Town Hall all set for modern makeover?

The transformation of the Town Hall, in Midsomer Norton, by reinstating the original ground floor Market Hall and building a rear service extension, has moved a step closer this week with the submission of a planning application to Bath and North East Somerset Council.

Interestingly, conservation advice from B&NES has required the new extension to be markedly different from the original 1860s Italianate building, so a striking contemporary design has been submitted. There is a lot more to the design of the new building than the appearance of the extension in the alley to the rear. It will provide a modern compliant fire escape alongside critical additional kitchen and bar space, as well as office space for the Town Council. This, in turn, will free up much-needed storage space for the range of equipment required to support the diverse range of activities in the building, from exercise classes to classical concerts and from toddlers groups to the regular film screenings. It is hoped that the rooms in the new building will be named to celebrate notable public figures from the town's history.

The project follows on from earlier concepts sponsored by David Wilson Homes and subsequently developed using funds from Cllr Chris Watt's Ward Councillor Initiative – both initially managed by the Sarah Ann Trust. The latest phase has been made possible by a successful application for a grant from the Homes and Community Agency by the Midsomer Norton Town Trust, supported by the Midsomer Norton Community Trust. They then commissioned an architect to develop a design, built up through consultation, which will enable the building to provide community groups with improved facilities for their meetings and activities and the running of events for the benefit of the town.

The Town Trust says it will also be seeking to gain widespread commitment from the community, both by supporting the planning application and in joining with the Trust to help make the Town Hall a real community asset for the town. Negotiations are still continuing between the Town Council and B&NES Council to reach agreement on the terms of a long lease for the building under the Community Asset Transfer programme.

If successful with its application to B&NES, the Town Trust will set about raising the funds to make the transformation happen through a range of sources.