Tuesday 19th February

Tuesday, 20 February 2024 06:00

By Steve Haigh

Somerset Council meets today to agree on spending cuts of £100 million to prevent the Council from going bankrupt. A Martock man has been charged in connection with an incident at a pro-Palestine demonstration in central London. Ilminster Town Council is holding an auction of furniture at its former offices in North Street...and more

Members of Somerset Council meet today to agree on spending cuts of £100 million to prevent the Council from going bust. Meanwhile, the Leader of Somerset Council has been defending the pay of the authority's senior leadership team. Lib Dem Councillor Bill Revans says that salaries of between £100,000 and £195,000 paid to each of the thirty-strong senior leadership team are in line with what other local councils pay their top people.

A Martock man has been charged in connection with a pro-Palestine demonstration in central London. Martin Prady of Birch Road in Martock was arrested during last Saturday’s pro-Palestine demonstration held in the capital, accused of obstructing a police officer. Mr Prady is due to attend Highbury Magistrates’ Court on March 4th.

"No police officer will ever ask people to hand over money or valuables or to divulge sensitive banking details" That's the message Avon and Somerset Police want people to share with friends and family following a spate of incidents in which fraudsters, claiming to be police officers, have called people asking for bank information.

Ilminster Town Council is holding an auction of furniture at its former offices in North Street. The Council is due to vacate the North Street premises at the end of March and will be selling furniture from the council chamber and other items by sealed bids. The items can be viewed at the council offices in North Street between 4 pm and 7 pm on Monday, March 18th.

A primary school teacher in Stoke-sub-Hamdon has been on a visit to Parliament to help grow pupils’ interest in politics. Frances Abbott, of Castle Primary School, was one of seventy teachers invited to take part in the UK Parliament Teacher Ambassador programme, sitting in on debates in the Commons and Lords, and learning about the role of select committees.

Chard Rugby Club Ladies have raised nearly £1,500 ahead of their Three Peaks challenge. Members of the team plan to climb Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike, and Snowdon in 24 hours in September to raise funds for grassroots rugby. Their next fundraising event will be an Easter Bingo at Chard Rugby Club on Friday, March 22nd.

More from News

Tuesday 17th February

Avon and Somerset Police are asking the owners of replica guns to hand them in. It's claimed motorists in the Bruton and Wincanton area are paying out hundreds of pounds in repairs due to the poor state of local roads. And, Yeovil Town take on Aldershot at Huish Park tonight... and more
Monday 16th February

Yeovil MP Adam Dance has warned that the Westlands entertainment venue in Yeovil would be at risk should Leonardo not be awarded a government contract to build new medium life helicopters. A Chard woman has been given a suspended jail sentence for carrying a knife in a public place. A petition has been launched to slowdown motorists using Coker Way and Wyatt Way in Chard... and more
Friday 13th February

Somerset Council has dropped plans to close two town centre car parks in Yeovil. A Yeovil man has been charged with attempted murder after a woman was attacked in her home. The Environment Agency has committed to reviewing its water management of the Somerset Levels following the recent floods... and more
Thursday 12th February

The government says it's ‘working flat out’ to arrive at a decision on ordering a new medium lift helicopter with Leonardo in Yeovil. We’re being asked to suggest where new electric vehicle charge points should be installed in Somerset. A new project is inviting people to look up and help map Somerset’s night skies... and more
Wednesday 11th February

Somerset Council has been told it can’t raise council tax by more than 5 percent. Businesses in Somerset are being warned to watch out for fake £20 notes. A Martock man has successfully completed a parachute-ski jump off the top of Mount Snowdon.
Tuesday 10th February

Eye operations in Somerset have been cancelled, due to a private company running out of NHS funding to provide the surgery. A local MP is calling for the permanent installation of pumps on the Somerset Levels to reduce the flood risk. A £3 million pound project has begun to refurbish the grand organ at Wells Cathedral... and more
Monday 9th February

Multiple flood alerts and warnings remain in place across South Somerset following the weekend’s heavy rainfall. Work starts today repairing a sinkhole on Station Road in Castle Cary. A business in Crewkerne is closing after 50-years trading in the town... and more
Friday 6th September

Leonardo has announced a major deal to build helicopters in India. Campaigners trying to set up a new bus link to Castle Cary railway station from Glastonbury say they need 150 thousand pounds of council money. A community event is being held in Chard for charities and service providers to showcase their activities.... and more