The open space along Brunel Way is owned and managed by Mendip District Council. Over a year ago, Frome Town Council published an Open Spaces Strategy which proposed the Town Council take over the area and involve local people in improving the area. Ideas put forward included tree planting, natural play areas, an adult fitness […]

I was pleased to hear that the recent Great Frome Clean Up litter picks, at 7 locations around Frome, including Stonebridge, organised by HopeFrome and Friends of the River Frome, were a real success. I help publicise these events and encourage people to attend, and I help out when I can. Please get in touch […]

For years, Mendip District Council allowed Packsaddle Play Area to run down, so I have been inspired by the ‘community building’ work of the Packsaddle Community Group recently to improve the space for everyone, through events and parties, organised play sessions, and by finding out how you want to improve this community space for all. […]

The old Showfield is the most important public open space in this part of Frome, used by dogwalkers, as a traffic free route into town and to the health park, and by children playing or walking to school. Recently I was pleased to help Mendip agree to transfer the leases to Frome Town Council, as […]

Mr C, a resident of Swallow Drive, first contacted me in the summer of last year with a problem. He and his wife, both in their senior years, were worried that the footpath to their front door (the only way into their house) was increasingly uneven and that soon one of them would trip over. […]

Update 15th October: Mendip’s Cabinet have approved the transfer of leases to Frome Town Council, subject to the Council entering into negotiations with Frome Town Council about whether the proposed fence to the children’s play area should be included in the Section 106 improvements fund. See the following joint press release here: http://www.mendip.gov.uk/article/3179/Town-council-to-take-over-leases-for-Frome-Showfield See also the […]

Mendip’s revised Play Strategy was approved at Cabinet in August 2013. This aims to target available funding towards the district’s most popular playgrounds, by identifying ‘low-use’ playgrounds where equipment can be removed and which can be redesigned as open spaces. Mendip agreed to work with local community groups, town council, ward councillors and nearby residents […]

Following previous articles (see bottom of this page), and recent discussions and decisions, I can now give a brief update on the latest situation on the plans to improve Frome’s old Showfield using funds from the Frome Medical Centre’s Section 106 Agreement. Frome Town Council recently applied to Mendip District Council’s Corporate Assets Management Group (CAMG) […]

Joint Statement from Mendip District Councillors Richard Pinnock and Adam Boyden on the application to Mendip to designate land at Styles Hill/Rodden Lake Stream meadows as an Asset of Community Value: We are members of Mendip District Council’s Corporate Asset Management Group which held an emergency meeting recently to decide on the application by Frome […]

If you want to help keep local pubs open, or protect other important community buildings or land, and give the community a chance to bid to own them, there is good news – Mendip District Council has already registered two pubs as ‘Assets of Community Value’ under the Localism Act – the New Inn, in Priddy, and the Redan, in […]

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 […]

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. […]

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 & […]

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 […]