Friday 30th January

Friday, 30 January 2026 05:00

By Steve Haigh

Data from the weather centre at RNAS Yeovilton shows rainfall in Somerset was almost double the average for January. A disabled man is taking Somerset Council to the High Court, claiming its council tax reduction scheme is discriminatory. Ferne Animal Sanctuary near Chard is seeking urgent support to replenish its stocks of hay... and more

Data from the weather centre at RNAS Yeovilton shows rainfall in Somerset was almost double the average for January. Rainfall recorded at Yeovilton in January is normally around 70 mm but this month so far 136 mm has been recorded. Meanwhile, the Environment Agency has denied not acting quickly enough to prevent flooding in Somerset. The EA has come in for a lot of criticism on social media for its response to this week's heavy rain, with the Agency asking the public not to be abusive towards its staff.

A disabled man is taking Somerset Council to the High Court claiming its council tax reduction scheme is discriminatory. Andy Mitchell was exempt from paying council tax until he was switched to universal credit and now has to pay the tax at ninety percent. Somerset Council says it's undertaking a review of its council tax reduction scheme to ensure it remains fit for purpose and inclusive.

The CEO of Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance has been speaking about their plans to leave Henstridge and fly the air ambulance from a new base on the Leonardo airfield in Yeovil. Charles Hackett says the deal secures access for them to the Yeovil site for the next 35 years, even if the Italian company pull out of the town, which it has threatened to do if the UK government fails to confirm an order for new medium lift helicopters.

Ferne Animal Sanctuary near Chard is seeking urgent support to replenish its stocks of hay after heavy rain depleted its reserves. It says 1,000 bales of hay have been used this winter so far and that needs an additional 1,000 bales to get it through to late spring. An appeal to raise £5,000 to purchase the additional bales has been launched.

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Friday 27th February

The CEO of Leonardo has suggested the UK government could make an announcement immindently about ordering new medium lift helicopters to be built in Yeovil. A family run hardware business in Yeovil has gone into administration. The Lord Lieutenant of Somerset has been named the new patron of Somerset Chamber of Commerce... and more
Thursday 26th February

Workers at Leonardo in Yeovil have been to Downing Street to hand-in a petition calling on the government to back British jobs. The decision to grant planning permission to upgrade Yeovil's Octagon Theatre has been enthusiastically welcomed by staff who work there. The search is on to find a defibrillator that has gone missing in Chard... and more
Wednesday 25th February

Plans have been passed to carry out a £15 million upgrade of Yeovil’s Octagon Theatre. A new medical unit providing NHS and private treatments has opened in Shepton Mallet. Manor Court Community Primary School in Chard is celebrating after receiving a Gold Artsmark for excellence in arts and cultural education...and more
Tuesday 24th February

First Bus has announced changes to bus timetables on routes across Somerset. A Somerset drone company is celebrating getting through the audition round of ITV’s Britain's Got Talent. A public footpath in South Somerset is set to remain closed for up to two years... and more
Monday 23rd February

Yeovil MP Adam Dance is warning of a scaling back of jobs at the Leonardo helicopter factory in Yeovil. Work is underway on the multi-million-pound refurbishment of Yeovil police station. The A361 across the Somerset Levels has reopened... and more
Friday 20th February

10,000 incidents of potholes on Somerset’s roads have been reported to Somerset Council in the past four weeks. The Met Office is warning of more unsettled weather into March for Somerset. The Crowshute link in Chard will close for eight nights next month for road repairs... and more
Thursday 19th February

Yeovil fire station is to undergo a major refurbishment. A Yeovil based charity is appealing for adults to become mentors to young people. A Somerset woman has completed a 10,000 kilometre solo bike ride across Africa... and more
Wednesday 18th February

New figures have shown a rise in cases of suicide involving farmers, including in Somerset. Plans to merge the parishes of Castle Cary and Ansford have been scrapped. A Somerset-based charity working to end homelessness is marking its 50th anniversary... and more