Local News Wednesday 5th July

Wednesday, 5 July 2023 06:00

By Steve Haigh

There's been a rise in cruelty cases involving animals in Somerset, according to the RSPCA. Car park charges in Somerset are going up by ten per cent. A new clinic is being set up in the West to help tackle the growing issue of gambling addiction. A Somerset farmer has walked the six-hundred-and-thirty-mile South West Coastal path in memory of his late wife for St Margaret's Hospice...and more

There's been a rise in cruelty cases involving animals in Somerset, according to the RSPCA. Two-hundred-and-twenty cases of cruelty were reported in the County last year, an increase of forty per cent on 2021.

Somerset Council has announced a rise of ten per cent in charges at its public car parks. The new rates will apply to both off-street and on-street parking. Season ticket prices will also increase. Somerset Council says the move will generate an additional seven-hundred-and-twenty-six thousand pounds that is necessary to continue delivering public services at their current level.

A new clinic is being set up in the West to help tackle the growing issue of gambling addiction. It comes as part of a new national strategy to help manage gambling addiction.

A Somerset farmer has finished a charity walk along the South West Coastal path. Mark Pope raised twelve thousand pounds for the MND Association and St Margaret’s Hospice by completing the six- hundred-and-thirty mile route. The walk was in memory of his late wife and to raise money to buy a so-called ‘cuddle bed’ for St Margaret's.

A football match has been organised in memory of the former Chard Town player, Alex Ives, who died aged in March, aged thirty-two. The game between Chard Town FC and Chard United FC will be played at Chard Town’s ground on Saturday, July 29th, kick-off is at 2 pm. Money raised at the game will be given to St Margaret’s Hospice, in memory of Alex.

Yeovil Town have signed experienced forward Frank Nouble and fullback Alex Whittle. 31-year-old Nouble scored three goals in nine games for Torquay last season, while Whittle joins after departing York City.

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