Wednesday 11th October

Wednesday, 11 October 2023 at 06:00

By Steve Haigh

Yeovil Town Council has voted to give financial support to the £30 million project to upgrade Yeovil’s Octagon Theatre. Yeovil Hospital is running a study to test whether hypnosis could benefit patients. The railway line between Yeovil Junction and Axminster will be closed for five days next month. A Wincanton butcher has been chosen to be a housemate on the new series of the TV reality show Big Brother...and more

Yeovil Town Council has voted to give financial support to the multi-million-pound project to upgrade Yeovil’s Octagon Theatre. At a special meeting of the Town Council held last night at the Westland entertainment venue attended by around 300 members of the public, twelve councillors voted in favour and two against the Council giving money to the £30 million project that has run into difficulties due to increased building costs and higher interest rates. Leader of the Town Council, Graham Oakes, says the Council will work in partnership with Somerset Council to find ways to fund the scheme and will be asking parish and town councils to contribute to the Octagon upgrade. Meanwhile, Yeovil MP Marcus Fysh, who attended last night’s meeting, is offering to work with the Town Council and Somerset Council to help build a new theatre for Yeovil but says not on the current Octagon site. He wants a new theatre built on the former cattle market site off Reckleford and will work with the government to take the idea forward.

Yeovil Hospital is running a study to test whether hypnosis could benefit patients. Somerset NHS Foundation Trust is looking to recruit patients who’ve undergone surgery to take part in the trial to check if it helps with their pain and overall recovery.

Local councillor, Oliver Patrick, has lodged a formal objection to permanently closing Chinnock Hollow which links East Chinnock and Odcombe. Somerset Council says it couldn’t justify spending £2.7 million to reopen the road that was shut in 2021 following a landslide. The Council has applied for an order to keep the road permanently closed. Councillor Patrick believes it could be safely reopened with reduced width, temporary traffic lights and concrete barriers to protect road users.

The railway line between Yeovil Junction and Axminster will be closed for five days next month. From Monday, November 6th to Friday, November 10th, a replacement bus service will operate between the two stations. A second 16-day closure between Yeovil Junction and Salisbury will take place from Saturday, November 26th to Sunday, December 10th. Network Rail says the closures are needed for engineering work to take place.

A Wincanton butcher is aiming to win big on the new series of Big Brother that has re-launched on ITV. Tom, who’s 21, and works at Andrew Barclay Butchers in Wincanton is one of the housemates on the reality TV show, hoping to take home the £100,000 top prize.

More from News

Friday 30th October

Wells Cathedral says it's having to get creative to bring in more money as financial pressures continue to grow. A convenience store in Martock has been allowed to keep its alcohol licence despite an employee working there illegally. Police have seized an illegally ridden e-scooter in Yeovil in response to concerns from local residents... and more
Thursday 29th October

A Yeovil man has been detained under the Mental Health Act for attacking his mother with a knife. People in Chard are being reminded that it’s unlawful to attach flags to lamp posts and street furniture. Wincanton Racecourse has called off its 'Badger Chase Day' because the ground is too firm... and more
Wednesday 28th October

Leweston School near Sherborne has announced that it is closing with immediate effect. NHS Somerset could merge with neighbours in Bath and North-East Somerset and Dorset to cut costs. Somerset’s Lord-Lieutenant has launched a campaign to get more people nominated for national honours... and more
Tuesday 27th October

Work has started building a new six-million-pound flood defence scheme in Taunton. Plans have been submitted to build a new church hall in Martock. People are being asked to donate gifts to this year’s Chard Christmas Present Appeal... and more
Monday 26th October

Eligible groups in Somerset are being encouraged to get their flu jabs. There’s a rare opportunity to get a behind-the-scenes look inside Avon & Somerset Police’s control room. Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader, Daisy Cooper MP, has visited Yeovil... and more.
Friday 23rd October

Somerset is the 11th most challenging place in England to be a child according to a report. Dorset, Somerset and Wiltshire could have its own elected ‘Wessex Mayor’ by 2028. Cricketer, Ian Botham returns to the county this weekend... and more.
Thursday 22nd October

The NFU says that testing for the virus Bluetongue needs to be sped up. Construction of new flats on Yeovil’s Grimsby Corner site will officially begin next year. The Met Office has issued a yellow warning for wind tomorrow... and more.
Wednesday 21st October

The owner of campsite in Somerset says a two-thousand-seven-hundred percent increase in business rates will be 'catastrophic' for his business. Plans to build nearly 300 new homes on the outskirts of Chard have been given the go ahead. Yeovil Town are through to the first round proper of the FA Cup after beating Leatherhead 5-2 at Huish Park last night... and more