Friday 3rd May

Friday, 3 May 2024 06:00

By Steve Haigh

Labour’s Clare Moody is the new Police and Crime Commissioner for Avon and Somerset. Somerset Council is looking to buy the Glovers Walk Shopping Centre in Yeovil, including Yeovil Bus Station. One of the biggest events in Yeovil’s outdoor calendar, the Abbey Hill Steam Rally, starts today...and more.

Labour’s Clare Moody is the new Police and Crime Commissioner for Avon and Somerset. She won yesterday’s PCC election with 95,982 votes beating the Conservative Mark Shelford into second place on 91,006 votes. Katy Grant for the Greens was third on 64,623 votes. Benet Allen for the Liberal Democrats came fourth on 45,864. Turnout was 23.09%, compared to 30.7% in 2021. The Police and Crime Commissioner is responsible for producing a police and crime plan, deciding how the police budget is spent and holding the Chief Constable and the Avon and Somerset force to account on the public’s behalf.

It's been revealed that Somerset Council is looking to buy the Glovers Walk Shopping Centre in Yeovil, including Yeovil Bus Station. The site is currently advertised for sale with a price tag of £1.75 million. In a report, portfolio holder for economic development at Somerset Council, Ros Wyke said they were seeking to reallocate £5m of government funding to redevelop three key sites in Yeovil town centre, one of which is thought to be Glovers Walk. Should they buy Glovers Walk, it’s thought the Council will demolish the empty shops for a mix of retail and residential to be built on the site.

More than three and half thousand trees have been planted around Ilminster by Green Ilminster. The volunteer-led environmental group formed only two years ago with the aim of increasing the tree cover in Ilminster, has just completed its latest planting project at Eames Mill.

The annual meeting of Chard Town Council will be held on Tuesday, May 28th at 7 pm in the Guildhall. At the meeting, the Mayor, Councillor Garry Shortland will present the Council’s Annual Report, with local council taxpayers given the opportunity to ask questions of the Council about how the town is being run.

Great Western Railway who run trains through Castle Cary have named a train after The Princess Royal. It's in recognition of her support for more than 300 charities, organisations and military regiments across the UK including ones in Somerset.

One of the biggest events in Yeovil’s outdoor calendar starts today. The Abbey Hill Steam Rally at Yeovil Showground off Dorchester Road is on for four days including Bank Holiday Monday.

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Thursday 30th October

Bird flu has been found at a nature reserve in Somerset, closing part of it down. St Margaret’s Hospice in Somerset is calling for the hospice sector to be given more central funding. The Barrington Boar in Barrington has been placed 12th in The Good Food Guide’s list of 100 best pubs in Britain... and more
Wednesday 29th October

Police are investigating a suspected arson attack on a mobile home near Yeovil. Somerset Council is suggesting people turn their pumpkins into soup this Halloween. People in Yeovil have until Sunday to comment on controversial plans to sell off four car parks in the town centre... and more.
Tuesday 28th October

Plans have been submitted to build 12 new homes in Chard. A nursery in Yeovil has been rated ‘overall good' by Ofsted. A Somerset mortgage broker has achieved national recognition. A stretch of the M5 at Wellington will be shut every night this week...and more
Monday 27th October

The Unite union has announced four days of strikes by its members at Leonardo in Yeovil. One of Yeovil’s busiest roads is closed to traffic today. Staff at the Ferne Animal Sanctuary near Chard raised £3,000 taking part in a Sleeping Ruff challenge at the weekend...and more
Friday 24th October

New figures show that 500 young people were either injured or killed on roads in Somerset and Devon last year. The Old School Community Centre in Queen Camel has reopened, thanks to a donation of £10,000 from Somerset Freemasons. Two Fleet Air Arm engineers based at RNAS Yeovilton have recreated a family moment from 26 years ago...and more
Thursday 23rd October

Yeovil-born actress Sarah Parish is supporting efforts to reopen the Octagon theatre. Mobility scooter campaigners in Somerset have welcomed a government review of the legislation governing the use of mobility scooters on public highways. Changes are being made to the dates when garden waste is collected in Somerset...and more
Wednesday 22nd October

A major house builder in the South West says government targets for new house building in Somerset are 'unrealistic'. Pizza Hut is closing its restaurant in Yeovil. Staff at the Ferne Animal Sanctuary near Chard will be taking part in a ‘Sleeping Ruff’ challenge tomorrow...and more .
Tuesday 21st October

Reckleford in Yeovil is to shut for 15 days for essential drainage works. Somerset NHS Foundation Trust has paid out compensation of £23 million for claims related to birth injuries. A Grade II listed building in Glastonbury has been converted into a health and wellbeing centre...and more