Discover Somerton’s Independent Spirit!
With a large number of independently-owned shops and small businesses, Discover Somerton’s primary aim is to promote our historic Somerset market town to a wider public. To increase tourism and advance the prosperity of Somerton and its businesses, foster a sense of pride and enhance the well-being of the community.
We also aim to provide support to the network of people who live, work and/or run businesses in Somerton and surrounding areas.
We will:
1. Develop and implement projects that will support existing businesses and trades.
How: the creation of the Discover Somerton website containing a local business directory, plus the creation of associated Discover Somerton social media pages. Creating and managing its ongoing content, maintenance and development. Supporting and promoting our existing businesses, thereby protecting the local economy, safeguarding jobs and enhancing the overall prosperity of the community.
2. Develop and implement projects that will enhance the attraction of the town to tourists.
How: Discover Somerton will promote Somerton and surrounding areas for weekends, holidays and days out, bringing in extra footfall and spending in the town. Thereby ensuring financial viability and stability for our local businesses, providing jobs for local people, increasing the prosperity of the community and enhancing the vibrancy of the town.
3. Develop and implement projects that will encourage new traders.
How: we will work to develop new opportunities for people, encouraging new businesses within a welcoming and supportive environment. This will encourage people to see a positive future in the town with viable job opportunities and a safe and stimulating environment in which to live and work. Attracting new people to move and live in the town, increasing overall prosperity and wellbeing, and enhancing community spirit.
4. Develop and implement projects that will enhance the environment, and increase the range of trades, services and activities available for the community.
How: in collaboration with other organisations, Discover Somerton will work to deliver an improved environment, safer streets, more choice in retail outlets and a wider range of activities in the town, all of which will encourage people to satisfy their retail, business and leisure needs locally. This will retain money within the local economy, increase local job opportunities and strengthen community spirit. It will also reduce the need for people to travel to distant urban centres and thereby reduce dependence on fossil fuels, reduce carbon footprint, enhance safety and air quality and increase resilience against rising fuel costs.
5. Work in collaborations with other organisations who share the same objectives.
How: Discover Somerton will collaborate with Somerton Town Council, voluntary organisations in the town, local businesses, local authorities, individuals in the community and other interested stakeholders. It will endeavour to act as a central repository of all ideas for the enhancement of the whole town, and to ensure that work is not needlessly duplicated and that all stakeholders share a common positive vision of the town’s future.
Any profits generated will be used to invest in further projects for the benefit of the community.
