Summer 2013 Issue 7 Sponsored by Midsomer Norton Town Council A GUIDE TO LOCAL LIFE DON’T MISS Town Park Plans Update on the River Somer Midsomer Norton Blooms See inside for launch of new Midsomer Norton Community Trust Page 4 Launch of the New Community Trust WELCOME TO Building a vibrant community 6 Weddings in the Town Hall A perfect venue 8 Silver Street Nature Reserve Getting closer to the Barn Owl 11 Midsomer Norton Blooms Looking beautiful As the Town Council celebrated its second birthday in 13 Insights into the 18th Century Vestry Book May, it was interesting to refl ect on everything we’ve Bought on Ebay been doing since 2011. Probably the most striking thing is how just how many projects have either 14 Town Council Grants already been delivered or are close to completion. Bringing people together 16 Community Alcohol Partnership In terms of our aim to promote a sense of community Enjoying the nights out together we’ve created the Midsomer Norton Community Trust and the Town Trust and will shortly as a town be taking 19 Enjoying the View back from B&NES key community buildings and green The new benches are in place spaces as well as adding the Catholic Church Garden and St Chad’s Well. In addition, we have developed a 20 What’s On plan for the Town Park and are now moving forward to Packed calendar of events actually deliver this long held aspiration. Inspiring Gardeners 22 The Arts and Cinema Programme We’ve been able to develop a host of initiatives to It’s all happening ALL OVER SOMERSET build civic pride in our town. These include improved 24 The Town Park Unveiled planting of our fl ower beds, tackling anti-social Turning a vision into reality behaviour with the Community Alcohol Partnership, Street Marshals, restrictions on street drinking, more 31 An Update on the River litter bins and fi nally addressing the regeneration of Is it too wild? the High Street. Last summer we even signed a new Cheddar Garden Centre is a great place to visit Town Twinning agreement with Ambarès et Lagrave. 38 School News Exciting events and activities for the whole family Finally, we’ve been able to underpin all this by creating and running a sound council without increasing the precept for the last two years. We started this year The next edition of Midsomer Norton Life will be in having reached the level of reserves required ahead September 2013. If you would like your group to be Hodges Restaurant with 350 Great Gift Section of schedule - thanks to a policy of sound fi nances and included in the next edition, please contact us on 01761 being prudent with your money. 410141 before the deadline: 5th September 2013. Indoor and Outdoor Seats Extensive Free Parking If you have diffi culty reading the print please contact As ever, we look forward to seeing as many residents the Town Clerk for a large print copy. You can also view Outstanding Aquatic Centre Children’s Adventure Play Area as possible at the Annual Civic Service on the 23rd Midsomer Norton Life on the council’s website at June at Somervale School at 6pm. This not only gives www.midsomernortontowncouncil.co.uk Superb Pet Department Well Stocked Fencing & Paving an opportunity to come together as a Community but also recognise with the Midsomer Awards individuals Impressive Plant Area Department who so generously volunteer their time. Midsomer Norton Life is produced by Ignyte Ltd, Suite 7, Westfi eld Court, Third Avenue, Westfi eld Trading Estate, Radstock BA3 4XD Tel 01761 410141. While every care has been taken to ensure the data contained in this publication is accurate, neither the publisher nor its editorial contributors can accept, and hereby disclaim, any liability to any party for loss or damage caused by errors or omissions resulting from negligence, accident or any Cllr Paul Myers & Cllr Michael Evans other cause. Ignyte or Midsomer Norton Town Council does not offi cially endorse any advertising material included within this publication. All rights Mayor and Deputy Mayor of reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or stored in any Midsomer Norton retrieval system in any form without the prior permission of the publisher. Cheddar Garden Centre Draycott Road, Cheddar, Somerset, BS27 3RU T: 01934 745 200 | cheddargardencentre.co.uk 3 MIDSOMER NORTON COMMUNITY TRUST Building a vibrant community LAUNCH OF NEW ... Community Trust After two years of planning, the new Midsomer Norton Following a fantastic response to the Town Council’s Community Trust will launch on Monday 24th June 2013 appeal in the press in 2012 for volunteer Trustees, it has at 7pm in the Town Hall and the whole town is invited