Wednesday 10th April

Wednesday, 10 April 2024 06:00

By Steve Haigh

A former sub-postmaster from Wincanton says she's having to work a 70-hour week to pay off debts she incurred due to the Post Office IT scandal. Two people have been fined for illegal fishing in Yeovil. Images of wildlife taken by a photographer in Somerton have been chosen to feature on a new set of charity cards...and more.

A former sub-postmaster from Wincanton has described Alan Bates as a hero for the evidence that he gave at the public enquiry into the Post Office IT scandal. Tracey Merritt was prosecuted over alleged losses at her post office but had the charges later dropped. She’s still waiting to hear if she will be paid compensation. Tracey says when the Post Office terminated her employment, she was left with huge debts that she’s now having to work a 70-hour week to pay them off.

Two people have been fined for illegal fishing while on a visit to Yeovil. Appearing before magistrates in Swindon, Mark Varney, from Coventry was found fishing without a licence at Pavyotts Mill Lakes off the Dorchester Road and was ordered to pay £360 in fines. At the same hearing, Magdalena Maslak from Nuneaton was also found fishing without a licence at the same location and was ordered to pay fines of £255. The cases were brought by the Environment Agency who say illegal fishing undermines their efforts to protect fish stocks.

It’s expected that work upgrading gas pipes on the A37 Dorchester Road in Yeovil will be completed by the end of the month. Wales and West Utilities say they’re on target to remove the two-way traffic lights on the A37 off the Quick Silver Mail roundabout and also lift the road closure on East Coker Road by the scheduled date of Sunday, April 28th.

A photographer in Somerton has had his images chosen to feature on a set of new charity cards. Six photos taken by Ben Pulletz appear on the greeting cards being sold by the Co-op to raise money for the RSPB. Ben says being recognised by the Co-op has made all the hours he’s spent building his career seem worthwhile.

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Friday 23rd January

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Tuesday 20th January

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