Alert: Witnesses sought following assault in Street

We are appealing for witnesses to an assault near Street last month.

Officers performed a vehicle stop outside the village hall, in Meadow Lane, Walton, at around 5.20pm on Friday 17 January.

A male passenger made off on foot and was pursued by an officer.

At the junction of Broughton Close and Main Street, the suspect struck the officer across the face, causing her to fall and hit her head. Her injuries required hospital treatment.

He made off from the scene.

He is described as white, approximately 6ft tall, of medium build, and is thought to be in his late 30s. He was wearing a dark, hooded zip-up top, he was wearing a fluorescent yellow tabard and a T-shirt.

Two men, aged 35 and 36, were arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of class A drugs (cocaine). They have been released under investigation.

If you witnessed the incident, or have any information or relevant footage which could aid in our enquiries, please call us.

If you can help, please call 101 and give the call handler the reference number 5225014448, or complete our online appeals form.


Information on keeping you and your home safe can be found on the Neighbourhood Watch page.

Temporary Road Closure – Lovington Road, Lovington

Reference: ttro857034S   

Please be aware that we have received notification of a temporary road closure at Lovington Road, Lovington which will commence on 17th February 2025 and last for 3 days until 19th February 2025

These works are to enable Wessex Water to remove fire Hydrant.

The contractor has indicated that access for Emergency Services through the site is NOT permitted on this occasion.

For any further information about this closure please contact Wessex Water on 0345 600 4600, quoting reference: ttro857034S.

A map of the affected area (in red), together with the recommended diversion route (in purple/blue) is shown here, along with the link to One.Network, and the link for Notice 2 can be found here.

Temporary Road Closure – Cumnock Road and North Street, Castle Cary

Reference: ttro377691S   

Please be aware that we have received notification of a temporary road closure at Cumnock Road and North Street, Castle Cary which will commence on 17th February 2025 and last for 7 days until 23rd February 2025

These works are to enable Wales & West Utilities to upgrade gas main.

The contractor has indicated that access for Emergency Services through the site is NOT permitted on this occasion.

For any further information about this closure please contact Wales & West Utilities on 0800 912 2999, quoting reference: ttro377691S.

A map of the affected area (in red), together with the recommended diversion route (in purple/blue) is shown here, along with the link to One.Network, and the link for Notice 2 can be found here.

Alert: Do you recognise this vehicle?

We have reason to believe this van has been involved in rural crime across Somerset. The vehicle has now been seized by police however we need your help to track down who may have been using it.

Have you seen it in your local area? If so, please get in contact via 101 quoting 5224325444.


Information on keeping you and your home safe can be found on the Neighbourhood Watch page.

Online sessions to help people understand complexities of care planning

Somerset Council is holding a series of free, online webinars to help individuals plan care and support needs for themselves or those they care for.

These informative sessions aim to provide valuable insights and practical advice on navigating the complexities of care planning.

The webinars follow the success of the previous in-person event held in November, which saw positive feedback. The new sessions will be held via Microsoft Teams and in the evenings and are scheduled to begin on 27 January 2025 and continue throughout February, offering another opportunity for Somerset residents to gain essential knowledge and resources.

Topics covered will include understanding your care options, financial planning, and how to access local support services. Attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions and receive guidance from professionals in the field.

“The webinars are a fantastic resource for anyone looking to understand and plan for care needs, whether for themselves or their loved ones.

The positive response from our November in-person event has encouraged us to keep this momentum going, and we hope that holding the webinars online in January will encourage even more people to join.

No one wants to start thinking about financing care for themselves or the people they support, but it is a position that many of us will be faced with sooner or later. These online sessions aim to help the people of Somerset get the information that they need to make the best-informed decisions for their lives or for the lives of their loved ones.

I really encourage you to drop in if you can.”

Councillor Sarah Wakefield, Lead Member for Adults Services, Housing and Homelessness at Somerset Council

There will be a series of webinars taking place in the evenings between Monday, 27 January  and Thursday, 27 February 2025.

