Thursday 29th February

Thursday, 29 February 2024 06:00

By Steve Haigh

It’s hoped that businesses in Yeovil will benefit from a new £4 billion car battery-making factory being built near Bridgwater. A consultation is underway into plans to shut the Sunnymeade care home in Chard. Women in Wincanton are being offered free business training by the entrepreneur and PR guru Lynne Franks...and more.

It’s hoped that businesses in Yeovil will be amongst those in Somerset to benefit from the £4 billion being spent building a new car battery-making factory near Bridgwater. The facility alongside the M5 at Puritan will produce batteries for Jaguar Land Rover, creating 4,000 jobs and thousands more in the supply chain across the region. Agratas and Tata, two of India’s largest conglomerates, who are behind the venture, will occupy around half of the 616-acre Puritan site, with hotels, leisure, and office buildings on the other half.

A consultation is underway into a proposal to shut a residential care home in Chard. Somerset Care says Sunnymeade care home is no longer financially viable and they want to close it in April. Somerset Council’s Adult Social Care Team is independently assessing the care needs of the residents, with staff at the home put at risk of redundancy.

Police are investigating a break-in at a property in Sandford Orcas near Sherborne. It happened on Saturday, February 17th at around 4 pm. Police say the suspects were disturbed by a neighbour and that nothing was taken. They’re asking people in Sandford Orcas to check CCTV and door cameras for footage of anyone acting suspiciously. If you can help, you’re asked to please call the non-emergency number 101.

Holyrood Academy in Chard has come to the aid of a local karate club whose premises were destroyed in a fire. Chard Tae Kwon-do Club lost its training base in last weekend’s major blaze in Leach Road. Members have been told they can hold their training sessions at Holyrood Academy until further notice.

Women in Wincanton wanting to start their own business are being offered free training by entrepreneur and PR guru Lynne Franks. Lynne, who lives in Wincanton, has worked with major corporates including McDonald’s, Tesco and HSBC and says the course is aimed at helping women identify their strengths and talents, to set up a business or work collaboratively with others on a new business venture.

More from News

Wednesday 29th April

Somerset Council says Hendford Hill in Yeovil should be fully reopened to traffic by the end of May. Plans have been approved to build 40 new homes in Crewkerne. A huge pile of illegally dumped rubbish in Glastonbury has been cleared... and more
Tuesday 28th April

Police are appealing for witnesses to a fatal collision at Rimpton. A 19-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of criminal damage in South Petherton. Former Yeovil Town manager Gary Johnson has been retained as first-team manager of Taunton Town for next season... and more
Monday 27th April

A former school in Sherborne has been badly damaged by fire. A care home in Yeovil has been rated outstanding. ublic spaces in West Coker owned by Somerset Council are being handed over to the parish council. Mendip Golf Club has presented a cheque for £12,000 to Mind in Somerset... and more
Friday 24th April

Plans have been submitted to turn a property on Preston Road in Yeovil into a House in Multiple Occupation. Yeovil’s Marlie Packer has been recalled to the England Red Roses starting line-up for tomorrow’s Women’s Six Nations game against Wales. Three sisters from Yeovil will be running the London Marathon this weekend in support of Guide Dogs UK... and more
Thursday 23rd April

Helicopters from RNAS Yeovilton have completed six weeks of sorties, protecting Cyprus from attacks by Iran. People in Somerset who use domestic heating oil are calling on the government to regulate the oil supply industry. Patients are being invited to register at a new NHS dentist in Crewkerne... and more
Wednesday 22nd April

Expectant mothers are using Yeovil Hospital once again to give birth following the reopening of the maternity unit. A Yeovil man has been jailed for four years for committing sexual offences against two young girls. Plans have been approved to convert a pub in Milborne Port into housing... and more
Tuesday 21st April

NHS Somerset has delayed closing the hyper-acute stroke unit at Yeovil Hospital. A former Avon and Somerset Police officer has been jailed for making indecent images of children. A Somerset man has been fined after pleading guilty to hunting a wild animal with dogs... and more
Monday 20th April

Nearly one hundred roads in Somerset will be surface dressed this summer to prevent further damage. Almost all children starting primary school in Somerset in September have been offered a place at one of their top three school choices. People in Somerset are being asked to record wild mammals in gardens and other green spaces over the summer... and more