Co-op Fromefield: The new Co-op convenience store is open at Fromefield, with a cashpoint on the corner. I am now in discussion with residents and MDC officers on a few planning matters and I’m hoping to help persuade Radco to improve the appearance of the building in terms of the setting of the neighbouring listed buildings and the historic Conservation Area in which it sits.

Tesco Stonebridge: The big new Tesco Express opens on 26^th January, and they are finishing off the site currently. I am looking into a few planning matters, and to secure a community notice board on site, which is being discussed with Frome Town Council.

Saxonvale plans withdrawn: Frontier Estates has withdrawn their planning application at Saxonvale. As Thomas Edison would say, they found another of the 10,000 ways of developing the site that do not work. I have already asked that FTC now meet with MDC and the other landowners to start to plan a proper viable development scheme that does work for Frome. I hope to see progress on that soon. Please see here for the news: http://www.fromestandard.co.uk/Eleventh-hour-withdrawal-controversial-planning/story-28376958-detail/story.html

Mendip Local Plan Part 2: The deadline has now passed for comments about Mendip’s ‘sites and policies’ ‘issues and options’ consultation (see http://www.mendip.gov.uk/localplanpart2). I have submitted my comments, based on feedback from local residents, including to:

• request that open spaces in the ward are protected as Local Green Spaces and Open Areas of Local Significance;
• object to site FRO 061 at Packsaddle/Innox Hill being considered a potentially suitable housing development site due to concerns about flooding, highway safety, access, impacts on the landscape and of joining up Frome with Spring Gardens;
• highlight issues with site FRO 005 being considered a potentially suitable housing site due to the environmental impacts and the possible need for a school here in future.

Please see here for my full response. I also contributed to Frome Town Council’s response, which was agreed at FTC’s meeting on 16th December.

Commerce Park: Acheson & Acheson have put in their planning application to extend their beauty products factory, as B1/B2/B8 (business/industrial/warehousing) uses, closer to the boundary of the Commerce Park, in area J1C. Under the outline planning permission, this zone currently allows B1 uses only as it is close to residents, but a new planning permission would have new conditions. Acheson & Acheson held a consultation meeting in November evening with councillors and the Coalway Lane Residents Association to discuss issues arising, including noise. Full plans and a noise report have now been submitted. The plans can be found under reference 2015/2871/FUL at http://publicaccess.mendip.gov.uk/online-applications/ The consultation deadline is 13^th January. I’ll be looking into it.

Planning application 2015/1946/VRC still also proposes removing planning conditions on the zoning of development at the Commerce Park. Please see here for more Commerce Park news from November.

Please see my previous planning and development news from September more background on these and other developments.