Wednesday 19th June

Wednesday, 19 June 2024 06:00

By Steve Haigh

New figures have shown that Somerset has the lowest rate of delivered NHS dental care in the South West. A boxing glove made in Somerset and claimed to have been worn by Cassius Clay in his 1963 fight against Henry Cooper has been sold at auction in Chard. A helicopter built in Yeovil will be one of the newest attractions at this year's Glastonbury Festival...and more.

New figures have shown that Somerset now has the lowest rate of delivered NHS dental care in the South West. Somerset’s Integrated Care Board says that due to a shortage of dentists, around half the money allocated for NHS dental work in Somerset is not being spent, with the number of children seen by NHS dentists halving over the past six years. The Integrated Care Board says in 2017/18 more than 60% of children in Somerset were seen by an NHS dentist; now the figure is 32%.

Somerset Rivers Authority says an agreement has been reached between the Environment Agency and local landowners to progress improvement works to the King’s Sedgemoor Drain on the Somerset Levels. The works, aimed at strengthening local flood defences, have involved removing silt and clearing river banks, but due to a fall-out between the EA and local landowners, the final stages of the work have been delayed. Somerset Rivers Authority now says the two sides have patched up their differences and that work on completing the improvements will begin shortly. This includes improvements to the Chedzoy tilting weir and the Back Ditch outfall, which lie between Bridgwater and the Polden Hills.

A boxing glove made in Somerset and claimed to have been worn by Cassius Clay in his 1963 fight against Henry Cooper has been sold at auction in Chard.

A helicopter made in Yeovil will be one of the newest attractions at this year's Glastonbury Festival. The Sea King, built by Leonardo and now retired out of service, has been turned into a mechanical Dragonfly by Bristol-based artists Pip Rush and Bert Cole. Its final look is being kept under wraps until the festival opens in nine days.

A group of young footballers from Somerset are in Germany taking part in a mini Euro football tournament. The visit by members of Frome Town United's Youth Squad to Frome’s twin town of Murrhardt was timed to coincide with the Euros 2024.

Chard is gearing up for an invasion of Town Criers. Around twenty criers, representing towns and cities across the South West, will be in the town for the annual Chard Town Criers competition on Saturday, June 29th. The event begins with a procession of Town Criers in the High Street followed by the competition outside the Guildhall starting at 10.15 am. Amongst the six members on the judging panel at this year’s contest will be the Deputy Lord-Lieutenant of Somerset, Alexander Priest.

More from News

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