Quicksilver Community Group

04/03/2026

Last night members of QCG attended Yeovil Town Full council along with other members of the public as our town continues to put pressure on NHS Somerset and central government to reverse their decision to close the HASU unit at YDH.

The discussion last night was a proposal to investigate options for legal action against the closure of this essential service, in the knowledge of the clear detrimental impact this will have on those who suffer a stroke.

Yeovil Town Council fully supported the motion and an action was taken to source, cost and engage legal representation to understand the options for legal action.

Despite the huge opposition to this proposal and the legitimate concerns raised NHS Somerset continue to plough on regardless. But we the residents and the people who will be most affected continue to fight

The full details of this motion can be found here
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1E7abimqNJ/

18/01/2026

Can you spare a minute to help this campaign?

29/10/2025

Update on Yeovil Town Council – Finance & Policy Executive Committee Tuesday 28th October 2025

I can confirm that no vote was taken last night on the recommendations relating to the Public Works Loan Board (PWLB) repayments for the Octagon Theatre — including any proposal for precept increases.

Instead, the committee agreed with my proposal to continue the good work already undertaken by Council officers and to focus on identifying alternative funding sources and repayment options.

A working group will now be set up to review all potential options, both for how the project is funded and how any future loan could be repaid. There is a deadline for this work, as any loan would need to be submitted early next year, but I’ll be ensuring that every possible option is explored within those timeframes.

This doesn’t remove the possibility of a loan (which will happen it just depends how much) or a precept increase, but I remain committed to delivering the Octagon project in line with the consultation outcome, ensuring the theatre is reopened without additional cost burdens on Yeovil residents.

It’s also important to note that while this decision holds off any Octagon-related rise, next year’s precept will still increase due to inflation and staffing costs linked to the wider devolution process.

However, I’ll continue to press for a fairer division of these costs across the whole of Yeovil, and will keep pushing for this as long as I serve as your councillor.

21/10/2025

Please see today's response from Yeovil Town Council to Somerset Council in relation to their Yeovil Masterplan and specifically their proposal to sell off Town Centre Car Parks.

A great step forward but please if you a haven't already completed the two steps below

Add your name to the petition, please take a minute to do so here:
https://c.org/fbrTTZVvVD

Somerset Council’s public consultation is still open, and it’s vital that every resident, business owner, and visitor to Yeovil completes it to make their views known:
https://somersetcouncil.citizenspace.com/comms/yeovil-consultation/

19/10/2025

It’s Not Just About Three Car Parks…

Many people think the current Somerset Council Yeovil Masterplan only affects Stars Lane, Court Ash, and North Lane — but the truth is, the knock-on effects would be felt right across Yeovil and the surrounding communities.

Losing these key town-centre car parks would mean hundreds fewer spaces, pushing more cars into already-full or smaller car parks and creating parking problems for residents, shoppers, workers, and visitors throughout the town. It would also force more people to use higher-priced private car parks or conditional/limited time spaces such as at Tesco — reducing choice and convenience for everyone.

Less space means less accessibility, less convenience, and ultimately less footfall for the very shops, cafés, hotels, venues, and vital services — such as doctors, dentists, and Yeovil District Hospital — that the Masterplan claims to support.

That’s why we’re asking Somerset Council to remove the car park sell-offs from their plans and focus redevelopment where it will genuinely help Yeovil, not harm it.

👉 Please make sure you’ve done both of the following:
✅ Sign the petition: https://c.org/fbrTTZVvVD

✅ Complete the official consultation: https://somersetcouncil.citizenspace.com/comms/yeovil-consultation/

Please share this post so we can spread the word across Yeovil and nearby villages — this affects us all.

Can you spare a minute to help this campaign?

19/10/2025

Save Yeovil’s Town Centre Car Parks – Have Your Say!

Many of you have already signed the petition calling on Somerset Council to remove the proposals to sell or redevelop the Stars Lane, Court Ash and North Lane car parks from the Yeovil Masterplan. Thank you — your support really matters.

