Local News Friday 18th June

Friday, 18 June 2021 06:00

A woman from Chilthorne Domer, near Yeovil, has appeared in court to deny killing a man. Police have arrested a driver in connection with a fatal crash on the A303 in South Somerset. People in Chard are being asked to help shape the future of the town centre. Talks are underway about re-opening a Museum of South Somerset in Yeovil. Somerset Waste Partnership, says a shortage of drivers is to blame for households not having their waste picked up on time...and more.

A woman from Chilthorne Domer, near Yeovil, has appeared in court to deny killing a man. Hayley Keating, aged 31, pleaded not guilty at Bristol Crown Court, to murdering Matthew Wormleighton, who was 45. Matthew died in hospital on May 14th following a stabbing incident at a house in Forts Orchard in Chilthorne Domer. The defendant was remanded in custody and a provisional trial date was set for December 13th.

Police have arrested a driver in connection with a fatal crash on the A303 in South Somerset. The accident, involving a car and an HGV lorry, happened between Sparkford and Podimore at around 10:30 pm on Wednesday night. Police would like to hear from motorists with dashcam footage from the A303 between Cartgate and Podimore, between 10:15 and 10:30 pm.

People in Chard are being asked to help shape the future of the town centre. As part of the Chard Regeneration project, which includes building a new swimming pool and leisure centre, locals are being asked to say what other changes they would like to see made to the town. The survey on the SSDC website is now open for comments with the results used to compile a new 15-year strategy, focusing on people and places, in Chard.

Talks are underway about re-opening a Museum of South Somerset in Yeovil. The town’s museum at Hendford closed in 2011 with all items put into storage at Lufton with limited public access. Now, South Somerset District Council want to put the collection back on public display and plan to provide a multi-purpose space in Yeovil town centre where art and heritage projects can exist side by side.

Somerset Waste Partnership, the organisation that collects the rubbish in South Somerset, says a shortage of drivers is to blame for households not having their waste picked up on time. SWP has issued an appeal for drivers with HGV licences to fill vacancies in all areas of Somerset including in Yeovil.

A new Home Bargains store opens in Chard this weekend. The launch of the new store in Boden Street has created 43 new local jobs.

More from News

Friday 13th March

The first of the new medium lift helicopters being built by Leonardo in Yeovil for the RAF will be delivered in 2031. Somerset Council has launched a public consultation on planned new charges at its two hundred public car parks. More women in Somerset are said to be taking up walking football... and more
Thursday 12th March

A Yeovil headteacher says he’s concerned about plans to stop giving school holiday food vouchers to families on low incomes. The owner of Yeovil Town is calling on fans to be patient as he continues his overhaul of the National League side. A high voltage fault is being blamed for plunging 1700 homes into darkness in the Ilminster area... and more
Wednesday 11th March

Plans have been submitted to convert two properties in Yeovil into houses of multiple occupation. A new court date has been announced for a Yeovil man charged with attempted murder. An engineer who has worked at the Leonardo factory in Yeovil for 40-years has won a top industry award... and more
Tuesday 10th March

Police say a fire at the former Oscar Mayer food factory in Chard was started deliberately. Yeovil College says it would have been adversely affected had Leonardo not won the contract to build new medium-lift helicopters. A seven-foot dragon will be visiting towns and villages in our area during the next few weeks to promote Somerset Day... and more
Monday 9th March

Two Wildcat helicopters from 815 Squadron at RNAS Yeovilton have arrived in Cyprus to help protect RAF Akrotiri from further Iranian drone strikes. New figures show that 40 people were killed on Avon and Somerset’s roads in the last 12-months. A Somerset man has been recalling the day 60-years ago when he was a passenger on the last train on the Somerset and Dorset Railway... and more
Friday 6th March

Defence Minister Luke Pollard has been explaining why it took the government so long to confirm a contract for the Leonardo in Yeovil to build new medium lift helicopters for the RAF. Police are investigating a break in at a pet shop in Ilminster. Somerset Council is to stop using red ink on council tax reminder letters... and more
Thursday 5th March

Two military helicopters from RNAS Yeovilton are being sent to Cyprus to help bolster UK’s defences amid the US-Israel war with Iran. Yeovil Town Council is seeking legal advice over the closure of the hyper acute stroke unit at Yeovil Hospital. Flood warnings have been lifted on the Somerset Levels... and more
Wednesday 4th March

A man has died in a fire in Wincanton. Somerset Council is planning further cuts of twenty-one million pounds to help balance its books. A campaign to raise £30,000 for a minibus has been launched in Chard... and more