Wednesday 31st January

Wednesday, 31 January 2024 06:00

By Steve Haigh

Yeovil Town Council has voted for a 100% increase in its share of the Council Tax. Police are appealing for witnesses to a burglary in Ermine Street in Yeovil. Preston Primary School in Yeovil has been rated ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted. Somerset has been ranked as the sixth worst place in the UK for speeding fines...and more.

Yeovil Town Council met last night and voted to put up its share of the Council Tax on a typical band-D property to £276, an increase of £146 or by 100%. The Town Council says it needs the extra income, amounting to just over one million pounds, to pay the costs of running services like Yeovil Recreation Ground, Yeovil Country Park, the Octagon Theatre and Westland Entertainment venue that Somerset Council can no longer afford to fund.

Police are appealing for witnesses or CCTV footage of a burglary in Yeovil. The break-in happened at a property in Ermine Street in the early hours of yesterday morning. Police are asking for anyone who spotted or has CCTV footage of two men acting suspiciously in Ermine Street between midnight and early yesterday morning to please call the non-emergency number 101.

Police are also appealing for witnesses or dashcam footage of an accident near Chard in which two motorcyclists died. The two bikers, who were travelling in opposite directions, crashed head-on close to the Red Barn junction on the A30 on Sunday night. Anyone who can help the police with their enquiries is asked to call the non-emergency number 101.

The Lib Dem parliamentary candidate for Yeovil, Adam Dance, is calling for a re-think on the decision to close the Hyper-acute stroke unit at Yeovil Hospital. Members of NHS Somerset’s Integrated Care Board voted to downgrade the Yeovil unit at a meeting last week, despite strong objections. A new Hyper-acute unit will now be built at Dorchester Hospital. Mr Dance is questioning why money can be found to build a new unit in Dorchester but not in Yeovil and wants the financial case for closing Yeovil to be reassessed.

Somerset has been ranked as the sixth worst place in the UK for speeding fines. Figures from Moneybarn Car Finance show that in Avon and Somerset, 166,781 speeding tickets were issued last year, equating to around one in ten of the population being handed a speeding fine.

Preston Primary School in Yeovil has been rated ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted. The school at Abbey Manor Park, which has 418 pupils, was graded ‘outstanding’ in all areas by Ofsted inspectors. Meanwhile, the Topsie preschool in Yeovil has been given a high rating by Ofsted. Inspectors rated the school as ‘good’ and praised staff for planning a good curriculum and helping children to value other people’s differences.

Chard Carnival Committee has given just over £5,500 to groups, carnival clubs and local charitable organisations. Speaking at the awards presentation, Chairman, Jason Baker said appearance money would continue to be given to clubs entering Chard Carnival, rather than giving prize money. The Committee gave £2,380 in appearance money at last year’s Carnival, with a further £3,133 going to local groups and charities.

More from News

Monday 20th January

Somerset Council says a government review of adult social care could cause the Council to go bankrupt. A pilot scheme in Somerset aimed at cutting hospital admissions to A&E by the most vulnerable patients has shown a 50 per cent reduction in visits. Somerset celebrity chef Josh Eggleton is converting a double-decker bus to help promote healthier eating in schools...and more.
Friday 17th January

Bruton Primary School is the latest to have a barrier installed outside the school to stop parents parking when dropping off and picking up children. A man has appeared in court charged with being drunk and disorderly at Yeovil Hospital. A veteran of World War Two in Castle Cary has been awarded France’s highest military and civil distinction...and more
Thursday 16th January

A Chard woman has appeared in court after driving her car towards a crowd of people who, she claimed, were causing a disturbance. Crewkerne residents will soon be provided with a new banking hub. Work has started removing 14 trees along the embankment of Chard Reservoir...and more
Wednesday 15th January

A Yeovil man has been arrested on suspicion of engaging in sexual communication with a child. A Community Fridge in Shepton Mallet says it saved ten tonnes of unwanted food from going to landfill in the run-up to Christmas. Somerset Council has started collecting empty toothpaste tubes for recycling at the kerbside for the first time...and more
Tuesday 14th January

Police are appealing for witnesses after two people died in a car crash near Shepton Mallet. A new passing loop could be introduced on the rail line between Castle Cary and Yeovil Pen Mill stations. St Margaret’s Hospice has thanked the public for making this year’s Christmas Tree Recycling project their most successful ever...and more
Monday 13th January

Plans to build forty-six new homes in Castle Cary have been rejected for a third time. Yeovil MP Adam Dance says he has no plans to step down from his dual role as a member of Somerset Council. Rug Ratz in Yeovil is closing permanently today, leaving the town without a children's soft play space...and more.
Friday 10th January

Yeovil Hospital has declared a critical incident due to a sharp rise in flu admissions putting pressure on bed spaces. Yeovil MP, Adam Dance, joined campaigners and colleagues in Downing Street this week to hand in a petition calling for action to tackle the shortage of NHS dentists. Yeovil's Marlie Packer has been replaced as England's Red Roses captain for 2025 season... and more
Thursday 9th January

Police say three children, missing from their home in Essex, have been found safe and well in Wincanton. Yeovil Hospital is asking visitors to A&E to wear facemasks to help avoid the spread of infection. Long traffic queues can be expected in Chard over the next nine months. A new arts and music performance space has opened in Crewkerne...and more.