Background & Economy

Pictures Courtesy of West Somerset District Council

Watchet and Williton are small neighbouring towns in the tourism area of West Somerset. Watchet is on the coast and boasts a recently regenerated harbour marina and both towns have stations on the West Somerset Steam Railway. Tourism plays an important role in West Somerset and Watchet and Williton are affected by the strength of the industry. This area is predominantly an area of micro businesses, but notable large employers include the St Regis Paper Company and West Somerset District Council.

Watchet and Williton each have a regeneration partnership developing an action plan, which feeds into the West Somerset Community Plan. Both towns are tackling the generic economic problems which are common to West Somerset. There is a relatively poor road network, an economic structure slanted towards low growth, a weak IT sector, a lower skilled workforce, limited over-16 education available, low economic activity, barriers to the workforce in accessing training, a limited supply of land and premises.

The area needs to strive for a more diverse economy, particularly through the provision of better paid jobs and better communications.

The baseline analysis for Watchet and Williton identified:

• 12% employment losses between 1998 and 2002
• Low economic activity levels
• 50% of jobs in the towns’ larger businesses (employing 50+ staff) are in declining sectors
• Low proportion of employment in increasing sectors
• High rates of unemployment
• Very strong seasonal unemployment
• Large proportion of unemployment is 50+ age group and long term unemployed