A NEW drive has been launched to attract overseas investment to the Taunton area after a group of diplomats visited the county town.

The staff from London Embassies and the European Union were hosted by Gideon Amos, the Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate for the Taunton constituency, which also covers Wellington.

The delegation consisted of Dr Clemens Kohnen, from the Embassy of Germany; Jerzy Bockowski (Poland); Marijn Nordam (The Netherlands); Cristina Ruenes Marinas (Spain); and Marie-Laure de Bergh (delegation of the EU).

The group visited the UK Hydrographic Office, on Admiralty Way, on the outskirts of the town before attending a reception at The Castle Hotel attended by leading figures from local businesses, schools and a range of organisations.

The proprietor, Kit Chapman, welcomed guests and described Taunton as “the jewel of the West Country” and said it was “a great little town” with much to offer.

Mr Amos said that, when he received the offer to welcome the delegation to the town, he jumped at it.

He added: “This is a superb opportunity to showcase Taunton and the many fantastic things we have here.”

He said he was standing for Parliament at the next General Election “because I firmly believe we need a Member of Parliament who will go out and bring investment into our town and the surrounding area”.

Nick O’Donnell, chairman of Taunton and Wellington Liberal Democrats, led a debate in which a range of speakers told of the many benefits the county town could offer potential investors.

Subjects covered included education, commerce, sport and culture, farming, the charitable sector and the Taunton Garden Town scheme.

Speakers included business leaders and school and college heads.

Richard Holt, president of Taunton Chamber of Commerce, said the chamber represented more than 170 businesses in and around Taunton.

“The membership has doubled over the past two years with a trend in micro businesses starting up in the area," added Mr Holt.

“This shifting demographic indicates that the improved business support infrastructure, skill development support from local colleges and the great cultural offer locally has put Taunton at the top of the list as a choice destination to set up in business with all its obvious lifestyle benefits.”

Jim Claydon, the independent chairman of the Taunton Garden Town Delivery Board, said it was a Government-funded scheme which aimed to aid local authorities to provide new homes in a more sustainable and better designed environment.

He added that it drew its inspiration from the garden cities movement of the early 20th century for which the UK is internationally famous.

Mr Claydon also said Taunton was a centre for charities, hosting one of the offices of the Charity Commission.

He is also a board member of the Community Council for Somerset (CCS) – one of the largest of the 38 rural community councils in England.

“CCS brings together people and services across the county, supporting individuals through the provision of village agents, and helping service provision in communities such as advising village hall committees on their administration and energy efficiency and initiatives like Diverse Communities, which supports minority groups individually and collectively,” said Mr Claydon.

Somerset Council member Cllr Habib Farbahi suggested follow up visits from European business delegations to develop cooperation between local businesses and institutions in specific sectors such as research and development, education, transport, medical science, tourism and renewable energy.

"Our area has so much to offer from our education and skills to the quality of life,” he said.

“The UK education sector has an international reputation for producing top quality research with potential for industrial application and economic impact.

"We need to use local and central government intervention to help attract international inward investment in a sustainable way.

"Somerset has some of the best colleges and universities in the country and we want to work collaboratively to ensure that our future generation naturally choose Somerset as an ideal place to invest in but also to live, work and play in.”