Monday 8th January

Monday, 8 January 2024 06:00

By Steve Haigh

Somerset Council says it needs to raise council tax by ten per cent to prevent it from bankruptcy. Two local men have been jailed after admitting to dealing in stolen farm machinery. A Chard woman has set a new personal best by completing four marathons in as many days....and more.

Somerset Council says it needs to raise council tax by ten per cent to prevent it from going bankrupt. The Council’s ruling Lib Dem Executive meets on January 15th to agree on a savings plan that includes closing recycling centres, visitor centres and reducing subsidies to local theatres. Nevertheless, even after making these cuts, the Council says it will still have a shortfall in its budget starting in April of tens of millions of pounds.

Two local men have been jailed after admitting to dealing in stolen farm machinery. Harry Hollowell of Jellicoe Road, in Yeovil, and Vincent Bruce, of Bearley Lane, in Tintinhull, were appearing for sentencing at Bristol Crown Court. Hollowell was sentenced to three years and two months imprisonment and Bruce to one year and four months, suspended for two years.

A Somerset family has given up attempting to cross halfway around the world without flying. Shannon Coggins, Theo Simon and their daughter Rosa left East Pennard in August to travel the 10,000 miles to Australia by land and sea only. But Theo says at the halfway point, they had to concede that flying was their only way of making it to Australia.

Thatcher’s Cider is giving away five hundred apple trees to local community groups. The cider maker says it wants to see the creation of community orchards in rural and inner city areas to support those in greatest need.

A Chard woman has set a personal best by completing four marathons in as many days. Lisa White who works at the 1610 gym in Chard completed each marathon in around four and a half hours, covering a total distance of 104.8 miles.

Yeovil Town have moved to 10 points clear at the top of National League South after their win against local rivals Bath City by 2 goals to nil at Huish Park on Saturday. Yeovil are next in action tomorrow night when they play away against Taunton Town at Wordsworth Drive. Kick-off is 7.45 pm.

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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.