Street Pastors will be walking the streets of Midsomer Norton to assist late night revellers this weekend, with the group now having finished their training. The 26-strong team are all unpaid volunteers from local churches in the area. The project was officially launched last Saturday evening with a Commissioning Service at the Town Hall, led by Rev. Christopher Chiplin.
"Our aim is to play our part in making the High Street safer during the night," said Julian Sheppard, Co-ordinator of Midsomer Norton Street Pastors.
"We hope that many parents and grandparents will be pleased we are out on the streets of Midsomer Norton on a Friday and Saturday night between the hours of
10 p.m. and 3 a.m.
"All the volunteers endeavour to care and help those in difficulties and to help others to enjoy themselves and get home safely. They are there to listen and be of assistance to people who may need help.
"The Street Pastors will patrol in threes and besides these, there are 24 Prayer Pastors who will be supporting the Street Pastors during the same hours, making a total of fifty, all intending to make the High Street a safer place."
Speaking to The Journal this week, Paul Myers, Mayor of Midsomer Norton, said: "The Street Pastor initiative has a crucial role to play in helping to rejuvenate Midsomer Norton town centre as somewhere the whole community can come and enjoy.
"It complements perfectly other community initiatives, ranging from the Street Marshals, the DPPO and Purple Flag, led by the Community Alcohol Partnership, through to the Community Cinema and Arts Programme, which encourage people to spend their leisure time in the town centre."
Much of these changes to Midsomer Norton's nightlife have been brought about through the Community Alcohol Partnership, launched last July.