Official notice of the submission of Radstock's regeneration plans was announced to the press at the end of last week, following the public consultation held back in May. With the recent £1 million windfall to help build the new link road, which will run past the Victoria Hall from Frome Road, the scheme, which has often stalled over the years, now seems to be gathering pace. The planning application, which aims to rejuvenate the town centre of Radstock with up to 210 new homes, retail space and the restoration of the Brunel Shed, was received by B&NES Council from the Norton Radstock Regeneration Company in June.

Both the Council and NRR maintain that the development of these seventeen acres of former railway land for housing, commercial buildings and open space is desperately needed for the town, despite long-running opposition by some, who have seen the scheme hit many pitfalls over the years.

In a statement this week, Amanda Leon, speaking on behalf of Radstock Action Group, who have always challenged the plans, said: "The key aspect of this whole unwanted scheme is that the latest application, like all its predecessors, simply fails to address the fact that local people have, time and again, said that they do not want this scheme, which will do absolutely nothing for the town's regeneration.

"It will lead to more traffic, more pollution and the loss of a central amenity, which should be regarded as an asset to be redeveloped, so as to enable the reinstatement of the railway and the preservation of open space for the use of the community."

Last Tuesday, four members of RAG travelled to Poynton, in Cheshire, which is visited by people from all over the country who are interested in its 'shared space scheme', which mixes pedestrians and traffic, making each more aware of the other. Shared spaces have wider pavements and narrower lanes for vehicles, encouraging traffic to slow down and for a constant stream of movement to take place at low speeds, rather than stop-starting and gridlock. RAG are calling on B&NES to suspend current thinking on the proposals and look at Poynton as an example of how congested town centres can be managed.

Commenting on its latest move, Cate Le Grice-Mack, Chair of the Norton Radstock Regeneration Company, said: "This planning application has been made following close working with the Council and our preferred development partner, Linden Homes, and is based on careful consideration of the need to support a strong commercial centre, as well as planning for improved access within and through the town.

"While the seventeen acres occupies only a relatively small part of the town, we are aware of the role that this development will play in supporting the future of Radstock. Alongside the mix of housing, significant amounts of office space will support the creation of new jobs. Since our original permission was granted, a number of factors have changed, followed by further consultation.

"We have listened very carefully to what local people have to say about what they want for the future of their town. The new application takes these on board and is designed to support safe access to the Colliers Way and National Cycle Network routes, while providing pedestrian access, both within and outside the development through wider pavements and traffic calming.

"Nearly half the site will remain undeveloped and we remain committed to supporting mixed regeneration uses, access to the old line to Frome for walking, cycling and, hopefully, one day, light rail use."

With the submission of the plans, the Leader of B&NES Council, Councillor Paul Crossley (Lib-Dem, Southdown), said: "These are exciting times for Radstock residents. At every town event I attend, there is a feeling of gaining momentum towards achieving this regeneration project that will deliver new homes, jobs and more opportunities for people's leisure time. The project is more than bricks and mortar, it is about supporting a better quality of life for local people."

The full planning application can be found on the Council's website, reference 13/02436/EOUT. The consultation period expires on 22nd July, with a target decision date of 11th October 2013.

Work has also now begun on the refurbishment of the Victoria Hall. Building contractors, Emery, have now taken control of the site and the overhaul will be complete towards the end of the year, although part of the building will open before that time for the future leaseholder, the Susan Hill School of Dance, to operate.

Paul Crossley said: "We are already making cracking progress on delivering this important project to pump fresh blood into the heart of Radstock. People can see that the Council is getting on with the job of rejuvenating Victoria Hall into a facility where the community can rightly feel proud.

"The works taking place are for the long-term future of the building, regardless of its leaseholder or use."

When not in use as a dance studio, it must be available for hire for community use and the lessee will maximise community use with a target of twenty hours per week, subject to demand from the community.