A COMMUNITY hub in Radstock has been awarded part of a £128,000 fund for community projects in the local area that have a positive impact on the environment.

Selected alongside a solar farm in Compton Dando, The Trinity Hub Project will receive £56,000 in funding through the second round of the West of England Rural England Prosperity Fund.

The project aims to transform the former Trinity Methodist Church building, which had become redundant, into a vibrant community hub with a library, arts and cultural venue, café and a rental office accommodation.

The first phase will be completed in 2026 and includes works to improve the buildings energy efficiency, replace the roof, install rooftop solar panels and furnish the main hall.

This is not the first time that the project has gotten funding, as it also received a further £255,000 for building works and £28,500 for a community hub manager from the West of England’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund in a previous round of funding.

The Trinity Hub building is owned by Radstock Town Council.

More than £71,000 has been awarded to Fairy Hill Solar Farm at Compton Dando, a community solar project to generate clean energy, recycle money back into communities, improve biodiversity and enable local people to take greater control over energy.

The project has been developed by not-for-profit community business, Bath and West Community Energy (BWCE) in partnership with the local community.

The project is currently at the planning application stage.

The funding for both projects were awarded following successful bids made by Bath & North East Somerset Council after extensive partnership working with Radstock Town Council and BWCE to be ready to deliver the schemes.

Councillor Chris Dando, mayor of Radstock Town Council, said: “We are thrilled to see the phase 2 works proceed. Trinity has been a part of the community for over 120 years and thanks to funding and support will now continue to be a space for the whole community for the future.

“Radstock has outgrown the current community library space, which is great news, but to have a new large multi-use space really is incredible. This funding will really mean a huge difference for Radstock.”

Councillor Paul Roper, cabinet member for economic and cultural sustainable development, said: ““I’m proud that our Regeneration Team has been instrumental in making these fantastic partnership projects happen.

“The projects are excellent examples of how communities are enhancing their resilience and contributing to a more sustainable B&NES and I welcome this great news.”

These projects are funded by the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, which is managed by the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority.

Councillor Helen Godwin, mayor of the West of England, said: “It’s important that rural businesses and communities in our region are provided with more funding.

“Our regional authority is investing in projects across the West, working with the council to support productivity and prosperity in rural areas including here in North East Somerset.”