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.

More from News

Friday 12th December

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.
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,