Earlier this week, I arrived in Yeovil’s town centre just as a building was being demolished. Watching an excavator effortlessly tear down walls like a child knocking over a sandcastle, it was clear that the town is in the midst of dramatic change.
Further along Middle Street, a barricaded construction zone buzzed with workers persevering under the hot sun. The Triangle, a new pedestrianised area at the heart of Yeovil’s £24 million Yeovil Refresh project, featured a silent jumbotron screen and an idle water feature, symbols of an ambitious plan to revive the town.
Led by Somerset Council, the Yeovil Refresh initiative seeks to transform the town’s fortunes by expanding green spaces, creating jobs, boosting tourism activities, increasing town centre residences, and making the town more walkable and inviting.
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The Triangle now boasts an amphitheatre-style entertainment space, art installations, and an impressive large screen. Other phases include redeveloping Glovers Walk and improving road networks and pedestrian access.
Change, however, is proving frustrating for some locals. One resident lamented, “People are a bit annoyed about this scaffolding being up so bloody long!”
Yeovil is undoubtedly in need of a boost. The popular Number 11 bus service was recently cut, homelessness remains a growing concern, and services at Yeovil Hospital have been hit hard. The Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU) and inpatient maternity services were temporarily closed due to serious safety concerns, with the care trust citing inability to operate under current conditions. Earlier this year, the Care Quality Commission demanded “significant improvement.” Additionally, the reopening of the Octagon Theatre has been repeatedly delayed. To compound the town’s worries, Yeovil experiences a crime rate 68% higher than the regional average.
Yet, Yeovil also holds the distinction of being the most affordable place to buy property in Somerset last year. This affordability speaks to struggles as well as opportunity, offering a glimmer of hope amid the difficulties.
Locals’ views on the town couldn’t be more different. Steff, 26, a bartender living in Yeovil for a decade, describes the town as “a bit dead” and calls it “a ghost town.” In contrast, David, 52, who lives a few miles away but visits daily, describes Yeovil as “just so nice” and “the place to be” for peace and quiet. He praises the regeneration efforts but admits disappointment that the water feature hasn’t yet operated.
When asked why property prices stay so low, both Steff and David pointed to the town’s challenges—“Because nobody wants to live here,” Steff said; David added, “Because people might not want to live down the side of a dirty alleyway.”
Will the Yeovil Refresh project reverse these perceptions and make Yeovil a more popular place to live, work, and visit? Time will tell.
On my way home, a cloud of dust from the construction site drifted along Middle Street, causing pedestrians to grimace and shield their faces. Change is underway, but true transformation is rarely swift or easy. Whether Yeovil’s ambitious project will ultimately pay off remains an open question.