Wednesday 4th October

Wednesday, 4 October 2023 06:00

By Steve Haigh

Last night’s meeting of Yeovil Town Council, called to discuss giving financial support to the £29M project to re-build Yeovil’s Octagon Theatre had to be abandoned before it had started. Concern has been expressed about land at Bruton School for Girls being used for new housing. Homeowners in Chard are being offered the use of a free water butt to help cut the risk of flooding...and more.

Last night’s meeting of Yeovil Town Council, called to discuss giving financial support to the £29 million project to re-build Yeovil’s Octagon Theatre had to be abandoned before it had started due to the Council Chamber not being big enough to accommodate all the people wanting to attend. An impromptu meeting was held outside the Town House at which Council Leader Graham Oakes apologised for the upset and said a bigger venue would now be booked for holding the meeting at a later date. Meanwhile, the Executive at Somerset Council meets today to decide the next steps with the Octagon project which has run into problems due to increased building costs and higher interest rates.

Concern has been expressed about land at Bruton School for Girls being used for new housing. The school, which closed in the summer of last year, is currently on offer with a guide price of £9 million. Chairman of Pitcombe Parish Council, Richard Waller, says he’s concerned about the impact a new housing development on the site would have on local services.

Rail operators in Somerset are warning of delays and cancellations today due to further strike action by members of ASLEF. South Western Railway and GWR say only a reduced timetable will operate on both networks.

Homeowners in Chard are being offered the use of a free water butt to help cut the risk of flooding. The butts, provided by Wessex Water, are being given to people living in the Crimchard and Glynswood areas of the town in the hope they reduce the build-up of surface water.

Work starts later this month on resurfacing the B3081 at Bruton. It starts on Monday, October 16th and will last until Monday, October 23rd with the road closed between 6.30 pm and 11.30 pm each evening.

More from News

Thursday 30th October

Bird flu has been found at a nature reserve in Somerset, closing part of it down. St Margaret’s Hospice in Somerset is calling for the hospice sector to be given more central funding. The Barrington Boar in Barrington has been placed 12th in The Good Food Guide’s list of 100 best pubs in Britain... and more
Wednesday 29th October

Police are investigating a suspected arson attack on a mobile home near Yeovil. Somerset Council is suggesting people turn their pumpkins into soup this Halloween. People in Yeovil have until Sunday to comment on controversial plans to sell off four car parks in the town centre... and more.
Tuesday 28th October

Plans have been submitted to build 12 new homes in Chard. A nursery in Yeovil has been rated ‘overall good' by Ofsted. A Somerset mortgage broker has achieved national recognition. A stretch of the M5 at Wellington will be shut every night this week...and more
Monday 27th October

The Unite union has announced four days of strikes by its members at Leonardo in Yeovil. One of Yeovil’s busiest roads is closed to traffic today. Staff at the Ferne Animal Sanctuary near Chard raised £3,000 taking part in a Sleeping Ruff challenge at the weekend...and more
Friday 24th October

New figures show that 500 young people were either injured or killed on roads in Somerset and Devon last year. The Old School Community Centre in Queen Camel has reopened, thanks to a donation of £10,000 from Somerset Freemasons. Two Fleet Air Arm engineers based at RNAS Yeovilton have recreated a family moment from 26 years ago...and more
Thursday 23rd October

Yeovil-born actress Sarah Parish is supporting efforts to reopen the Octagon theatre. Mobility scooter campaigners in Somerset have welcomed a government review of the legislation governing the use of mobility scooters on public highways. Changes are being made to the dates when garden waste is collected in Somerset...and more
Wednesday 22nd October

A major house builder in the South West says government targets for new house building in Somerset are 'unrealistic'. Pizza Hut is closing its restaurant in Yeovil. Staff at the Ferne Animal Sanctuary near Chard will be taking part in a ‘Sleeping Ruff’ challenge tomorrow...and more .
Tuesday 21st October

Reckleford in Yeovil is to shut for 15 days for essential drainage works. Somerset NHS Foundation Trust has paid out compensation of £23 million for claims related to birth injuries. A Grade II listed building in Glastonbury has been converted into a health and wellbeing centre...and more