Local News Wednesday 14th April

Wednesday, 14 April 2021 07:30

Police are looking for witnesses to the dangerous driving incident in Yeovil. Yeovil Hospital says online medical appointments have risen dramatically during the lockdown with more and more patients choosing not to visit the hospital because of fears over Covid. A bank in Chard is set to close at the end of June. A nature charity is asking people in Somerset to count and record cowslips in their area...and more.

Police are looking for witnesses to the dangerous driving incident in Yeovil. It happened on Sunday at about 5.45 pm when a silver VW Golf failed to stop for police on the Queensway. The car then travelled at speed towards Mudford Sock where it narrowly missed a family with children. Shortly afterwards, a horse rider was forced into the hedge by the car. Anyone who saw what happened is asked to call the police non-emergency number 101.

Yeovil Hospital says online medical appointments have risen dramatically during the lockdown with more and more patients choosing not to visit the hospital because of fears over Covid. The hospital’s introducing a virtual assessment app to help reduce still further the number of patient visits to the hospital.

A bank in Chard is set to close at the end of June. Barclays, on Fore Street, says it’s closing the branch due to a fall in the number of customers using it in-person.

A nature charity is asking people in Somerset to count and record cowslips in their area. It's part of a survey by the conservation charity Plantlife to monitor the health of threatened meadows.

Plans have been submitted to build 50 new homes at Horton, near Ilminster. The development would be on land close to the Southfields roundabout on the A303. South Somerset District Council is expected to make a decision on the application later this year.

Somerset councils, including South Somerset District, and local town and parish councils, are urging the government not to force them into resuming face-to-face meetings. The government has announced the lifting of the temporary legislation, which allowed councillors to meet virtually during the pandemic, from May 6th. A legal challenge against the decision is due to be heard by the High Court next week.

Former Somerset County Council Leader, Baroness Cathy Bakewell has paid tribute to the Liberal Democrat peer Baroness Shirley Williams who died earlier this week. Baroness Bakewell, who lives at Hardington near Yeovil, said she had been a lifelong admirer of Baroness Williams and described her as someone who ‘changed the political landscape'.

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Thursday 12th March

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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