Wednesday 5th March

Wednesday, 5 March 2025 06:00

By Steve Haigh

Somerset Council has been told that hundreds of millions of pounds in loans taken out by former district councils, including South Somerset, have to be paid back. A Somerset charity says it needs more volunteers to help with research into new treatments for dementia. A local shop owner has welcomed Somerset Council’s decision to scrap plans to charge for parking after 6 pm...and more.

Somerset Council has been told that hundreds of millions of pounds in loans taken out to buy investment properties by former district councils, including South Somerset, have to be paid back. The government has given Somerset Council permission to sell properties it owns and use the money to fund services like adult social care but says the original loans, totalling £300 million, have to be paid back, with interest.

A local shop owner has welcomed Somerset Council’s decision to scrap plans to charge for parking after 6 pm at council-run car parks across Somerset. Apart from not charging for overnight parking, the Council has also decided to continue providing free on-street parking in town centres. Shop owner, Susie Thomas, who along with thousands of others signed a petition opposing the charges, says it's good that the Council has listened.

A Somerset-based charity says it needs volunteers to help it with the search for new treatments for dementia. ReMind UK is running clinical trials and academic studies. It says it needs people, with or without dementia, to sign up to trials.

No trains will be running between Yeovil Pen Mill and Castle Cary next week. This will allow Network Rail to complete improvements to the Heart of Wessex Line, including repairs to signalling at Yeovil Pen Mill station and removing diseased trees along the line. A rail replacement bus service will be operating between Yeovil Pen Mill and Castle Cary, Monday to Friday next week, during the shutdown.

In cricket, Somerset all-rounder, Ben Green will join Leicestershire on loan for their opening seven County Championship matches. The 27-year-old will return to Somerset in time for the Vitality Blast clash against Surrey on May 30th.

More from News

Thursday 17th April

The father of a one-month-old baby boy in Chard is to stand trial for the murder of his son. New figures show that just under 1300 crimes were reported to the Police in Yeovil during the final quarter of last year. A night in a prison cell is offered at Shepton Mallet Jail to those who want to be alone this Easter...and more.
Wednesday 16th April

Big changes are being made to where taxi ranks in Yeovil are located. Farmers are being told to keep an extra lookout for people acting suspiciously following the latest livestock theft near the Devon and Somerset border. Channel 4’s Location Location Location is coming to Somerset, with anyone looking to buy a property locally invited to apply to be in the show...and more
Tuesday 15th April

A 36-year-old man remains in police custody after being arrested on suspicion of a sexual assault in Yeovil. Yeovil Labour Club has had its drinks licence revoked. NHS Somerset has been taking its physiotherapy team around the county to cut waiting times for patients. A men-only cooking course has been launched in Sherborne with all ingredients and equipment provided free of charge...and more
Monday 14th April

A new banking hub has opened in Crewkerne. South Western Ambulance is asking people to only dial 999 in a life-threatening emergency over the Easter weekend. £1.8 million is being spent improving walking and cycling routes around a major new housing development at Up Mudford in Yeovil...and more
Friday 11th April

Police are appealing for witnesses to an accident in Yeovil in which a man riding an e-bike was injured and later died in hospital. Somerset Fire and Rescue Service says the number of false alarm calls it receives is on the increase. A new micro-pub opens in Chard next week...and more
Thursday 10th April

Yeovil MP Adam Dance is calling for more targeted support for schools in Somerset. Police are appealing for witnesses to an accident near Wells in which a cyclist died. Plans have been approved to convert a former care home in Yeovil into a house of multiple occupation...and more
Wednesday 9th April

A man from Yeovil has been jailed for stabbing another man in a pub in the town. Work is underway to help minimize the flood risk at Chard Reservoir. Plans have been submitted to build thirty-six new homes at Sparkford. A new Town Crier is needed in Glastonbury...and more
Tuesday 8th April

Work is underway to demolish the Glovers Walk Shopping Centre in Yeovil. A Yeovil man has appeared in court charged with drink driving for a third time. Somerset Council has paid £35,000 in compensation for failing to deliver the right support to children with special educational needs. Another shop in Yeovil town centre is closing for good today...and more