Over eighty residents of Welton and the surrounding area turned out in force to Welton Chapel last week to give their views on the future of the Welton Bag site.
Organised by the Welton Village Group, the evening opened with a brief history of the site, presented by Paul Myers, Mayor of Midsomer Norton, before reviewing three broad development options generated at a previous workshop last year.
The outcome from the discussion groups was a clear preference for a mixed development. This was broadly based on the reasoning that an all-employment option was not likely to be achievable and an all-housing scenario would exacerbate transport and general sustainability concerns. The Welton Village Group will now be considering the detailed feedback sheets generated by each group. Ruth Smith, Chair of the Welton Village Group, said: "We were delighted with the level of interest from local residents and grateful that representatives from the Town Council, B&NES Council and even the potential developers were able to attend. The group will now be able to develop a very clear position, based on the wishes of local
residents for inclusion in the Placemaking Plans."
Adam Pratt, from Bristol-based developer, Terrace Hill, who are working on a masterplan to regenerate the brownfield site, said: "The numbers need to stack up to enable any redevelopment to take place, so a food store and some houses will form part of our proposals. This will help fund a range of community benefits at the gateway to the High Street at Stones Cross and improved pedestrian links to the town centre."
The developer has also confirmed interest from three big- name retail operators in trading from the site.
Cllr Barry Macrae, (Cons., Midsomer Norton North), who has been calling for discussions regarding the site and has, in previous months, put forward his own ideas for development, said: "I welcome the fact that the Village Group took the initiative to organise this discussion and am delighted that they supported a mixed development. It is good to know that there is a strength of feeling concerning such an important site. I look forward to their continued support, so that we can get the best for this development in Welton."
This is just the beginning of what is likely to be a long process to see the Welton Bag site redeveloped and Welton Village Group have promised further public consultations as the planning process unfolds.