On Monday evening this week, Midsomer Norton Town Council voted to apply for Purple Flag Accreditation in its next step to improve and promote the town centre at night.
The Purple Flag is a scheme that, similarly to the flags you would see that tell you about the quality of beaches, indicate that a town centre is also a safe and enjoyable place to visit at night. The Town Council hope that this will encourage more people back into the town in the evenings, building on the work that has already been carried out with various community events, such as the cinema and music evenings at the Town Hall.
In turn, this accreditation may increase business opportunities and tourism within the town, once the scheme is up and running. It will also enable the Town Council to build on its current work with the Community Alcohol Partnership (CAP), which has seen the introduction of Street Marshals into town in the evenings and the Designated Public Place Order, which makes it an offence to consume alcohol on the streets of Midsomer Norton. Upgrading CCTV in the town still remains a top priority, as is providing bodycams for the Street Marshals, plus the launch of the Street Pastors initiative, which will take place this weekend (more to come on this in next week's Journal).
A recent overnight CAP audit, which saw a visit from the Police and Crime Commissioner, reported a 'vast improvement' in the town's nightlife since last August and the Town Council is keen to continue the momentum.
Speaking at the meeting, Cllr Linda Dunford, who has been heavily involved with all of the initiatives to clean up Midsomer Norton's night- time environment, said: "The wide range of recent initiatives, including the Arts Programme, community cinema, Street Marshals and Designated Public Place Order have all had a remarkably positive effect on Midsomer Norton town centre in the evenings.
"Taking part in the Purple Flag scheme will enable us to build on this success and develop the town's night-time economy even further to benefit not just Midsomer Norton, but residents across the whole Somer Valley. This will not just be a rubber-stamping exercise to say we have a status."
The scheme runs in a two-year cycle, which costs £1,500 in its first year and £500 for its 'lighter touch' second year, and will involve several visits to the town by experts giving guidance, spot checks and advice on how to improve the town's overall ambience and appeal of its night-time economy.
The Town Council voted to review the scheme after the first two years to assess the benefits of joining and to see what changes it has brought to the town. Purple Flag also hold an events week, which promotes night-time economy and is due to run this year from 21st – 29th September.
Other business at the meeting included the forthcoming Civic Service on Sunday, 20th June to be held at Somervale School and hosted by Welton Baptist Church, the forthcoming Midsomer Norton Awards and the launch of the Community Trust on 24th June, at the Town Hall, 7 p.m., and the Twinning Association's Garden Party, due to be held on 28th July prior to the visit to Ambarès-et-Lagrave on 18th August.
The Town Council will also be looking to adopt Articles for the Town Trust, so that leases and green spaces that are acquired for the town, such as the Catholic Church garden, can be put into a trust, which will manage the assets. In future, the trust may be looking to enlist the help of volunteers or local groups to help archive books, documents and photographs for the town.