somerset

Jack Killah,SomersetandDawn Limbu,West of EnglandKay MillarKay Millar has her eyes set on becoming a para surfer with Team EnglandA woman who survived two heart attacks has said para surfing has become a "lifeline" as she sets her eyes on representing Team England.Kay Millar, 29, from Frome in Somerset, has limb-paralysis and arm weakness and has been in a wheelchair since the age of 12. Then last year she had two unexpected heart attacks.She said this led to her…

BBCLeon, 18 and Pat, 76, were paired together on the scheme earlier this yearA scheme pairing young adults who have often been in care with people who have a spare room is looking for new volunteers.The Stepping Stones project, run by Somerset Council, provides homes for people aged 18 to 21 who are moving from care to adulthood.Leon, 18, and Pat, 76, were paired together in January 2025 and Leon said it's given him a lot of confidence…

Visitors to the west of England may soon have to pay an overnight visitor levy under plans set out in the autumn Budget.Chancellor Rachel Reeves is expected to give locally-elected mayors across the UK the power to enforce a tourist tax and reinvest the money directly into their areas.According to government statements, the new levy would be "modest" and applies to hotels, B&Bs, holiday lets, guesthouses and other paid accommodation.Bath and North East Somerset (BANES) councillor Kevin Guy…

Daniel MumbyLocal Democracy Reporter Daniel MumbyPlanned site of the New Somerton Railway Station seen from the Ricksey Lane BridgeDelivering a new rural railway station remains "on the horizon" despite the immediate lack of funding, a council said.Plans to deliver a new railway station to serve the growing towns of Somerton and Langport, in Somerset, were dealt a blow shortly after last year's general election when chancellor of the exchequer Rachel Reeves MP cancelled the restoring your railway fund…

National HighwaysThe Stonehenge tunnel scheme was scrapped last year Here's our daily pick of stories from across local websites in the West of England, and interesting content from social media.Our pick of local website storiesA Wiltshire MP has slammed the government's proposal to revoke planning consent for a road tunnel near Stonehenge, reports the Salisbury Journal. The controversial scheme was given planning permission in 2023 but was scrapped last year. The search is on for a new developer…

The 200th rail anniversary exhibition train has arrived at the West Somerset RailwayAn exhibition train marking the 200th anniversary of the modern railway has arrived at the West Somerset Railway.The train, called Inspiration, is on a nationwide tour with more than 200,000 people expected to visit.The West Somerset Railway is the only stopping point for the mobile exhibition in the West.The train is emblazoned with the words Past, Present, Future and Together. Source link

Sue Kinnear,BBC Radio WiltshireandKirsten Robertson,BBC WiltshireClare BrixeyClare Brixey and Tim Swimburn are recovering well following their four-hour operationTwo people who met through tragic circumstances have united for a life-saving kidney transplant.Tim Swinburn, from Melksham in Wiltshire, met Clare Brixey, from Standerwick in Somerset, in 2004, when he had to knock on her door to explain her 20-year-old son, Ashley, had died in a car crash.At the time, Ms Brixey was already suffering from kidney failure and reliant on…

PA MediaThe new dental surgery in Chard will open on 2 DecemberAn NHS dentist has paused prospective patients from registering due to "high demand" on the first day of applications.The new surgery in Chard, Somerset, will open on 2 December on Leach Road and be run by One Smile Dental.The opening comes only two months after another dental surgery opened in Wellington, and there are also plans for a new service in Crewkerne.Local MP Adam Dance said the…

BBCWorkers at Leonardo have previously walked out over payStrike action which was due to take place at a defence manufacturer has been called off.Thousands of employees at Leonardo, which runs the UK's only helicopter factory in Yeovil, Somerset, voted to accept a new pay offer from the firm worth 8% over two years.Unite members across Leonardo sites in Yeovil, Luton, Basildon, Newcastle and Edinburgh had already walked out earlier in the month after rejecting a 3.6% pay rise.Leonardo…