Wednesday 20th November

Wednesday, 20 November 2024 06:00

By Steve Haigh

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

Yeovil MP, Adam Dance, says he’ll vote in favour of the Assisted Dying Bill when it comes before Parliament later this month. If the Bill is passed, it will allow adults who are terminally ill to end their own life, subject to safeguards, A free vote on the bill will take place in Parliament on Friday, November 29th.

Farmers from Somerset joined thousands of others from across the country at yesterday’s demonstration in London against changes to inheritance tax rules. It was held in protest at the government’s plan to charge a 20 percent inheritance tax on farms, worth more than a million pounds when they are passed on within families. Sir Keir Starmer says he understands the plan is causing concern but will not change it.

Manor Court Primary School in Chard has been rated as ‘good’ following an OFSTED inspection. The school was praised for supporting disadvantaged pupils and those with special needs and for providing exceptional education and care to all its pupils.

Forty-nine new homes are to be built at Broadway Hill in Horton, near Ilminster, following a successful planning appeal. Somerset Council’s planning committee south voted to refuse the plans claiming the homes would amount to “over-development” and put a strain on local services. But following an appeal by developers Galion, the Council’s decision has been overturned. A separate appeal, arguing for the Council to pay Galion’s legal costs due to “unreasonable behaviour”, was dismissed.

Wessex Water is carrying out essential sewer renovation work in Ilminster all this week and over the next three weeks. Two-way traffic lights will be operating on the High Street, where the work is being carried out causing delays for motorists getting in and out of Ilminster town centre.

The A303 will be shut westbound between Ilchester and the Cartgate roundabout this evening from 8 pm to 6 am tomorrow for white-lining work. Diversions will be in operation via the A37 and A3088.

A darts tournament is being held in memory of a popular pub landlord in Chard. Organised by Chard and District Darts League in memory of Steven Jones, who was the landlord of the Phoenix Hotel, it takes place at the pub on Saturday, December 28th. There’s a £5 entrance fee, with all money raised going to Alopecia UK.

More from News

Friday 13th March

The first of the new medium lift helicopters being built by Leonardo in Yeovil for the RAF will be delivered in 2031. Somerset Council has launched a public consultation on planned new charges at its two hundred public car parks. More women in Somerset are said to be taking up walking football... and more
Thursday 12th March

A Yeovil headteacher says he’s concerned about plans to stop giving school holiday food vouchers to families on low incomes. The owner of Yeovil Town is calling on fans to be patient as he continues his overhaul of the National League side. A high voltage fault is being blamed for plunging 1700 homes into darkness in the Ilminster area... and more
Wednesday 11th March

Plans have been submitted to convert two properties in Yeovil into houses of multiple occupation. A new court date has been announced for a Yeovil man charged with attempted murder. An engineer who has worked at the Leonardo factory in Yeovil for 40-years has won a top industry award... and more
Tuesday 10th March

Police say a fire at the former Oscar Mayer food factory in Chard was started deliberately. Yeovil College says it would have been adversely affected had Leonardo not won the contract to build new medium-lift helicopters. A seven-foot dragon will be visiting towns and villages in our area during the next few weeks to promote Somerset Day... and more
Monday 9th March

Two Wildcat helicopters from 815 Squadron at RNAS Yeovilton have arrived in Cyprus to help protect RAF Akrotiri from further Iranian drone strikes. New figures show that 40 people were killed on Avon and Somerset’s roads in the last 12-months. A Somerset man has been recalling the day 60-years ago when he was a passenger on the last train on the Somerset and Dorset Railway... and more
Friday 6th March

Defence Minister Luke Pollard has been explaining why it took the government so long to confirm a contract for the Leonardo in Yeovil to build new medium lift helicopters for the RAF. Police are investigating a break in at a pet shop in Ilminster. Somerset Council is to stop using red ink on council tax reminder letters... and more
Thursday 5th March

Two military helicopters from RNAS Yeovilton are being sent to Cyprus to help bolster UK’s defences amid the US-Israel war with Iran. Yeovil Town Council is seeking legal advice over the closure of the hyper acute stroke unit at Yeovil Hospital. Flood warnings have been lifted on the Somerset Levels... and more
Wednesday 4th March

A man has died in a fire in Wincanton. Somerset Council is planning further cuts of twenty-one million pounds to help balance its books. A campaign to raise £30,000 for a minibus has been launched in Chard... and more