Wednesday 1st July

Wednesday, 1 July 2026 06:30

An independent report has made recommendations for maternity services in the county. A Templecombe man who strangled and pressurised his victim has been jailed. Two people have been hospitalised after a collision on the A303... and more.

Families are calling for a full public inquiry into NHS maternity care in England, after an independent report concluded that services, including here in Somerset, were not fit for now or the future. The review, led by Baroness Amos, makes eight recommendations, including the appointment of a maternity commissioner. The report did however say that families experienced care from ‘kind and compassionate’ midwives. Investigators visited 12 trusts - including Somerset NHS Foundation Trust which runs Musgrove Park in Taunton and Yeovil District Hospitals.

A Templecombe man who strangled and pressurised his victim to change her Police statement has been jailed for two years and three months. Ross John McFadyen was sentenced at Bournemouth Crown Court on Friday after being found guilty of intentional strangulation and perverting the course of justice.

Two people have been hospitalised after a car reportedly overturned on the A303 near the Podimore roundabout yesterday morning. The incident occurred around 9am and brought traffic to a halt for a period. An ambulance took the two patients to Yeovil District Hospital.

The former Amulet Theatre in Shepton Mallet could be restored for community use after a six year battle over plans to turn the building into new homes ended in defeat for the developer. The original application in 2020 proposed turning the theatre into seven flats, with a retail unit. The theatre closed in 2011 and the ‘Buy The Amulet’ group hopes to bring the venue back to regular use.

A summer concert in Drayton is showcasing local talent while helping a church fundraising project. Two village musicians will perform original songs at St Catherine’s Church as part of its “Raise the Roof” appeal - with storytelling and local history also featured. The event is to raise money to replace part of the church’s roof and help preserve the building.

More from News

Friday 17th July

Plans have been submitted to build 30 new homes in Ashill. As the heatwave continues, a Somerset air conditioning business says demand for its services has never been higher. Morrisons has confirmed it will close its Glenthorne Avenue store in Yeovil on August 1st... and more
Thursday 16th July

Plans to build up to one hundred new homes on Yeovil's former cattle market have moved a step closer. It’s being made easier for parents in Somerset to register children for free school meals. Wessex Water says it has no plans for a hosepipe ban at the moment but is keeping a close eye on supplies as demand increases... and more
Wednesday 15th July

Bus passengers in Yeovil have been provided with easier access to the town's bus station. Firefighters are warning of an increased risk of wildfires because of the hot weather. Aldi is asking for public comments on plans to build a new food store in Chard... and more
Tuesday 14th July

A Martock machinery business has been bought out of administration saving the jobs of 15 employees. A Somerton man has pleaded not guilty to dangerous driving after a car crashed into a house in Martock. Drivers are being reminded that the A303 between South Petherton and Ilminster will be closed in both directions overnight from tonight... and more
Monday 13th July

Somerset Council says it's lost £91 million on commercial property investments. The former Clay Pigeon Karting Track near Yeovil is to be turned into a holiday park. The fire service is warning the dry conditions continue to pose a risk of grass fires... and more
Friday 10th July

The inquest into the death of a sex offender has returned an open conclusion. A driver has been arrested after a pursuit across the county. Ilminster Arts Centre has held its 2026 Open Exhibition Prize Giving Event... and more
Thursday 9th July

A father who shook his baby to death has been convicted of murder. Local people at high risk of having oesophageal cancer can take part in a new NHS test. Cheddar Reservoir will be closed to the public until next Monday morning because of the extreme heat... and more
Wednesday 8th July

NHS Somerset is warning us to take care as a new amber heat-health alert comes into place. A Yeovil encampment of campervans could soon be evicted. Chard’s former Oscar Mayer site could become home to a new Aldi... and more