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

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