Tuesday 4th February

Tuesday, 4 February 2025 05:00

By Steve Haigh

Somerset has been permitted to increase its Council Tax share by 7.5 percent. An Ilminster man, forced out of his house by last week's floods, says he doesn't know when he will be able to return home. Ilminster Literary Festival has launched its annual children’s writing competition, designed to encourage local children to write creative literature...and more.

The government is giving Somerset Council more breathing space to help sort out its finances. The Council, which is limited to increasing the Council Tax by 5 percent, is facing a shortfall of £66 million on planned spending during the financial year 205/26. But, after writing to the government, the Council has been told it can break the 5 percent limit and increase Council Tax by 7.5 per cent. It will add an average of £130 extra to Council Tax bills from April. Lib Dem Leader of Somerset Council, Councillor Bill Revans, says although welcome, the increase will still not raise enough money to fill the funding gap of £66 million, and capital receipts from property sales will have to be used to pay day-to-day running costs.

One week after being forced to leave his home due to flooding, an Ilminster man says he's still no closer to moving back in. Ben Perham's home on Ditton Street was left underwater during last Monday’s heavy storms, forcing him to leave. He says the process to get back into the house is moving very slowly. Meanwhile, the Co-op in St James Street in South Petherton has re-opened after being closed by flooding. The shop says that while it's open, it will be some time yet before they’re fully back to normal.

Avon and Somerset Police is to get £30 million more to spend in the next financial year. The government has allocated an extra one billion pounds to England’s police forces, with £100 million ring-fenced for employing community support officers.

The Village Agents scheme in Somerset says the government’s decision to cut winter fuel payments has hit people really hard in Somerset. They say hundreds of people have asked for help, after not being able to pay their heating bills.

Rail passengers planning to travel between Taunton and Weston- Super-mare this week are being advised that no trains will be running on the line due to engineering works. A replacement bus service will operate instead up to Saturday.

Ilminster Literary Festival has launched its annual children’s writing competition, designed to encourage and support local children in writing creative literature. The closing date for entries is March 28th, with the winners announced on May 16th.

More from News

Friday 31st July

Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service says July has been its busiest month ever for emergency calls. Police have recovered a 1970s Austin Mini pick-up stolen in Shepton Mallet. A specialist spinal injuries service at Yeovil Hospital has treated three hundred patients in its first year... and more
Thursday 30th July

The Environment Agency has declared a drought across Somerset as the hot weather takes its toll on the county's water supplies. Police are appealing for witnesses following a fatal road traffic accident near Crewkerne. A bowls player from Yeovil has won a silver medal at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow...and more
Wednesday 29th July

Police have arrested two suspects in connection with a series of moped thefts in Chard. A combine harvester has been destroyed in a farm fire at Forton, near Chard. A bowls player from Yeovil has won a silver medal at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow... and more
Tuesday 28th July

The former Beales department store in Yeovil could be brought back into use as part of a wider masterplan for the future of the town. A yellow heat health alert is in place across Somerset from nine o’clock this morning until nine o’clock on Friday morning. A Somerset farmer says this year is the driest on his land since 1976... and more
Monday 27th July

Gooch and Housego, based in Ilminster and one of the town’s biggest employers, has been sold in a multi-million-pound deal to an American private equity firm. A father who shook his four-week-old baby to death at a house in Chard has been sentenced to life in prison. A doctor who works for the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance is one of five people to have jointly set a new world record for rowing around Great Britain... and more
Friday 24th July

Avon and Somerset Police are warning people to watch out for scammers posing as Amazon. The CEO of the company that provides Somerset's recycling is warning of a major incident if people continue to put used batteries in waste bins. A former Yeovil pub could be demolished to make way for a major hotel expansion.
Thursday 23rd July

The West Country is officially one step closer to being declared in drought. Somerset Council says it's remodelling its service after a children's home was closed following an inspection. A new McDonald's planned off the M5 at Bridgwater could create up to 120 local jobs... and more
Wednesday 22nd July

Two men have been jailed for stealing electrical items and cash from a property in Yeovil. Somerset Council has defended its use of Yeovil’s new performance area in The Triangle, in Lower Middle Street. Tintinhull Primary School, near Yeovil, has won a top national award for outdoor play... and more