Local News Wednesday 18th August

Wednesday, 18 August 2021 06:00

Record numbers of young people are being treated for eating disorders in Somerset. The Environment Agency has launched a month-long series of patrols targeted at people fishing illegally in Somerset. A national team is working with the police and South Somerset District Council to help educate people on how to spot a loan shark. A contractor has been appointed to undertake major improvement works to the town centre in Chard...and more.

Record numbers of young people are being treated for eating disorders in Somerset. New figures show 128 young people began treatment for issues like anorexia and bulimia between July 2020 and June of this year, which was 82 more than in the same period the year previous. Somerset NHS Foundation Trust says the pandemic, causing anxiety and isolation had contributed to young people developing eating disorders for the first time.

The Environment Agency has launched a month-long series of patrols targeted at people fishing illegally in Somerset. Enforcement officers with support from the Angling Trust, voluntary bailiffs and local police are conducting patrols around rivers, lakes and ponds to protect fisheries from harmful activity, including theft and fishing with illegal traps. The patrols coincide with National Fishing Month that runs to the end of August.

A national team is working with the police and South Somerset District Council to help educate people how to spot a loan shark. The 'bite back' campaign has been launched to offer support and highlight alternative and safe ways for people to borrow money.

A contractor has been appointed to undertake major improvement works to the town centre in Chard. Civil engineers, Alun Griffiths Ltd, will carry out the works in Fore Street, Holyrood Street, Boden Street and the Eastern Gateway. South Somerset District Council, who over see the Chard Regeneration Project, say it will create a better town centre environment, worthy of Chard’s historic character, meanwhile, Chard looks set to get a new business centre. Somerset County Council plan to build the centre on land they own near the recycling centre, on Beeching Close. It's the latest in a series of County Council funded enterprise centres for small and medium size businesses.

A project is coming to Somerset aimed at encourage more people to cycle. 'Get Somerset Cycling' is led by the national charity Lifecycle UK and offers a range of incentives to help people feel better mentally and physically through cycling.

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