Thursday 8th May

Thursday, 8 May 2025 06:00

By Steve Haigh

Somerset Council says it's dealing with up to 800 reports of potholes on the County's roads every week. Events are taking place across our area today to mark the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day. Sixteen doctors’ surgeries in Somerset, including four in South Somerset, are set to expand. A Martock man hopes to set a world record by jumping off the world's fourth-tallest mountain in a wingsuit...and more.

The Lib Dem Leader of Somerset Council, Bill Revans, says the county's roads have been a victim of "perfect pothole weather." Councillor Revans says recent weather was partly to blame for the state of Somerset's road surfaces, which he admitted was "far from ideal." He says Somerset Council gets up to 800 reports of potholes every week.

Events are taking place across our area today to mark the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day. On this day, May 8th 1945, fighting in World War Two in Europe finally ended. In Yeovil, an event is being held at St John’s Church starting at 4:30 this afternoon, and everyone is welcome to attend.

Sixteen doctors’ surgeries in Somerset, including four in our area, are set to expand, providing more appointments to local patients. It follows confirmation of government funding to upgrade more than 1,000 GP practices across England. The surgeries in our area to benefit are:

Church Street Surgery, in Church Street, Martock
Church View Medical Centre, on Broadway Road, Broadway
Langport Surgery, on North Street, Langport
Wincanton Health Centre, on Dyke’s Way, Wincanton

The A30 between Crewkerne and Haselfbury Plucknett will be closed from 7 p.m. tonight to 6 a.m. tomorrow. This closure will allow patching works to take place before surface dressing later this summer. A diversion will be in place while the road is closed.

A Somerset man hopes to achieve a world record by jumping off the world's fourth-tallest mountain in a wingsuit. Tim Howell from Martock will attempt to break the record for the world's highest base jump, which involves jumping from a fixed object using a parachute or wingsuit, 8,300 meters from Mount Lhotse in the Himalayas. Tim last attempted to set a new world record jumping from the same mountain last year, but it was cut short by bad weather.

Entries are still open for this year’s Bristol, Bath, and Somerset Tourism Awards. The awards are a chance for tourism and hospitality businesses to show off their success and honour their teams. Entries close on Sunday, May 18th, and businesses are allowed to enter as many categories as they are eligible for.

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Monday 17th August

Wessex Water, who supplies almost all homes and businesses in Somerset, has introduced a hosepipe ban effective from midnight tonight. A sinkhole on Station Road in Castle Cary has been repaired, two years after it was first discovered. A Wildcat helicopter from RNAS Yeovilton has taken part in the annual passing-out parade at the Britannia Royal Naval College in Dartmouth... and more
Friday 14th August

Police are investigating an incident in which obscene words were scratched onto the World War One memorial at Ham Hill. Yeovil MP Adam Dance has repeated his call for the upgrade of the town’s police station to include a custody suite. A Somerset carnival club is building a specially adapted float to allow a wheelchair user and her assistance dog to take part in this year’s carnival circuit...and more
Thursday 13th August

An Ilminster family is celebrating after winning one million pounds on the National Lottery. Police have released a picture of a man they want to speak to in connection with suspected frauds in Somerset. Somerset Council has opened a tendering process to find a main contractor for the £15 million upgrade of Yeovil’s Octagon theatre... and more
Wednesday 12th August

Experts say with good visibility forecast for this evening, people across Somerset should have some of the best views of the solar eclipse anywhere in the UK. A Somerset councillor is calling for the Stop Line cycle route between Chard and Ilminster to be better supported. It's 40-years ago this week since a Lynx helicopter built in Yeovil set a new World Helicopter Speed Record... and more
Tuesday 11th August

Wessex Water says a hosepipe ban is possible if customers fail to cut their water usage. A record number of illegal dog fights were reported in Somerset last year. Yeovil Town's Mason Obeng has won the traditional sack of potatoes, given to the player who scores Yeovil's first goal of the new season, as a lucky omen... and more
Monday 10th August

A local councillor claims anti-social behaviour is putting people off coming into Yeovil town centre. South-West Water has announced a hosepipe ban in the Chard area. Great Western Railway has apologised after a wheelchair user from Chard became stuck at one of its stations... and more
Friday 7th August

Chard's biggest employer, Numatic International, makers of the Henry vacuum cleaner, has announced job cuts. A new Neighbourhood Plan for Hatch Beauchamp has officially been adopted. Two historic artefacts taken from Glastonbury Abbey more than 70 years ago have been returned...and more
Thursday 6th August

A local man and convicted former neo-Nazi, selected by the Conservatives to stand in Crewkerne South in next year’s local elections for a seat on Somerset Council, has pulled out after a backlash against his candidacy. A charity that runs children's homes in Somerset is terminating its contract early following a critical report by Ofsted...and more