Monday 3rd February

Monday, 3 February 2025 05:00

By Steve Haigh

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.

Five men have appeared in court charged with the murder of a man in Yeovil. The body of Michael Wheeler was found at Yarlington, one month after he was reported missing. Appearing at Bristol Crown Court, Mark Roberts, aged 38, Angus Warner, aged 32, Reuben Clare, aged 18, David Garland, aged 39, and Jack Rance, aged 28, each pleaded not guilty to murder. They also denied a charge of conspiracy to murder Mr Wheeler between August 1 and August 25 last year. All five were remanded into custody ahead of their trial, set for April 28th.

Data shows that around 350 people who attended A&E at Yeovil Hospital and Taunton’s Musgrove Park Hospital in December had to wait more than 12 hours to be seen. NHS Somerset says it was due to bed blocking, where no follow-on care was available to discharge patients, and also a higher number of people being unwell in December, and requiring hospital treatment.

Yeovil’s new outdoor entertainment space in the Triangle in Lower Middle Street has been officially opened by the town’s MP, Adam Dance. The area, which includes seating for 100, a water feature and a big TV screen, is part of the £24 million Yeovil Refresh Project, aimed at smartening up the look of the town centre and attracting new investment.

Longleat on the Somerset/Wiltshire border will be joining in with celebrations to mark the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen’s birthday this year. It’s thought Jane Austen visited the estate and that some scenes described in her books may have been inspired by the visit.

A 16-year-old is the second person to be arrested after two people were stabbed in Yeovil. Police say the teenager has been arrested on suspicion of affray and being in possession of a bladed article in a public place. It follows an incident in Raglan Terrace last Wednesday when a man in his 50s, and a teenage boy were taken to hospital after suffering stab wounds. A 15-year-old boy was also arrested on suspicion of wounding with intent and affray.

The Village Agents scheme in Somerset says the decision by the government to cut winter fuel payments has hit people really hard in Somerset. They say hundreds of people have been in touch asking for help with paying their heating bills.

More from News

Wednesday 5th February

The Lib Dem 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 of two people 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.
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

Lloyds bank is closing its branch in Chard. A Sherborne man has been jailed after defrauding a Yeovil woman of £40,000. A volunteer group in Chard is urging people to sign up to a flood victims register. A councillor in Shepton Mallet has become the first Reform UK member on Somerset Council... and more
Wednesday 29th January

New mums in Somerset could soon be offered a cervical screening test six weeks after giving birth. Police are asking for help in finding a Yeovil man wanted on recall to prison. The government has given half a million pounds towards planting more trees in Somerset, including 100 new trees in Yeovil...and more
Tuesday 28th January

Work continues to clean up from the floods in Chard, Ilminster, Somerton, South Petherton, and parts of Yeovil. A man who threatened to kill a support worker at the mental health unit in Yeovil has been sentenced to a community order. A competition that gives new musicians the chance to play at this year's Glastonbury festival has opened for entries...and more
Monday 27th January

A major incident has been declared by Somerset Council to ensure a multi-agency response to the flash flooding that's affected Chard, Crewkerne, Ilminster, South Petherton and parts of Yeovil. Police believe a 4x4 pick-up truck, found submerged in the River Yeo at Yeovilton at the weekend, may have been stolen. An appeal to raise £2 million to restore the Grand Organ at Wells Cathedral has raised over £1 million in less than 18 months...and more
News Friday 24th January

Plans have been submitted to build a David Lloyd Health and Fitness Club in Yeovil. Carers in Somerset say spending cuts to mental health support services will be hugely damaging. People with memories of Somerset women's cricket side are being asked to take part in a project to preserve its history. Two of our local restaurants have been listed in the top 100 restaurants in the UK...and more