Local News Friday 24th February

Friday, 24 February 2023 06:00

People in Somerset who undergo hip replacement operations are no longer having to stay in hospital overnight. The RSPCA in Somerset says it's dealing with a sharp rise in abandoned pet rabbits. The Ferne Animal Sanctuary near Chard is closing for two weeks. People are being asked to take part in a charity Swimathon organised by Olympic gold medallist Duncan Goodhew. Soldiers from the 1st Regiment Army Air Corps, based at RNAS Yeovilton, have marched through Wincanton...and more.

People in Somerset who undergo hip replacement operations are no longer having to stay in hospital overnight. It follows the launch of a pilot scheme to reduce waiting lists, with patients leaving hospital within just a few hours of being operated on.

The former Leader of Somerset County Council, Councillor David Fothergill, has expressed alarm at a sharp rise in children having teeth extracted in hospital. Councillor Fothergill, who‘s currently chairman of the Local Government Association's Community Wellbeing Board, was speaking after figures showed an 83 per cent increase in children having teeth taken out in hospital this year. His comments come amid claims that a lack of NHS dentists is leading to an increase in cases of people of all ages having rotting teeth.

The RSPCA in Somerset says its dealing with a sharp rise in the number of abandoned pet rabbits. The charity says it’s a result of overbreeding during the lockdown and the cost of living crisis.

Soldiers from the 1st Regiment Army Air Corps, based at RNAS Yeovilton, have marched through Wincanton. The parade was held to mark the Regiment being awarded the Freedom of the Town.

The Ferne Animal Sanctuary near Chard is closing for two weeks for improvement works to be carried out. The sanctuary will shut to visitors from Sunday, March 19th to Saturday, April 1st. Changes to the site include building a new entrance, and the opening of a new art, crafts and education centre.

People in South Somerset are being asked to take part in a charity Swimathon organised by Olympic gold medallist Duncan Goodhew. Goldenstones Leisure Centre in Yeovil, Chard Leisure Centre and Wincanton Sports Centre will be involved in raising funds for Cancer Research UK and Marie Curie over the weekend of May 12th to the 14th. You can enter the Swimathon as an individual or with a team via the MySwimathon website.

More from News

Thursday 17th April

The father of a one-month-old baby boy in Chard is to stand trial for the murder of his son. New figures show that just under 1300 crimes were reported to the Police in Yeovil during the final quarter of last year. A night in a prison cell is offered at Shepton Mallet Jail to those who want to be alone this Easter...and more.
Wednesday 16th April

Big changes are being made to where taxi ranks in Yeovil are located. Farmers are being told to keep an extra lookout for people acting suspiciously following the latest livestock theft near the Devon and Somerset border. Channel 4’s Location Location Location is coming to Somerset, with anyone looking to buy a property locally invited to apply to be in the show...and more
Tuesday 15th April

A 36-year-old man remains in police custody after being arrested on suspicion of a sexual assault in Yeovil. Yeovil Labour Club has had its drinks licence revoked. NHS Somerset has been taking its physiotherapy team around the county to cut waiting times for patients. A men-only cooking course has been launched in Sherborne with all ingredients and equipment provided free of charge...and more
Monday 14th April

A new banking hub has opened in Crewkerne. South Western Ambulance is asking people to only dial 999 in a life-threatening emergency over the Easter weekend. £1.8 million is being spent improving walking and cycling routes around a major new housing development at Up Mudford in Yeovil...and more
Friday 11th April

Police are appealing for witnesses to an accident in Yeovil in which a man riding an e-bike was injured and later died in hospital. Somerset Fire and Rescue Service says the number of false alarm calls it receives is on the increase. A new micro-pub opens in Chard next week...and more
Thursday 10th April

Yeovil MP Adam Dance is calling for more targeted support for schools in Somerset. Police are appealing for witnesses to an accident near Wells in which a cyclist died. Plans have been approved to convert a former care home in Yeovil into a house of multiple occupation...and more
Wednesday 9th April

A man from Yeovil has been jailed for stabbing another man in a pub in the town. Work is underway to help minimize the flood risk at Chard Reservoir. Plans have been submitted to build thirty-six new homes at Sparkford. A new Town Crier is needed in Glastonbury...and more
Tuesday 8th April

Work is underway to demolish the Glovers Walk Shopping Centre in Yeovil. A Yeovil man has appeared in court charged with drink driving for a third time. Somerset Council has paid £35,000 in compensation for failing to deliver the right support to children with special educational needs. Another shop in Yeovil town centre is closing for good today...and more