The Mayor of Radstock, Rupert Bevan writes:

In Nikolaus Pevsner's massive work: 'The Buildings of England,' the volume entitled 'North Somerset and Bristol' contains a brief summary of what the author considered worthy of mention in Radstock. Epithets such as 'ugly' and 'without dignity' are used and one is left with the feeling that civilisation passed over this town without leaving a positive mark.

But that was 1958, when the town was indeed the grimy capital of the Somerset Coalfield. If Pevsner had survived long enough to visit Radstock now, he would have been hugely impressed.

The fine town buildings along with the central streets contribute to what has been described by English Heritage as 'the best preserved mining town in England.' And rightly so. We who live here love Radstock. I quite like the juxtaposition of well preserved Victoriana alongside the '60s scruff. It lends a sort of genuineness which can be lacking in some of its twee neighbours.

Creativity Works which, in one form or another have been contributing to the local zeitgeist for the last 40 years, have tapped into people's affection for the town in order to give material expression to it.

Local townsfolk were invited to write love letters to Radstock and the best of these will be transformed into tasteful aluminium panels and dotted about the town for the appreciation of posterity.

They will form a trail which culminates at the Community Hub, where a beautiful angel already spreads her wings. Closer inspection of the angel reveals the names of loved ones etched into the terracotta wings and the whole is a thrilling sight.

Onwards and upwards, Mr Pevsner!