Local News Wednesday 25th January

Wednesday, 25 January 2023 06:00

Avon and Somerset Police arrested 346 drivers during its Operation Tonic campaign over Christmas. More than five million pounds is being spent to turn land near Bruton into a nature reserve. Another local pub has closed blaming rising running costs for the shutdown. The Care Quality Commission has carried out an inspection of Somerset NHS Foundation Trust and rated it as ‘good overall’. A Somerset youngster has joined the intellectual elite becoming Britain's youngest-ever member of Mensa...and more.

Avon and Somerset Police arrested 346 drivers during its Operation Tonic campaign over Christmas. 130 people were arrested for drug driving offences, which was an increase of 100 from last Christmas. All the arrests were made in the six weeks leading up to New Year's Eve.

More than five million pounds is being spent to turn land near Bruton into a nature reserve. Nearly five hundred acres have been bought by the Somerset charity Heal which has plans to create a reserve in every county in England.

Another local pub has closed blaming rising running costs for the shutdown. The Carpenters Arms in Chilthorne Domer near Yeovil, which was bought by new management 18 months ago, has closed until further notice.

The Care Quality Commission has carried out an inspection of Somerset NHS Foundation Trust and rated it as ‘good overall’. The CQC assessed three core areas - including specialist community mental health services for children and young people. That jumped from requires improvement to outstanding.

A Somerset youngster has joined the intellectual elite becoming Britain's youngest-ever member of Mensa. Teddy Hobbs had taught himself to read and count to 100 in seven languages before his third birthday.

A major incident, declared a week ago due to flooding in Somerset, has been lifted. Water levels on the Somerset Levels and Moors have been reduced with enhanced pumping and drier weather. The environment agency says at one point it was pumping enough water to fill 3,000 Olympic size swimming pools every day.

The Fixy van, operated by Somerset Waste Partnership, is in Chard today. It’s parked outside the Guildhall in Fore Street for collecting unwanted items of tech equipment including computers, keyboards and laptops, parts from which will be reused.

A Gastropub near Ilminster has been named among the best 100 Gastropubs in the UK. The Barrington Boar at Barrington is run by husband and wife team, Alasdair Clifford and Victoria Collins and is described as a country pub offering "modern British cooking" and "refined comfort food".

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Wednesday 7th January

Somerset's Lib Dem MPs have described a one per cent rise in Council funding as 'profoundly disappointing'. A new independent cinema will open next month in Wincanton. We’re facing the chance of heavy snow with Storm Goretti hitting the region on Thursday...and more.
Tuesday 6th January

The Poundland chain has confirmed its store closures, including one of the Yeovil branches next Friday. Yeovil's Marlie Packer has been awarded an OBE for her outstanding contribution to rugby. Nearly one hundred new low-cost homes could be coming to South Chard...and more.
Monday 5th January

A woman has been cut free from her car after a four-vehicle collision in Montacute. Devon and Somerset fire crews have been praised for their bravery, following the summer wildfires. More new homes are set to be built in Martock, following approval from Somerset Council...and more.
Wednesday 24th December

A formal planning application has been made to carry out significant improvements to Yeovil’s Octagon Theatre, costing £15 million. The Halifax Bank in King George Street in Yeovil could be converted into 17 flats. A new young people’s centre opens in Chard early in the New Year...and more.
Tuesday 23rd December

NHS Somerset reports a strong uptake of flu jabs, but some eligible people for free vaccinations haven’t come forward. Police are appealing for witnesses to an accident on the A303 in which a pedestrian was killed. A Crewkerne woman has gone viral on TikTok after being trapped inside a Lidl store in the town... and more.
Monday 22nd December

Somerset Bus Partnership has welcomed a £24.7m boost for the county's bus services. Outline planning permission has been granted to build up to 100 new homes in Ilminster. An Ilminster man has been banned from keeping animals for seven years. Residents in Chiselborough have set up a group to try and re-open the village pub...and more.
Friday 19th December

Crewkerne Community Hospital is to lose half its inpatient beds. A review will be conducted of a project to make Bridgwater more pedestrian and cyclist-friendly. Chard Methodist Church is offering residents a free lunch on Christmas Day. Yeovil-based Screwfix is opening a new outlet in Minehead...and more.
Thursday 18th December

Yeovil MP Adam Dance has warned that delays in ordering 30 new medium lift helicopters for the RAF is putting the future of Somerset’s defence industries at risk. Somerset's farmers are being urged to convert more cow manure into biogas to heat homes. A new visitor centre has opened at Ham Hill country park...and more