ONE YEAR AGO This week in 2014

  •  LACK of support, the internet and the recession were blamed for the closure of three Chard town centre shops.

The owners of the Wool ’n’ Craft shop in Pig Lane and Shoe Time and Chard Surplus in Holyrood Street said their businesses would close in the near future.

They said the internet and online shopping, along with a difficult time during the recession, had left them with no choice and warned Chard could be turned into a ghost town.

  •  A £1MILLION project to revamp facilities at a much-loved animal charity was set under way.

Ferne Animal Sanctuary in Wambrook launched its New Digs for Dogs appeal to raise the £500,000 needed for renovation work.

The scheme included plans for a new kennel block, improved grooming and veterinary care room, information hub, social unit, offices, reception and purpose-built re-homing centre.

TEN YEARS AGO This week in 2005  

  • CHARD and Ilminster’s community leaders claimed they were “picking up crumbs from the rich man’s plate” as council bosses splashed out £350,000 on a sports centre in Yeovil.

South Somerset District Council approved plans to revamp the Goldenstones leisure facility, enlarging the gym, improving the steam room and sauna, and creating a dance studio.

  • The mayors of Chard and Ilminster said the towns were missing out.n GRAND designs were on the cards for Ilminster Sports Club.

Members had tried for two years to get Ilminster Town Council’s backing to improve the clubhouse and give the town ‘something to be proud of.’ Councillors gave their support for a clubhouse to be built on town council land at the recreation ground in the hope vandals would be deterred from targeting the building and to offer a venue for social events.

15 YEARS AGO This week in 2000

  •  CHARD looked set to be given land for three new football pitches if a major housing development in the Mintons area received the goahead.

Included in the application was the longterm lease of about 12 acres of land from the Eames family to house three football pitches and associated facilities.

  • CALLS were made for a street sign to be put up at the entrance of Tudor Court in Chard after emergency services lost valuable time trying to find the development.

Residents were worried that if it happened again there could be life-threatening implications.