If you haven’t yet added your name, please take a minute to do so here:
https://c.org/fbrTTZVvVD

Somerset Council’s public consultation is still open, and it’s vital that every resident, business owner, and visitor to Yeovil completes it to make their views known:
https://somersetcouncil.citizenspace.com/comms/yeovil-consultation/

These car parks aren’t “spare land” — they are essential to keeping Yeovil’s shops, cafés, restaurants, hotels and leisure venues accessible for everyone.

I’m also working with fellow councillors to formally raise Yeovil Town Council’s objection to these proposals, so that our collective voice is heard clearly at Somerset Council.

Please share this post so we reach as many people as possible across Yeovil and the surrounding villages.

Together, we can protect the spaces that keep our town centre alive.

10/10/2025

08/10/2025

UPDATE: Yeovil Town Council strengthens its stance on Stroke Unit closure

As mentioned QCG were at last night’s Yeovil Town Council meeting where members debated a motion calling for a renewed appeal to the Secretary of State for Health to reconsider the closure of Yeovil District Hospital’s Hyper Acute Stroke Unit (HASU). NHS Somerset

During the meeting, our local MP Adam Dance (seemed to) confirm that his second formal call-in request to the Health Secretary had unfortunately been rejected.

In response, Independents Tareth Casey Independent Councillor for Yeovil - Westland Ward and Adrian Wilkes - Yeovil Independents successfully proposed an amendment to strengthen the Council’s position.

The amended motion, which was approved, now commits Yeovil Town Council to: Submit a new, stronger call-in request referencing the latest evidence with an option to then Investigate potential legal proceedings to challenge the process and decision that led to the planned closure.

This is a significant step forward and the strongest response we have had from our council to date. It demonstrates that concern about the impact of this decision, on patients, travel times, and emergency care across South Somerset, continues to grow at every level of local representation.

Quicksilver Community Group will continue to work alongside councillors, local clinicians, and residents to ensure that the voices of South Somerset are heard before it’s too late.

If you haven’t yet done so, please sign and share our petition:
https://chng.it/YMfbxDDhYT

We’ve now reached over 12,000 supporters, and every signature strengthens our call for fair and safe healthcare for Yeovil and beyond.

We will continue to fight this decision, until all options have been exhausted.

Save Yeovil's Hyper-Acute / Acute Stroke Care Services

08/10/2025

On a different note, one of the QCG founding members is undertaking fundraising for a great cause, Dementia UK. Please take a few minutes (and a little cash) to support him.

Hi there, This October, I’m walking 62 miles for Dementia UK – a cause close to my heart. Just £10 could pay for the telephone costs of two families calling its free Dementia Helpline, so any support would be appreciated. Thank you so much!

08/10/2025

Quicksilver Community Group Statement – Yeovil Town Car Parks

Members of Quicksilver Community Group attended Yeovil Town Council last night and would like to confirm our strong opposition to the proposed sell-off by Somerset Council of several Yeovil town centre car parks for redevelopment into residential properties.

We want to make clear that we fully support the principle of regenerating Glovers Walk and the former Wilko site, both of which are long-term vacant and in need of investment. However, the proposal to remove essential car parks such as Stars Lane, Court Ash, and North Lane directly undermines the Yeovil Masterplan’s stated aim of revitalising Yeovil’s retail and leisure economy.

Removing these key parking areas will seriously impact existing local businesses, reduce visitor access, and make it far harder for people from surrounding towns and villages to continue coming into Yeovil to shop, eat, and enjoy our town.

This is an issue that affects all of South Somerset and areas of Dorset, not just Yeovil residents — and we’re asking neighbouring communities to stand with us in opposing this short-sighted plan.

✅ Two simple ways you can help:

Sign and share the local petition – created by Yeovil businesses to highlight the impact this proposal will have on our town:
https://chng.it/fbrTTZVvVD
(Please note: Change may prompt for a donation — this is optional and can be skipped.)

Respond to Somerset Council Yeovil Masterplan consultation – Select Glovers Walk/Wilko as your first preference for redevelopment, leave other options blank, and use the free-text boxes on following pages to make clear your objection to any sale or redevelopment of town centre car parks.
https://somersetcouncil.citizenspace.com/comms/yeovil-consultation/

Together, we can ensure Yeovil remains accessible, welcoming, and open for everyone.