Wednesday 3rd September

Wednesday, 3 September 2025 06:00

Yeovil’s MP, Adam Dance, will introduce his first Bill to Parliament next week, proposing dyslexia screening. The 2025 Ilminster Neighbourhood Plan referendum has won a massive majority in the town. Chard residents are being encouraged to report crime and antisocial behaviour...and more.

Yeovil’s MP, Adam Dance, will introduce his first Bill to Parliament next week, proposing dyslexia screening in schools. Mr Dance grew up with the condition and says the Bill would ensure no child in South Somerset, or countrywide, would be left behind. Currently, the only standardised check in primary schools is the phonics test, and campaigners argue it can overlook dyslexia, ADHD and other neurodivergent traits. The Bill will be presented on Wednesday, 10th September, after Prime Minister’s Questions.

The 2025 Ilminster Neighbourhood Plan referendum has won a massive majority in the town, with 82.9% of votes giving it the go-ahead. The plan is community-led and land-based and will seek guidance on future development, regeneration and conservation in the area. The development and funding of housing will be addressed over the next two years, alongside employment, across an area that includes the former Horlicks factory to the east of the town.

Police and community groups in Chard say they want more people to report low-level crime and antisocial behaviour. The Community Hub, Somerset Drug and Alcohol Service, local Village Agents and Citizens Advice have all been taking part in an event to try and engage more with the local community. Jeannie McManus is from Young Somerset and says they really want to improve the relationship.

Pregnant women and children in Somerset are being urged to get a flu jab this autumn. One thousand seven hundred eighty people were hospitalised in Somerset between September 2023 and March 2025 as a result of Flu or COVID-19. Vaccinations are now open to children aged between 2 and 3, school-aged children, and children with long-term health conditions to help them stay well during the winter months.

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Wednesday 28th January

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
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