Wednesday 20th November

Wednesday, 20 November 2024 06:00

By Steve Haigh

Yeovil MP, Adam Dance, says he’ll vote in favour of the Assisted Dying Bill when it comes before Parliament later this month. Manor Court Primary School in Chard has been rated as ‘good’ following an OFSTED inspection. Forty-nine new homes are to be built at Broadway Hill in Horton, near Ilminster, following a successful planning appeal...and more

Yeovil MP, Adam Dance, says he’ll vote in favour of the Assisted Dying Bill when it comes before Parliament later this month. If the Bill is passed, it will allow adults who are terminally ill to end their own life, subject to safeguards, A free vote on the bill will take place in Parliament on Friday, November 29th.

Farmers from Somerset joined thousands of others from across the country at yesterday’s demonstration in London against changes to inheritance tax rules. It was held in protest at the government’s plan to charge a 20 percent inheritance tax on farms, worth more than a million pounds when they are passed on within families. Sir Keir Starmer says he understands the plan is causing concern but will not change it.

Manor Court Primary School in Chard has been rated as ‘good’ following an OFSTED inspection. The school was praised for supporting disadvantaged pupils and those with special needs and for providing exceptional education and care to all its pupils.

Forty-nine new homes are to be built at Broadway Hill in Horton, near Ilminster, following a successful planning appeal. Somerset Council’s planning committee south voted to refuse the plans claiming the homes would amount to “over-development” and put a strain on local services. But following an appeal by developers Galion, the Council’s decision has been overturned. A separate appeal, arguing for the Council to pay Galion’s legal costs due to “unreasonable behaviour”, was dismissed.

Wessex Water is carrying out essential sewer renovation work in Ilminster all this week and over the next three weeks. Two-way traffic lights will be operating on the High Street, where the work is being carried out causing delays for motorists getting in and out of Ilminster town centre.

The A303 will be shut westbound between Ilchester and the Cartgate roundabout this evening from 8 pm to 6 am tomorrow for white-lining work. Diversions will be in operation via the A37 and A3088.

A darts tournament is being held in memory of a popular pub landlord in Chard. Organised by Chard and District Darts League in memory of Steven Jones, who was the landlord of the Phoenix Hotel, it takes place at the pub on Saturday, December 28th. There’s a £5 entrance fee, with all money raised going to Alopecia UK.

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Wednesday 12th March

A charity in Somerset is appealing for support after one of its sites was vandalised. The Leader of Somerset Council has been to Westminster to put the case for central government to provide councils with more money. A new primary school is to built in Chard.... and more
Tuesday 11th March

The union representing workers at Somerset Council is warning of further job cuts at the council next year. Secondary school pupils in Somerset are being offered help to withstand peer pressure to vape or smoke. The bells of St George's Church in Hinton St George have been fully restored after becoming difficult to ring ... and more
Monday 10th March

A property in Raglan Terrace in Yeovil has been closed down by a court order after it was linked to anti-social behaviour. NHS Somerset says investing in nurse apprenticeships has helped to boost recruitment. A new community garden has opened in Chard.... and more
Friday 7th March

The Leader of Somerset Council has repeated his call for a reform of the way that councils are funded. Crimestoppers is stepping up efforts to help tackle violent crime in Somerset. A new radar satellite is playing a crucial role in collecting data about flooding in Somerset...and more
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.
Tuesday 4th March

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.
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