National Highways has recently announced that the A36 Warminster Road will be fully closed between Limpley Stoke and Monkton Coombe from Monday 12 August 2024 for about 6 months until Spring 2025, to undertake essential and urgent repairs. This involves stabilising the embankment by the southbound carriageway following cracking of the pavement. Please see here for […]

Liberal Democrat candidate Anna Sabine has been elected as the Member of Parliament for Frome & East Somerset at the General Election on 4th July. Anna was elected with the following votes: If you have any issues you need to get in touch with Anna about please email Anna’s new parliamentary email address: anna.sabine.mp@parliament.uk. Please […]

Apologies for radio silence recently, I explain explain here. Is your rubbish collection day changing? Recycling and rubbish kerbside collection days will change in June for many residents in the former Mendip (including in and around Frome) and South Somerset areas. Every household affected should receive a letter and a Waste Collection Service Guide with […]

Are you registered to vote in the General Election? A General Election has been called for Thursday 4 July so do check you are registered to vote and that you have valid Voter ID to ensure you can have your say on who represents you in Parliament. The deadline to register to vote is midnight […]

At the end of January, Lib Dem members selected local businesswoman Anna Sabine to be the Lib Dem General Election candidate for Frome & East Somerset (see here Anna Sabine selected as Parliamentary candidate for Frome & East Somerset (bathneslibdems.org.uk)). Anna’s website is here Frome and East Somerset Liberal Democrats (anna4fes.uk). To help elect Anna […]

The application by Farleigh & District Swimming Club for their river swimming site along the River Frome at Farleigh Hungerford to be designated as an official Bathing Water has been approved by DEFRA after a public consultation (see the announcement and reports here). This is very good news. I met the club last year (with […]

In February, plans were made public for a potential housing development of 420 new homes, associated infrastructure, access, roads, drainage/utilities, public open spaces and landscaping, on land east of Oldford Hill, between Oldford, and Gypsy Lane in Frome (see here). This was through the submission of a request to Somerset Council for a formal Screening […]

The planning application for the construction & operation of a solar photovoltaic farm with battery storage & associated infrastructure, including inverters, security cameras, fencing, access tracks & landscaping to the east of Rode (2023/2183/FUL) was deferred at Somerset Council’s Planning Committee (East) on 7th May, for a period of 3 months, contrary to the Officer’s […]

Apologies for the radio silence, I have been taking some time off since my mother sadly passed away at the end of February, only a few weeks after I had moved her to Frome to be closer to me and my family here (and so she could experience the wonders of Frome and Somerset). At […]

Apologies for the radio silence. I have taken some time off since my mother sadly passed away at the end of February, after we moved her to Frome to be closer to me in January – please see here for my mother’s tribute site, and here for my tribute. It has been a huge shock […]

At last week’s Full Council meeting, Somerset Councillors passed a budget and set the Council Tax for the forthcoming 2024/25 financial year, avoiding a Section 114 Notice. The budget was approved by 52 votes (all Lib Dem, including me, one of your councillors for Frome North) to 9 against, with 31 abstentions). If we did […]

Somerset Council budget: Somerset Council’s meeting agenda for Full Council on 20th February, at Canalside Conference Centre near Bridgwater, are now online – (see here). The main item is the budget for 2024/25 and setting the year’s Council Tax, in item 11. The Executive recently passed amendments to withdraw or change a number of savings proposals to […]

My next informal councillor advice surgery is at the Cheese & Grain café in Frome on Saturday 17th February from 9am to 10.30am (no appointment necessary). Anna Sabine the new Lib Dem prospective parliamentary candidate for Frome & East Somerset (see here) will also be there to meet people. Please just come along with your […]

So we might just do it. Somerset Council looks likely to be able to set a budget for the 2024-25 financial year at Full Council on 20th February, and avoid a Section 114 Notice. This would be some achievement. Months ago, massive increases in the costs of social care (for elderly and disabled adults, and […]

After very heavy rains, there are reports of flooded roads and properties in Somerset, including in the Frome area. Please do not drive through floodwater. Stay up to date with the latest travel updates using our Travel Somerset Twitter or our Roadworks and travel information page. Find out the current status of roads that have Emergency road closure gates. […]

Waste and recycling collections: We have had an update from the Somerset Council waste team on waste and recycling collections: ‘A brief update on waste collections: as ever, the festive period has been really busy, with extra-heavy loads of recycling and refuse. On top of this, we have had the added complication of changed collection […]

“The Liberal Democrats exist to build and safeguard a fair, free and open society, in which we seek to balance the fundamental values of liberty, equality and community, and in which no-one shall be enslaved by poverty, ignorance or conformity.” This is the preamble to our Constitution. The Liberal Democrats stand firm on seven core […]

The planning application for a large ‘Bluebell Wood solar farm’ with battery storage and associated infrastructure, on 74 hectares of land (184 acres) to the east of Rode, has been submitted to Somerset Council by Low Carbon UK Solar Investments. I and Dawn attended online presentations by the applicants, and they have also presented to […]

You may have seen in the news that Somerset Council has declared a Financial Emergency. As Leader of Council, I am writing to give you more information and to ask you to help us present Somerset’s case to Government by writing to your Member of Parliament. Somerset Council’s projected overspend of more than £27million in […]