Following a decision by Midsomer Norton Town Council at its meeting on 6th February, work will start this month to create an events space in the Town Park which will initially be used to host part of the Town Fayre in July 2017. The event, held in the summer, will also host a public consultation over the final design for the park.

The work signals the start of a much bigger project to create the park in a joint programme, supported by Bath and North East Somerset Council. At this stage it will involve clearing small trees and scrub, which will be just inside the entrance of the park, by the Somer Centre. It is hoped that construction work will begin late in 2017 or early 2018 when planning permission will be sought.

The new events space will be of a temporary nature, but could be capable of being used for other events. It may be

enhanced further if the final design confirms this location for events space and then it is likely the Town Council will seek to include some utilities to allow water and power to be used – which would then be subject to various permissions.

The Project Steering Group, led by the Town Council in partnership with B&NES Officers, is managing the development of an initial plan. Part of this will be engagement with a range of stakeholders, including neighbouring Councils across the Somer Valley and into Mendip, before the public event. The plan will also take in to account the diverse ecology of the land, its suitability for various uses and the needs of a range of potential users and groups. The heritage of the site will also influence the final design, which will seek to connect communities in Radstock and Westfield by linking with existing footpaths and cycle routes.

Since purchasing the land in 2016, work has been restricted due to the ecological sensitivity of the site and securing developer contributions to fund the work. By taking a broad and inclusive approach, it is hoped that the final design should meet the needs both of the surrounding communities and the town itself.

Town Mayor, Cllr Paul Myers, welcomed this important milestone. He said: “Taking forward such a big project has been a real

challenge. It’s great that we have been able to work with B&NES Council and we will involve the whole community in the Somer Valley and beyond so that the Park can reflect a wide range of needs.

“We have waited for so long to see the project come to fruition. Getting off on the right foot is critical to it being a success.”