Midsomer Norton Town Council’s dream of having a Town Park, making use of twenty acres of land for the community, is now a step closer after planning permission was granted last week by B&NES Council for a 35-home development at nearby Wheeler’s Road, thus allowing the purchase of the land by the Town Council to proceed.
However, the Town Council has come under criticism by being involved with a developer in such a way, but has defended its position, maintaining everything has been carried out openly and using the correct channels, suggesting that had this land not been purchased (costing £64,000), the park the town has been talking about for forty years could have all been sold off for housing in future or left to stand empty and overgrown. It hopes that its plans can be gradually fulfilled using Section 106 money for green spaces which could link up to Westfield and Radstock, providing a space for the whole of the local community.
The Town Council also refuted claims that it was too involved with the developer, stating the Planning Committee responded to B&NES Council on the application with comments only on parking, ecology and drainage and did not support or object to the application on advice from the Town Clerk, with these meetings held in public.
Five previous planning applications for different developments have come before the Town Council’s Planning Committee from the developer, Flower and Hayes, with their record being three recommendations for refusal, one supported and one objection.
A spokesperson for the Town Council said this week: “The Town Park has been in the Local Plan since 2007 and the Town Council has been planning to create a park since it was formed in 2011.
“The land was offered for purchase informally to start with, but the Council resolved to appoint solicitors in November 2013. Since then, all correspondence has been through the solicitor, apart from updates on progress of the respective planning applications for the development and the Council’s change of use for the Town Park land.
“The original draft contract offered by Flower and Hayes’ solicitors was reviewed by the Town Council solicitors and the final version contained a considerable amount of amendments to safeguard the Town Council’s position on the proposed land purchase.”
Planning will now begin in earnest for the park, with a consultation expected. All eyes are on the progress of the Wetherspoons planning application that has been delayed, with questions being raised about the economic future of the town.