HUNDREDS of people turned out for a consultation day on the future of the former Fox Bros mill at Tonedale.

Wellington Mills Community Interest Company organised the event at Tonedale Mill and up to 300 visitors went along to give their views on potential uses of the buildings.

“It was so busy that half an hour after the doors opened we were having to ask people to wait a few minutes to let others leave before they went in,” said co-organiser Ben Fox.

Visitors crowded to see a series of large-scale display boards prepared by the Thread architectural practice, based at West Buckland, showing a range of possible future uses for the disused factory buildings.

They were encouraged to write their own ideas on Post-It notes stuck to the displays and shade in cutaway drawings indicating the relative importance of residential, workshop/studio and office space.

“We’re incredibly grateful to Reminiscence Learning who loaned us the former Fox Bros boardroom to use for the displays,” said Ben.

Architectural Heritage Fund and Somerset Community Fund grants to the CIC funded Thread’s work.

Although it will take several weeks to evaluate visitors’ comments, a spokesman for the CIC said that for residents of Millstream Gardens and Weavers Reach it was very clear that any future regeneration of the 11-acre factory site had to address the already severe parking problems in the area.

Representatives from Historic England – currently funding urgent preventative work on several listed buildings at Tonedale – Taunton Deane Borough Council (TDBC) and Wellington Town Council were also at the event, as well as LibDem parliamentary candidate Gideon Amos.

“I’ve seen the tremendous interest shown by the people of Wellington in the consultation day,” said Cllr John Williams, leader of TDBC, who spent an hour at the exhibition. “This is an incredible initiative and the CIC is well worthy of support.

“As a council we look forward to working with them in the future to progress the regeneration of this incredible old woollen mill and preserve the buildings for future generations.”