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 31st July

Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service says July has been its busiest month ever for emergency calls. Police have recovered a 1970s Austin Mini pick-up stolen in Shepton Mallet. A specialist spinal injuries service at Yeovil Hospital has treated three hundred patients in its first year... and more
Thursday 30th July

The Environment Agency has declared a drought across Somerset as the hot weather takes its toll on the county's water supplies. Police are appealing for witnesses following a fatal road traffic accident near Crewkerne. A bowls player from Yeovil has won a silver medal at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow...and more
Wednesday 29th July

Police have arrested two suspects in connection with a series of moped thefts in Chard. A combine harvester has been destroyed in a farm fire at Forton, near Chard. A bowls player from Yeovil has won a silver medal at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow... and more
Tuesday 28th July

The former Beales department store in Yeovil could be brought back into use as part of a wider masterplan for the future of the town. A yellow heat health alert is in place across Somerset from nine o’clock this morning until nine o’clock on Friday morning. A Somerset farmer says this year is the driest on his land since 1976... and more
Monday 27th July

Gooch and Housego, based in Ilminster and one of the town’s biggest employers, has been sold in a multi-million-pound deal to an American private equity firm. A father who shook his four-week-old baby to death at a house in Chard has been sentenced to life in prison. A doctor who works for the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance is one of five people to have jointly set a new world record for rowing around Great Britain... and more
Friday 24th July

Avon and Somerset Police are warning people to watch out for scammers posing as Amazon. The CEO of the company that provides Somerset's recycling is warning of a major incident if people continue to put used batteries in waste bins. A former Yeovil pub could be demolished to make way for a major hotel expansion.
Thursday 23rd July

The West Country is officially one step closer to being declared in drought. Somerset Council says it's remodelling its service after a children's home was closed following an inspection. A new McDonald's planned off the M5 at Bridgwater could create up to 120 local jobs... and more
Wednesday 22nd July

Two men have been jailed for stealing electrical items and cash from a property in Yeovil. Somerset Council has defended its use of Yeovil’s new performance area in The Triangle, in Lower Middle Street. Tintinhull Primary School, near Yeovil, has won a top national award for outdoor play... and more