Local News Friday 1st October

Friday, 1 October 2021 06:00

Yeovil business owner, David Harris-Heffer, who runs the Vodaphone franchise in the town, says the government’s furlough scheme that ended yesterday helped save his company from bankruptcy. Around 400 people in Martock who bought tickets in the September People’s Lottery will find out today how much they have won. Opposition is growing over plans by Leonardo Helicopters to replace part of the grass runway at their Yeovil factory with a new hard surface runway. A tractor, stolen from a farm near Sherborne, has been found crashed in East Coker.

Yeovil business owner, David Harris-Heffer, who runs the Vodaphone franchise in the town, says the government’s furlough scheme that ended yesterday helped save his company from bankruptcy. Eleven and a half million people across the UK had their wages subsidised by up to 80% through the pandemic, including over 60,000 on furlough in Somerset.

Around 400 people in Martock who bought tickets in the September People’s Lottery will find out today how much they have won. It was announced earlier in the week that ticket holders in the postcode TA12 6 had won a share of £7.3 million. The full winning postcode and exact amount won by each ticket holder will be revealed at a cheque presentation event at Kingsbury Episcopi Community Centre this morning (01/10).

Opposition is growing over plans by Leonardo Helicopters to replace part of the grass runway at their Yeovil factory with a new hard surface runway. Leonardo says the grass runway is no longer fit for purpose, but people living nearby want the scheme scrapped. They’ve written to South Somerset District Council claiming that turning the runway into a hard surface would encourage more flights and create more noise at the airfield. It’s expected the District Council will make a decision on the plans before the end of the year.

A tractor, stolen from a farm near Sherborne, has been found crashed in East Coker. The blue Ford 5610 tractor with the registration C381 HMR was taken from Oborne on Monday. Police found it in Green Lane, East Coker. They’re asking for anyone with dashcam footage of the tractor to call the police non-emergency number 101.

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Thursday 18th April

A Martock man has been jailed after admitting to shining lasers at aircraft flying over Yeovil. Police are investigating an attempted break-in at the TK Maxx store at Babylon Hill. Nearly four hundred people have put their names forward for redundancy at Somerset Council...and more.
Wednesday 17 April

Three local primary schools have been named on a list of England's top five hundred primary schools. A new co-working space for businesswomen has opened in Wincanton. Urgent repairs are being carried out to Ilminster's new public clock after it started showing the wrong time...and more
Tuesday 16th April

A new operator has been found to run a Chard care home that has been at risk of closure. A licence has been granted to run a new music festival in West Dorset. People have until midnight tonight to register for a vote in the election for a Police and Crime Commissioner for Avon and Somerset...and more.
Monday 15th April

Four people have been arrested as part of an investigation into the illegal supply of prescription-only drugs in Yeovil. A Yeovil man has appeared in court in connection with two burglaries in Langport. A well-known farm and restaurant business in South Petherton has been put up for sale. New figures have shown a further decline in the number of House Sparrows in Somerset...and more.
Friday 12th April

Yeovil Town will play National League football next season after beating Truro 2-0 last night to win promotion and the National League South title. Somerset Council says the cost of keeping Yeovil’s Octagon Theatre closed has risen to £140,000 a year. A holiday website has reported a 31 percent upturn in visitor numbers to Somerset...and more.
Thursday 11th April

Yeovil Town get another chance tonight to clinch promotion when they play away against Truro. Citizens Advice in Somerset says people are continuing to struggle with the cost of living. Some of England’s loudest voices will be heard in Yeovil later this month when the town's annual town crier competition takes place...and more,
Wednesday 10th April

A former sub-postmaster from Wincanton says she's having to work a 70-hour week to pay off debts she incurred due to the Post Office IT scandal. Two people have been fined for illegal fishing in Yeovil. Images of wildlife taken by a photographer in Somerton have been chosen to feature on a new set of charity cards...and more.