Somerset Scooters has taken up residence in the vacant Wellington Boots shop in Lancer Court.

Richard Slater's scooter business was based in the neighbouring premises, and he was in the market to upsize when the shoe shop closed down.

Mr Slater, 43, has been in the scooter business for around 20 years, and follows in the footsteps of his father who owned scooter shops in the South East. He said:

“I’ve been next-door since 2020 and here for the past couple of weeks. 

“I’ve been in the business for a while, I worked for my dad for 20 years and he’s been in the business since 1988. He worked in the Essex area and my step mother has a shop in Brighton."

Mr Slater had been trading from 6 Lancer Court since 2020, having moved to the area 10 years ago after meeting his now wife on a weekend away in the town. But success has seen Mr Slater's stock expand, which has put a squeeze on space in the smaller store. He said:

“There wasn’t enough space next door, it was a nightmare trying to get the scooters in and out and then this place came up. I was considering taking on both actually but I think this one will be enough for me actually."

Somerset Scooters may be set to expand further, with Mr Slater considering opening up a second shop:

“I considered knocking the wall through but it's extra rates, extra money. But I am thinking about opening another shop somewhere else."

Mr Slater encouraged residents to visit his new premises - which will soon get a fresh lick of paint and a new sign above the door:

“I have a bit of painting to do, I’m going to get some wood flooring down and get my sign up, the Wellington Boots sign still has to come down. “I do everything, scooters, wheelchairs, powerchairs, beds, I have been doing it for 20 odd years and I like to think I a petty good at it and I must be doing something right. “I do things the right way round and try and help as many people as I can, whether that is with cost or doing adjustments for free and things like that, I try and help out.”