Complex repairs to a sinkhole that appeared in Station Road, Castle Cary, have been successfully completed with the road reopening to traffic on Friday 14 August, Somerset Council confirmed.

Temporary traffic lights were first installed in July 2024 after a hole appeared in the carriageway. An initial attempt to repair what appeared to be a localised depression in the road revealed a much more complex issue involving the culvert beneath the road and nearby utility services.

Rural communities across Somerset will find it easier to develop and deliver their own active travel schemes thanks to a Somerset Council initiative.

The Council is launching its rural active travel toolkit that will help communities through the process of developing a project from large-scale schemes such as a multi-user path to smaller improvements like dropped kerbs.

Visitors can now explore more of Ham Hill, thanks to the arrival of a new off-road mobility scooter available for hire from the Ham Hill Visitor Centre.

Somerset Council’s team at Ham Hill are thrilled to be working in partnership with Disability Together to introduce a Tramper; an off-road mobility scooter, at Ham Hill, making it easier for people with limited mobility to explore and enjoy the site’s stunning landscapes, wildlife and heritage.

Work to repair and stabilise the iconic War Memorial in Vivary Park, Taunton, began on Monday 17 August.

The start of the work was delayed to ensure the 26ft-high monument, unveiled in 1922, remained available for the annual VJ Day commemoration on 15 August, marking victory over Japan in 1945.

The memorial, originally designed to commemorate more than 400 residents who lost their lives or were reported missing in World War One.

Somerset Council’s Library Service is bringing history to life by creating a replica of an historic Roman treasure thanks to 3D scanning and printing.

The Ilminster Ring, dating back to 297 AD, has been digitally scanned using a sophisticated 3D hand scanner, funded by the British Library. The scanner creates  a highly detailed 3D model that enable people to explore this important local artefact in new ways.

The 25^th birthday of a Somerset-shot film will be celebrated with a unique screening at a landmark venue next month.

Pandaemonium, a film about the time poets Samuel Taylor Coleridge and William Wordsworth spent in the county, will be screened twice at Hestercombe House, near Taunton, on Saturday 26 September.

5 candidates will be contesting the vacant Somerset Council seat in the Frome West division by election on 3 September.

They are: Dominic Ellison (Green Party), Drew Gardner (Liberal Democrats), David Quantrill-Simon (Conservative Party), Christopher Wildridge (Labour Party), and Joesph Williams (Reform UK).

With hot, dry weather increasing the risk of wildfires, residents are being urged to take extra care when visiting the countryside. Most wildfires in the UK are caused by human activity, so simple steps can make a big difference – avoid lighting campfires or barbecues, dispose of cigarettes safely, take litter home and call 999 immediately if you spot a fire.

Local authorities are being asked to support prevention messaging during the ongoing heatwave, alongside local fire and rescue services. For more advice, see the MHCLG blog: Wildfires: how can you stay safe and protect the countryside?

Parents and carers of 16 to 19-year-olds are being reminded to extend their Child Benefit claim by 31 August if their teenager is continuing in full-time, non-advanced education or approved training from September. Claims not updated by the deadline will stop automatically.

Child Benefit can continue for young people studying courses such as A levels, T levels, Scottish Highers, NVQs up to level 3, or approved training schemes. Parents can extend their claim in minutes using the HMRC app or GOV.UK, or the QR code in their HMRC letter. It is worth up to £1,406.60 a year for the eldest or only child, and up to £930.80 for each additional child.

Parents and carers whose child is starting Reception this September are being reminded there’s still time to help them build toilet confidence. Best Start in Life has launched new support to help families take small, consistent steps, while reassuring them that accidents are normal and every child develops at their own pace.

Toilet independence includes recognising when to go, asking for help, managing clothing, wiping, flushing and washing hands. The guidance sets out 5 practical steps, including talking to children, stopping daytime nappies, using the potty or toilet regularly, praising efforts and building confidence with new routines.

For trusted advice and practical tips, visit the NHS Best Start in Life potty training page.