Local News Wednesday 14th September

Wednesday, 14 September 2022 06:00

A Yeovil man has been jailed for seven years for sexually abusing a 13-year-old girl. A Somerset couple has returned from visiting London where they laid seventy bouquets of flowers outside the gates of Buckingham Palace. South Western Railway has welcomed the decision by trade unions to suspend strike action this weekend. Traffic was disrupted for a time near Wincanton yesterday when a car caught fire. Manor Court Community Primary School in Chard has been presented with an Artsmark Gold Award...and more.

A Yeovil man has been jailed for seven years for sexually abusing a 13-year-old girl. Taunton Crown Court was told that Paul Morgan (pictured) had carried out 'an extensive campaign' of grooming and manipulation on the girl. Morgan, who pleaded guilty to all charges against him, was also made the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for life.

A Somerset couple has returned from visiting London where they laid seventy bouquets of flowers outside the gates of Buckingham Palace. Russell and his partner Gemma say the seventy floral tributes were to mark each of the seventy years of the Queen’s reign.

South Western Railway, which runs trains through Yeovil Junction station, has welcomed the decision by trade unions to suspend strike action following the death of Queen Elizabeth. The action was due to take place this week on Thursday and Saturday. SWR says it will be reinstating normal service for the days which would have been affected by the strikes.

Traffic was disrupted for a time near Wincanton yesterday when a car caught fire. It happened just after 9 am at the Holbrook roundabout. A section of the road was closed to motorists while firefighters extinguished the blaze.

Manor Court Community Primary School in Chard has been presented with an Artsmark Gold Award. The award is in recognition of the school has put creativity at the heart of the curriculum. It has provided pupils with a variety of creative experiences, including putting on art exhibitions and variety shows and participating in community projects such as Culturally Chard and Chard Carnival.

A Martock business is waiting to see if it will be granted new Royal Warrants following the death of the Queen. Warrants are awarded to companies to show they provide goods or services to the Royal Family with SFM Technology in Martock having supplied fruit harvesting and spraying machinery to Her Majesty. However, warrants automatically expire on the death of the royal who granted them, and firms have two years in which to remove the Royal coat of arms from their products, vehicles, and stationery or hope the new Monarch, King Charles The Third, will re-issue the warrant. At the request of SFM Technologies, we confirm that the information contained in this story was not provided by the company, and the company was not approached for a comment.

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Thursday 11th December

A man has appeared in court in connection with an attack in Wincanton. A member of Somerset Council, jailed for 26 months for taking part in a Just Stop Oil protest, may not have to stand down as a councillor. NHS Somerset has announced that changes to stroke services at Yeovil Hospital will "go live" in the spring of next year...and more
Wednesday 10th December

Avon and Somerset Police say 62 drivers were arrested in the first week of the Christmas drink and drug driving campaign. A reindeer farm near Yeovil thinks it may have to close after being told it needs a Zoo licence. Father Christmas has made a special delivery of presents to Charlton Farm Children's Hospice in Somerset...and more
Tuesday 9th December

The Police and Crime Commissioner for Avon and Somerset has criticised the government for axing the role. Police are appealing for witnesses to a road traffic accident near Ilminster in which a woman was seriously injured. Residents of Freedom Avenue in Yeovil are raising funds for charity with a big display of Christmas lights...and more.
Monday 8th December

Plans to build 150 new homes in Ilminster have been scrapped. A Somerset councillor has been jailed for 26 months. Marks & Spencer wants to build a new Food Store in Ilminster. Poundland has announced that it’s shutting its store in Middle Street in Yeovil...and more
Friday 5th December

Police are appealing for witnesses after an assault on a man in Chard. Lloyds Banking Group has announced a date for closing the Halifax in Yeovil. Train journeys on the Castle Cary to Taunton line will be disrupted next week due to engineering work. The mental health charity MIND in Somerset has produced a Christmas advent calendar... and more.
Thursday 4th December

The Chief Constable of Avon and Somerset Police says her force is doing all it can to reduce anti-social behaviour. Somerset Council has deferred a decision on introducing Sunday car parking charges. People living in deprived areas in Somerset are being fast-tracked for hospital treatment...and more
Wednesday 3rd December

Fire crews have rescued the driver of a car that got stuck in floodwater near Ilminster. Avon and Somerset Police are urging people going out to celebrate this Christmas to book a taxi or use public transport. A woman from South Petherton has come top at the British Down Syndrome Swimming Championships...and more,