In a surprise turn of events, plans to transform Midsomer Norton Town Hall were approved by Councillors on the B&NES Development Control Committee in Bath last week – despite officer recommendation for refusal.

The B&NES Conservation Officer had objected to plans to take out the mezzanine floor at the Town Hall in order to reinstate the original 1860s Market Hall and build a new service extension at the rear. The sticking point had been the scale of the rear extension, large enough to accommodate improved storage space, catering facilities and new offices, along with the loss of some later features like a 1906 pine staircase. The Victorian Society, whilst supporting the application, also had some concerns.

There was, however, support for the application from bodies including Historic England, the Town Council and forty members of the community who had written in.

Local Midsomer Norton Town and B&NES Councillors, backed by representatives from the Midsomer Norton Community Trust and the new NYC Youth Club, made a spirited series of speeches in support of the application. Arguments focused on the need to balance protecting the building's heritage, whilst ensuring that it was also sustainable and could continue to serve the needs of the community into the future. In the end, speakers in favour won the backing of Councillors to go against the officer's recommendation and the application was approved.

"However much we all love the Town Hall, anyone who uses it on a regular basis is only too aware of the challenges faced in using a building with little or no storage space, limited kitchen facilities and the rather idiosyncratic system of stairs, corridors and three entrances, said Paul Myers, Mayor of Midsomer Norton and Secretary of the Sarah Ann Trust, which has run the building for the last thirty years. "As it is, we are now in a position to move forward to the next stage on this important regeneration project for Midsomer Norton."

The greatest challenge will now be that of raising the funding for the transformation of the Town Hall. It is estimated that this will take a minimum of two years, but it will certainly be an easier task for volunteers, now that there is a planning approval under their belt.