YOU can now have your say on the regeneration of one Somerset market town.

An online consultation has launched for residents to give their views on the regeneration of Shepton Mallet.

Dozens of people attended the open day at Shepton Mallet Library on October 1, where they saw a masterplan featuring ideas and options on how best to develop the scheme, called fit for the future.

In addition to the live event, an online consultation hub has now launched, giving people the chance to share their thoughts until November 1.

Mendip District Council (MDC) has commissioned planning consultants LUC to develop the masterplan.

Cllr Garfield Kennedy, portfolio holder for planning and development management at MDC, said: “This is an excellent opportunity to be involved in shaping the future for Shepton Mallet town centre and I warmly encourage local residents to have their say and feedback on the opportunities in identified so far, and to contribute their ideas.”

Following discussions with Shepton Mallet Town Council, a variety of projects have been identified.

These include:

  • An easy link between the town centre and lido through the pedestrianisation of Great Ostry, Market Place, and the southern part of High Street
  • Planting and artwork at High Street, Market Place, and St Peter and St Paul's churchyard, to improve their appearance
  • More multi-user paths and active travel routes to encourage walking, cycling and horse-riding (including links to the Strawberry Line and East Mendip Way)
  • Improvements to Collett Park, to the Millennium Way, and the River Sheppey corridor, plus better pedestrian links to St Paul's Street
  • Possible reduction in car parking at the Townsend retail area to create new green spaces there
  • HMP Shepton Mallet redevelopment

The council will be using the masterplan to develop and support funding bids from the Government ‘Levelling Up’ fund.

The Levelling Up Fund which was announced at the 2020 Government Spending Review.

Bids to the fund are based on Parliamentary Constituencies and focus around three themes - smaller transport projects that make a genuine difference to local areas; town centre and high street regeneration; and support for maintaining and expanding cultural and heritage assets.

To view the consultation visit mendip.gov.uk/sci.