Wednesday 5th February

Wednesday, 5 February 2025 05:00

By Steve Haigh

The Lib Dem Leader of Somerset Council, Councillor Bill Revans

The Liberal Democrat Leader of Somerset Council, Councillor Bill Revans, says they had no choice but to ask the government to allow them to lift the 5 percent cap on raising Council Tax. Two teenagers have been released on bail following the stabbing in Yeovil. More than six thousand pounds has been awarded to local groups by Chard Carnival Committee...and more.

The Liberal Democrat Leader of Somerset Council, Councillor Bill Revans, says they had no choice but to ask the government to allow them to lift the 5 percent cap on raising Council Tax. The Council is only meant to raise the Council Tax by 5 percent. But to help fill a gap of 66 million pounds in its budget, the government has given Somerset Council permission to increase the Council Tax by seven-and-a-half per cent, beginning from April.

Two teenagers have been released on bail following the stabbing of two people in Yeovil. The teenagers, one aged 15 and the other 16, were arrested following the incident in Raglan Terrace in Yeovil last Wednesday, in which a teenager and a man in his 50s sustained stab wounds. Police say the 15-year-old was arrested on suspicion of wounding with intent and affray, while the 16-year-old was arrested on suspicion of affray and being in possession of a bladed article in a public place. Both have been released on conditional bail. Police are asking that anyone who witnessed the incident or has door-cam footage to please call the non-emergency number 101.

More than six thousand pounds has been awarded to local groups by Chard Carnival Committee. The recipients of the money, raised at last year’s Chard Carnival and the Christmas Parade, include Chard Museum, Ilminster Majorettes, and Crewkerne Scouts.

Police are appealing for witnesses to an assault near Street. It happened on Friday, January 17th at around 5.20 pm in Meadow Lane in Walton when a vehicle was stopped by Police. A male passenger in the vehicle got out and made off on foot, chased by a police officer. After catching up with the man in Broughton Close, the officer was struck in the face by the man. Two other men in the vehicle were arrested on suspicion of being concerned with the supply of class-A drugs. If you witnessed the incident or have dash-cam footage you’re asked to call the non-emergency number 101.

Windmill Hill Lane in Ashill near Ilminster is closed to traffic today for Wessex Internet to carry out fibre cabling work.

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Yeovil MP Adam Dance says he has serious concerns about plans that could see the closure of inpatient beds at Crewkerne Community Hospital. Ilminster residents are being asked to vote in a referendum on adopting a new neighbourhood plan for the town. An event in which people take part in a race against horses is returning to Somerset later this year...and more
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