Ever since apples were first grown on the fields of Taunton, Somerset’s county town has become a household name in the UK – and not just for its Blackthorn Cider and County Cricket Club. Taunton boasts a range of stunning landscapes as well as a long religious and military history dating back to a Saxon settlement on the banks of the River Tone. Its bustling high street is home to a handful of optical practices all looking to be part of the town’s tight-knit community feel.
‘Taunton is a lovely county town, you get a lot of people coming in from various backgrounds which provides for an eclectic mix – it’s a nice way to keep you alert,’ says Vision Express practice manager Angela Vann. ‘It’s a very healthy community and there’s such a wide variety of ages here. We even have a couple of ladies who are over 100.’
For Vann, it is the people that make Taunton a pleasure to work in, and the Vision Express store has had its fair share of interesting characters from celebrities to Lords and Ladies. ‘Our patients do tell some interesting stories, but of course I couldn’t possibly say what they were,’ she says.
One of the main challenges facing practices in the town is its rural landscape. Patients travel into Taunton from surrounding remote villages, yet this becomes a problem during adverse weather. ‘When we want to get glasses delivered, the weather can pose a challenge if there’s rain or snow. Luckily we have a lab on site so that makes the whole process quicker and reduces the number of visits patients have to make,’ Vann adds.
Taunton’s rural location can also cause recruitment problems for independent practices like Earlam and Christopher. Director Sarah Farrant (pictured) says: ‘From a workplace point of view, if you’re further south of Bristol it’s hard to recruit professional staff. We currently have 11 [staff members], but we are looking to expand as the business grows.’
Farrant, who co-owns the practice alongside her husband Edward, believes the success of the business is down to its clinical service. The practice offers a number of enhanced services, from myopia clinics for children to extensive glaucoma testing. ‘We stand out [against the multiples] because of our clinical service and investment in technology. We have the latest OCT and are always looking to expand our clinical service.’
According to Specsavers practice manager Nathan Burns, the best way to be successful in a town like Taunton is to engage with the community. He says: ‘Over the last few years we’ve partnered with local schools where we go and talk about a career in optics. We also have had work experience students come in.’
As for community eye care, Taunton residents are part of the acute community eye care service for Somerset (ACES), a scheme partially set up by Farrant. The service is designed for the assessment and treatment of recently occurring eye conditions.
Who's in town
Total: 6
Independents: 2
Multiples: 4
Average costs
Prices for an eye examination range from £15 to £50, averaging £31.
Population - see pie chart
Somerset: 529,972, Taunton: 64,621 (2011 Census)
Community eye care
According to the Locsu Atlas Map of Optical Variation, Somerset Local Optical Committee has secured contracts for NHS Somerset CCG in glaucoma repeat readings, OHT monitoring and a minor eye conditions service.
Health and affluence
- The average house price in Taunton is £205,755 (Rightmove, 2016) compared with an average of £216,750 for England and Wales (Land Registry, 2016).
- NHS expenditure on vision problems per person in Taunton Deane district is £111, compared with the UK average of £89 (RNIB Sight Loss Data Tool).
- There are 960 patients living in Taunton Deane with early stage wet AMD and 470 with dry AMD (RNIB).
- There are 1,470 people living in Taunton Deane who have cataract, 1,120 people with glaucoma and 7,820 with diabetes. Some 2,280 patients have diabetic retinopathy according to RNIB figures.
Fun facts
The town has a monastery dating back to the 10th century.
Business and Dragons’ Den star Deborah Meaden, pictured, and actress Jenny Agutter are both from Taunton.
Taunton was the first English town to have permanent electric street lights in 1881.
The first ever store of the multinational clothing retailer New Look opened in Taunton in 1969.
Neighbouring Bridgwater was the scene of the final battle of the Monmouth Rebellion against James II in 1685. It was the last pitch battle on English soil.