Monday 20th May

Monday, 20 May 2024 06:00

By Steve Haigh

There's been an eleven percent increase in burglaries in Somerset. Somerset Council say they're committed to buying the Glovers Walk shopping centre in Yeovil and protecting Yeovil bus station. The new public car park at Castle Cary railway station has opened permanently....and more.

Figures just out show there has been an eleven percent increase in burglaries in Somerset. According to Churchill Support Services, 1,653 burglaries were committed in Somerset between September 2022 and September 2023. That’s in the Avon and Somerset force area excluding Bristol. Avon and Somerset Police say while the number of burglaries has risen year-on-year, Somerset remains one of the lowest areas for burglaries across England, with the national average for burglaries being more than twice that for Somerset.

Somerset Council says it is committed to buying the Glovers Walk shopping centre in Yeovil and protecting the future of Yeovil bus station. The Council isn’t saying when the transfer of ownership will happen. In a statement, the Council says they will keep the bus station open as a key transport hub and bring Glovers Walk into public ownership as part of plans to redevelop the Lower Middle Street area.

The new public car park at Castle Cary railway station has opened on a permanent basis. It opened briefly in November and then closed in March for further work to be carried out. Spaces to park 193 vehicles and four electric charging bays are provided. The opening of the car park marks the start of a series of improvements at Castle Cary station, including installing a temporary footbridge for this year’s Glastonbury Festival.

A woman from South Petherton whose husband has dementia has praised a care group for providing the couple with much-needed support. Aileen Channer says without the social interaction provided by the Filo Project their lives would be very different.

A new bubble tea shop has opened in Yeovil. Bubble tea is a Taiwanese recipe which blends tea with milk, fruit and fruit juices. The shop can be found at 14 Wine Street in Yeovil town centre.

Yeovil Town has announced the departure of Rhys Murphy to National League South side, Dorking. Rhys, who returned to Huish Park for a second spell at the start of the 23/24 season, scored 15 goals in 30 games. Meanwhile, the Glovers will play a pre-season friendly against Exeter City at Huish Park on Friday, July 19th, kick-off is at 7.30 pm. A second pre-season friendly away against Weston-super-Mare will take place on Saturday, August 3rd.

More from News

Friday 7th March

The Leader of Somerset Council has repeated his call for a reform of the way that councils are funded. Crimestoppers is stepping up efforts to help tackle violent crime in Somerset. A new radar satellite is playing a crucial role in collecting data about flooding in Somerset...and more
Thursday 6th March

Somerset Council has approved a seven-and-a-half percent increase in council tax. People are being asked to return boxes of paracetamol bought from Boots Chemists in Somerset. It’s been revealed that five members of staff at Somerset Council are being allowed to work from home outside the UK...and more
Wednesday 5th March

Somerset Council has been told that hundreds of millions of pounds in loans taken out by former district councils, including South Somerset, have to be paid back. A Somerset charity says it needs more volunteers to help with research into new treatments for dementia. A local shop owner has welcomed Somerset Council’s decision to scrap plans to charge for parking after 6 pm...and more.
Tuesday 4th March

The population of Somerset has reached record levels with nearly one in ten born outside the UK. Stanchester School in Stoke-sub-Hamdon has been rated as ‘requiring improvement’. Experts have been called in to appraise a 15th-century piece of artwork in Sherborne...and more.
Monday 3rd March

A woman from Crewkerne has been fined £280 for assaulting two emergency workers. Plans have been announced to open new NHS dental surgeries in Chard and Crewkerne. A Yeovil man has been thanked for raising £10,000 for the cardiac charity Heartbeat...and more
Friday 28th February

A local man has been charged after allegedly driving a tractor while under the influence of alcohol. One hundred bikes, collected with household waste in Somerset, have been donated to charity. The junction of the A37 Ilchester Road and Stiby Road in Yeovil will again shut this evening for resurfacing...and more.
Thursday 27th February

Fourteen hundred people have added their names to a petition against Somerset Council's plans to scrap free car parks. St Margaret’s Hospice has won a share of £25 million of government funding. A man from Charlton Adam is preparing to visit Ukraine as an Aid Worker for a tenth time...and more
Wednesday 26th February

A local man has been charged with possessing an air weapon following an incident in Yeovil town centre. The Labour government has removed funding to the Amulet Theatre in Shepton Mallet that the previous Conservative government had allocated. Entries are now open for this year’s Minster Miles 10K fun run with organisers aiming to exceed last year’s number of runners...and more.