Wednesday 31st January

Wednesday, 31 January 2024 at 06:00

By Steve Haigh

Yeovil Town Council has voted for a 100% increase in its share of the Council Tax. Police are appealing for witnesses to a burglary in Ermine Street in Yeovil. Preston Primary School in Yeovil has been rated ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted. Somerset has been ranked as the sixth worst place in the UK for speeding fines...and more.

Yeovil Town Council met last night and voted to put up its share of the Council Tax on a typical band-D property to £276, an increase of £146 or by 100%. The Town Council says it needs the extra income, amounting to just over one million pounds, to pay the costs of running services like Yeovil Recreation Ground, Yeovil Country Park, the Octagon Theatre and Westland Entertainment venue that Somerset Council can no longer afford to fund.

Police are appealing for witnesses or CCTV footage of a burglary in Yeovil. The break-in happened at a property in Ermine Street in the early hours of yesterday morning. Police are asking for anyone who spotted or has CCTV footage of two men acting suspiciously in Ermine Street between midnight and early yesterday morning to please call the non-emergency number 101.

Police are also appealing for witnesses or dashcam footage of an accident near Chard in which two motorcyclists died. The two bikers, who were travelling in opposite directions, crashed head-on close to the Red Barn junction on the A30 on Sunday night. Anyone who can help the police with their enquiries is asked to call the non-emergency number 101.

The Lib Dem parliamentary candidate for Yeovil, Adam Dance, is calling for a re-think on the decision to close the Hyper-acute stroke unit at Yeovil Hospital. Members of NHS Somerset’s Integrated Care Board voted to downgrade the Yeovil unit at a meeting last week, despite strong objections. A new Hyper-acute unit will now be built at Dorchester Hospital. Mr Dance is questioning why money can be found to build a new unit in Dorchester but not in Yeovil and wants the financial case for closing Yeovil to be reassessed.

Somerset has been ranked as the sixth worst place in the UK for speeding fines. Figures from Moneybarn Car Finance show that in Avon and Somerset, 166,781 speeding tickets were issued last year, equating to around one in ten of the population being handed a speeding fine.

Preston Primary School in Yeovil has been rated ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted. The school at Abbey Manor Park, which has 418 pupils, was graded ‘outstanding’ in all areas by Ofsted inspectors. Meanwhile, the Topsie preschool in Yeovil has been given a high rating by Ofsted. Inspectors rated the school as ‘good’ and praised staff for planning a good curriculum and helping children to value other people’s differences.

Chard Carnival Committee has given just over £5,500 to groups, carnival clubs and local charitable organisations. Speaking at the awards presentation, Chairman, Jason Baker said appearance money would continue to be given to clubs entering Chard Carnival, rather than giving prize money. The Committee gave £2,380 in appearance money at last year’s Carnival, with a further £3,133 going to local groups and charities.

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Thursday 29th October

A Yeovil man has been detained under the Mental Health Act for attacking his mother with a knife. People in Chard are being reminded that it’s unlawful to attach flags to lamp posts and street furniture. Wincanton Racecourse has called off its 'Badger Chase Day' because the ground is too firm... and more
Wednesday 28th October

Leweston School near Sherborne has announced that it is closing with immediate effect. NHS Somerset could merge with neighbours in Bath and North-East Somerset and Dorset to cut costs. Somerset’s Lord-Lieutenant has launched a campaign to get more people nominated for national honours... and more
Tuesday 27th October

Work has started building a new six-million-pound flood defence scheme in Taunton. Plans have been submitted to build a new church hall in Martock. People are being asked to donate gifts to this year’s Chard Christmas Present Appeal... and more
Monday 26th October

Eligible groups in Somerset are being encouraged to get their flu jabs. There’s a rare opportunity to get a behind-the-scenes look inside Avon & Somerset Police’s control room. Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader, Daisy Cooper MP, has visited Yeovil... and more.
Friday 23rd October

Somerset is the 11th most challenging place in England to be a child according to a report. Dorset, Somerset and Wiltshire could have its own elected ‘Wessex Mayor’ by 2028. Cricketer, Ian Botham returns to the county this weekend... and more.
Thursday 22nd October

The NFU says that testing for the virus Bluetongue needs to be sped up. Construction of new flats on Yeovil’s Grimsby Corner site will officially begin next year. The Met Office has issued a yellow warning for wind tomorrow... and more.
Wednesday 21st October

The owner of campsite in Somerset says a two-thousand-seven-hundred percent increase in business rates will be 'catastrophic' for his business. Plans to build nearly 300 new homes on the outskirts of Chard have been given the go ahead. Yeovil Town are through to the first round proper of the FA Cup after beating Leatherhead 5-2 at Huish Park last night... and more