Local News Monday 3rd July

Monday, 3 July 2023 06:00

By Steve Haigh

Waste collection crews in Somerset are threatening strike action. The Mayor of Yeovil has spoken of the importance of Yeovil's ethnic minority communities to the local economy. Plans have been submitted to install solar panels on the roof of Chard Guildhall. West Country-based wheelchair tennis star Lucy Shuker says she's 'as hungry as ever for success'...and more.

Talks are due to resume this week to try and avert a planned strike by waste collection crews in Somerset. Members of the Unite Union are threatening to stop work for three days each week starting Wednesday, July 13th. A pay increase of eight per cent made by Suez UK; the contracted waste collectors for Somerset Waste Partnership, was rejected in a ballot of Unite members, in favour of industrial action. Crews are also refusing to do overtime and catch-up collections. SWP says contingency planning is underway to try and limit the impact on households and businesses should the strike go ahead.

The Mayor of Yeovil has spoken of his support for Yeovil’s ethnic minority communities. Councillor Andy Kendall, who was attending the Yeovil Together gathering held yesterday at the Westland Entertainment venue, said people from other nations living in Yeovil were essential to the local economy and to the delivery of local services.

Plans have been submitted to install solar panels on the roof of Chard Guildhall. If approved by Somerset Council, twenty-eight photo-voltaic solar panels would be fitted to the West facing roof slope at the rear of the Guildhall.

Police are appealing for witnesses and dashcam footage to crash on the A30 near Yarcombe in which a man was killed. It happened on Saturday and involved a white Ford Fiesta. No other vehicle was involved. Police are asking anyone who witnessed the crash or has dash cam footage to please call the non-emergency number 101.

Seven buildings in Somerset, including the former NatWest Bank in Crewkerne, have been put on a list of buildings in England considered to be ‘at risk’. The list’s been compiled by Save Britain’s Heritage.

West Country-based wheelchair tennis star Lucy Shuker says she's 'as hungry as ever for success' as she takes part in her thirteenth Wimbledon beginning today. The paralympic silver medalist has been given a wildcard at this year’s championships and will be competing in both the singles and doubles events. Lucy says her focus is on winning a title.

More from News

Friday 7th November

A man from Yeovil has been jailed for eight years after being convicted of three counts of rape. Smoking rates in Somerset remain higher than in many other parts of the UK. Students at three schools in Yeovil have created a new shoe design for Clarks.
Thursday 6th November

The Supreme Court has ruled that building thousands of homes in Somerset has been "unlawfully held up". The Head of Holyrood Academy in Chard has described the building of a new primary school in the town as an ‘incredible opportunity’. A pub near Chard has been named one of the best in Britain by The Good Food Guide...and more
Wednesday 5th November

Members of the Unite union at Leonardo in Yeovil have called off a planned strike for today. South Western Railway says trains on the West of England Line will start running normally again at the end of the month. A memorial post box has been placed at the entrance to Crewkerne cemetery...and more.
Tuesday 4th November

Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service says from today it will no longer respond to automatic fire alarms. School in a Bag, based in Chilthorne Domer, is sending 400 school bags to Jamaica, following Hurricane Melissa. Yeovil Town has paid tribute to former manager Colin Addison, who has passed away...and more.
Monday 3rd November

Plans have been approved to convert Old Viney Bridge Mill in Crewkerne to residential use. The go-ahead has been given to decommission Hinkley Point B nuclear power plant in Somerset. We’re being asked to provide food for hedgehogs that come into our gardens this winter...and more.
Friday 31st October

There's anger in Chard about a road diversion in place alongside two sets of roadworks through the town. A motorcyclist has been injured in an accident in Bruton. £100,000 has been donated towards re-opening Shepton Mallet’s Amulet theatre...and more
Thursday 30th October

Bird flu has been detected at a nature reserve in Somerset, resulting in the closure of part of it. St Margaret’s Hospice in Somerset is calling for the hospice sector to be given more central funding. The Barrington Boar in Barrington has been placed 12th in The Good Food Guide’s list of 100 best pubs in Britain...and more
Wednesday 29th October

Police are investigating a suspected arson attack on a mobile home near Yeovil. Somerset Council is suggesting people turn their pumpkins into soup this Halloween. People in Yeovil have until Sunday to comment on controversial plans to sell off four car parks in the town centre... and more.