Plans approved to 'regenerate' Radstock
Banes Council is starting the search for funding - to regenerate the Somerset town
“Exciting” plans to regenerate the centre of a Somerset mining town have been given the green light.
A new “cultural programme,” more community space, and the brining back into use of vacant buildings could all be on their way to Radstock under the plans. The Radstock town centre regeneration action plan approved by Bath and North East Somerset Council’s cabinet will see the council bid for funding for a host of projects to regenerate the town, which was a major industrial hub in the days of the Somerset coalfields.
Mark Elliot (Lansdown, Liberal Democrats), the council’s cabinet member for resources, told the cabinet on Thursday March 7: “This is a really impressive and exciting plan for Radstock, building on the strength of its industrial past and its importance as a conservation area to set out opportunities for the town centre high street renewal for increased tourism and for increased employment opportunities.”
The schemes the plan seeks to secure funding for includes supporting Radstock Town Council to turn Trinity Methodist Church into a community hub, and encouraging the redevelopment and reuse of the library and children’s centre, Brunel Shed, Leigh House, St Nicholas old school, Fortescue Road 60’s shops, and St Nicholas Church rooms.
Meanwhile, spaces for outdoor events could be upgraded and improved, such as the Norton-Radstock Greenway, the Wheel & Miners Memorial Garden, Fortescue Road, Ludlow’s Court, The Street and St Nicholas Church field. The plan also backs a two-year cultural programme to celebrate Radstock’s identity and bring activities into the city centre.
Paul Roper, the council’s cabinet member for economic and cultural sustainable development, said: “The aim is to deliver as many of the priority projects as possible and to have high ambitions. Successful delivery of these projects will rely on collective action to secure funding and take forward these initiatives.
“We have three schemes already being delivered: improvements to Tom Huyton Park, a new community arts space in the Old Printworks — that’s been mentioned several times now — and that’s a cultural programme that is delivering free creative space and arts activities, and finally a greenway arts trail.
“This plan will form a basis for funding bids and help to prioritise town centre projects that would benefit the community and make Radstock a more varied and welcoming place. There is more detailed work to be done on all the projects. The action plan presents early ideas and there are multiple funding bids in progress — but the partnership has already secured £560,000 of investment in the town centre in its initial two years.
“This is the start of a process to improve Radstock town centre and we are excited to see this next chapter unfold.”
Matt McCabe (Bathavon South, Liberal Democrats), the council’s cabinet member for built environment and sustainable development added: “The Radco site is right there in the town centre and I am happy to say that we are in conversation with Radco because it is such a significant site, and they recognise that.
“We hope to see something from them later this year. Because they really do understand the role they play right at the heart of Radstock and that their presence in Radstock is tremendously important, and I have been reassured by the words we have had from them.”
Bath and North East Somerset Council has been working with Radstock Town Council on the plan. Councillor Chris Dando (Radstock, Labour) who is also the town’s mayor said: “I think its an exciting time to live in Radstock.”
The regeneration plan also comes at the same time as the West of England Combined Authority looks at once again using the Somer Valley’s mines to heat the area. The “heat from mines” project is mapping the mines of the old coalfield so see where could be used to heat water.