Local News Wednesday 9th March

Wednesday, 9 March 2022 06:00

Gareth Witt of Yeovil with his van loaded with donations for Ukraine

Clothing, bedding and medical products, donated by people in Yeovil, are close to being delivered to Ukraine. Police are appealing for witnesses after a man suffered facial injuries at Lydford-on-Fosse. Changes have been made to the plans for a park area and sports ground at Brimsmore in Yeovil. Avon and Somerset Police are carrying out extra horseback patrols in Somerset to help combat rural crime...and more.

Clothing, bedding and medical products, donated by people in Yeovil, are close to being delivered to Ukraine thanks to the efforts of Yeovil businessman, Gareth Witt. Gareth, the owner of the Cow and Apple burger restaurant, in Church Path, launched an appeal for donations last Friday and set off on Sunday with a van filled with supplies for the Ukraine city of Lviv. By late yesterday, Gareth, who is an ex-Royal Marine, had completed most of the 2,000-mile journey across Europe and was within 160 miles of Lviv. So far, he’s raised £6,000 through Just Giving which he plans to use to buy a bus to transport people out of Lviv and into neighbouring Poland.

Police are appealing for witnesses after a man suffered facial injuries at Lydford-on-Fosse. The man was in his car when he was attacked by another man with a metal object. He suffered a broken nose and damage to his eye. The attack happened last Saturday at around 4.50 pm at the crossroads at Lydford-on-Fosse. If you saw what happened, or can help provide dashcam footage, please call the police non-emergency number: 101

Changes have been made to the plans for a park area and sports ground at Brimsmore in Yeovil. The plans are part of the new Brimsmore housing estate, near Thorne Lane, on which 900 homes will be built. The revised scheme, which has been submitted to South Somerset District Council for consideration, would see the open green space reduced by four acres with the addition of 38 new houses. The sports and play facilities would be moved to a flatter site. The developer says to compensate for the loss of the four acres of green space, five acres of new green space will be provided to the west of the site.

Avon and Somerset Police are carrying out extra horseback patrols in Somerset to help combat rural crime. It’s to provide a reassuring presence and a deterrent to potential criminals.

A Langport man has been jailed for six years for sexual offences committed against three boys in Yeovil in the 1980s. David Byrne was convicted of six counts of indecent assault following a trial. Byrne was previously jailed for six years in 2018 after being convicted of four counts of indecent assault.

An Ilminster boy is having his head shaved to raise money for Ukraine.11-year old, Rowan, will have his golden locks lopped off on Thursday. So far, he’s raised £600 towards his target of £1,000 for the Save the Children Ukraine Appeal.

More from News

Friday 13th March

The first of the new medium lift helicopters being built by Leonardo in Yeovil for the RAF will be delivered in 2031. Somerset Council has launched a public consultation on planned new charges at its two hundred public car parks. More women in Somerset are said to be taking up walking football... and more
Thursday 12th March

A Yeovil headteacher says he’s concerned about plans to stop giving school holiday food vouchers to families on low incomes. The owner of Yeovil Town is calling on fans to be patient as he continues his overhaul of the National League side. A high voltage fault is being blamed for plunging 1700 homes into darkness in the Ilminster area... and more
Wednesday 11th March

Plans have been submitted to convert two properties in Yeovil into houses of multiple occupation. A new court date has been announced for a Yeovil man charged with attempted murder. An engineer who has worked at the Leonardo factory in Yeovil for 40-years has won a top industry award... and more
Tuesday 10th March

Police say a fire at the former Oscar Mayer food factory in Chard was started deliberately. Yeovil College says it would have been adversely affected had Leonardo not won the contract to build new medium-lift helicopters. A seven-foot dragon will be visiting towns and villages in our area during the next few weeks to promote Somerset Day... and more
Monday 9th March

Two Wildcat helicopters from 815 Squadron at RNAS Yeovilton have arrived in Cyprus to help protect RAF Akrotiri from further Iranian drone strikes. New figures show that 40 people were killed on Avon and Somerset’s roads in the last 12-months. A Somerset man has been recalling the day 60-years ago when he was a passenger on the last train on the Somerset and Dorset Railway... and more
Friday 6th March

Defence Minister Luke Pollard has been explaining why it took the government so long to confirm a contract for the Leonardo in Yeovil to build new medium lift helicopters for the RAF. Police are investigating a break in at a pet shop in Ilminster. Somerset Council is to stop using red ink on council tax reminder letters... and more
Thursday 5th March

Two military helicopters from RNAS Yeovilton are being sent to Cyprus to help bolster UK’s defences amid the US-Israel war with Iran. Yeovil Town Council is seeking legal advice over the closure of the hyper acute stroke unit at Yeovil Hospital. Flood warnings have been lifted on the Somerset Levels... and more
Wednesday 4th March

A man has died in a fire in Wincanton. Somerset Council is planning further cuts of twenty-one million pounds to help balance its books. A campaign to raise £30,000 for a minibus has been launched in Chard... and more