Local News Monday 10th May

    Mark Shelford Avon & Somerset PCC

    Mark Shelford for the Conservatives has been elected the new Police and Crime Commissioner for Avon and Somerset. A South Petherton man, charged with the murder of a man in Yeovil, has appeared in court to deny the charge. A Yeovil man has launched a challenge to raise money to get oxygen to hospitals in India. A Langport man has appeared in court charged with theft.  People in South Somerset are being encouraged to do two-minute litter picks to help keep the local countryside clean.

    Mark Shelford for the Conservatives has been elected the new Police and Crime Commissioner for Avon and Somerset. Mr Shelford, a former officer in the British Army and Deputy Leader of Bath and North East Somerset Council, polled just over 161,000 votes in last Thursday’s local elections. Kerry Barker for Labour was in second place. Cleo Lake for the Green’s came third, and Heather Shearer for the Lib Dems fourth. Independent candidate, John Smith, was in fifth place.
    In other results from last Thursday’s local elections: Claire Brown for the Liberal Democrats was elected to Chard Town Council.
    Teresa Bond for the Conservatives and Alice Samuel for Liberal Democrats were elected to the Crewkerne Town Council.
    Neil Anderton, Samantha Atherton, Claudia Cole, Howard Ellard, Emma Hix, Dawn Old were elected to Wincanton Town Council.
    Kara Storey was elected to South Petherton Parish Council and Simon Jones was elected to Kingsbury Episcopi Parish Council.

    A South Petherton man, charged with the murder of a man in Yeovil, has appeared in court to deny the charge. Matthew Sheridan who was appearing via a video link at Exeter Crown Court. Sheridan is accused of the fatal stabbing of Louis Bednall in Hendford Hill in Yeovil on December 12th last year. Sheridan will now face a jury trial, beginning on July 26th.

    A Yeovil man has launched a challenge to raise money to get oxygen to hospitals in India, where the death toll from Covid 19 has risen above 200,000. Josh Tuck is aiming to walk 100 kilometres during May for the emergency appeal started by the British Asian Trust.

    A Langport man has appeared in court charged with theft. Richard Wash of Cheapside in the town pleaded guilty at Yeovil Magistrates to stealing a bank card and making an unauthorized withdrawal. A community order was made against Wash who was also ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £95 and £85 costs.

    People in South Somerset are being encouraged to do two-minute litter picks to help keep the local countryside clean. New litter pick stations have been installed at Yeovil Country Park and Chard Reservoir, equipped with litter pickers and reusable bags for people to use. 

    More from News

    • Monday 21st July

      A GoFundMe page set up to support families of last week’s Exmoor bus crash, in which a 10-year-old boy died, has raised over forty thousand pounds. A local councillor is calling for the introduction of speed cameras on the A30, from Yeovil to Sherborne. A group from a school in Ilchester have hiked 26 miles across the Jurassic Coast to fundraise in memory of a school colleague...and more

    • Friday 18th July

      EDF has completed another milestone in constructing the new 'Hinkley C' nuclear power plant near Bridgwater. The Royal International Air Tattoo at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire opens today with helicopters built in Yeovil on display. A road leading to Chard reservoir, shut two months ago for strengthening work to a dam wall, has re-opened...and more

    • Thursday 17th July

      Yeovil MP Adam Dance says he has serious concerns about plans that could see the closure of inpatient beds at Crewkerne Community Hospital. Ilminster residents are being asked to vote in a referendum on adopting a new neighbourhood plan for the town. An event in which people take part in a race against horses is returning to Somerset later this year...and more

    • Wednesday 16th July

      A children’s play area in Ilminster has been closed on safety grounds after badger setts were found on the land. Somerset Council sold off £90m of property assets last year to help fight off bankruptcy. Crewkerne Community Hospital could be turned into a neighbourhood health centre...and more.

    • Tuesday 15th July

      The fire service has blamed a discarded portable barbecue for starting a blaze at Ham Hill Country Park. A care home for people with autism and complex needs in Crewkerne has been rated 'good'. A seven-year-old Yeovil boy has set a new world record for completing the most number of consecutive sit-ups for his age group...and more

    • Monday 14th July

      Somerset Council is warning motorists against scanning QR codes at its car parks payment meters. Chard Town Council is spending £10,000 on short-term youth provision over the summer months. Former Yeovil Town player Marcus Stewart says he wants to continue raising money towards finding a cure for motor neurone disease...and more.

    • Friday 10th July

      A Yeovil woman has shared how she is still on the waiting list for a transplant, a year on. A Crewkerne community group saved two tonnes of food from landfill last month and gave it to residents in need. Yeovil Town have announced their fixture list for the 2025/26 season....and more.

    • Thursday 10th July

      The UK Health Security Agency has issued a yellow heat health alert for the South West. A former Cherry Farm in Chard has donated its netting and high-tensile wire to Somerset Aid for Ukraine. Somerset Council is moving forward with its next phase of plans for the county...and more.

    Today's Weather

    • Yeovil

      Light rain shower

      High: 21°C | Low: 12°C

    • Chard

      Light rain shower

      High: 21°C | Low: 12°C

    • Crewkerne

      Light rain shower

      High: 21°C | Low: 12°C

    • Somerton

      Light rain shower

      High: 21°C | Low: 13°C

    • Wincanton

      Light rain shower

      High: 22°C | Low: 12°C