Plans are taking shape for the scheme of improvements to the old Showfield.

Background: The developers of the new Frome Health Centre are contributing over £40,000 for improvements and enhancements, and an addition sum for outdoor gym equipment, through the ‘Section 106 agreement’ (agreed with Mendip District Council when planning permission was granted in April 2011). Vision 4 Frome and Frome Town Council ran a public consultation in October 2012 to gather ideas from local residents on what the scheme of improvements should include, and I added in the responses I received from people that contacted me in response to my summer leaflet, and over 200 people responded overall. The report of that consultation is still available on Frome Town Council’s website. The responses and report were then discussed between FTC, V4F and MDC, and FTC spent time getting quotes for the priority improvements identified, which have been discussed.  See previous article: http://adamboyden.mycouncillor.org.uk/2012/12/10/frome-showfield-consultation-report-now-available/

Update:  Recently, FTC have obtained relevant quotes, and have discussed the results with me, other local councillors and MDC officers. Currently the costed proposals for spending the S106 funds include:

–      resurfacing the path between the Showfield office/car park and the Medical Centre, with a smooth surface for everyone to walk on easily, suitable for mobility scooters, wheelchairs and pushchairs;

–      a new path in the north west corner of the Showfield to link up existing paths from Ashtree Road and Nightingale Avenue, keeping away from wet areas (surfaced as above);

–      a new mini pitch, close to the existing Collegians pitch, to provide ‘somewhere to kick a ball around’ (potentially maintained by Collegians football club);

–      additional adult fitness equipment;

–      additional benches/seating, litter bins and dog waste bins, and (possibly) tree planting.

This week, Frome Town Council’s Internal Affairs Committee is considering the above draft scheme of improvements at its meeting on Wednesday 1^st May at FTC offices in Palmer Street (see Agenda, item 8) – http://www.frome-tc.gov.uk/events/index/view/month/5/year/2013/eventID/1554/categoryID/0/

Discussions with Mendip officers continue to try and secure improvements to site management and improvements to the playground, in conjunction with the S106 funding scheme, including:

–       installation of a fence around some or all of the children’s playground, to keep dogs away from children while they play (possibly from separate MDC funds, to be agreed as part of the forthcoming Mendip Play Strategy (due May/June);

–       improvements and repairs to the playground equipment (e.g. realignment of the zip wire, recently taken out of action by MDC on safety grounds due to waterlogging);

–       changes to the grass cutting regime, to keep some areas cut shorter and more often;

–       clearing out and maintaining ditches, and maintaining hedges, litter picking, and Dog Warden attendance.

Mendip will consider detailed proposals for spending the S106 funds at a number of decision-making bodies when a costed plan and report has been finalised.  The report will need to set out what is included and what is not, and why. I will work with both councils and other councillors to help finalise the plans in line with what local people have said they want.

As well as the above, I am also discussing ideas for increasing awareness of dog behaviour, and potential measures to improve conditions for wildlife, including for bats and birds.

I have also asked both councils to organise a public announcement on the final draft scheme, with a few weeks for people to comment and ‘have your say’ on the specific proposals, before any decisions are taken on how the money should be spent. So look out for publicity on this in the coming weeks!

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