Tuesday 12th May

Tuesday, 12 May 2026 06:00

By Steve Haigh

A member of Yeovil Town Council has appeared in court charged with two counts of assault. Health professionals in Somerset are urging people to take up the offer of a free NHS health check. Organisers of Somerset Day have welcomed the name Dunkery given to the dragon on the county flag...and more

A member of Yeovil Town Council has appeared in court charged with two counts of assault. Councillor Ashley Richards, who represents the Wyndham Ward, is accused of physically attacking two fellow town councillors during a private meeting. Appearing before magistrates, Mr Richards, of Sherborne Road in Yeovil, pleaded not guilty to both charges. The case was adjourned until March next year. He was granted bail and ordered to return to court for trial.

Health professionals in Somerset are urging people to take up the offer of a free NHS health check, after new figures showed only around a third of eligible residents are attending appointments. The NHS Health Check is offered to everyone aged between 40 and 74, provided they do not already have a diagnosed cardiovascular condition. Often described as a “midlife MOT”, the check is designed to identify early signs of heart disease, stroke, kidney disease and diabetes, and to help people reduce their risk.

Organisers of Somerset Day have welcomed the official naming of the dragon on the county flag. The dragon has been named “Dunkery”, after Dunkery Beacon on Exmoor, following a public vote as part of this year’s celebrations. The team behind the event say the name reflects Somerset’s heritage and landscape.

The Saxonvale site in Frome has been placed back on the open market by Somerset Council. In January 2025, the authority announced plans to sell the 12-acre derelict site to the social enterprise Mayday Saxonvale. However, the council withdrew its offer last October, saying the group had been unable to complete the purchase due to a lack of funding.

A Somerset councillor has been granted a six-month leave of absence. Councillor Jo Roundell Greene, who represents the South Petherton division on Somerset Council, will temporarily step back from her duties. During the period, her casework will be handled by her fellow division member and the current Yeovil MP, Adam Dance.

More from News

Friday 12th June

It's claimed the increasing availability of drugs such as ketamine and cocaine has normalised drug use among young people in Somerset. The trial of a man accused of killing his one-month-old son in Chard begins today at Bristol Crown Court. A stone pillar outside the Langport Arms Hotel in Langport has been replaced after it was destroyed in a car crash... and more
Thursday 11th June

Sir Keir Starmer has paid tribute to the three aircrew from RNAS Yeovilton who died in last week's helicopter crash in Devon. Two men have been arrested and stolen vehicles seized following a major multi-agency operation in South Somerset. An event highlighting opportunities for women in the aerospace industry has been held in Yeovil... and more
Wednesday 10th June

The public will be consulted on how best to spend fifty million pounds of government funding to tackle flooding in Somerset. Avon and Somerset Police are backing a new road safety campaign aimed at reducing motorcycle fatalities. New welcome signs have been installed at entrances to the Mendip Hills National Landscape... and more
Tuesday 9th June

The government has announced a £50 million investment to strengthen Somerset’s flood defences. A woman from Stoke-sub-Hamdon has been banned from driving for 14 months after admitting drink-driving. Somerset Council has been told it must improve its adult social care services... and more
Monday 8th June

Plans for a new railway station in Langport remain stalled in Whitehall, according to Somerset Council. Plans to build 50 new homes in Broadway, near Ilminster, have been refused. The new water fountains in Yeovil’s Triangle, in Lower Middle Street, are being switched off during very hot weather because of safety concerns... and more.
Friday 5th June

A new NHS dental practice in Crewkerne says it won’t start operating at full capacity until July due to staff shortages. Somerset Council says it has no plans to show England matches in the World Cup on the Big Screen in Yeovil town centre due to safety concerns. A Somerset family has been thanked after completing a 73-mile walk raising money for a third world charity... and more
Thursday 4th June

An investigation continues today into the crash of a Royal Navy helicopter, based at RNAS Yeovilton, in which all three aircrew were killed. Somerset Council has confirmed that a new operator will take over several leisure centres across the county. The new live-action Masters of the Universe movie, filmed in Somerset, is released this week...and more
Wednesday 3rd June

A Yeovil man has appeared in court charged with assaulting three police officers. Somerset Council has begun legal action to recover more than £320,000 owed by housing developers. The line-up has been announced for this year’s Ilminster Midsummer Experience...and more