Local News Monday 7th November

Monday, 7 November 2022 06:00

Yeovil’s Marlie Packer was among the try scorers in England’s win against Canada to go through to the final of the Women’s Rugby World Cup in New Zealand. A Wincanton man has appeared in court charged with raping and kidnapping a woman. The South Western Ambulance Service which operates in Yeovil and across South Somerset has the longest wait times in the country for speaking with an operator in an emergency. Yeovil’s Octagon theatre is set to benefit from new arts funding...and more.

Yeovil’s Marlie Packer was among the try scorers in England’s win against Canada to go through to the final of the Women’s Rugby World Cup in New Zealand. The final score was England 26 - Canada 19. England now play the hosts New Zealand in the final next Saturday. Marlie Packer began her playing career with Yeovil Rugby Club.

A Wincanton man has appeared in court charged with raping and kidnapping a woman. Gary Bridger of Dancing Lane was appearing at Bournemouth Crown Court. The charges relate to incidents on July 7th in Sherborne. Bridger, who pleaded not guilty will stand trial on Tuesday, January 3rd, 2023.

The South Western Ambulance Service which operates in Yeovil and across South Somerset has the longest wait times in the country for speaking with an operator in an emergency. It takes almost one minute on average for ambulance control staff to answer a 999 call compared with just five seconds at the West Midlands Ambulance Service. South Western Ambulance says it’s recruiting more call handlers to help speed up answering 999 calls.

Yeovil’s Octagon theatre is set to benefit from new arts funding. The Arts Council has announced £111 million of new funding, with the Octagon in Yeovil, South West Heritage Trust and Somerset Arts Works in our area getting a small but not insignificant share of the money.

Local TV personality, Sarah Beeny, who lives near Bruton, is urging people undergoing chemotherapy treatment for cancer not to feel ashamed when they lose their hair. Sarah, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in the summer, says if someone has breast cancer and is being treated, the fact they’ve no hair is not a reason to be ashamed. She says people who are bald are often stereotyped, which is something that she is now campaigning to change.

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