As one of your ward councillors I need to keep you updated on a few things:

Frome Community Hospital Forum: Have your say tonight about hospital services at the drop-in session at the hospital’s Moxon Suite on Monday 16th October at 6.00-8.00pm. Opinions are being sought on the work of the Community Hospital and how its services can be improved, so please do just pop in for a chat and bring your ideas and opinions, and find out more about support services, volunteering or becoming a Friend of the hospital.

Changing Places success!: Last week, funding was secured to provide a fully accessible disabled toilet Changing Places for severely disabled people in Frome town centre, for people who cannot use the existing standard disabled toilet –  Mendip District Council and Frome Town Council agreed funding and gave the go ahead and the facility will now go ahead, hopefully this will be in place before Christmas. Facilities are also being provided in Wells and at Clarks Village (Street).  Thanks and well done to all who helped me in this cross-party and community campaign – please see here for details.

Showfield news: A few weeks ago I met Frome Town Council’s Environment Manager for an update on the various works planned for the old Showfield, including the replacement of the play equipment. FTC have since issued a press release which explains what is proposed – see here for details. The play equipment that was vandalised and removed earlier in the year should be fully replaced in the next few weeks, along with more footpath resurfacing and playground surfacing, and new steps and a rope up the slope by the slide. The fence around the playground is to protect a new hedge which will be planted soon – this is going to be a community hedge planting effort on 26th November, please see here how to join in. The aim is to nice create a dog-free area for children to play in, at last. Parkrun is also planned every Saturday morning – again, look out for details. This is happening because FTC took over the Showfield in 2015, which I helped sort out.

Pedestrian island proposed at Bath Road Heights:  I await an update from Mendip on the status of the proposal to install a pedestrian island across Bath Road by the developer of 7 new houses at the old Mendip Lodge Hotel site, to satisfy the planning condition requirement for a ‘pedestrian crossing’  (planning reference 2017/0992/APP). Somerset County Council raised technical concerns about the proposals in September. I will update you as soon as possible.

Evening buses:  In August, agreement was reached to continue the current 267 evening weekday Bath-Frome bus service, until April 2018, through funding and agreement between B&NES Council, Rode, and Norton St Philip Parish Councils (see here), after B&NES Council reduced funding last year and Frome Town Council provided temporary funding, but did not renew that – please see here for previous news.

Affordable housing in Frome: Fair Housing for Frome are a local group concerned about homelessness and housing problems in Frome, and are holding another public meeting at Frome Town Hall, on Monday 23rd October at Frome Town Hall, 6.00-8.00pm, on ‘Creating new homes’ – please see here. I hope to work with the group to improve how Mendip District Council works on housing and housebuilding.

Frome College residents meeting: the next Residents Group meeting at Frome Community College is on 6th December at 3.15pm. Please let Sue Gattiker know if you would like to attend via email to sue.gattiker@fromecollege.org.

Frome Sport and Fitness repairs: Fusion’s contractors should be completing the resurfacing of the astroturf at Frome Sports & Fitness by October half term. I understand that the delays (the works were planned for the summer holildays) arose due to the unforeseen poor condition of the drainage under the carpet, and the need to replace drainage as well as the shock pad and carpet to the required playable standards.

Boxworks: MDC are considering amending the planning application for the Boxworks proposal – 20 shipping containers in the town centre car park which would provide start-up office premises for small businesses – to locate it at the Justice Lane end closer to the Black Swan. Any new plans will appear here in due course. Frome Times’ most recent article can be found here. I and other councillors, and many residents, have raised issues and concerns on the current application adjacent to the Cheese and Grain, while supporting the concept. I also asked for MDC to present the proposals in public in Frome, and to fully consider Saxonvale as a potential location.

Boyle Cross/Market Place: please see here for the latest on Frome Town Council’s works to the Boyle Cross and Market Place, and Cheap Street businesses’ concerns, as highlighted by Drew Gardner.

Footpaths: I am still asking MDC to clear the weeds along the footpath between Forest Road and Ashtree Road behind Lime Close/Rowan Court, as the contractors have not done as they have been asked months ago. Also waiting on MDC to facilitate the resurfacing of the path between Linnet Way and the hospital – which will probably require a transfer of land ownership from the original housebuilders to MDC.

Frome Liberal Democrats present: Supper for Syria, on Friday 27th October, 2017: An evening of Syrian inspired cuisine and entertainment at the Rye Bakery in Whittox Lane, Frome. With proceeds going to ‘Hands up for Syria’ raising funds and awareness for those affected by the crisis in Syria. Please see https://www.fromesupperforsyria.co.uk/

Please see also

Frome Town Council news: http://www.frometowncouncil.gov.uk/news/

Mendip District Council news: http://www.mendip.gov.uk/article/5345/October-2017

Lib Dems: ‘Secret Brexit studies must be released’ – see here.

Please let me know if there is anything that needs doing.

Thanks for reading,

Adam

Adam Boyden,

Liberal Democrat, Mendip District Councillor for Frome College ward

07809 284817, email aomboyden@gmail.com

http://www.adamboyden.mycouncillor.org.uk/

Twitter: @cllradamboyden

 

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