Local News Tuesday 14th September

Tuesday, 14 September 2021 06:00

The first families to be resettled in Somerset from Afghanistan are due to arrive in the County in about a month from now. he date of Monday, September 20th has been given for work to start on part-pedestrianising Westminster Street in Yeovil town centre. Garden waste collections have resumed across Somerset. Applications for secondary school places in Somerset for 2022 have opened. Families of young people with learning disabilities in Somerset are being invited to apply for funding...and more.

The first families to be resettled in Somerset from Afghanistan are due to arrive in the County in about a month from now, according to the County Council. This phase of the government’s ‘Warm Welcome’ programme is aimed at helping translators and others who assisted the UK military during the Afghanistan War. However Somerset County Council says, that currently, they don’t know how many Afghan families will come to live in the County.

The date of Monday, September 20th has been given for work to start on part-pedestrianising Westminster Street in Yeovil town centre. The improvements, that are part of Yeovil Refresh, include wider pavement areas, new street furniture, and improved street lighting. The scheme in Westminster Street, which is a year behind schedule, is expected to take nine months to complete.

Garden waste collections have resumed across Somerset. Somerset Waste Partnership suspended the service for 6 weeks due to staff shortages caused by Covid. Collections will be made on the usual day.

A Chard motorist has been fined £226 for driving at 96 mph in a 70 mph zone on the A303 near Wincanton. Wayne Thomas Lewis of Crowshute in Chard pleaded guilty to the charge and also had four penalty points put on his licence.

Applications for secondary school places in Somerset for 2022 have opened. Parents and carers ar being urged to apply for primary and secondary school places online through the County Council website. Applications for Secondary schools close on the 31st of October and primary schools close on the 15th of January.

Families of young people with learning disabilities in Somerset are being invited to apply for funding to take part in therapy sessions with horses. The grants are being offered through the Somerset Community Foundation. Its Chief Executive, Justin Sargeant, says animal therapy can make a real difference.

More from News

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
Thursday 3rd September

Fifteen thousand people have signed a petition calling on Somerset Council to cancel plans for a huge data centre in Bridgwater. A nest of Asian hornets has been found in Somerset. More patients in Somerset are set to benefit from a hospital project aimed at restoring independence... and more
Wednesday 2nd September

Yeovil-based charity, School in a Bag, has started sending supplies to Nepal to help in the aftermath of the devastating floods. 6,000 people have signed a petition opposing plans for a new relief road in Chard. The Royal British Legion in Somerset is appealing for more volunteers to help run this year’s Poppy Appeal... and more
Tuesday 1st September

One person had to be cut free from a vehicle following a two-vehicle collision on the A30 near Chard. A Yeovil man has been jailed for 7-and-a-half years for supplying cocaine and cannabis. Two Somerset teenagers have become the youngest to swim the Bristol Channel... and more
Friday 28th August

An organisation that investigates loan sharks has opened a branch in Taunton. Free parking on Sundays in Somerset's main towns could end just before Christmas. Local communities in and around Draycott will be able to take advantage of a shuttle bus service... and more.
Thursday 27th August

A 21 mile stretch of the M5 is to be given a 50mph speed limit for three years. Chard remains a safe place to work, live and visit say Avon & Somerset Police. Sunflowers of Somerset is celebrating its 10th anniversary with a photography competition and community activities... and more.
Wednesday 26th August

Two people have been arrested and released under investigation after the death of a baby in Crewkerne. A large sand picture of the prime minister has appeared in Burnham On Sea. The wet winter and hot summer means cider producers are struggling with their yields... and more.