Wednesday 14th February

Wednesday, 14 February 2024 06:00

By Steve Haigh

Parents say that they are worried about planned cuts to the budget for providing transport to children with special needs. East Street in Chard is closed today for repairs to an electric cable. A car has crashed into a gatepost at Cricket St Thomas that featured in the BBC comedy ‘To the Manor Born’...and more.

Parents say that they are worried about planned cuts to the budget for providing transport to children with special needs. Somerset Council, which is looking to make savings of £100 million, wants teenagers with special educational needs and disabilities to learn to use public transport rather than taxis and minibuses for getting to school.

The Chief Constable of Avon and Somerset Police has defended criticism from her officers for allowing Channel 4 to film the force's standards department. The final episode of "To Catch A Copper" shown earlier this week, included allegations of sexual misconduct made against officers. Avon and Somerset Police Federation has expressed frustration with the documentary, claiming a lack of balance.

East Street in Chard, in the direction leading out of the town, is closed today for repairs to an electric cable. Traffic is being diverted via Crowshute Lane, with East Street due to re-open on Friday.

A car has crashed into a gatepost at Cricket St Thomas that featured in the BBC comedy ‘To the Manor Born’. The stone structure, situated next to the house lived in by Audrey Forbes Hamilton, was left broken into several pieces following the collision. Police say their enquiries into who was responsible are ongoing.

More than one million recordings of birdsong have been made as part of a project to monitor bird populations on the Somerset Levels. The recordings are being analysed using Artificial intelligence to help improve biodiversity on the Levels.

The Ferne Animal Sanctuary has opened a new store in Crewkerne. The outlet in Falkland Square will be officially opened on Friday, February 23rd by local MP Marcus Fysh.

The charity Brainwave is appealing for volunteers to run its shop in Ilminster. Volunteers carry out tasks that include customer engagement, creative merchandising, and sorting out donations. To apply, go to the Brainwave website.

More from News

Friday 13th March

The first of the new medium lift helicopters being built by Leonardo in Yeovil for the RAF will be delivered in 2031. Somerset Council has launched a public consultation on planned new charges at its two hundred public car parks. More women in Somerset are said to be taking up walking football... and more
Thursday 12th March

A Yeovil headteacher says he’s concerned about plans to stop giving school holiday food vouchers to families on low incomes. The owner of Yeovil Town is calling on fans to be patient as he continues his overhaul of the National League side. A high voltage fault is being blamed for plunging 1700 homes into darkness in the Ilminster area... and more
Wednesday 11th March

Plans have been submitted to convert two properties in Yeovil into houses of multiple occupation. A new court date has been announced for a Yeovil man charged with attempted murder. An engineer who has worked at the Leonardo factory in Yeovil for 40-years has won a top industry award... and more
Tuesday 10th March

Police say a fire at the former Oscar Mayer food factory in Chard was started deliberately. Yeovil College says it would have been adversely affected had Leonardo not won the contract to build new medium-lift helicopters. A seven-foot dragon will be visiting towns and villages in our area during the next few weeks to promote Somerset Day... and more
Monday 9th March

Two Wildcat helicopters from 815 Squadron at RNAS Yeovilton have arrived in Cyprus to help protect RAF Akrotiri from further Iranian drone strikes. New figures show that 40 people were killed on Avon and Somerset’s roads in the last 12-months. A Somerset man has been recalling the day 60-years ago when he was a passenger on the last train on the Somerset and Dorset Railway... and more
Friday 6th March

Defence Minister Luke Pollard has been explaining why it took the government so long to confirm a contract for the Leonardo in Yeovil to build new medium lift helicopters for the RAF. Police are investigating a break in at a pet shop in Ilminster. Somerset Council is to stop using red ink on council tax reminder letters... and more
Thursday 5th March

Two military helicopters from RNAS Yeovilton are being sent to Cyprus to help bolster UK’s defences amid the US-Israel war with Iran. Yeovil Town Council is seeking legal advice over the closure of the hyper acute stroke unit at Yeovil Hospital. Flood warnings have been lifted on the Somerset Levels... and more
Wednesday 4th March

A man has died in a fire in Wincanton. Somerset Council is planning further cuts of twenty-one million pounds to help balance its books. A campaign to raise £30,000 for a minibus has been launched in Chard... and more