative helping communities prepare for emergencies. Barwick and Stoford Primary School near Yeovil says it's confident of emerging stronger after being placed in special measures by Ofsted. Vapes and weight-loss jabs are putting workers at recycling centres in Somerset at risk after being wrongly thrown away...and more
Monday 5th October

Ilminster is gearing up for a Royal visit by Prince William tomorrow. Plans have been approved to convert the former Battens Solicitors building on Princes Street in Yeovil into 21 flats. A 'Just Giving' page has opened for making donations towards Ilminster Carnival which, on Saturday, had to be cancelled midway through due to a gas leak...and more
Friday 2nd October

An investigation's underway after two people died in a collision near Taunton. A Somerset-based charity has warned of the risks of fuel poverty this winter. A Somerset healthcare service has been recognised with a national award.... and more.
Thursday 1st October

765 new homes have been given planning permission on the edge of Yeovil. Somerset Council’s Executive will meet to consider new parking charges. Four of the county’s best military cadets have been appointed as Lord-Lieutenant cadets... and more.