The Mayor Cllr Rupert Bevan writes in his regular column:

There's definitely a feeling of spring in the air. The chill that we experienced not long ago was replaced by torrential rain and now a pleasant warmth that has caused buds to swell and primroses to bloom.

Things are looking better in Radstock too. Although our gaze is diverted by the monstrous ugliness of the deserted supermarket (someone pull it down please), the streets are tidy and free of litter, thanks to the dedicated army of litter pickers. What is more, two heritage information displays have appeared. Radstock has a noble industrial history, born of the railway and now properly commemorated. You'll find a set of signals opposite Victoria Hall and one of the heritage boards describing the various buildings that you see. The other board is to be found in the Miner's Memorial Garden, on top of what was the track bed for the GWR.

Coal was of course the reason for much of the early development of Radstock. With its marshalling yards and wagon works, the town was the centre for distribution, processing the yields of multiple mines in the area.

Now we have to find new ways of making Radstock attractive and vibrant. If we are successful in bringing back passenger services between the town, Frome and Westbury I believe we shall see prosperity, and empty shops in The Street will be a thing of the past. Please do fill in the survey at www.radstock-tc.gov.uk to make this a reality.

Rupert Bevan