Local News Monday 13th February

Monday, 13 February 2023 06:00

The Managing Director of Leonardo Helicopters in Yeovil says the company's future will be bright even if they fail to secure a new government contract to replace the UK's fleet of Puma helicopters. Yeovil MP Marcus Fysh says the way GP surgeries are run needs to be streamlined with better financial incentives to tackle a shortage of doctors. The Cartgate Link Road in Yeovil is closed today and for the next 10 days for the removal of diseased trees...and more.

The Managing Director of Leonardo Helicopters in Yeovil says the company's future will be bright even if the company fails to secure a new government contract to replace the UK's fleet of Puma helicopters. Adam Clarke says they have secured lucrative contracts and that more are on the horizon. Leonardo is bidding against Boeing and Lockheed Martin to win a £1.3 billion order to build the AW149 for the RAF. Leonard says if they win the work the AW149's will be built entirely in Yeovil.

Yeovil MP Marcus Fysh says the way GP surgeries are run needs to be streamlined with better financial incentives to tackle a shortage of doctors. He was commenting on the closure of the Springmead GP practice in Chard due to staff shortages. The government says it’s working on a workforce strategy to improve recruitment and retention in the NHS.

The A3088 Cartgate Link Road in Yeovil is closed today and for the next 10 days for the removal of diseased trees. Somerset County Council says the trees have become a hazard and need to be urgently taken down. The road between the Cartgate roundabout and the Garador roundabout will be shut every day until Friday 24th February from 7 am in the morning to 6 pm in the evening.

The second phase of improvements to Chard town centre has begun. Phase-1 of the Chard Regeneration Project has seen pavements areas widened and upgraded, new trees and flowerbeds planted, and the eastern entrance to the town made more attractive. Phase-2 will see shops on the High Street given a lick of paint and new life injected into some of Chard’s historic buildings.

A Somerset woman who set up a walking football team for people with Parkinson’s has won a national award. Caroline Pike has been given the title of Coach of the Year by the England Walking Football Association.

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