Local News Monday 6th December

Monday, 6 December 2021 06:00

Yeovil Carnival could be revived next year. South Somerset District Council is planning to buy a property in Yeovil to drive forward its regeneration of the town centre. A teenager who took police on a high-speed chase around country lanes in Crewkerne has been given was a suspended prison sentence. Owners of cats in South Somerset that are aged 20-weeks and over will need to have them microchipped. Businesses in South Somerset are being encouraged to sign up for a new initiative to tackle food waste...and more.

Yeovil Carnival could be revived next year. Carnival in Yeovil folded in 2005 due to a lack of volunteers and plans to reinstate it in 2019 also failed due to roads works in the town centre. Now, a new committee has been formed and they are holding a public meeting to gather support on January 26th at the 94 Club in Middle Street, Yeovil.

South Somerset District Council is planning to buy a property in Yeovil to drive forward its regeneration of the town centre. Work on improving Westminster Street and Wine Street as part of the Yeovil Refresh project is already underway. A major upgrade of The Triangle in Lower Middle Street is due to start late next year. The Council hasn’t said which property they plan to buy but say owning it will mean the start date on one of the improvement schemes in Yeovil town centre can be brought forward.

A teenager who took police on a high-speed chase around country lanes in Crewkerne has been given was a suspended prison sentence. Taunton Crown Court was told that 19-year-old Theodore Galpin put his foot down when police tried to speak to him about not having a driving licence. He overtook a van on a blind bend, narrowly missed a walker and his dog and almost hit a cyclist. When he was eventually stopped, police found there were three other people in the car. Galpin who pleaded guilty to dangerous driving was also banned from driving for 30-months.

Owners of cats in South Somerset that are aged 20-weeks and over will need to have them microchipped and their contact details stored in a database under a new scheme announced by the government. Owners who don’t comply could face a fine of £500 pounds.

A former pub in Castle Cary could be converted into a convenience store. A planning application has been submitted for a ‘change of use’ on the former Horse Pond Inn into a Co-op shop. The plans also include the addition of three new homes on the site. South Somerset District Council is due to consider the application early in the New Year.

Businesses in South Somerset are being encouraged to sign up for a new initiative to tackle food waste. The tourism organisation ‘Visit West’ has partnered with ‘Too Good - To Go’ a company that helps cafes, restaurants and hotels sell food at a discounted rate that would otherwise be thrown away.

Chard business owners are being invited to apply for grants to improve the appearance of their shop fronts. A consultation launching later this week will lay out how different parts of the town should appear and how shop fronts could be enhanced. The scheme’s being run by South Somerset District Council through the Chard High Street Heritage Action Fund.

Yeovil Town will be number 45 in the draw for the third round of the FA Cup tonight. You can see the draw being made on ITV4 at 7 pm.

More from News

Friday 12th December

The Chief Executive of Somerset Council, Duncan Sharkey, has admitted to making mistakes in cutting jobs. Yeovil MP Adam Dance is supporting a Lib Dem initiative to introduce a new ‘Farm First’ training scheme. Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance has launched an appeal to help buy a second helicopter... and more.
Thursday 11th December

A man has appeared in court in connection with an attack in Wincanton. A member of Somerset Council, jailed for 26 months for taking part in a Just Stop Oil protest, may not have to stand down as a councillor. NHS Somerset has announced that changes to stroke services at Yeovil Hospital will "go live" in the spring of next year...and more
Wednesday 10th December

Avon and Somerset Police say 62 drivers were arrested in the first week of the Christmas drink and drug driving campaign. A reindeer farm near Yeovil thinks it may have to close after being told it needs a Zoo licence. Father Christmas has made a special delivery of presents to Charlton Farm Children's Hospice in Somerset...and more
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

Police are appealing for witnesses after an assault on a man in Chard. Lloyds Banking Group has announced a date for closing the Halifax in Yeovil. Train journeys on the Castle Cary to Taunton line will be disrupted next week due to engineering work. The mental health charity MIND in Somerset has produced a Christmas advent calendar... and more.
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

Fire crews have rescued the driver of a car that got stuck in floodwater near Ilminster. Avon and Somerset Police are urging people going out to celebrate this Christmas to book a taxi or use public transport. A woman from South Petherton has come top at the British Down Syndrome Swimming Championships...and more,