Local News Tuesday 8th August

Tuesday, 8 August 2023 06:00

By Steve Haigh

Fears have been raised that an unexploded World War Two bomb could be buried within the site of a proposed new housing development in Castle Cary. Plans have been submitted to build two hundred new homes at Ilchester. Ilminster History Society is looking for somewhere to store its documents and historical items...and more.

Fears have been raised that an unexploded World War Two bomb could be buried within the site of a proposed new housing development in Castle Cary. Permission has been given to build twenty-seven new homes at Foxes Run. But objectors claim the site could be unsafe. They say the Luftwaffe dropped five bombs on Castle Cary in September 1942 with one landing in South Cary Lane which they claim was never deactivated. Social housing provider, Abri, who is behind the development, says they’ve investigated and found no evidence of unexploded ordnance on the site

Plans have been submitted to build two hundred new homes and an adjoining nature reserve at Ilchester. The scheme would be sited next to the A303 at Hainbury Farm. Full planning permission is sought for the nature reserve, while outline permission has been applied for to build the new homes with associated employment facilities.

There's more disruption to train services in Somerset this week. It’s due to an overtime ban by the train drivers union ASLEF. Paul Gentleman from GWR says they're not expecting too many problems but advise passengers to check their website before setting off.

The probation service in Somerset has been classed as requiring improvement after an inspection. Although the service was found to be good at supporting people only approximately thirty per cent of released prisoners it dealt with were deemed not at risk of causing harm.

Ilminster History Society is looking for somewhere to store documents and historical items. The organisation, formed during the Covid lockdown has amassed dozens of photographs, artefacts and paper records about Ilminster that they say need to be kept safely.

Members of Ile Valley Flower Club have been celebrating forty years of the club’s existence. A buffet lunch was held at Broadway Village Hall with the hall filled with flowers provided by the members.

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