somerset

Villagers are trying to raise £70,000 to pay for a judicial review of a council's decision to approve 100 new homes. Locals in Keinton Mandeville, south Somerset, say it is being "overwhelmed by cumulative housing developments". Residents' action group Shock has voiced concerns about the impact the latest development could have on local infrastructure and community life.The developer, Keinton Mandeville LVA, previously said 35 of the homes would be designated as affordable. It has also promised to provide…

A horse is back in the care of its owner after it was rescued from a water-filled ditch.It took firefighters from Avon Fire and Rescue Service about two hours to free Pinky the horse from the ditch in Yatton, North Somerset.Crews from Clevedon and Bedminster attended after the incident was reported at 17:00 BST on Friday.A fire service spokesperson said they used animal and water rescue equipment and a farmer's telehandler to free Pinky."Pinky had also become entangled…

BBCThe new one-way system affects Salmon Parade and East Quay in BridgwaterLuke KnightIn Bridgwater andChris LockyerSomersetA new one-way system in Bridgwater town centre is "clogging up roads around town", the local MP has said.As part of the Celebration Mile works, East Quay and Salmon Parade have been made one-way to traffic.Ashley Fox, the Conservative MP for Bridgwater, said Somerset Council needs to go "back to the drawing board", adding he believes shoppers are avoiding the area as a…

There are doubts about the future of a bookable minibus service after it emerged trips have been costing up to £50 a passenger.Westlink was introduced in 2023 by the West of England Combined Authority (WECA) after several regular bus routes were lost in the area.The scheme has government funding until March, but will have to pay for itself for it to continue after that.WECA mayor, Helen Godwin, said her team are "evaluating how best to keep people connected,…

Eben Morrish-CroadSomersetConor Ogilvie-DavidsonThe centre is expected to deliver a wide range of services that will contribute towards delivering care in the communityA Grade-II listed building is set to open as a health and wellbeing centre next month after a £2.2m renovation project.St Dunstan's House in Glastonbury will provide a venue for community activities including talking and pain cafes, healthy lifestyle courses, and health and wellbeing sessions for current and former members of the armed forces.It will also host…

PAHazel McShane (left) and Amber Probyn co-founded the firm PeequalTwo businesswomen who co-founded a women's urinals company hope to go global after raising nearly £1m in investment.Amber Probyn, 27, and Hazel McShane, 29, say the urinals made by Peequal, for use at festivals, are three times quicker to use than portable toilets.The Bristol University graduates will use the funding to manufacture the next-generation urinals, which they hope to send to events in Europe, the US and Australia.Ms McShane…

Four months of roadworks are starting as part of a £5.9m project to improve drainage and stop the M5 and its verges from flooding.For the majority of the works, three narrow lanes of the motorway will stay open in each direction near junction 26 for Wellington in Somerset.Some overnight closures will be needed to install traffic management and signage, Highways England said, at which time signed diversions will be in place.Jonathan Hill, from National Highways, said: "As with…

Ana da SilvaWest of EnglandSubmittedNicola Kilcoyne and Vanessa Davidson met through a pain management programme run by the NHSTwo women who became friends after meeting on a pain management course say the service has made them feel less alone.Nicola Kilcoyne and Vanessa Davidson, from Weston-super-Mare in Somerset, shared their experiences during a course delivered by University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Trust."Chronic pain is often invisible and isolating, but this support group has truly been a lifeline," said…