Today's most viewed
| CHARD NEWS |  | | | | ILMINSTER NEWS | | | | | CREWKERNE NEWS | | | SPORT | | | | WHAT'S ON | | | | READER COMPETITION | | |
|
|
|
Transformation of town centre?
 |
| An artist's impression of the Boden Mill site |
SPECULATION is mounting that a major announcement is soon to be made that will go some way to changing the face of Chard town centre.
Sources have told the News that an agreement has nearly been reached to redevelop the Boden Mill and ACI factory site in the heart of Chard.
The project has been in the pipe-line for a number of years in which successful air movement firm ACI and South Somerset District Council intend to transform the three-acre area, which includes the towering Grade Two listed Boden Mill, into a shopping, eating and residential complex.
One source told the News that the development will be "one of the biggest things to ever happen to the town centre".
Only this month the district council's powerful District Executive committee met in private session to discuss the latest news and it is understood that officers have virtually struck a funding agreement with the South West Regional Develop-ment Agency for the exciting project to proceed.
And a council report said: "It was resolved that the purchase of the site be approved, subject to the confirmation of all legal agreements, with a view to the redevelopment of the site as a key element in the regeneration of Chard.
"This purchase is to be completed using funding provided by a third party.
"It was also agreed that the council's solicitor be instructed to work with the third party's solicitors to en-sure the purchase of the site by March 31, 2008, and to complete a funding agreement."
It is hoped that the development combined with attractive public open spaces, new public toilets and car parking will form an attractive extension to the town centre.
Members of the council's Area West committee were last week given an update in closed session ahead of its public meeting on Wed-nesday.
A spokesman for ACI contacted the News last week and said they would be happy to give an official comment once a formal announcement had been made by the council in the next few weeks.
9:02am Wednesday 26th March 2008
Print 
Email this 
CommentPosted by: Linda Parsons, chard on 7:16am Sat 29 Mar 08
It would be nice to see the chard town centre transformed, but I think it is a shame that prime sites in the town are being swallowed up by chartity shops and fast food shops. gone are the days when we had the good shops like Autins, Parhams, and the co-op selling all types of goods, this is what the town needs again. One has to travel to taunton for anything other than food shopping.
It would be nice to see the chard town centre transformed, but I think it is a shame that prime sites in the town are being swallowed up by chartity shops and fast food shops. gone are the days when we had the good shops like Autins, Parhams, and the co-op selling all types of goods, this is what the town needs again. One has to travel to taunton for anything other than food shopping.
What are these links for?
If you liked this article and would like to share it with others on the web who might be searching for good content we've made it easy for you to do it.
At the bottom of all articles, you'll see links to six sites. These sites - commonly called 'social bookmark' or 'social news' sites - have large communities of web users who share and rate interesting, useful and fun things on the web.
Clicking the links will automatically add the address of the story you are reading to one of these sites, letting you share it with others. Each site will ask you to register to share stories. Registration is free and once a member, you can store, recommend and search for stories that interest you.
More on Digg
More on del.icio.us
More on Furl
More on reddit
More on NowPublic/
More on Yahoo!
