Tuesday 1st April

Tuesday, 1 April 2025 06:00

By Steve Haigh

Police are investigating the cause of a suspicious fire at the former Oscar Mayer site in Chard. Yeovil Town owner, Martin Hellier, has stepped down as club chairman. According to the website, Property Solvers, Martock has the slowest housing market in Somerset. A new Head Teacher has been appointed to run Sexeys School in Bruton...and more

Police are investigating the cause of a fire at the former Oscar Mayer site in Chard. On Sunday afternoon, smoke was spotted coming from one of the buildings. The fire service says they’re treating the blaze as suspicious, and the Police are investigating.

Somerset Council is setting up special educational needs units in 15 schools. The Council says creating the SEND places in mainstream schools could save £ 17 million over five years.

Martin Hellier, the owner of Yeovil Town, has stepped down as the club chairman. The move comes just days after Mr Hellier announced he was selling the club. He will remain as a director, but his son Jack Hellier has resigned his directorship. Stuart Robins, a director since May 2022, will act as Chairman until a buyer for the club is found.

The MP for Somerton and Glastonbury, Sarah Dyke, has criticized the Chancellor Rachel Reeves for not addressing the issue of the family farm tax in her Spring Statement last week. Speaking in the Commons, Ms Dyke said the Labour government was out of touch with the needs of rural communities, and claimed more farmers will leave the sector.

According to the website, Property Solvers, Martock has the slowest housing market in Somerset. It says selling a house in Martock took on average 160 days in the year March 2024 to February this year. The fastest housing market in Somerset was Somerton, where properties took just 121 days to sell.

A new Head Teacher has been appointed to run Sexeys School in Bruton. He’s Steve Clayson takes over in charge of the state-run boarding and day school following 17 years working in senior leadership roles in secondary and sixth form education.

The NHS in Somerset says it is now taking bookings for its spring Covid booster rollout. Appointments will be available from today, with more than 100-thousand people invited to come forward and get the vaccine. The booster is available to anyone over 75, care home residents, and those with a weakened immune system.

More from News

Thursday 30th October

Bird flu has been found at a nature reserve in Somerset, closing part of it down. St Margaret’s Hospice in Somerset is calling for the hospice sector to be given more central funding. The Barrington Boar in Barrington has been placed 12th in The Good Food Guide’s list of 100 best pubs in Britain... and more
Wednesday 29th October

Police are investigating a suspected arson attack on a mobile home near Yeovil. Somerset Council is suggesting people turn their pumpkins into soup this Halloween. People in Yeovil have until Sunday to comment on controversial plans to sell off four car parks in the town centre... and more.
Tuesday 28th October

Plans have been submitted to build 12 new homes in Chard. A nursery in Yeovil has been rated ‘overall good' by Ofsted. A Somerset mortgage broker has achieved national recognition. A stretch of the M5 at Wellington will be shut every night this week...and more
Monday 27th October

The Unite union has announced four days of strikes by its members at Leonardo in Yeovil. One of Yeovil’s busiest roads is closed to traffic today. Staff at the Ferne Animal Sanctuary near Chard raised £3,000 taking part in a Sleeping Ruff challenge at the weekend...and more
Friday 24th October

New figures show that 500 young people were either injured or killed on roads in Somerset and Devon last year. The Old School Community Centre in Queen Camel has reopened, thanks to a donation of £10,000 from Somerset Freemasons. Two Fleet Air Arm engineers based at RNAS Yeovilton have recreated a family moment from 26 years ago...and more
Thursday 23rd October

Yeovil-born actress Sarah Parish is supporting efforts to reopen the Octagon theatre. Mobility scooter campaigners in Somerset have welcomed a government review of the legislation governing the use of mobility scooters on public highways. Changes are being made to the dates when garden waste is collected in Somerset...and more
Wednesday 22nd October

A major house builder in the South West says government targets for new house building in Somerset are 'unrealistic'. Pizza Hut is closing its restaurant in Yeovil. Staff at the Ferne Animal Sanctuary near Chard will be taking part in a ‘Sleeping Ruff’ challenge tomorrow...and more .
Tuesday 21st October

Reckleford in Yeovil is to shut for 15 days for essential drainage works. Somerset NHS Foundation Trust has paid out compensation of £23 million for claims related to birth injuries. A Grade II listed building in Glastonbury has been converted into a health and wellbeing centre...and more