Archive
-
Date
Town clerk under fire
WELLINGTON Town Council's clerk has been rebuked over 'unacceptable' comments he made about a disabled woman. Town councillors have been seeking to distance themselves from Tony Brown's remarks that Pearl Buttle may be unsuitable to take part in the Community
-
Date
Gary, the man on a mission
WELLINGTON'S new youth worker wants to bring help and hope to the town. A special commissioning service for 35-year-old Gary Walker was held at the town's Baptist Church on Sunday evening. He has been enlisted by the new Wellington Christian Youth Trust
-
Date
Getting down to business
TAUNTON Deane Council has arranged a meeting for rural businesses in the Wiveliscombe and Milverton areas later this month. The Business Networking meeting is being held at Milverton's Globe Inn on Tuesday, January 27 at 7.30pm. Meeting monthly, the group
-
Date
High-speed future for internet users
WIVELISCOMBE and Milverton hope to have high-speed internet access by May or June after both areas reached 'trigger levels'. A broadband roadshow, organised by Wiveliscombe Broadband and Taunton Deane Council, to celebrate the occasion was held in Wiveliscombe
-
Date
Snooker star helps charity pot £8,000
WELLINGTON-based charity SeeAbility has potted £8,000, courtesy of Taunton Round Table and a famous snooker star. The Round Table held a speaker evening at The Holiday Inn, Taunton, sponsored by Albert Goodman. Guests of honour were the Rev David Ireland
-
Date
Those motorway mysteries answered at last
A NEW sightseeing guide to the M5 motorway has been launched, featuring all sorts of interesting facts about the Wellington area. The M5 Sights Guide tells you everything you ever wanted to know but were afraid to ask about the buildings and landmarks
-
Date
Torquay, Exeter and Plymouth previews
Torquay United travel to Lincoln on the back of their well-deserved 3-1 win over big-spenders Northampton at Plainmoor last week. But central defenders Craig Taylor and Steve Woods have missed a lot of training this week with minor injuries, and it remians
-
Date
City say no to Doncaster
Doncaster boss Dave Penney has revealed that Exeter have turned down two offers for their star man James Coppinger. Talking on the Third Division team's website, he said: 'Exeter have decided they want to keep him which was a surprise with the position
-
Date
Town youth forms council
YOUNG people in Ilminster are to form their own council to develop youth friendly proposals and give teenagers a better image. The initiative follows the success of a campaign to get a skate park in the town, supported by lobbying from young people. Teenagers
-
Date
Councillor says she'll stay after night in cells
A COUNCILLOR, who told the News she was to quit Chard Town Council after spending part of a night in a police cell, has decided not to resign after all. Cllr Sue Wyatt, who was arrested by police following a domestic at her home on Sunday, January 11,
-
Date
Minehead blow - Fearn setback
MINEHEAD midfielder Robbie Fearn has knee ligament trouble and could be out of action for a lengthy spell. "It's a great pity, because Robbie is a very fit and strong player," said Minehead's joint manager Charlie Lewis last night. Fearn was expected
-
Date
Amenity area for ex-tip site
TECHNICAL difficulties threatening to scupper plans for a £200,000 amenity area on a former municipal tip at Culvercliffe in Minehead appear to have been resolved. Children's play facilities, a picnic spot, ball games venue and areas for walkers and dog
-
Date
Appeal to save key link for blind
A VITAL link with the outside world for blind and partially-sighted people in West Somerset is on the verge of collapse. Williton-based West Somerset Talking Newspaper has been go-ing for more than 20 years. But it is now so short of volunteers it may
-
Date
Inner city kids learn about life on the moor
ETHNIC minority youngsters from inner city Birmingham took a little bit of Exmoor home with them as part of a project aimed at bringing the countryside closer. Organisers admitted that for the people of Handsworth, Exmoor might as well be a far off galaxy
-
Date
Queen's Hall plans set for go ahead
A HISTORIC Minehead building looks set to be converted into a family pub, despite fierce objection from nearby residents. Planning chiefs at West Somerset District Council are recommending plans for the restoration of Queen's Hall in Warren Road be approved
-
Date
School lands excellence award
DANESFIELD Middle School, Williton has carried off its seventh national award for excellence. The Church of England Community School has been handed the coveted Basic Skills Agency Quality Mark for Secondary Schools, one of just two schools in Somerset
-
Date
It's all aboard the stamp special!
