It was wonderful to see thousands of people enjoying the Frome Fireworks display at the Old Showfield last Saturday, the first public display in town for over 10 years. Thanks go to the Frome Rotary clubs and Frome Town Council for organising (and proposing it in the ‘People’s Budget’ process) and also to the Cricket Club, Agricultural Society, Collegians football club, and Fair Frome and Rotary volunteers, for supporting. It brought the whole town together and I am not alone in calling for this to be an annual event from now on.

A lot has happened since Frome Town Council took over the Old Showfield three years ago. During the recent Apple Day celebrations, hundreds of children and families had fun with the apple related activities at the new orchard, training sessions at the outdoor gym, the recently repaired playground, the nicely cut grass and the resurfaced paths. The Old Showfield has become a park to be proud of, and this was the whole idea – I was one of those who worked for years to get the area into Town Council hands so it could be improved (initially with funding from the Health Centre which was unlocked when the ‘Mexican standoff’ was resolved) and managed the way local people (rather than Mendip) want. The results were well worth the effort. To do this we relied on Frome Town Council being the proactive and responsive council that it is. Thanks go to everyone who helped make this happen.

That positive things happen in our town is also dependent on decisions made by positive and proactive people who were willing and able to stand for election as local councillors in the first place, things do not happen by themselves. The next local elections to Mendip District and Frome Town Councils are in May 2019. Both councils need good new people to stand for election, to represent people in your area, to make a difference and take action on the issues that you care about, whatever your politics. There is a website www.beacouncillor.co.uk which has useful information and guidance. Please also get in touch with me if you are interested, at cllr.boyden@mendip.gov.uk.

Adam Boyden, Mendip District Councillor and former Frome Town Councillor for Frome College ward, and Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Somerton & Frome (Lib Dem)

Please see more info here on the Old Showfield and how we got here.

See here for my short video of the display.