Local News Friday 16th July

    Somerset County Council is warning of a staffing crisis in adult social care. Five cases of coronavirus have been reported at Wadham School in Crewkerne. Somerset libraries say there's been a big increase in people using e-books and audio books during the pandemic. A flying display of historic helicopters will be held in Chard next month. Radio Ninesprings has consolidated its fm coverage of South Somerset.

    Somerset County Council is warning of a staffing crisis in adult social care. It claims it can’t be recruited new employees because the sector pays less than the NHS for doing much the same work. 

    Five cases of coronavirus have been reported at Wadham School in Crewkerne. In a letter to parents the school says the outbreak is confined to Year-10. Students in Year-10 have been told not to attend school unless a PCR test shows they are negative. Latest data shows South Somerset has a coronavirus rate of 166.3 cases per 100,000 people, compared to the England average of 341.5.

    Somerset libraries say there's been a big increase in people using e-books and audio books during the pandemic. Between December 2019 and December 2020 e-book usage increased by 50% and audio book usage by 84%. 

    A flying display of historic helicopters will be held in Chard next month. Andrew Whitehouse, who owns five historic helicopters, including the world’s only airworthy Westland Whirlwind, is behind the event. The open day and display will take place at Whitehouse Farm, in Chard, on Thursday, August 5th.

    Radio Ninesprings has consolidated its coverage of South Somerset with the switch on two new FM transmitters, one in Chard, the other in Wincanton. In Chard, Radio Ninesprings can now be heard on 107.6 fm and in Wincanton on 103.3 fm.

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    Today's Weather

    • Yeovil

      Heavy rain shower

      High: 10°C | Low: -1°C

    • Chard

      Heavy rain shower

      High: 9°C | Low: -1°C

    • Crewkerne

      Heavy rain shower

      High: 9°C | Low: -1°C

    • Somerton

      Sunny intervals

      High: 9°C | Low: -1°C

    • Wincanton

      Sunny intervals

      High: 11°C | Low: -1°C

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