Local News Monday 16th August

    The Oscar Mayer food factory site in Chard that closed at the weekend has been bought by Numatic. Police are expected today to name the two people killed when their light aircraft crashed at Buckland St Mary near Chard. An appeal's been launched to find volunteers to support victims of modern slavery in Somerset. Land is being sought to create a new woodland in Ilminster. An office building in Yeovil could be converted into flats.

    The Oscar Mayer food factory site in Chard that closed at the weekend has been bought by Numatic, the company famous for making the 'Henry' vacuum cleaner. Numatic, based in Chard, say they need the site to meet demand. Meanwhile, the Mayor of Chard, Jason Baker, has praised Oscar Mayer for the way in which they have handled the factory closure. He says a majority of the eight hundred workers who worked there have been found new jobs. 

    Police are expected today to name the two people killed when their light aircraft crashed at Buckland St Mary near Chard. The crash happened last Thursday on farmland and the area remains closed as the Air Accidents Investigation Branch carries out an investigation.

    An appeal's been launched to find volunteers to support victims of modern slavery in Somerset. The pilot project called ‘Hidden Voices’ is an initiative by the Diocese of Bath and Wells. It's one of the first projects of its kind in the country with funding provided by the Home Office. 

    Land is being sought to create a new woodland in Ilminster. The woodland’s being planted to mark the Queen's Platinum jubilee next year as part of the Green Canopy Project, launched by Prince Charles. 

    An office building in Yeovil could be converted into flats. Plans for a ‘change of use’ on Brunel House on the Houndstone Business Park have been submitted to South Somerset District Council. If approved, the two-storey building would be transformed into 8 one-bed and 16 two-bed flats.

    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

      Light rain

      High: 16°C | Low: 4°C

    • Chard

      Light rain

      High: 15°C | Low: 4°C

    • Crewkerne

      Light rain

      High: 15°C | Low: 4°C

    • Somerton

      Light rain

      High: 16°C | Low: 4°C

    • Wincanton

      Light rain

      High: 17°C | Low: 3°C

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