A Community Garden at the old Showfield? Please see below a message from Helen Johnstone of Frome Community Gardens about a new initiative for a ‘community garden’ at the old Showfield: “Plant a seed and share your views: The Frome Community Gardens Group is looking at putting a community garden on the old Showfield. This could have vegetable beds […]

Mendip assets to be transferred to Frome:  Frome Town Council’s applications for the transfer of several areas of land owned by Mendip District Council has been partly successful recently. FTC submitted bids to Mendip to take on ownership of a range of areas of land Mendip currently own, including open spaces, playgrounds, car parks and derelict toilets. Last month […]

Plans are taking shape for the scheme of improvements to the old Showfield. Background: The developers of the new Frome Health Centre are contributing over £40,000 for improvements and enhancements, and an addition sum for outdoor gym equipment, through the ‘Section 106 agreement’ (agreed with Mendip District Council when planning permission was granted in April […]

My letter to local newspapers is below, Dear Editor, It has been two years now since Conservative run Somerset County Council cut the waste and recycling budget to such an extent that all household recycling centres were forced to close on 2 days and week and on Sunday afternoons, and new charges were introduced for […]

Thanks to everyone who came along to the Litter Pick at Stonebridge (and in other areas of town) on Saturday 9th March, organised by Dorothy-Anne Bryant of HopeFrome and Friends of the River Frome.  Frome’s Big Litter Pick is organised twice a year, in the spring and autumn by HopeFrome and Friends of the River Frome to […]

Dear resident, One of my priorities, when I was elected to Mendip District Council in 2011, was to make the Council work better with local residents to improve open spaces for the whole community.  I can now update you about the open space at Packsaddle and the improvements that we are keen to see here. […]

Don’t forget to vote for in the elections for a new Somerset County Council on Thursday May 2nd. Liberal Democrats in Frome chose Alvin Horsfall for Frome East, Derek Tanswell for Frome West and Sam Phripp for Frome North. All candidates standing in the Mendip area are listed here – http://www.mendip.gov.uk/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=2083&p=0 – and see below. The new Frome […]

Mendip’s Liberal Democrats presented three amendments to the Conservative budget at Mendip District Council to: – better tackle environmental crime, including flytipping,  – promote economic development, including tourism, and  – boost our town centres through one day a week free car parking in each of the towns in Mendip, We suggested these improvements to the budget were necessary, and would cost […]

Mendip District Council released £350,000 to fund local community projects earlier in 2013. The money is part of the New Homes Bonus grant that the council will use to encourage and support legacy projects across the district. Two funds have been established: the Local Legacy Fund and the Community Environment Fund. Local Legacy Fund Applications […]

This week’s Frome Times reports: ‘The problem of fly-tipping in Frome has been highlighted as part of a BBC documentary. BBC Inside Out West investigated the problems surrounding fly-tipping, showing Gypsy Lane in Frome as a hot-spot for dumping rubbish.Fly-tipping is the illegal act of leaving waste on public or private land. As part of […]

My letter to this week’s Somerset Standard: After previous letters, I would say all councillors know they are there to represent residents fairly and transparently, whether in a party or not.  There are so many initiatives to improve Frome that need good cooperation between Frome Town, Mendip District, and Somerset County Councils and with local […]

Please join volunteers from Frome churches for the litter pick hosted by HOPEFrome and Friends of the River Frome. This is a fun and satisfying way to get involved in clearing up our town and is open to all, including children (supervised by an adult) .  Meet at one of the venues at 10.15 for […]

See Somerset Wildlife Trust’s news – good news – http://www.somersetwildlife.org/cuts_campaign – more to follow…

My letter to Someset Standard, 7 February 2013: “I am pleased to report that, after residents expressed concerns about the security of the old Showfield (to me as one of the ward councillors, and in this paper in January), a meeting was held soon after between officers of Mendip District Council and the Frome & […]

The Somerset Liberal Democrat Group is supporting Somerset Wildlife Trust and the RSPB in calling for the Conservative Administration to think again about their proposed severe cuts to the Somerset Countryside, Wildlife and Environment Service. Last week, Somerset Local Nature Partnership (SLNP), which represents a wide range of organisations and individuals, including RSPB, Somerset Wildlife Trust sent […]

Somewhat disappointingly, I have just heard that work on Mendip District Council’s Play Strategy, which will decide how the council will invest in play areas across the district, and which sites it could be transferring to town councils, has been delayed again. This is because it has been decided there needs to be additional work on the audit of […]

Depsite a 9% drop nationally, Somerset saw a rise in flytipping incidents of over 50% in the year after Somerset’s ruling Conservatives cut the recycling budget, forcing recycling centres to close 2 and a half days a week and bringing in new charges to recycle some materials, and flytipping remains much higher than before. Last autumn, I and […]

The new Frome Health Centre is expected to open in January on the old Showfield.  The developers are contributing £38,000 for improvements and enhancements to the facilities at the Showfield, with nearly £5800 also for public consultation, through a ‘Section 106 agreement’ agreed with Mendip District Council.  Frome Town Council has been given an addition sum […]

1. One way people can help tackle flytipping is to report any incidents to Mendip District Council as soon as possible – report a description of the location, type of waste and any suspicious activity around the site, to Mendip District Council on 01749 648999. 2. Ensure that you only use licenced waste carriers to […]

See article in the Frome Times on my petition here – http://www.frometimes.co.uk/?p=2761: “An online petition has been launched in a bid to reinstate the opening hours of recycling centres across the county to help combat illegal fly-tipping. Mendip District Councillor for Frome College, cllr Adam Boyden, has set up the online petition. He hopes it will […]