Thursday 25th July

Thursday, 25 July 2024 06:00

By Steve Haigh

A crowdfunding appeal has been launched raising money to help find a Chard man missing for almost two weeks in Sardinia. Somerset Council is to sell off some of its buildings to help balance the books. Building work on the UK's biggest electric vehicle battery factory near Bridgwater will begin next month...and more.

A crowdfunding appeal has been launched to raise money for a Chard man missing in Sardinia. The appeal has so far raised £2,200, which will be used to pay for a group of volunteers to travel to Sardinia to help find Michael Frison. It’s now almost two weeks since Michael was last seen.

A local man is part of a group taking a bank to the High Court over excessive mortgage repayments. David Riley bought a house in Yeovil in 2006 with a mortgage from Northern Rock, which then collapsed a year later. He and thousands of others were left trapped with excessive mortgage repayments they couldn't get out of.

Avon and Somerset Police have increased checks on detainees held in custody after concerns they were at risk of self-harm. It follows a report that found detainees were sometimes left undressed in cells after having their clothing removed. Avon and Somerset Chief Constable, Sarah Crew, says more regular checks on detainees are now being made.

Members of Somerset Council have voted to sell off some of the council’s most iconic buildings to help balance the books. It's part of plans by the council to save tens of millions of pounds by cutting jobs and transferring the delivery of non-statutory services to town and parish councils.

Building work on the UK's biggest electric vehicle battery factory near Bridgwater will begin next month. Piling work on Building One will begin first and run until spring next year. Quieter work will be done at night and around two hundred lorry movements are expected every day at the peak of construction work. The global battery business, Agratas, says it'll try to mitigate the impact on local people and promises to deliver on its 'local first' commitment to jobs and skill.

A Chard mother has started a podcast for other mothers to share their stories on parenting. Annie Tombs describes herself as a stay-at-home mum to her three-year-old son Eli and previously worked in special needs education. Last year, she started a Facebook group called Mums and Munchkins that now has more than 500 members, offering advice to mothers, together with children’s items for sale, and quick and easy children’s meal recipes.

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