News in Shepton Mallet

Shepton Mallet is thankfully yet to see a death relating to coronavirus, according to the latest figures released today (May 1).

The figures from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) show, for the first time, deaths at a local level for people who have contracted Covid-19.

Deaths in Mendip surged above usual levels in March, as the coronavirus crisis unfurled in Shepton Mallet and the surrounding area, official figures show.

Experts have warned the outbreak could continue to have far-reaching consequences on mortality rates across the UK, including among those who do not catch the virus.

The Board of Trustees of the Royal Bath and West Show has today (May 1) announced the cancellation of this year's event due to the ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus.

The next Royal Bath and West Show will be held at the showground near Shepton Mallet on June 3 to 5 2021.

The woman who died following an incident at Collett Park pond in Shepton Mallet in January has been named as an inquest into her death has been opened.

On April 29, the senior coroner for Somerset Tony Williams opened an inquest into the death of Betty Margaret Bower, of Kyte Road, Shepton Mallet, following the incident in January.

Hundreds more people in Mendip are claiming Universal Credit, figures show, as the effects of the coronavirus shutdown begin to be seen on Shepton Mallet's economy.

With millions of people out of work across the UK, benefits experts Turn2us said the nation's welfare state is "creaking round the seams" as it urged the Government to remove the five-week wait for claimants' first monthly Universal Credit payment.

The Hong Kong Garden takeaway in Shepton Mallet will be reopening tomorrow (May 1) with some changes in place about how customers are going to be served plus a discount offer for NHS staff.

The Chinese takeaway in the High Street has been closed following government advice to stop the spread of coronavirus, but following a relaxation of recommendations, it will now reopen from tomorrow between the hours of 4.30pm and 9.30pm.

Up to 300 homes could be built between Stratton-on-the-Fosse, Chilcompton and Midsomer Norton as an initial planning application has been submitted for the land.

The request for a Screening and Scoping Opinion for 250 to 300 dwellings, access, open space and associated infrastructure on land to the north of the White Post Inn, Fosse Way, Stratton-on-the-Fosse, has been made by Rosie Dinnen.

Simon Armitage, Poet Laureate and Wells Festival of Literature's poetry judge for last year, is presenting a new Radio 4 podcast on BBC Sounds, and Shepton Mallet poets are being urged to use it as inspiration.

He is opening up the shed at the bottom of his garden, where he writes, to a variety of guests who share the secrets of their creativity and life lessons with the listeners.

The latest official figures show that eight more cases of coronavirus have been recorded across Somerset.

Public Health England figures show that 462 people had been confirmed as testing positive for Covid-19 by 9am Tuesday morning (April 28) in Somerset, up from 454 the same time on Monday. A week before, there were 366 cases.

The recycling centres that service Shepton Mallet could soon be reopened following a call by local government secretary Robert Jenrick.

The recycling centres at Dulcote and Dimmer were closed by Somerset Waste Partnership following the initial government advice that travelling there was not essential, and workers have been redeployed to waste collection teams instead.