Tuesday 29th April

Tuesday, 29 April 2025 06:00

By Steve Haigh

New figures have shown that registering as a new patient with an NHS dentist in Somerset is still just as difficult as it was six months ago. The go-ahead has been given to build 160 new houses on Station Road in Castle Cary. A sailor from South Petherton has been chosen to lead a team in the round-the-world Clipper Race...and more.

New figures have shown that it's still just as difficult to register as a new patient with an NHS dentist in Somerset as it was six months ago. Despite the government promising to rebuild NHS dentistry, analysis of the NHS Find a Dentist website shows that of 116 practices in Somerset surveyed, 105 are still not accepting new adult patients or patients under 17 years of age. In Yeovil, no NHS dentist is accepting new patients, and the situation across Somerset is exactly as it was in November when the last survey took place.

The go-ahead has been given to build 160 new houses in Castle Cary. Somerset Council has approved the development on Station Road, which includes 57 affordable homes. As part of the permission, developers Persimmon Homes will build a new primary school in the area.

A man who attacked another man in Yeovil, punching him to the ground until he was unconscious, has been ordered to complete 100 hours unpaid work. Arkadiusz Adamiec, aged 44, of West Hendford in Yeovil, pleaded guilty to assault when he appeared before local magistrates. Adamiec was also made the subject of a two-year restraining order and told to pay his victim £100 in compensation.

Police are investigating damage to the town's perimeter fences at Britten’s Field. In one incident, a bolt cutter was used to force open a gate. Anyone with information is asked to call the non-emergency number 101.

Junction 26 off the M5 in Somerset is to close for three weeks in June for resurfacing work. Traders around Junction 26 are worried about a loss of trade and have criticised Somerset Council for scheduling the upgrade over the busy summer period.

A sailor from Somerset has been chosen to lead a team in the world’s toughest endurance challenge. Amy Smith from South Petherton has been selected as one of ten first mates for the Clipper 2025-26 Race. The round-the-world race, held over 40,000 nautical miles, gets underway from Portsmouth at the end of August.

A new woodland classroom is to be introduced at Chard Reservoir. Tesco has given the Chard Reservoir Volunteer Group £ 1500 to create a portable classroom for children. The structure, built of rope and fencing and with a parachute tarpaulin roof, will be set up at various places for children to explore different areas of the reservoir.

More from News

Friday 14th August

Police are investigating an incident in which obscene words were scratched onto the World War One memorial at Ham Hill. Yeovil MP Adam Dance has repeated his call for the upgrade of the town’s police station to include a custody suite. A Somerset carnival club is building a specially adapted float to allow a wheelchair user and her assistance dog to take part in this year’s carnival circuit...and more
Thursday 13th August

An Ilminster family is celebrating after winning one million pounds on the National Lottery. Police have released a picture of a man they want to speak to in connection with suspected frauds in Somerset. Somerset Council has opened a tendering process to find a main contractor for the £15 million upgrade of Yeovil’s Octagon theatre... and more
Wednesday 12th August

Experts say with good visibility forecast for this evening, people across Somerset should have some of the best views of the solar eclipse anywhere in the UK. A Somerset councillor is calling for the Stop Line cycle route between Chard and Ilminster to be better supported. It's 40-years ago this week since a Lynx helicopter built in Yeovil set a new World Helicopter Speed Record... and more
Tuesday 11th August

Wessex Water says a hosepipe ban is possible if customers fail to cut their water usage. A record number of illegal dog fights were reported in Somerset last year. Yeovil Town's Mason Obeng has won the traditional sack of potatoes, given to the player who scores Yeovil's first goal of the new season, as a lucky omen... and more
Monday 10th August

A local councillor claims anti-social behaviour is putting people off coming into Yeovil town centre. South-West Water has announced a hosepipe ban in the Chard area. Great Western Railway has apologised after a wheelchair user from Chard became stuck at one of its stations... and more
Friday 7th August

Chard's biggest employer, Numatic International, makers of the Henry vacuum cleaner, has announced job cuts. A new Neighbourhood Plan for Hatch Beauchamp has officially been adopted. Two historic artefacts taken from Glastonbury Abbey more than 70 years ago have been returned...and more
Thursday 6th August

A local man and convicted former neo-Nazi, selected by the Conservatives to stand in Crewkerne South in next year’s local elections for a seat on Somerset Council, has pulled out after a backlash against his candidacy. A charity that runs children's homes in Somerset is terminating its contract early following a critical report by Ofsted...and more
Wednesday 5th August

Avon and Somerset's Police and Crime Commissioner is backing the wider use of police drones in towns like Yeovil to help tackle crime. Visitor numbers at Somerset's tourist attractions are down by around sixty per cent so far this year. A gardening expert says it'll take much more than the occasional shower to revive Somerset's parched lawns, parks and open spaces...and more