THE SOMER VALLEY

Midsomer Norton, Radstock and the surrounding communities

The Somer Valley Partnership adopted its Community Plan: A Brighter Future in 2005 with an ambition to create a thriving and vibrant area which has a sense of well-being and identity.

Its Future Strategic Vision aims to revitalise the economy of the Midsomer Norton, Radstock and the surrounding villages, known as the Somer Valley area.

The Vision addresses the key economic challenges facing the area due to the decline in traditional manufacturing employment and the need to diversify and expand the local economy.

It is the start of a long-term programme which seeks to address the following issues:

  • A Strong Sense of Place - improve the town centres and ensure their functions are complementary
  • Decline and Change - diversify and expand the economy for the area
  • Opportunities - increase the aspirations and skills of the workforce and ensure development opportunities are realised
  • Challenges - provide a role for Midsomer Norton and Radstock as the focus of a wider economic area

Where dependent on the planning system, these objectives can be considered and implemented through the emerging Local Development Framework (LDF).

How to have your say

This website is part of a community engagement exercise on the Visions and is closely tied into the ongoing Core Strategy work on planning policy for the next twenty years.

The consultation runs until 17 December, 2007, after which all responses will be considered and incorporated into any recommendations that are made to the Council and will form part of the decision-making process.

Members of the public and interested stakeholders are encouraged to use this opportunity to make their views on the proposals known.

This can be done in any of the following ways:

midsomer norton high street
fieldwithcows