Dear Editor,

On Thursday, November 27, I attended the long-anticipated reopening - or as it turned out a partial reopening of Midsomer Norton Town Hall, a building that has remained closed for a significant time. While many residents hoped for a triumphant return, the visit left me with a sobering lesson: a public building is only ever as good as the clarity of the architect’s brief.

From the moment I stepped into the lower hall, it became clear that the design process had been far from straightforward. Visitors were handed forms asking how they would like the hall to be used — a question that surely should have been asked before the architects produced their plans. As a result, we are now faced with a space that seems to answer questions no-one had yet asked.

The hall features several puzzling choices. The lead-coloured neon lighting gives an oddly clinical feel, and the wall materials — though undoubtedly expensive — bear little relation to the historic character of the building. The tiled floor, meanwhile, is perhaps the most concerning of all. It generates a sharp, echoing resonance that makes me doubt whether any musical performance will be enjoyable in that environment. What is wrong with wood? Even with a crowd in the room, a simple hand-clap produced a noticeable echo. What will it sound like when the hall is empty?

The practicalities of running events also raise questions. Any music night needs a bar, yet the one provided — tucked into what feels more like a cupboard — seems suitable only for tea and coffee, not a busy interval crowd. The hall could be used for an indoor market, but it may well be smaller than the outdoor area currently used for the monthly market. And realistically, Midsomer Norton is not large enough to sustain a daily market.

The space also feels unsuitable for talks or lectures. With no ante-room, the front door opens straight onto the street, making late arrivals both inevitable and intrusive. Weddings, too, would struggle to feel comfortable in a hall that lacks warmth, coherence, and adequate facilities.

Overall, the result feels more like a “dog’s dinner” than a revitalised public asset — too resonant for concerts, only partially appropriate for talks, limited for weddings, and potentially cramped for markets. One cannot help but wonder: what was the vision behind this renovation?

If there is a lesson here, it is that consultation and planning must take place before the work is done, not afterwards. Midsomer Norton deserves a town hall that reflects its character, meets its needs, and genuinely serves the community. Sadly, what we have instead feels like a costly missed opportunity.

Brian Snellgrove

Midsomer Norton

Dear Editor,

Yes, it is that time of the year again and whether you are approaching the Christmas season with eager anticipation or being dragged kicking and screaming by enthusiastic family members , it is once again on the way. As I am writing this it is still November, but as you are reading it we will be into December, the month where it all began a long, long time ago in a far off land.

I would like to share with you one of my own memories of the lighter side of Christmas. An amusing anecdote was from the sitcom, The Vicar of Dibley. During their Christmas preparations, they staged their own Nativity and Mary was played by the extremely pregnant Verger, Alice. As the show progressed Alice appeared to be producing an Oscar winning performance of Mary giving birth, much to the delight of the cast and audience. It shortly transpired that Alice was in fact in labour and eventually gave birth to her first born child. After a few moments of awe and wonder she naively asked the Vicar whether she had in fact given birth to Jesus, whence came the reply "No Alice, she's a girl.” They don’t make them like that anymore!

This brings me rather neatly to the actual events which took place all those years ago involving a teenage virgin named Mary, and her fiancé Joseph, embarking on an epic journey from their place of residence to their own town of Bethlehem, as they had been decreed to do. Mary was heavily pregnant and had to undertake this journey of several days on a donkey. As a mother myself I cannot imagine anything more frightening or, indeed, uncomfortable! Upon reaching their destination, there was no room for them to stay so she was shown to a stable where her little baby boy was born. Again, no gas and air, drugs or medical intervention. Yikes! Divine intervention must surely have played a huge part.

This year, at St Nicholas Church in Radstock, we are hosting a Nativity Festival to show what Christmas really means to us. This will take place on Friday, December 12, from 2pm to 5pm, Saturday, December 13, from 10am to 2pm, ending with a service on Sunday, December 14, at 10.30am. We have lots of Nativity scenes by local schools, organisations and groups, as well as our own personal ones. There will be activities and crafts for the children, a raffle and refreshments. So if you fancy some time out from the hustle and busyness of the upcoming month come and join us for some tranquillity and peace in our local church where ,once again, we are celebrating the true meaning of Christmas.

Carol May

St Nicholas Church, Radstock

Dear Editor,

Another year and another "climate catastrophe" junket has allowed the glib to take the gullible for a smugly righteous ride.

Fifty-thousand politicians, activists, civil servants, media and professional glad-handers have found their way into the Amazon forests to save the planet. Cutting down thousands of trees to build a four lane highway to speed delegates to and from the event was a necessary evil and evicting local residents and eliminating their livelihoods is for the greater good.

Ed Milliband thought it was so important he went twice racking up 24,000 of the wicked air miles that he wants to increase taxes on for those lesser mortals who actually pay for their tickets.

While China, India and the US were noticeably absent, the UK proudly sent around 500 devotees to reinforce our collective virtue, and commitment to destroying jobs and businesses with crippling energy prices, a sacrifice worth making to those protected by and wedded to the public sector.

No matter that tens of thousands of small business owners aware working all hours and worrying about paying wages and ever increasing taxes and National Insurance, it only matters that we reduce the less than half percent of global Co2 emissions we currently emit. Will that make a difference or is it just the latest must have cause celebre? My prayer for today is this; Lord save and protect us from our saviours, Amen.

On a less controversial topic I would like to applaud Shandy Udell, Carol Hillman and friends who regularly raise funds for charities and provide entertainment for elderly residents in Paulton, a marvellous effort by all involved.

Yours sincerely,

Terry Nicholas

Midsomer Norton