Local News Wednesday 14th April

Wednesday, 14 April 2021 at 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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