Wednesday 12th June

Wednesday, 12 June 2024 06:00

By Steve Haigh

A Yeovil man who committed non-recent sex offences against a teenage girl has been jailed for seven years. Tourism in the South West is at its lowest point for ten years. The Devon Truck Show has been announced as the new main sponsor of Chard Carnival...and more.

A Yeovil man who committed non-recent sex offences against a teenage girl in Lincolnshire has been jailed. Simon Slade, aged 65, of Cherry Tree Drive, in Yeovil, was convicted of two serious sexual offences and one charge of indecent assault following a trial at Lincoln Crown Court. The court was told the offending had taken place in the late 1990s with Slade grooming and manipulating the teenager into sexual activity. Slade, who runs a motor racing business in Yeovil, was jailed for seven years. (story courtesy of Somerset Live),

According to an industry expert, tourism in the South West is at its lowest point in 10 years. Hospitality and attractions face continuing challenges with staffing, the cost of living and energy. Tim Jones of the South West Business Council says pub and restaurant closures have contributed to a one-billion pound drop in turnover for the sector.

Households in Bruton, Castle Cary, Buckhorn Weston, Crewkerne, Ilminster and Martock will have a one-off Saturday rubbish collection later this month. It’s part of kerbside rubbish and recycling changes that begin next Monday for 92,000 homes in the South Somerset and Mendip areas. Of these, around 17,000 will have a one-off rubbish collection but not recycling on Saturday, June 15th or Saturday, June 22nd. The extra collections will mean households will not go too long between rubbish collections as collection days change.

A new role has been created to help restore trust in Somerset’s maternity services. The new role of Maternity and Neonatal Independent Senior Advocate is designed to help women and families navigate the NHS after a traumatic birth.

The Devon Truck Show has been announced as the new main sponsor of Chard Carnival. The show held in Honiton raises funds for local charities and community groups. Chard Carnival will take place on Saturday, October 8th.

Ilminster Football Club is staging a fundraising dinner with guest speaker, Ian Holloway. The former Plymouth Argyle, Leicester City, Blackpool and Crystal Palace coach will be at The Shrubbery Hotel telling stories from his career on Friday, July 12th.

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