Gideon's MP Column

Taunton has proven itself incredibly resilient to trends towards online shopping which has hollowed out so many other town centres.

Despite a few recent closures, our town and its businesses continue to grow. But Government policy has devastated the retail, hospitality and leisure sector; they need to change course and do so now. 

In December, I spoke in the House of Commons about how Taunton was defying the odds, with new shops and bars opening. 

A few months later I'm delighted this trend continues with Ebisu Express moving into the Orchard Centre, Recover Wellness into the Independent Quarter, and the Coal Orchard pub under new management. 

Walking past the Crown and Sceptre on Station Road as I returned home from Parliament recently, I saw how its coming back to life is playing a key role in creating what's now a formidable line up in that part of town. The Ale House and The Plough – both of which picked up awards from Somerset Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) recently – sit alongside delicious restaurants like Mattancherry, Turmeric Kitchen and Maliha and Taj, to name a few.

Footfall statistics for week 16 of the year, up 4.6% from the same week last year, show that thanks to the ingenuity and hard work of local people, and the good work being done to promote the town, we are now on an exciting upward trend after a slow start to the year.

I am grateful to everyone who invests in our local centres, creating the jobs we need as well as places for our community to enjoy themselves. I will continue my efforts to bring that kind of investment here from wherever it may come.

Let's use Somerset Day this Monday, May 11, to celebrate our county town for everything it has to offer, and to encourage people to visit, frequent our shops and visit our restaurants, cafés, pubs and bars – without them we have no town.

I'd like to pay tribute to all those community litter pickers who do so much keep Taunton and Wellington tidy and I'm grateful to my councillor colleagues who have arranged for the Community Payback Team to spruce up our footpaths and public spaces. Sometimes it is the small things that matter when it comes to how towns are perceived. 

Despite this success, I am deeply worried that, if the Government does not change course, we will suffer. Indeed, any one of the recent closures is one too many. 

I recently surveyed local businesses across retail, hospitality and personal services and they're feeling the squeeze from several angles.

I’ve heard from 24 businesses in Taunton who are facing business rates increases, with half facing rises over 25% - these are not small figures.

As the owner of a popular café in the town centre put it: "High running costs are crippling us even though we are busy."

Two key things stood out - the impact of recent business rate rises, and the continued effect of the National Insurance increase for employers, brought in by the Labour Government. Back in 2024, when the Government announced the NI increase, the negative impacts this would have on small businesses were immediately clear to me.

Eighteen months later, local employers have told me that is exactly what’s happened, with this from one Taunton shop owner: “Turnover and employment taxes are the biggest challenge – every cost added to employment makes the next hire less likely.”

Hearing from small businesses really helps me put a spotlight on the fact that the Government does not understand how our local Taunton and Wellington economy works, which is baffling, given Labour does have some rural MPs.

I recently met with Mike Lind, Director of Monkton Elm Garden Centre, to discuss the ongoing impacts of rate rises after I raised it in Parliament.

Faced with hundreds of thousands of pounds of extra costs each year as a direct result of the Government, Monkton Elm will not be able to invest in the business, its facilities, or workforce, as it has done previously with its £1.5 million restaurant refurbishment.

I will continue to work to bring investment into Taunton and Wellington and will be attending the UK Real Estate Investment and Infrastructure Forum later this month to do just that.

And, at every opportunity, I will continue to challenge the Government on its policy.

If any businesses would like to share their experiences, please do get in touch with me at OfficeofGideonAmos@parliament.uk