Wednesday 21st February

Wednesday, 21 February 2024 06:00

By Steve Haigh

Unions claim up to one thousand jobs could be cut at Somerset Council. People in Chard are being asked for suggestions about where in the town a cinema could be opened. The Gateway in Yeovil is the venue for a concert tonight, marking the second anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine...and more

A demonstration was held outside yesterday’s Somerset Council meeting at which cuts in spending of £100 million were approved, threatening the jobs of hundreds of Council workers. The Liberal Democrat-run authority says it has no alternative but to make the savings to avoid the Council going bankrupt. Nigel Behan from the union Unite says one thousand jobs at Somerset Council are at risk.

People in Chard are being asked for suggestions about where in the town a cinema could be opened. Local councillor, Connor Payne, who’s leading a campaign for a cinema in Chard is working with S and B Cinemas who run cinemas in Burnham-on-Sea, Minehead and Frome to make a cinema for Chard a reality. Councillor Payne would also welcome suggestions for a name for the cinema and can be contacted at: connor.payne@somerset.gov.uk

A former Castle Cary pub has moved closer to becoming a Co-op store. The Horse Pond Inn in The Triangle closed five years ago, with planning permission granted two years ago to convert it to a food outlet. Now, Co-Operative Food Ltd has submitted plans to install new signage at the former pub. When open, the store will have 3,000 square feet of floor space and 13 parking spaces.

Work has been completed on a 4-year project to smarten up the look of Chard town centre. The Chard Heritage Action Project has involved laying new pavements and freshening shop fronts. Restoration work has also been carried out on many of the 136 Listed Buildings in Chard, including the Guildhall and Chard School.

The Gateway in Yeovil is the venue for a concert of Ukrainian music and dance tonight, marking the second anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The performance starts at 8 pm with tickets at £10 available at the door. All proceeds will go to Aid for Ukraine.

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The former Beales department store in Yeovil could be brought back into use as part of a wider masterplan for the future of the town. A yellow heat health alert is in place across Somerset from nine o’clock this morning until nine o’clock on Friday morning. A Somerset farmer says this year is the driest on his land since 1976... and more
Monday 27th July

Gooch and Housego, based in Ilminster and one of the town’s biggest employers, has been sold in a multi-million-pound deal to an American private equity firm. A father who shook his four-week-old baby to death at a house in Chard has been sentenced to life in prison. A doctor who works for the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance is one of five people to have jointly set a new world record for rowing around Great Britain... and more
Friday 24th July

Avon and Somerset Police are warning people to watch out for scammers posing as Amazon. The CEO of the company that provides Somerset's recycling is warning of a major incident if people continue to put used batteries in waste bins. A former Yeovil pub could be demolished to make way for a major hotel expansion.
Thursday 23rd July

The West Country is officially one step closer to being declared in drought. Somerset Council says it's remodelling its service after a children's home was closed following an inspection. A new McDonald's planned off the M5 at Bridgwater could create up to 120 local jobs... and more
Wednesday 22nd July

Two men have been jailed for stealing electrical items and cash from a property in Yeovil. Somerset Council has defended its use of Yeovil’s new performance area in The Triangle, in Lower Middle Street. Tintinhull Primary School, near Yeovil, has won a top national award for outdoor play... and more
Friday 17th July

Plans have been submitted to build 30 new homes in Ashill. As the heatwave continues, a Somerset air conditioning business says demand for its services has never been higher. Morrisons has confirmed it will close its Glenthorne Avenue store in Yeovil on August 1st... and more
Thursday 16th July

Plans to build up to one hundred new homes on Yeovil's former cattle market have moved a step closer. It’s being made easier for parents in Somerset to register children for free school meals. Wessex Water says it has no plans for a hosepipe ban at the moment but is keeping a close eye on supplies as demand increases... and more
Wednesday 15th July

Bus passengers in Yeovil have been provided with easier access to the town's bus station. Firefighters are warning of an increased risk of wildfires because of the hot weather. Aldi is asking for public comments on plans to build a new food store in Chard... and more