ELEVEN market towns in Somerset will share £230,000 for projects to improve the appearance of their town centres and the facilities they offer.

South Somerset District Council created the market towns investment group (MTIG) in 2006 to “encourage better, more constructive community planning” where towns would work together with partners on essential improvements.

A series of new projects for these towns has been proposed and agreed by the council, ranging from electric vehicle charging points and noticeboards to creating a “park of peace”.

The projects will be match funded by the town or parish councils for each area.

A report on the latest MTIG proposals came before the district council’s area west committee when it met virtually on Wednesday evening (November 18).

Nicola Doble, the council’s economy specialist, said in her written report: “The agreed purpose of the MTIG is to recommend programmes for investment in market town areas where working together would be better than working alone.

“This might be because undertaking a number of projects would be more economical, or because together we can create a critical mass that would make a scheme viable.

“Working together means that it becomes more feasible to deal with common issues that otherwise would not be addressed.”

The following projects have been put forward:

Bruton: the Station Road car park will be revamped with a more permeable road surface and electric vehicle charging points. Grant amount: £60,000

Castle Cary: a lift will be purchased to allow external access to the upper floor of the Market House, with the venue’s kitchen also being refurbished. Grant amount: £10,000

Chard: existing signs in the town centre will be “de-cluttered”, with new signs and “shopper information boards” directing visitors to the town centre being installed, along with four new ‘gateway’ signs at the entrances to the town. The Minnows car park will be remodelled to include spaces for coaches and camper-vans, and new CCTV will be installed on Boden Street. Grant amount: £20,000

Crewkerne: the existing public toilets in Falkland Square, which recently reopened, will be given a complete refurbishment. Grant amount: £20,000

Ilminster: an existing path leading to the town’s recreation ground will be regraded to allow pushchair and wheelchair users to access the amenities more easily. Grant amount: £9,000

Langport: a mini tourist information bureau will be created in the town centre with two defibrillators. New health and safety signs will be installed near the River Parrett, and a website will be built for the Langport River Project, which is trying to open up the river to boat users for leisure and recreation. Money will also be spent on a new bus shelter, fencing on the existing cycleway, and two donation boxes near the existing toilets and the Huish Bridge car park. Grant amount: £20,000

Martock: The Market House public toilets will be refurbished, with solar compacting litter bins being installed. New CCTV and wi-fi will be provided at the village’s recreation ground, along with new noticeboards and electric gates for added security. The current lights at the MUGA and skate park within the recreation ground will be upgraded to LEDs. Grant amount: £27,500

Milborne Port: the entrance to the allotments on Gainsborough will be resurfaced, and existing footpaths through the churchyard of St John the Evangelist church will be renewed. Grant amount: £5,000

Somerton: solar panels will be installed in car parks to power electric vehicle charging points, and the current Christmas lights will be changed to LEDs and “message panels” to save energy. A new “park of peace” will also be created into the town centre to “give shoppers a place to rest and relax”. Grant amount: £29,000

South Petherton: two new lighting columns will be installed at the recreation ground car park, which will also be repainted and relined. A bike storage rack and shelter will be installed at the St James Street car park, along with a water dispenser, noticeboard, bus shelter and electric vehicle charging point. The Memorial Garden will have new walls and flooring installed, and plans will be created for a new community building. Grant amount: £20,000

Wincanton: recycling bins will be installed across the town, with an education campaign encouraging people to recycle more. The existing play area’s lights will be changed to LEDs, and a community fridge will be purchased to “support free food share” and stop food being wasted. Grant amount: £10,000

The district council expects each of the respective town or parish councils to match the funding for each project – meaning around £460,000 will be spent in total.