Local News Monday 7th March

Monday, 7 March 2022 06:00

There’s renewed concern over the safety of pregnant ewes and newborn sheep in Somerset. The Liberal Democrats have taken a seat from the Conservatives after a by-election in South Somerset. A Yeovil care home has been put up for sale and could be redeveloped by a new owner. A Somerset man who gave up one of his kidneys to help a friend says it was an easy decision to make. A local man has been fined £400 after being caught driving at twice the speed limit on Tunnel Road at Beaminster...and more.

There’s renewed concern over the safety of pregnant ewes and newborn sheep in Somerset. Insurers, NFU Mutual, say farm animals with a value of £228,000 were either killed or injured by dogs in the South West last year. Rebecca Davidson from NFU Mutual says too many owners still let their dogs roam free in the countryside when they should be keeping them on a lead.

The Liberal Democrats have taken a seat from the Conservatives after a by-election in South Somerset. Ray Buckler was elected after receiving 390 votes, the Conservatives got 315. It's the first time the Lib Dems have held the Neroche seat on South Somerset District Council. Councillor Buckler will serve as a member of SSDC up to May 2023 after which the Council will cease to exist and be replaced by Somerset’s new unitary council.

A Yeovil care home has been put up for sale and could be redeveloped by a new owner. Cool Runnings Too, on Preston Road, is advertised with a guide price of £450,000.

A Somerset man who gave up one of his kidneys to help a friend says it was an easy decision to make. Jason Wide shared a house with his friend Philip Church and saw how ill he became due to kidney failure. When Jason discovered he was a match, he says it was obvious he had to help.

A local man has been fined £400 after being caught driving at twice the speed limit on Tunnel Road at Beaminster. Benjamin Docherty of Compton Pauncefoot, near Wincanton, was clocked travelling at 61 mph in a 30-mph zone. Apart from the fine, he was also given six penalty points by local magistrates.

The British Red Cross in Somerset is appealing for more volunteers to come forward. They’re looking for drivers to take cancer patients to and from appointments.

Baby eels that have travelled thousands of miles have started to arrive in Somerset. The Glass Eels started life near the Caribbean, and are now being given extra protection on rivers in Somerset by the Environment Agency.

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