Tuesday 26th March

Tuesday, 26 March 2024 06:00

By Steve Haigh

More than two hundred and fifty new homes are to be built on the northern edge of Yeovil following a successful appeal to the Planning Inspectorate. The Shindig Music Festival, held on the Dillington Estate near Ilminster, has announced that this year's event will be their last. A hip replacement procedure at Yeovil Hospital, that can be done without patients needing an overnight hospital stay, has won a top award...and more.

More than two hundred and fifty new homes are to be built on the northern edge of Yeovil following a successful appeal to the Planning Inspectorate. Developers, Yeovil LVA put forward outline plans in April 2022 to build the homes on the northern side of the A359 Mudford Road. The developer lodged an appeal in October 2023 on the grounds of non-determination, arguing that Somerset Council and its predecessor, South Somerset District Council had taken too long to make a decision. Following a public inquiry in January this year, the Planning Inspectorate has ruled in the developer's favour, with more detailed proposals expected later in the year.

A Somerset wildlife charity is highlighting the risk that litter poses to wildlife after a fox was found dead with a crisp packet stuck on its head. Secret World Wildlife Rescue was called out to help the animal but their intervention came too late.

The Shindig Music Festival, held on the Dillington Estate near Ilminster, has announced that this year's event will be their last. Organisers say the challenging landscape of the events industry and a lack of government support, have made it increasingly difficult for independent festivals to operate. This year, the Shindig Festival will celebrate its 10th birthday when it takes place at the end of May.

Purple chairs are being installed in libraries across Somerset to provide a safe space for women and girls to get information about health and wellbeing. They can be found in seven libraries, including Chard and Yeovil. There will also be support and resources available on issues such as breast cancer, cervical screening and domestic abuse.

A Yeovil man was among three people arrested following an alleged assault in Wimborne. Dorset Police say it resulted in another man sustaining a broken jaw and needing hospital treatment. Following an appeal for witnesses, Police arrested three people, including an eighteen-year-old from Yeovil and two other men who live in the Blandford area. All three have been released under investigation, as enquiries continue.

A hip replacement procedure at Yeovil Hospital, that can be done without patients needing an overnight hospital stay, has won a top award. The procedure involves patients being assessed, operated on, and discharged from hospital on the same day. The procedure took home first prize in the ‘Best Elective Care Recovery Initiative’ category at the national HSJ Partnership Awards held in London.

More from News

Monday 10th February

A dog, stolen in Norfolk seven years ago, has been found 200 miles away safe and well in Somerset. A man who lives in Seavington St Michael near Ilminster has been jailed after driving a car at police officers. One hundred new affordable homes could be built near Langport...and more
Friday 7th February

A Yeovil man has been fined £1,200 for sending hostile text messages to his ex-wife. A report into the performance of Avon and Somerset Police has found it doesn't answer emergency calls quickly enough. Twenty-two swimmers at the Trident Swimming Club in Chard have won places in this year’s Somerset County Swimming Championships...and more
Thursday 6th February

A man has appeared in court charged with murdering a one-month-old baby boy in Chard. Kingfisher Primary School in Yeovil has been highly praised by Ofsted. Somerset Council says it’s “extremely disappointed” after its bid to form a devolved Wessex group of local councils was rejected by the government...and more.
Wednesday 5th February

The Liberal Democrat Leader of Somerset Council, Councillor Bill Revans, says they had no choice but to ask the government to allow them to lift the 5 percent cap on raising Council Tax. Two teenagers have been released on bail following the stabbing in Yeovil. More than six thousand pounds has been awarded to local groups by Chard Carnival Committee...and more.
Tuesday 4th February

Somerset has been permitted to increase its Council Tax share by 7.5 percent. An Ilminster man, forced out of his house by last week's floods, says he doesn't know when he will be able to return home. Ilminster Literary Festival has launched its annual children’s writing competition, designed to encourage local children to write creative literature...and more.
Monday 3rd February

Five men have appeared in court charged with the murder of a man in Yeovil. A 16-year-old is the second person to be arrested in connection with a stabbing in Yeovil. Yeovil’s new outdoor entertainment space in Lower Middle Street has been officially opened by the town’s MP... and more.
Friday 31st January

A teenager has been arrested following a stabbing in Yeovil. Water bills in Somerset are set to go up on average by £123 from April. Yeovil MP, Adam Dance will officially open Yeovil’s new outdoor performance space later today...and more
Thursday 30th January

Lloyds bank is closing its branch in Chard. A Sherborne man has been jailed after defrauding a Yeovil woman of £40,000. A volunteer group in Chard is urging people to sign up to a flood victims register. A councillor in Shepton Mallet has become the first Reform UK member on Somerset Council... and more