Police are carrying out extra patrols in the Street area after a woman was sexually assaulted. New data has highlighted the places in South Somerset that are the most deprived to live in. If you were caught in this week’s heavy showers, you might find it hard to believe that Somerset is still in a drought. A woman from Somerton who set herself a zero waste target for this year...and more.
Police are carrying out extra patrols in the Street area after a woman was sexually assaulted. The woman claims she was attacked by a man in Sharpham Drove last Sunday. He’s described as white, 30 to 40 years old, wearing black clothing, a black beanie hat, black sunglasses and gloves.
New data has highlighted the places in South Somerset that are the most deprived to live in. The figures, taken from the 2021 Census, show that Chard West, Milford Park in Yeovil, and the town of Yeovil have some of the highest indicators of deprivation in the County. Two other areas with high rates were North and East Chard and Crewkerne. Deprivation is when a member of a household is unemployed or long-term sick; where no one has five or more GCSE passes or the accommodation is overcrowded and has no central heating.
If you were caught in this week’s heavy showers, you might find it hard to believe that Somerset is still in a drought. South West Water says reservoirs and rivers have benefited from the heavy rain but water levels still remain very low.
Local woman, Clare Case has started dressing up as a vegetable and visiting supermarkets to raise money for Motor Neuron Disease after her cousin, Yeovil Town’s Head of Player Development, Marcus Stewart, was diagnosed with the condition. Claire says she’s aiming to raise £100,000 pounds for M-N-D charities.
A woman from Somerton who set herself a zero waste target for this year says she can't understand how some people come to throw away so much rubbish. Gill Hampson has gone almost 10 months without filling her black bin with waste and putting it out for collection. She was aiming to complete 12 months but had to use her black bin after clearing out the contents of her shed and finding lots of extra waste items for disposal.
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.
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
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
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.
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
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.
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
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,