An inquest into the death of Yeovil Town captain, Lee Collins, has been told the footballer took his own life. There’s been a doubling in the number of people in the South West helping with medical research into the Covid pandemic. A decision to remove waste bins at Ham Hill country park near Yeovil has proved to be a real winner. Chard Carnival is set to go ahead this year but not on the grand scale of previous years.
An inquest into the death of Yeovil Town captain, Lee Collins, has been told the footballer took his own life. Mr. Collins, who was 32, was found dead in a hotel bedroom in West Coker on March 31st. Colleagues said he’d struggled with depression and had an alcohol addiction. And, when the football season was cancelled due to coronavirus, had worried about money and resorted to drug-taking. Somerset Coroner, Tony Williams, recorded a verdict of suicide.
There’s been a doubling in the number of people in the South West helping with medical research into the Covid pandemic. The National Institute for Health Research says people taking part in a recovery trial has helped save 20,000 lives.
A decision to remove waste bins at Ham Hill country park near Yeovil has proved to be a real winner. In a bid to stop anti-social littering, South Somerset District Council took away all litter bins at Ham Hill and put up signs asking people to take their litter home for recycling. The Council claims it’s led to an 80 percent reduction in littering at Ham Hill and has thanked visitors for contributing to the wellbeing of the country park and its wildlife.
Chard Carnival is set to go ahead this year but not on the grand scale of previous years. With clubs not building new floats due to a lack of funds, it’s been decided that they should use their old costumes and props to stage a shorter ‘Celebration of Carnival Parade’. The parade will be held on Saturday 9th October starting at 7 pm.
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.
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.
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.
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
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
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
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
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
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