Tens of thousands of pounds could be spent sprucing up a village on the edge of Bath.
The High Street in Weston | Photo © Stephen Sumner
Weston residents have been asked for their input ahead of a bid to the West of England Combined Authority’s Love Our High Streets fund following applications for Bath and Midsomer Norton.
Ideas put forward at a consultation event on 3rd December included better bike parking, tree planting, themed windows and the creation of a shop front design guide
Interventions like changing the traffic flow or creating a permanent cafe culture are likely to be beyond the scope of the funding but will be passed on to Bath and North East Somerset Council’s highways team.
Ward councillor Ruth Malloy said: “I’m really pleased Weston is being offered some funding to help cheer the place up.
“Some people were saying it’s only cosmetic. Other issues will come out of other budgets. We have to try to make changes when we get the opportunity.
“Your lived environment makes a huge difference.
“People think of Weston as a suburb on the way out of Bath but for a long time it was a separate village. It definitely has quite a strong identity.
“It would be good if the High Street could become more of a focal point.”
Examples of what could be possible from the funding shared by the council included painting and gardening, graffiti removal, colourful crossings, events and window installations.
Twerton’s High Street will also form part of the bid and officers said it is likely to get the lion’s share of the funding. Residents were invited to share their ideas in September.
The improvements are set to be in place by 2023.
Stephen Sumner, Local Democracy Reporter
