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

Tuesday 13th January

The Government says it won’t bring forward a decision on buying new helicopters from Leonardo in Yeovil. A bird flu surveillance zone remains in place over the Somerset Levels. Yeovil’s temporary police station on Horsey Lane is to close at the end of the month....and more
Monday 12th January

Leonardo is threatening to shut its Yeovil factory. Somerset Community Foundation says there's still time to donate money to its Surviving Winter Appeal. The Swan Theatre in Yeovil is staging a number of special performances to mark its 50th anniversary...and more.
Friday 9th January

A Yeovil man has been arrested and then de-arrested after a collision in Dorset. A Somerset food manufacturer could be expanding its Wincanton base. A new dementia-friendly choir has been launched in Yeovil...and more.
Thursday 8th January

Adam Dance MP is welcoming developments in his campaign to support neurodivergent schoolchildren. Somerset was the star of the small screen last night, thanks to BBC comedy ‘Can You Keep A Secret’. A Yeovil gymnastics club has hosted a VIP guest...and more.
Wednesday 7th January

Somerset's Lib Dem MPs have described a one per cent rise in Council funding as 'profoundly disappointing'. A new independent cinema will open next month in Wincanton. We’re facing the chance of heavy snow with Storm Goretti hitting the region on Thursday...and more.
Tuesday 6th January

The Poundland chain has confirmed its store closures, including one of the Yeovil branches next Friday. Yeovil's Marlie Packer has been awarded an OBE for her outstanding contribution to rugby. Nearly one hundred new low-cost homes could be coming to South Chard...and more.
Monday 5th January

A woman has been cut free from her car after a four-vehicle collision in Montacute. Devon and Somerset fire crews have been praised for their bravery, following the summer wildfires. More new homes are set to be built in Martock, following approval from Somerset Council...and more.
Wednesday 24th December

A formal planning application has been made to carry out significant improvements to Yeovil’s Octagon Theatre, costing £15 million. The Halifax Bank in King George Street in Yeovil could be converted into 17 flats. A new young people’s centre opens in Chard early in the New Year...and more.