Local News Wednesday 2nd August

Wednesday, 2 August 2023 06:00

By Steve Haigh

Yeovil-based leather manufacturer, Pittards, has failed in its bid to raise new capital to keep the business afloat. Farmers are being told to be on the lookout for organised gangs targeting their land and equipment. A Somerset Police officer has set up a project to provide football boots to local children who can't afford to buy them ...and more

Yeovil-based leather manufacturer, Pittards, has failed in its bid to raise new capital to keep the business afloat. In a statement last month, the company said it needed an injection of one-point-one-million pounds. Now, in an update to investors, Pittards say they’ve terminated the fundraising after the amount accumulated, around £330,000, was deemed not sufficient. Meanwhile, trading in Pittards shares has been suspended due to a delay in publishing last year’s financial results.

Farmers are being told to be on the lookout for organised gangs targeting their land and equipment. The latest crime figures in Somerset from NFU Mutual show that farm equipment fitted with GPS is now a popular target for thieves together with the theft of livestock. Last year, the value of items stolen from farms in Somerset was put at eight hundred thousand pounds.

Somerset Council has given the go-ahead for thirty-five new homes to be built in the village of Broadway, near Ilminster, subject to improvements being made to the local sewer network. The development, consisting of two and four-bed properties and five bungalows, will be on the corner of Broadway Road and Pound Road.

Road closure signs have been reintroduced at Chinnock Hollow linking East Chinnock and Odcombe. It follows the disappearance of road closure signs at either end of the cut-through that had led some motorists to think the road had been re-opened.

A Somerset Police officer has set up a project to provide football boots to local children who can't afford to buy them. Neighbourhood PC, Ryan Day, has founded the Football Boots Initiative and is asking anyone with football boots to donate to please take them to their nearest police station.

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Tuesday 10th February

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Monday 9th February

Multiple flood alerts and warnings remain in place across South Somerset following the weekend’s heavy rainfall. Work starts today repairing a sinkhole on Station Road in Castle Cary. A business in Crewkerne is closing after 50-years trading in the town... and more
Friday 6th September

Leonardo has announced a major deal to build helicopters in India. Campaigners trying to set up a new bus link to Castle Cary railway station from Glastonbury say they need 150 thousand pounds of council money. A community event is being held in Chard for charities and service providers to showcase their activities.... and more
Thursday 5th February

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Wednesday 4th February

Somerset Council is asking the government for extra funds to pay for the damage caused by Storm Chandra. There’s been a setback to the campaign to reopen Chinnock Hollow. The Telegraph newspaper has named the Barrington Boar at Barrington in a list of the top 50 best pubs in the UK... and more
Tuesday 3rd February

Five flood warnings remain in place in Somerset covering the rivers Parrett, Yeo, Northmoor and Saltmoor. Somerset Council says it has no plans to demolish a derelict listed building near Chard Leisure Centre. A Yeovil farm shop has been honoured at a national awards ceremony... and more