The government in Westminster has made life hard for small businesses recently and the Council has sat back and watched shops close and unemployment rise.
We want to encourage local businesses to thrive, not tax them to the hilt and smother them in red tape. It should be an achievable aspiration to set up and run a business and the Council can support people who wish to take that step.
Our shops and restaurants are at the heart of the community and while public transport isn't up to scratch and people rely on their cars, we need to increase the amount of time people can park without having to move, and cut parking charges to zero wherever possible.
We would also like to see more community events, such as a possible Cheddar Cheese Festival, as well as an increase in tourism.
The Conservatives have always been the Party of business and growth and when in power, Somerset Conservatives built 10 new enterprise centres.
Under the current administration, growth has stalled. We want to light the fire again - not with quangos or talking shops, but with actual proper investment in the High Street and our business communities, to bring the jobs and growth to our area once again.
