Tuesday 27th February

Tuesday, 27 February 2024 06:00

By Steve Haigh

Somerset Council says CCTV across the County is to stay operating for at least another year. A Castle Cary man has collected 1600 names on a petition opposing plans to close the Dimmer waste recycling centre. A rugby player who struck an opposing player in the face during a match played in Sherborne has appeared in court charged with grievous bodily harm...and more

Somerset Council says the county’s network of CCTV cameras will stay operating for at least another year after town and parish councils offered to help fund the service. CCTV has been under threat after Somerset Council said it could no longer afford to subsidise the network. Some town and parish councils, however, are yet to decide if they will pay to keep CCTV going.

A Castle Cary man has collected 1600 names on a petition opposing plans to close the Dimmer waste recycling centre. Drew Thompson claims closing Dimmer will increase fly tipping around Castle Cary, which contradicts Somerset Council’s stated aim of wanting a ‘greener and more sustainable’ Somerset. Crewkerne waste recycling centre is also on a list of five centres in Somerset at risk of closure as part of efforts at Somerset Council to cut spending by £100 million.

Patients in Somerset are being warned to check if their hospital appointment is affected by the ongoing strike action by junior doctors. Junior doctors have walked out again today on the fourth of a five-day stoppage in support of a 35 per cent pay demand. Yeovil Hospital and Taunton's Musgrove Park are the two hospitals in Somerset affected by the strike.

A rugby player who struck an opposing player in a match played in Sherborne has appeared in court charged with grievous bodily harm. Jack Richards was playing for Wellington RFC against Sherborne RFC at the Terraces when he hit opposing player Jamie Davidson causing damage to one of his eyes. Appearing before magistrates in Weymouth, Richards pleaded guilty to the offence and was sent to Bournemouth Crown Court for sentencing.

Somerset has been named as the worst area in the South West for domestic abuse. Research by Personal Injury Claims UK claims that around 60 abuse crimes occurred every day between November 2022 and October 2023 in the Avon and Somerset area. Sixty-eight per cent of victims were female, with twenty-six per cent male. Six per cent of victims had other gender definitions or their gender was unknown.

A hearing dog has been credited with helping a Somerset Paralympic hopeful, as she prepares for this summer's games in Paris. Swimmer, Suzanna Hext, was paralysed from the waist down in 2012. She's since also completely lost her hearing but says her confidence has improved dramatically, thanks to her hearing dog, Kimmy, who accompanies her everywhere, including training sessions.

The campaign group, Green Ilminster, has announced the date of its next annual meeting. It’ll be held at the Dolphin in Ilminster on Tuesday, March 5th starting at 6.30 pm and is open to all to attend.

More from News

Thursday 30th October

Bird flu has been found at a nature reserve in Somerset, closing part of it down. St Margaret’s Hospice in Somerset is calling for the hospice sector to be given more central funding. The Barrington Boar in Barrington has been placed 12th in The Good Food Guide’s list of 100 best pubs in Britain... and more
Wednesday 29th October

Police are investigating a suspected arson attack on a mobile home near Yeovil. Somerset Council is suggesting people turn their pumpkins into soup this Halloween. People in Yeovil have until Sunday to comment on controversial plans to sell off four car parks in the town centre... and more.
Tuesday 28th October

Plans have been submitted to build 12 new homes in Chard. A nursery in Yeovil has been rated ‘overall good' by Ofsted. A Somerset mortgage broker has achieved national recognition. A stretch of the M5 at Wellington will be shut every night this week...and more
Monday 27th October

The Unite union has announced four days of strikes by its members at Leonardo in Yeovil. One of Yeovil’s busiest roads is closed to traffic today. Staff at the Ferne Animal Sanctuary near Chard raised £3,000 taking part in a Sleeping Ruff challenge at the weekend...and more
Friday 24th October

New figures show that 500 young people were either injured or killed on roads in Somerset and Devon last year. The Old School Community Centre in Queen Camel has reopened, thanks to a donation of £10,000 from Somerset Freemasons. Two Fleet Air Arm engineers based at RNAS Yeovilton have recreated a family moment from 26 years ago...and more
Thursday 23rd October

Yeovil-born actress Sarah Parish is supporting efforts to reopen the Octagon theatre. Mobility scooter campaigners in Somerset have welcomed a government review of the legislation governing the use of mobility scooters on public highways. Changes are being made to the dates when garden waste is collected in Somerset...and more
Wednesday 22nd October

A major house builder in the South West says government targets for new house building in Somerset are 'unrealistic'. Pizza Hut is closing its restaurant in Yeovil. Staff at the Ferne Animal Sanctuary near Chard will be taking part in a ‘Sleeping Ruff’ challenge tomorrow...and more .
Tuesday 21st October

Reckleford in Yeovil is to shut for 15 days for essential drainage works. Somerset NHS Foundation Trust has paid out compensation of £23 million for claims related to birth injuries. A Grade II listed building in Glastonbury has been converted into a health and wellbeing centre...and more