WEST Somerset residents are being “left out” and are “a bit miffed” by Somerset Council committing to its regeneration of the Octagon Theatre in Yeovil, according to one local councillor.

Somerset Council announced in October 2023 that it would be putting its £30m revamp of the Octagon Theatre on hold to reassess the business case in light of high inflation and interest rates.

The theatre has been closed since April 2023, with the council voting as part of its annual budget to keep the building shut until a new business case could be agreed.

The council is now pursuing a scaled-down redevelopment costing £15m – with the running of the building passing to Yeovil Town Council once it reopens in time for the 2026 pantomime season.

But one west Somerset councillor has bemoaned the lack of investment in similar facilities in her neck of the woods, describing her residents as “a bit miffed” at the proposals.

Councillor Rosemary Woods, who represents the Watchet and Stogursey division, made her comments at a full council meeting, and said: “There’s more to Somerset than south Somerset.

“A lot of money is being targeted in south Somerset, and we feel a bit miffed in west Somerset that we are being left out.”

Councillor Graham Oakes (who represents the Yeovil East division) jokingly replied: “Somerset is a wonderful part of the county and a great place to live – even Minehead.”

Under the new plans, the theatre will be refurbished at a cost of £15m – of which £10m will come from a ring-fenced grant provided by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS).

A further £3.75m will be provided by Yeovil Town Council, which agreed in principle to take over the running of the theatre as part of its annual budget setting.

The remaining £1.25m will be sourced from external grants, contributions from housing developments and local fundraising.

The final business case for the Octagon Theatre revamp is expected to be submitted to the DCMS by the end of the summer.

If this project fails to move forward, it will still cost up to £200,000 to return the theatre to its original condition.