Local News Tuesday 8th November

    It’s reported that the awarding of a £1.2 billion contract to supply helicopters to the British government, a contract that Leonardo in Yeovil is hoping to win, has been "delayed". New rules have come into force requiring anyone who keeps birds to house them indoors. The Football Association in Somerset is trialling a new way to support young footballers. A local winner at this year’s Chelsea Flower Show is giving a talk to raise funds for Keinton Mandeville Primary...and more.

    It’s reported that the awarding of a £1.2 billion contract to supply helicopters to the British government, a contract that Leonardo in Yeovil is hoping to win, has been "delayed". The magazine Flight Global is reporting that the issuing of ‘invitations to negotiate’ for the order has been put back to sometime next year. Leonardo is pitching for the contract with the AW149 to replace the RAF’s ageing fleet of Puma helicopters. It was thought the MOD would announce who’d won the contract in early 2023, with the first of the new helicopters delivered in 2025.

    New rules have come into force requiring anyone who keeps birds to house them indoors. The new restrictions are in response to the worsening outbreak of avian flu across the UK. Owners have been told to house birds inside sheds or shelters for the foreseeable future.

    The Football Association in Somerset is trialling a new way to support young footballers. It’s asking parents, coaches and friends not to shout at players from pitch side but instead to show their support by clapping.

    A local winner at this year’s Chelsea Flower Show is giving a talk to raise funds for Keinton Mandeville Primary. It’s part of a programme of activities to pay for an expansion of a therapeutic garden within the school site. The talk is being given by Adam Hunt of Urquhart and Hunt - a firm of landscape designers based in Bruton.

    A woman from Somerton who set herself a zero waste target for this year says she can't understand how some people come to throw away so much rubbish. Gill Hampson has gone almost 10 months without filling her black bin with waste and putting it out for collection. She was aiming to complete 12 months but had to use her black bin after clearing out the contents of her shed and finding lots of extra waste items for disposal.

    The winners of this year’s South West in Bloom awards have been announced. Yeovil, Curry Rivel, Crewkerne and Hazelbury Plucknett have each been given Gold awards. Henstridge has been given a Silver award. The South West In Bloom awards are part of National Britain In Bloom awards that aim to encourage communities to improve and diversify their local environments through the creation of open spaces, biodiversity, recycling and the conservation of wildlife.

    A new manager has been appointed to run Ilminster Arts Centre. Samantha Miller is taking on the role after previously working in publishing in London before moving to Ilminster to be nearer her family.

    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

    Today's Weather

    • Yeovil

      Heavy rain shower

      High: 14°C | Low: 8°C

    • Chard

      Sunny intervals

      High: 14°C | Low: 8°C

    • Crewkerne

      Sunny intervals

      High: 14°C | Low: 8°C

    • Somerton

      Sunny intervals

      High: 15°C | Low: 9°C

    • Wincanton

      Heavy rain shower

      High: 15°C | Low: 8°C

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