It is nearly there – the deal that will see the old Showfield in the hands of the local community, with Frome Town Council taking over control and management of this important open space soon. Frome Town Council are anticipating taking control shortly, and are now asking for local residents’ views on what should be done to improve the site. There is approx. £40,000 in the improvements fund (earmarked in a Section 106 Agreement for the Frome Health Centre development dated 2010) which must be spent on improvements to the site, and Frome Town Council might also make extra funds available as well. When local people were consulted on this in autumn 2012, the ideas included:

• more seating,
• new and improved footpaths,
• a fence around the playground (so dogs do not worry small children playing, or foul in the play area),
• more play equipment for younger children,
• areas where grass is cut shorter for picnics or games,
• an outdoor fitness trail,
• more trees,
• more litter and dog waste bins,
• a mini-football pitch (which would require planning permission)
• improvements to security, and
• areas managed better for wildlife
• other suggestions including better lighting, car parking, drainage, a boating lake, tea room and pavilion.

Please see here for the report of the previous public consultation in 2012 which set out what people wanted at that time. Frome Town Council then drew up a plan for seating, footpaths, playground fence, picnic areas, fitness trail, trees and bins in 2013, and discussed a mini-pitch, and discussed these with Mendip District Council, before things stalled.

With the Town Council due to take over shortly, Frome Town Council are now asking people whether these ideas are still popular, and whether anyone has new ideas, perhaps from people new to the area.  FTC will then put all of the ideas together to see what can be delivered (probably in the early autumn).

Please see here for the Town Council’s request for your views on : http://www.frometowncouncil.gov.uk/old-showfield-in-the-hands-of-the-community/ and in the Frome Standard article on Showfield,

or call in to the Council’s office on Palmer Street to see the ideas and have your say on the future of the Showfield. Alternatively contact Sarah Russell on 01373 465757 or at russells@frometowncouncil.gov.uk

It is good that the Town Council is taking over soon and are asking local people for views once again. I’d like to know what people think, so I can represent local residents in future decisions, so please let me know what you want to see happen here – email me on cllr.boyden@mendip.gov.uk, post comments here, or call or text me on 07809 284817.

For more background info on this issue please see all my previous articles here, which explain why it has taken so long.