Somersetlive

2023 - 3 - 24

Post cover — Image courtesy of "Somerset Live"

Busy Somerset A-road blocked both ways by crash (Somerset Live)

Inrix says: "A358 Mattocks Tree Hill in both directions blocked, queueing traffic due to accident between West Hatch turn off and Hatch Beauchamp turn off.

Affecting traffic between Taunton and Ilminster." Congestion to traffic coming from Capland turn off. "Affecting traffic between Taunton and Ilminster." The road has been closed since around 16:20. The latest log from Inrix says: "A358 Mattocks Tree Hill in both directions blocked, queueing traffic due to accident between West Hatch turn off and Hatch Beauchamp turn off. Inrix says: "A358 Mattocks Tree Hill in both directions blocked, queueing traffic due to accident between West Hatch turn off and Hatch Beauchamp turn off.

Yeovil Refresh: We meet the man behind controversial town centre ... (Somerset Live)

The South Somerset District Council (SSDC) scheme is aiming to spruce up public spaces across the town centre by widening pavements, adding more street planting ...

"We are aware of the frustrations. He added: "I know Yeovil people are keen to see something happen in the town centre. A number of staff that worked at the salon lost their jobs and devastated boss Bjorn Anders Svenson said they had "been made redundant via your [the council's] shocking ability to complete some very basic works in a decent timeframe". Clearly, we have had the challenge of Midas going bust." "But we are moving forward and are hoping to get going with some significant work in the near future. "We have been working with local groups on the art since the coronavirus lockdowns. SSDC has previously revealed that a number of allegedly "unforeseen" issues have hampered progress, including problems with what the council claims are "unmapped utilities" in the area. Mr Timms said: "There are some changes needed to the drainage and therefore we decided to adjust the start time. "Once that has been done, we can then move forward with the square that people will have seen in the pictures we have released. Parts of the much-maligned Yeovil Refresh project have seen lengthy delays, including work at Westminster Street which is set to take 19 months to complete, and project manager Ian Timms has conceded "it's not ideal - it's not what we wanted". [a "significant impact" on the finances of the project](https://www.somersetlive.co.uk/news/somerset-news/full-scale-mounting-problems-disastrous-7990396), according to a recent report, with total costs increasing by £4.2million to more than £24million. The project, billed as "ambitious and innovative" by SSDC, has been plagued by various issues since it began in September 2021 leading to severe cost and time overruns.

Letter: Angry local says Bath shopping area has been 'destroyed' (Bath Chronicle)

Writing to the Bath Chronicle, local P. Bowden says recent initiatives like the Clean Air Zone (CAZ) and the Ring of Steel have led to a perceived downfall of ...

Mr Bowden continued: "Judging by the plethora of unsolicited, self-congratulatory Lib Dem leaflets arriving on my doormat, they are at last realising that their divisive 'net-zero' policies are leading to their defeat in the next local elections. "It would be difficult to verify councillor Warren’s pollution figures, as with many of the council's statistics. He wrote: "In my opinion, Covid was used in Bath to severely reduce our civil liberties by removing on-street parking, installing miles of mostly unused cycle lanes, and the pedestrianisation of areas of our town centre. Mr Bowden also branded the current "sticking-plaster" Liberal Democrat council "soundbite [speaking], car-hating and green-shaded". Mr Bowden believes civil liberties have been "severely reduced" by the policies. Bowden says recent initiatives like the Clean Air Zone (CAZ) and the Ring of Steel have led to a perceived downfall of Milsom Street, despite council assertions that the city centre is "vibrant".

'Deathtrap' road named the most dangerous in Somerset (Somerset Live)

Incidents involving cars are unfortunately not uncommon, with certain roads often acting as hotspots for collisions. Across North Somerset, serious and ...

The stretch of road just north of Pensford recorded four incidents in the space of just two years from 2015 to 2016. Outside of North Somerset, the A37 has recorded some of the highest number of fatalities. Elsewhere in North Somerset, the A369 has recorded four fatal collisions. Despite a number of 'serious' incidents in this stretch of road, there has not been a fatality between Puxton Park and Long Ashton in this period of time. The A370 and B3139 both recorded the highest amount of fatal collisions over the past nine years. Across North Somerset, serious and fatal incidents often happen on the same roads, with two roads in particular among the most dangerous.

Coastguard appeal for new crew to save lives on Somerset coast (Somerset Live)

Last year Portishead's volunteer coastguard was called out 60 times to a range of incidents, including to rescue people stuck in the mud to helping sailors ...

People can apply to join the coastguard by clicking "Volunteering for the coastguard is a great thing to do. Last year Portishead’s volunteer coastguard was called out 60 times to a range of incidents, including to rescue people stuck in the mud to helping sailors whose boat engines have failed. Full training is given to all new crew members which takes place over evenings and weekends. Volunteers are on call and are issued with a pager. [Clevedon](https://www.somersetlive.co.uk/all-about/clevedon) and [Weston-super-Mare](https://www.somersetlive.co.uk/all-about/weston-super-mare) coastguard are all looking for volunteers to join their crews to help people who run into difficulty in the Bristol Channel.

The trendy Somerset shopping town where business is thriving (Somerset Live)

So with that in mind, we took a trip out to the wonderful town of Frome, the cool capital of Somerset and a haven for all sorts of independent and artisan shops ...

