7 minute read
Westfield: the first 10 years
May 2011 saw the creation of Westfield Parish Council and now, ten years on, we look back at the first steps this local council took to meet the aspirations of its community. 2011
The first Westfield Warbler came out in December 2011 and ran as its headline the Winter Maintenance Scheme, welcoming five new volunteers for what was then a pilot of the Snow Warden Scheme. Since then, a number of Snow Wardens have given considerable time and energy working the gritting machines to keep some of the most well used pavements in the parish free of ice and snow for our most vulnerable residents. Sadly, we are down to two stalwart Snow Wardens who, between them, are keeping this initiative going. The Westfield Grant Scheme was introduced in 2011 and has grown from strength to strength. We have also been the recipient of grants from various sources to allow major works to take place without an impact on the precept. These have totalled a staggering £414,362 across the past 10 years, easing the burden on local tax payers. Waterford Park Allotment site was set up under the management of Westfield Allotment and Garden Society (WAGS). It was expanded with another site at Larch Court in 2019.
2012
The Fun Day started at Westhill Recreation Ground in June 2012 and has been a regular feature in the Parish calendar ever since. Over the years, attractions have included vintage car displays, inflatables, donkey rides, drumming workshops, Scruffs Dog Show, displays by majorettes, karate, zumba, tae kwon do and in 2014, the Beau Street Hoard was a highlight of the event, allowing local people to handle the Roman coins discovered by Archaeologists in Beau Street, Bath. The Time Capsule was buried in 2012, to be re-opened in 2062. Over the Time Capsule is a unique memorial stone, where wreaths are laid on Remembrance Day. 29th November 2012 saw the first Westfield Christmas Lights Switch On. A much smaller version of the now hugely popular event, the first Switch On saw a group of residents gathering around the Christmas Tree at the top of Elm Tree Avenue to sing carols and have tea, coffee and mince pies courtesy of the Trinity Methodist Church, Westfield afterwards. In 2015 this event welcomed Father Christmas who brings free gifts for the young people of the parish and the event has grown from strength to strength. Opinion was divided in December 2012 when Sainsbury’s and CFH Total Document Management submitted a joint planning application to B&NES for the development of a food store on CFH’s site off Wells Road. After weeks of consultation, the application was turned down by the planning authority at B&NES.
norton Hill Play Area 2011
2013
In May 2013 the Parish Council planted commemorative trees for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee at the local schools.
June 2013 saw the first defibrillator installed courtesy of Waterside Carnival Club outside the Pharmacy on Elm Tree Avenue. This was followed in 2018 by one at Mardon’s Club, a third at the Fire Station on Wells Road and one outside the doctor's surgery on Waterford Park. In 2020 the Waterside Carnival Club came in and installed two more, one outside Whitstone's on Fosseway and one at Norton Hill Recreation Ground, bringing the total number to six public access defibrillators in the parish. The smiley face speed indicator device was installed in July 2013 with much support from the adjacent
Westfield Primary School and the wider local community. Just three months later it was destroyed in an act of vandalism, raising deep concerns in the community. Replaced in March 2014, this device is one of the measures requested and supported by the Parish Council to make the Fosse Way safer for all. Maintenance of the Pit Path is a recurring theme every year, but in October 2013 a breakthrough was made when B&NES Council agreed at last to adopt the path and add it to their cutting schedule. October 2013 saw the demolition of the Elm Tree Pub on the Fosseway and its replacement with 14 new dwellings. And the following month, the Carnival went through Westfield for the last time, before it was re-routed to Midsomer Norton.
2014
March 2014 saw the launch of the Westfield Front Garden Competition with categories for Best Front Garden and Best Container. In 2017 a one-off category was added to pay tribute to the front gardens of Rowan Close for the best collection of gardens. Together they keep their gardens colourful and imaginative, making it a pleasure to walk past the Close. The Living Wall at CFH also merited a special award in 2019. May 2014 saw the return of a funfair to Westfield after an absence of over 25 years. Set up at Norton Hill Recreation Ground, the fun fair attracted visitors from far around.
