Concerns are continuing to grow over the future of Midsomer Norton Community Trust and community events following Midsomer Norton Town Council’s decision to change the delivery model for community events and take back control of the Somer Centre and Orchard Hall.
Local resident and volunteer Jon Durrant has confirmed that he has been seeking written clarification from the Town Council regarding its plans for delivering events in 2026, interim operational arrangements, and how responsibilities previously held by the Community Trust will be covered.
In response, Town Clerk Tara Bailey stated that the issues raised relate to Council decisions and ongoing discussions with the Community Trust and that it would “not be appropriate” for her to comment further or engage in detailed correspondence at this stage.
Mr Durrant says he is concerned about the lack of written detail, particularly given the scale of the changes being made.
He said: “It’s clear the Council took these decisions without having concrete plans or arrangements in place. If there were clear plans for how events and community buildings would be managed, you would expect them to be able and willing to share that information now.”
The Council previously agreed to move to what has been described as a “hybrid” delivery model, declining the Trust’s £25,000 grant application. Since then, the Trust has announced it will withdraw from running the Somer Centre and Orchard Hall due to financial pressures.
Uncertainty remains around how major community events will be managed going forward. Questions still remain about who will take overall responsibility for the Summer Fayre and how future events in the Town Hall, including the community cinema, will be organised and sustained under the new arrangements.
The Council has indicated that further information will be made available once internal discussions have concluded, although no timetable has been given for when this will happen.
In order to run community events and buildings the council will need to set up a new community and events committee. So far the council only has a draft of the terms of reference for the committee and no committee members have been announced.
