Tuesday 24th June

Tuesday, 24 June 2025 06:00

By Steve Haigh

There’s been a drop in the number of potholes being filled in on Somerset’s roads. A Somerset company has developed a new type of un-crewed helicopter. A man has cycled from Spain to Somerset to attend Glastonbury Festival...and more

There’s been a drop in the number of potholes being filled in on Somerset’s roads. In the financial year, April 2024 to April 2025, 24,483 potholes were repaired compared to 28,574 in the previous financial year. This, despite the government giving Somerset Council an extra £3.5 million to fix potholes. The Council says the figures don’t tell a full story as some roads were resurfaced rather than having potholes filled in.

A Somerset company has developed a new type of un-crewed helicopter. The aircraft designed by Certo Aerospace Limited, based in Frome, is the first in the UK to be fitted with a coaxial rotor head, allowing it to be flown remotely.

Yeovil MP, Adam Dance, is calling on the government to review how it deals with littering. He wants greater focus put on the impact of littering on public health, especially as it affects people in rural areas. Mr Dance is also asking for more investment in rural recycling infrastructure and better support for councils to enforce the existing littering laws.

Wessex Internet has secured £50 million in investment from the National Wealth Fund to expand its fibre coverage to homes and businesses. The company says the cash will be used to bring faster broadband to hard-to-reach areas, including in South Somerset.

Recycling and rubbish collections start at the earlier time of 6 am in parts of the broadcast area from today. Somerset Council says the change of start time is to avoid bin crews getting stuck in extra traffic on local roads travelling to the Glastonbury festival.

The A361 between Shepton Mallet and Glastonbury will be closed for 26 days, commencing on Sunday, 28 July. It’s to allow Wales & West Utilities to lay a new gas main at Fishers Hill and for drainage work to take place outside Millfield Prep School.

A man has cycled from Spain to Somerset to attend the Glastonbury Festival. Ollie White, who lives in Madrid, has covered 60 miles every day over the last 3 weeks and is due to arrive at Worthy Farm today. Meanwhile, the Met Office has published its 5-day forecast for Glastonbury. Tomorrow in Pilton will be cloudy with sunny intervals. Thursday will be overcast, with sunshine expected by late morning. Friday could see showers early on. Saturday and Sunday will be mostly cloudy.

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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