Local News Thursday 6th May

Thursday, 6 May 2021 07:30

Polling is underway in today’s local elections in South Somerset. Builders in South Somerset say the lockdown has led to a surge in construction work. Health managers say they’re concerned about the added pressures new housing schemes are putting on medical services in Chard. A woman from Crewkerne has been fined for drinking driving. A community food larder has been proposed for Castle Cary...and more.

Polling is underway in today’s local elections (06-05). In South Somerset, voting is taking place to elect a new Police and Crime Commissioner for Avon and Somerset. Also, for seats on Parish and Town Councils, while referendums are being held on Neighbourhood Plans in Martock and Queen Camel. Polling stations are operating with social distancing in place and are open until 10 pm tonight.

Builders in South Somerset say the lockdown has led to a surge in construction work, as people decide to have home extensions and renovate their properties. Some builders are booked solid until 2022. Builder’s merchants have also seen a big increase in sales.

Health managers say they’re concerned about the added pressures new housing schemes are putting on medical services in Chard. Somerset Clinical Commissioning Group says GP surgeries and the community hospital in Chard are already oversubscribed and that to accommodate further housing growth, developers will have to pay the costs of improving these services.

A Bruton woman who has come out of retirement to work as a full-time carer is encouraging others to do the same. Schirstan Bampton is a former district nurse and retired 15 years ago. She recommending caring as a career and says it's never too late in life to start out all over again.

A woman from Crewkerne has been fined for drinking driving. Elaine Shears, of Middle Path, Crewkerne, pleaded guilty to the offence at Yeovil magistrates court and was fined £207 and disqualified from driving for 14 months.

in a building used as a public toilet. Castle Cary Town Council plans to convert the public conveniences in Millbrook Gardens into a place where people can donate food items for giving to local families in the greatest need.

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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