'Businesses are doomed if car parks built on'

BUSINESSES in Yeovil town centre "will not survive" if several key car parks are built upon, a local businessman has stated.

- DANIEL MUMBY Local democracy journalist

Somerset Council held a consultation over the summer on its new Yeovil town centre masterplan, which intends to deliver new homes, commercial space and local facilities on four prominent brownfield sites in the heart of the town.

The work is intended to build on the public realm and active travel improvements delivered under the Yeovil Refresh, along with the ongoing demolition of Glovers Walk.

But Tim Northcott, who runs OfficeWyse on Princes Street, has warned that buildings on the car parks would hurt the already fragile town centre, urging the council to "protect what is working".

The masterplan (which was funded by Homes England) identifies four key sites for development - namely:

■Court Ash and North Lane car parks (delivering between 50 and 60 flats)

■Glovers Walk (108 flats, a community centre and NHS hub)

■The former Wilko store on Middle Street (60 homes and a nursery or other community facility)

■Stars Lane car park and the Box Factory (between 80 and 90 homes)

Mr Northcott made his plea before a meeting of the council's planning and transport policy executive subcommittee on December 10.

He said: "As a business owner, I am speaking not only for my own business, but for the many independent traders at the top of the town, whose livelihoods depend on the North Lane and Court Ash car parks.

"Let me be direct: if these two car parks are redeveloped, many of our businesses will not survive.