I have written to our MP David Warburton to ask the following – ‘I would just like to know, if you can explain why you and other Conservative MPs chose to vote against the provision of free school meals over the next school holidays during the continued pandemic? This seems at odds with the previous […]

This week, at Mendip District’s Full Council meeting, Councillor Tom Ronan, Portfolio Holder for Strategic Policy and Climate Change provided an update on the progress being made to address the district’s climate emergency commitments. At the meeting, Cllr Ronan commented on the impact of COVID-19, “These really have been the most extraordinary six months of […]

Coronavirus: what you can and can’t do Government advice and the law governing what you can and cannot do was updated most recently on 22nd September to include a new ‘rule of six’ for social gatherings (outdoors or indoors). Please see general guidance here and the updated rules for dos and don’ts here. Somerset Coronavirus […]

We have just been informed that a Covid-19 mobile testing unit will be set up in Frome in the next few days. This will be in the car park next to the Cricket Club at the Old Showfield. Testing will start on Wednesday 23rd September and it should be there for six weeks. If you have […]

Plans to reform local government in Somerset have moved another step forward with the cross-party approval of Mendip District Council’s Scrutiny Committee on Monday 7th September. The plans would see Somerset’s district and county councils abolished, replacing them with new Eastern and Western Somerset Councils that would provide the vast majority of services to local […]

Government guidance: Government advice on the coronavirus pandemic remains here, and please see here for what we can and can’t do. Help is available: Anyone can call the Somerset Coronavirus support helpline 0300 790 6275 to seek help from our district and county councils on: personal care and support including delivery of food and prescriptions, homelessness, transport to […]

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 […]

Some residents have raised concerns about areas of grass not being cut. During the coronavirus restrictions, Mendip District Council cut back on the amount of grass cutting in areas under its management, including due to the need to keep maintenance teams safe. In April the council announced the resumption of grass cutting on large public […]

As part of the work of the Mendip Access & Parking Strategy, Mendip District Council wants to ask for your views on parking and access to the major settlements in the district. We need to understand residents’ and businesses’ needs and desires about what improvements are needed.  Please don’t forget that Mendip’s car parks are […]

Are the Conservatives selling out the British farming and food industry? One consequence of leaving the EU and entering into the transition period in January is that Britain now needs a new domestic farming support system to replace the payments to UK farmers made under the EU Common Agriculture Policy. This is included for in […]

Black Lives Matter, and when black lives matter then all lives will matter. The shocking murder of George Floyd, an unarmed black man in police custody in Minneapolis, USA, following so many others, sparked protests here because racism still remains a problem in the UK. Racism is defined as ‘prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism directed against someone […]

Dear All, Government guidance: The Government has started to ease restrictions – see here. Government advice in summary is: Stay Alert: We can all help control the virus if we all stay alert. This means you must: stay at home as much as possible work from home if you can limit contact with other people keep […]

Here is my Annual Report for 2019-20, which summarises my work as a local councillor from May 2019 to April 2020. May 2019: I was re-elected to Mendip District Council on 2nd May 2019 with my running mate Drew Gardner, in Frome College ward. We received over 60% of the vote, and help form the […]

As one of your local councillors I need to keep you informed, and I hope this is useful. First of all I want to say Thank You to every one of you who are helping keep our community safe and well during this national crisis. Lib Dem and other opposition MPs are calling for clarity […]

As one of your local councillors I need to keep you informed, and I hope this is useful: Somerset Coronavirus Helpline – 0300 790 6275:  There is now a single phone number for anyone in Somerset who needs Coronavirus-related support from our local councils. Anyone who cannot find help within their own community networks can […]

Updated 12th May. We know this is going to be a difficult time for many people. It is vital to follow medical advice and take the necessary precautions to protect ourselves, our families and community and help prevent the spread of the coronavirus – please see: Current rules: The current Government rules everyone must follow […]

As reported (here) it was Mendip District Council’s quarterly meeting of the Full Council last night and it was a long one! I am happy to report that the motion from councillors Barry O’Leary and Drew Gardner, to improve air quality across the district by looking at ways to reduce vehicle idling, especially close to […]

Dear all, a few new updates for you – Old Showfield playground gates are in: Last year I reminded Frome Town Council of the need and our local community’s desire to see the children’s playground at the Old Showfield fully fenced, so children can play without being worried by dogs. This was one of the […]

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 […]

I want to thank every one of the 17,017 people who voted for me in the General Election in December, including those who have previously supported other parties. I am incredibly grateful for all the support. This increased our vote share by 5.4% to 26% with one of the largest swings in the South West, […]