Local News Friday 24th September

    Former Somerset Council Leader, Ric Pallister.

    The former Somerset Council Leader, Ric Pallister has been found guilty of 18 historical indecent assault charges. Another 290 cases of coronavirus were recorded in Somerset on Wednesday of this week. Councillors have expressed concern about the road safety implications of allowing 48 new homes to be built at Tatworth near Chard. The NHS Organ Donation Service in the South West is asking for more families to donate the organs of their loved ones when they die...and more.

    The former Somerset Council Leader, Ric Pallister has been found guilty of 18 historical indecent assault charges, following a 2-week trial at Taunton Crown Court. Pallister, who lives in East Chinnock was accused of using his position to groom his female victims by sexually touching them. Pallister, who was a Liberal Democrat councillor in South Somerset for almost 20-years will be sentenced later today and was told to expect a custodial sentence

    Another 290 cases of coronavirus were recorded in Somerset on Wednesday of this week. This is the most up-to-date figure issued by the NHS with a further 62 cases confirmed in South Somerset. It brings the number of positive test results in South Somerset since the pandemic started to 11,297.

    Councillors have expressed concern about the road safety implications of allowing 48 new homes to be built at Tatworth near Chard. Land Allocation Ltd, want to develop two adjoining sites on Fore Street in Tatworth. But members of South Somerset District Council’s Area West Committee voted not to give the plans the go-ahead for the moment, pending further talks about road access with the developers.

    The NHS Organ Donation Service in the South West is asking for more families to donate the organs of their loved ones when they die. Currently, when a close relative dies, only half of families agree to organ donation. 

    A Yeovil solicitor has welcomed planned changes to flexible working. Under the government’s planned changes, employees would have the right to request flexible working from day one of starting a new job. Katy Ponsford of Battens Solicitors says the current system is not working in the interests of new employees.

    More from News

    • Thursday 18th April

      A Martock man has been jailed after admitting to shining lasers at aircraft flying over Yeovil. Police are investigating an attempted break-in at the TK Maxx store at Babylon Hill. Nearly four hundred people have put their names forward for redundancy at Somerset Council...and more.

    • Wednesday 17 April

      Three local primary schools have been named on a list of England's top five hundred primary schools. A new co-working space for businesswomen has opened in Wincanton. Urgent repairs are being carried out to Ilminster's new public clock after it started showing the wrong time...and more

    • Tuesday 16th April

      A new operator has been found to run a Chard care home that has been at risk of closure. A licence has been granted to run a new music festival in West Dorset. People have until midnight tonight to register for a vote in the election for a Police and Crime Commissioner for Avon and Somerset...and more.

    • Monday 15th April

      Four people have been arrested as part of an investigation into the illegal supply of prescription-only drugs in Yeovil. A Yeovil man has appeared in court in connection with two burglaries in Langport. A well-known farm and restaurant business in South Petherton has been put up for sale. New figures have shown a further decline in the number of House Sparrows in Somerset...and more.

    • Friday 12th April

      Yeovil Town will play National League football next season after beating Truro 2-0 last night to win promotion and the National League South title. Somerset Council says the cost of keeping Yeovil’s Octagon Theatre closed has risen to £140,000 a year. A holiday website has reported a 31 percent upturn in visitor numbers to Somerset...and more.

    • Thursday 11th April

      Yeovil Town get another chance tonight to clinch promotion when they play away against Truro. Citizens Advice in Somerset says people are continuing to struggle with the cost of living. Some of England’s loudest voices will be heard in Yeovil later this month when the town's annual town crier competition takes place...and more,

    • Wednesday 10th April

      A former sub-postmaster from Wincanton says she's having to work a 70-hour week to pay off debts she incurred due to the Post Office IT scandal. Two people have been fined for illegal fishing in Yeovil. Images of wildlife taken by a photographer in Somerton have been chosen to feature on a new set of charity cards...and more.

    • Tuesday 9th April

      Lloyds Bank is being asked to reconsider closing its branch in Ilminster, leaving the town without a bank. A stretch of the A303 will close later this month as part of dualling the road between Sparkford and Podimore. A dragon parade is to be held in Chard later this month to mark St George’s Day...and more.

    Today's Weather

    • Yeovil

      Sunny intervals

      High: 15°C | Low: 3°C

    • Chard

      Sunny intervals

      High: 15°C | Low: 2°C

    • Crewkerne

      Sunny intervals

      High: 15°C | Low: 2°C

    • Somerton

      Sunny intervals

      High: 15°C | Low: 3°C

    • Wincanton

      Sunny intervals

      High: 15°C | Low: 3°C

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