Local News Friday 24th September

Friday, 24 September 2021 06:00

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.

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Monday 10th February

A dog, stolen in Norfolk seven years ago, has been found 200 miles away safe and well in Somerset. A man who lives in Seavington St Michael near Ilminster has been jailed after driving a car at police officers. One hundred new affordable homes could be built near Langport...and more
Friday 7th February

A Yeovil man has been fined £1,200 for sending hostile text messages to his ex-wife. A report into the performance of Avon and Somerset Police has found it doesn't answer emergency calls quickly enough. Twenty-two swimmers at the Trident Swimming Club in Chard have won places in this year’s Somerset County Swimming Championships...and more
Thursday 6th February

A man has appeared in court charged with murdering a one-month-old baby boy in Chard. Kingfisher Primary School in Yeovil has been highly praised by Ofsted. Somerset Council says it’s “extremely disappointed” after its bid to form a devolved Wessex group of local councils was rejected by the government...and more.
Wednesday 5th February

The Liberal Democrat Leader of Somerset Council, Councillor Bill Revans, says they had no choice but to ask the government to allow them to lift the 5 percent cap on raising Council Tax. Two teenagers have been released on bail following the stabbing in Yeovil. More than six thousand pounds has been awarded to local groups by Chard Carnival Committee...and more.
Tuesday 4th February

Somerset has been permitted to increase its Council Tax share by 7.5 percent. An Ilminster man, forced out of his house by last week's floods, says he doesn't know when he will be able to return home. Ilminster Literary Festival has launched its annual children’s writing competition, designed to encourage local children to write creative literature...and more.
Monday 3rd February

Five men have appeared in court charged with the murder of a man in Yeovil. A 16-year-old is the second person to be arrested in connection with a stabbing in Yeovil. Yeovil’s new outdoor entertainment space in Lower Middle Street has been officially opened by the town’s MP... and more.
Friday 31st January

A teenager has been arrested following a stabbing in Yeovil. Water bills in Somerset are set to go up on average by £123 from April. Yeovil MP, Adam Dance will officially open Yeovil’s new outdoor performance space later today...and more
Thursday 30th January

Lloyds bank is closing its branch in Chard. A Sherborne man has been jailed after defrauding a Yeovil woman of £40,000. A volunteer group in Chard is urging people to sign up to a flood victims register. A councillor in Shepton Mallet has become the first Reform UK member on Somerset Council... and more