The President's View - September
Released On 28th Sep 2015
The melt-down predicted to arise from the Horsey Roundabout roadworks and closures, has largely failed to materialise. Thankfully; everyone, including the media remained positive, sending out a clear message that Yeovil is open for business.
The work is scheduled for completion in nine weeks’ time on 1st December. Chamber, in association with SSDC and the Love Yeovil Team will continue to lobby Somerset County Council Highways (SCCH) and monitor the situation. Subject to confirmation by SCCH, the closures will be lifted for the crucial retail weekend of 14th November which sees the Christmas Lights Switch On mark the start of the festive retail season. 
If your business can demonstrate a reduction in footfall during these disruptive road closures, please let me know, and I will pass this directly to my senior contacts at SCCH.
For the future, I will ensure that Chamber is regularly briefed by SCCH, in the same way as we are briefed quarterly by SSDC, in order to minimise future such disruption for our members.
Our 18 September South Somerset Digital Summit was a resounding success with over fifty delegates being briefed on the digital future, and a broadband roll-out update.
On 4th September Marcus Fysh MP attended his debut MP Question Time event, where 30 delegates were told to stand by for an announcement on business rates in the 2016 budget.
Chamber is about to launch a new membership campaign to attract smaller town centre traders. Historically, Chamber has failed to engage with this crucial sector of the retail/leisure business community. Town centre retail/leisure sector businesses have precious little time to attend our regular networking events, and their daily focus is understandably in and around their premises.
Our marketing team will soon be calling on eligible businesses with a flyer, and to explain how the Chamber can be of benefit.
If you have any issues you would like Chamber to know about, or take up on your behalf, please email or call me.
