Radio Ninesprings

13/01/2025

Tune in to Drivetime this week and you’ll catch some of the best from the South West each day just after 6.30pm, this week featuring;

Monday - Duncan Batey
Tuesday - The Legendary Snakesnakesnake
Wednesday - MothBreath
Thursday - Rachel Hill Music
Friday - Robert Wheaton Music

Drivetime on Radio Ninesprings with Ross Owen Williams
Brought to you by Everys Solicitors LLP

Tune in!
On 104.5FM
Online - radioninesprings dot com
On Smartspeaker - "Alexa, play Radio Ninesprings please"

13/01/2025

Local News Monday 13th Janury

Plans to build forty-six new homes in Castle Cary have been rejected for a third time. Developers, Castle Cary LVA Ltd want to build the houses off South Street. But Somerset Council’s planning committee south said no to the plans by 5 votes to 2, citing the over development of Castle Cary for their decision. The developer has yet to say whether they intend to appeal.

Lib Dem Yeovil MP, Adam Dance, says he has no plans to step down from his dual role as a member of Somerset Council. Mr Dance, who represents South Petherton and Islemoor on Somerset Council, says being a councillor helps connect him with local issues. Sarah D**e, stood down as a member of Somerset Council in October after being elected the new MP for Glastonbury and Somerton.

Yeovil's soft play area, Rug Ratz on Stourton Way, is closing permanently today. A spokesperson announced the decision on Facebook, saying they’re saddened to be closing because it leaves Yeovil without a children’s soft play area.

A survey asking the public what Somerset Council’s spending priorities should be for the new financial year ends this week. Two thousand people have so far commented on the consultation, which closes on Wednesday.

Somerset Council has confirmed that it wants to be part of the government’s Devolution Priority Programme. If agreed, a new local government regional partnership would be formed called Wessex, with Somerset, Dorset and Wiltshire councils working together on strategic issues like highways, the environment and tourism. Meanwhile, talks are continuing with Swindon, North Somerset and BPC covering Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch about joining the partnership.

12/01/2025

Tonight at 7pm The Carnival Hour with Jeff Strawbridge returns with your weekly fix of West Country Carnival music and chat, plus he will have the regular features of the show including the rewind quiz for fun, carnival birthdays and what’s ons.

12/01/2025

Steve Bulley's Sunday Survey Quiz:

Yeovil has the highest number of people doing WHAT in Somerset?

12/01/2025

After the story about Lynx roaming in Scotland Steve was surprised to spot this in the undergrowth on his way in this morning (see pic below)

11/01/2025

1-1 at home for Yeovil Town FC against Woking FC

FT | Yeovil Town 1-1 Woking

It finishes all square at Huish Park.

💚

11/01/2025

This week’s edition of From the Potting Shed with Julie Haylock of Sandhurst Garden Design

11/01/2025

Steve Bulley's BIG Question:

The most expensive WHAT made in the UK cost £25m?

10/01/2025

Local News Friday 10th January

Yeovil Hospital has declared a critical incident due to a sharp rise in flu admissions putting pressure on bed spaces. It comes as NHS data shows that more than one thousand more people a week are being admitted to hospital with the virus.

An extra 14 pounds is how much people in the Somerset area could be asked to pay as part of their council tax bill next year to help fund local policing. It's the maximum amount Avon and Somerset Police can charge, using the example of a band D property.

Yeovil MP, Adam Dance, joined campaigners and colleagues in Downing Street earlier this week to hand in a petition calling for action by the government to tackle the shortage of NHS dentists. The petition, started by the British Dental Association, was signed by 257,000 people. Campaigners want the government to provide better funding for NHS dentistry, and ensure fair access to dental care for everyone.

There's another scam doing the rounds trying to exploit pensioners who will no longer get winter fuel payments. Police in Somerset say criminals are encouraging people to click on links in order to register or claim money to pay for heating. They're asking relatives of vulnerable or elderly people to share the warning and prevent financial and personal data being handed to scammer.

Cambrian Lufton Manor College in Yeovil that teaches students with autism has been giving a glowing report from the Care Quality Commission. The college, that also supports people with learning disabilities, currently has 14 students living on-campus aged between 16 and 24. In their report, inspectors said staff were exceptional at treating students as individuals and were exceptional at promoting their independence.

Yeovil's Marlie Packer has been replaced as England's Red Roses captain for 2025 season. The Saracen's player has 108 caps for England but did not start every match in last year's six nations. Marlie who will remain as Vice Captain says she’s 'loved every minute' of her time as captain and fully supports Zoe Aldcroft as her replacement.

