Monday 24th March

Monday, 24 March 2025 at 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 30th October

Wells Cathedral says it's having to get creative to bring in more money as financial pressures continue to grow. A convenience store in Martock has been allowed to keep its alcohol licence despite an employee working there illegally. Police have seized an illegally ridden e-scooter in Yeovil in response to concerns from local residents... and more
Thursday 29th October

A Yeovil man has been detained under the Mental Health Act for attacking his mother with a knife. People in Chard are being reminded that it’s unlawful to attach flags to lamp posts and street furniture. Wincanton Racecourse has called off its 'Badger Chase Day' because the ground is too firm... and more
Wednesday 28th October

Leweston School near Sherborne has announced that it is closing with immediate effect. NHS Somerset could merge with neighbours in Bath and North-East Somerset and Dorset to cut costs. Somerset’s Lord-Lieutenant has launched a campaign to get more people nominated for national honours... and more
Tuesday 27th October

Work has started building a new six-million-pound flood defence scheme in Taunton. Plans have been submitted to build a new church hall in Martock. People are being asked to donate gifts to this year’s Chard Christmas Present Appeal... and more
Monday 26th October

Eligible groups in Somerset are being encouraged to get their flu jabs. There’s a rare opportunity to get a behind-the-scenes look inside Avon & Somerset Police’s control room. Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader, Daisy Cooper MP, has visited Yeovil... and more.
Friday 23rd October

Somerset is the 11th most challenging place in England to be a child according to a report. Dorset, Somerset and Wiltshire could have its own elected ‘Wessex Mayor’ by 2028. Cricketer, Ian Botham returns to the county this weekend... and more.
Thursday 22nd October

The NFU says that testing for the virus Bluetongue needs to be sped up. Construction of new flats on Yeovil’s Grimsby Corner site will officially begin next year. The Met Office has issued a yellow warning for wind tomorrow... and more.
Wednesday 21st October

The owner of campsite in Somerset says a two-thousand-seven-hundred percent increase in business rates will be 'catastrophic' for his business. Plans to build nearly 300 new homes on the outskirts of Chard have been given the go ahead. Yeovil Town are through to the first round proper of the FA Cup after beating Leatherhead 5-2 at Huish Park last night... and more