Tuesday 4th March

Tuesday, 4 March 2025 06:00

By Steve Haigh

The population of Somerset has reached record levels with nearly one in ten born outside the UK. Stanchester School in Stoke-sub-Hamdon has been rated as ‘requiring improvement’. Experts have been called in to appraise a 15th-century piece of artwork in Sherborne...and more.

The population of Somerset has reached record levels with nearly one in ten born outside the UK. Immigration is a major factor, but new arrivals mostly come from outside Europe. Figures suggest that areas like health and social care particularly depend on foreign-born workers, with a high proportion coming from Asia.

Stanchester School in Stoke-sub-Hamdon has been rated as ‘requiring improvement’ following an Ofsted inspection. The secondary school that has 812 pupils was told it needs to improve in three areas: quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, leadership and management. however, personal development remained a strength, earning a ‘Good’ rating.

Plans to charge for overnight parking at council-run car parks in Somerset have been dropped. At a meeting of Somerset Council’s Executive Committee it was also agreed not to end free on-street parking. The Council has faced strong opposition over its plans to standardise parking charges across the County, including charging for Sunday parking. The revised proposals will now be put out to public consultation before any final decisions are made.

Somerset Council says 92% of children have been found places at secondary schools of their choice, starting in September. It means that of the 4,743 applications received, 4,384 were given the school requested. 173 applicants were granted a second preference school, with 42 a third preference school. Somerset Council says an announcement about the allocation of places at primary, junior, and middle schools will be made on April 16th.

Experts have been called in to appraise a 15th-century piece of artwork in Sherborne. The three-panelled altar piece was removed from the Chapel at St John’s Almshouse for safekeeping when renovation work started on the building. The artwork depicts five miracles of Christ with the central panel illustrating the raising of Lazarus. Anyone with information about the painting is asked to please contact St John’s Almshouse in Sherborne.

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Thursday 6th March

Somerset Council has approved a seven-and-a-half percent increase in council tax. People are being asked to return boxes of paracetamol bought from Boots Chemists in Somerset. It’s been revealed that five members of staff at Somerset Council are being allowed to work from home outside the UK...and more
Wednesday 5th March

Somerset Council has been told that hundreds of millions of pounds in loans taken out by former district councils, including South Somerset, have to be paid back. A Somerset charity says it needs more volunteers to help with research into new treatments for dementia. A local shop owner has welcomed Somerset Council’s decision to scrap plans to charge for parking after 6 pm...and more.
Monday 3rd March

A woman from Crewkerne has been fined £280 for assaulting two emergency workers. Plans have been announced to open new NHS dental surgeries in Chard and Crewkerne. A Yeovil man has been thanked for raising £10,000 for the cardiac charity Heartbeat...and more
Friday 28th February

A local man has been charged after allegedly driving a tractor while under the influence of alcohol. One hundred bikes, collected with household waste in Somerset, have been donated to charity. The junction of the A37 Ilchester Road and Stiby Road in Yeovil will again shut this evening for resurfacing...and more.
Thursday 27th February

Fourteen hundred people have added their names to a petition against Somerset Council's plans to scrap free car parks. St Margaret’s Hospice has won a share of £25 million of government funding. A man from Charlton Adam is preparing to visit Ukraine as an Aid Worker for a tenth time...and more
Wednesday 26th February

A local man has been charged with possessing an air weapon following an incident in Yeovil town centre. The Labour government has removed funding to the Amulet Theatre in Shepton Mallet that the previous Conservative government had allocated. Entries are now open for this year’s Minster Miles 10K fun run with organisers aiming to exceed last year’s number of runners...and more.
Tuesday 25th February

A new report says Avon and Somerset Police is struggling to cope with a big increase in cases involving the abuse of sexual images of children. Three primary schools in our area have been chosen to take part in a pilot of the Government’s free breakfast clubs for pupils scheme. A new TV documentary has captured footage of 50,000 starlings in a group gathering over the Somerset Levels...and more
Monday 24th February

The Leonardo Group, which owns the Leonardo Helicopter factory in Yeovil, has announced strong full-year results for 2024. A new bus station could be built in Langport. Police are appealing for witnesses to a road traffic accident in which a dog was fatally injured in Yeovil...and more