Welcome to Midsomer Norton's High Street Renewal Programme
The High Street renewal programme for Midsomer Norton includes a range of activities to improve the town centre and is an accumulation of different projects. The scheme aims to support sustainable economic & cultural growth on the high street, enhance local historic character making streets vibrant places. The programme will do this through physical works to buildings, including repair, reinstatement of lost features, public realm improvements and master planning.
The Island has suffered from underinvestment for many years but contractors are now on site to deliver a new Market Square for Midsomer Norton.
The Grade II Listed Town Hall is currently undergoing a £1.5m renovation that will restore the Victorian Market Hall.
We are working with local businesses to deliver much needed investment in the High Street. A number of shopfront and signage improvements have already been undertaken with more planned.
Community activities, like the Fayre, are central to life in Midsomer Norton. See how we plan to support arts, culture and events on the High Street.
Project Updates
Deprecated shortcode. Use We’re inviting all Somer Valley residents to take part in an arts trail celebrating the wonderful shops, trades, business owners and buildings in our town. Make your art work at home, or come and join a free drop-in creative workshop at our community hub on South Road. A free festival showcasing local performance and creativity, featuring popular acts from the area, sixth-form bands from local schools, and a community art project celebrating the High Street. Plans are well underway for the annual family-friendly extravaganza. Attractions will include bouncy castles, face painting, Punch & Judy, a street organ, goat rides, balloon modelling, music workshops and much, much more. Parc Skateboarding are also bring a Skate Jam to the town’s world class skate park. A fun and immersive self-guided sound walk around 12 landmark locations on Midsomer Norton High Street. Begins at St John the Baptist Church. Find the tour at www.midsomernortonaudiotrails.co.uk. An opportunity to visit the church with its unusual stone pillars and pulpit and an exhibition of old photographs. Take time out in a quiet peaceful space for prayer and reflection. Friday 8 September: 10.00-12.00 An activity led Family Walk through Midsomer Norton Town Park and surrounding cycle paths, suitable for prams and adventurous little legs. Booking is essential. A chance to climb the Church Tower. Climb all 100 steps to take in the magnificent view from the top! This will be on Sunday 10th September, 2-5pm. Bell ringing practice – come and see the Bells ring, perhaps have a go yourself! This will take place on Wednesday 13th September, 7:30pm-9pm. Join the local experts behind Midsomer Norton’s new heritage audio trail and find out the real stories of some of our High Street heroes, past and present. Book in advance. Join us at Waterside Valley on Tuesday 12th September for an evening bat walk led by professional bat ecologists. We will start at 7:30pm with a brief talk about bat ecology and conservation and then go for a gentle stroll around the meadows and along the river looking and listening out for different bat species. We will use bat detectors to pick up the bats echolocations and work out what species we have recorded. We will finish up at 9:30pm. Downside Abbey is one of the architectural and historical gems of Somerset. We are offering two free tours. 1) The abbey church and monastic cemetery 2) The private monastery gardens. The visitor centre will be open for light refreshments.
Sunday 10 September: Church service 10.00-11.00
Monday 11 September: 10.00-12.00
Tuesday 12 September: 10.00-12.00
Friday 15 September: 10.00-12.00
Sunday 17 September: Church service 10.00-11.00
