Local News Tuesday 27th July

Tuesday, 27 July 2021 06:00

Avon and Somerset police are launching a summer crackdown, to catch speeding drivers. Great Western Railway, who run trains through Castle Cary, is operating a reduced timetable. There are fears Chard could be hit by further serious flooding. The Government is being asked to intervene to get house building moving in Somerset...and more.

Avon and Somerset police are launching a summer crackdown, working with community volunteers, to catch speeding drivers. Chief inspector Jason Shears says speed is a key factor in most accidents and is asking drivers to slow down.

Great Western Railway, who run trains through Castle Cary, is operating a reduced timetable due to large numbers of staff self-isolating. GWR’s James Davis says a number of services will not be running as normal this week.

If you’ve missed a recycling collection, your next pick-up will be next week. Somerset Waste Partnership says due to large numbers of staff self-isolating, they can’t return for missed collections within the two days they promise. SWP says the problem is likely to continue well into next month.

There are fears Chard could be hit by further serious flooding. Local Mayor, Jason Baker, believes the major flood in Chard earlier in the month was caused by blocked drains. Parts of the town were again left under water at the weekend. Councilor Baker is calling for a full survey of all the drains in Chard and, where necessary, carry out urgent repairs.

The Government is being asked to intervene to get house building moving in Somerset. Applications to build 11,000 new homes are currently on hold due to fears about high levels of phosphate entering the Somerset Levels. Natural England has told councils that a Habitat Regulation Assessment has to be applied to new housing applications before the plans are determined. Councils say the assessments are taking them longer than expected to carry out.

A farm in Bruton is taking part in a pioneering ear tagging trial. Godminster Farm attaches software to a cow’s ear that sends a text to the farmer saying how the cow is doing. The project has helped Godminster Farm win the title of UK Best Organic Farm.

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Thursday 24th April

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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

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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