Wednesday 16th July

Wednesday, 16 July 2025 06:00

By Steve Haigh

A children’s play area in Ilminster has been closed on safety grounds after badger setts were found on the land. Somerset Council sold off £90m of property assets last year to help fight off bankruptcy. Crewkerne Community Hospital could be turned into a neighbourhood health centre...and more.

A children’s play area in Ilminster has been closed on safety grounds after badger setts were found on the land. Checks at the Blackdown View play park revealed that badger activity in the area was rife. Somerset Council says that, due to badgers being protected, they’re unable to take any action to prevent them from digging further holes or to fill in the ones already dug.

Somerset Council sold off £90m of property assets last year to help fight off bankruptcy. The properties, bought to provide rental incomes by Somerset’s former district councils, include an office block in Taunton, a commercial unit in Gloucester, and a factory site in West Yorkshire. Somerset Council plan to raise a further £35m from property sales by March next year.

A school in Chard has been named best in Somerset for careers education. Manor Court Community Primary School was recognised for its outstanding approach to careers learning at the Somerset 2025 Careers Awards. Manor Court Primary School is part of the Preston Primary Academy Trust.

New gypsy and traveller sites could be allocated within the new Somerset Local Plan. Somerset Council says targets to address the permanent and transit site accommodation needs of the gypsy, traveller and travelling show-people communities of Somerset will be included in the new plan.. The Council is currently securing permanent transit sites for gypsies and travellers to incorporate within the new land-use policy.

Avon and Somerset Police has renewed its appeal for the return of stolen tools seized earlier in the year to their owners. Police say they still have a large number of unclaimed tools that they want to return to their rightful owners. Anyone making an application will need to provide the crime number given when reporting the theft, as proof of ownership.

Somerset NHS Foundation Trust says it’s looking at turning Crewkerne Community Hospital into a neighbourhood health centre. If implemented, it would likely mean the hospital losing all 20 of its inpatient beds. Chief operating officer for Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, Andy Heron, says they’ll be talking to local people about the best mix of services for Crewkerne Community Hospital, which they think is ideally placed to become one of the new neighbourhood health centres envisaged in the NHS 10-Year Plan.

A musical event held in Chard has raised £500 for a cancer charity. The sell-out concert by Blackdown Acapella at The Guildhall was held in aid of Target Ovarian Cancer.

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Friday 12th December

The Chief Executive of Somerset Council, Duncan Sharkey, has admitted to making mistakes in cutting jobs. Yeovil MP Adam Dance is supporting a Lib Dem initiative to introduce a new ‘Farm First’ training scheme. Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance has launched an appeal to help buy a second helicopter... and more.
Thursday 11th December

A man has appeared in court in connection with an attack in Wincanton. A member of Somerset Council, jailed for 26 months for taking part in a Just Stop Oil protest, may not have to stand down as a councillor. NHS Somerset has announced that changes to stroke services at Yeovil Hospital will "go live" in the spring of next year...and more
Wednesday 10th December

Avon and Somerset Police say 62 drivers were arrested in the first week of the Christmas drink and drug driving campaign. A reindeer farm near Yeovil thinks it may have to close after being told it needs a Zoo licence. Father Christmas has made a special delivery of presents to Charlton Farm Children's Hospice in Somerset...and more
Tuesday 9th December

The Police and Crime Commissioner for Avon and Somerset has criticised the government for axing the role. Police are appealing for witnesses to a road traffic accident near Ilminster in which a woman was seriously injured. Residents of Freedom Avenue in Yeovil are raising funds for charity with a big display of Christmas lights...and more.
Monday 8th December

Plans to build 150 new homes in Ilminster have been scrapped. A Somerset councillor has been jailed for 26 months. Marks & Spencer wants to build a new Food Store in Ilminster. Poundland has announced that it’s shutting its store in Middle Street in Yeovil...and more
Friday 5th December

Police are appealing for witnesses after an assault on a man in Chard. Lloyds Banking Group has announced a date for closing the Halifax in Yeovil. Train journeys on the Castle Cary to Taunton line will be disrupted next week due to engineering work. The mental health charity MIND in Somerset has produced a Christmas advent calendar... and more.
Thursday 4th December

The Chief Constable of Avon and Somerset Police says her force is doing all it can to reduce anti-social behaviour. Somerset Council has deferred a decision on introducing Sunday car parking charges. People living in deprived areas in Somerset are being fast-tracked for hospital treatment...and more
Wednesday 3rd December

Fire crews have rescued the driver of a car that got stuck in floodwater near Ilminster. Avon and Somerset Police are urging people going out to celebrate this Christmas to book a taxi or use public transport. A woman from South Petherton has come top at the British Down Syndrome Swimming Championships...and more,