Midsomer Norton Life - Autumn 2022

High Street Heritage Action Zone UPDATE

As always, the High Street Heritage Action Zone (‘HSHAZ’) Project Team has been hard at work since the last Life update, with progress made across the High Street renewal scheme.

Key updates include: New ‘YourMidsomerNorton.co.uk’ Website

A major milestone for the HSHAZ project was the launch of the ‘Your Midsomer Norton’ website this Spring. As well as being the place to go for detailed information and updates on the HSHAZ project, the website is also intended as a community resource and is regularly updated. Features include blog posts, events listings and recommendations for things to do in the town centre. If you would like to tell us more about an event you are running or have ideas for new features, please get in touch.

Cultural Programme

The HSHAZ Cultural Programme – which delivers new and improved events and activities in the town centre – has gone from strength to strength over 2022. In June, a new short film celebrating Midsomer Norton’s ‘High Street Heroes’ was named Best Animated Short by the Cotswold International Film Festival.

Created by filmmaker Howard Vause, in collaboration with Midsomer Norton Primary School children, it tells the stories of unsung heroes who have made a difference in our town, or who have achieved great things in their lives and careers. You can watch the full film on YourMidsomerNorton.co.uk under the Cultural Programme pages.

Next up in the Cultural Programme calendar is Heritage Open Days, which takes place from Friday 9 until Monday 18 September 2022. This national festival will see heritage buildings and little-known historic and natural sites open their doors to visitors for free.

On Saturday 10th September, you are warmly invited to join the Cultural Programme team in the Town Hall (10.00am – 2.00pm) to participate in fun activities for the whole family, learn about the building’s past and hear about plans for its future. Elsewhere, there will be special tours, heritage trails and workshops happening all over Midsomer Norton – visit YourMidsomerNorton.co.uk for more information.

Investigative Works and Traffic Closures at The Island

Following lengthy discussions between B&NES Council and the Government’s environmental advisers, we are pleased that structural investigations on the Victorian culvert beneath The Island can now go ahead in early August. These works, which will include digging trial pits and taking brick core samples, are necessary to determine the structural integrity and strength of the 150-year-old culvert structure for safety reasons and to prepare for the redevelopment of the new Market Square. We have been advised that the Council will be contacting local residents and businesses soon and will seek to minimise disruption as far as possible, with access and car parking provided when safe to do so and outside of working hours.

For more information about the HSHAZ Project or Cultural Programme please visit: YourMidsomerNorton.co.uk.

The High Street Project Manager and Cultural Programme Engagement Coordinator would also be happy to hear from you and can be contacted via email at: MidsomerNortonHSHAZ@bathnes.gov.uk / culture@midsomernortoncommunitytrust.co.uk

You can also write to the High Street Project Manager and Engagement Coordinator at: High Street Heritage Action Zone, c/o Midsomer Norton Town Council, The Island, Midsomer Norton, BA3 2HQ.