MSN Life Autumn 2021

MIDSOMER NORTON LOCAL LIFE 41
A MESSAGE
FROM THE CLERK
I hope this edition of Midsomer Norton Life finds
you well and you enjoyed the summer months.
As you will have read earlier in this issue, the staff
of Midsomer Norton Town Council have started
to return to the office after a long 18 months
of working remotely. With COVID cases rising
locally, we must all continue to act to control the
spread of the virus, to keep ourselves and others
as safe as we can. If you do need to see us, please
make an appointment, or continue to contact us
via email or by phone; we are always happy to
help where we can.
You will have read that Anti-Social Behaviour is
continuing to have an impact in the Town. While
we are aware that it is a small minority causing
issues, the consequences affect us all at the end
of the day. Should you see anything of concern
then please report it to the Police on 101. This is
not an emergency number for incidents requiring
an immediate response but can be used to report
a crime or incident. As another example, we have
had reports of cars parking in locations likely to
cause an obstruction – this too can be reported
on 101.
Similar to 101 in a sense that you can report an
issue requiring attention, is the Bath and North
East Somerset Council Fix My Street website -
https://fix .bathnes.gov.uk. Here you can report
problems with roads, pavements, parks, litter and
fly tipping, and overhanging vegetation to name
but a few, for all locations in Bath and North East
Somerset.
Recent installations in the Town have included a
new bus timetable at Redlands Terrace. This was
requested by a resident early last year and was
delayed because of the pandemic. New bars have
been fitted between Hayes Road and Northmead
Road, allowing mobility scooters and buggies
better access. The Somer Valley greenspace
posters are now up in Midsomer Norton, Radstock
and Westfield. The poster in Midsomer Norton
can be seen on the back of the bus stop on The
Island detailing the green spaces in our area.
Finally, a new server has been installed at the Town
Hall, for increased service reliability for its users.
In other news, all revenue grant payments have
been made and letters sent to the recipients.
Please see the Midsomer Norton Town Council
Grant Policy on the website to see if your local
voluntary or community group might be eligible
for financial help. We are also continuing to
investigate funding for the planned improvement
works at Wellow Brook, including potential
funding from S106 monies, the Duchy of Cornwall
and Somer Valley Rediscovered.
With Wellow Brook Walk also in mind, we have
been advised by Somer Valley Rediscovered that
as part of the new Environment Bill, developers
will need to demonstrate part 10% Biodiversity
Net Gain (BNG) on qualifying developments.
Ideally this net gain of biodiversity is delivered
on-site but, in some instances, where this is
impossible, they may be allowed to achieve this
10% increase off-site. In return for the off-site
improvements the developer must provide
funding for a minimum of 30 years management to
achieve stated habitat creation and improvements.
We have nominated the Town Park and Wellow
Brook Walk as potential areas to take advantage
of this funding and are waiting to hear from the
B&NES ecologist.
Please continue to keep up to date with what
the Town Council are doing by having a look at
our website and social media pages, which are
updated regularly. I would also like to take the
opportunity to let you know that (at the time of
writing) the Full Council, Planning Committee, and
Finance and Operations Committee meetings due
to take place in September, will see a return of
meetings in person, and all details will be found
on the website in due course.