Polling is underway in today’s local elections in South Somerset. Builders in South Somerset say the lockdown has led to a surge in construction work. Health managers say they’re concerned about the added pressures new housing schemes are putting on medical services in Chard. A woman from Crewkerne has been fined for drinking driving. A community food larder has been proposed for Castle Cary...and more.
Polling is underway in today’s local elections (06-05). In South Somerset, voting is taking place to elect a new Police and Crime Commissioner for Avon and Somerset. Also, for seats on Parish and Town Councils, while referendums are being held on Neighbourhood Plans in Martock and Queen Camel. Polling stations are operating with social distancing in place and are open until 10 pm tonight.
Builders in South Somerset say the lockdown has led to a surge in construction work, as people decide to have home extensions and renovate their properties. Some builders are booked solid until 2022. Builder’s merchants have also seen a big increase in sales.
Health managers say they’re concerned about the added pressures new housing schemes are putting on medical services in Chard. Somerset Clinical Commissioning Group says GP surgeries and the community hospital in Chard are already oversubscribed and that to accommodate further housing growth, developers will have to pay the costs of improving these services.
A Bruton woman who has come out of retirement to work as a full-time carer is encouraging others to do the same. Schirstan Bampton is a former district nurse and retired 15 years ago. She recommending caring as a career and says it's never too late in life to start out all over again.
A woman from Crewkerne has been fined for drinking driving. Elaine Shears, of Middle Path, Crewkerne, pleaded guilty to the offence at Yeovil magistrates court and was fined £207 and disqualified from driving for 14 months.
in a building used as a public toilet. Castle Cary Town Council plans to convert the public conveniences in Millbrook Gardens into a place where people can donate food items for giving to local families in the greatest need.
Somerset Council has approved a seven-and-a-half percent increase in council tax. People are being asked to return boxes of paracetamol bought from Boots Chemists in Somerset. It’s been revealed that five members of staff at Somerset Council are being allowed to work from home outside the UK...and more
Somerset Council has been told that hundreds of millions of pounds in loans taken out by former district councils, including South Somerset, have to be paid back. A Somerset charity says it needs more volunteers to help with research into new treatments for dementia. A local shop owner has welcomed Somerset Council’s decision to scrap plans to charge for parking after 6 pm...and more.
The population of Somerset has reached record levels with nearly one in ten born outside the UK. Stanchester School in Stoke-sub-Hamdon has been rated as ‘requiring improvement’. Experts have been called in to appraise a 15th-century piece of artwork in Sherborne...and more.
A woman from Crewkerne has been fined £280 for assaulting two emergency workers. Plans have been announced to open new NHS dental surgeries in Chard and Crewkerne. A Yeovil man has been thanked for raising £10,000 for the cardiac charity Heartbeat...and more
A local man has been charged after allegedly driving a tractor while under the influence of alcohol. One hundred bikes, collected with household waste in Somerset, have been donated to charity. The junction of the A37 Ilchester Road and Stiby Road in Yeovil will again shut this evening for resurfacing...and more.
Fourteen hundred people have added their names to a petition against Somerset Council's plans to scrap free car parks. St Margaret’s Hospice has won a share of £25 million of government funding. A man from Charlton Adam is preparing to visit Ukraine as an Aid Worker for a tenth time...and more
A local man has been charged with possessing an air weapon following an incident in Yeovil town centre. The Labour government has removed funding to the Amulet Theatre in Shepton Mallet that the previous Conservative government had allocated. Entries are now open for this year’s Minster Miles 10K fun run with organisers aiming to exceed last year’s number of runners...and more.
A new report says Avon and Somerset Police is struggling to cope with a big increase in cases involving the abuse of sexual images of children. Three primary schools in our area have been chosen to take part in a pilot of the Government’s free breakfast clubs for pupils scheme. A new TV documentary has captured footage of 50,000 starlings in a group gathering over the Somerset Levels...and more
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