Brewhouse theatre closure: STATEMENT

As Taunton's Brewhouse Theatre closes its doors for the final time today, the Board of Governors blames the economy and lack of funding

Lights out at the Brewhouse

A candlelit vigil will take place at the Brewhouse in Taunton to "remember the great times". The theatre closed suddenly last night

STATEMENT on horse meat scandal

Full statement from slaughterers L J Potter, who use the Taunton abattoir where traces of the horse painkiller "bute" were found in meat

Live updates

Bike theft campaign for National Week

Bike thefts are common in the Avon & Somerset force's area.
Bike thefts are common in the Avon & Somerset force's area. Credit: Tom White/PA Wire

Avon and Somerset police are targeting cyclists in a crime prevention campaign as National Bike Week gets underway.

More than 4,500 bikes were stolen in the force area last year - hotspots were Bristol, Taunton and Weston-super-Mare.

Police want riders to ensure they use secure locks when leaving bikes unattended.

Central Taunton street closes for a month

Map showing location of East Street in the centre of Taunton. Credit: ITV News

A month-long closure of East Street in Taunton has begun. It is needed for a £16 million water mains replacement. Some shop owners fear a loss of trade.

Wessex Water says the works are vital because some of the mains are very old and have occasionally led to people getting discoloured water. They are currently working on more than 50 miles of water mains in the town.

Advertisement

Traders worried about Taunton road closure

Businesses in Taunton town centre are worried about the effect the closure will have on trade Credit: ITV News West Country

A month-long closure of East Street in Taunton has begun. It's for a £16 million water mains replacement. Some shop owners fear a loss of trade. Wessex Water says the works are vital because some of the mains are very old and have occasionally led to people getting discoloured water.

Somerset struggles in the County Championships

Cricket, and a season which promised so much for Somerset has got off to a rather stuttering start.

The club had set their sights on the County Championship title, but so far they're yet to win and are just three places off the bottom of the table.

Today is day three of Somerset's match with Yorkshire. Our Sports Correspondent Matthias Kurth sent us this report from the County Ground in Taunton.

Bus routes cut in Somerset

First Group's share price plummeted earlier this week Credit: David Jones/PA Wire/Press Association Images

Bus services in Taunton, Bridgwater and Weston-super-Mare face cutbacks from July. Operator First Bus is removing several routes which it says are 'underperforming'. Up to 12 people face redundancy at the Bridgwater bus depot.

The changes from July 28 are: Taunton route 92 cut; increased frequency on route 22. Bridgwater - Town Services 1, 2, and 3 cut; Weston - routes 1 and 14 cut. The news comes just days after parent company First Group saw its share price fall 30 per cent.

Advertisement

£5m pool and spa for Taunton gets the go ahead

Plans to build a new swimming pool with spa and café have been agreed by Taunton Deane Borough Council.

The new pool will be built next to the Blackbrook Pavilion Sports Centre in Taunton.

It represents a £5.4m investment for the Council and will mean a range of new facilities for the community, including a 25m six-lane pool, a learners’ pool, a café and spa.

The new pool will replace the ageing St James Street pool, which opened in 1928 and is becoming increasingly difficult to maintain.

I am delighted with this decision and what this will mean for the health and enjoyment of local people and visitors.

Having a pool at Blackbrook is what the public has wanted for a long time and it will allow for public swimming at both Station Road and Blackbrook.

The health and well-being spa is a great addition, giving many people the opportunity to access this type of facility for the first time.

– Cllr Catherine Herbert, Taunton Deane Borough Council

Full report: 40 Commando welcomed home to Taunton

Thousands of people lined the streets of Taunton today, as 700 Royal Marines marched through the town to officially mark the end of their time in Afghanistan.

The Marines from 40 Commando were the very first to be deployed to the country twelve years ago.

This year, after four tours of duty, they're among the last to return.

Bob Cruwys reports:

Coping with Afghanistan deaths

Sixteen families lost loved ones serving with 40 Commando in Afghanistan. But the unit was by no means the only one to be affected by the conflict.

Families from across our region lost sons, brothers and fathers, who were serving in military units based across the South West.

Ahead of today's parade our Somerset Correspondent David Woodland spoke to Judy Gaden, the mother of Corporal Tom Gaden, who was killed in Afghanistan four years ago:

Load more updates

Advertisement

Today's top stories