Plans to regenerate Yeovil’s former cattle market have been cancelled. Two suspected cases of Mpox have been reported in Somerset. An 11-year-old Somerset boy has won two gold medals at the British Transplant Games. Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance has announced the return of its 100 Miles Challenge...and more.
Plans to regenerate Yeovil’s former cattle market have been cancelled. The upgrade of the site off Reckleford was part of the Yeovil Refresh project to which the previous Conservative government had given £9.75 million. Under the new Labour administration, funding to Yeovil Refresh has been cut to under £4.9 million. Somerset Council says none of the money will be spent on regenerating the cattle market but instead on buying the empty Glovers Walk shopping precinct and demolishing it, creating 18 flats within the former Porter Blacks building at 66, Middle Street, demolishing the building at 96, Middle Street, next to the 94 Club, replacing it with a ground floor commercial outlet including nine flats, and demolishing the existing buildings at Grimsby Corner at the end of Wyndham Street and replacing with a block of 48 flats. Meanwhile, plans to upgrade the A358 between the Southfields roundabout at Ilminster and the M5 at Taunton have been officially ‘put on hold’. National Highways says the scheme is being ‘paused’ as part of a review of all major transport schemes. It follows the cancellation of the £1.7 billion Stonehenge tunnel project, announced last month.
Two suspected cases of Mpox have been reported in Somerset, one in the Taunton area. The World Health Organisation declared an international emergency after the disease spread across Europe from the African Republic of Congo. Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, is an infectious disease caused by a virus. It causes flu-like symptoms including fever, muscle aches, and a skin rash that can last two to four weeks. The WHO say of all 116 suspected Mpox cases in the UK, none are of the most serious strain.
An 11-year-old Somerset boy has won two gold medals in the swimming at the British Transplant Games. Six years ago, Jayden received a new heart. The boy had his life-saving operation at Great Ormond Street Hospital and competed for their team at the Transplant Games.
A Somerset insect expert says while there have not been a lot of bugs around this summer, that could soon change. Entemologist, Dee Patel, says a combination of rainfall and heat has meant more ants, wasps, mosquitoes and slugs are starting to surface.
Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance has announced the return of its 100 Miles Challenge. The event, now in its second year, invites participants to support the life-saving service by 'moving' 100 miles throughout October. Whether walking, running, cycling or swimming, everyone is welcome to take part, covering the 100 miles in their own time. Last year’s challenge raised £21,829.00.