Monday 6th January

Monday, 6 January 2025 06:00

By Steve Haigh

Police are treating, as deliberate, a fire at the former Oscar Mayer factory in Chard. The owner of an American diner says her takings are down 75 percent since the opening of the new dual carriageway between Sparkford and Ilchester. Yeovil-born England women’s rugby union team captain, Marlie Packer, says she’d like to captain the national side at this year's World Cup series...and more.

Police are treating as deliberate a fire at the former Oscar Mayer factory in Chard. Crews from Chard and Ilminster dealt with the blaze on Furnham Road that broke out at lunchtime last Thursday. Anyone with information that might help the police is asked to call the non-emergency number 101.

The owner of an American diner says her takings are down 75 percent since the opening of the new dual carriageway between Sparkford and Ilchester. National Highways has promised to install new advertising boards on the A303 for Mattia Diner but the signs are not yet in place.

Plans for a new housing development in Yeovil originally turned down over concerns about traffic congestion and flooding, will now go ahead. Somerset Council has drooped its objections and agreed to the development of sixty new homes on land between Brimsmore Garden Centre and Yeovil Gospel Hall on Tintinhull Road.

Supporters of trail hunting in Somerset have criticised the Labour government for planning to ban the sport. Trail hunting was introduced as a more humane alternative to fox hunting. Labour claims it’s a smokescreen for illegal hunting but Ollie Hughes from the British Hound Sports Association says they see no reason to ban the sport.

Yeovil-born England’s women’s rugby union team captain, Marlie Packer, has been speaking about her hopes for 2025. Marlie, a former pupil at Bucklers Mead School in Yeovil, says she’d like to captain the national side at this year's World Cup series being played in the UK.

Somerset Ramblers Association has welcomed the decision to extend the deadline for registering public footpaths and rights of way. People now have until 2031 to have a public footpath and right of way, currently not registered, or mapped, protecting them from being built over.

More from News

Wednesday 2nd July

Business owners in Chard say ongoing roadworks in Fore Street are hurting their trade. A vehicle has been destroyed in a fire at a farm at Charlton Mackrell. A new recycling scheme has been launched to support Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance. Castle Carey has created a Scarecrow Festival...and more
Tuesday 1st July

A murder trial starts today of the parents of a baby boy who died in Yeovil Hospital. Somerset residents are being asked to keep an eye on elderly neighbours, with temperatures expected to reach the high 20s again today. A tiny black kitten has been found inside a crate of laundry delivered to a cleaning business in Yeovil...and more
Monday 30th June

The Care Quality Commission has published its report into the running of the maternity unit at Yeovil Hospital. A public consultation has been launched into plans to build 150 new homes at Horton near Ilminster. A Chard man has embarked on walking 75 miles across Somerset, raising money for the Devon Air Ambulance...and more
Friday 27th June

Yeovil MP Adam Dance is calling for Yeovil Hospital to be included in the government's national review of NHS maternity services. A Yeovil man has appeared in court charged with four counts of fraud. Yeovil Town players will be modelling the club’s new home and away strip at Huish Park this evening...and more.
Thursday 26th June

Thousands more music fans will arrive at Worthy Farm for the start of Glastonbury Festival. The government has granted Somerset Council a stay of execution, allowing it to defer a spending deficit on special needs education. A party has been held to mark the 100th birthday of a Somerset woman who has lived in the same house for 100 years...and more.
Wednesday 25th June

Businesses at the Cartgate services off the A303 near Yeovil say they feel threatened by Welcome Break Ltd's plans to build a new, bigger services area right next door. A man who lives in Tintinhull, found nearly double the drink drive limit, has been given a 20-month driving ban. Police are warning of fake tickets being on sale for Glastonbury Festival...and more
Tuesday 24th June

There’s been a drop in the number of potholes being filled in on Somerset’s roads. A Somerset company has developed a new type of un-crewed helicopter. A man has cycled from Spain to Somerset to attend Glastonbury Festival...and more
Monday 23rd June

Plans have been submitted to build a motorway-style service station at Cartgate on the A303. Police are asking for the public’s help in tracing those responsible for two house break-ins in Yeovil. A Community Champion at Tesco in Chard has been rewarded for her work supporting the local community...and more.