Wednesday 30th October

Wednesday, 30 October 2024 06:00

By Steve Haigh

Somerset Council is facing a seven-and-a-half million-pound overspend on providing children’s services. The South West has one of the highest rates of underage smokers in England. A helicopter from RNAS Yeovilton has gone on permanent display at Portland Marina....and more.

Somerset Council is facing a seven-and-a-half million-pound overspend on providing children’s services in the current financial year. The Council says it’s due to increased numbers of children coming into the care system and higher costs of providing residential placements. In a report, the Council says there’s been a marked increase in children aged under two and between 10 and 15 coming into care, where serious youth violence, linked to criminal exploitation, has been a contributing factor.

South Western Railway, which operates trains through Crewkerne, Yeovil Junction and Sherborne stations, is repeating its offer of free travel to serving military personnel and veterans attending Remembrance Sunday events. The offer includes rail travel to the National Service of Remembrance at the Cenotaph in London on Saturday, November 9th or Sunday, November 10th and to the Submariners’ Remembrance Service in London on Sunday, November 3rd. Details of the offer can be found on the South Western Railway website.

Five more libraries have been added to the list of those taking part in this year’s Winter Coat Exchange in Somerset. In our area, Street and Langport libraries are taking part in the scheme in which anyone needing a warm coat for the winter will be given a coat. If you have a coat to donate, you’re asked to please take it to your local library.

The South West, including Somerset, has one of the highest rates of smoking in England, with 1-in-20 11-to-15-year-olds engaged in the habit. This compares to only 1-in-100 11-to-15-year-olds smoking UK-wide. The report, published by Evapo, found that while 59% of underaged smokers get their cigarettes from friends and family, one in three get them from shops, despite it being illegal to sell cigarettes to someone under 18.

A helicopter from RNAS Yeovilton has been gifted to Portland Marina. Navy Lynx XZ250 served in the Falklands War and was in service for 32 years. It has been put on permanent display at Portland Marina to mark the site's former role as the Royal Naval Air Station HMS Osprey.

This year’s Somerset Trustee of the Year award has been given to Dr John Bowman who lives in Merriot. Doctor Bowman, a Trustee of Merriot Village Hall, was chosen for his work raising £80,000 to start a community lunch scheme and to re-fit the kitchens at the hall.

More from News

Monday 4th November

Farmers in Somerset are warning of increased food prices and farmers going out of business as a result of last week’s budget. Police have released pictures of items stolen in a raid on Montacute House. A Somerset man has completed the 630-mile-long South West Coast Path, raising money for the RNLI...and more.
Friday 1st November

Somerset Council is looking at new ways to ease traffic congestion on the A358 between Ilminster and Taunton. Bridgwater and Taunton College and Strode College in Street have announced plans to merge. The Westland Entertainment venue in Yeovil is selling tickets at £3 to make its shows more affordable for low-income families...and more
Thursday 31st October

Yeovil MP Adam Dance is raising new questions about closing the hyper-acute stroke unit at Yeovil Hospital. Somerset Council Leader Bill Revans says yesterday's Budget failed to address local government's financial challenges. Chard High Street will be closed to traffic this evening for a trick-and-treat event to be held...and more
Tuesday 29th October

Work is to start soon on a £60 million upgrade of the campus at Yeovil College. Somerset Council says it doesn't have the money to investigate illegal fly-tipping. Chard High Street will be shut to traffic this Thursday evening for a trick-or-treat event...and more.
Monday 28th October

A date has been set for the trial of five men in connection with the death of Yeovil man, Michael Wheeler. Somerset Council has announced a further 450 job cuts. Final approval has been given for 765 new homes to be built at Up Mudford on the outskirts of Yeovil...and more
Friday 25th October

According to new data, shoplifting rose by 40 percent in the Avon and Somerset Police area in the year to June. Farmers in Somerset warn that a scheme to turn land into saltmarshes will destroy homes and livelihoods. Yeovil Literary Festival gets into full swing today...and more.
Thursday 24th October

More plastic wrapping and bags are to be recycled in Somerset. A house in Yeovil was damaged by a fire that started when two dogs accidentally turned on a gas hob. Members of Chard Inner Wheel Club have been marking 74 years of the club’s existence...and more
Wednesday 23rd October

A hoard of Norman coins, valued at £4.3 million, has been found in Somerset. A man has appeared in court after carrying out 24 separate shoplifting offences at a Chard supermarket. Two Somerset councils are considering a merger to save money. £3 million was spent by TV companies making films in Somerset last year...and more.