Wednesday 28th January

Wednesday, 28 January 2026 06:00

By Steve Haigh

Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance has announced plans to develop a new operational base on the Leonardo airfield in Yeovil. Several people have been rescued from their homes in Ilminster due to flooding. An £800,000 project is underway to restore two staircases at Montecute House...and more

Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance has announced plans to develop a new operational base on the Leonardo airfield in Yeovil. The move to the Leonardo factory site will be subject to a public consultation and planning application, and take two years to complete. The decision by Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance to leave its current base at Henstridge follows the purchase of a second helicopter, which is due to enter service this summer.

Several people have been rescued from their homes in Ilminster due to flooding. Properties in Station Road were the worst hit, with 8 residents moved to temporary accommodation at the Minster Rooms at Court Barton. The Environment Agency says that with more rain forecast, the risk of flooding isn’t over.

An £800,000 project is underway to restore two staircases at Montecute House, which have been closed to the public due to safety concerns. The National Trust says the staircases, which form part of the original house built 400 years ago, could collapse if nothing is done. The work involves fitting steel reinforcements to the treads, with coverings, designed by a Somerset blacksmith, added to each step to prevent further erosion.

Plans for a car-free link between Wellington and Taunton have moved a step closer, with £8,000 allocated to produce a feasibility study. Pedestrians and cyclists travelling between the two towns rely on the A38, which is often congested. Now, local resident Charles Biscoe has launched a project to build a seven-mile-long pathway along the route of the former Grand Western Canal to connect Wellington and Taunton.

The Arrow Pub in Yeovil has shut for three weeks for major improvements. New large TV screens are being installed to create a grandstand-style viewing experience for sporting events. Dartboards and pool tables are being reintroduced, with the Arrow reopening on February 18th.

More from News

Tuesday 27th January

Last week was the wettest seven-day period in Somerset for twelve years. NHS Somerset says it’s working towards making access to dental care fairer for all. A scout leader in Somerset has been awarded the British Empire Medal for services to Young People...and more
Monday 26th January

A new group has been formed to challenge plans to build 100 new homes in Keinton Mandeville. Bridgwater Town Council has voted to increase its share of the Council Tax by 5%. Organisers of Yeovil in Bloom are appealing for young people to get involved in this year’s competition...and more
Friday 23rd January

New data shows that South Western Ambulance is one of the worst-performing ambulance trusts in England. Plans to introduce improved accessibility at Yeovil Junction station have moved a step closer. A community centre in Street is providing vulnerable people with a warm, safe place to meet...and more.
Thursday 22nd January

A new NHS diagnostic centre has opened in Yeovil. The go-ahead has been given to build a replacement school for Milford Junior School in Yeovil. A new 500-bed hotel-style campus is being planned to accommodate workers at the new Agratas car battery factory near Bridgwater...and more
Wednesday 21st January

Councillors have approved controversial plans to build four large carnival club sheds near Ilminster. Somerset Council says there's an increasing gap between the cost of education and the amount the government provides to run local schools. The Bridgwater Tidal Barrier, aimed at protecting homes and businesses from flooding, has been reduced in size...and more
Tuesday 20th January

Citizens Advice says thousands of people in Somerset have lost some or all of their council tax discount. The UK's first autonomous full-size helicopter, manufactured by Leonardo in Yeovil, has successfully completed its maiden flight. A new pharmacy has opened in Wincanton...and more
Monday 19th January

The government is facing increasing pressure to clarify whether it will order new medium-lift helicopters from Leonardo in Yeovil. Somerset Council is spending £5 million on new laptops. A new singing group is being set up in Yeovil for people living with dementia...and more
Friday 16th January

The go-ahead has been given to build 200 new homes at Ilchester. Taunton Town Council is increasing its share of the Council Tax by 3 per cent a year. Somerset is featured in a new Agatha Christie drama being shown on Netflix from this week...and more