VOLUNTEERS from The West Somerset Railway took part in a launch of the Royal Mail's first set of special stamps for this year at Minehead railway station. The collection 'Classic locomotives' got a good send off at the station last Friday and officially
-
Date
Second homes tax hike
THE lucrative tax break enjoyed by second home owners in West Somerset is at an end. West Somerset District Council agreed on Wednesday night to take advantage of new regulations - and owners now face a levy of up to 90 per cent council tax on second
-
Date
Devon In Touch hits the road
Instant access to a world of information comes to people living in Ipplepen, Topsham and Stokenham this week aboard a state-of-the-art vehicle specially-commissioned by Devon County Council. Equipped with the latest technology, the vehicle will give people
-
Date
Drug farm raid
SOPHISTICATED equipment cap-able of producing £40,000 worth of cannabis was discovered behind the doors of a chicken farm, at Oakfordbridge, near Bampton. Exeter Crown Court heard the "factory" was equipped with state-of the-art hydroponics powered by
-
Date
Clubs united!
SPORTS clubs in Wellington are joining forces to launch a new website. It is the brainchild of the Wellington Federation of Sports Clubs, which was formed last year by all of the major sporting organisations in the town. The new site - www.sportinwellington.co.uk
-
Date
Gulls have Lincoln trip
Torquay United travel to Lincoln on the back of their well-deserved 3-1 win over big-spenders Northampton at Plainmoor last week. But central defenders Craig Taylor and Steve Woods have missed a lot of training this week with minor injuries, and it remians
-
Date
Coppinger bid rejected
Doncaster boss Dave Penney has revealed that Exeter have turned down two offers for their star man James Coppinger. Talking on the Third Division team's website, he said: 'Exeter have decided they want to keep him which was a surprise with the position
-
Date
Mountain challege to support cancer charity
IF your New Year's resolution is to climb a mountain, then the Marie Curie Snowdon Mountain Challenge could be just what you're looking for. Julia Chapman, Marie Curie Cancer Care fundraising manager, said: "It's a great way to shape up for the summer
-
Date
Rorke's Drift hero remembered
THE 125th anniversary of the battle of Rorke's Drift takes place next Thursday (January 22) to honour one of Somerset's greatest heroes. John Chard was the lieutenant in the Royal Engineers who commanded a small force which successfully beat off repeated
-
Date
Embryo battle woman wins appeal bid
Natallie Evans, the Wiltshire woman fighting to save her frozen embryos from destruction and use them to have children, has won the right to take her case to the Court of Appeal. High Court judge Mr Justice Wall said in October last year that he had '
-
Date
Taiya's a special calendar girl
CALENDARS made by children in the education unit at Taunton's Musgrove Park Hospital raised £350 for the CLIC and Oak Ward units. The calendar was compiled by hospital teacher Jenny Fisher, who said: "Because the pictures were so colourful and attractive
-
Date
Another fine mess
FOOTBALL matches in Taunton face being abandoned on safety grounds because council-owned pitches are covered in dogs' mess. Thousands of children and adults, who use the Taunton Deane Council-owned pitches, are being put at risk, and football bosses are
-
Date
Iraq, Bosnia - but no home for ex-soldier
A FORMER soldier and his partner are living with five other family members in a three-bedroom house in Taunton. Fiona Young, 20, said her boyfriend, Adrian Ward, 32, now working as a driver, was led to believe they were entitled to jump the queue for
-
Date
New sex shop splits opinion
WHEN some people spoke about the tone being lowered in Taunton this week, they weren't exactly referring to the river running through the town centre. As the level of the River Tone rose after heavy rain, a storm of a different kind was brewing around
-
Date
Improvements to Totnes to Paignton road
Work starts on repairs to and resurfacing of sections of the A385 Totnes to Paignton road on Monday, 26th January. The improvements, expected to take seven weeks, involve repairs to sections of the foundations and resurfacing of a 2.5km or 1.5 mile stretch
