It’s thought the government will announce a decision on the future of local government in Somerset by the end of July. A cheese producer in South Somerset is blaming Brexit for not being able to recruit new staff. A road in South Somerset closed four months ago after a landslide and could remain off-limits until the autumn. Lasagne could be replaced with lentils on school dinner menus in Somerset if a former primary school teacher gets her way.
It’s thought the government will announce a decision on the future of local government in Somerset by the end of July. All interested parties are agreed that local councils in Somerset have to change. The County Council want one council to run all services, the four district councils want a two council solution, one council based on the eastern side of Somerset the other on the western side. The Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Robert Jenrick, is due to make an announcement before the summer Parliamentary recess on July 22.
A cheese producer in South Somerset is blaming Brexit for not being able to recruit new staff. Norseland, in Ilchester, says many workers left the business to return to their home countries when the UK formally exited the EU at the start of the year. The company is looking to fill vacancies on 40-hour-a-week contracts and part-time vacancies on 20-hour-a-week contracts.
A road in South Somerset closed four months ago after a landslide and could remain off-limits until the autumn. Chinnock Hollow, between East Chinnock and Odcombe, was blocked by a landslip back in February. Somerset County Council say "due to the complexities of the situation" the road is likely to stay shut for several more months
Lasagne could be replaced with lentils on school dinner menus in Somerset if a former primary school teacher gets her way. Catherine Cannon has launched a campaign to have more plant-based meals served in schools. She wants the change made in school menus to help with climate change and because non-meat meals are cheaper to produce.
A new campaign has been launched to persuade people in Somerset to stop smoking. Four people have been arrested in Chard in connection with the supply of Class A drugs. A dog from Yeovil has won the title of ‘best in breed’ at Cruffs....and more.
A charity in Somerset is appealing for support after one of its sites was vandalised. The Leader of Somerset Council has been to Westminster to put the case for central government to provide councils with more money. A new primary school is to built in Chard.... and more
The union representing workers at Somerset Council is warning of further job cuts at the council next year. Secondary school pupils in Somerset are being offered help to withstand peer pressure to vape or smoke. The bells of St George's Church in Hinton St George have been fully restored after becoming difficult to ring ... and more
A property in Raglan Terrace in Yeovil has been closed down by a court order after it was linked to anti-social behaviour. NHS Somerset says investing in nurse apprenticeships has helped to boost recruitment. A new community garden has opened in Chard.... and more
The Leader of Somerset Council has repeated his call for a reform of the way that councils are funded. Crimestoppers is stepping up efforts to help tackle violent crime in Somerset. A new radar satellite is playing a crucial role in collecting data about flooding in Somerset...and more
Somerset Council has approved a seven-and-a-half percent increase in council tax. People are being asked to return boxes of paracetamol bought from Boots Chemists in Somerset. It’s been revealed that five members of staff at Somerset Council are being allowed to work from home outside the UK...and more
Somerset Council has been told that hundreds of millions of pounds in loans taken out by former district councils, including South Somerset, have to be paid back. A Somerset charity says it needs more volunteers to help with research into new treatments for dementia. A local shop owner has welcomed Somerset Council’s decision to scrap plans to charge for parking after 6 pm...and more.
The population of Somerset has reached record levels with nearly one in ten born outside the UK. Stanchester School in Stoke-sub-Hamdon has been rated as ‘requiring improvement’. Experts have been called in to appraise a 15th-century piece of artwork in Sherborne...and more.