Wednesday 8th May

Wednesday, 8 May 2024 06:00

By Steve Haigh

A woman driver has been told she faces a prison term for causing the deaths of two people in a crash on the A303. The AA says there are more potholes than ever on Somerset’s motorway network, leading to an increase in damage to vehicles. The new cancer treatment unit at Yeovil Hospital should be open before the end of the year...and more.

A woman driver has been told she faces a prison term over the deaths of two people in a crash on the A303 at Camel Hill near Queen Camel. Appearing at Taunton Crown Court, Jessica Higgs, aged 20, from Warminster, pleaded guilty to two charges of causing the deaths of Tony Mist and Thelma Huse by dangerous driving while under the influence of drugs when her van collided with the couple's car in May last year. She was released on unconditional bail and will return to Court in August for sentencing.

The AA says there are more potholes than ever on Somerset’s motorway network, leading to increased vehicle damage. The motoring association says the last 18 months have been the worst for call-outs to tyre punctures because of potholes, especially in lane one of the M5.

Train passengers in Somerset are facing more disruption on the railways. An overtime by the drivers' union, ASLEF, is in place on Cross Country and GWR services until Saturday.

Somerset’s Home Library Service is looking for people to lead its teams of volunteers in Yeovil, Chard and Crewkerne. Home Library Service is a free service available to people who are housebound, those who are carers, or people vulnerable because of their health.

According to one of the fundraisers on the project, the new cancer treatment unit at Yeovil Hospital should be open before the end of the year. Karina Parsons says raising the £2.5 million needed to build the centre has been an amazing journey and that, hopefully, it won't be too long before the unit opens.

Chard Rugby Club have appointed a new head coach. Steve Pape, who played as a second-row forward for Bristol, Gloucester, Rosslyn Park and London Scottish during a long career will lead Chard into the 2024/25 season.

More from News

Friday 27th February

The CEO of Leonardo has suggested the UK government could make an announcement immindently about ordering new medium lift helicopters to be built in Yeovil. A family run hardware business in Yeovil has gone into administration. The Lord Lieutenant of Somerset has been named the new patron of Somerset Chamber of Commerce... and more
Thursday 26th February

Workers at Leonardo in Yeovil have been to Downing Street to hand-in a petition calling on the government to back British jobs. The decision to grant planning permission to upgrade Yeovil's Octagon Theatre has been enthusiastically welcomed by staff who work there. The search is on to find a defibrillator that has gone missing in Chard... and more
Wednesday 25th February

Plans have been passed to carry out a £15 million upgrade of Yeovil’s Octagon Theatre. A new medical unit providing NHS and private treatments has opened in Shepton Mallet. Manor Court Community Primary School in Chard is celebrating after receiving a Gold Artsmark for excellence in arts and cultural education...and more
Tuesday 24th February

First Bus has announced changes to bus timetables on routes across Somerset. A Somerset drone company is celebrating getting through the audition round of ITV’s Britain's Got Talent. A public footpath in South Somerset is set to remain closed for up to two years... and more
Monday 23rd February

Yeovil MP Adam Dance is warning of a scaling back of jobs at the Leonardo helicopter factory in Yeovil. Work is underway on the multi-million-pound refurbishment of Yeovil police station. The A361 across the Somerset Levels has reopened... and more
Friday 20th February

10,000 incidents of potholes on Somerset’s roads have been reported to Somerset Council in the past four weeks. The Met Office is warning of more unsettled weather into March for Somerset. The Crowshute link in Chard will close for eight nights next month for road repairs... and more
Thursday 19th February

Yeovil fire station is to undergo a major refurbishment. A Yeovil based charity is appealing for adults to become mentors to young people. A Somerset woman has completed a 10,000 kilometre solo bike ride across Africa... and more
Wednesday 18th February

New figures have shown a rise in cases of suicide involving farmers, including in Somerset. Plans to merge the parishes of Castle Cary and Ansford have been scrapped. A Somerset-based charity working to end homelessness is marking its 50th anniversary... and more