It is with regret and sadness that members have decided to close the Radstock Residents’ Association after more than forty years in which the Association worked to maintain, safeguard and improve the local environment.

The RRA was founded in 1978 as a non-political action group and has been involved with councils, development organisations and others to ensure that the interests of the people of Radstock were not ignored.

The RRA has only had two Chairmen, who have each been crucial in making it an effective force. Both were local men who believed in public service. Ray Inchley was the first, and led the group until his untimely death in an accident.

Brian Perrett then took over, and remained the Chair until he died earlier this year. They each were active leaders, making sure that the RRA was always ready and willing to get involved on small and large matters of concern. These have ranged from things such as streetlamp problems and hedges being out of control, to major issues such as the development of the town.

In the late 1980s, the Association was involved in the fight to prevent Wansdyke Council selling off local parks, and for many years it has had representatives – firstly, Ian Taylor and then Catherine Inchley Whybrow – on the Norton Radstock Regeneration group, performing vital work on behalf of local people.

The members had a Special Meeting recently, at which they decided to close the Association, as the deaths of its Chairman, Brian, and later in the year, Catherine, had left the membership too small to continue to function effectively.

They also decided that the Association’s funds would be divided up between three local groups that work with young people in the area. These are Radstock Scouts, Radstock Girls’ Brigade and the Youth Section of the Midsomer Norton and Radstock Silver Band.

Each of these have been sent a cheque for £277.