Local News Tuesday 1st November

    Therapy dogs are being used to help treat patients at Yeovil Hospital. Somerset-based entrepreneur and star of TV’s Dragons Den, Deborah Meaden, is asking people to shop local this Christmas. A consultation has opened on drawing up a new strategy for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities in Somerset. Grants are being made available to anyone wanting to open a community garden in Somerset. Singer-songwriter Lionel Richie is coming to Taunton next year...and more.

    Therapy dogs are being used to help treat patients at Yeovil Hospital. The dogs, trained by the group 'Pets as Therapy' have been proven to boost the wellbeing and mental health of patients. Three therapy dogs are currently being used in the wards at Yeovil Hospital.

    Somerset-based entrepreneur and star of TV’s Dragons Den, Deborah Meaden, is asking people to shop local this Christmas. She says with higher energy costs, shop owners need their Christmas sales to be stronger than ever this year. She’s also encouraging High Street outlets not to suffer in silence and to look at what further government support might be available to help with their running costs.

    A consultation has opened on drawing up a new strategy for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities in Somerset. The County Council says improving SEND services is one of its main priorities. The consultation is open for comments on the Somerset County Council website until December 23rd.

    Grants are being made available to anyone wanting to open a community garden in Somerset. The Community Garden Grants Scheme run by the National Gardens Scheme is aimed at creating new open green spaces within local communities. 

    Singer-songwriter Lionel Richie is coming to Taunton next year. The celebrated performer will give a concert at the County cricket ground on Saturday, June 11th. Tickets for the event go on sale tomorrow,

    Yeovil Town are back in action tonight. They’re playing away at Woking in a National League fixture, kick-off is at 7:45 pm

    More from News

    • Friday 3rd May

      Somerset Council is looking to buy the Glovers Walk Shopping Centre in Yeovil, including Yeovil Bus Station. More than three-and-a-half-thousand trees have been planted around Ilminster by Green Ilminster. One of the biggest events in Yeovil’s outdoor calendar, the Abbey Hill Steam Rally, starts today...and more.

    • Thursday 2nd May

      Voting is taking place today to elect a new Police and Crime Commissioner for Avon and Somerset. NHS Somerset says the hyper-acute stroke unit at Yeovil Hospital will stay open until a new replacement unit is built in Dorchester. A supermarket worker has retired after spending 52 years working at the same store in Ilminster...and more.

    • Wednesday 1st May

      SUEZ, the company that collects Somerset’s waste is warning it may cease operations. Twenty thousand pounds is being spent cleaning red paint off the front of County Hall in Taunton following a series of pro-Palestinian demonstrations. An occupational therapist at Yeovil Hospital has won an award for her smart appearance at work...and more.

    • Tuesday 30th April

      Somerset Council is taking legal action to remove an arms company from one of its commercial properties. Waste collection days across Somerset are set to change next month due to two impending bank holidays. An archaeological survey has begun on the proposed site of a new skate park in Bruton... and more.

    • Monday 29th April

      Somerset’s busiest speed camera in 2023 has been revealed as the camera on the westbound carriageway of the A303 between the Podimore Roundabout and the Hazelgrove Roundabout. Bus campaigners are calling on Somerset Council to keep the public toilets open at Yeovil bus station. The funeral has taken place in Yeovil of D-Day veteran, Bill Tolley, who has died at the age of 97...and more.

    • Friday 26 April

      A man has been arrested in Castle Cary and charged with stalking, harassment and making threats to kill. The NHS in Somerset says its staff retention rate has improved over the past two years. A farmer in South Petherton is preparing to cycle 1,000 miles to raise money for charity...and more.

    • Thursday 25th April

      The NHS is offering spring COVID-19 vaccines to people in Somerset who are at increased risk of serious illness from the virus. A new way of making roads safer for children in Somerset has started this week. A Yeovil-based apprentice has been named as a winner in the JTL Regional Awards. Haselbury Mill near Crewkerne has been put up for sale...and more

    • Wednesday 24th April 

      Yeovil Town FC have sent a strongly worded letter to the Football Association asking for plans to end FA Cup replays to be dropped. A Somerset woman who's spent the last 32 years living with Hepatitis C, says better support is needed for those affected by the contaminated blood scandal. A new school of musical theatre has opened in Chard...and more.

    Today's Weather

    • Yeovil

      Medium-level cloud

      High: 14°C | Low: 5°C

    • Chard

      Medium-level cloud

      High: 14°C | Low: 5°C

    • Crewkerne

      Medium-level cloud

      High: 14°C | Low: 5°C

    • Somerton

      Light rain

      High: 14°C | Low: 5°C

    • Wincanton

      Medium-level cloud

      High: 14°C | Low: 4°C