Wednesday 28th January

Wednesday, 28 January 2026 at 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.

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Friday 30th October

Wells Cathedral says it's having to get creative to bring in more money as financial pressures continue to grow. A convenience store in Martock has been allowed to keep its alcohol licence despite an employee working there illegally. Police have seized an illegally ridden e-scooter in Yeovil in response to concerns from local residents... and more
Thursday 29th October

A Yeovil man has been detained under the Mental Health Act for attacking his mother with a knife. People in Chard are being reminded that it’s unlawful to attach flags to lamp posts and street furniture. Wincanton Racecourse has called off its 'Badger Chase Day' because the ground is too firm... and more
Wednesday 28th October

Leweston School near Sherborne has announced that it is closing with immediate effect. NHS Somerset could merge with neighbours in Bath and North-East Somerset and Dorset to cut costs. Somerset’s Lord-Lieutenant has launched a campaign to get more people nominated for national honours... and more
Tuesday 27th October

Work has started building a new six-million-pound flood defence scheme in Taunton. Plans have been submitted to build a new church hall in Martock. People are being asked to donate gifts to this year’s Chard Christmas Present Appeal... and more
Monday 26th October

Eligible groups in Somerset are being encouraged to get their flu jabs. There’s a rare opportunity to get a behind-the-scenes look inside Avon & Somerset Police’s control room. Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader, Daisy Cooper MP, has visited Yeovil... and more.
Friday 23rd October

Somerset is the 11th most challenging place in England to be a child according to a report. Dorset, Somerset and Wiltshire could have its own elected ‘Wessex Mayor’ by 2028. Cricketer, Ian Botham returns to the county this weekend... and more.
Thursday 22nd October

The NFU says that testing for the virus Bluetongue needs to be sped up. Construction of new flats on Yeovil’s Grimsby Corner site will officially begin next year. The Met Office has issued a yellow warning for wind tomorrow... and more.
Wednesday 21st October

The owner of campsite in Somerset says a two-thousand-seven-hundred percent increase in business rates will be 'catastrophic' for his business. Plans to build nearly 300 new homes on the outskirts of Chard have been given the go ahead. Yeovil Town are through to the first round proper of the FA Cup after beating Leatherhead 5-2 at Huish Park last night... and more