In the Frome Times and (hopefully Frome Standard and other newspapers) this week is my letter on local democracy and devolution in Mendip: Dear Editor, At the last Mendip District Council meeting, after surprisingly lively discussions on the recording and potential broadcasting of Council meetings, the Council’s financial investments, and membership of the Planning Board, […]

A36 reopens temporarily from 18th October to 11th November: National Highways have temporarily reopened the A36 Warminster Road at Limpley Stoke to allow Wiltshire Council to carry out essential work on the A350. Due to the damage to the southern embankment, there will be two way traffic lights in place to keep everyone safe. However, […]

Somerset residents survey – have your say before 21st October: Somerset Council has launched a residents survey, to ask local people like you for what you think about where they live and the services the council provides. Somerset Council is responsible for services such as social care for adults and children, refuse and recycling collections, […]

Waste and recycling collections: We have had an update from the Somerset Council waste team on waste and recycling collections: ‘A brief update on waste collections: as ever, the festive period has been really busy, with extra-heavy loads of recycling and refuse. On top of this, we have had the added complication of changed collection […]

Somerset Council’s Executive has this week set out the actions it proposes to take in response to soaring costs and demands on services. The latest budget figures show Somerset Council is facing a funding gap of £100m for 2024/25 due in large part to an expected increase of £70m in the cost of adult social […]

My heart lies in working for and with the local community to improve our world and make it a better place for everyone. Since first being elected to Mendip District Council in 2011, I have worked hard for 11 years (and on Frome Town Council for 18 months up to 2015) with and for the […]

The Government has confirmed that the date for the next local elections will be Thursday 5th May 2022. Some 110 councillors will be elected across Somerset to form a new Somerset Council, doubling up the number of councillors in each existing Somerset County Council division. Those elected in May 2022 will serve as Somerset County Councillors for […]

Dear All, Part of a local councillor’s role is to keep residents informed, so here is my latest newsletter on all things local… Covid disrupts recycling collections in Stonebridge: Somerset Waste Partnership is apologising for missing recycling and food waste collections this week in Stonebridge and other parts of Frome, as well as Beckington and […]

Covid-19 update – Roadmap to re-opening: After a year of restrictions, the Government has set out plans to end the current lockdown – please see here. The current rules remain until 8th March, and support is available here, and at the end of a phone – the Somerset-wide Coronavirus Helpline 0300 790 6275 and Citizens […]

It looks like Mendip and the County Council are to be abolished and replaced by Unitary authority – the remaining question is whether it will be one Somerset or two? During the last 12 months, including during the pandemic, Somerset County Council has spent hundreds of thousands of pounds of public money on staff and […]

Dear all, Please see my Thank You to voters at the General Election here. Hospital Forum: the next Frome Community Hospital Forum is on Monday 27th January at 6pm to 8pm in the Moxon Suite upstairs. Please come along and have your say about your local hospital, even if you have just 5 minutes to […]

My heart lies in working for and with the local community to improve our world and make it a better place for everyone. Not the few, not just the many, everyone. I have worked for 11 years now as a councillor on Mendip District Council (and on Frome Town Council for 18 months up to […]

Could you make a real difference for your local community?  Whatever needs changing in your area, you could effect those changes by becoming a local Councillor. No other role gives you such a good opportunity to make a huge difference to your neighbours’ quality of life. We need people who really care about their community to come […]

On 2nd May, Somerset County Council’s Conservative leadership surprised the county’s 5 district councils by announcing it was starting a conversation about the future of local government in Somerset, including the option of replacing all 6 councils with one or more unitary authorities. The County Council announcement is here. SCC argue that a unitary council […]

I have worked hard for 7 years now as the Lib Dem councillor for Frome College ward on Mendip District Council (since May 2011) and Frome Town Council (from December 2013 to May 2015), with and for the local community on a wide range of issues. A record of action: Over the last 7 years […]

Dear all, This is a reminder of current consultations and upcoming meetings that you may be interested in. As one of your councillors on Mendip District Council, I hope to keep local residents updated on local issues: Mendip Local Plan Part 2 consultation proposes 100 houses at Packsaddle Way Frome Town Council meeting on Local […]

Dear all, As one of your councillors on Mendip District Council, I aim to keep local residents updated on local issues: Grange Road mobile phone mast appeal – deadline 4th January for responses Showfield improvement works Mendip consults on continued closure of Gypsy Lane Frome Town Council: meetings and Boyle Cross works Frome Sports Forum […]

Dear All,  I hope you find this update on news for Frome College ward, Frome and Mendip useful. How can I help? As ever, please get in touch if you have any issues you need help with. Super Frome 10k: Once again I am running the Frome 10k on Sunday 17th July as part of […]

Please see below my newsletter for Frome College ward, Frome and Mendip. I hope you find it useful. How can I help? Please get in touch if you have any issues you need help with. Leisure Centre reopening delayed: As a member of Mendip District Council’s Leisure Strategic Board, last week I had a tour […]

This is to say a big Thank You to everyone who voted to re-elect me to Mendip District Council as a councillor for Frome College ward in last week’s local elections. Thanks also to people for voting for Alex Shingler and other Lib Dem candidates. Alex would have made an excellent councillor but missed out […]