Local News Thursday 23rd December

Thursday, 23 December 2021 06:00

The final go-ahead has been given to build a new hard-standing runway at the Leonardo Helicopters site in Yeovil. Average council tax bills in Somerset look set to rise by £40.47 for county council services from April. Small businesses in Somerset are calling for 100% business rate relief from the government. A biscuit product made by a Yeovil bakery has been named Christmas Product of the Year and Police saw the funny side when they stopped a BMW for not having a front registration plate.

The final go-ahead has been given to build a new hard-standing runway at the Leonardo Helicopters site in Yeovil. Leonardo says the tarmac runway is needed because the current runway on their airfield off Bunford Lane is no longer fit for purpose. South Somerset District originally gave the plans the green light in 2019. This latest approval involves permission to construct a building for lighting purposes, next to the existing factory sheds at the Leonardo site

Average council tax bills in Somerset look set to rise by £40.47 for county council services from April. The County Council says the extra £30million it would raise is needed to pay the higher costs of delivering adults' and children’s services. A public consultation on the proposed increase has opened and will close at the end of January. Somerset County Council claims it currently has the fourth-lowest council tax amongst English counties.

Small businesses in Somerset are calling for 100% business rate relief from the government. The Chancellor has announced a one billion pounds support fund for businesses struggling to deal with the Omicron variant. It means they can claim a grant of six thousand pounds for each of their premises.

A biscuit product made by a Yeovil bakery has been named Christmas Product of the Year in The Quality Food Awards 2021. Percy’s Bakery in Artillery Road on the Lufton Trading Estate has been given the award for its Chocolate Caramel Thins, which can be bought in Aldi supermarkets.

Police saw the funny side when they stopped a BMW for not having a front registration plate. The driver told them he’d been to the Longleat safari park and that a monkey had jumped on the bonnet of his car and stolen the number plate. Avon and Somerset Police have voted it the ‘best creative excuse of the festive season so far’. After giving the driver ‘some advice’, he was allowed to continue with his journey.

More from News

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