Local News Tuesday 31st May

Tuesday, 31 May 2022 06:00

More than 300 weapons were taken-off local streets during a knife amnesty held earlier this month by Avon and Somerset Police. Two midwives at Yeovil District Hospital have launched new training course aimed at raising awareness of inequalities seen through pregnancy and birth. Twenty thousand trees have been planted in Somerset by more than 200 individuals and organisations as part of the Queens Green Canopy initiative...and more.

More than 300 weapons were taken-off local streets during a knife amnesty held earlier this month by Avon and Somerset Police. Weapons were surrendered into knife bins and at police stations. Checks were also made on outlets selling knives to under-18s with 29 retailers found failing in their legal obligations.

Two midwives at Yeovil District Hospital have launched new training course aimed at raising awareness of inequalities seen through pregnancy and birth. Becky Cockings and her colleague Bea Chubb noticed their midwifery training predominantly focused on white mothers and babies.

Twenty thousand trees have been planted in Somerset by more than 200 individuals and organisations as part of the Queens Green Canopy initiative. The Green Canopy project, which spans two tree planting seasons, will start again in October through to the end of the Jubilee year.

Plans have been submitted to locate eight new digital advertising boards in Yeovil town centre. If agreed, the boards would be sited in Westminster Street, High Street, The Borough, Upper Middle Street and The Triangle. The new advertising boards are part of the Yeovil Refresh project that’s aimed at revitalising the public spaces in the town centre.

A flower festival dedicated to the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in Chard has raised funds for two good causes. £650 will now be shared between St Mary's Church and Barnardos following the event at the St Mary's Church held last weekend.

Motorcyclists will have the opportunity to learn new riding techniques at an event in Yeovil next month. ‘Raise Your Ride’, an initiative run by Somerset Road Safety aims to reduce rider casualties and will take place at Bransons Motorcycles on Oxford Road on the Pen Mill trading estate on Sunday, 19th June.

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Thursday 30th October

Bird flu has been found at a nature reserve in Somerset, closing part of it down. St Margaret’s Hospice in Somerset is calling for the hospice sector to be given more central funding. The Barrington Boar in Barrington has been placed 12th in The Good Food Guide’s list of 100 best pubs in Britain... and more
Wednesday 29th October

Police are investigating a suspected arson attack on a mobile home near Yeovil. Somerset Council is suggesting people turn their pumpkins into soup this Halloween. People in Yeovil have until Sunday to comment on controversial plans to sell off four car parks in the town centre... and more.
Tuesday 28th October

Plans have been submitted to build 12 new homes in Chard. A nursery in Yeovil has been rated ‘overall good' by Ofsted. A Somerset mortgage broker has achieved national recognition. A stretch of the M5 at Wellington will be shut every night this week...and more
Monday 27th October

The Unite union has announced four days of strikes by its members at Leonardo in Yeovil. One of Yeovil’s busiest roads is closed to traffic today. Staff at the Ferne Animal Sanctuary near Chard raised £3,000 taking part in a Sleeping Ruff challenge at the weekend...and more
Friday 24th October

New figures show that 500 young people were either injured or killed on roads in Somerset and Devon last year. The Old School Community Centre in Queen Camel has reopened, thanks to a donation of £10,000 from Somerset Freemasons. Two Fleet Air Arm engineers based at RNAS Yeovilton have recreated a family moment from 26 years ago...and more
Thursday 23rd October

Yeovil-born actress Sarah Parish is supporting efforts to reopen the Octagon theatre. Mobility scooter campaigners in Somerset have welcomed a government review of the legislation governing the use of mobility scooters on public highways. Changes are being made to the dates when garden waste is collected in Somerset...and more
Wednesday 22nd October

A major house builder in the South West says government targets for new house building in Somerset are 'unrealistic'. Pizza Hut is closing its restaurant in Yeovil. Staff at the Ferne Animal Sanctuary near Chard will be taking part in a ‘Sleeping Ruff’ challenge tomorrow...and more .
Tuesday 21st October

Reckleford in Yeovil is to shut for 15 days for essential drainage works. Somerset NHS Foundation Trust has paid out compensation of £23 million for claims related to birth injuries. A Grade II listed building in Glastonbury has been converted into a health and wellbeing centre...and more