Monday 24th March

Monday, 24 March 2025 06:00

By Steve Haigh

Numatic International Ltd in Chard has been given planning permission to build a giant solar farm off the A30 Crewkerne Road. The RSPCA says incidents of dropped litter impacting the lives of animals in Somerset is a growing problem. Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance is marking 25 years of saving lives across the two counties...and more

Numatic International Ltd in Chard, makers of the Henry vacuum cleaner, has been given planning permission to build a giant solar farm off the A30 Crewkerne Road. The solar farm, situated across two fields east of Nursery Gardens, will provide clean energy to all of Numatic’s buildings, including a new warehouse, under construction on the former Oscar Mayer site in Chard. Work building the new solar farm is expected to begin later this year.

The RSPCA says incidents of dropped litter impacting the lives of animals in Somerset is a growing problem. The charity says that last year it dealt with 54 incidents of animals, including hedgehogs, swans and deer ingesting litter or becoming entangled in litter. The RSPCA says drink cans, plastic items and disposable vapes are some of the items that pose the greatest danger to wildlife.

Thousands of new homes could soon be built in Somerset after a change of legal advice involving mitigating the release of phosphates. Somerset Council says upgrades to Wessex Water's water treatment plants have already extracted the amount of phosphate necessary to enable 12,000 homes in Somerset,
caught up in the phosphate planning backlog, to be built.

Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance is marking 25 years of saving lives across the two counties. The service, launched in March 2000, operates using one helicopter from Henstridge airfield.

Police are seeking witnesses to an assault in Chard in which a man was hit over the head with a bottle. It happened as the man was walking through Stringfellow Park and was attacked by three men at around 11:30 pm on Tuesday, March 4th. Police are appealing for anyone who witnessed the incident to contact them. If you can help, you’re asked to please call the non-emergency number 101.

The M5 in Somerset will close in both directions on four nights this week for re-surfacing work. From today until Thursday, the M5 will shut between Junction 26 at Wellington and Junction 28 at Cullompton from 9 pm to 6 pm. A diversion will operate via the A38 and B3181.

More from News

Friday 12th December

The Chief Executive of Somerset Council, Duncan Sharkey, has admitted to making mistakes in cutting jobs. Yeovil MP Adam Dance is supporting a Lib Dem initiative to introduce a new ‘Farm First’ training scheme. Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance has launched an appeal to help buy a second helicopter... and more.
Thursday 11th December

A man has appeared in court in connection with an attack in Wincanton. A member of Somerset Council, jailed for 26 months for taking part in a Just Stop Oil protest, may not have to stand down as a councillor. NHS Somerset has announced that changes to stroke services at Yeovil Hospital will "go live" in the spring of next year...and more
Wednesday 10th December

Avon and Somerset Police say 62 drivers were arrested in the first week of the Christmas drink and drug driving campaign. A reindeer farm near Yeovil thinks it may have to close after being told it needs a Zoo licence. Father Christmas has made a special delivery of presents to Charlton Farm Children's Hospice in Somerset...and more
Tuesday 9th December

The Police and Crime Commissioner for Avon and Somerset has criticised the government for axing the role. Police are appealing for witnesses to a road traffic accident near Ilminster in which a woman was seriously injured. Residents of Freedom Avenue in Yeovil are raising funds for charity with a big display of Christmas lights...and more.
Monday 8th December

Plans to build 150 new homes in Ilminster have been scrapped. A Somerset councillor has been jailed for 26 months. Marks & Spencer wants to build a new Food Store in Ilminster. Poundland has announced that it’s shutting its store in Middle Street in Yeovil...and more
Friday 5th December

Police are appealing for witnesses after an assault on a man in Chard. Lloyds Banking Group has announced a date for closing the Halifax in Yeovil. Train journeys on the Castle Cary to Taunton line will be disrupted next week due to engineering work. The mental health charity MIND in Somerset has produced a Christmas advent calendar... and more.
Thursday 4th December

The Chief Constable of Avon and Somerset Police says her force is doing all it can to reduce anti-social behaviour. Somerset Council has deferred a decision on introducing Sunday car parking charges. People living in deprived areas in Somerset are being fast-tracked for hospital treatment...and more
Wednesday 3rd December

Fire crews have rescued the driver of a car that got stuck in floodwater near Ilminster. Avon and Somerset Police are urging people going out to celebrate this Christmas to book a taxi or use public transport. A woman from South Petherton has come top at the British Down Syndrome Swimming Championships...and more,