Tuesday 25th March

Tuesday, 25 March 2025 06:00

By Steve Haigh

A teenage boy has been arrested following an incident in Castle Cary. Somerset Council has announced “wide-ranging improvements” to bus services. Work has started upgrading a doctor’s surgery in Chard. The finalists have been announced for this year’s Somerset Business Awards...and more

A teenage boy has been arrested following an incident in Castle Cary. Police say he was arrested in Station Road following reports from the public that he was seen acting in a threatening manner. The Police ask that anyone who witnessed the incident or has video footage to call the non-emergency number 101.

The former Conservative leader of the old Somerset County Council, David Fothergill has described as ‘unfair’ a report claiming a "significant proportion" of the financial problems at the new Somerset Council are attributable to decisions made when he was in charge at County Hall. In their report, the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy say freezing council tax or keeping it at a low level has led to the funding shortfalls now being experienced at Somerset Council.

Work has started upgrading a doctor’s surgery in Chard. The GP practice at Essex House on Fore Street is undergoing a complete refurbishment. While the work is being carried out, the medical team at Essex House are operating from temporary premises in Summerfield Road in Chard.

Somerset Council has announced “wide-ranging improvements” to bus services following confirmation of a £6 million funding boost from the government. The council says the money will be used to implement its Bus Service Improvement Plan, which includes better bus services for Yeovil, including the 376 Yeovil to Bristol service that will operate in the evenings and on Sundays. Money will also be invested in developing a public transport hub in Langport and carrying out a feasibility study into introducing a transport hub in Yeovil.

The finalists have been announced for this year’s Somerset Business Awards, with ARK at Egwood in Merriott – a community therapeutic day service provision – shortlisted in the Small Business of the Year category. The finals of the Somerset Business Awards, run by the Somerset Chamber of Commerce, take place this Friday in the Winter Gardens Pavilion, in Weston-super-Mare.

More from News

Thursday 3rd April

Two-thirds of employers in Somerset say the hike in employers' National Insurance will mean cutting staff. Police are investigating incidents of repeated damage at Somerton recreation ground. A man has been arrested in Chard on suspicion of indecent exposure. The story of the Monmouth Rebellion is being told in a new exhibition...and more
Wednesday 2nd April

Leonardo Helicopters has won a £165 million repair and maintenance contract that will secure 200 jobs at the Yeovil factory. Police are searching for a thief who stole a safe containing £1500 in cash from a pub in Ilminster. Alzheimer's UK says the number of people with dementia in Somerset is massively under-recorded... and more.
Tuesday 1st April

Police are investigating the cause of a suspicious fire at the former Oscar Mayer site in Chard. Yeovil Town owner, Martin Hellier, has stepped down as club chairman. According to the website, Property Solvers, Martock has the slowest housing market in Somerset. A new Head Teacher has been appointed to run Sexeys School in Bruton...and more
Monday 31st March

Yeovil Town owner Martin Hellier has announced his intention to put the club up for sale. Somerset Chamber of Commerce says small businesses are bracing themselves for a challenging year. The Children's Hospice South West founder, Eddie Farwell, has died. Tintinhull Gardens near Yeovil have reopened for the new season...and more
Friday 28th March

First Bus has invested £12 million in buying 26 electric buses to run on routes in Somerset. Approval has been given to build 18 new homes in South Petherton. Somerset’s recycling sites, including Yeovil, will revert to their spring opening times next week. This year’s Somerset Drama Festival has been won by Ilminster Entertainments Society...and more.
Thursday 27th March

Yeovil MP Adam Dance has criticised the Chancellor for not reforming business rates in her Spring Statement. Fifteen schools in Somerset are to be equipped with new facilities for children with special educational needs. A charity in Yeovil is appealing for donations of new underwear to give to people who are homeless...and more
Wednesday 26th March

The remains of a Roman settlement have been discovered near Langport. Chard Town Council has issued a formal apology over some of its recent conduct. Visitors to Ham Hill Country Park are being asked to tread carefully and keep pets on leads to protect breeding skylarks nesting at ground-level...and more
Monday 24th March

Numatic International Ltd in Chard has been given planning permission to build a giant solar farm off the A30 Crewkerne Road. The RSPCA says incidents of dropped litter impacting the lives of animals in Somerset is a growing problem. Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance is marking 25 years of saving lives across the two counties...and more