The first in a series of community-focused open day events about the £23.6 million Glastonbury Town Deal projects will be held at the beginning of October, it has been announced.

Following the submission last month of the confirmation paperwork for the 12 projects outlined in Glastonbury's Town Investment Plan (TIP), the Glastonbury Town Deal Board, project leads and support team are now working on the detailed business cases required by the government for each of the projects.

Part of this process involves developing the project proposals into detailed plans. As a result, each of the projects will hold open day events over the coming months with the local community to help shape their projects.

The first event will focus on the St Dunstan's House Community and Wellbeing Centre. This project aims to provide a Covid-secure hub where local community groups and organisations can meet, learn and do business, helping to grow the economy, reduce deprivation, and improve health and wellbeing for local residents.

Organised by Glastonbury Town Council, the open day will take place at St Dunstan's House from 4pm until 7pm on Friday October 1, then again from 10am until noon on Saturday October 2.

Chair of the Town Deal Board, Robert Richards, said: "The Town Investment Plan for Glastonbury was developed following consultation with the local community.

"Now, as we start to work on the detail of the individual proposals, we're keen to gather feedback and ideas from local residents and businesses.

"These projects are being delivered by the people of Glastonbury, for the people of Glastonbury, so we would encourage as many local residents as possible to come along, share their thoughts and get involved in driving the direction of the projects that are set to deliver huge benefits for our town."

Mayor of Glastonbury, Cllr Jon Cousins, said: "Glastonbury Town Council is looking forward to welcoming local residents and businesses to St Dunstan's House on October 1 and 2.

"We will be displaying the provisional plans for the building, providing a chance for people to have a look around, and we are keen to listen to their comments and suggestions on activities they would like to see delivered from the new centre.

"This is a great opportunity for the local community to see how the St Dunstan's House Community and Wellbeing Centre plans are shaping up, and to make sure it ties in with how they want to be able to use the space."

Leader of Mendip District Council, Cllr Ros Wyke, said: "Mendip District Council is pleased the community will once again be invited to feed-in to the Town Deal, through these open days.

"The projects have been approved, and are a 'given', but residents can still help shape and finesse them – stamp their local ideas on them.

"As lead authority, the council fully supports the growth and investment plans for Glastonbury, and this once-in-a-generation opportunity to transform the town.

"We are looking forward to seeing the plans for the chosen projects take shape over the weeks and months ahead, confident in the knowledge that the people who live and work in this unique place have been involved, every step of the way."

Open day events for other Town Deal projects will take place over the coming months, and information about these will be published on the Glastonbury Town Deal website and social media pages.

Glastonbury is one of 101 towns in the UK to receive investment as part of the government's Town Deal Fund scheme.

Set to bring £23.6 million of investment into the town, it received the highest award in the South West and one of the highest per capita in the UK.

The TIP was developed by the Town Deal Board through engagement with key partners, businesses, community groups and Mendip District Council as the lead authority.

It aims to deliver a necessary "levelling up" opportunity for the town, bringing existing assets back into community use, and working with local communities to develop the spaces and resources that they want and need.

The overall aim is for Glastonbury to be a sustainable, prosperous, modern town and global tourist centre, drawing on its rural landscape, history and unique legacy.

For further information, visit: www.mendip.gov.uk/glastotowndeal

Read the published TIP here: www.mendip.gov.uk/towninvestmentplan