Local News Wednesday 13th October

Wednesday, 13 October 2021 06:00

A ban on street drinking in Yeovil town centre is to be expanded. Police are investigating the theft of silver items from a church in Chard. A consortium of Yeovil Town supporters groups has called on the club’s owner to either invest more money in the club or to sell up. A new memorial is to be built in the village of Ilton to commemorate local members of the military who died defending Britain. A woman who came to Yeovil as a Ugandan refugee in 1972 is putting together an exhibition about her experiences.

A ban on street drinking in Yeovil town centre is to be expanded. The town centre has been covered by a public space protection order since October 2019 giving police and the local council powers to stop people drinking in public. The order will now be extended to cover the western side of Wyndham Hill, including parts of Yeovil Country Park, Newton Road, Ivel Court and Sherborne Road.

Police are investigating the theft of silver items from a church in Chard. Two solid silver plates and a silver pot with a lid were taken from St Mary's Church sometime between Sunday, October 3rd and Wednesday, October 6th. Police are keen to speak with a man and a woman seen acting suspiciously in the church at around 3 pm on Monday, October 4th. If you can help the police with their inquiries please call the non-emergency number 101.

A consortium of Yeovil Town supporters groups has called on the club’s owner to either invest more money in the club or to sell up. There's been increasing speculation that Scott Priestnall could be about to sell Yeovil Town to one of two groups interested in taking over but there's been no comment on the rumours from Mr. Priestnall. Members of Yeovil Town Supporters Alliance say they’re concerned about loans taken out by Mr. Priestnall and are asking for clarity on the club’s finances.

A new memorial is to be built in the village of Ilton to commemorate local members of the military who died defending Britain. Men from Ilton were lost in both world wars but the village has never remembered their names. Ilton Parish Council says the oak cross memorial will be in place on the village green in time for next month’s Remembrance Day commemorations.

A woman who came to Yeovil as a Ugandan refugee in 1972 is putting together an exhibition about her experiences. Pragna Hay and her family were accommodated at Houndstone Camp after fleeing Uganda under threat of persecution. Her exhibition will form part of events to mark the 50th anniversary next year of coming to Yeovil. Pragna says she will always be grateful to the people of Yeovil even though settling to a new life in the town was never easy.

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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