-
Date
Inner harbour bridge closure
Torquay's inner harbour bridge is to be closed for up to three days this month, from Tuesday 20 January. The Living Coasts Marine Aviary is being closed between 10 and 26 January, and because of this Torbay Council is taking the opportunity to allow contractors
-
Date
An invite to biodiversity forum
People with a keen interest in conserving and enhancing the wildlife and habitats of North Devon are being invited to the North Devon Biodiversity Forum that looks at nature conservation issues within the area. The Forum meets every six months and is
-
Date
Antiques Railshow at the Museum
The Museum of Barnstaple & North Devon is joining up with members of the Lynton and Barnstaple Railway Association and other local enthusiasts to host a unique event. The 'Antiques Railshow' forms part of the North Devon Rail 150 celebrations of a
-
Date
Manager in secret talks to strengthen
TAUNTON Town boss Russell Musker is set to strengthen his troubled squad. Musker, one of the longest serving managers in the West Country, is hopeful of making a couple of signings before the weekend. He said last night: "I'm not naming names because
-
Date
Money rolls in from a peak performance
WELLINGTON firefighters who climbed three of Britain's highest peaks in a single day have handed over their final fund-raising total. The £1,349.78 cheque was presented to staff from the children's unit at Taunton's Musgrove Park Hospital on Tuesday evening
-
Date
Police on tour
A MOBILE police station is set to visit villages in the Wellington area next month. The Community Policing Unit calls at towns and villages in Somerset on six days a week. The unit's two full-time community contact officers, Denise Day and Anne Stoneham
-
Date
CREAM OF THE CROP
Top milk monitor Claire Anderson picked up an award for dishing out the healthy break time drink. The ten-year-old from Rockwell Green Primary School is pictured (left) with fellow pupils Ruth Skittrell and Darian Strawford. Claire was nominated by teachers
-
Date
McCoy to open Paddock Stand
CHAMPION jockey Tony McCoy will officially open the new owners, trainers and annual members' Paddock Stand at the next National Hunt meeting at Taunton next Thursday (writes Mike Allen). The building of the stand during last summer was the major part
-
Date
Ponting buzz at Somerset
THE signing of Ricky Ponting as one of the Cidermen's overseas players for 2004 is already having a considerable impact at the club. When the office at the County Ground reopened after Christmas the postbag was so full with membership applications that
-
Date
Graddon gets three-week ban
MINEHEAD veteran Keith Graddon has been suspended for 21 days by the Somerset FA's disciplinary committee (writes Barry Knott). Graddon, who can play almost anywhere, was sent off against Ilfracombe Town at the end of last year. He starts his ban on February
-
Date
Pilgrims waiting on defender
Plymouth are at home on Saturday and hope to get back to winning ways after their Grimsby 0-0 blip. Having won seven games on the trot the Pilgrims were held to a goalless draw by relegation threatened Grimsby. The only injury doubt that manager Paul
-
Date
Carol trains bring in cash
WEST Somerset Railway has raised £700 for the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance and St Margaret's Hospice thanks to its carol trains. In early December, the WSR operated two carol trains between Minehead and Williton and one between Bishops Lydeard and
-
Date
Major bid for more tourists
A WEST Somerset-based cultural celebration will be promoted nationwide in a bid to encourage more people to visit the district. Organisers of the third annual Moor 2 Shore arts and leisure festival plan to begin taking bookings for the September event
-
Date
Search on for 30 Redcoats
CALLING all wannabe Redcoats! Fancy working alongside Noddy, The Hulk or Billy Bear? The search is on for fresh new talent to don one of the most famous uniforms in the entertainment industry and razzle-dazzle holidaymakers at Butlins Minehead this summer
-
Date
School performance latest
THE Government has released performance tables for secondary schools across the country. To see how Bridgater's school's have done, pick up a copy of the Bridgwater Mercury on Tuesday.
