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 12th June

It's claimed the increasing availability of drugs such as ketamine and cocaine has normalised drug use among young people in Somerset. The trial of a man accused of killing his one-month-old son in Chard begins today at Bristol Crown Court. A stone pillar outside the Langport Arms Hotel in Langport has been replaced after it was destroyed in a car crash... and more
Thursday 11th June

Sir Keir Starmer has paid tribute to the three aircrew from RNAS Yeovilton who died in last week's helicopter crash in Devon. Two men have been arrested and stolen vehicles seized following a major multi-agency operation in South Somerset. An event highlighting opportunities for women in the aerospace industry has been held in Yeovil... and more
Wednesday 10th June

The public will be consulted on how best to spend fifty million pounds of government funding to tackle flooding in Somerset. Avon and Somerset Police are backing a new road safety campaign aimed at reducing motorcycle fatalities. New welcome signs have been installed at entrances to the Mendip Hills National Landscape... and more
Tuesday 9th June

The government has announced a £50 million investment to strengthen Somerset’s flood defences. A woman from Stoke-sub-Hamdon has been banned from driving for 14 months after admitting drink-driving. Somerset Council has been told it must improve its adult social care services... and more
Monday 8th June

Plans for a new railway station in Langport remain stalled in Whitehall, according to Somerset Council. Plans to build 50 new homes in Broadway, near Ilminster, have been refused. The new water fountains in Yeovil’s Triangle, in Lower Middle Street, are being switched off during very hot weather because of safety concerns... and more.
Friday 5th June

A new NHS dental practice in Crewkerne says it won’t start operating at full capacity until July due to staff shortages. Somerset Council says it has no plans to show England matches in the World Cup on the Big Screen in Yeovil town centre due to safety concerns. A Somerset family has been thanked after completing a 73-mile walk raising money for a third world charity... and more
Thursday 4th June

An investigation continues today into the crash of a Royal Navy helicopter, based at RNAS Yeovilton, in which all three aircrew were killed. Somerset Council has confirmed that a new operator will take over several leisure centres across the county. The new live-action Masters of the Universe movie, filmed in Somerset, is released this week...and more
Wednesday 3rd June

A Yeovil man has appeared in court charged with assaulting three police officers. Somerset Council has begun legal action to recover more than £320,000 owed by housing developers. The line-up has been announced for this year’s Ilminster Midsummer Experience...and more