Tuesday 6th February

Tuesday, 6 February 2024 06:00

By Steve Haigh

Chard Town Council meets tonight to vote on increasing its share of the Council Tax by 45 %. Homeowners in parts of South Somerset are to get an extra waste pick-up later this month. A new public clock has gone on display in Ilminster marking the reign of Queen Elizabeth the Second...and more.

Chard Town Council meets tonight to vote on putting up its share of the Council Tax by an average of 45%. If agreed, the Town Council precept on a typical band-D property would rise from £173 to £251. Chard Town Council says the extra income is needed to fund services it plans to take over running from Somerset Council. Charges for the cemetery and hire of the Guildhall would also rise. Tonight's meeting in the Guildhall starts at 7 pm and is open to the public.

The Environment Agency says ten years after the major flood event on the Somerset Levels it has learned lessons and changed the way it works. Following the floods of January 2014, the Somerset Rivers Authority was set up and a twenty-year flood action plan for Somerset was drawn up.

Homeowners in some parts of South Somerset will get an extra waste pick-up later this month. The additional collection days will take place on Saturday, February 17th, in Chard and Ilminster and in Hinton St George, Langport, South Petherton, Ilminster and Chard on Saturday, February 24th. Somerset Waste Partnership says the extra collection days are to ensure no household goes more than three weeks between collections when the new timetable for collections starts on February 12th.

Avon and Somerset Police are appealing for witnesses after a motorcyclist died in a collision with a van on the A361. It happened in the village of West Lyng near the junction of New Road on Sunday at around 4.30 pm. Anyone who saw what happened or has dashcam footage is asked to please call the police non-emergency number 101.

Ilminster has a new landmark. It’s a public clock located on the side of the building above Retail Therapy in Silver Street. The clock, provided by Ilminster Rotary Club to commemorate the reign of Queen Elizabeth the Second, will be officially switched on at midday on Saturday, February 17th.

Plans have been approved to build five detached houses at Ham Farm in Combe St Nicholas, near Chard. Four of the houses will be newly built with one created from an existing farm building.

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