Thursday 17th September

Thursday, 17 September 2026 06:00

By Steve Haigh

18,000 shoplifting offences have been recorded in the Avon and Somerset Police area in the last financial year. A Chard man has been sentenced for assaulting a police officer. Forefront Community Centre in Chard is celebrating 20 years of bringing people together in the town... and more

Avon and Somerset Police say they recorded almost 18,000 shoplifting offences in the last financial year. The figure is slightly down on 2025 but still the second highest figure for shoplifting in the force area in the last 10-years.

A Chard man has been sentenced for assaulting a police officer. Appearing at Yeovil magistrates court, Stephen King, aged 45, of Montague Way in Chard pleaded guilty to assaulting a male police constable in February this year. King was given a community order, together with 150 hours of unpaid work, and told to pay court costs of £250.

Plans have been passed to create two new homes of multiple occupation in Yeovil. An application by Hayhurst Estates Ltd to convert 27 and 29 Lyde Road into an HMO to accommodate 12 people was refused by Somerset Council. Now, following an appeal, a planning inspector has overturned the decision, saying there was "no substantive evidence" on which planning permission could be refused.

Somerset Council is consulting on proposals to change its council tax reduction scheme which could see a cut in the number of discounts currently offered to pensioners and those on benefits. The consultation ends on September 28th ahead of formal proposals being brought to the council's executive committee ahead of its annual budget meeting in February.

Somerset golf professional, Andrew Hayes, has made a comeback to teaching the sport, after recovering from a stroke. Andrew, who’s the head professional at Vivary Golf Club in Taunton, lost the use of his right side when he suffered a stroke in December 2024 but has since relearned his golfing skills and returned to work.

A community centre in Chard is celebrating 20 years of bringing people together and supporting the town. Forefront Community Centre on the High Street is marking the anniversary with an event this Saturday with music from Chard Concert Brass, Chard Music, and Laurie Burn.

More from News

Monday 28th September

Somerset Community Foundation says it has awarded more than £40 million in grants across the county. The family of a Somerset girl say they used AI to help diagnose her genetic condition. A property in Monks Dale, Yeovil is subject to a three month Closure Order... and more.
Friday 25th September

’20 Is Plenty’ is the message to drivers travelling through Langport. Chard’s Numatic manufacturing hub is marking 45 years of business with an investment of £85m into the company. Wessex Water tell us the hosepipe ban will remain across the region... and more.
Thursday 24th September

Somerset Council has approved a multi-million pound scheme to tackle flooding in the county. A person had to be transferred to hospital after an incident in Chard. A North Curry travellers’ site must be vacated by Christmas... and more.
Wednesday 23rd September

Police will take no further action after a year-long fraud probe in Glastonbury. Leonardo has chosen Somerset for its first international future talent programme. Three motorway services in Somerset have been rated as some of the worst in the country ... and more.
Tuesday 22nd September

Children with special needs could have a better chance of moving to a new school, without delay or disruption. A former Castle Cary pub is to be turned into a private house. Taunton's Brewhouse Theatre may have to close at the end of next month... and more.
Monday 21st September

Wessex Water's contacting large businesses, asking them to use less water. A ‘serious collision’ closed a stretch of the A30 in both directions yesterday afternoon.Two Somerset charities have benefitted from a combined £64,000, thanks to the Leonardo Rising Stars.
Friday 18th September

Three people from Yeovil have been sentenced after admitting offences linked to the theft and illegal supply of prescription-only medicines. An ancient burial site on the Quantocks has been damaged. Chard Guildhall is open for public viewing today... and more
Wednesday 16th September

A pilot with the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance says there will be 'catastrophic' consequences if laser pointers continue to be pointed at their aircraft. Plans to build forty new homes in the village of Curry Rivel have been given the go ahead. The owner of a ram called Rambo in Keinton Mandeville has thanked firefighters for rescuing him after he got stuck in a concrete pipe... and more