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

Thursday 3rd July

Dorset County Hospital is preparing to handle an increased number of births from now until the end of the year, following the closure of Yeovil Hospital's Maternity Unit. A number of former and current serving military personnel are pursuing the Ministry of Defence for compensation. Vandals have damaged a wooden shelter at the recreation ground in Ilminster...and more
Wednesday 2nd July

Business owners in Chard say ongoing roadworks in Fore Street are hurting their trade. A vehicle has been destroyed in a fire at a farm at Charlton Mackrell. A new recycling scheme has been launched to support Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance. Castle Carey has created a Scarecrow Festival...and more
Tuesday 1st July

A murder trial starts today of the parents of a baby boy who died in Yeovil Hospital. Somerset residents are being asked to keep an eye on elderly neighbours, with temperatures expected to reach the high 20s again today. A tiny black kitten has been found inside a crate of laundry delivered to a cleaning business in Yeovil...and more
Monday 30th June

The Care Quality Commission has published its report into the running of the maternity unit at Yeovil Hospital. A public consultation has been launched into plans to build 150 new homes at Horton near Ilminster. A Chard man has embarked on walking 75 miles across Somerset, raising money for the Devon Air Ambulance...and more
Friday 27th June

Yeovil MP Adam Dance is calling for Yeovil Hospital to be included in the government's national review of NHS maternity services. A Yeovil man has appeared in court charged with four counts of fraud. Yeovil Town players will be modelling the club’s new home and away strip at Huish Park this evening...and more.
Thursday 26th June

Thousands more music fans will arrive at Worthy Farm for the start of Glastonbury Festival. The government has granted Somerset Council a stay of execution, allowing it to defer a spending deficit on special needs education. A party has been held to mark the 100th birthday of a Somerset woman who has lived in the same house for 100 years...and more.
Wednesday 25th June

Businesses at the Cartgate services off the A303 near Yeovil say they feel threatened by Welcome Break Ltd's plans to build a new, bigger services area right next door. A man who lives in Tintinhull, found nearly double the drink drive limit, has been given a 20-month driving ban. Police are warning of fake tickets being on sale for Glastonbury Festival...and more
Tuesday 24th June

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