[Frome](https://www.somersetlive.co.uk/all-about/frome) seems to be enjoying a renaissance, there is a great buzz about and people are really supporting their independent businesses. We hung out in coffee shops, had fun, enjoyed the company of friends and family and took life at an easier pace. I just love hanging out there and visiting the community. Somerset people have a wonderful irony about them and they don't suffer fools or arrogant newcomers. Download our app on I love getting to know the people and the businesses. Choose what you love Of course, there is the hard work side of things, the businesses have had a hard time, but there is a lovely gentle atmosphere in the town day and night, a sense that life is at a much easier and friendlier pace. There is a saying in Frome which goes 'Do as the Fromies do' and that is exactly what we did. [Frome](https://www.somersetlive.co.uk/all-about/frome) really is, a real community in every sense of the word. [Frome,](https://www.somersetlive.co.uk/all-about/frome) the cool capital of Somerset and a haven for all sorts of independent and artisan shops and markets. We talked to lots of the traders and local people and without exception, they told us business is literally booming in the gorgeous town.

Crash on A358 Mattocks Tree Hill leads to road closure (NNN)

Inrix says: “A358 Mattocks Tree Hill in both directions blocked, queueing traffic due to accident between West Hatch turn off and Hatch Beauchamp turn off.

Affecting traffic between Taunton and Ilminster.” Congestion to traffic coming from Capland turn off. Inrix says: “A358 Mattocks Tree Hill in both directions closed due to accident investigation work from The Texaco Station (Thornfalcon) to Hatch Beauchamp turn off (Hatch Beauchamp). “Affecting traffic between Taunton and Ilminster.” [site](https://storage.googleapis.com/prnigeriacom/sitemap/nnn/NNNNEWSPageXMLSitemap.pdf) Inrix, there is congestion between Taunton and Ilminster. The road has been closed since around 16:20.

M5 lane closed for emergency pothole works (Somerset Live)

The emergency works started around 7.45am this morning. It is not yet clear how long the work is expected to take but traffic is said to be coping well. Traffic ...

[M5 is currently closed](https://www.somersetlive.co.uk/all-about/m5) due to emergency pothole works being carried out. The emergency works started around 7.45am this morning. [Portishead](https://www.somersetlive.co.uk/all-about/portishead)) to J20 B3133 Ettlingen Way (Clevedon). [Somerset gran battered and bruised after being 'knocked to floor' by boy on e-scooter](https://www.somersetlive.co.uk/news/somerset-news/somerset-gran-battered-bruised-after-8285199) [Fury over Somerset town's new seafront 'yellow brick road'](https://www.somersetlive.co.uk/news/somerset-news/fury-over-somerset-towns-new-8280512) [Somerset holidaymakers slam easyJet's 'disgusting' treatment of passengers after cancelled flight](http://Somerset holidaymakers slam easyJet's 'disgusting' treatment of passengers after cancelled flight) [Major changes to A38 to provide new bus lanes](https://www.somersetlive.co.uk/news/somerset-news/major-changes-a38-provide-new-8257317) [Trees planted for Covid victims on anniversary of first lockdown](https://www.somersetlive.co.uk/news/somerset-news/trees-planted-covid-victims-anniversary-8276317) This is [affecting junctions 19 and 20 southbound](https://www.somersetlive.co.uk/all-about/traffic-travel) of the motorway. Traffic road monitoring website Inrix says: "One lane closed due to emergency pot hole repairs on M5 Southbound from J19 A369 Martcombe Road (

Yeovil Refresh project manager admits scheme has faced major ... (NNN)

The man behind Yeovil town centre's controversial regeneration project has revealed the council is “aware of the frustrations” of local people and is ...

We strongly believe the project will be a success for the town centre and will massively improve the experience.” SSDC has previously revealed that a number of allegedly “unforeseen” issues have hampered progress, including problems with what the council claims are “unmapped utilities” in the area. The former British Heart Foundation shop on Middle Street, which was deemed “unstable” last year and was cordoned off with hefty scaffolding erected, is posing issues for the ongoing work at The Triangle. He also added that the scheme has been “a struggle at times” and has faced “major challenges”. However, the start date for this section, which will include a part-pedestrianisation of High Street, has now been changed to after Easter. Mounting problems have led to a “significant impact” on the finances of the project, according to a recent report, with total costs increasing by £4.2 million to more than £24 million.

Remembering Yeovil Town's famous old sloping pitch where giants ... (Somerset Live)

Opposing teams "absolutely hated" playing on the "ridiculous" slanting field - and it was the scene of one of English football's biggest upsets.

The game was almost stopped due to fog and then a pitch invasion three minutes from full time when the crowd thought that the referee had blown the final whistle. The bumper crowd roared Yeovil to a 2-1 victory which shocked the world of football. It is reported that Yeovil’s player-manager, Alec Stock, used the press to exaggerate the significance and scale of the slope and to question whether the visitors could cope physically with the challenge. It was also used by the United States Army and US servicemen even offered to level the pitch if they could use the ground to play baseball, but their offer was not taken up. We used the top wings to our advantage – the number of goals we scored directly from crosses was incredible." Slanting six feet along the halfway line and eight feet from corner to corner, the ground soon became famous for its distinctive sloping field.

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