Local News Tuesday 21st September

Tuesday, 21 September 2021 06:00

The farmer’s union the NFU says it wants to see visas relaxed so more European workers can come here to help tackle a staffing shortage. Up to £6.5 million pounds is being invested in improving Yeovil and Wincanton's leisure facilities. Police in Somerset are using unmarked HGVs to help spot dangerous drivers. South Western Railway, which runs services between Crewkerne and London Waterloo, has come under fire after a series of recent cancellations...and more.

The farmer’s union the NFU says it wants to see visas relaxed so more European workers can come here to help tackle a staffing shortage. Farmers in Somerset say they've been struggling to recruit workers since Brexit and some are reducing the number of times a day they milk their cows as a result. The Government says it's aware of the challenges facing the industry but is encouraging the farming sector to make employment more attractive to UK domestic workers.

Up to £6.5 million pounds is being invested in improving Yeovil and Wincanton's leisure facilities. Freedom Leisure, who manage Goldenstones, Westlands sports centre and the leisure centre in Wincanton, has outlined a series of major improvements to each of the three buildings. At Goldenstones, the gym will be "refreshed" with new equipment and the swimming pool changing rooms completely revamped. At Westlands, an additional aerobics studio will be provided. And in Wincanton, an indoor cycling studio will be created.

Police in Somerset are using unmarked HGVs to help spot dangerous drivers. It's part of a region-wide operation over two weeks following a programme run by National Highways who've helped train officers to drive the vehicles.

South Western Railway, which runs services between Crewkerne and London Waterloo, has come under fire after a series of recent cancellations. Over 2,400 unhappy customers have formed a Facebook group to share their stories of cancelled journeys, long delays and other issues. They're calling on the train service to improve services immediately. South Western Railway has apologised and says the cancellations are due to a number of drivers and guard having to self-isolate; as well as a slow intake of new train drivers.

Historic England is to invest in improvements to older buildings in Chard. The town is one of 60 places in England chosen as a High Street Historic Action Zone that will see buildings transformed and restored in the hope of attracting more people onto local high streets.

The go-ahead has been given to build 8 new homes in the village of Compton Dundon, near Somerton. The development, at Home Farm on Compton Street, will involve demolishing several existing agricultural buildings.

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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

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