Local News Wednesday 19th May

Wednesday, 19 May 2021 06:00

Somerset County Council is setting aside ten million pounds to help Somerset recover from the impact of the Covid pandemic. People are being asked to vote on the planned changes in local government in Somerset. Police are appealing for help in finding a local man. Plans for a 70-bed care home in Chard have been submitted to South Somerset District Council. Six horses have been stolen in Bower Hinton...and more.

Somerset County Council is setting aside ten million pounds to help Somerset recover from the impact of the Covid pandemic. Two million pounds will be spent on expanding local work to control Covid outbreaks. There'll also be funding to support people whose mental health has been affected.

People are being asked to vote on the planned changes in local government in Somerset. The choice is between replacing the County Council and four District Councils with one council for Somerset proposed by the County Council or two councils; one to cover the Eastern half of Somerset and another for the Western half of the county, proposed by Somerset’s District Councils. The District Councils have written to the Secretary of State to ask that the result be considered as part of the decision making on the future of local government in Somerset. The poll closes at 5 pm on Friday, the 4th of June.

Police are appealing for help in finding a local man. Kieran Finn, aged 28, has links to Chard and Crewkerne and is suspected of breaching his bail conditions. Police say Finn has a swallow tattoo on his neck and a heart tattoo on his fingers. They asked anyone who knows his whereabouts to call 999.

Plans for a 70-bed care home in Chard have been submitted to South Somerset District Council. A number of buildings in East Street would be demolished to make way for the new care home.

A proposal by the government to force eating places to advertise calorie counts on menus has been described as a bad idea by a local eating disorder charity. The plan was one of a number of new laws put forward in the Queen's Speech to help tackle the problem of obesity.

Six horses have been stolen in Bower Hinton. The animals were taken from a field in Hills Lane on Saturday, 15th May. If you live in the areas and saw the animals being loaded onto a trailer, you’re asked to call the police non-emergency number 101.

More from News

Tuesday 15th September

Police investigating an attack on a shop worker in Yeovil have released CCTV images of a man and woman they want to speak to. Farmers in Somerset are being warned to expect more cases of bluetongue. Ilminster Carnival Committee has announced the cancellation of this year's Children's Carnival due to a lack of entries... and more
Monday 14th September

Two new mobile NHS breast screening units have taken to the road in Somerset. More than 700 new homes are to be built alongside the M5 in Bridgwater. Dawes Twineworks in West Coker is one of several venues open to the public for free this month... and more
Friday 11th September

It’s going to cost more to park in Chard. Police have issued an image of a man they want to speak to in connection with two burglaries in Yeovil. Somerset Cricket Club is planning to stage performances by some of the world's biggest artistes at their Taunton ground... and more
Thursday 10th September

Work has begun building a new multi-million-pound David Lloyd leisure centre in Yeovil. NHS Somerset says a new system to handle emergency stroke care will lead to "better outcomes" for patients. Tickets for next year’s Glastonbury Festival will go on sale in October...and more
Wednesday 9th September

Police have released an image of a man they want to speak to following an assault in Yeovil. Businesses in Taunton say they're worried that planned changes to parking rules could put people off visiting the town. The Red Arrows will take to the skies near the Somerset border in a one-off display later this week... and more
Tuesday 8th September

Police in Avon and Somerset say they’re dealing with a big increase in reports of cloned vehicle fraud. A new video system designed to speed up stroke care has been launched in Somerset. Pilgrims are walking through Somerset this week to mark eight hundred years since the death of Saint Francis of Assisi... and more
Monday 7th September

Avon and Somerset Police are warning about a new scam involving criminals posing as police officers. Flu vaccinations are now available on the NHS ahead of the winter. Liverpool comedian John Bishop has cancelled his show in Taunton later this week after breaking his ankle... and more
Friday 4th September

Police are investigating a suspected arson attack on a vehicle near Shepton Mallet. New taxi charges come into force in Somerset later this month. The fire service is treating as accidental a blaze at a flat in Yeovil town centre... and more