Thursday 6th February

Thursday, 6 February 2025 06:00

By Steve Haigh

A man has appeared in court charged with murdering a one-month-old baby boy in Chard. Kingfisher Primary School in Yeovil has been highly praised by Ofsted. Somerset Council says it’s “extremely disappointed” after its bid to form a devolved Wessex group of local councils was rejected by the government...and more.

A man has been charged with the murder of a one-month-old baby in Chard. Tony Bartlett, of St Andrews Drive in Axminster, was appearing at Bristol Crown Court. Bartlett was given conditional bail and told to return to court on April 16th for a plea and trial preparation hearing. (story courtesy of BBC News).

Ofsted highly praised Kingfisher Primary School in Yeovil following an inspection in December. The school, which has 264 pupils and is part of the Preston Primary Academy Trust, was commended for its commitment to excellence, academic achievement, personal development, and student leadership.

A Yeovil man, who left an abusive voice message on an MP’s phone, has been given a suspended prison sentence. Appearing at Taunton Magistrates Court, Thomas Mearing, aged 26, pleaded guilty to a public communications offence relating to a voicemail left for the Bradford West Labour MP, Naz Shah, in November 2023. Mearing was given a twelve weeks prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, together with a five-year restraining order banning him from contacting the MP. (story courtesy of Chard and Ilminster News).

Avon and Somerset Police is putting up its share of the council tax by 5 per cent. It’ll mean a typical Band-D property will pay £293.20p in council tax to Avon and Somerset Police from April – a £14 increase on last year. Revenue from the council tax accounts for 43 per cent of Avon and Somerset Police’s overall budget, with the remainder sourced by central government.

Somerset Council says it’s “extremely disappointed” after its bid to form a devolved Wessex group of local councils was rejected by the government. The four councils that make up the Wessex region, had submitted a proposal that would have seen them working together on strategic issues like transport, the environment and economic development. In a statement, the leaders of Somerset, Dorset, Wiltshire and Bournemouth and Poole councils say the government’s decision not to include them in the Devolution Priority Programme could mean that the Wessex region will miss out on essential government funding.

A new health walk initiative has started in Chard. Organised by the Somerset Activity & Sports Partnership it involves people joining together for a lunchtime walk in a local open space. The first walk, aimed at encouraging people to take more exercise, was held yesterday in Snowdon Park.

More from News

Wednesday 24th December

A formal planning application has been made to carry out significant improvements to Yeovil’s Octagon Theatre, costing £15 million. The Halifax Bank in King George Street in Yeovil could be converted into 17 flats. A new young people’s centre opens in Chard early in the New Year...and more.
Tuesday 23rd December

NHS Somerset reports a strong uptake of flu jabs, but some eligible people for free vaccinations haven’t come forward. Police are appealing for witnesses to an accident on the A303 in which a pedestrian was killed. A Crewkerne woman has gone viral on TikTok after being trapped inside a Lidl store in the town... and more.
Monday 22nd December

Somerset Bus Partnership has welcomed a £24.7m boost for the county's bus services. Outline planning permission has been granted to build up to 100 new homes in Ilminster. An Ilminster man has been banned from keeping animals for seven years. Residents in Chiselborough have set up a group to try and re-open the village pub...and more.
Friday 19th December

Crewkerne Community Hospital is to lose half its inpatient beds. A review will be conducted of a project to make Bridgwater more pedestrian and cyclist-friendly. Chard Methodist Church is offering residents a free lunch on Christmas Day. Yeovil-based Screwfix is opening a new outlet in Minehead...and more.
Thursday 18th December

Yeovil MP Adam Dance has warned that delays in ordering 30 new medium lift helicopters for the RAF is putting the future of Somerset’s defence industries at risk. Somerset's farmers are being urged to convert more cow manure into biogas to heat homes. A new visitor centre has opened at Ham Hill country park...and more
Wednesday 17th December

Parcel business, Evri, has been criticised by Glastonbury and Somerton MP Sarah Dyke over what she claims have been ‘widespread delivery failures’. Demand for mental health support provided by South Western Ambulance Service is running at record levels. A nine-year-old Somerset boy has completed 100 days of litter picking for charity...and more
Tuesday 14th December

New data shows that crime in the Avon and Somerset police area is at an all-time high. Ferne Animal Sanctuary near Chard has issued a warning to prospective pet owners ahead of Christmas. The owner of four pubs in Somerset has warned that many could be forced to shut unless the government reconsiders business rates...and more.
Monday 15th December

Toolstream in Yeovil has been put into administration, threatening the jobs of dozens of employees. NHS Somerset has issued a last chance call for people to get a flu jab after hospital admissions increased by 76% in a week. Police are investigating the theft of a bike valued at £7,000 in Sherborne... and more