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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