Thursday 10th October

Thursday, 10 October 2024 06:00

By Steve Haigh

Work demolishing the Glovers Walk Shopping Centre in Yeovil will start before the end of the month. Yeovil MP Adam Dance is calling for a ban on executive bonuses at Wessex Water. Somerset Council has issued an urgent appeal for more foster carers to come forward.. and more.

Somerset Council has appointed a contractor to demolish the Glovers Walk Shopping Centre in Yeovil with work starting before the end of the month. It follows the Council’s purchase of the Glovers Walk site for £2.7 million with plans for new residential and commercial buildings on the land. Contractors, Walters UK, are being paid £1 million to clear the site and complete the work by early springs next year. Yeovil bus station will stay open throughout the period.

A local man who pushed a parish councillor, causing him to fall and fracture his skull, has been given an 18-month suspended prison sentence. Taunton Crown Court was told that Ian Barnes, aged 60, attacked Iain Hall, the Chairman of Merriot Parish Council, during a meeting. The Court heard that Barnes had been in dispute with the parish council and became aggressive towards Mr Hall before pushing him to the ground. Apart from the 18-month suspended prison sentence, Barnes was also subjected to a 5-year restraining order and told to pay Mr Hall £500 in compensation.

Yeovil MP Adam Dance is calling for a ban on executive bonuses at Wessex Water. His comments follow the announcement that Wessex Water has to pay back £5.3 million for poor performance and data showing that last year 2,667 sewage spills were reported in South Somerset. Mr Dance wants to see bonus payments to water bosses banned until leaks are fixed and sewage spills end. Wessex Water says for the second year running, no bonuses, relating to environmental performance, have been paid to directors.

Somerset Council has issued an appeal for more foster carers to come forward to provide stable homes for local children. The Council says it’s dealing with a growing number of children coming into the care of the council who need a foster family. Council Leader, Bill Revans says finding a stable foster home with a nurturing family provides the best environment for children in care, ensuring they remain in their local community, surrounded by the faces and places they know.

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