Somerset village loses public toilet fight
BANES has refused funding saying it's not a money issue but because of anti social behaviour.
Full text of the bishops' letter to the Govt on welfare
West Country bishops have urged the Government to tackle the UK's 'hunger crisis', saying it has a 'moral imperative' to act.
West council make tough decisions on budget cuts
Here is our 'at-a-glance' guide to some of the key budget decisions being made by councils in our region.
Live updates
Today is Register to Vote Day
Today is National Register to Vote Day, which aims to get a quarter of a million voters signed up by the end of the day.
The campaign, which is backed by local councils, is particularly targeting young people - 44 percent of 18 to 24-year-olds voted in the last general election, compared to 76 percent of over 65s. Registration forms can be found on the Electoral Commission website www.aboutmyvote.co.uk.
Three thousand sign petition against allowances
A public petition with around three thousand names will be presented to Wiltshire councillors in Trowbridge later, protesting at proposed increases in allowances.
In November, the Council agreed to give an increase only weeks after making 252 staff redundant.
Council leader, Jane Scott, has decided not to accept her twenty two percent rise after initially saying she would be taking it.
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Writhlington student elected to UK Youth Parliament
A 16-year-old student from Writhlington School in Radstock has been elected to represent young people across Bath and North East Somerset.
5,702 young people took part in the Youth Parliament elections and the votes were counted last night.
Edward Joseph got 1,360 votes and was elected the authority's Member of Youth Parliament while George Aylett from Ralph Allen School, who got 1,157, is his deputy.
Edward will serve for a year and his role will include organising local events and running campaigns. He'll also attend the UK Youth Parliament and take part in a Commons Debate.
Yeovil company to benefit from £760 million deal
Some very welcome news on the jobs front at the Agusta Westland company in Yeovil today. It has won a contract to convert twenty five RAF Merlin helicopters for Royal Navy use, securing work for years to come.
Its existing contract to service the army's Apache Attack helicopters has also been renewed for another five years. The Defence Secretary Philip Hammond announced the deal worth £760 million, at a visit to the Yeovil site this morning. Bob Cruwys reports:
Helicopter contracts will give workers security
Agusta Westland in Yeovil has won a contract to convert 25 RAF Merlin helicopters for Royal Navy use.
Its existing contract to service the army's Apache Attack helicopters has also been renewed for another five years.
The Defence Secretary Philip Hammond announced the deal, worth seven hundred and sixty million pounds, at a visit to the Yeovil site this morning. He said workers at the plant can now have a "sense of security":
Defence Secretary announces new contracts in Yeovil
Defence Secretary Phillip Hammond has announced two new contracts at a helicopter manufacturers in Yeovil.
The contracts, with the Ministry of Defence, include one to convert 25 Merlin Helicopter for Royal Navy use.
The Merlin helicopters will be moved from RAF Benson in Oxfordshire to replace ageing Sea King aircraft at RNAS Yeovilton. The conversion will involve installing a folding rotor head and folding tail.
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Defence Secretary has good news for Westlands
The Defence Secretary Philip Hammond is visiting Agusta Westland in Yeovil Today.
He is expected to announce plans to convert 25 RAF Merlin helicopters for use by the Royal Navy. The aircraft will replace the ageing fleet of Sea Kings at RNAS Yeovilton.
Mr Hammond will also announce a renewed five year maintenance contract for Apache helicopters
Council leader gives up pay rise
Wiltshire Council leader Jane Scott has turned down her controversial pay rise which would have seen her allowances increase from £37,335 to £52,227.
The news was revealed via a Freedom of Information request to the council by a local newspaper.
The prospect of such an increase had prompted a group of independent councillors, to call an extraordinary meeting to discuss the matter. More than two and a half thousand people signed a petition objecting to the pay rise
Former crime prevention minister visiting Weston today
The former crime prevention minister will be visiting Weston-super-Mare today. MP Jeremy Browne will be spending the day with local police officers 'on the beat'. He'll be meeting residents and business owners to listen to any concerns they might have about crime in the town.
Bristol man charged over Stella Creasy tweets
A man from Bristol has been charged over messages sent to Stella Creasy. The Labour MP was sent abusive messages on Twitter after supporting a campaign to have Jane Austen appear on bank notes. 33 year-old Peter Nunn will appear at Westminster Magistrates Court next month.
