THE new head of planning issues in Chard has vowed to “sort out”

the town and encourage the emergence of the long-awaited Chard Regeneration Scheme.

Last week, Cllr Brennie Halse was appointed as chairman of Chard Town Council’s Planning and Highways committee.

She was nominated to take on the role given her experience of dealing with planning issues as a retiring district councillor, having narrowly missed out to Jason Baker in the Holyrood ward.

A number of big decisions over the development of Chard are due to be taken in the coming months, and Cllr Halse told the News her committee will be a very active one.

At the meeting she said: “I will be delighted to take on the role of Planning and Highways chairman.

“We are really going to sort out Chard and get the Chard Regeneration Scheme rolling and make sure all the big housing developments are going to be in the right place and the best thing for Chard.

“Any councillors who are not on the committee are going to be really jealous of all the good work we are going to be doing.”

Discussions about the £20million project to rejuvenate the centre of the town are now well underway.

The 3.5-acre development of the former ACI/Boden Mill site is expected to bring a 45,000 sq ft supermarket, four shops, an underground car park, homes and a venue for public events, as well as generating up to 320 jobs in the town.