Wednesday 7th May

Wednesday, 7 May 2025 06:00

By Steve Haigh

The Interim Chairman of Yeovil Town, Stuart Robins, says the club is close to finding a new owner. The Rail Accident Investigation Branch is examining an incident in which a volunteer was struck by a wagon at the Gartell Light Railway centre near Templecombe. An Ilminster man has been charged with fox hunting. Councillor Tony Lock has been sworn in as the new Mayor of Yeovil...and more

The Interim Chairman of Yeovil Town, Stuart Robins, says the club is close to finding a new owner. He stepped into the Chairman’s role last month following Martin Hellier’s resignation and decision to sell his majority shareholding. Stuart Robins says negotiations with a third party to buy Yeovil Town are progressing well but gave no further details.

The Rail Accident Investigation Branch is examining an incident in which a volunteer was struck by a wagon at the Gartell Light Railway centre near Templecombe. The volunteer was hit as he was attempting to get off the wagon near the Common Lane level crossing. The heritage railway was closed to the public at the time of the accident.

Racing pigeons from Somerset, released in Normandy to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day, have arrived back in the County. Pigeons played a vital role in World War Two, delivering messages when radio communications were disrupted. Over 1,000 pigeons from all parts of the West of England, including 50 destined for Somerset, flew back over the English Channel at the weekend, completing the crossing in around five hours.

Police are appealing for witnesses to an incident in Langport in which a man received serious head injuries when he was hit by a car. Emergency services were called to Parrett Close in Langport at 3 pm on Monday after a car collided with a pedestrian and two stationary vehicles. Avon and Somerset Police would like to hear from anyone who witnessed the incident or has dashcam footage. If you can help, you’re asked to please call the non-emergency number 101.

An Ilminster man has been charged with fox hunting. It follows reports of a fox being pursued by a hunt group and killed in the area of Drimpton, near Beaminster. The man has been charged with hunting a wild mammal with dogs under Section 1 of the Hunting Act 2004 and is due to appear at Weymouth Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, May 28th.

Entries are still open for this year’s Bristol, Bath, and Somerset Tourism Awards. It’s a chance for tourism and hospitality businesses to show off their success and honour their teams. Entries close on Sunday, May 18th, with businesses allowed to enter as many categories as they are eligible for. To enter, go to somersettourismawards.org.uk

Councillor Tony Lock has been sworn in as the new Mayor of Yeovil. Councillor Lock's chosen charities for his year in office are Yeovil Hospital Charity and Yeovil Freewheelers, also known as Yeovil Blood Bikes. Yeovil's new Deputy Mayor is Councillor Wes Read.

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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