Last week Mendip District Council’s Corporate Asset Management Group (CAMG) approved the Council’s proposed surrender of leases at the old Showfield. This was advertised in local newspapers for the legally required period, following CAMG’s decision in December to surrender the leases. This was agreed as the quickest more painless way to allow Frome Town Council to purchase and lease the site in order to maintain and enhance the old Showfield as a community asset.

This will then give local residents more involvement in managing and improving the popular open space, including on how to spend the £40,000 fund made available when Frome Health Centre was granted permission. The priorities identified by local people in a consultation in autumn 2012 included a fence around the playground to keep out dogs, areas of shorter grass for picnics and kickabouts, new and improved footpaths, more seating, trees and bins, an outdoor fitness trail, and possibly a new mini-pitch. Most of those ideas could not be implemented up to now due to a legal wrangle and Mendip’s way of doing things, which the purchase by Frome Town Council will resolve.

There will also be a need to examine the playground’s equipment and drainage, and the site’s general condition, and security from incursion by vehicles. An improvements and management plan would then be drawn up by the Town Council for local residents and stakeholders to review and agree or amend, so that it is right for the community.

Please see here for more information and the background to this work over the last few years.