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

Monday 24th March

Numatic International Ltd in Chard has been given planning permission to build a giant solar farm off the A30 Crewkerne Road. The RSPCA says incidents of dropped litter impacting the lives of animals in Somerset is a growing problem. Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance is marking 25 years of saving lives across the two counties...and more
Friday 21st March

Leonardo in Yeovil is developing a new type of self-flying helicopter. A report into the creation of Somerset Council has found the case for it to be 'weak' and marked by 'poor decision making'. The village of Montecute has been told that it may have one of the country's oldest working clocks...and more.
Thursday 20th March

There has been a further delay to reopening Yeovil’s Octagon Theatre. Police are appealing for witnesses to an accident in Wincanton in which a motorcyclist was killed. A debt advice charity in Somerset is recruiting more volunteers to help with an expected increase in people going into debt...and more.
Wednesday 19th March

A new report says survival rates from ovarian cancer in Somerset are among the best in England. Farmers say it’s only a matter of time before someone is killed due to criminal gangs using farmland for illegal hare coursing. A Victorian chemist shop, originally situated on the High Street in South Petherton, is being moved to a theme park in County Durham...and more
Tuesday 18th March

Police are appealing for witnesses to a ‘hit and run’ in Henstridge in which an 8-year-old boy was knocked off his scooter. People in Somerset wanting to hold street parties to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day won't have to pay for a road closure. Plans have been submitted to open a new farm shop in Sherborne...and more
Monday 17th March

A Yeovil woman, whose disappearance three weeks ago sparked a big police search, has been found safe and well. A new 3.2 million pound programme of flood risk reduction works has been approved by the Somerset Rivers Authority. Sexey’s School in Bruton has been voted Somerset’s happiest secondary school...and more
Friday 14th March

Four Somerset businesses, including one in Yeovil, have been handed a total of £170,000 in civil penalties for employing illegal workers. National garage chain ATS Euromaster has closed its branch in Wincanton. A farmer in Wincanton is being hailed as a hero after rescuing his pigs from a burning barn...and more
Thursday 13th March

A new campaign has been launched to persuade people in Somerset to stop smoking. Four people have been arrested in Chard in connection with the supply of Class A drugs. A dog from Yeovil has won the title of ‘best in breed’ at Crufts...and more.