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

Wednesday 2nd July

Business owners in Chard say ongoing roadworks in Fore Street are hurting their trade. A vehicle has been destroyed in a fire at a farm at Charlton Mackrell. A new recycling scheme has been launched to support Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance. Castle Carey has created a Scarecrow Festival...and more
Tuesday 1st July

A murder trial starts today of the parents of a baby boy who died in Yeovil Hospital. Somerset residents are being asked to keep an eye on elderly neighbours, with temperatures expected to reach the high 20s again today. A tiny black kitten has been found inside a crate of laundry delivered to a cleaning business in Yeovil...and more
Monday 30th June

The Care Quality Commission has published its report into the running of the maternity unit at Yeovil Hospital. A public consultation has been launched into plans to build 150 new homes at Horton near Ilminster. A Chard man has embarked on walking 75 miles across Somerset, raising money for the Devon Air Ambulance...and more
Friday 27th June

Yeovil MP Adam Dance is calling for Yeovil Hospital to be included in the government's national review of NHS maternity services. A Yeovil man has appeared in court charged with four counts of fraud. Yeovil Town players will be modelling the club’s new home and away strip at Huish Park this evening...and more.
Thursday 26th June

Thousands more music fans will arrive at Worthy Farm for the start of Glastonbury Festival. The government has granted Somerset Council a stay of execution, allowing it to defer a spending deficit on special needs education. A party has been held to mark the 100th birthday of a Somerset woman who has lived in the same house for 100 years...and more.
Wednesday 25th June

Businesses at the Cartgate services off the A303 near Yeovil say they feel threatened by Welcome Break Ltd's plans to build a new, bigger services area right next door. A man who lives in Tintinhull, found nearly double the drink drive limit, has been given a 20-month driving ban. Police are warning of fake tickets being on sale for Glastonbury Festival...and more
Tuesday 24th June

There’s been a drop in the number of potholes being filled in on Somerset’s roads. A Somerset company has developed a new type of un-crewed helicopter. A man has cycled from Spain to Somerset to attend Glastonbury Festival...and more
Monday 23rd June

Plans have been submitted to build a motorway-style service station at Cartgate on the A303. Police are asking for the public’s help in tracing those responsible for two house break-ins in Yeovil. A Community Champion at Tesco in Chard has been rewarded for her work supporting the local community...and more.