News in Shepton Mallet

Are you bored with being in lockdown in Shepton Mallet? Wondering what to turn your hand to next?

Why not get those creative juices flowing and enter the Wells Festival of Literature's writing competitions?

Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance is reassuring Shepton Mallet residents that its lifesaving service is still being delivered during the coronavirus outbreak.

But, the service is not being tasked to attend suspected or confirmed coronavirus patients.

The inpatient ward at Shepton Mallet Community Hospital has been shut to free up beds for coronavirus patients.

The Somerset Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) is "consolidating" its community hospitals beds onto fewer sites to ensure they can be properly and safely staffed.

A planning application has been submitted to Mendip District Council for a replacement roof at a church near Shepton Mallet following a lead theft.

The application for a proposed replacement roof at St Mary's Church, Chesterblade Road, Chesterblade, has been made by Simon North.

The Somerset Coronavirus Appeal, launched by the Bath and West Showground-based Somerset Community Foundation (SCF) to fund local charities and community organisations supporting those in most urgent need during the coronavirus outbreak, has grown to more than £275,000 in just over a week.

The incredible sum has come from donations from local individuals, charitable trusts and businesses, and was boosted by funding from a national appeal, run by The National Emergencies Trust (NET) in partnership with the British Red Cross.

UCAS has given prospective higher education students from Shepton Mallet an extra two weeks to make a decision about their future place of study, also giving colleges more time to adjust their processes in what are highly unusual times.

All students will receive an email from UCAS this week with the new May deadline. If you attend Strode College in Street, contact your tutor or Strode College Careers if you need any support with this.

Support continues to be available for Shepton Mallet residents affected by domestic abuse with Somerset County Council working closely with partners to make sure services continue during the current health emergency.

It is vital that people stay at home or self-isolate to help tackle the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic but that can put strains on relationships.

An animal charity near Shepton Mallet has made an urgent appeal for funds in the wake of the coronavirus crisis.

Happy Landings Animal Shelter, near Pylle, has made the appeal as it relies on fundraising from events during the year, most of which have been cancelled due to the virus, and from boarding customers who have had to cancel.

An update on NHS services in Shepton Mallet has been issued by Councillor Clare Paul, Somerset County Council's Cabinet member for public health and wellbeing.

"As coronavirus expands," she said, "routine services will come under pressure, but the NHS will flex its response in line with well-established escalation plans, backed by regular guidance to local health services, including GP practices, which is being regularly updated.

The organisers of the Glastonbury Festival have donated medical supplies, that were due to be used at the 2020 event, to the emergency services and NHS.

Father and daughter team Michael and Emily Eavis have donated thousands of litres of hand sanitiser, gloves and facemasks that were going to be used at the event which was cancelled due to the coronavirus crisis (report here).