Thursday 22nd May

Thursday, 22 May 2025 06:00

By Steve Haigh

Residents of Chard are being asked to be more proactive and call the local police when they spot acts of crime and anti-social behaviour. Somerset Council says its gritting teams went out 1700 times last winter, covering more than 117,000 miles and spreading 6,000 tonnes of salt to keep local roads open. Leonardo Helicopters says it will be conducting test flights over Yeovil tonight up until 10.30 pm...and more

Residents of Chard are being asked to be more proactive when they spot acts of crime and anti-social behaviour. Speaking at a meeting of Chard Town Council, Police Community Support Officer Beatrice Gane said the police were not getting the full support of local people in the fight against crime. She said people would post on Facebook about seeing a crime but not tell the police so they could make a proper response. At the same meeting, Town Clerk David Bell said the Council had dealt with a “dramatic increase in littering and drug paraphernalia” in the town in the past year.

A charity supporting people involved in the infected blood scandal, including those in Somerset, says it’s vital that the government speeds up compensating victims. It's been a year since the official report on the infected blood scandal was released, yet only 100 people have been compensated. Hazel Busby, who lives in Street, contracted Hepatitis C in the 1970s after she was given contaminated blood. She says the delay in paying compensation is 'appalling'.

A councillor is calling for more to be done to help keep village life going. Councillor Matt Martin, who represents the King Alfred division on Somerset Council, wants local jobs provided to keep young people living in villages; otherwise, he warns that small communities will die. Speaking at the council’s climate and place scrutiny committee, Councillor Martin said one way to keep young people in the county and attract more young people to Somerset would be to create a ‘University of Somerset’.

Somerset Council says its gritting teams went out 1700 times last winter, covering more than 117,000 miles. 6,000 tonnes of salt were used to prevent ice from forming on local roads. The coldest road surface temperature of the winter in Somerset was minus 5.3 degrees Celsius on January 3rd.

Leonardo Helicopters says it will conduct test flights over Yeovil tonight. The exercise is due to be completed by 10:30 p.m.

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Tuesday 15th September

Police investigating an attack on a shop worker in Yeovil have released CCTV images of a man and woman they want to speak to. Farmers in Somerset are being warned to expect more cases of bluetongue. Ilminster Carnival Committee has announced the cancellation of this year's Children's Carnival due to a lack of entries... and more
Monday 14th September

Two new mobile NHS breast screening units have taken to the road in Somerset. More than 700 new homes are to be built alongside the M5 in Bridgwater. Dawes Twineworks in West Coker is one of several venues open to the public for free this month... and more
Friday 11th September

It’s going to cost more to park in Chard. Police have issued an image of a man they want to speak to in connection with two burglaries in Yeovil. Somerset Cricket Club is planning to stage performances by some of the world's biggest artistes at their Taunton ground... and more
Thursday 10th September

Work has begun building a new multi-million-pound David Lloyd leisure centre in Yeovil. NHS Somerset says a new system to handle emergency stroke care will lead to "better outcomes" for patients. Tickets for next year’s Glastonbury Festival will go on sale in October...and more
Wednesday 9th September

Police have released an image of a man they want to speak to following an assault in Yeovil. Businesses in Taunton say they're worried that planned changes to parking rules could put people off visiting the town. The Red Arrows will take to the skies near the Somerset border in a one-off display later this week... and more
Tuesday 8th September

Police in Avon and Somerset say they’re dealing with a big increase in reports of cloned vehicle fraud. A new video system designed to speed up stroke care has been launched in Somerset. Pilgrims are walking through Somerset this week to mark eight hundred years since the death of Saint Francis of Assisi... and more
Monday 7th September

Avon and Somerset Police are warning about a new scam involving criminals posing as police officers. Flu vaccinations are now available on the NHS ahead of the winter. Liverpool comedian John Bishop has cancelled his show in Taunton later this week after breaking his ankle... and more
Friday 4th September

Police are investigating a suspected arson attack on a vehicle near Shepton Mallet. New taxi charges come into force in Somerset later this month. The fire service is treating as accidental a blaze at a flat in Yeovil town centre... and more