TOWN TRUST REPORT

M N

Town TRUST

It has been a very busy few months with the work of the Town Trust expanding considerably as we assume responsibility for asset transfers from the Town Council.

TOWN PARK

The Town Trust as ever is working hard to generate events and activities in the Park to ensure as many people as possible locally are aware of what it has to offer. A full report focusing on this project is included on page 12.

AMPHITHEATRE - As the work on the new 300 seat facility is nearing completion focus has been on planning a first performance in the space. Working in partnership with Midsomer Norton Community Trust and the Merriman Theatre Company. It has been decided to produce an evening performance themed on a Midsummer Night’s Dream on Wed. 24th June 2020. Details will be available in the press in the coming month.

PARKRUN - There was a meeting just before Christmas with representatives of Parkrun nationally and their feedback, whilst generally positive, requires the construction of a link path between Wild Meadow and the Greenway before the project can move forward. Therefore the Town Trust has been working hard with the Parkrun Steering Group to look at how this could be achieved. The Town Trust has identified an organisation called ‘The Conservation Volunteers’ and they can coordinate their volunteers to work with local people to construct the required zig-zag hoggin path, 1.5 metres wide and 90 metres long at a cost of £6,463.20. A ‘Community Challenge’ has now been launched to raise the money for this work in order to enable Parkrun to move forward in the Town.

WOODLAND COURSES – Talks are progressing well with Virgin Care, the Wellbeing College and local provider Ecowild to bring their popular Woodland course to the Town Park. The Wellbeing College provides courses for B&NES residents over the age of 16 and these courses are all free. The Town Park provides a fabulous location for woodland activities like these.

Sensory Garden – Now that the design for the Town Park entrance is almost complete it will be possible to move forward with the detailed plans for the Sensory Garden. Representatives of the Town Trust recently met with St Chad’s Surgery to allow them to give their feedback on the proposed plans.

SILVER STREET NATURE RESERVE

The Town Trust is now working closely with the Friends of Silver Street Nature Reserve to finalise the creation of a new Group. The Trust have commissioned Newleaf Design to produce a management plan to agree work by season for the coming years. This in turn will form a basis for a Health & Safety work plan in order to ensure that people volunteering for the new Friends Group under the Trust can work in safe and secure conditions.

COMMUNITY BUILDINGS

With the coming of warmer weather in the Spring, work is planned to commence on the Town Hall to complete the pointing of the rear wall and improvements to drainage. Once this work is finished the Asset Transfer process will finally be completed.

COMMUNITY CHALLENGE:

Can you help with volunteer time OR a donation to help us build a new path by the end of April 2020?

The challenge is to raise £6,463.20 to build a 90 metre path to zig-zag down the hill in the Town Park from the Greenway to the Wild Meadow.

DONATIONS: The cost per metre is £71.81 – can you sponsor a metre or part of a metre? If yes please email midsomer.myers@gmail. com.

VOLUNTEER TIME: Once we’ve raised the money we urgently need people to come and help build the path.

If you are willing to help please email midsomer.myers@gmail.com

Not only will this new path mean we stand a good chance of launching a Park Run in Midsomer Norton, we will also be building a path for the whole community to enjoy for years to come.

OFF THE RECORD LAUNCH THE OKAY CAFÉ

Off The Record launched a new youth club in Midsomer Norton on Thursday 30th January.

Working with Midsomer Norton’s Town Council and Community Trust, and building on the success of The Okay Café in Bath, the Youth Club will provide a safe space for anyone aged 11-18.

The Okay cafés are set up a safe space for young people providing opportunities for them to meet up, relax, make new friends, share experiences, and if needed, develop new ways of talking and coping.