A new planning application has just been submitted by Latona Leisure for more houses at the former Mendip Lodge Hotel site on Bath Road, now known as ‘Bath Road Heights’.

The plans are for 14 detached 3-, 4- and 5-bedroom houses at the remaining part of the former hotel site at the northern edge of Frome.

The plans are online at http://www.mendip.gov.uk/article/2015/View-Applications (application ref 2013/1889). However, as Mendip’s planning website is under reconstruction, you may need to contact Mendip’s Planning Technical Team (quoting ref. 2013/1889), on dctechnical@mendip.gov.uk for assistance. Alternatively, contact me via cllr.boyden@mendip.gov.uk and I can pass on the plans and reports I have.

The deadline for consultation responses is 25^th October, so do let me know if you have concerns or comments.

I have asked Somerset Highways and Mendip’s planning team to ensure that the development provides a new pedestrian crossing across Bath Road, and associated improvements to footpaths and bus layby/shelter here, to allow pedestrians to access the development from Frome on foot safely. Currently there is no footpath linking the site with the rest of Frome, and no pedestrian crossing that would allow pedestrians to walk to the bus stop, or walk from the bus stop across the road to the College or elsewhere safely, as they have to cross a dangerous road.  A Section 106 agreement was agreed for the previous outline planning application, ref. 056194/017 (March 2008) which required a bus layby, footpath and pedestrian crossing to be built, but as those plans were not built, the S106 agreement was not implemented .  Without a new crossing being required for the new development proposals, I will be objecting to this development as it does not currently provide for sustainable or safe access to/from site.  Together with the 6 house development of phase 1, ref. 2010/2498, this phase 2 would complete the site development. I know that Frome Community College is also concerned about this issue.

I will add more on other issues, including trees and open space, later.

Meanwhile, the development of 6 new houses at Bath Road Heights, at the southern part of the site, is well underway and should be completed by the end of the year, as I understand. See here for previous news of that – http://adamboyden.mycouncillor.org.uk/2013/02/05/housebuilding-starts-at-mendip-lodge-hotel-site/