Local News Monday 10th May

Monday, 10 May 2021 07:30

Mark Shelford for the Conservatives has been elected the new Police and Crime Commissioner for Avon and Somerset. A South Petherton man, charged with the murder of a man in Yeovil, has appeared in court to deny the charge. A Yeovil man has launched a challenge to raise money to get oxygen to hospitals in India. A Langport man has appeared in court charged with theft. People in South Somerset are being encouraged to do two-minute litter picks to help keep the local countryside clean.

Mark Shelford for the Conservatives has been elected the new Police and Crime Commissioner for Avon and Somerset. Mr Shelford, a former officer in the British Army and Deputy Leader of Bath and North East Somerset Council, polled just over 161,000 votes in last Thursday’s local elections. Kerry Barker for Labour was in second place. Cleo Lake for the Green’s came third, and Heather Shearer for the Lib Dems fourth. Independent candidate, John Smith, was in fifth place.
In other results from last Thursday’s local elections: Claire Brown for the Liberal Democrats was elected to Chard Town Council.
Teresa Bond for the Conservatives and Alice Samuel for Liberal Democrats were elected to the Crewkerne Town Council.
Neil Anderton, Samantha Atherton, Claudia Cole, Howard Ellard, Emma Hix, Dawn Old were elected to Wincanton Town Council.
Kara Storey was elected to South Petherton Parish Council and Simon Jones was elected to Kingsbury Episcopi Parish Council.

A South Petherton man, charged with the murder of a man in Yeovil, has appeared in court to deny the charge. Matthew Sheridan who was appearing via a video link at Exeter Crown Court. Sheridan is accused of the fatal stabbing of Louis Bednall in Hendford Hill in Yeovil on December 12th last year. Sheridan will now face a jury trial, beginning on July 26th.

A Yeovil man has launched a challenge to raise money to get oxygen to hospitals in India, where the death toll from Covid 19 has risen above 200,000. Josh Tuck is aiming to walk 100 kilometres during May for the emergency appeal started by the British Asian Trust.

A Langport man has appeared in court charged with theft. Richard Wash of Cheapside in the town pleaded guilty at Yeovil Magistrates to stealing a bank card and making an unauthorized withdrawal. A community order was made against Wash who was also ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £95 and £85 costs.

People in South Somerset are being encouraged to do two-minute litter picks to help keep the local countryside clean. New litter pick stations have been installed at Yeovil Country Park and Chard Reservoir, equipped with litter pickers and reusable bags for people to use.

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