Somerset Council says 900 miles of the County’s roads will be gritted on a regular basis this winter. Work will start soon to strengthen Chard Reservoir to protect local communities from flooding. The first advent calendar produced by the charity Mind in Somerset has gone on sale...and more
Somerset Council says 900 miles of the County’s roads will be gritted regularly this winter. In our area, this includes the A3088 Cartgate Link Road between Yeovil and the A303. The A358 between Chard and Williton (via Ilminster and Taunton). The A359 between Yeovil and Frome (via Sparkford, Castle Cary and Bruton) and the A371 between Wincanton and Cheddar (via Shepton Mallet and Wells). Around one-fifth of Somerset's road network will be treated, with the council prioritising major commuter routes, along with main routes to schools, hospitals and other medical facilities, and interchanges with bus and rail services.
Work will start soon strengthening Chard Reservoir to protect local communities from flooding. The scheme will involve building a low wall along one section of the reservoir to reduce the risk of the reservoir failing. Somerset Council says the chances of flood waters overflowing and leading to a failure of the dam in any given year is approximately one in 5,000, whereas, with the wall in place, this reduces to about 1 in 400,000. The scheme will be phased, with work on culverts taking place before Christmas, and work on building the wall likely to start in the New Year.
Somerset Community Foundation has started its annual Surviving Winter appeal. Every year the foundation grants money to pensioners on the lowest incomes in Somerset to help with energy costs through winter. Last year it raised more than 150 thousand pounds.
The first advent calendar produced by the charity Mind in Somerset has gone on sale. They're hoping the calendar will raise money for mental health services which they say come under greater pressure during the winter months.
Somerset Council has provided rough sleepers with emergency accommodation due to the extreme cold weather of the past few days. Three men from Somerset, charged in connection with a series of burglaries, are due in court today. The Christmas lights get turned on in Ilminster tonight...and more
Bus campaigners are warning that government funding to improve Somerset’s bus network could be lost if Somerset Council goes bankrupt. GPs in Somerset are calling on the government to protect them from planned National Insurance tax rises for employers. Luxury handbag maker, Mulberry, is cutting dozens of jobs, including here in our locality...and more
Yeovil MP, Adam Dance, says he’ll vote in favour of the Assisted Dying Bill when it comes before Parliament later this month. Manor Court Primary School in Chard has been rated as ‘good’ following an OFSTED inspection. Forty-nine new homes are to be built at Broadway Hill in Horton, near Ilminster, following a successful planning appeal...and more
Somerset Council is investigating the source of a raw sewage leak at Limington, near Ilchester. Somerset has been given £7 million to improve local bus services. Chard Road Runners have donated three hundred rolls of wrapping paper to the Chard Christmas Present Appeal...and more
Nightspots in Yeovil are participating in a new initiative aimed at reducing crime and making people feel safer. A drop-in session is taking place in Chard this week for local people to ask questions about a new £2 million flood prevention scheme. The A303 eastbound between Ilchester and Podimore will be closed from 8 pm tonight until 6 am tomorrow...and more.
National Highways says the scheme to dual the A303 between Ilchester and Sparkford has been designed in the interests of motorists, horse riders, cyclists, and pedestrians. An investigation has been launched after a teenage girl was forced into a car in Wincanton. The number of children in Somerset being home-educated has nearly doubled since the Covid pandemic...and more
Farmers in Somerset are being asked not to leave roads covered in mud following an accident near Ilminster A liver screening project developed in Somerset could be rolled out across the UK. Senior managers at Somerset Council have been awarded a 2.5 per cent pay rise...and more
A South Petherton man has appeared in court charged with four counts of assaulting police officers. Public Health officials in Somerset have welcomed the news that an improved anti-smoking pill will be available locally on the NHS. A Royal Navy Commander, based at RNAS Yeovilton, has raised £4,000 for Help the Heroes with a world record attempt...and more
Friday 22nd November
Thursday 21st November
Wednesday 20th November
Tuesday 19th November
Monday 18th November
Friday 15th November
Thursday 14th November
Wednesday 13th November
