A report has been published into last June's major flood event in Chard. Somerset County Council says it was a 1-in-300 year occurrence with 'extremely severe' rainfall. A Chard man has appeared in court charged with drink driving. Waste and recycling crews in Somerset are out collecting on their rounds earlier than normal today. Sherborne’s Recycling Centre is closed to the public today and a restaurant in Bruton has been named as one of the top 100 in the country.
A report has been published into last June's major flood event in Chard. Somerset County Council says it was a 1-in-300 year occurrence with 'extremely severe' rainfall. Councillor Sarah Dyke, the new Liberal Democrat Lead Member for Environment and Climate Change on the County Council says steps are being taken to strengthen Chard’s flood defences which, at the time of last June’s floods, proved to be woefully inadequate.
A Chard man has appeared in court charged with drink driving. David Hull, who was described as a delivery driver, pleaded guilty to the offence at Yeovil Magistrates Court. Hull was given a temporary driving ban and told to report back to the Court for sentencing on July 26th.
Health experts in Somerset say they're now dealing with Covid in the same way they monitor measles or flu. Professor Trudi Grant, the county's director of public health, says although the virus hasn't gone away, it's become part of their day-to-day work rather than being an emergency. She says they're now dealing with other issues, made worse by the pandemic.
Waste and recycling crews in Somerset are out collecting on their rounds earlier than normal today. Somerset Waste Partnership says the change of start time is due to the hot weather and to avoid exposing crews to the hot sun for longer than is necessary.
Sherborne’s Recycling Centre is closed to the public today. The centre in West Mill Lane is undergoing essential maintenance and will be closed again tomorrow and on Friday.
A restaurant in Bruton has been named as one of the top 100 in the country. The National Restaurant Awards has ranked Osip, next to the Number One Hotel on the High Street in Bruton, as the 65th best place to eat out in the UK.
The Chief Executive of Somerset Council, Duncan Sharkey, has admitted to making mistakes in cutting jobs. Yeovil MP Adam Dance is supporting a Lib Dem initiative to introduce a new ‘Farm First’ training scheme. Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance has launched an appeal to help buy a second helicopter... and more.
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
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
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.
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
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.
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
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,