Residents and members of local community groups in Radstock came together on Monday evening to share their experiences or issues, ask questions and receive updates on projects in the town.

One of these issues is funding for Southfields Recreation Ground. A year ago, Radstock Town Football Club presented a document to the Town Council, hoping to develop the recreation ground alongside them, inspired by the help Welton Rovers had received from the new Midsomer Norton Town Council in helping with lease issues and making more of the facilities.

The club reports that nothing has happened since and on Monday evening asked the Town Council about a bank account that holds funds for the upkeep of various assets, which has not been accessed since the break-up of the old Norton Radstock Town Council and as a result, had been closed.

After a lot of hard work, Midsomer Norton Town Council managed to access the funds it needed in support of Welton Rovers and West Clewes, but so far, Radstock has been unsuccessful. It was explained that efforts had been made to try and reopen the account, but that it has proven very difficult to track down the original trustees, (some of whom have now passed away), and will need to go through certain steps to reopen the account and release the funds. However, the previous Norton Radstock Town Council meeting minutes from 2010 suggest that the four Trust Bank Accounts for West Clewes, Westhill Recreation Ground, Norton Hill Recreation Ground and Radstock Recreation Ground were supposed to be closed, with balances transferred to the Town Council account.

Whilst the club may feel frustrated at the lack of response it has received, it may be encouraged by the Council’s annual report, which suggests that the Town Council’s Parks and Open Spaces Working Group will be looking to work with Big Local to plan a refurbishment of the Southfields Recreation area. The football club’s original document, ‘Upping the Game’, proposes improvements to its floodlighting system, enclosing the ground to create an arena, a new dressing room complex, incorporating a treatment room, laundry, changing rooms and public toilets, improved spectator facilities, the creation of an artificial surface jogging track, an outdoor gym and multi-use games area for a variety of sports.

The plan by the club was to access grants from sources such as Sport England and to work alongside the Town Council to make the project happen.

Residents at Monday evening’s meeting were also concerned about the upkeep of the Memorial Gardens in the town, with a management plan for the space due to be looked at. Other issues included flooding of the new link road and parking.

The Tom Huyton play park is due to be refurbished later in the summer, with parents complaining about the park’s decline reported previously in The Journal. There was a reflection on the many events taking place within the town, including last year’s DNA arts projects, the Christmas Light event, Radstock Prom and activities at Victoria Hall. Radstock In Bloom were thanked for helping to keep the town tidy and for its floral displays, with Westfield Councillor, Eleanor Jackson, revealing that this year’s effort will be in tribute to the Queen’s 90th Birthday, with colours of red, white and blue.

There was also a discussion around bringing the Clandown allotments back to use. The Town Council will be writing to Curo to see if a site meeting can be held to encourage this space to be brought back to life, enabling families and children to grow their own food.

The benefits of Twinning were also discussed, having been approached by Lancon-Provence, in Southern France.

In the annual report, Cllr Mike Boulton, Chair of Radstock Town Council, said: “I am pleased that we have had such a positive year and I would like to thank my colleagues and the community for the support we have enjoyed. We are conscious that we still have a long way to go and we are aware that there have been difficulties experienced in the town. The NRR development, which included the reorganisation of the road layout and the Wessex Water pipe laying created problems for residents, traders and visitors. The Town Council will continue to support the community in seeking resolutions to outstanding issues.”