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.

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    Today's Weather

    • Yeovil

      Heavy rain shower

      High: 10°C | Low: -1°C

    • Chard

      Heavy rain shower

      High: 9°C | Low: -1°C

    • Crewkerne

      Heavy rain shower

      High: 9°C | Low: -1°C

    • Somerton

      Sunny intervals

      High: 9°C | Low: -1°C

    • Wincanton

      Sunny intervals

      High: 11°C | Low: -1°C

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