I suggested to the Independent Group that this decision be ‘called in’ because I sensed another sell off of the family silver, and the problem with disposing of our residents’ resources, is that the Council only benefits once, and loses the potential for income generation in future. From the officers’ report, it seems the premises have been neglected, that modernisation and refurbishment would not be cost effective, and that business needs have changed since the centre was created in 2004. It is portrayed as a misplaced subsidy, a white elephant.

Planning, planning policy and economic development are all about context, and this is partly where the decision is mistaken. The site is not 25 minutes’ walk from both Radstock and Norton. It might take me 25 minutes, but I am disabled. It is (still) on a bus route, but more to the point it lies on the Greenway cycle track, and ten minutes along the Urban Park has you at the Somer Centre, and another 10 into Westfield.

It is far better connected than Old Mills or the proposed 54 industrial units in Langley Lane, Paulton. Active Travel? Please take that seriously

The Local Plan Policy Update, and other Council policies require developers to take account of the Climate Emergency. Yet this administration is proposing to build units or permit development on greenfield, not only encouraging urban sprawl but causing ecological damage and increasing traffic in narrow lanes to dangerous levels. Without prejudge to any planning application, I would like to say that Gordon Brown’s government had it right, brownfield development should take precedence. And if the SVEZ and Langley’s Lane are viable propositions, surely this site could be.

This area is 'white van' man country. Small businesses face terrible rising costs. Surely this site could be made to work, and in so doing there would be a chance to reduce out-commuting and thus our carbon footprint. There is no mention in the report of the high speed broadband problems in the Somer Valley. At the very least providing decent IT would boost economic development.

Finally, the shortage of office accommodation is so acute that when Westfield Parish Council needed to find new offices, all we could do was make plans to build our own block.

 I am a Tenant; resident and the centre is in my Ward.

The business centre has been in Midsomer Norton for around 30 years.

In that time provided much needed affordable serviced office space primarily for new and small businesses office space for up to 20 businesses. 

This has been hugely successful, that is until 5 years ago when BANES council decided to manage the business centre themselves, since this: 

• No new tenants have been permitted to move in
• No marketing of the available offices
• No response to potential tenants requests

• No Impact assessment on local economy or business needs
• No assessment against our climate emergency policy goals
• No assessment of post-pandemic office space and hotdesking needs
• No attempt to find a provider to continue the service (including myself)

Management of the centre under the business and skills department has been disastrous as they clearly lack both the experience and skills to manage service office space.

Through the aggressive approach taken by property services during recent months several offices have been vacated however there are plenty of companies looking for space, these seem to have been ignored. 

There is huge demand locally and little available, I have been trying to buy industrial space locally for years without success as the majority of premises are owned by a couple of large property landlords and investment companies.

The result is as local companies evolve or expand they are forced to move the businesses out of BANES to areas such as Bristol, and of course they take the job opportunities with them.

For businesses like Divine healthcare currently a tenant this is a big problem as they need to be close the elderly residents they support. 

The new Somer Valley Enterprise Zone and newly proposed 51 unit industrial estate further demonstrate the huge demand however they are up to 10 years away from being functional. 

So what is BANES commitment to support business in the interim? The answer is simply nothing!

You claim to have a climate emergency agenda but force residents and businesses to commute out of the area. 

You put investment as a barrier? which is surprising as in my 28 years here the tenants have been happy with the current level and simply need affordable functional no frills office space.

For decades BANES have consistently neglected the business needs of the Midsomer Norton area and only now that you’ve covered your industrial areas in Bath with apartments, nursing homes and student accommodation have you started to consider the Somer Valley, we need a more considered approach to supporting employment in our region.