A SOMERSET town has made the shortlist in a poll of the ‘most depressing towns in Britain’.
The poll, conducted by ilivehere.co.uk, seeks to find a place “where you just exist rather than live” – and Yeovil is among the finalists.
Also in Somerset, the city of Wells makes the list, while Dorset is represented by Poole.
Elsewhere, the site features scathing town reviews; including one calling Sherborne “deranged”, and another who said, in Weymouth, “every day is like a Sunday”.
But a spokesperson for Visit Somerset defended Yeovil.
“Situated in the heart of Somerset and surrounded by outstanding countryside and coastline, Yeovil is a vibrant market town currently undergoing significant transformation,” they said.
“Well connected by the A30 and A37, and serviced by two rail stations and two international airports within an hour’s drive of Bristol and Exeter, Yeovil is much bigger and more bustling than it might first appear.
“With entertainment venues, a country park, its own football club, a host of leisure, retail and sports facilities as well as home to British Helicopters, the current regeneration of the town centre, the Yeovil Refresh, is an exciting and ambitious development for residents, businesses and visitors alike.”
Photo: Google.
READ MORE: Buses and taxis to return to Yeovil town centre this week
And Cllr Ros Wyke – lead member for economic development, planning and assets at Somerset Council – said: “Yeovil is rich in heritage, with an active economy known for its exceptional glove-making and today, as the home of British Helicopter manufacturer, Leonardo Helicopters.
“Far from being ‘depressing’, the town is well on its way to becoming a thriving commercial, tourist and residential centre.
“Enhancements to the town’s public realm, the communal spaces and streets where people congregate and move, its transport links into the town centre and other major development sites, are seeing sustainable investment in Yeovil and its future for the enjoyment and benefit of all.”
For more information about Yeovil and things to do, head to www.visitsomerset.co.uk and to vote for your “most depressing town”, visit www.ilivehere.co.uk.
No gloving any more Pittards closed last year last gloving business in Yeovil now Somerset County Council have decided to cut funding for the running track hockey courts crazy golf also putting out to contractors up keep of the beautiful ground which last year won an award for best kept grounds Mudford Reck is a fantastic area for all sorts of people and the users are absolutely disgusted at this decision we don’t have anything here in Yeovil to draw people here Yeovil use to be a lovely market town now it’s full of empty shops the councils over the years have ruined this once lovely town
I agree wholeheartedly I have lived here with wife and family for 40 years and Yeovil is the most depressing town to live in what shops we have are coffee shops betting shops barbers telephone shops no women’s outlet no men’s for the bigger size man or shoe shops for the bigger size man is there any wonder why people now shop on line because Yeovil is dying because of our councillors who do not live in the real world except Taunton.
I can’t see see the point of all the money and time spent on all the redevelopment work in the town centre, just to bring people to all the empty stores. Used to travel in to shop here weekly but no longer.
I have lived in Yeovil for 73 years except for 2 years in London and I can assure Cllr Ros Wyke that Yeovil WAS a thriving commercial tourist and residential town until it was absolutely ruined over the last few years. For example a Relief road that cut the town in two not to mention the farce of the new measures to make the town more attractive. I feel these measures have led to people going to other towns to shop
Yeovil sadly is the victim of poor financial management. Over the top number of traffic lights fitted. Now a pavement thats cost millions that looks like the last one. The Octagon theatre being held to random over unnecessary developments. Green belt is being torn up on the outskirts when the cattle market (prime real estate!) has been left to rot and lays undeveloped.
The people who own the Quedam are doing to fantastic job trying to rejuvenate it & bring customers back but the council side of the high street is like a shanty town.
Now the Athletics track is being closed, affecting hundreds of children health and well being. Something is very wrong at the council. The council do not care for the town or community.
I lived close to Yeovil for 9 years and worked there. An absolute dump.
Hate the place.
What “transport links into town” – is this a joke? The bus service is infrequent and expensive there is no train station in town, Yeovil Junction is a 2 mile drive on a road with no pavement for walking or bike track.. joke and when you get there parking is v.expensive at a station in the middle of nowhere