Local News Monday 14th August

Monday, 14 August 2023 06:00

By Steve Haigh

Yeovil leather manufacturer Pittards, has gone into administration putting two hundred jobs at risk. Somerset Council has dropped plans to bring forward the redevelopment of the former cattle market site in Yeovil. The Princess of Wales has been named as the new Commodore-in-Chief of the Fleet Air Arm at RNAS Yeovilton...and more .

Yeovil leather manufacturer, Pittards, has gone into administration putting two hundred jobs at risk at its factory on Sherborne Road. Pittards, who last month put its employees on short-time working to save money, also manages tanneries in Ethiopia on behalf of the Ethiopian government. The collapse follows a failed attempt by Pittards to raise one-point-one-million pounds in additional capital to keep the business afloat. Yeovil MP Marcus Fysh says he’ll be speaking today with the Administrators to see what, if anything, can be done to preserve the business.

Somerset Council has dropped its plans to bring forward the redevelopment of the former cattle market off Reckleford in Yeovil and Glovers Walk next to Yeovil bus station, meaning the two sites could remain derelict for several more years. The government has given five million pounds to attract investors to develop the cattle market and Glovers Walk but Somerset Council says the money's now needed to complete the improvements to Yeovil town centre. They've written to the Department for Local Government to ask for clearance to divert the five-million pounds to the Yeovil Refresh Project. As yet, the government haven’t said if they will allow the money to be spent in this way.

A by-election in Castle Cary to fill a vacancy on Somerset Council has been won by the Liberal Democrats. The result of the ballot held last Thursday was:
Kevin Messenger, Liberal Democrat, who polled one-thousand-two-hundred-and-forty-seven votes
David Hall, Conservative, six-hundreds-and-fourteen votes
Ewan Jones, Green Party, four-hundred-and-fifteen votes
The turnout was twenty-eight-point-three per cent

A woman in Somerset has gone public after losing forty-thousand pounds in a crypto currency scheme which had claimed to be endorsed by TV Money expert Martin Lewis. The woman hadn't realised she was being scammed. Trading Standards say there's been a big rise in scams using fake celebrity endorsements.

The Princess of Wales has been named as the new Commodore-in-Chief of the Fleet Air Arm, based at RNAS Yeovilton. The role was previously held by Prince Andrew.

Station Road in Crewkerne is closed to traffic from today for resurfacing. The work’s due to be completed by Wednesday. Access for residents and local businesses will be maintained.

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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
Wednesday 29th January

New mums in Somerset could soon be offered a cervical screening test six weeks after giving birth. Police are asking for help in finding a Yeovil man wanted on recall to prison. The government has given half a million pounds towards planting more trees in Somerset, including 100 new trees in Yeovil...and more
Tuesday 28th January

Work continues to clean up from the floods in Chard, Ilminster, Somerton, South Petherton, and parts of Yeovil. A man who threatened to kill a support worker at the mental health unit in Yeovil has been sentenced to a community order. A competition that gives new musicians the chance to play at this year's Glastonbury festival has opened for entries...and more
Monday 27th January

A major incident has been declared by Somerset Council to ensure a multi-agency response to the flash flooding that's affected Chard, Crewkerne, Ilminster, South Petherton and parts of Yeovil. Police believe a 4x4 pick-up truck, found submerged in the River Yeo at Yeovilton at the weekend, may have been stolen. An appeal to raise £2 million to restore the Grand Organ at Wells Cathedral has raised over £1 million in less than 18 months...and more