Radstock Town Council has a new Chair for the 2017/18 year with fellow Town Councillors voting Keith Tyrrell, Writhlington Ward Councillor, into the top spot. Rupert Bevan (Radstock centre ward) was voted on as Vice-Chair to support him.

Last week’s meeting began with a minute’s silence in memory of the victims of the Manchester bombing, before making their way through the agenda.

Councillors heard from a local family, who asked the Town Council to reconsider its decision to recommend the refusal of a planning application for a conservatory, which would allow them to extend their home.

The young family had had to downsize for financial reasons, and desperately needed to add some space to their cramped home. Cllr Tyrrell said that he had looked at the site in detail and urged fellow Councillors to overturn their original decision, which they duly did.

Cllr Shearn reported that the visit from the Leader of B&NES Council, Tim Warren, had gone well, and that he hoped it heralded the beginning of better relations with the two Councils, to work together more positively and coherently on issues such as parking, and the proposed new Doctor’s Surgery for the town.

The meeting also heard from local dentist, Tony Reed, who asked for support in helping him to find new premises within Radstock. Like Hope House, he is keen to make sure the business remains in the town to help benefit local people, but it also needs to be accessible. His current lease provided by the Co-op ends in five years’ time and so the search has begun to make sure another vital health service is not lost.

Councillors also put forward suggestions for street names for the final Radstock Regeneration site, Area One, which is currently being constructed along Frome Road.

Four apartment blocks are being built, with ideas put forward to reflect the industrial heritage of the town. Councillors liked the idea of the blocks being called ‘Courts’, with ideas such as Marcroft Court, Great Western Way, Brunel Court and others, which will now be passed on to the developer and B&NES.

Members also discussed at length the current Bidwell Metals planning application for 29 new dwellings at Chapel Road, Clandown, and heard from concerned residents.

Cllr Bruce Shearn said that whilst he was in favour of the development of brownfield sites, this particular area was “a non-starter,” because of the extra movement of vehicles and access. Cllr Chris Dando said that it was essential the Town Council now finishes its Neighbourhood Plan, which identifies sites for development within Radstock. The Town Council unanimously rejected the proposal, which goes forward to B&NES Council for a final decision.

Other planning proposals included asking for comments on the enlargement of St Nicholas’ Primary School. Whilst the decision has already been made by B&NES, Councillors expressed their concern at parking and school drop-off and pick-up difficulties. Cllr Mike Boulton appealed for parents to drop children off ‘sensibly’ and not to let car doors be opened onto the road, but directly onto the pavement instead. He said that HGVs using the road to get to the Haydon Industrial Estate was making the situation potentially very dangerous.

Finally, the re-siting of the Doctor’s Surgery in the town also provided another debate, with arguments still raging about flood plains on the sites already looked at and other sites being proposed. Cllr Chris Dando rejected the idea of finding alternative sites that have not already been put forward, and said that B&NES Council should be held accountable for the current Library and Children’s Centre site, the future of which the Local Authority is, at present, being very quiet about. He said: “Let’s not give B&NES an excuse not to do the right thing. Looking at other sites gives them a way out. This land should be redeveloped, not sell it off and leave Radstock in trouble.”