Chard Future Vision

Client: South Somerset District Council

Partners: PER Consulting

Place: Chard, Somerset

The community need

South Somerset District Council wanted to develop a 15-year strategy for Chard that recognised recent investments in a new leisure centre and Heritage Action Zone. The town was adjusting to the economic shocks caused by some major employers closing, while at the same time trying to maximise the value of large businesses such as Numatic, the manufacturer of the Henry vacuum cleaner.

The Future Chard Strategy was to take a long-term, holistic view, setting out a clear pathway for social, economic and community well-being, consistent with the overarching council plan and vision for South Somerset. While the strategy needed to take a spatial approach to the town and likely urban extensions, the council was also keen to:

• Include proposals for reskilling people

• Tell the story of a modern-day Chard

• Encourage young people to stay in the area.

A key challenge for the project was the proposed local government reorganisation in Somerset. As a result, we needed to take a sensitive approach when talking to district and county council officers about aligning services. We also needed to consider the town council's role in relation to community assets and a community partnership.

What I did

I worked for PER Consulting as the strategy’s lead consultant for community and stakeholder engagement.

We carried out the study in early 2021, as the UK was coming out of the second Covid-19 lockdown. This meant we couldn't use indoor spaces and I needed to adapt my approach to make sure I could still engage as many people as possible. The methods I used included:

• A walk and talk around the town

• A workshop in a local park

• Conversations with parents and guardians at the school gate

• A drop-in session outside the town's guildhall

• An online survey

• A series of interactive community webinars.

The outcome

At the end of the six-month commission, we produced a vision, strategy and action plan, supported by a social and economic baseline report and framework for a community partnership.

Our work also helped the district council identify opportunities for collaboration and maximise the value of its place-based investment.