Local News Friday 8th September

Friday, 8 September 2023 06:00

By Steve Haigh

Help in finding new work is being offered to staff made redundant at Pittards in Yeovil. Hundreds of pounds worth of food items have been stolen in a raid on a foodbank in Martock. There's been a big rise in the cases of 'out of control' dogs in Somerset...and more.

Support is being offered to staff who've been made redundant at Pittards in Yeovil following the collapse of the business. Around one hundred and thirty employees at the Yeovil factory on Sherborne Road have lost their jobs after efforts failed to find a buyer for the company. Somerset Council says there may be jobs with them that former Pittard's staff can apply for.

Thieves have stolen hundreds of pounds worth of food items from a foodbank in Martock. Shelving was also damaged in the raid at the Martock Christian Fellowship Centre in Church St.

There's been a significant rise in the cases of 'out of control' dogs in Somerset. Cases have risen from three-hundred-and-eighty-five in twenty-twenty to nearly five-hundred last year. Attacks on other dogs have also risen significantly. Professional dog walkers are now being asked not to walk more than six dogs at a time to help reduce incidents.

A team of walkers from the charity SARSAS in Somerset will attempt the three peaks challenge this weekend. They're raising money for local people who've been affected by sexual violence.

Work has started on extending the Lubborn Cheese factory at Cricket St. Thomas near Chard. The new building will increase the size of the production floor space at Manor Farm by around three-hundred-and-seventy square metres. Lubborn Cheese supplies a range of supermarkets including Waitrose, Tesco, Sainsbury's, Coop, Morrisons, and M&S.

Promoting alternatives to the car will be at the heart of future Somerset housing developments. Somerset Council has launched a 'Creating Places for People' consultation, laying out a series of outline principles that will shape new developments across the county in the future. The consultation runs until October sixteenth.

More from News

Tuesday 15th September

Police investigating an attack on a shop worker in Yeovil have released CCTV images of a man and woman they want to speak to. Farmers in Somerset are being warned to expect more cases of bluetongue. Ilminster Carnival Committee has announced the cancellation of this year's Children's Carnival due to a lack of entries... and more
Monday 14th September

Two new mobile NHS breast screening units have taken to the road in Somerset. More than 700 new homes are to be built alongside the M5 in Bridgwater. Dawes Twineworks in West Coker is one of several venues open to the public for free this month... and more
Friday 11th September

It’s going to cost more to park in Chard. Police have issued an image of a man they want to speak to in connection with two burglaries in Yeovil. Somerset Cricket Club is planning to stage performances by some of the world's biggest artistes at their Taunton ground... and more
Thursday 10th September

Work has begun building a new multi-million-pound David Lloyd leisure centre in Yeovil. NHS Somerset says a new system to handle emergency stroke care will lead to "better outcomes" for patients. Tickets for next year’s Glastonbury Festival will go on sale in October...and more
Wednesday 9th September

Police have released an image of a man they want to speak to following an assault in Yeovil. Businesses in Taunton say they're worried that planned changes to parking rules could put people off visiting the town. The Red Arrows will take to the skies near the Somerset border in a one-off display later this week... and more
Tuesday 8th September

Police in Avon and Somerset say they’re dealing with a big increase in reports of cloned vehicle fraud. A new video system designed to speed up stroke care has been launched in Somerset. Pilgrims are walking through Somerset this week to mark eight hundred years since the death of Saint Francis of Assisi... and more
Monday 7th September

Avon and Somerset Police are warning about a new scam involving criminals posing as police officers. Flu vaccinations are now available on the NHS ahead of the winter. Liverpool comedian John Bishop has cancelled his show in Taunton later this week after breaking his ankle... and more
Friday 4th September

Police are investigating a suspected arson attack on a vehicle near Shepton Mallet. New taxi charges come into force in Somerset later this month. The fire service is treating as accidental a blaze at a flat in Yeovil town centre... and more