Local News Friday 24th September

    Former Somerset Council Leader, Ric Pallister.

    The former Somerset Council Leader, Ric Pallister has been found guilty of 18 historical indecent assault charges. Another 290 cases of coronavirus were recorded in Somerset on Wednesday of this week. Councillors have expressed concern about the road safety implications of allowing 48 new homes to be built at Tatworth near Chard. The NHS Organ Donation Service in the South West is asking for more families to donate the organs of their loved ones when they die...and more.

    The former Somerset Council Leader, Ric Pallister has been found guilty of 18 historical indecent assault charges, following a 2-week trial at Taunton Crown Court. Pallister, who lives in East Chinnock was accused of using his position to groom his female victims by sexually touching them. Pallister, who was a Liberal Democrat councillor in South Somerset for almost 20-years will be sentenced later today and was told to expect a custodial sentence

    Another 290 cases of coronavirus were recorded in Somerset on Wednesday of this week. This is the most up-to-date figure issued by the NHS with a further 62 cases confirmed in South Somerset. It brings the number of positive test results in South Somerset since the pandemic started to 11,297.

    Councillors have expressed concern about the road safety implications of allowing 48 new homes to be built at Tatworth near Chard. Land Allocation Ltd, want to develop two adjoining sites on Fore Street in Tatworth. But members of South Somerset District Council’s Area West Committee voted not to give the plans the go-ahead for the moment, pending further talks about road access with the developers.

    The NHS Organ Donation Service in the South West is asking for more families to donate the organs of their loved ones when they die. Currently, when a close relative dies, only half of families agree to organ donation. 

    A Yeovil solicitor has welcomed planned changes to flexible working. Under the government’s planned changes, employees would have the right to request flexible working from day one of starting a new job. Katy Ponsford of Battens Solicitors says the current system is not working in the interests of new employees.

    More from News

    • Thursday 17th April

      The father of a one-month-old baby boy in Chard is to stand trial for the murder of his son. New figures show that just under 1300 crimes were reported to the Police in Yeovil during the final quarter of last year. A night in a prison cell is offered at Shepton Mallet Jail to those who want to be alone this Easter...and more.

    • Wednesday 16th April

      Big changes are being made to where taxi ranks in Yeovil are located. Farmers are being told to keep an extra lookout for people acting suspiciously following the latest livestock theft near the Devon and Somerset border. Channel 4’s Location Location Location is coming to Somerset, with anyone looking to buy a property locally invited to apply to be in the show...and more

    • Tuesday 15th April

      A 36-year-old man remains in police custody after being arrested on suspicion of a sexual assault in Yeovil. Yeovil Labour Club has had its drinks licence revoked. NHS Somerset has been taking its physiotherapy team around the county to cut waiting times for patients. A men-only cooking course has been launched in Sherborne with all ingredients and equipment provided free of charge...and more

    • Monday 14th April

      A new banking hub has opened in Crewkerne. South Western Ambulance is asking people to only dial 999 in a life-threatening emergency over the Easter weekend. £1.8 million is being spent improving walking and cycling routes around a major new housing development at Up Mudford in Yeovil...and more

    • Friday 11th April

      Police are appealing for witnesses to an accident in Yeovil in which a man riding an e-bike was injured and later died in hospital. Somerset Fire and Rescue Service says the number of false alarm calls it receives is on the increase. A new micro-pub opens in Chard next week...and more

    • Thursday 10th April 

      Yeovil MP Adam Dance is calling for more targeted support for schools in Somerset. Police are appealing for witnesses to an accident near Wells in which a cyclist died. Plans have been approved to convert a former care home in Yeovil into a house of multiple occupation...and more

    • Wednesday 9th April

      A man from Yeovil has been jailed for stabbing another man in a pub in the town. Work is underway to help minimize the flood risk at Chard Reservoir. Plans have been submitted to build thirty-six new homes at Sparkford. A new Town Crier is needed in Glastonbury...and more

    • Tuesday 8th April

      Work is underway to demolish the Glovers Walk Shopping Centre in Yeovil. A Yeovil man has appeared in court charged with drink driving for a third time. Somerset Council has paid £35,000 in compensation for failing to deliver the right support to children with special educational needs. Another shop in Yeovil town centre is closing for good today...and more

    Today's Weather

    • Yeovil

      Heavy rain shower

      High: 14°C | Low: 8°C

    • Chard

      Sunny intervals

      High: 14°C | Low: 8°C

    • Crewkerne

      Sunny intervals

      High: 14°C | Low: 8°C

    • Somerton

      Sunny intervals

      High: 15°C | Low: 9°C

    • Wincanton

      Heavy rain shower

      High: 15°C | Low: 8°C

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