Local News Friday 12th May

Friday, 12 May 2023 11:00

By Steve Haigh

Yeovil Town Football Club say a deal has been agreed to sell the club. Communities across South Somerset are being told to prepare for more extreme weather events. Motorists are being advised that the westbound carriageway of the A30 at Babylon Hill will be closed to traffic on Wednesday May 24th. Work has been completed installing new play equipment in Upper Henson Park in Chard...and more.

Yeovil Town Football Club say a deal has been agreed to sell the club. In a statement on their website, Chairman, Scott Priestnall, says after a lot of hard work a buyer has been found to purchase the club and a deal has been agreed. The club aren’t saying who the new owner is but say further details will be announced later today. News of the sale of Yeovil Town follows months of uncertainty at Huish Park and fears that the club’s future was at risk.

Communities across South Somerset are being told they need to prepare for flooding and more extreme weather conditions due to climate change. Somerset Council is asking every town and village to draw up emergency plans for dealing with flooding following Tuesday’s major flooding event which damaged homes and businesses in Queen Camel, West Camel, North and South Cadbury, Bruton and Galhampton.

Work has been completed installing new play equipment in Upper Henson Park in Chard. The equipment is aimed primarily for use by children aged 8 to 13 and includes monkey bars and a climbing wall. The Mayor of Chard will officially open the new play area, near to Avishayes Community School, next Thursday, May 18th at 11 am.

Motorists are being advised that the westbound carriageway of the A30 between Yeovil and Sherborne at Babylon Hill will be closed to traffic on the evening of Wednesday May 24th. It’s to allow for Wessex Water to carry out work to a side road leading to the Compton Service Reservoir. The A30 at Babylon Hill westbound will be shut from 8 pm on Wednesday May 24th to 6 am on Thursday May 25th with diversions in operation.

Councillor Gary Shortland has been elected as the new Mayor of Chard. Councillor Shortland takes over from Councillor Jenny Kenton who resigned from the role without completing her 1-year term of office. Councillor Claire Brown was re-elected as the Deputy Mayor of Chard at a special meeting of Chard Town Council held earlier this week.

More from News

Friday 12th December

The Chief Executive of Somerset Council, Duncan Sharkey, has admitted to making mistakes in cutting jobs. Yeovil MP Adam Dance is supporting a Lib Dem initiative to introduce a new ‘Farm First’ training scheme. Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance has launched an appeal to help buy a second helicopter... and more.
Thursday 11th December

A man has appeared in court in connection with an attack in Wincanton. A member of Somerset Council, jailed for 26 months for taking part in a Just Stop Oil protest, may not have to stand down as a councillor. NHS Somerset has announced that changes to stroke services at Yeovil Hospital will "go live" in the spring of next year...and more
Wednesday 10th December

Avon and Somerset Police say 62 drivers were arrested in the first week of the Christmas drink and drug driving campaign. A reindeer farm near Yeovil thinks it may have to close after being told it needs a Zoo licence. Father Christmas has made a special delivery of presents to Charlton Farm Children's Hospice in Somerset...and more
Tuesday 9th December

The Police and Crime Commissioner for Avon and Somerset has criticised the government for axing the role. Police are appealing for witnesses to a road traffic accident near Ilminster in which a woman was seriously injured. Residents of Freedom Avenue in Yeovil are raising funds for charity with a big display of Christmas lights...and more.
Monday 8th December

Plans to build 150 new homes in Ilminster have been scrapped. A Somerset councillor has been jailed for 26 months. Marks & Spencer wants to build a new Food Store in Ilminster. Poundland has announced that it’s shutting its store in Middle Street in Yeovil...and more
Friday 5th December

Police are appealing for witnesses after an assault on a man in Chard. Lloyds Banking Group has announced a date for closing the Halifax in Yeovil. Train journeys on the Castle Cary to Taunton line will be disrupted next week due to engineering work. The mental health charity MIND in Somerset has produced a Christmas advent calendar... and more.
Thursday 4th December

The Chief Constable of Avon and Somerset Police says her force is doing all it can to reduce anti-social behaviour. Somerset Council has deferred a decision on introducing Sunday car parking charges. People living in deprived areas in Somerset are being fast-tracked for hospital treatment...and more
Wednesday 3rd December

Fire crews have rescued the driver of a car that got stuck in floodwater near Ilminster. Avon and Somerset Police are urging people going out to celebrate this Christmas to book a taxi or use public transport. A woman from South Petherton has come top at the British Down Syndrome Swimming Championships...and more,