Thursday 5th December

Thursday, 5 December 2024 05:00

By Steve Haigh

Attacks on local ambulance crews have more than doubled in the past five years. The trial has begun of two Yeovil men, charged with murdering a neighbour. Somerset Council is due to make a decision early in the New Year on controversial plans to build 47 new homes at Horton, near Ilminster...and more.

According to data from the South West Ambulance Service, attacks on local ambulance crews have more than doubled in the past five years. The latest figures for 2023 recorded more than 3200 incidents which is the highest number for any ambulance service in the country.

The trial has begun of two Yeovil men, charged with murdering a neighbour in a row over rubbish. Martin Carty of Raglan Terrace and Mark Sothcott of Stiby Road are accused of killing Franklin Ingram at Mr Carty’s flat. Taunton Crown Court was told the attack, in June earlier this year, took place after Mr Ingram had complained about Mr Carty sweeping up rubbish and leaving it outside his flat. Both defendants deny murder, and the trial continues. (story courtesy of BBC Somerset).

Somerset Council is due to make a decision in the New Year on controversial plans to build new homes at Horton, near Ilminster. Developers, Blue Spruce Properties Ltd, have applied to build 47 homes on land between Paulls Lane and Pound Road in Horton, close to the western edge of Broadway. The application is facing opposition from local residents who claim Broadway is already overdeveloped.

EDF says it plans to start generating power from the newly installed nuclear reactor at Hinkley Point C by the end of the decade. Hinkley Point C is the first nuclear power station to be built in Britain for 30 years.

Yeovil MP Adam Dance says the government needs to 'wake up' on housing - not just by tackling the housing shortage but the shortage of skills needed to build the 1.5 million new homes over the next five years that the government has promised. Mr Dance says not only is the Labour government’s target over-ambitious but there aren’t enough people being trained as builders or planning staff available within local councils to handle the work.

Three of our local carnival clubs are celebrating after collecting top awards at the Somerset County Presentation. Rubilo Juvenile Carnival Club won both the Somerset County Juvenile Champions 2024 prize and the Most Original Juvenile Entry Champions 2024 prize. Jack Carnival Club clinched the title of Somerset County Single Adult Masquerader Champion. Little R was crowned Somerset County Single Juvenile Masquerader Champion.

Station Road in Ilminster will close tonight and for the next six nights.This is to allow the road to be resurfaced. It will shut between 6.30 and 11.30 each night until next Tuesday, December 10th.

More from News

Monday 24th August

The Chair of the NFU has repeated calls for a longer-term plan to tackle bluetongue, Three men have been jailed for their involvement in car key burglaries in Somerset. Police say they’re treating a fire in Norton Fitzwarren as suspicious... and more.
Friday 21st August

Adam Dance MP has added his voice to those criticising this week’s Channel 4 documentary on ADHD. Visitors can now explore more of Ham Hill with a new off-road mobility scooter hiring scheme. Young people are being encouraged to join the Ilminster Carnival children’s procession... and more.
Thursday 20th August

Castle Cary railway station’s makeover has been officially unveiled. A new 18 million pound diagnostic centre in Bridgwater has opened. A Crewkerne teenager has been named ‘coach of the year’ for his work with Bristol City.... and more.
Wednesday 19th August

The fire service in Somerset has issued a plea for the public to take every precaution to prevent wildfires. Plans have been approved for Numatic International to install one-thousand solar panels on roof of their Chard factory. Somerset fast bowler, Jake Ball, has signed a new one-year contract that will keep him at the club for the 2027 season... and more
Tuesday 18th August

People across Somerset are banned from today from using hosepipes to water gardens, clean windows or cars, or fill swimming and paddling pools. More cases of the potentially deadly livestock disease Bluetongue have been confirmed in Somerset. Work is underway to improve disabled access at Holyrood Academy in Chard... and more
Monday 17th August

Wessex Water, who supplies almost all homes and businesses in Somerset, has introduced a hosepipe ban effective from midnight tonight. A sinkhole on Station Road in Castle Cary has been repaired, two years after it was first discovered. A Wildcat helicopter from RNAS Yeovilton has taken part in the annual passing-out parade at the Britannia Royal Naval College in Dartmouth... and more
Friday 14th August

Police are investigating an incident in which obscene words were scratched onto the World War One memorial at Ham Hill. Yeovil MP Adam Dance has repeated his call for the upgrade of the town’s police station to include a custody suite. A Somerset carnival club is building a specially adapted float to allow a wheelchair user and her assistance dog to take part in this year’s carnival circuit...and more
Thursday 13th August

An Ilminster family is celebrating after winning one million pounds on the National Lottery. Police have released a picture of a man they want to speak to in connection with suspected frauds in Somerset. Somerset Council has opened a tendering process to find a main contractor for the £15 million upgrade of Yeovil’s Octagon theatre... and more