Wednesday 13th March

Wednesday, 13 March 2024 06:00

By Steve Haigh

The UK's biggest electric car battery factory being built near Bridgwater needs £150 million of investment in related projects, according to Somerset Council. A Somerset mother whose daughter died after being hit by a speeding car is backing a new road safety campaign. An event is being held this weekend to celebrate the centenary of Chard-born Margaret Bondfield being appointed the first female minister in a British government...and more

The UK's biggest electric car battery factory being built near Bridgwater needs £150 million of investment in related projects, according to Somerset Council. The owners of Jaguar Land Rover are building the £4 billion plant on the former Royal Ordnance Factory site at Puriton. Somerset Council says it needs the money to pay for things like skills training and cycle paths to get to the site.

A Somerset mother whose daughter died after being hit by a speeding car is backing a new road safety campaign after last year saw the highest number of deaths on Somerset’s roads in ten years. According to figures from Avon and Somerset Police, thirty people died in road crashes here in 2023 that's a 43% increase from 2022. Excessive speeding, not wearing a seatbelt or drink or drug driving are all highlighted as key factors in serious or fatal collisions.

Great Western Railway says parking will be temporarily reduced at Castle Cary train station for seventeen days starting next Friday. Access to the new car park off Station Road will be shut and some parking bays in the main car park closed off. GWR says it allows for various improvement projects to be completed.

Work upgrading gas pipes starts next week in Somerton. Wales and West Utilities are warning of major disruption in West Street from Wednesday onwards. Barring any engineering difficulties, the work is due to be finished sometime in April.

The Prince of Wales pub at Ham Hill near Yeovil is to feature in a new TV show called Perfect Pub Walks to be shown on More-Four. The programme, introduced by Strictly Come Dancing winner, Bill Bailey, was filmed last summer and includes an interview with Prince of Wales owner, Mike Holroyd, talking about the pub’s history and that of Ham Hill.

Chard Museum is holding an event to celebrate the centenary of Margaret Bondfield being appointed the first female government minister. Margaret Bondfield was born in Chard in 1873 and attended the High Street School in the town. She left Chard aged 14, and went on to be elected a Labour MP and then appointed as the first female government minister in 1924. Chard Museum will celebrate the life of Margaret Bondfield with an event outside Chard Guildhall this coming Saturday.

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Tuesday 15th September

Police investigating an attack on a shop worker in Yeovil have released CCTV images of a man and woman they want to speak to. Farmers in Somerset are being warned to expect more cases of bluetongue. Ilminster Carnival Committee has announced the cancellation of this year's Children's Carnival due to a lack of entries... and more
Monday 14th September

Two new mobile NHS breast screening units have taken to the road in Somerset. More than 700 new homes are to be built alongside the M5 in Bridgwater. Dawes Twineworks in West Coker is one of several venues open to the public for free this month... and more
Friday 11th September

It’s going to cost more to park in Chard. Police have issued an image of a man they want to speak to in connection with two burglaries in Yeovil. Somerset Cricket Club is planning to stage performances by some of the world's biggest artistes at their Taunton ground... and more
Thursday 10th September

Work has begun building a new multi-million-pound David Lloyd leisure centre in Yeovil. NHS Somerset says a new system to handle emergency stroke care will lead to "better outcomes" for patients. Tickets for next year’s Glastonbury Festival will go on sale in October...and more
Wednesday 9th September

Police have released an image of a man they want to speak to following an assault in Yeovil. Businesses in Taunton say they're worried that planned changes to parking rules could put people off visiting the town. The Red Arrows will take to the skies near the Somerset border in a one-off display later this week... and more
Tuesday 8th September

Police in Avon and Somerset say they’re dealing with a big increase in reports of cloned vehicle fraud. A new video system designed to speed up stroke care has been launched in Somerset. Pilgrims are walking through Somerset this week to mark eight hundred years since the death of Saint Francis of Assisi... and more
Monday 7th September

Avon and Somerset Police are warning about a new scam involving criminals posing as police officers. Flu vaccinations are now available on the NHS ahead of the winter. Liverpool comedian John Bishop has cancelled his show in Taunton later this week after breaking his ankle... and more
Friday 4th September

Police are investigating a suspected arson attack on a vehicle near Shepton Mallet. New taxi charges come into force in Somerset later this month. The fire service is treating as accidental a blaze at a flat in Yeovil town centre... and more