Local News Friday 28th May

Friday, 21 May 2021 06:00

Two former Beales department stores in Yeovil have been snapped up by new owners this week. A wooden stable block has been destroyed in a fire at Kingsbury Episcopi. Plans for a new railway station on the line between Castle Cary and Taunton on the Somerset Levels have taken a step forward. A petition’s been launched to have an off-road cycling track built in South Somerset. A newly formed pressure group in Chard is demanding plans for new homes in the town be refused...and more.

Two former Beales department stores in Yeovil have been snapped up by new owners this week. Formerly the home of Denners, the two separate sites are located on High Street in the heart of Yeovil town centre. The sites were due to go to auction with digital property marketplace BidX1 on Wednesday (26-05) but due to high interest in the lots and a large number of pre-auction bids, the pair were both sold before the planned auction began, according to John Connolly, surveyor at BidX1.

A wooden stable block has been destroyed in a fire at Kingsbury Episcopi, near Martock. It happened in Pulpitsway Drove at around 10 pm on Wednesday night.

Plans for a new railway station on the line between Castle Cary and Taunton on the Somerset Levels have taken a step forward. It follows the granting of £50,000 by local councillors to fund a feasibility study into the project. The station would be built around the area of Langport and Somerton which had stations before they were closed by the Beeching cuts of the1960's.

A petition’s been launched to have an off-road cycling track built in South Somerset. The petition’s been organised by Mark Hughes of 1st Chard Wheelers. They’re asking for a two-kilometer tarmac loop circuit, with amenities, to be provided somewhere in the Yeovil area. They say the track is needed because there is nowhere in South Somerset for people to cycle off-road in safety.

A newly formed pressure group in Chard is demanding plans for new homes in the town be refused, arguing they will not deliver the local facilities that were promised. ‘Residents 4 A Better Chard’ has published a formal assessment of the plans to build 252 homes on the A358 Tatworth Road. They claim the scheme will not provide the improved roads, schools, and health facilities that the town badly needs.

Police are investigating the theft of valuable silverware from the Eastbury Hotel in Sherborne. The theft was discovered early on Monday morning. The items are valued at £25,000 and the hotel has appealed for their safe return. Anyone who can help is asked to call the non-emergency number 101.

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Wednesday 10th December

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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

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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

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