Wednesday 5th November

Wednesday, 5 November 2025 05:00

By Steve Haigh

Members of the Unite union at Leonardo in Yeovil have called off a planned strike for today. South Western Railway says trains on the West of England Line will start running normally again at the end of the month. A memorial post box has been placed at the entrance to Crewkerne cemetery...and more.

Members of the Unite union at Leonardo in Yeovil have called off a planned strike for today after being made an improved pay offer. The stoppage would have seen around 3,000 workers at all Leonardo plants around the UK walk out for the next three days. Leonardo has offered staff a 3.2 % pay rise, which Unite members rejected in a ballot. Details of the new offer, which have yet to be made public, will now be voted on in a second ballot. Unite says pending the outcome of the ballot, the threat of strike action remains. Leonardo says it's hopeful the improved pay offer, which it describes as competitive, will be accepted, allowing for the pay rise to be implemented in December.

South Western Railway says trains on the West of England Line through Somerset will resume normal service at the end of the month. A reduced service has been operating between Yeovil and Exeter since August due to track damage caused by the hot summer. From November 29th, direct services between London Waterloo and Exeter St Davids, passing through Yeovil and Crewkerne stations, will again run every hour.

People have less than one month left in which to comment on plans to reshape children’s services in Somerset. Parents, children, professionals, and the wider public are being encouraged to participate in the consultation to inform Somerset Council on what is working well and what changes are needed to children’s services. The consultation, which can be viewed on the Somerset Council website, is the result of national proposals for families and practitioners to work together to promote the well-being of children. The closing date for comments is November 27th.

A seven-metre wide sculpture of the Earth has gone on display in Bridgwater. Created by the local artist Luke Jerram, the sculpture can be viewed at Bridgwater Town Hall until Sunday, November 23rd.

A road in West Somerset is shut to traffic today. The A396 between Wheddon Cross and Timberscombe will remain closed until 4:30 pm this afternoon. It’s for the police to carry out inquiries into a recent road traffic accident.

A memorial post box has been placed at the entrance to Crewkerne cemetery for people to place letters, cards, or messages in memory of someone special to them. Crewkerne Town Council, which is behind the idea, says it’s a new way for people to remember a loved one who has passed away.

More from News

Friday 12th June

It's claimed the increasing availability of drugs such as ketamine and cocaine has normalised drug use among young people in Somerset. The trial of a man accused of killing his one-month-old son in Chard begins today at Bristol Crown Court. A stone pillar outside the Langport Arms Hotel in Langport has been replaced after it was destroyed in a car crash... and more
Thursday 11th June

Sir Keir Starmer has paid tribute to the three aircrew from RNAS Yeovilton who died in last week's helicopter crash in Devon. Two men have been arrested and stolen vehicles seized following a major multi-agency operation in South Somerset. An event highlighting opportunities for women in the aerospace industry has been held in Yeovil... and more
Wednesday 10th June

The public will be consulted on how best to spend fifty million pounds of government funding to tackle flooding in Somerset. Avon and Somerset Police are backing a new road safety campaign aimed at reducing motorcycle fatalities. New welcome signs have been installed at entrances to the Mendip Hills National Landscape... and more
Tuesday 9th June

The government has announced a £50 million investment to strengthen Somerset’s flood defences. A woman from Stoke-sub-Hamdon has been banned from driving for 14 months after admitting drink-driving. Somerset Council has been told it must improve its adult social care services... and more
Monday 8th June

Plans for a new railway station in Langport remain stalled in Whitehall, according to Somerset Council. Plans to build 50 new homes in Broadway, near Ilminster, have been refused. The new water fountains in Yeovil’s Triangle, in Lower Middle Street, are being switched off during very hot weather because of safety concerns... and more.
Friday 5th June

A new NHS dental practice in Crewkerne says it won’t start operating at full capacity until July due to staff shortages. Somerset Council says it has no plans to show England matches in the World Cup on the Big Screen in Yeovil town centre due to safety concerns. A Somerset family has been thanked after completing a 73-mile walk raising money for a third world charity... and more
Thursday 4th June

An investigation continues today into the crash of a Royal Navy helicopter, based at RNAS Yeovilton, in which all three aircrew were killed. Somerset Council has confirmed that a new operator will take over several leisure centres across the county. The new live-action Masters of the Universe movie, filmed in Somerset, is released this week...and more
Wednesday 3rd June

A Yeovil man has appeared in court charged with assaulting three police officers. Somerset Council has begun legal action to recover more than £320,000 owed by housing developers. The line-up has been announced for this year’s Ilminster Midsummer Experience...and more