Wednesday 3rd April

Wednesday, 3 April 2024 06:00

By Steve Haigh

The Health Secretary has been asked to review the decision to close the hyper-acute stroke unit at Yeovil Hospital. Parents in Somerset say paying for childcare is still difficult, despite the government increasing funding. A Somerset housebuilder has launched a search to find its longest-standing home owner... and more.

The Health Secretary, Veronica Atkins, has been asked to review the decision to close the hyper-acute stroke unit at Yeovil Hospital. The Management Board at NHS Somerset met last week to finally approve the business case to downgrade the Yeovil unit, despite 7,000 local people signing a petition calling for it to be kept open. In a letter, Lib Dem prospective parliamentary candidate for Yeovil, Adam Dance, has asked the Secretary of State to ensure the Yeovil unit stays open saying that it is unacceptable for people in the town and surrounding areas to be left with reduced access to emergency acute stroke treatment.

Parents in Somerset say paying for childcare is still difficult for them, despite the government increasing funding for childcare. The Government has expanded the number of funded hours to working parents, with two-year-olds now eligible for 15 hours of free care each week but with childcare still costing around £230 a week, parents continue to struggle to pay this.

Chard Library is open as normal, despite the building looking like it’s closed due to a number of boarded-up windows. A spokesperson for the library, which is a listed building, says the windows are in a poor state and have been boarded up as a safety precaution pending their repair.

Men in Somerset are being encouraged to attend football sessions to improve their mental health. Wellbeing Wanderers is a new community football group offering a weekly kick-around.

A Somerset housebuilder has launched a search to find its longest-standing homeowner. Redrow, which has built 120,000 homes in the South West since its launch in 1988, wants to hear the stories of long-term residents to mark its 50th anniversary. As a reward for telling their story, the Redrow homeowner will receive a cash prize of £500.

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Friday 25th April

Police are investigating the theft of a motorbike in Ilminster. Tributes have been paid to the former Yeovil Town player-manager, Cecil Irwin, who has died aged 83. Town criers from across the South West will be in Yeovil tomorrow competing for the loudest voice in the Yeovil Town Crier Competition 2025...and more
Thursday 24th April

Police are appealing for witnesses to an accident in which a child was struck by a car in Yeovil. This week, a planning inquiry is being held into plans to turn a Somerset shopping centre into a retirement complex. A Somerset woman is planning to walk the 70-miles of Hadrian's Wall to mark her 90th birthday...and more.
Wednesday 23rd April

Tourism bosses in Somerset say they feel confident the County will have a good summer for visitors this year. A group representing care providers in Somerset is warning that some residential homes are at risk of going out of business due to rising costs. A Somerset animal charity has taken into care, three orphaned badger cubs...and more.
Tuesday 22nd April

The Care Quality Commission has given two GP practices in Yeovil a 'good' overall rating. According to insurers, AXA, thefts at commercial premises in Somerset are on the rise. Bus users in Somerset could see changes to the frequency of services when the new West of England mayor takes office. Martock is to host its first Pride event in June...and more.
Thursday 17th April

The father of a one-month-old baby boy in Chard is to stand trial for the murder of his son. New figures show that just under 1300 crimes were reported to the Police in Yeovil during the final quarter of last year. A night in a prison cell is offered at Shepton Mallet Jail to those who want to be alone this Easter...and more.
Wednesday 16th April

Big changes are being made to where taxi ranks in Yeovil are located. Farmers are being told to keep an extra lookout for people acting suspiciously following the latest livestock theft near the Devon and Somerset border. Channel 4’s Location Location Location is coming to Somerset, with anyone looking to buy a property locally invited to apply to be in the show...and more
Tuesday 15th April

A 36-year-old man remains in police custody after being arrested on suspicion of a sexual assault in Yeovil. Yeovil Labour Club has had its drinks licence revoked. NHS Somerset has been taking its physiotherapy team around the county to cut waiting times for patients. A men-only cooking course has been launched in Sherborne with all ingredients and equipment provided free of charge...and more
Monday 14th April

A new banking hub has opened in Crewkerne. South Western Ambulance is asking people to only dial 999 in a life-threatening emergency over the Easter weekend. £1.8 million is being spent improving walking and cycling routes around a major new housing development at Up Mudford in Yeovil...and more