to been possible to appoint a steering group which has come along. been working for the last fi ve months to create the Trust which will apply to register as a charity. The aim of the new Trust is to help build a vibrant community in Midsomer Norton. It will have three main With a combination of a membership scheme and use of roles; managing community buildings and spaces on Facebook, Twitter and traditional posters and mailers, the a day to day basis, organising community events and aim is to ensure that everyone of all ages can be aware of activities and encouraging community groups in the what’s going on. town. It’s an exciting time for Midsomer Norton given the number of key projects initiated by the Town Council coming together under the banner of this new To support the Trust in its early years, the Town Council organisation. has awarded a grant to employ a full time Community Development Manager and invest in developing new Buildings and Spaces – Rather than relying on sources of income such as the Community Cinema, Arts uncertain grants from B&NES to fund our community Programme, Weddings and a Function Bar. buildings, the Town Council believes that by working in Mon, Tues, Weds, Fri 9am – 6pm partnership with the community we can manage these Activities and Events – community activities and events Thurs 9am – 8pm Sat 9am – 5pm important assets more eff ectively in the long term. such as the on going arts programme and the Christmas Lantern Fayre require a huge amount of eff ort to pull Senior Citizens In the coming months the Town Council is hoping to together. With modern rules and regulations to ensure secure the future of the Town Hall as a community public safety, an organisation like the Community Trust Haircuts for £5 on building by negotiating a 100 year lease with B&NES. At will be able to provide leadership and management skills the same time talks will include the future of the Orchard and help smaller organisations to take part. This role will Tuesdays and Wednesdays Hall and the Hollies Gardens. become more important than ever as we work to support the Carnival Association to bring Midsomer Norton Carnival back to the High Street. Do you have sleepless nights worried about your fi nances? Do you argue with your partner about money? Community Groups – Midsomer Norton has over 100 Does thinking about your debts make you feel ill? community groups which are constantly in need of Are you having problems meeti ng your bills each month? funding to develop and bring forward new initiatives. The Break Through Money Soluti ons could provide the answer Trust will be looking at ways to identify a wide range of to all these questi ons. funding sources and help groups put together funding Quality Haircuts for all Traditional Hot With a free face to face meeti ng Break Through can advise you on the bids. ages from Under 5s to Towel Shave best way forward to provide a soluti on to your debt worries. Senior Citizens and Beard Trims Call Neil Rogers on 07809 110376 to arrange a meeti ng that could change your life. £1.50 o your next £1.50 o your next full price haircut full price haircut BREAKTHROUGH MONEY SOLUTIONS For further details of the Midsomer Norton Community (Off er expires 7th July 2013) (Off er expires 7th July 2013) Operati ng under Consumer Credit License No. 583702 provided by Enable Money Soluti ons Ltd Trust visit www.midsomernortoncommunitytrust.co.uk. 4 5 LOCAL COMMUNITY MINIBUS FOSSEWAY BOWLS CLUB The Community Minibus has been running for many years and takes local groups (but not individuals) to So far this season Fosseway Bowls Club have played lunch clubs, church services and other events. This various matches, both friendlies and Leagues. One of service makes a real diff erence for those people who the National Double Rink over 60s team beat Bristol are housebound who can sometimes feel isolated and B C and now have to play Portishead RBL in the next New wedding venue cut off from the community. It's a real lifeline for the round. The other team lost by one shot to Clevedon elderly and disabled. Prom B C, who reached the fi nal last year. Drivers of the Community Minibus work on a In May they had an 'Away Day' to Lyme Regis where voluntary basis and are so valuable to this service and 34 members enjoyed a wonderful day in the sun. The Couples are now able to get married at Midsomer our community. The organisation is always looking for green and welcome were both excellent and on the Norton Town Hall following the granting of a new more volunteer drivers. 4th June they hosted the fi rst rounds of both the Men licence to the Sarah Ann Trust.