Birchfield Community Centre Launches

Aspirations for the Birchfield area of Yeovil are to be displayed for the first time at the launch of a brand new community association.

The newly formed Birchfield Area Residents Association is inviting all local people to Birchfield Community Centre on Saturday 19 September from 1pm to 5pm to introduce their first plans for improvement, find out what people think, and welcome any new recruits into the group.

The residents association arose from South Somerset District Council’s consultation last year, which asked local people to point out the things they wanted to change and helped to form a group of people who wanted to take action.

South Somerset District Council’s Community Development Officer Natalie Ross hopes that Birchfield will follow in the footsteps of the communities living in the Westfield and Milford areas of Yeovil, who have made huge progress since their associations launched.

She said, “This is the start of what we, and the association members, hope will be a swift and exciting journey of improvement and transformation. Already they have 26 members who are keen to work together to improve the Birchfield area.

The launch will also include an inflatable obstacle course, bouncy castle, face painting and live band and displays from local groups and organisations.

Karen Kelly, Chair of the Birchfield Area Residents Association said, “The steering group of 8 residents have been working very hard to make this launch day a success and would like the residents in our community to support us by coming along,finding out more about our aims, and giving their opinions on what they would like to see in the area as a priority.  

“This is also a great opportunity to find out more about the facilities, agencies and clubs that are available in our area.  This is just the start of positive changes in our area and we would like the local people to get involved and become members.

Cllr Tony Fife, South Somerset District Council’s Area South Chairman added, “This is a really important step forward for the Birchfield community and, having met the association members, local people have a lot to look forward to in terms of real, visible progress. This is about getting people together, asking people what their priorities are, and then finding and planning ways of actually making them happen.

“I’d like to see as many residents as possible coming along to find out about the long and short term aims, find out how they can get involved, help the association to establish themselves and have a bit of fun with the activities.”

The launch event has been organised by the Birchfield Area Residents Association members with support and funding from South Somerset District Council’s Area South Development Team.

More information on Community Development can be found at www.southsomerset.gov.uk .