For years, Mendip District Council allowed Packsaddle Play Area to run down, so I have been inspired by the ‘community building’ work of the Packsaddle Community Group recently to improve the space for everyone, through events and parties, organised play sessions, and by finding out how you want to improve this community space for all.

The group has installed new seating, and future plans include some new swings, a cycle path and boules pitch. I have helped the Community Group in dealings with Mendip, and helped arrange the tree trunk seating to be re-located to avoid neighbour nuisance. If elected to Town Council I will ask for the Town Council to take over this area and the court at Chapmans Close, to improve these areas further, in consultation with the community and neighbours.

My letter to residents of the Packsaddle area:

Dear resident,

As one of your two Mendip District Councillors for this area, Frome College ward, I am pleased to be able to update you on local issues from time to time.

This year, the Packsaddle Community Group has installed new seating at Packsaddle park, including two new picnic benches, which are wheelchair accessible, and tree trunk seats, working with Mendip District Council.  The Group have raised funds, including from Frome Town Council, and have plans to put in a cycle path, boules pitch and some new swings amongst other ideas which came from the community consultation events held last year.  I have helped the Community Group in dealings with Mendip where I can, and have also helped arrange the tree trunk seating to be re-located to avoid any more noise issues for the neighbours in future. The Chapmans Close play area, with its hard court and basketball hoop, could also be a better place to play.

Earlier this year Frome Town Council (FTC) applied to take over Packsaddle open space, as well as other areas in Frome, but Mendip rejected the bid while it was waiting to approve the update to the Play Strategy. When the Strategy was approved in August, it did not identify these areas as a priority to invest in, and highlighted difficulties in intensifying use of the Champans Close court due to its location. FTC are now busy moving towards taking over the leases on the old Showfield and other areas around town, but as FTC worked very well with local residents to transform Welshmill Park, a transfer to FTC could still be a very positive move.

Another aspect of the Play Strategy update is the possibility of local residents applying to close their street or part of it to traffic to allow children and adults to play in the street safely, for example for a few hours on a Sunday for a street party. Please let me know if you are interested in this initiative!

Also, I, like every Mendip councillor, have a £2000 funding pot to allocate to improving the local environment over the next 12 months, and I want to put it to good use here and in other parts of the ward. Please let me know if you have any ideas where it should be put to good use.

There is now a byelection in the ward on Wednesday December 18^th, and I am standing for election. If elected to Town Council I will be in a position to ask that the Town Council to take over both these local open spaces from Mendip, which should enable improvements to be arranged more easily, in consultation with the community and neighbours. Please don’t forget to vote on December 18^th!

I am happy to hear from anyone about this or other issues, so please contact me.

Adam Boyden

Mendip District Councillor, Frome College ward (Liberal Democrat)

Phone 07809 284817, Email aomboyden@yahoo.co.uk

See my local news updates on www.adamboyden.mycouncillor.org.uk