Local News Wednesday 17th November

Wednesday, 17 November 2021 06:00

Yeovil Hospital is only allowing patient visits in exceptional circumstances due to an increase in the number of people being admitted with Covid. A man who carried out two robberies in Yeovil has been jailed for six years. Police are investigating an incident in which it’s claimed a firework was deliberately thrown at people attending a public firework display. Somerset County Council has outsourced some of its social care work to help clear a backlog of cases and a Yeovil pub has been praised for the quality and standards of its toilets.

Yeovil Hospital is only allowing patient visits in exceptional circumstances due to an increase in the number of people being admitted with Covid. Visiting appointments are available for families in certain circumstances; such as for those receiving end-of-life care or for carers to patients with specific needs that require the support. Yeovil Hospital says that, otherwise, people should not visit the hospital.

A man who carried out two robberies in Yeovil has been jailed for six years. Taunton Crown Court was told that Valentinas Michailovas of Marl Close used a knife to force a man to withdraw money from an ATM before making off with the cash. Michailovas pleaded guilty to two charges of robbery, one of handling stolen goods and one of fraudulently using another person’s bank cards. In passing sentence, Judge James Townsend said Michailovas had previous convictions for “not dissimilar” offences in his native Lithuania.

Police are investigating an incident in which it’s claimed a firework was deliberately thrown at people attending a public firework display. It’s said to have happened at Somerton Recreation Ground on Sunday, November 7th. No one was injured but Police say the incident is being treated as an act of anti-social behaviour.

Somerset County Council has outsourced some of its social care work to help clear a backlog of cases. A contract, costing around 1.2 million pounds, has been awarded to an unnamed provider. The Council says it will free up staff to focus on new applications for care support, which have increased during the pandemic.

A Yeovil pub has been praised for the quality and standards of its toilets. The William Dampier Wetherspoons pub in Middle Street has been presented with a platinum award in the Loo of the Year Awards following an undercover visit by inspectors.

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Wednesday 29th October

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Tuesday 28th October

Plans have been submitted to build 12 new homes in Chard. A nursery in Yeovil has been rated ‘overall good' by Ofsted. A Somerset mortgage broker has achieved national recognition. A stretch of the M5 at Wellington will be shut every night this week...and more
Monday 27th October

The Unite union has announced four days of strikes by its members at Leonardo in Yeovil. One of Yeovil’s busiest roads is closed to traffic today. Staff at the Ferne Animal Sanctuary near Chard raised £3,000 taking part in a Sleeping Ruff challenge at the weekend...and more
Friday 24th October

New figures show that 500 young people were either injured or killed on roads in Somerset and Devon last year. The Old School Community Centre in Queen Camel has reopened, thanks to a donation of £10,000 from Somerset Freemasons. Two Fleet Air Arm engineers based at RNAS Yeovilton have recreated a family moment from 26 years ago...and more
Thursday 23rd October

Yeovil-born actress Sarah Parish is supporting efforts to reopen the Octagon theatre. Mobility scooter campaigners in Somerset have welcomed a government review of the legislation governing the use of mobility scooters on public highways. Changes are being made to the dates when garden waste is collected in Somerset...and more
Wednesday 22nd October

A major house builder in the South West says government targets for new house building in Somerset are 'unrealistic'. Pizza Hut is closing its restaurant in Yeovil. Staff at the Ferne Animal Sanctuary near Chard will be taking part in a ‘Sleeping Ruff’ challenge tomorrow...and more .
Tuesday 21st October

Reckleford in Yeovil is to shut for 15 days for essential drainage works. Somerset NHS Foundation Trust has paid out compensation of £23 million for claims related to birth injuries. A Grade II listed building in Glastonbury has been converted into a health and wellbeing centre...and more