Since 2011,I have campaigned for the old Showfield to be protected and improved. Plans were drawn up years ago, after a consultation by Frome Town Council and Vision For Frome on how to spend the £40,000 improvements fund on improving footpaths, more seating, a fence for the playground (to keep dogs out) and play equipment […]

My letter to the Frome Standard this week read: ‘I have thanked Lyn Zalac for her letter last week about my role as a local councillor in getting the old Showfield into Frome Town Council hands, so that it can be improved and managed for the local community. But I must give credit to Vision […]

It is nearly there – the deal that will see the old Showfield in the hands of the local community, with Frome Town Council taking over control and management of this important open space soon. Frome Town Council are anticipating taking control shortly, and are now asking for local residents’ views on what should be […]

Newsletter 25th June 2015 Please see below for news about: news about the development at Stonebridge (Forest Road shops) Fusion’s take over of Frome Leisure Centre Tim Farron Bus cuts Old Showfield Welshmill Park Missing Link fundraising Stonebridge development update: Planning permission was granted by Mendip District Council in January for the expansion of the […]

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. For years, Mendip allowed Packsaddle park to run down without replacing play equipment, so I was inspired by the ‘community building’ work of the […]

The old Showfield is the most important open space in this part of Frome, for dog walkers, joggers, children, and people walking to and from town. Over the last few years I have been working to raise residents’ issues with Mendip District Council, who lease the area, about improving management, security against encampments, tackling flygrazing, […]

Last week Mendip District Council’s Corporate Asset Management Group (CAMG) approved the Council’s proposed surrender of leases at the old Showfield. This was advertised in local newspapers for the legally required period, following CAMG’s decision in December to surrender the leases. This was agreed as the quickest more painless way to allow Frome Town Council to purchase and […]

Frome Town Council agree not to raise its Council Tax Demand: At the full Frome Town Council (FTC) meeting on 7th January, FTC proposed to set its annual budget and work programme for 2015-16, which is full and ambitious for Frome, with lots of positive support for the community. The initial recommendation from officers was to […]

As I promised, at Frome Town Council’s External Affairs Committee meeting last week I wrote a report and proposed that Frome Town Council apply to take over the ownership of both the park at Packsaddle Way/Pedlars Grove and the small games area at Chapmans Close, from Mendip District Council, so that FTC can improve these […]

Last week, Mendip District Council agreed to surrender its leases for the old Showfield, so that Frome Town Council can purchase, maintain and enhance the site as a community asset and give local residents more direct control over the popular open space. This was decided at MDC’s Corporate Asset Management Group last week. This is […]

I am pleased to be able to say that at last week’s Frome Town Council meeting, councillors agreed unanimously to purchase the main part of the old Showfield (the open area, the childrens playground and the Collegians football pitch, excluding the cricket pitch, car park and pavilion) and to take a long-term lease on the […]

Letter to residents, 4th November 2014: Dear all, Thanks for contacting me and informing me over the years about issues and your concerns about the old Showfield. Since 2011 I have raised these issues, including a lack of management, security against travellers, flooding, dogs in the playground and the need for a fence, and the […]

The proposed transfer of management of the old Showfield to Frome Town Council, which would see the area maintained more as a park, has run into a legal problem, and the plan to invest over £40,000 in improving the open space for local people to enjoy, has been delayed for quite a while. Mendip District […]

Frome Town Council is inviting local people to take part in a survey on the possibility of introducing Dog Control Orders (DCOs) on land that FTC owns or manages. DCOs are used to make sure dog owners are considerate of others. In the extreme the Police can prosecute dog owners who do not pick up […]

Frome Community Funding workshop, 26th March Frome Town Council are holding a community workshop on Wednesday 26 March at 7 (7.30) to 9pm at Frome Town Football Club, to discuss what local funding is available to community groups and projects, and how you can access it. See http://www.frometowncouncil.gov.uk/news/view/participate-frome-next-steps.  Rodden Meadows consultation, 26th March The above workshop […]

Packsaddle Community Tea Party I have been very pleased to help the Packsaddle Community Group organise the community tea party and consultation event at St Mary’s Hall on Saturday 15th March, by agreeing to help fund the event, and other community activities, out of my councillor allocation of Mendip District Council’s Community Environment Fund (part […]

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 […]

Local Open Spaces: feedback from residents: Local residents living around the open space on Brunel Way have asked for new dog waste bins, and litter bins, to help keep this area more free of dog poo and litter, so I will be working to get these installed as soon as possible. Residents are also concerned […]

Showfield update 17 December 2013: The proposed transfer of the old Showfield leases from Mendip District Council to Frome Town Council, has run into a problem due to a legal issue. I am supporting the transfer to FTC as it would enable FTC to manage the site and spend over £40,000 improvements fund to improve […]

In the summer, Mendip District Council published a Play Strategy that identified a number of little playgrounds around the district as ‘low use’ playgrounds, including at the bottom of Acacia Drive. This means that they should be redesigned as open spaces, with play equipment removed. Mendip agreed to work with local residents to see what […]