I am pleased to announce as I told BBC Somerset this morning, that Yeovil constituency has been selected as one of 50 areas to progress to the next stage of access to the Government’s new Future High Streets Fund, which I have lobbied for us to be part of.
This means up to £150k now for work with Government on the various regeneration plans and proposals such as for Cattle Market, the bus station and Stars Lane, and better access and parking for the town, which could then access a share of the main £675m fund, maybe as much as £10m. Along with the recent 33% discount on business rates for those with rateable value of £51k or less which I successfully lobbied for, this can be a great boost for Yeovil town centre, as well as potentially for Chard regeneration which was part of the bid.
Yeovil and Chard have a great future with vibrant industries like Leonardo, skills development like new T levels and the Institute of Technology at Yeovil College , and infrastructure improvements like A303 corridor dualling. This is now an opportunity to have town centres to match.