Thursday 30th January

Thursday, 30 January 2025 06:00

By Steve Haigh

Lloyds bank is closing its branch in Chard. A Sherborne man has been jailed after defrauding a Yeovil woman of £40,000. A volunteer group in Chard is urging people to sign up to a flood victims register. A councillor in Shepton Mallet has become the first Reform UK member on Somerset Council... and more

Lloyds bank is closing its branch in Chard. It says it’s due to increasing numbers of customers using digital channels for their day-to-day banking. Lloyds plans to shut the Chard branch by March of next year.

A Sherborne man has been sentenced to two years imprisonment after defrauding and manipulating a Yeovil woman telling her that he worked in a bomb disposal role for the US Military. Appearing at Taunton Crown Court, James Starr of Gas House Hill in Sherborne pleaded guilty to coercive and controlling behaviour, and to another charge of fraud against his victim.

Somerset Council has sold 71 million pounds worth of commercial property assets to help stabilise its finances. The buildings, including shops and offices, were originally bought as investments by Somerset’s former district councils, including South Somerset District Council.

A volunteer group in Chard is urging people to sign up to a flood victims register to ensure they can access help more quickly should the town become flooded in the future. Over 100 people had to be evacuated from their homes earlier this week when flash floods hit Chard. Meanwhile, Sainsbury’s in Chard has re-opened after being forced to close when the store flooded.

A 31-year-old man from Street has been jailed for 13 months for causing the death of a woman by careless driving. Beryl Howard, aged 83, died after being struck by a van being reversed out of a driveway by Reece McKinven. He was found in possession of half a gram of cannabis and charged with causing death by careless driving, driving without a licence or insurance and possessing a class B drug. McKinven, who had pleaded guilty to all charges at an earlier hearing, was appearing at Taunton Crown Court for sentencing and was also banned from driving for two-and-a-half years.

A councillor in Shepton Mallet has become the first Reform UK member of Somerset Council. Bente Height has defected to Reform UK after previously being a member of the Conservative group on Somerset Council.

More from News

Friday 6th March

Defence Minister Luke Pollard has been explaining why it took the government so long to confirm a contract for the Leonardo in Yeovil to build new medium lift helicopters for the RAF. Police are investigating a break in at a pet shop in Ilminster. Somerset Council is to stop using red ink on council tax reminder letters... and more
Thursday 5th March

Two military helicopters from RNAS Yeovilton are being sent to Cyprus to help bolster UK’s defences amid the US-Israel war with Iran. Yeovil Town Council is seeking legal advice over the closure of the hyper acute stroke unit at Yeovil Hospital. Flood warnings have been lifted on the Somerset Levels... and more
Wednesday 4th March

A man has died in a fire in Wincanton. Somerset Council is planning further cuts of twenty-one million pounds to help balance its books. A campaign to raise £30,000 for a minibus has been launched in Chard... and more
Tuesday 3rd March

A woman from Ilminster has been jointly charged with another woman after a man’s body was found inside a car in Cornwall. Somerset businesses, involved in the supply chain for Leonardo, have welcomed the news that the Leonardo factory in Yeovil is to build new medium lift helicopters for the RAF. Plans have been submitted to build thirty-two homes in Milborne Port... and more
Monday 2nd March

The Leonardo factory in Yeovil has won a multi-million pound contract to build new medium lift helicopters for the RAF. A doctor, who previously worked at Yeovil Hospital, has appeared in court charged with illegally accessing NHS computers. A new Construction Innovation Centre has opened at Yeovil College... and more
Friday 27th February

The CEO of Leonardo has suggested the UK government could make an announcement immindently about ordering new medium lift helicopters to be built in Yeovil. A family run hardware business in Yeovil has gone into administration. The Lord Lieutenant of Somerset has been named the new patron of Somerset Chamber of Commerce... and more
Thursday 26th February

Workers at Leonardo in Yeovil have been to Downing Street to hand-in a petition calling on the government to back British jobs. The decision to grant planning permission to upgrade Yeovil's Octagon Theatre has been enthusiastically welcomed by staff who work there. The search is on to find a defibrillator that has gone missing in Chard... and more
Wednesday 25th February

Plans have been passed to carry out a £15 million upgrade of Yeovil’s Octagon Theatre. A new medical unit providing NHS and private treatments has opened in Shepton Mallet. Manor Court Community Primary School in Chard is celebrating after receiving a Gold Artsmark for excellence in arts and cultural education...and more