New MP for Somerton & Frome: Sarah Dyke (Liberal Democrat) was elected as our new MP for Somerton & Frome in the by-election on 20th July, with 55% of the vote – see here (Somerset Council), here (BBC) and https://www.sarahdyke.uk/. Sarah’s new email is sarah.dyke.mp@parliament.uk, or you can contact her by post to House of […]

Somerset bin strike is called off: Somerset Council announced on 18th July (see here) the good news that that the proposed industrial action by Somerset waste and recycling collection crews has been called off. This follows a positive response to a Unite ballot to members on an improved pay offer from SUEZ, the Council’s collections […]

A few things this month: Waste and recycling strike action suspended:  Somerset Council can confirm that strike action, which was planned to start on Wednesday 12th July for four weeks by waste collection crews employed by Somerset Council’s contractor Suez, has been suspended. Residents are asked to put out refuse, recycling and garden waste as […]

The big news at the weekend was that the former Conservative MP for Somerton & Frome has resigned (see here), so there will be a by-election here on 20th July to elect our new Member of Parliament. Sarah Dyke is the Liberal Democrat candidate, a Somerset Councillor and Executive member for Environment and Climate Change […]

A full planning application for the ‘Erection of 74 dwellings, 1 no. children with disabilities home, including means of access, drainage, landscaping and associated works’ at Somerset Council owned land at Packsaddle Way, Frome, has been submitted by LiveWest – please see see here. To comment on the planning application please see the Council’s planning […]

A mid/late May update is below, including items included in my reports to the Town and Parish Councils this month after my main May update: Waste collections next week: Don’t forget that waste and recycling collections will be delayed by a day next week due to Spring Bank Holiday Monday – see here. Packsaddle planning application: […]

Local Community Networks (LCNs) will be the focus for Somerset Council’s community engagement. They will be a conduit for sharing information with communities on the areas, topics, decision making that affect our daily lives. There are 18 LCNs being established across the County. LCNs will help Somerset Council understand evidence-based community priorities. They will bring partners and […]

There’s quite alot going on here at the moment so please bear with me: Bank Holiday bin collections: The week after the King’s coronation, there will be changes to our refuse and recycling collection days: No collections on Bank Holiday Monday, 8 May. Collections will be one day later for the rest of that week […]

Renewable energy developers ‘Low Carbon’ have started a public consultation into their emerging plans for a solar farm development, with battery storage, on 69 hectares of farmland adjacent to the A361, Bradford Road and Rode Hill to the east of Rode. The development would have the capacity to generate approximately 49.9 Megawatts (‘MW’) of renewable […]

Plans have been submitted for the development of 18 new low-carbon affordable homes on an apparently underused part of Somerset Council’s North Parade car park, comprising 9 houses and 9 flats. The scheme was initiated by Mendip District Council as part of the first social and affordable housing programme by a local council here for […]

I have always kept in touch with residents well via email newsletters and my website which has over 500 articles now (to subscribe or get in touch please email me), but I know councillors need to do more to be visible, available and there for you. So please do come and see me if you […]

Last year the fly nuisance suffered for years by residents around Wessex Water’s Frome Water Recycling Centre (the sewage works at Welshmill) was substantially reduced by Wessex Water’s installation of netting over the sewage filter beds, initially over half as a control study, and then across the whole site, with fly numbers reduced by around […]

A new Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan for Frome, which the Town Council adopted at its meeting on 19th April, could lead to improvements in walking and cycling routes, more pedestrian crossings, lower speed limits and more ‘low traffic neighbourhoods’. The complete plan can be seen here. The LCWIP has been led by Frome […]

New era at Somerset Council The main news this month is that 1st April was ‘vesting day’ for the new Somerset Council, a ‘unitary authority’ that has taken over all services from the district and county councils – please see here, including useful links the new website. That means no more Mendip District Council, or […]

An application has been submitted by one of the insurance companies for a neighbour of the small play park at Acacia Drive, to remove the two old Oak trees at the park, due to alleged impacts on the house. Both trees are legally protected by a Tree Preservation Order, and one is identified as a […]

The main news this month is that 1st April was ‘vesting day’ for the new Somerset Council, a ‘unitary authority’ that has taken over all services from the district and county councils. That means no more Mendip District Council, or Somerset County Council. 110 Somerset Councillors were elected as county councillors last May, with 61 […]

LiveWest have launched their much anticipated pre-application consultation on draft proposals for the development of the Packsaddle Fields site on Monday 20th March. LiveWest say they are looking to bring forward a planning application in the near future for 74 new homes, a residential facility for children with disabilities (to be managed by Somerset County […]

As I said in my newsletters, the Somerset Councils are consulting on a new Statement of Community Involvement, which sets out how Somerset Council will involve and consult local communities, organisations and others in the planning process, including in preparing planning policy documents and in determining planning applications, including how neighbours to a development site […]

County Councillor Report for Frome Town Council,  15 March 2023, by Adam Boyden, Somerset County Councillor for Frome North, Mendip District Councillor for Frome College ward (Somerset Councillor for Frome North from 1st April 2023) This was for Frome Town Council’s meeting (see here). Local Government Reorganisation The last few weeks have seen the final […]

County Councillor Reports for Norton St Philip, Rode and Beckington Parish Councils,  March 2023By Adam Boyden, Somerset County Councillor for Frome North Local Government Reorganisation The last few weeks have seen the final ever Full Council meetings of both Mendip District Council and Somerset County Council, quite historic events. The new unitary Somerset Council will […]