Tuesday 19th February

Tuesday, 20 February 2024 06:00

By Steve Haigh

Somerset Council meets today to agree on spending cuts of £100 million to prevent the Council from going bankrupt. A Martock man has been charged in connection with an incident at a pro-Palestine demonstration in central London. Ilminster Town Council is holding an auction of furniture at its former offices in North Street...and more

Members of Somerset Council meet today to agree on spending cuts of £100 million to prevent the Council from going bust. Meanwhile, the Leader of Somerset Council has been defending the pay of the authority's senior leadership team. Lib Dem Councillor Bill Revans says that salaries of between £100,000 and £195,000 paid to each of the thirty-strong senior leadership team are in line with what other local councils pay their top people.

A Martock man has been charged in connection with a pro-Palestine demonstration in central London. Martin Prady of Birch Road in Martock was arrested during last Saturday’s pro-Palestine demonstration held in the capital, accused of obstructing a police officer. Mr Prady is due to attend Highbury Magistrates’ Court on March 4th.

"No police officer will ever ask people to hand over money or valuables or to divulge sensitive banking details" That's the message Avon and Somerset Police want people to share with friends and family following a spate of incidents in which fraudsters, claiming to be police officers, have called people asking for bank information.

Ilminster Town Council is holding an auction of furniture at its former offices in North Street. The Council is due to vacate the North Street premises at the end of March and will be selling furniture from the council chamber and other items by sealed bids. The items can be viewed at the council offices in North Street between 4 pm and 7 pm on Monday, March 18th.

A primary school teacher in Stoke-sub-Hamdon has been on a visit to Parliament to help grow pupils’ interest in politics. Frances Abbott, of Castle Primary School, was one of seventy teachers invited to take part in the UK Parliament Teacher Ambassador programme, sitting in on debates in the Commons and Lords, and learning about the role of select committees.

Chard Rugby Club Ladies have raised nearly £1,500 ahead of their Three Peaks challenge. Members of the team plan to climb Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike, and Snowdon in 24 hours in September to raise funds for grassroots rugby. Their next fundraising event will be an Easter Bingo at Chard Rugby Club on Friday, March 22nd.

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Police are investigating the theft of a motorbike in Ilminster. Tributes have been paid to the former Yeovil Town player-manager, Cecil Irwin, who has died aged 83. Town criers from across the South West will be in Yeovil tomorrow competing for the loudest voice in the Yeovil Town Crier Competition 2025...and more
Thursday 24th April

Police are appealing for witnesses to an accident in which a child was struck by a car in Yeovil. This week, a planning inquiry is being held into plans to turn a Somerset shopping centre into a retirement complex. A Somerset woman is planning to walk the 70-miles of Hadrian's Wall to mark her 90th birthday...and more.
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

The Care Quality Commission has given two GP practices in Yeovil a 'good' overall rating. According to insurers, AXA, thefts at commercial premises in Somerset are on the rise. Bus users in Somerset could see changes to the frequency of services when the new West of England mayor takes office. Martock is to host its first Pride event in June...and more.
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

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