Wednesday 15th May

Wednesday, 15 May 2024 06:00

By Steve Haigh

Somerset Council seeking to save £40 million by cutting one thousand jobs says 201 employees have so far applied to leave the authority based on voluntary redundancy. East Somerset Railway near Shepton Mallet has been used for filming the TV adaptation of Jilly Cooper's novel Rivals. An old-style red phone box in Castle Cary is being turned into Somerset's smallest museum...and more

Somerset Council seeking to save £40 million by cutting one thousand jobs says 201 employees have so far applied to leave the authority based on voluntary redundancy. The Council has allocated eight million pounds to cover the costs of the first round of redundancies with more employees coming forward to take voluntary redundancy when round two of the jobs cut programme launches. At a meeting of Somerset Council next week, members are being asked to approve redundancy payments to an initial forty-nine employees of up to £100,000 each.

Somerset’s mobile reuse initiative Fixy has been recognised for encouraging the repair and reuse of broken electrical items. The project, which is managed by Resource Futures in partnership with Somerset Council and Donate IT, has been shortlisted in the Reuse Initiative of the Year category at the Awards for Excellence in Recycling and Waste Management.

East Somerset Railway near Shepton Mallet has been used for filming the TV adaptation of Jilly Cooper's novel Rivals. The eight-part series is expected to air on Disney Plus later in the year.

Tennis lovers are being given the opportunity to play for free at Chard Tennis Club this weekend. Free use of the courts at Chard Tennis Club is offered as part of an Open Day at the Club premises in Zembard Lane on Saturday.

An old-style phone box in Castle Cary has been saved from demolition. The traditional red phone box dating from is being turned into Somerset's smallest museum, exhibiting items of historical interest about Castle Cary.

Members of the Leonardo Armed Forces Network Group have been visiting NavyWings at RNAS Yeovilton. The group was there to reflect on this year’s 80th anniversary of VE Day. Amongst the aircraft at NavyWings is a Westland Wasp; a first-generation jet engine helicopter built for the Royal Navy and a heritage product of Leonardo.

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Friday 12th June

It's claimed the increasing availability of drugs such as ketamine and cocaine has normalised drug use among young people in Somerset. The trial of a man accused of killing his one-month-old son in Chard begins today at Bristol Crown Court. A stone pillar outside the Langport Arms Hotel in Langport has been replaced after it was destroyed in a car crash... and more
Thursday 11th June

Sir Keir Starmer has paid tribute to the three aircrew from RNAS Yeovilton who died in last week's helicopter crash in Devon. Two men have been arrested and stolen vehicles seized following a major multi-agency operation in South Somerset. An event highlighting opportunities for women in the aerospace industry has been held in Yeovil... and more
Wednesday 10th June

The public will be consulted on how best to spend fifty million pounds of government funding to tackle flooding in Somerset. Avon and Somerset Police are backing a new road safety campaign aimed at reducing motorcycle fatalities. New welcome signs have been installed at entrances to the Mendip Hills National Landscape... and more
Tuesday 9th June

The government has announced a £50 million investment to strengthen Somerset’s flood defences. A woman from Stoke-sub-Hamdon has been banned from driving for 14 months after admitting drink-driving. Somerset Council has been told it must improve its adult social care services... and more
Monday 8th June

Plans for a new railway station in Langport remain stalled in Whitehall, according to Somerset Council. Plans to build 50 new homes in Broadway, near Ilminster, have been refused. The new water fountains in Yeovil’s Triangle, in Lower Middle Street, are being switched off during very hot weather because of safety concerns... and more.
Friday 5th June

A new NHS dental practice in Crewkerne says it won’t start operating at full capacity until July due to staff shortages. Somerset Council says it has no plans to show England matches in the World Cup on the Big Screen in Yeovil town centre due to safety concerns. A Somerset family has been thanked after completing a 73-mile walk raising money for a third world charity... and more
Thursday 4th June

An investigation continues today into the crash of a Royal Navy helicopter, based at RNAS Yeovilton, in which all three aircrew were killed. Somerset Council has confirmed that a new operator will take over several leisure centres across the county. The new live-action Masters of the Universe movie, filmed in Somerset, is released this week...and more
Wednesday 3rd June

A Yeovil man has appeared in court charged with assaulting three police officers. Somerset Council has begun legal action to recover more than £320,000 owed by housing developers. The line-up has been announced for this year’s Ilminster Midsummer Experience...and more