For those that cannot attend, the webinars will all be available online after the sessions take place.

Register for the free online-only events using the following links:

·    Monday 27 January, 6.30pm to 8pm, Wills & Lasting Power of Attorney: Managing an Individual’s Finances 

·    Tuesday 4 February, 6.30pm to 8pm, Financial Assessments for Care Funding 

·    Wednesday 12 February, 6.30pm to 7.15pm, Navigating Direct Payments 

·    Wednesday 12 February, 7.15pm to 8pm, Supporting the Armed Forces community in Somerset 

·    Thursday 27 February, 6.30pm to 7.15pm, Personalised Community Support for Carers in Somerset 

·    Thursday 27 February, 7.15pm to 8pm, Understanding how Adult Social Care works

Temporary Road Closure – REMINDER Wraxhall Hill and Fosse Way, East Pennard

Reference: ttro840538E   

Please be aware that we have received notification of a temporary road closure at Wraxhall Hill and Fosse Way, East Pennard which will commence on 03rd February 2025 and last for 12 nights (20:00 – 06:00) until 11th February 2025

These works are to enable Heidelberg to carry out resurfacing works on behalf of Somerset Highways.

The contractor has indicated that access for Emergency Services through the site is NOT permitted on this occasion.

For any further information about this closure please contact Somerset Highways on 0300 123 2224, quoting reference: ttro840538E.

A map of the affected area (in red), together with the recommended diversion route (in purple/blue) is shown here, along with the link to One.Network, and the link for Notice 2 can be found here.

Fire service consultation- Automatic Fire Alarms

Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service logo.
Right Response logo.
Tell us how we should respond to automatic fire alarms.
We responded to an average of 16 false alarms every day last year due to automatic fire alarms.
Read about out proposed changes and complete a short survey by visiting www.dsfire.gov.uk/about-us/AFA-consultation or scanning this code. A QR code follows.
The consultation closes at midday on Wednesday 9th April 2025.
Need information in a different format? Please call us on 01392 261287 or email rightresponse@dsfire.gov.uk

Our crews respond to an average of 16 false alarms every day due to automatic fire alarms, placing an unnecessary burden on the Service’s resources and our ability to be ready and available for genuine emergencies.

In the last five years, we have been alerted to more than 55,000 automatic fire alarms, out of which just 42 needed the hose reel jet from one of our fire engines, which is less than 0.08%.  

We’re looking to see how we can reduce the number of automatic fire alarms we attend to make our Service more efficient, and make sure our firefighters are able to respond to genuine emergencies.  

Chief Fire Officer Gavin Ellis said:

“We will always attend if someone has reported a sign of fire. We will also always attend domestic properties, such as houses, or where there is a known night-time sleeping risk.

I’m aware that any change to fire response can make people feel unsettled. Any change is only to what we will do in response to an automatic alert, not a report of a fire.”

More detailed information about the consultation, and a link to a public survey for feedback, is available on our website. There will also be opportunities to join focus groups to discuss the options.  

The information on the website sets out the reasons why we feel further change is needed and the options we are proposing to tackle the problem.

For further information, email rightresponse@dsfire.gov.uk or call 01392 261287.  

URGENT Road Closure: Wraxall Hill and Fosse Way, East Pennard

Reference: ttro903868E 

Please be aware that we have received notification of a TTRN (urgent) road closure at Foddington, Babcary which commenced on Wraxall Hill and Fosse Way, East Pennard which will commence on 13th January 2025 15th January 2025 (23:30 – 04:30) for a total of 2 nights

These works are to enable Kier to carry out drainage works on behalf of Somerset Highways.

The contractor has indicated that access for Emergency Services through the site is permitted.

For any further information about this closure please contact Somerset Highways on 0300 123 2224, quoting reference: ttro903868E.

A map of the affected area (in red), together with the recommended diversion route (in purple/blue) is shown on the One.Network website. Please note: this diversion route could be subject to change on review.