09/01/2025

Local News Thursday 9th January

Police say a boy and two girls, missing from their home in Essex, have been found safe and well in Wincanton. It follows a public appeal issued by the Police earlier in the week to help find the three children after reports that they could be in the Somerset area.

Somerset Council has extended its Severe Weather Emergency Provision due to the icy temperatures the County’s experiencing at the moment. The scheme’s aimed at helping rough sleepers with welfare checks being made on people who haven't asked for help.

Yeovil Hospital is asking visitors to A&E to wear facemasks to help avoid the spread of infection. It follows a sharp rise in patients being admitted with flu and other respiratory illnesses.

Plans have been submitted to change a former residential care home in Yeovil into flats. Developers, Yeovil Promise Ltd, want to convert the Ferns Nursing Home on St Michaels Avenue into individual living spaces. The change of use will involve demolishing some walls and the roof, re-colouring the windows and doors and extending the vehicular access and parking areas. The trees on the site will not be disturbed. The application is still currently awaiting a decision from the Somerset Council.

Long traffic queues can be expected in Chard over the next nine months due to major roadworks taking place in the town. The first phase of roadworks lasting through to September got under way this week with the junction of Furnham Road and Victoria Avenue closed to motorists. Traffic signals at the junction of Furnham Road and Coker Way were taken out of action, and replaced with temporary lights. The changes are to allow for Wales & West Utilities to upgrade a mains gas pipes along Furnham Road and for Wessex Water to carry out improvements to the sewage network near Furzehill and Glynswood.

Registration has opened for the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance Coast to Coast Cycle Challenge. This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Cycle Challenge, which starts at Watchet and ends 55-miles away in West Bay.

A new arts and music performance space has opened in Crewkerne. The South Somerset Music Centre in the Methodist School Room on South St plans to host concerts and run workshops with the aim of enriching the town’s cultural offerings.

08/01/2025

Snow in Chard posted Wednesday 8 Jan at 1820.
Tag us in your snow pictures.

Lot more on hills nearby but this is chard 1 hour ago

08/01/2025

Adrian Dening's Stars Over Somerset
Monday 13th to Sunday 19th January 2025

If you look towards the south east at 7pm on Monday 13th, Jupiter will be an easy "naked eye" target, shining at an extremely bright magnitude of -2.6 and sitting above the constellation of Orion.

Whip your telescope out and there is an opportunity to see the shadow of Jupiter's moon Ganymede as it transits across the face of the planet. The shadow should be visible until 9pm. With even a modest telescope or binoculars, you should be able to observe all four of Jupiter's Galilean moons - Io, Europa, Ganymede and Callisto.

Sometimes you can't see all four moons at once because as they orbit around the planet, the moons are blocked from our view, but at 7pm on 13th they will all be visible. At that point, you will actually be witnessing what Galileo saw in the 1700s, when he first realised that we orbit around the Sun along with the other planets in the Solar System.

When the transit of Ganymede's shadow has finished, look to the left of Jupiter and a Full Moon will be very close to planet Mars. Mars will be easy to spot at a magnitude of -1.4 and it has an obvious red tint.

Of course, around the time of a Full Moon, its light pollution spoils the contrast of faint deep sky objects, so let's stick with our neighbours in the Solar System.

Look towards the south west around 7pm on Saturday 18th to see a magnitude -4.6 Venus close to a dimmer magnitude +1.1 Saturn as the pair set below the horizon.

www.starsoversomerset.com
Screenshots courtesy of Stellarium
Copyright Adrian Dening and Radio Ninesprings 2025

08/01/2025

Local News Wednesday 8th January

Police are appealing for witnesses to a hit-and-run accident in Yeovil that happened on New Year's Eve. A dark blue car collided with a woman in Christopher Close before driving off along Preston Road towards Larkhill Road. The woman had to be treated in hospital. Anyone who saw what happened or has dash cam footage is asked to call the non-emergency number 101.

Somerset Council says it is monitoring the weather closely following a Yellow Weather Warning issued by the Met Office for the County today. Snow, sleet and heavy rain is forecast for most parts of Somerset, with the Mendips expected to be the hardest hit.

A hospice in Somerset says it’s facing a critical shortfall in funds. Dorothy House blames higher National Insurance payments, and increases in the minimum wage, for it struggling financially.

A 41-year-old man from Street has been charged with breaching a Stalking Protection Order. Simon Williams, of Strode Road, was arrested by the Street and Glastonbury Neighbourhood Policing Team and is due to appear at Taunton Magistrates’ Court later this month.

