Local News Tuesday 23rd May

Tuesday, 23 May 2023 06:00

By Steve Haigh

National Highways says it plans to go ahead with dualling the A358 linking the Ilminster bypass with the M5 despite government policy shifting towards cheaper road schemes. Permission has been given to build fifteen new houses in the village of Ilton. A creation by a Yeovil garden designer is on display at this week’s Chelsea Flower Show...and more.

National Highways says it plans to go ahead with the major project to dual the A358 linking the Ilminster bypass with the M5 despite a shift in government policy towards building smaller and cheaper road schemes. The promise to dual the A358 at the cost of three-hundred-and-twenty-eight million pounds is contained in the latest National Highways road investment strategy up to 2030. National Highways aren’t saying however when the plans to dual the A358 will be submitted to the Planning Inspectorate.

A creation by a Yeovil garden designer is on display at this week’s Chelsea Flower Show. Julie Haylock has designed a garden in celebration of the Dorset fossil hunter, Mary Anning. Julie, who launched her business Sandhurst Garden Design only three years ago, says she feels very lucky to have her work displayed at the Chelsea Flower Show.

Permission has been given to build fifteen new houses in the village of Ilton. The development on land to the south of St Peter’s Close has been delayed by the Dutch N court ruling that requires that any new development should not increase phosphate levels within the Somerset Levels catchment. Somerset Council says permission was granted to build the new houses after the developer agreed to further phosphate mitigation measures on the site.

Somerset Council says waste collection pick-up days next week will be different due to Monday being a Bank Holiday. If your recycling and/or refuse is usually collected on Monday, then it will be collected on Tuesday, if your usual day is Tuesday, it will be collected on Wednesday and so on. Collections that take place on Friday, June 2nd will take place on Saturday, June 3rd. To help crews speed up collections, you’re asked to have bags and bins ready by 7 am on the day of collection, or better still, ready the night before.

Combe St Nicholas Primary School near Chard has been given a prestigious Artsmark Award. It’s in recognition of the school going above and beyond to give pupils a wide range of art and cultural experiences.

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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

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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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