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 15th September

Police investigating an attack on a shop worker in Yeovil have released CCTV images of a man and woman they want to speak to. Farmers in Somerset are being warned to expect more cases of bluetongue. Ilminster Carnival Committee has announced the cancellation of this year's Children's Carnival due to a lack of entries... and more
Monday 14th September

Two new mobile NHS breast screening units have taken to the road in Somerset. More than 700 new homes are to be built alongside the M5 in Bridgwater. Dawes Twineworks in West Coker is one of several venues open to the public for free this month... and more
Friday 11th September

It’s going to cost more to park in Chard. Police have issued an image of a man they want to speak to in connection with two burglaries in Yeovil. Somerset Cricket Club is planning to stage performances by some of the world's biggest artistes at their Taunton ground... and more
Thursday 10th September

Work has begun building a new multi-million-pound David Lloyd leisure centre in Yeovil. NHS Somerset says a new system to handle emergency stroke care will lead to "better outcomes" for patients. Tickets for next year’s Glastonbury Festival will go on sale in October...and more
Wednesday 9th September

Police have released an image of a man they want to speak to following an assault in Yeovil. Businesses in Taunton say they're worried that planned changes to parking rules could put people off visiting the town. The Red Arrows will take to the skies near the Somerset border in a one-off display later this week... and more
Tuesday 8th September

Police in Avon and Somerset say they’re dealing with a big increase in reports of cloned vehicle fraud. A new video system designed to speed up stroke care has been launched in Somerset. Pilgrims are walking through Somerset this week to mark eight hundred years since the death of Saint Francis of Assisi... and more
Monday 7th September

Avon and Somerset Police are warning about a new scam involving criminals posing as police officers. Flu vaccinations are now available on the NHS ahead of the winter. Liverpool comedian John Bishop has cancelled his show in Taunton later this week after breaking his ankle... and more
Friday 4th September

Police are investigating a suspected arson attack on a vehicle near Shepton Mallet. New taxi charges come into force in Somerset later this month. The fire service is treating as accidental a blaze at a flat in Yeovil town centre... and more