News in Shepton Mallet

There are scheduled to be temporary traffic lights on the A371 heading out of Shepton Mallet next week, as roadworks crews step up their return to work following the easing of the coronavirus lockdown.

The lights will be in place on Wednesday (May 20) in between Darshill and the sewage treatment works.

The chairman of Shepton Mallet Chamber of Commerce has called for more clarity from the government for small businesses.

Alan Stone, who is also an author, historian and co-owner of Stone's Cider, was responding to a report from the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), which says that one in three closed firms fear they will never reopen.

A beauty salon could soon be opening in Stratton-on-the-Fosse after planning approval was given by Mendip District Council.

The application for change of use from B1a (office) to Sui Generis (beauty salon) at Manor Courtyard, The Steading, Fosse Way to Manor Farm, Stratton-on-the-Fosse, was made by Robert Addicott.

Mendip District Council is to provide additional council tax reductions worth an extra £750,000 to hundreds of its most vulnerable people and households.

The aim is to ease the financial burden on those Mendip residents who are already in most need and unable to go to work, due to restrictions imposed by the Covid-19 outbreak.

The NASS Festival, which is held each year at the Bath and West Showground near Shepton Mallet, has been called off but The Streets have already been confirmed as 2021 headliners.

Organisers of the event announced today (May 13) that the 2020 event, which was due to be held at the showground from July 9 to 12, will now not be held due to the coronavirus crisis.

Figures for coronavirus cases by district have been updated by Public Health England, and they show that the district for Shepton Mallet, Mendip, has now had 57 confirmed cases so far.

As of 4pm last night (May 12), Mendip's 57 cases meant it still had one of the lowest levels of coronavirus cases at a district level in the country, though it has seen an increase with the easing of the lockdown.

An artist and printmaker from Croscombe who made enough facemasks for the whole of her home village has been reflecting after her efforts gained attention around the globe.

Shelley Dyer-Gibbins and her team of dedicated sewers have created a stockpile of fabric facemasks so every villager has access to one, and they are striking by featuring her own Cinegirl design.

The Mid-Somerset Agricultural Society has made the difficult decision to cancel the 2020 Mid-Somerset Show in Shepton Mallet due to the ongoing Covid-19 outbreak.

The society's chairman, Ian Harvey, confirmed the cancellation in a statement issued today (May 12).

Following updated guidance from the Government, the Dobbies Garden Centre in Shepton Mallet will reopen tomorrow (May 13).

The safety of team members and customers remains Dobbies' number one priority and social distancing measures have been implemented to allow the store to operate safely.

A car was badly damaged by fire this morning (May 12) at the bottom of Long Hill, near Shepton Mallet.

One fire appliance from Shepton Mallet attended a report just before 7.30am of a vehicle on fire at the bottom of Long Hill.