Our Mission

Do you appreciate beauty and really care about your surroundings? Are you interested in good architectural design and future plans for your area? Are you concerned that older buildings of merit are being left to decay or are insensitively renovated? Do you eagerly read the local planning applications?

As members of a Civic Society we have a useful outlet for our observations. We can discuss and perhaps contribute constructive ideas to those involved and – oh yes – we do enjoy excellent talks and outings on related subjects, too!
Jonquil Alpe - Civic Society Member

Winston Churchill once said that we shape our buildings, and afterwards our buildings shape us. Spiro Kostof said that 'Architecture is a social act and the material theatre of human activity'.
What do you say?

Read more in our Architecture & Design section. Click Here

Our Mission

The main objectives of the society are to promote and encourage the following, by charitable means but not otherwise;

To stimulate public interest in and care for the beauty, history and character of the town and locality

To encourage high standards of design, architecture and town planning

To encourage the development and improvement of features of general public amenity

To promote and organise co-operation in the achievement of these objectives

To educate our local and Internet community on the areas of planning, architecture and design, history, heritage etc through projects and initiatives that benefits everyone

To encourage new members to ensure that the society remains a source of local voice and participation now and in the future

How We Do It:
	More details can be found in the section 'Our Work' but mainly we achieve our aims by: organizing regular lectures, visits, talks and slide shows maintaining contact with planning authorities and other related bodies monitoring and drawing attention to planning policies and applications taking up issues of public concern in the built environment make biennial design awards for building merit in association with our local council organizing trips of interest throughout the UK and locally creating an internet library of information booklets, documents, articles and picture galleries organize projects to create awareness, education and community benefit produce a monthly newsletter and this web site
	The Constitution
	As a registered charity the Taunton & District Civic Society has a governing document namely a 'constitution'. This is a formal document which contains all the information about our mission, sometimes referred to as "rules". It details: what we, the charity is set up to do; how we will do those things; who will run it (trustees); what happens if changes to the administrative provisions need to be made what happens if the charity wishes to wind up (dissolution provision). If you wish to view our constitution click here
	NB This is not a forum for reactionaries or NIMBYs – if the debate finds in favour of a scheme, then letters of approval will be sent. If the debate goes against, then positive criticism is offered. For the Civic Society to fight to save a building from being demolished, it must have sufficient historic or architectural merit. Also, the society does not condemn modern development out of hand, only bad, insipid or careless modern design, uninspirational materials and inferior workmanship.