I have been working on a few things recently, in response to local residents concerns, which you have told me about on the doorstep, on the phone and by email:

• Flytipping on Gypsy Lane – Public Meeting to be held: Yesterday Mendip District Council’s Enforcement officers agreed to my suggestion to hold a public meeting with local residents to try and stamp out flytipping around Frome. So I will be arranging a public meeting on flytipping in the New Year and hope to start really tackling this problem once and for all. Read more here: http://adamboyden.mycouncillor.org.uk/2013/12/17/public-meeting-to-tackle-gypsy-lane-flytipping/

• Showfield update: The proposed transfer of the old Showfield leases from Mendip District Council to Frome Town Council, which Mendip agreed to previously (in two different committees) has run into a problem, which I am working to resolve, see here for further details: http://adamboyden.mycouncillor.org.uk/2013/12/17/showfield-update-a-new-problem/
  

• No such thing as the Dog Poo Fairy: I have been working with local residents and council officers to stop people leaving dog poo waste behind, in the Showfield and other areas. See here for details: http://adamboyden.mycouncillor.org.uk/2013/12/17/the-dog-poo-fairy/
  

• Local Open Spaces: feedback from residents:  I have had some good feedback from local residents to the street letters I wrote on the open spaces on Brunel Way and the little playgrounds in the area. Thanks to everyone who has responded, I can now take these concerns with Mendip and Frome Town Councils. See here for details: http://adamboyden.mycouncillor.org.uk/2013/12/17/local-open-spaces-and-playgrounds-feedback-from-residents/

• Pavement improvements promised in Stonebridge: I recently heard complaints about the poor state of pavements in Lime Close, and responded by contacting Somerset County Council’s highways team, whose job it is to maintain them. Somerset Highways have promised to resurface pavements in Lime Close and elsewhere in Stonebridge in spring/summer next year. Please see here for details: http://adamboyden.mycouncillor.org.uk/2013/12/13/pavement-improvements-in-stonebridge/
  

• Oldford Hill-Bath Road speed limit reduction cancelled: I was really disappointed to learn recently that Somerset County Council’s Highways department have cancelled their proposed reduction of the speed limit on Oldford Hill. As I know residents in this area are concerned about the speed of traffic coming into (and leaving) Frome on Oldford Hill and Bath Road. But I will continue to push for the speed limit to be reduced here. See here for details: http://adamboyden.mycouncillor.org.uk/2013/12/17/speed-limit-reduction-on-oldford-hill-cancelled/
  

• A new pedestrian crossing on Bath Road? I understand that Somerset Highways have recently agreed that a new pedestrian crossing and footway should be required at the Bath Road Heights development, as part of the planning obligations for the Phase 2 planning application currently being considered by Mendip planning team. I have been arguing for this as a new crossing here is essential to help local people (including College pupils as well as existing and potential new residents) cross this potentially dangerous road safely. Frome Community College also called for the pedestrian crossing and footway, after I alerted the College to this. See above for speed limits issue on Bath Road. See here for further details: http://adamboyden.mycouncillor.org.uk/2013/10/09/more-houses-proposed-at-mendip-lodge-hotel-site/    
  

• Saxonvale planning application submitted: The outline planning application recently submitted by Frontier Estates for the Saxonvale site has been validated by Mendip’s planning team and released for public consultation. Il will be scrutinising this closely on the impacts and the benefits. Please see here for details: http://www.frome-tc.gov.uk/news/view/saxonvale-planning-application
  

• Asda’s extension was approved by Mendip’s Planning Board last week, despite opposition from the town, and a £250,000 mitigation fund (earmarked for town centre remodelling) and £10,000 fund for improved town centre signage, have been agreed as mitigation for the impact on trade in the town centre.  I was concerned about the likely impact of Asda’s extension, and I objected along with Frome Town Council, the Frome Chamber of Commerce and many local residents. See here for the news: http://www.fromestandard.co.uk/Asda-expansion-plans-given-ahead/story-20314073-detail/story.html and here for the Planning Board report: item 8 report, 1st case: http://www.mendip.gov.uk/article/2728/Wednesday-11-December-2013
• Fracking: Mendip’s Fracking Working Group met recently for the first time: http://adamboyden.mycouncillor.org.uk/2013/11/22/focus-fracking-success/
• Leisure Centres: Mendip are considering a potential property deal as a way of running and improving leisure centres in Frome and elsewhere in the district from 2015: http://adamboyden.mycouncillor.org.uk/2013/11/22/focus-frome-leisure-centre/

News from Mendip District Council:

–          New public services hub opens in Shepton Mallet: http://www.mendip.gov.uk/article/3248/New-public-services-hub-for-Mendip-opens-for-business

–          Renewable energy: Mendip’s working group on local renewable energy developments needs local people to contribute: http://www.mendip.gov.uk/article/3230/Public-encouraged-to-contribute-to-renewable-energy-investigation

–          Mendip’s Local Plan: Proposed Changes may mean more housing for Frome: http://adamboyden.mycouncillor.org.uk/2013/12/05/mendip-local-plan-update/

Frome Town Council news:

–          How could we cope with the snow better in Frome?: here’s how, and how you can help: http://www.frome-tc.gov.uk/news/view/how-we-could-cope-with-snow-better

–          Research into services for Young People in Frome: the results: http://www.frome-tc.gov.uk/community-enablement-grant-for-research-into-services-for-young-people/

–          External Affairs Committee meets on Wednesday evening to discuss Participate Frome results, Youth Services review, GP Out of Hours Service review, riverside path, Frome Carnival, Grant Awards, and an alternative community-led development proposal for Saxonvale: http://www.frome-tc.gov.uk/events/index/view/eventID/8376/categoryID/0/

–          Neighbourhood Plan public consultation: read it and have your say! – http://www.frome-tc.gov.uk/neighbourhood-plan/

Thanks for reading. Do contact me with any problem, news or views.

Adam Boyden

07809 284817, aomboyden@yahoo.co.uk, Twitter: @adamboydenfrome