-
Date
Hospital's foundation application approved
Health Secretary John Reid has approved a Devon hospital's application to become one of the country's first NHS Foundation Trusts. The Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital will now submit its application to the newly appointed independent regulator for Foundation
-
Date
Drug farm raid
SOPHISTICATED equipment capable of producing £40,000 worth of cannabis was discovered behind the doors of a chicken farm, at Oakfordbridge, near Bampton. Exeter Crown Court heard the "factory" was equipped with state-of the-art hydroponics powered by
-
Date
Devon In Touch hits the road
Instant access to a world of information comes to people living in Ipplepen, Topsham and Stokenham this week aboard a state-of-the-art vehicle specially-commissioned by Devon County Council. Equipped with the latest technology, the vehicle will give people
-
Date
Hospital's foundation application approved
Health Secretary John Reid has approved a Devon hospital's application to become one of the country's first NHS Foundation Trusts. The Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital will now submit its application to the newly appointed independent regulator for Foundation
-
Date
Banned Linden can play again
THE Somerset Football Association have lifted their suspension on title-chasing Sunday League soccer side Linden City. The Wellington-based club were banned from playing after failing to pay the fines of two players who were booked during matches. The
-
Date
Sheehan in search of new striker
WELLINGTON have put in seven days notice of approach for Chard Town striker Chris Luke. Wellington's manager Dave Sheehan said last night: "Luke impressed me when we played against Chard recently and it keeps competition going for places up front." However
-
Date
Flack is an injury worry
Exeter welcome back two players for their home game against Margate this Saturday - Goalkeeper James Bittner and Alex Jeannin. Bittner had his second Hereford red card quashed last week and will take the gloves back from 17-year-old Rookie Martin Rice
-
Date
Casting out the net
THE Environment Agency is looking for new members to serve on two of its key committees in the South-West. Nominations are being sought for the Regional Environment Protection Advisory Committee, which advises the agency on its performance and policy,
-
Date
Cricket star shares his time
SOMERSET cricketer Rob Turner has turned his safe wicket-keeping hands to stockbroking, writes Richard Walsh. Rob, 36, is spending the close season working slightly more than a six hit from Taunton's County Ground for Rowan Dartington in The Octagon,
-
Date
Free fruit for county students
CHILDREN in Somerset are set to join the one million youngsters receiving free fruit at school every day. The milestone has been achieved under the new National School Fruit Scheme, set up to promote healthy eating and tackle obesity. Almost 210,000 children
-
Date
Speed policy U-turn
COUNTY council transport bosses have been accused of wasting hundreds of thousands of pounds of taxpayers' money after the executive board rubber stamped a major U-turn on the authority's speed management policy. As reported in last week's Somerset County
-
Date
Posthumous bravery award for Good Samaritan
The mother of a Good Samaritan who was murdered when he tried to intervene in a row over a mobile phone in Bristol has received an award for his bravery. Liam Attwell, 25, was stabbed to death as he tried to help three teenage boys who were being robbed
-
Date
Bobsleigh backers needed for Norway challenge
A BOBSLEIGH team consisting of 15 Royal Navy and Royal Marine members needs help to reach the Inter-Service Championships in Norway this year. Lt Graham Stringer, the officer in charge of the Royal Navy Air Station Merryfield, Ilton, is appealing to any
-
Date
Next stop: the end of the earth
A TEAM of four staff from Taunton-based medical insurer WPA is in training to travel to the Magnetic North Pole. The group had time off from their Blackbrook office this week for a week-long training exercise on Exmoor, even though one of them will not
-
Date
Thieves right on time
THE mechanics of the historic turret clock in the stable block courtyard at Hestercombe have mysteriously disappeared. Hestercombe Gardens Trust chief executive Philip White has appealed for help in finding the £5,000 clock movement, which was in a cupboard
-
Date
Paedophile 'flew to US to meet fiancee'
A British paedophile from Plymouth arrested in the USA on a child sex charge told his UK neighbours he was flying out to visit a woman with whom he had an Internet romance, it has emerged. John David Michael Brewer was charged with entering the United
-
Date
Exam results
JUST under half of the students who took GCSEs at King Alfred School achieved five or more A*-C grades, whilst 90 per cent scored five or more A*-G, according to Government figures. The authorised absence rate among the 1,436 pupils was only 0.5 per cent
-
Date
New navy ship to leave port
One of the Royal Navy's newest ships is about to set sail from her Plymouth home port. The Survey Vessel HMS Echo is to leave Devonport Naval Base for the Gulf, where she will gather hydrographic data as part of the United Kingdom's continued support
-
Date
McCoy to open Paddock Stand
CHAMPION jockey Tony McCoy will officially open the new owners, trainers and annual members' Paddock Stand at the next National Hunt meeting at Taunton next Thursday (writes Mike Allen). The building of the stand during last summer was the major part
