Local News Wednesday 18th May

Wednesday, 18 May 2022 06:00

More than half of households in Somerset who qualify for the £150 council tax rebate towards their energy bills should by now have received the cash. A Yeovil man’s appeared in court charged with assaulting another man in Martock. An additional £1.6 million pound is to be spent making three leisure centres in South Somerset more environmentally friendly. Plans to build 130 new homes in Henstridge are to go ahead after a change of mind at South Somerset District Council...and more.

More than half of households in Somerset who qualify for the £150 council tax rebate towards their energy bills should by now have received the cash. Somerset’s District Councils have so far made one hundred and nine thousand payments on properties in bands A to D. Sixty four thousand households who qualify for the £150 payment but don’t pay their council tax by direct debit have been told that they need to apply to their local council to claim the money.

A Yeovil man’s appeared in court charged with assaulting another man in Martock. Samuel Stark of Naish Barton in East Coker pleaded guilty to the offence and was ordered to pay the man £500 in compensation. Stark was also told to complete 190 hours of unpaid work and to pay court costs of £845 pounds.

An additional £1.6 million pound is to be spent making three leisure centres in South Somerset more environmentally friendly. The centres are Wincanton Sports Centre in Wincanton, Goldenstones Leisure Centre and Westlands Leisure Centre in Yeovil. Funding for the work has been provided by central government but now South Somerset District Council has committed an extra £1.6 million to ensure the improvements are completed before the new unitary Somerset Council takes over
running the three leisure centres in April next year.

Plans to build 130 new homes in Henstridge are to go ahead after a change of mind at South Somerset District Council. Originally, members of the Council’s Area East Committee turned down the scheme to be built off Woodhayes Way. But now that decision has been overturned by members of the Council’s Scrutiny Committee allowing for the development to go ahead. Of the 130 homes proposed on the site, 46 will be affordable.

The A30 Sherborne Road close to the junction with Lyde Road in Yeovil will shut at 6.30 pm this evening and re-open at 6.30 am tomorrow. It’s to allow for work to commence resurfacing the road.

A woman with Parkinson's disease hopes her story will help inspire others living with the condition to achieve something they want to. Rho Dickson from Montacute near Yeovil was diagnosed over 11 years ago. Since then she's learnt to sing, play the guitar and write songs. She has now launched an album on Spotify.

Councillor Evie Potts-Jones was voted in for a further one year term as Mayor of Yeovil at last night’s annual meeting of Yeovil Town Council. Councillor Andy Kendall was also confirmed in the role of Deputy Mayor for a further 12 months.

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Friday 20th February

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Thursday 19th February

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Wednesday 18th February

New figures have shown a rise in cases of suicide involving farmers, including in Somerset. Plans to merge the parishes of Castle Cary and Ansford have been scrapped. A Somerset-based charity working to end homelessness is marking its 50th anniversary... and more
Tuesday 17th February

Avon and Somerset Police are asking the owners of replica guns to hand them in. It's claimed motorists in the Bruton and Wincanton area are paying out hundreds of pounds in repairs due to the poor state of local roads. And, Yeovil Town take on Aldershot at Huish Park tonight... and more
Monday 16th February

Yeovil MP Adam Dance has warned that the Westlands entertainment venue in Yeovil would be at risk should Leonardo not be awarded a government contract to build new medium life helicopters. A Chard woman has been given a suspended jail sentence for carrying a knife in a public place. A petition has been launched to slowdown motorists using Coker Way and Wyatt Way in Chard... and more
Friday 13th February

Somerset Council has dropped plans to close two town centre car parks in Yeovil. A Yeovil man has been charged with attempted murder after a woman was attacked in her home. The Environment Agency has committed to reviewing its water management of the Somerset Levels following the recent floods... and more
Thursday 12th February

The government says it's ‘working flat out’ to arrive at a decision on ordering a new medium lift helicopter with Leonardo in Yeovil. We’re being asked to suggest where new electric vehicle charge points should be installed in Somerset. A new project is inviting people to look up and help map Somerset’s night skies... and more
Wednesday 11th February

Somerset Council has been told it can’t raise council tax by more than 5 percent. Businesses in Somerset are being warned to watch out for fake £20 notes. A Martock man has successfully completed a parachute-ski jump off the top of Mount Snowdon.