Wednesday 17th June

Wednesday, 17 June 2026 06:00

By Steve Haigh

Avon and Somerset Police say they'll be carrying out enhanced patrols for drink and drug driving during and after England's opening World Cup game tonight. Somerset Chamber of Commerce is warning that the conflict in Iran is having a serious impact on local businesses. A master thatcher based in Ilminster says the traditional craft of thatching is under threat because of a lack of training opportunities...and more

Avon and Somerset Police say they'll be carrying out enhanced patrols and roadside checks for drink and drug driving during and after England's opening World Cup game tonight. Patrol cars will be deployed at known hotspots across the force area, with officers carrying out roadside tests on motorists. Police are also urging members of the public to report anyone they suspect of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs by calling the non-emergency number 101.

Somerset Chamber of Commerce is warning that the conflict in Iran is having a serious impact on local businesses. Managing Director David Crew says rising uncertainty in global markets is already affecting companies across the county, and warns that even if a settlement is reached soon, the economic effects are likely to be felt throughout Somerset for many months to come.

People across Somerset are being asked for their views on how Somerset Council should spend its money in the next financial year. The Summer Budget Consultation marks the first stage of the council's annual budget-setting process and aims to identify which services residents value most before detailed spending proposals are drawn up later this year. The consultation closes on the 27th of July and can be completed via the Somerset Council website.

A master thatcher based in Ilminster says the traditional craft of thatching is under threat because of a lack of training opportunities. There are currently no dedicated thatching training schools in England, meaning employers must fund apprentice training themselves. Stephen Packham says taking on apprentices can be a financial risk, although he's encouraged that their most recent recruit has remained in the trade.

National Highways is advising motorists to plan ahead if they're travelling on the A303 this weekend for the Summer Solstice at Stonehenge. Extra measures will be in place to help keep traffic moving during the annual event, which takes place on Saturday night and into Sunday morning.

More from News

Tuesday 16th June

Police are appealing for witnesses to a fatal two-vehicle crash on the A358 near Ilminster. A man from Norton-sub-Hamdon has appeared in court charged with drink driving. An original Mr Blobby costume from the former Blobbyland theme park at Cricket St Thomas has been put up for sale... and more
Monday 15th June

People in Somerset are being asked to take part in a new survey about alcohol use. Yeovil's MP Adam Dance will lead a debate in Parliament today on NHS dentistry. A Yeovil runner has been selected to represent England at a national endurance championship... and more
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