Local News Thursday 19th May

Thursday, 19 May 2022 06:00

Chris Hargreaves (Photo courtesy of Somerset Live)

Yeovil Town have announced that their new manager is Chris Hargreaves. It’s hoped new government legislation to bring empty shops back into use will help rejuvenate Somerset's high streets. An Ilminster man has appeared in court charged with ten offences. Somerset Wildlife Trust has teamed up with National Highways to help give more protection to Dormice. A pub in Somerton has won national recognition for its hospitality...and more.

Yeovil Town have announced that their new manager is Chris Hargreaves who joins the Glovers from Bristol Rovers where he was manager of the Youth Academy. Before that, he was Head Coach at Torquay United. Chris has signed a two-year contract with Yeovil and says he’s delighted to be joining a club that has such a proud history.

It’s hoped new government legislation to bring empty shops back into use will help rejuvenate Somerset's high streets. Roger Smith from Somerset Chamber of Commerce says the empty units in a town centre like Yeovil should be used for things other than retail.

An Ilminster man has appeared in court charged with ten offences. Matthew Barratt of Foundry Close was charged amongst others with two counts of burglary, taking a vehicle without consent, and assaulting an emergency worker, when he appeared at Yeovil Magistrates Court.

Somerset Wildlife Trust has teamed up with National Highways to help give more protection to Dormice. It’s part of the Dormouse Reconnected project that’s aimed at re-connecting populations of the rare hazel dormouse.

A pub in Somerton has won national recognition for its hospitality. The White Hart located in the historic market square in Somerton is described in the new edition of the Sawday’s good pubs guide as a ‘16th-century gem of an Inn’.

Two landscape designers from Bruton are going to this year’s Chelsea Flower Show to raise awareness of re-wilding. Adam Hunt’s and Lulu Urquhart’s entry will focus on beavers and their return to the wild after an absence of 400 years.

A day spa on the Dillington Estate near Ilminster has made it through to the finals of the Professional Beauty Awards. Transformations Hair and Beauty is on a list of six entries shortlisted for the ‘Boutique Salon of the Year’ award.

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Monday 10th February

A dog, stolen in Norfolk seven years ago, has been found 200 miles away safe and well in Somerset. A man who lives in Seavington St Michael near Ilminster has been jailed after driving a car at police officers. One hundred new affordable homes could be built near Langport...and more
Friday 7th February

A Yeovil man has been fined £1,200 for sending hostile text messages to his ex-wife. A report into the performance of Avon and Somerset Police has found it doesn't answer emergency calls quickly enough. Twenty-two swimmers at the Trident Swimming Club in Chard have won places in this year’s Somerset County Swimming Championships...and more
Thursday 6th February

A man has appeared in court charged with murdering a one-month-old baby boy in Chard. Kingfisher Primary School in Yeovil has been highly praised by Ofsted. Somerset Council says it’s “extremely disappointed” after its bid to form a devolved Wessex group of local councils was rejected by the government...and more.
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