Local News Thursday 30th September

Thursday, 30 September 2021 06:00

Yeovil Hospital failed to meet government targets on cancer treatment over a two-year period, according to figures from Cancer Research UK. National Highways says the A303 at Marsh on the Somerset/Devon border will not be upgraded if plans to dual the A358 between Ilminster and the M5 are approved. Three areas of Wincanton could see big improvements in the New Year. A Merriot man has embarked on running 52 half marathons to raise funds for the British Heart Foundation.

Yeovil Hospital failed to meet government targets on cancer treatment over a two-year period, according to figures from Cancer Research UK. The charity says NHS policy states that 85% of cancer patients urgently referred by a GP should start treatment within 62 days. However, between April 2019 and July this year, Yeovil Hospital missed the target. Cancer Research UK says a radical reform of screening and diagnostic services is needed, backed up by longer-term investment. The Department of Health and Social Care says its providing record investment in the NHS, including an additional £9 billion for elective and cancer care.

National Highways says the A303 at Marsh on the Somerset/Devon border will not be upgraded if plans to dual the A358 between Ilminster and the M5 are approved. Meanwhile, Yeovil MP Marcus Fysh says he’s continuing to lobby the government to dual the A303 Ilminster bypass, as part of the next roads investment strategy from 2025.

Three areas of Wincanton could see big improvements in the New Year. As part of plans to regenerate the town, South Somerset District Council say work will begin early in 2022 on improving Carrington Way, High Street and Market Place. In Carrington Way, a road crossing will be created with a planted areas introduced in front of the library. The scheme will also see the junction with High Street enhanced through wider pavements. On the High Street, pavements will be widened and two new on-street parking bays introduced. In Market Place, safer road crossing points will be created, along with new-planted areas and improvements to existing historic buildings.

A Merriot man has embarked on running 52 half marathons to raise funds for the British Heart Foundation. Carl Hedges is also running 52, 10K’s and 52, 5k’s in memory of his grandfather Kevin Hedges who died of heart failure. Carl aims to complete the challenge by Christmas and will have covered the equivalent distance from London to Rome.

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