As you may know, late last year Mendip District Council proposed to install new childrens play equipment in several play areas across the district which are in need of refurbishment, including in Frome in Stonebridge at the Hawksworth Close and Blackbird Way play areas (see here). This was triggered by the feedback I had received from over two […]

A quick update on a few things: Frome Town Council’s Showfield community orchard consultation took place this afternoon again on the old Showfield – so apologies if you missed it, but please see my July newsletter here for information and how to have your say. If you didn’t know already, Lilley’s Cider are having an open day […]

Dear all, I am one of the councillors for Frome College ward on Mendip District Council, and want to keep you up to date, please see below for my latest news on local issues: Opposition to Mendip’s Sunday parking charges Somerset County Council calls for conversation on Unitary Council Changing Places puts Frome on the […]

Litter picks are being organised around Frome as part of the Great British Spring Clean.  The Great British Spring Clean is a national campaign designed to help keep our streets looking good. Local volunteers are being asked to join in and help make neighbourhoods as clean as possible this spring in time for the warmer weather. […]

Dear All,  please see below a roundup of news from the ward and local area, and updates on what your councils are doing. This has taken some time, so apologies it has been a long time since the last one. Old Showfield improvements to continue Frome Town Council is planning further improvements to the Old […]

Dear All,   A quick update – and some questions at the end for you –   Referendum approves Frome’s Neighbourhood Plan: Yesterday the people of Frome voted to back proposals for a new Neighbourhood Plan, with 86% voting in favour and 14% against. A total of 3,631 people voted – a turnout of 17.9% […]

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 […]

Local residents and Frome Town Council are joining the UK’s largest litter pick to try to clean up the country in time for June – when the official celebration of the Queen’s 90th birthday will take place. One big litter pick is being organised by local residents in the Stonebridge area of Frome on Saturday […]

It was great to see so many people at the celebration at the old Showfield (on Wednesday 30th September) to mark the handover to Frome Town Council. This important green space is now managed (and mostly owned) by the Town Council for the community and with the local community. Local residents should feel more of […]

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 […]

Earlier in June, together with county councillor Linda Oliver and town councillor Nick White, I met the site managers of the new development of the shops and flats development on Forest Road, Stonebridge to get a briefing about the construction project and ask questions. Planning permission was granted by Mendip District Council in January for […]

Over the last four years there have been several major planning applications which I have got stuck into to help local residents get better development in this area. These include: Stonebridge shops and flats: Permission was granted by Mendip in January for the expansion of the shops at Forest Road, and for 3 new flats […]

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, […]

The Stonebridge community litter pick on Saturday 21st March was a great success. Over twenty volunteers took part including a number of younger members of our community. They all worked enthusiastically for an hour making a significant difference to the area.  Most of the rubbish we collected was in the bushes and brambles next to paths, open spaces and in the stream.  […]

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 […]

After a recent complaint from a local resident, I contacted Mendip District Council about several parts of Stonebridge where litter has been accumulating badly and was not being cleared up by Mendip’s street cleansing contractors as regularly or as effectively it should. The area badly littered included the green spaces around the shops on Forest […]

Update, May 2015 The development of the Stonebridge shops expansion with flats above (ref. 2014/0970) received planning permission in January. I successfully argued for some improvements to the plans, to avoid a loss of car parking spaces, include more tree planting, and improve the design. The trees which were cut down in April will be […]

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 […]

The future of leisure provision in Frome will be decided at a meeting on Monday and I would urge people to go along and find out what will be on offer. Mendip District Council (MDC) announced in late 2013 that it was seeking bids for the leases (or subleases) on the 5 leisure centres in […]