Local News Thursday 27th May

Thursday, 27 May 2021 06:00

South Somerset District Council has confirmed that it still wants to buy Huish Park. Help is being stepped up in Chard for people about to lose their jobs with the shutdown of the Oscar Mayer factory. A woman in her 20’s has been attacked in a so-called hate crime incident in Yeovil. It happened in the early hours of Monday. Police have been dealing with a spate of catalytic converter thefts in Castle Cary, Sparkford, North Cadbury and Bruton...and more.

South Somerset District Council has confirmed that it still wants to buy Huish Park, the home of Yeovil Town Football Club. Their announcement comes after a six-month moratorium period that allowed other parties to bid for the stadium. However, no competing bid has been made. South Somerset District Council will not own or be a shareholder of the football club. Instead, Yeovil Town FC will be a tenant of the council in the same way as other companies who are commercial tenants of the council.

Help is being stepped up in Chard for people about to lose their jobs with the shutdown of the Oscar Mayer factory. The site, which produces supermarket ready-meals, will close in three months' time with 800 people losing their jobs. Now, a project called ‘Fresh Start Chard’ has been launched to provide support to those affected by the closure

A woman in her 20’s has been attacked in a so-called hate crime incident in Yeovil. It happened in the early hours of Monday. The woman was walking towards the Pen Mill trading estate when three men shouted homophobic abuse at her. They chased her into Vale Road where she was assaulted and lost consciousness. When she came round she called a friend who alerted police before being taken to hospital. Police are asking anyone with information to call the non-emergency number 101.

Police have been dealing with a spate of catalytic converter thefts in Castle Cary, Sparkford, North Cadbury and Bruton. They say seven vehicles were targeted between 10 pm on Sunday (22-05) and lunchtime on Monday. Anyone with information that would help the police is asked to call the non-emergency number 101. If you discover your catalytic converter has been stolen, you should not drive your car but contact your insurance provider to arrange a repair.

Tributes have been paid to the sportswriter, David Foot, who has died aged 92. Born in East Coker, he was well known for his cricket reporting and was a keen follower of Somerset county cricket club. Known as Footie, he was also a prolific novelist and published author.

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Friday 3rd May

Labour’s Clare Moody is the new Police and Crime Commissioner for Avon and Somerset. Somerset Council is looking to buy the Glovers Walk Shopping Centre in Yeovil, including Yeovil Bus Station. One of the biggest events in Yeovil’s outdoor calendar, the Abbey Hill Steam Rally, starts today...and more.
Thursday 2nd May

Voting is taking place today to elect a new Police and Crime Commissioner for Avon and Somerset. NHS Somerset says the hyper-acute stroke unit at Yeovil Hospital will stay open until a new replacement unit is built in Dorchester. A supermarket worker has retired after spending 52 years working at the same store in Ilminster...and more.
Wednesday 1st May

SUEZ, the company that collects Somerset’s waste is warning it may cease operations. Twenty thousand pounds is being spent cleaning red paint off the front of County Hall in Taunton following a series of pro-Palestinian demonstrations. An occupational therapist at Yeovil Hospital has won an award for her smart appearance at work...and more.
Tuesday 30th April

Somerset Council is taking legal action to remove an arms company from one of its commercial properties. Waste collection days across Somerset are set to change next month due to two impending bank holidays. An archaeological survey has begun on the proposed site of a new skate park in Bruton... and more.
Monday 29th April

Somerset’s busiest speed camera in 2023 has been revealed as the camera on the westbound carriageway of the A303 between the Podimore Roundabout and the Hazelgrove Roundabout. Bus campaigners are calling on Somerset Council to keep the public toilets open at Yeovil bus station. The funeral has taken place in Yeovil of D-Day veteran, Bill Tolley, who has died at the age of 97...and more.
Friday 26 April

A man has been arrested in Castle Cary and charged with stalking, harassment and making threats to kill. The NHS in Somerset says its staff retention rate has improved over the past two years. A farmer in South Petherton is preparing to cycle 1,000 miles to raise money for charity...and more.
Thursday 25th April

The NHS is offering spring COVID-19 vaccines to people in Somerset who are at increased risk of serious illness from the virus. A new way of making roads safer for children in Somerset has started this week. A Yeovil-based apprentice has been named as a winner in the JTL Regional Awards. Haselbury Mill near Crewkerne has been put up for sale...and more
Wednesday 24th April

Yeovil Town FC have sent a strongly worded letter to the Football Association asking for plans to end FA Cup replays to be dropped. A Somerset woman who's spent the last 32 years living with Hepatitis C, says better support is needed for those affected by the contaminated blood scandal. A new school of musical theatre has opened in Chard...and more.