A public inquiry is to be held to decide the future of a Somerset shopping centre. Churchill Retirement Living want to demolish the Crispin Shopping Centre in Street and build a retirement complex in its place. Somerset Council is against the proposal. The Council’s refusal to grant planning permission will be the subject of an appeal hearing, starting on April 23rd.

Plans to build 30 new homes in Keinton Mandeville have been turned down. Developers, Galion Homes, want to build homes to the north of Church Street but Somerset Council’s Planning Committee South rejected the application giving their reasons as concerns about over-development, road safety and the loss of green space in the heart of the village.

07/01/2025

Local News Tuesday 7th January

Firefighters had to use a boat to rescue a man trapped in a submerged van in floodwaters at Isle Abbots. Yesterday morning, a fire crew from Ilminster and a rescue team from Bridgwater wearing flood suits used the boat to bring the driver safely onto dry land.

Businesses in Somerset say there was a return to High Street buying over Christmas, with footfall in some of our local towns up 20 per cent. Owner of Mundys, the florists, in Street, Rob Haywood, said it was good to see people supporting their local shops.

A Yeovil nursery has installed a new defibrillator for public use. The defibrillator at Little Discoveries on Stiby Road was bought following a fundraising campaign led by Nursery manager, Naomi Bartin, in memory of her younger sister, Sasha.

The search is on for places in Somerset where new homes and business premises could be built. Somerset Council is drawing up plans for new developments and wants to hear from landowners who have sites that might be suitable for building.

Langport Young Farmers are recycling Christmas trees again this year. They’re raising money for Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance, the Farming Community Network and MS UK. The Club says it will collect trees within a five-mile radius of Langport.

People have been flocking to one part of Somerset to view the night sky. Exmoor National Park says so-called Astro-tourism took off last year with hundreds visiting the area to witness the Northern Lights and meteor showers.

Furnham Road in Chard will be closed for the next five months for work to be carried out on two major infrastructure schemes. Wessex Water is installing a new sewer flood alleviation scheme and Wales and West upgrading a gas main.

06/01/2025

Songs with SHORT TITLES (1-2 words)... GO! The People's Playlist on Radio Ninesprings

06/01/2025

Aaand we're back to bringing you some great sounds from South West based artists - check out Drivetime each weekday just after 6.30pm to check 'em out!

Monday - Chris Ostler Music
Tuesday - E L E R I
Wednesday - Harry Jxye
Thursday - Rowland 'Miggi' Middleton
Friday - Reg Meuross

Drivetime with Ross Owen Williams
Supported by Everys Solicitors LLP

4 - 7pm
104.5FM locally
Listen live radioninesprings dot com
Or 'Alexa play Radio Ninesprings please'

06/01/2025

Local News Monday 6th January

Police are treating as deliberate a fire at the former Oscar Mayer factory in Chard. Crews from Chard and Ilminster dealt with the blaze on Furnham Road that broke out at lunchtime last Thursday. Anyone with information that might help the police is asked to call the non-emergency number 101.

The owner of an American diner says her takings are down 75 percent since the opening of the new dual carriageway between Sparkford and Ilchester. National Highways has promised to install new advertising boards on the A303 for Mattia Diner but the signs are not yet in place.

Plans for a new housing development in Yeovil originally turned down over concerns about traffic congestion and flooding, will now go ahead. Somerset Council has drooped its objections and agreed to the development of sixty new homes on land between Brimsmore Garden Centre and Yeovil Gospel Hall on Tintinhull Road.

Supporters of trail hunting in Somerset have criticised the Labour government for planning to ban the sport. Trail hunting was introduced as a more humane alternative to fox hunting. Labour claims it’s a smokescreen for illegal hunting but Ollie Hughes from the British Hound Sports Association says they see no reason to ban the sport.

Yeovil-born England’s women’s rugby union team captain, Marlie Packer, has been speaking about her hopes for 2025. Marlie, a former pupil at Bucklers Mead School in Yeovil, says she’d like to captain the national side at this year's World Cup series being played in the UK.

Somerset Ramblers Association has welcomed the decision to extend the deadline for registering public footpaths and rights of way. People now have until 2031 to have a public footpath and right of way, currently not registered, or mapped, protecting them from being built over.

05/01/2025

Tonight at 7pm we bring you a brand new show to Radio Ninesprings for 2025, The Carnival Hour with Jeff Strawbridge as he plays you music and information from the West Country Carnivals.