WELLINGTON has so much to offer in the way of its heritage and I was delighted to have the opportunity this week to highlight some of the plans centred around the town’s rich heritage with Culture, Heritage and Tourism Minister John Glenn.

Of course, the Wellington Monument restoration project is a key focus but right in the heart of the town the dilapidated Tonedale Mill and Toneworks represent one of the most important mill complexes in the South-West and as such offer a unique regeneration opportunity based on the nation’s textile heritage.

Tonedale Mill was originally the powerhouse of the Fox Brothers textile empire with its worsted, woollen and combined cloths being finished here. The whole complex is a rare example of a 19th Century cloth dyeing and finishing works. Sadly the Grade 2* listed buildings are on Historic England’s Heritage at Risk Register and a priority for action, and I was pleased to draw the Minister’s attention to this.

Taunton Deane Borough Council (TDBC) has been working closely with Historic England, the Prince’s Regeneration Trust, the Architectural Heritage Fund and local partners to agree a shared vision for a regeneration programme. The recent appointment of a project officer for three years, funded by English Heritage with support from TDBC, to pursue the redevelopment of this project is welcome. There are tourist opportunities building on the industrial roots of the site making current day links to the Fox Brothers enterprise where fine cloth is still woven and turned into exclusive woollen garments in the town which are exported worldwide.

Relyon, employing 750 people, also has a textile connection, being one of the UK’s leading mattress manufacturers, so there is an interesting textile strand to pursue. There could also be residential opportunities as well. The newly appointed officer will also be working on progressing the Wellington Monument project and the transformation of Cornhill back into a thriving thoroughfare.

The Minister was fascinated by the stories linking to these important sites in Wellington and I shall be following up with a future meeting to discuss the opportunities more specifically. Crucially, to make the best of restoration projects like these, saving the town’s rich heritage, it will be important to make the economic case stack up. Get that right and there are spin-offs for the whole town.