New MP for Somerton & Frome:

Sarah Dyke (Liberal Democrat) was elected as our new MP for Somerton & Frome in the by-election on 20^th July, with 55% of the vote – see here (Somerset Council), here (BBC) and https://www.sarahdyke.uk/. Sarah’s new email is sarah.dyke.mp@parliament.uk, or you can contact her by post to House of Commons, London SW1A 0AA (see here). Thanks to everyone who helped, and voted!

Somerset households urged to offer more Homes for Ukraine:

More host families are needed in Somerset to help support Ukrainian refugees who have been forced to flee their country – see here.

Packsaddle fields:

I understand from residents that some of the cows grazing the Somerset Council owned fields off Packsaddle Way have escaped the fields two or three times in recent days, and have been herded back in by residents and police. I have asked Somerset Council’s Estates department that the cows be removed from the site if the council and owner of the cows cannot guarantee the site is stockproof. One of the cows was put down as a result of injuries it sustained yesterday, and has been removed from site. I have also been informed that the farmer who owns the cows is not the same farmer who was fined by South Wiltshire Magistrates in December 2021 for not looking after his cattle properly. If there are any more problems please email estates@somerset.gov.uk and copy me in at adam.boyden@somerset.gov.uk or call them on 0300 123 2224.

Save Frome railway station ticket office from closure:

Train operators have proposed changes to, and closures of, the majority of rail station ticket offices in England, including in Frome. Please see here for information, and how you can have your say and help save the ticket office from closure. The consultation has been extended to 1st September but don’t delay, have your say.

EV charging:

There is some good news about the installed but unconnected electric vehicle (EV) charging points in three Somerset Council car parks – Cattle Market, Badcox and North Parade – as I have heard from the Contracts Manager at SC who tells me that the wayleave agreements have now at long last been completed, and the contractor is currently booking time to undertake the connection works with SSE. The works to connect and operate the charging points should start in the near future.

20 mph speed limits invitation:

Somerset Council has invited all parish/town councils to consider submitting an expression of interest to support the design and implementation of a 20mph speed limit in their areas. The cost would be in the region of £15,000, with a £500 application fee. I understand that Frome Town Council and Beckington Parish Council are considering a response. Rode is also awaiting the public notification of a new village wide 20mph limit. Several potential extensions to the 20mph speed limits in Frome were included as recommendations in the Frome Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan adopted by Frome Town Council earlier this year.

Wessex Water writes to residents:

Wessex Water have written to residents about the measures they have employed at Frome Water Recycling Centre (sewage works) to abate the fly nuisance that has plagued residents for so long, and the types of flies that come from the works. This is after an annual review meeting I attended with other councillors and residents in June which discussed the effectiveness of the netting trial (see July news here). Please let me know if you live in an affected area but have not had the letter, and I can email a copy.

First public meeting of the Frome Area Local Community Network:

Somerset Council has created a Local Community Network for each area of Somerset, so that local people, parish and town councils, public services and the local business and voluntary sectors have more of a voice, and to create a forum where local problems and issues can be raised and addressed in a collabroative way (see here).

The first meeting of the Frome LCN on Thursday 27^th July at 7.00pm at Frome Town Hall (see here for the agenda and how to join online) will include:

• choosing the Chair and Vice-Chair/s of the LCN
• questions from the public
• review of the work of the pilot LCN hosted by Frome Town Council for the last year
• how we determine the priorities and areas of focus for the LCN for the next 12 months
• timetable of meetings.

Each of the 18 parish councils in our LCN will send a delegate to be part of the core membership, along with representatives from the police, NHS, fire and rescue service, education, the voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise organisations, and business and trade groups. Please see here for more about the LCNs including the LCN Handbook, and here about the Frome LCN.

‘Call for sites’ to complete Mendip Local Plan:

Somerset Council’s Executive meeting on 10^th July agreed to commence the Mendip Local Plan Part 2 site allocations review, to satisfy a High Court Order, and  to identify sufficient new or previous sites (that are available, suitable and deliverable by 2029) for 505 dwellings to be allocated for housing in an update to the Mendip Local Plan. A report (item 9 here) was considered at Climate & Place Scrutiny Committee on 19^th July, with an updated timetable also confirmed in a councillors’ briefing on 25^th July:

• to undertake a call for sites limited to the 505 dwellings, commencing on 24 July 2023 for 6 weeks until 4 September 2023 – see https://somersetcouncil.citizenspace.com/planning/mendip-local-plan-part-2-call-for-sites/;
• to publish a consultation under Regulation 18 of the Town & Country Planning (Local Planning) Regulations 2012 on the preferred approach/ site options, by 31 December 2023 for 6 weeks;
• to publish a Regulation 19 statement seeking representations on the proposed allocations for a 6 week consultation, by 24 March 2024;
• to submit for Examination by 1 July 2024 (in expectation of an Examination in Autumn 2024).

The process will involve councillor workshops and parish council briefings, and site assessments including a Sustainability Appraisal. This process will be independent of the future wider Local Plan review for the whole Somerset Council area, which is likely to start this autumn.

Please see more news:

• Somerset Council – https://www.somerset.gov.uk/newsroom/
• Frome Town Council – https://www.frometowncouncil.gov.uk/category/news/
• Norton St Philip Parish Council – http://www.nortonstphilipparishcouncil.gov.uk/LATEST_NEWS_43693.aspx
• Beckington Parish Council – http://www.beckingtonparishcouncil.org.uk/
• Rode Parish Council – http://www.rodevillage.com/

   Leave a comment