Midsomer Norton’s Economic Regeneration could finally be kick-started as the Town Council prepares to enter into a jointly-funded project with B&NES Council.
The six-month project will see a specialist recruited, who will be based at the Town Hall, but appointed by B&NES, to progress the regeneration of sites identified in Midsomer Norton and to fulfil certain objectives.
These include initiating discussions with owners of retail properties in the central High Street core (Palladium/brewery site), with a commitment from them to redevelop their premises with support and to produce a strategy to move forward, investigating the cost.
The idea of a retail ‘anchor’ store, such as a supermarket, has also not been dropped, with the post involving revisiting plans for South Road, suggesting a way forward for the redevelopment of the area. The role will also involve looking at a car parking strategy and finding out the future plans of large landowners in the town, revisiting previous plans and reports and deciding what is still relevant, developing a delivery plan and strategy with funding available.
It was stressed that this initiative would not be just another thick report, like many before which have been produced. Cllr Myers said: “This is about empowering people on the ground to do something. People who own property and land need to be inspired and supported – it’s no good having grand schemes without the ability to achieve them and the essential backing. It’d be foolhardy to say this is guaranteed to get regeneration started, but we have to try.”
Both B&NES and Midsomer Norton Town Council will be contributing £25,000 each – however, this will not all be used solely on salary for the new post – it will also go towards supporting materials and other fees that may arise with the work being undertaken, such as land registry.