Midsomer Norton Town Council celebrated its third birthday on Monday evening at the Town Hall with its Annual Town Meeting, which was well attended by local residents and community groups.
The Town Council looked back over a productive year, which has seen an arts programme of events now up and running through the Midsomer Norton Community Trust, local phoneboxes due to be renovated and resited, national work with the Community Alcohol Partnership and defibrillators installed in the town, the first at West Clewes and the second due to be fitted opposite the Town Hall on the wall of Barons Estate Agent on 19th May.
The biggest challenge the town has been facing of late is the many and well-documented planning applications that have been submitted within the town. Cllr Jane Lewis explained that the Town Council is, "Taking opportunities as they come to get involved in the local planning process," and that the Town's Placemaking Plan has been called 'outstanding' by the B&NES officer responsible. She said: "We are doing everything we can and we are ahead of the game on this one." The Town Council hopes to have its placemaking strategy in place in the next twelve months. Current sites include Monger Lane, which was lost at appeal, Fosseway Gardens (awaiting appeal decision), Boxbury Hill (due to go to appeal) and decisions pending on land at Thicketmead/Northmead. Cllr Lewis thanked the public for being so involved with local hearings and said that they were working closely with neighbouring Councils, rather than pushing problems elsewhere.
Cllr Steve Plumley spoke about the town's environment, thanking the contractors who keep the flower displays blooming all year. He also revealed plans for Midsomer Norton to enter In Bloom this year, with ten local groups taking part, overseen by the contractor. Last year, the town won the Gold Pennant award, after being entered anonymously.
Cllr Linda Dunford also spoke about the work of the Community Alcohol Partnership and praised the work of the Street Marshals and Street Pastors. The Town Council spends £17,000 a year on the Town Marshals and reported that, "Incidents are reducing steadily and behaviour changing considerably". Cllr Dunford said that in the first six weeks of the initiative, the Street Marshals had dealt with 61 incidents and in the last six weeks had dealt with two, reporting a 38% reduction in crime from March 2013–14 and 55% reduction in antisocial behaviour.
It is hoped that the Youth Council elections will take place in the summer, with anyone aged between 11–18, who would like to represent the young people of the town, to get in touch with Sara Box via the Town Council. The Town Council is also working on a tourist information leaflet for the town to encourage visitors.
Aspirations for the Town Park, which is now at the stage of two outline planning applications, were also discussed to capitalise on Midsomer Norton's wild space. The Council also hopes to install information boards to the river railings about the plants and wildlife that can be found there.
The Town Council also reported that its finances are in good condition, with a budget for 2014–15 of £340,000 and that reserves are being grown for major projects, such as the Town Park, and plans to reinstate the 1860s Market Hall by refurbishing the Town Hall and breathing new life back into the ground floor of the building.
Many paid tribute to the dedication of the town's Mayor at the meeting. Cllr Plumley said: "All projects need leadership and vision and I'd like to thank Paul Myers, whose dedication and hours spent on numerous projects are an inspiration to us all. Without him, this town would not be the same. How many Mayors do you see on a Sunday morning in waders pulling out weeds in the river or working late into the night at the Town Hall on the next project?"