Friday 7th February

Friday, 7 February 2025 06:00

By Steve Haigh

A Yeovil man has been fined £1,200 for sending hostile text messages to his ex-wife. A report into the performance of Avon and Somerset Police has found it doesn't answer emergency calls quickly enough. Twenty-two swimmers at the Trident Swimming Club in Chard have won places in this year’s Somerset County Swimming Championships...and more

A Yeovil man has been fined £1,200 for sending hostile text messages to his ex-wife. Stuart Foster of Welbeck Road in Yeovil pleaded guilty to the offence when he appeared at Yeovil Magistrates Court. The Court was told that Foster had sent harassing messages to his ex-wife over three months. Apart from the fine, he was told to pay a £480 victim surcharge and was made the subject of a nine-month restraining order during which time he must have no make contact with his ex-wife.

A Yeovilton woman will set off later this month to climb Mount Kilimanjaro. Ally Mcllroy, was a member of the Army Air Corps for 24 years, and now works as a Safety Officer at Leonardo Helicopters in Yeovil. She is due to start her ascent of the 6,000-meter-high Mount Kilimanjaro on February 16th raising money for the Rawthey Project that supports ex-members of the armed forces, emergency services and NHS communities.

A report into the performance of Avon and Somerset Police has found it doesn't answer emergency calls quickly enough. His Majesty's Inspectorate found the force requires improvement in five areas, including reducing the amount of non-emergency calls it abandons. Avon and Somerset Police say it welcomes the report and plans to tackle the problem areas it highlights.

The Local Government Ombudsman has called for Somerset Council to review its direct payment system - after a mother was left 7 thousand pounds in debt. Her children have extensive special needs and have care plans in place but the funds were not paid by the authority.

The government is giving £43 million towards building the new flood barrier on the River Parrett. Work has already started building the barrier and is expected to be finished in 2027. The barrier is designed to give protection to around 11,000 homes in areas surrounding the River Parrett.

Twenty-two swimmers at the Trident Swimming Club in Chard have won places in this year’s Somerset County Swimming Championships. The championships take place at Millfield School in Street tomorrow and on Sunday.

More from News

Friday 25th April

Police are investigating the theft of a motorbike in Ilminster. Tributes have been paid to the former Yeovil Town player-manager, Cecil Irwin, who has died aged 83. Town criers from across the South West will be in Yeovil tomorrow competing for the loudest voice in the Yeovil Town Crier Competition 2025...and more
Thursday 24th April

Police are appealing for witnesses to an accident in which a child was struck by a car in Yeovil. This week, a planning inquiry is being held into plans to turn a Somerset shopping centre into a retirement complex. A Somerset woman is planning to walk the 70-miles of Hadrian's Wall to mark her 90th birthday...and more.
Wednesday 23rd April

Tourism bosses in Somerset say they feel confident the County will have a good summer for visitors this year. A group representing care providers in Somerset is warning that some residential homes are at risk of going out of business due to rising costs. A Somerset animal charity has taken into care, three orphaned badger cubs...and more.
Tuesday 22nd April

The Care Quality Commission has given two GP practices in Yeovil a 'good' overall rating. According to insurers, AXA, thefts at commercial premises in Somerset are on the rise. Bus users in Somerset could see changes to the frequency of services when the new West of England mayor takes office. Martock is to host its first Pride event in June...and more.
Thursday 17th April

The father of a one-month-old baby boy in Chard is to stand trial for the murder of his son. New figures show that just under 1300 crimes were reported to the Police in Yeovil during the final quarter of last year. A night in a prison cell is offered at Shepton Mallet Jail to those who want to be alone this Easter...and more.
Wednesday 16th April

Big changes are being made to where taxi ranks in Yeovil are located. Farmers are being told to keep an extra lookout for people acting suspiciously following the latest livestock theft near the Devon and Somerset border. Channel 4’s Location Location Location is coming to Somerset, with anyone looking to buy a property locally invited to apply to be in the show...and more
Tuesday 15th April

A 36-year-old man remains in police custody after being arrested on suspicion of a sexual assault in Yeovil. Yeovil Labour Club has had its drinks licence revoked. NHS Somerset has been taking its physiotherapy team around the county to cut waiting times for patients. A men-only cooking course has been launched in Sherborne with all ingredients and equipment provided free of charge...and more
Monday 14th April

A new banking hub has opened in Crewkerne. South Western Ambulance is asking people to only dial 999 in a life-threatening emergency over the Easter weekend. £1.8 million is being spent improving walking and cycling routes around a major new housing development at Up Mudford in Yeovil...and more