The controversial 20mph speed restrictions came into being in September 2014, sparking a variety of responses and driving down the speed limit in built up areas of the parish. A major revamp of the tennis court, boules court and basketball pitch took place in 2014, followed by the opening up of the entrance from Upper Court as requested by local residents at the Annual Parish Meeting.
Allotments 2013
2015
February 2015 saw the start of work on the Westfield Neighbourhood Plan which heralded three years of consultations, drafts, amendments and more consultations before the Plan was agreed at referendum in September 2018. Tuesday evening Boules started at Norton Hill Recreation Ground in June 2015, with the creation of a team, which over the following years, went on to win many accolades. In 2016 the club went international with teams from the Midsomer Norton and District Twinning Association and their French visitors from Ambares et Lagrave playing for the ‘Westfield Challenge Cup’. And in 2018, the team entered the Wells Charity Boules Tournament, winning all of their five games in the preliminary rounds with maximum scores! Local Marathon Man, John Reynolds, made the news with a 170km run around the Mont Blanc Massif. Two nights of non-stop running saw him complete the run which involved 10,000 metres of positive altitude change. John went on to start the now massively popular Westfield TT Running Group in 2016. Throughout November 2015 a team of 32 volunteers planted the 800 bulbs which comprise the eye- catching annual display of daffodils at the top of Elm Tree Avenue and Ruskin Road.
The first Christmas Lights on lampposts were installed in 2015 and extended the following year so that they now run almost the entire length of the A367 through Westfield.
2016
April 2016 saw new gateway signs welcoming people to Westfield, a community committed to education and enterprise.
2017
September 2017 saw the first History of Westfield exhibition at Radstock Museum, highlighting Westfield’s
Larch Court Allotments (before) 2019
coal mining history. In October 2017 three new Heritage Walks in Westfield were launched with information boards found at four locations around the parish’s footpaths. There are three walks of varying lengths catering for all abilities. These have become an integral part of the annual Somer Valley Walking Festival.
2018
In 2018 the Inspirational Citizen Award was launched in Westfield with the first award going to John Reynolds for his work in raising fitness awareness and the Westfield TT Running Group, promoting Westfield in events nationwide. The following year, Martin Bates, Chair of the Westfield Allotment and Gardening Society, was presented with the Award. In 2020, between the lockdowns, the cup was presented to Catherine Cooper for her tireless work with Terracycle. The Roll of Honour is on the Parish Council’s website www.westfieldparishcouncil.co.uk In December 2018 Westfield joined up with Westfield, Massachusetts to help them celebrate their 350th Anniversary with a transatlantic interview between the two communities, aired on radio both sides of the Atlantic.
2019
Westfield Parish Council was awarded Quality Status in the Local Council Award Scheme for the third time. This followed its second re-accreditation in 2015 along with the accolade of Council of the Week. Originally awarded to the Parish Council in 2012, this scheme recognises good practice in governance and community engagement. New benches were installed at Norton Hill which were very popular, to be followed by benches at Westhill in 2020 and new hanging basket trees around the shops. Royal Mail launched a consultation in Westfield which resulted in ‘Westfield’ being officially added as a locality to the postal address of all residents and businesses in the parish.
Larch Court Allotments 2019
2020
After many years of campaigning, 2020 saw the opening of the re-vamped Shakespeare Road play area following investment from B&NES of £70,000. Later that year, a fitness track was created at Westhill Recreation Ground, including 12 pieces of outdoor gym equipment. Purchased with a combination of S.106 funding and grant funding from the Big Local for Radstock and Westfield, the equipment was put to immediate use.
2021
And this brings us to 2021, a landmark year when the Parish Council is preparing to purchase land at Waterside Valley for public recreation for perpetuity.
