Local News Friday 19th February

Thursday, 18 February 2021 21:33

The leader of Somerset County Council has defended increasing its share of council tax. Final designs have been announced to up-grade the look of Chard town centre. Fire has destroyed a garden shed in Yeovil. It happened in Parish Mews. Police are asking for help in tracing a woman who attacked another woman in a Chard supermarket and more...

The leader of Somerset County Council has defended increasing its share of council tax by nearly 5 percent from April. It was agreed as part of the Council's budget for the next financial year and will add 64 pounds to the annual bill for an average 'Band D' home. Leader of Somerset County Council, David Fothergill, says the increase is line with what was allowed by the government and is needed to help fund the provision of adult social care and children’s services both of which continue to be under enormous financial strain.

Final designs have been announced to up-grade the look of Chard town centre. The plans will see the creation of a larger public space in Holyrood Street with new seating and open views towards the Baptist church. More disabled parking will be provided in Fore Street. A government grant of one-million pounds has been given for the improvements, which also include new shop fronts and repairs to a number of historic buildings.

Fire has destroyed a garden shed in Yeovil. It happened in Parish Mews. The soffits and guttering of a neighbouring property were also damaged.

Police are asking for help in tracing a woman who attacked another woman in a Chard supermarket. She was grabbed around the neck by the woman and sustained scratches to her face and neck. The incident happened on Sunday, January 10th but has only just been made public by the police. CCTV images of the woman police want to speak to can be viewed on the Avon and Somerset Police website.

A care home in South Petherton has been celebrating the birthday of its oldest resident. A special party was held at Burnworthy House in South Petherton for the 104th birthday of Gwyneth Isaccs earlier this week. Gwyneth, who was born in Swansea during the infamous Spanish flue pandemic of 1917, lived for many years in Martock.

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Friday 7th March

The Leader of Somerset Council has repeated his call for a reform of the way that councils are funded. Crimestoppers is stepping up efforts to help tackle violent crime in Somerset. A new radar satellite is playing a crucial role in collecting data about flooding in Somerset...and more
Thursday 6th March

Somerset Council has approved a seven-and-a-half percent increase in council tax. People are being asked to return boxes of paracetamol bought from Boots Chemists in Somerset. It’s been revealed that five members of staff at Somerset Council are being allowed to work from home outside the UK...and more
Wednesday 5th March

Somerset Council has been told that hundreds of millions of pounds in loans taken out by former district councils, including South Somerset, have to be paid back. A Somerset charity says it needs more volunteers to help with research into new treatments for dementia. A local shop owner has welcomed Somerset Council’s decision to scrap plans to charge for parking after 6 pm...and more.
Tuesday 4th March

The population of Somerset has reached record levels with nearly one in ten born outside the UK. Stanchester School in Stoke-sub-Hamdon has been rated as ‘requiring improvement’. Experts have been called in to appraise a 15th-century piece of artwork in Sherborne...and more.
Monday 3rd March

A woman from Crewkerne has been fined £280 for assaulting two emergency workers. Plans have been announced to open new NHS dental surgeries in Chard and Crewkerne. A Yeovil man has been thanked for raising £10,000 for the cardiac charity Heartbeat...and more
Friday 28th February

A local man has been charged after allegedly driving a tractor while under the influence of alcohol. One hundred bikes, collected with household waste in Somerset, have been donated to charity. The junction of the A37 Ilchester Road and Stiby Road in Yeovil will again shut this evening for resurfacing...and more.
Thursday 27th February

Fourteen hundred people have added their names to a petition against Somerset Council's plans to scrap free car parks. St Margaret’s Hospice has won a share of £25 million of government funding. A man from Charlton Adam is preparing to visit Ukraine as an Aid Worker for a tenth time...and more
Wednesday 26th February

A local man has been charged with possessing an air weapon following an incident in Yeovil town centre. The Labour government has removed funding to the Amulet Theatre in Shepton Mallet that the previous Conservative government had allocated. Entries are now open for this year’s Minster Miles 10K fun run with organisers aiming to exceed last year’s number of runners...and more.