Thursday 30th January

Thursday, 30 January 2025 06:00

By Steve Haigh

Lloyds bank is closing its branch in Chard. A Sherborne man has been jailed after defrauding a Yeovil woman of £40,000. A volunteer group in Chard is urging people to sign up to a flood victims register. A councillor in Shepton Mallet has become the first Reform UK member on Somerset Council... and more

Lloyds bank is closing its branch in Chard. It says it’s due to increasing numbers of customers using digital channels for their day-to-day banking. Lloyds plans to shut the Chard branch by March of next year.

A Sherborne man has been sentenced to two years imprisonment after defrauding and manipulating a Yeovil woman telling her that he worked in a bomb disposal role for the US Military. Appearing at Taunton Crown Court, James Starr of Gas House Hill in Sherborne pleaded guilty to coercive and controlling behaviour, and to another charge of fraud against his victim.

Somerset Council has sold 71 million pounds worth of commercial property assets to help stabilise its finances. The buildings, including shops and offices, were originally bought as investments by Somerset’s former district councils, including South Somerset District Council.

A volunteer group in Chard is urging people to sign up to a flood victims register to ensure they can access help more quickly should the town become flooded in the future. Over 100 people had to be evacuated from their homes earlier this week when flash floods hit Chard. Meanwhile, Sainsbury’s in Chard has re-opened after being forced to close when the store flooded.

A 31-year-old man from Street has been jailed for 13 months for causing the death of a woman by careless driving. Beryl Howard, aged 83, died after being struck by a van being reversed out of a driveway by Reece McKinven. He was found in possession of half a gram of cannabis and charged with causing death by careless driving, driving without a licence or insurance and possessing a class B drug. McKinven, who had pleaded guilty to all charges at an earlier hearing, was appearing at Taunton Crown Court for sentencing and was also banned from driving for two-and-a-half years.

A councillor in Shepton Mallet has become the first Reform UK member of Somerset Council. Bente Height has defected to Reform UK after previously being a member of the Conservative group on Somerset Council.

More from News

Thursday 12th March

A Yeovil headteacher says he’s concerned about plans to stop giving school holiday food vouchers to families on low incomes. The owner of Yeovil Town is calling on fans to be patient as he continues his overhaul of the National League side. A high voltage fault is being blamed for plunging 1700 homes into darkness in the Ilminster area... and more
Wednesday 11th March

Plans have been submitted to convert two properties in Yeovil into houses of multiple occupation. A new court date has been announced for a Yeovil man charged with attempted murder. An engineer who has worked at the Leonardo factory in Yeovil for 40-years has won a top industry award... and more
Tuesday 10th March

Police say a fire at the former Oscar Mayer food factory in Chard was started deliberately. Yeovil College says it would have been adversely affected had Leonardo not won the contract to build new medium-lift helicopters. A seven-foot dragon will be visiting towns and villages in our area during the next few weeks to promote Somerset Day... and more
Monday 9th March

Two Wildcat helicopters from 815 Squadron at RNAS Yeovilton have arrived in Cyprus to help protect RAF Akrotiri from further Iranian drone strikes. New figures show that 40 people were killed on Avon and Somerset’s roads in the last 12-months. A Somerset man has been recalling the day 60-years ago when he was a passenger on the last train on the Somerset and Dorset Railway... and more
Friday 6th March

Defence Minister Luke Pollard has been explaining why it took the government so long to confirm a contract for the Leonardo in Yeovil to build new medium lift helicopters for the RAF. Police are investigating a break in at a pet shop in Ilminster. Somerset Council is to stop using red ink on council tax reminder letters... and more
Thursday 5th March

Two military helicopters from RNAS Yeovilton are being sent to Cyprus to help bolster UK’s defences amid the US-Israel war with Iran. Yeovil Town Council is seeking legal advice over the closure of the hyper acute stroke unit at Yeovil Hospital. Flood warnings have been lifted on the Somerset Levels... and more
Wednesday 4th March

A man has died in a fire in Wincanton. Somerset Council is planning further cuts of twenty-one million pounds to help balance its books. A campaign to raise £30,000 for a minibus has been launched in Chard... and more
Tuesday 3rd March

A woman from Ilminster has been jointly charged with another woman after a man’s body was found inside a car in Cornwall. Somerset businesses, involved in the supply chain for Leonardo, have welcomed the news that the Leonardo factory in Yeovil is to build new medium lift helicopters for the RAF. Plans have been submitted to build thirty-two homes in Milborne Port... and more