Local News Wednesday 10th August

Wednesday, 10 August 2022 06:00

Controversial plans to convert a former care home in Yeovil into a homeless hostel are due to be decided at a meeting tonight. A new report claims the freight industry in the southwest created over 11 million tonnes of carbon dioxide in 2019. Misterton Church of England First School is to re-open as an education centre for vulnerable children. A local motorist has been given a suspended prison sentence for drink driving and with the hot dry weather set to continue, more calls have been made to permanently ban disposable barbeques.

Controversial plans to convert a former care home in Yeovil into a homeless hostel are due to be decided at a meeting tonight. If the change of use is approved, Bournemouth Churches Housing Association will shut their current hostel in Newton Road in Yeovil town centre and convert the former Acacia Lodge care home on Henford Hill to accommodate thirty-nine homeless people. South Somerset District Council’s Area South Committee is being recommended the give the plans the go-ahead at tonight’s meeting. People who live in the area of Hendford Hill however are strongly opposed. They say a better solution would be to provide homeless people with accommodation in smaller units, spaced out around the town.

A new report claims the freight industry in the southwest created over 11 million tonnes of carbon dioxide in 2019. Twenty percent of those emissions were generated by empty lorries being driven on local roads. Lorna Hammond is Managing Director of Chard-based logistics firm C and D South West. She says they're trying to tackle emissions.

Misterton Church of England First School is to re-open as an education centre for vulnerable children. The school closed last year as part of controversial school reforms despite a campaign by local parents for it to be kept open. Pupils will attend lessons for two or three days each week, and spend the remaining time at mainstream schools.

A local motorist has been given a suspended prison sentence for drink driving. Caitlin Crisp of the High Street in West Coker was four times over the drink-drive limit when police found her slumped over the wheel of her car in Avishayes Road in Chard in July. Caitland, who pleaded guilty to the offence, was banned from driving for 32 months and ordered to carry out 120 hours of unpaid work.

With the hot dry weather set to continue, more calls have been made to permanently ban disposable barbeques. The Country, Land and Business Association is campaigning for all retailers to stop selling disposal barbeques to reduce the risk of wildfires.

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Castle Cary railway station’s makeover has been officially unveiled. A new 18 million pound diagnostic centre in Bridgwater has opened. A Crewkerne teenager has been named ‘coach of the year’ for his work with Bristol City.... and more.
Wednesday 19th August

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Tuesday 18th August

People across Somerset are banned from today from using hosepipes to water gardens, clean windows or cars, or fill swimming and paddling pools. More cases of the potentially deadly livestock disease Bluetongue have been confirmed in Somerset. Work is underway to improve disabled access at Holyrood Academy in Chard... and more
Monday 17th August

Wessex Water, who supplies almost all homes and businesses in Somerset, has introduced a hosepipe ban effective from midnight tonight. A sinkhole on Station Road in Castle Cary has been repaired, two years after it was first discovered. A Wildcat helicopter from RNAS Yeovilton has taken part in the annual passing-out parade at the Britannia Royal Naval College in Dartmouth... and more
Friday 14th August

Police are investigating an incident in which obscene words were scratched onto the World War One memorial at Ham Hill. Yeovil MP Adam Dance has repeated his call for the upgrade of the town’s police station to include a custody suite. A Somerset carnival club is building a specially adapted float to allow a wheelchair user and her assistance dog to take part in this year’s carnival circuit...and more
Thursday 13th August

An Ilminster family is celebrating after winning one million pounds on the National Lottery. Police have released a picture of a man they want to speak to in connection with suspected frauds in Somerset. Somerset Council has opened a tendering process to find a main contractor for the £15 million upgrade of Yeovil’s Octagon theatre... and more
Wednesday 12th August

Experts say with good visibility forecast for this evening, people across Somerset should have some of the best views of the solar eclipse anywhere in the UK. A Somerset councillor is calling for the Stop Line cycle route between Chard and Ilminster to be better supported. It's 40-years ago this week since a Lynx helicopter built in Yeovil set a new World Helicopter Speed Record... and more
Tuesday 11th August

Wessex Water says a hosepipe ban is possible if customers fail to cut their water usage. A record number of illegal dog fights were reported in Somerset last year. Yeovil Town's Mason Obeng has won the traditional sack of potatoes, given to the player who scores Yeovil's first goal of the new season, as a lucky omen... and more