The improvements to the play area at the Old Showfield – see here for details – are underway. Frome Town Council’s contractors started to install new play surfacing and improve footpaths around the play area, and put in a rope up the slope of the slide, and they will also repair all the broken play equipment – tyre swing, zip wire and the 2-seater jumpyaboutything. But the soft wet ground in the last 2 weeks led to problems – the contractors were working in muddy conditions and drove carelessly over the grass and made muddy ruts in several places. Complaints from a local resident made the Town Council officer responsible visit the site and work was stopped on Thursday 21st December to avoid further damage being caused. I have been assured that the tyre rutted tracks will be made good before the contractors leave site, and the damaged areas of grass will be reseeded.

Work will restart for a day or two when it is safe and not too wet to do so.  Frome Town Council’s Environment Manager Chris Stringer can be contacted on 01373 465757, email stringerc@frometowncouncil.gov.uk. The contractors are Redlynch Leisure who can be contacted on 01249 444537,  https://redlynchleisure.co.uk/contact-us/. I have thanked the local resident for raising this issue.

The community hedge planting morning took place on Sunday 26th November – planting was completed around about half the play area inside the fence (to help create a dog-free play area), which only lasted about an hour as there were so many volunteers (and Duke of Edinburgh Award college pupils) and not all the plants had been delivered. I understand there will be another in early 2018 to finish the job (see here for previous news) and that the large gaps in fencing will be closed once the other works are complete. We Hear You held a Santa Dash fundraising run in November too.