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.

More from News

Friday 13th March

The first of the new medium lift helicopters being built by Leonardo in Yeovil for the RAF will be delivered in 2031. Somerset Council has launched a public consultation on planned new charges at its two hundred public car parks. More women in Somerset are said to be taking up walking football... and more
Thursday 12th March

A Yeovil headteacher says he’s concerned about plans to stop giving school holiday food vouchers to families on low incomes. The owner of Yeovil Town is calling on fans to be patient as he continues his overhaul of the National League side. A high voltage fault is being blamed for plunging 1700 homes into darkness in the Ilminster area... and more
Wednesday 11th March

Plans have been submitted to convert two properties in Yeovil into houses of multiple occupation. A new court date has been announced for a Yeovil man charged with attempted murder. An engineer who has worked at the Leonardo factory in Yeovil for 40-years has won a top industry award... and more
Tuesday 10th March

Police say a fire at the former Oscar Mayer food factory in Chard was started deliberately. Yeovil College says it would have been adversely affected had Leonardo not won the contract to build new medium-lift helicopters. A seven-foot dragon will be visiting towns and villages in our area during the next few weeks to promote Somerset Day... and more
Monday 9th March

Two Wildcat helicopters from 815 Squadron at RNAS Yeovilton have arrived in Cyprus to help protect RAF Akrotiri from further Iranian drone strikes. New figures show that 40 people were killed on Avon and Somerset’s roads in the last 12-months. A Somerset man has been recalling the day 60-years ago when he was a passenger on the last train on the Somerset and Dorset Railway... and more
Friday 6th March

Defence Minister Luke Pollard has been explaining why it took the government so long to confirm a contract for the Leonardo in Yeovil to build new medium lift helicopters for the RAF. Police are investigating a break in at a pet shop in Ilminster. Somerset Council is to stop using red ink on council tax reminder letters... and more
Thursday 5th March

Two military helicopters from RNAS Yeovilton are being sent to Cyprus to help bolster UK’s defences amid the US-Israel war with Iran. Yeovil Town Council is seeking legal advice over the closure of the hyper acute stroke unit at Yeovil Hospital. Flood warnings have been lifted on the Somerset Levels... and more
Wednesday 4th March

A man has died in a fire in Wincanton. Somerset Council is planning further cuts of twenty-one million pounds to help balance its books. A campaign to raise £30,000 for a minibus has been launched in Chard... and more