The Chief Executive of Bath and North East Somerset Council has hailed the work of David Gillard and his family for developing a Business Park in Bishop Sutton, which now houses 14 tenants employing more than 100 people onsite.

After a recent tour of the site, Sophie Broadfield said: “I really enjoyed my visit and it was great to see the difference that this family owned business has made to employment opportunities in the local area. It's a real testament to their hard work that businesses have stayed and expanded on the site.”

David said: “I didn’t miss the chance to make the point about the importance of a strong rural economy and our ambitions for the future. She said she was impressed with what she had seen and very much agreed with what I had to say. She was also enthusiastic about our expansion plans and our aim to provide an even wider range of business space.”

Sophie, who is in her first year as Chief Executive, is making a point of travelling around the district to fully understand its varied places.

“Visits like this have really brought home to me the importance of the wide range of rural businesses we have in the Chew Valley, providing good jobs and economic opportunity across our area.”

“Bath and North East Somerset Council works for all our communities to make this a better place to live and work and so it has been important for me to hear from businesses in the Chew Valley as I come to understand the issues and what needs to be improved," she added.

Writing onling, David Gillard said: “With almost forty years of living in Bishop Sutton behind us, we look forward to playing our part in ensuring a long term sustainable and prosperous future for the whole area.”