RIVERSIDE PROJECT CYCLES ON

Following consultation with local residents, two members of the ‘Missing Link’ group met up with local councillors to walk the proposed cycle path by the river.  It could become part of a continuous cycle route through Frome to link up with the existing Sustrans network, and has the enthusiastic support of local district and county councillors.

Reaction from locals was positive.  ‘It will give them a safe cycling area for the children and improve the pathways.  There are already plans to refurbish the play area nearby and there is a suitable place for picnic tables as well’, said Cllr Derek Tanswell. 

Dr Mark Vose is promoting the healthy aspects. ‘We are trying to encourage people to take more exercise and if we provide traffic free cycling routes people are more likely to leave their cars at home and take to their bikes. Our plan is to link up with the traffic free route all the way to Radstock and from there into Bath.  We already have a plan to work with a local company to prescribe cycling as a form of exercise when the cycle path is open.  This route will be designed to make it accessible by all including the disabled.’

The river bank is weak in places, and Cllr Snook has offered help. ‘Derek and I are willing to donate the willow slips (trees used to strengthen the bank) from our farm.  We want to support this project, because it is a golden opportunity for the people of Frome and will benefit generations to come.’

Cllr Maggy Daniell has experience of pushing her young grandson from Whatcombe Road into town.  ’It is a very steep route by road’, she said. ‘Walking beside the river and avoiding the hilly bits would be a much more enjoyable way into the town centre.’

Geoff Pell commented about the local support for the project and the problems facing it. ‘We have been working to complete this planned path through the town for some time.  We hope the developers next to the path will help, otherwise it might involve expensive engineering and tree felling. The alternative is to build the path more cheaply on the other side, if Wessex Water would let us use their sewage works bridge. We are talking to all concerned and are still confident a solution can be found soon.  There is very little funding available, but we know Frome has a wonderful community spirit and volunteers ready to get things done.”   

Photo: (L to R) cyclists Geoff Pell and Mark Vose with local councillors Maggy Daniell and Derek Tanswell, beside some of the new willow planting to stabilise the river bank.

Dear Sir 

I was invited by our award wining PCSO Gary Maule to come out to see what they do. I arrived at Frome police station for the 6 pm shift that was to last to 2am in the morning. Firstly I was introduced to four other Pcso and then sergeant Dinnis at the station and I was given a briefing then we made our way to the riot van for our nights work. We firstly went to the cinema where an altercation had taken place over a parking space and the police resolved this very quickly.

Then we went to see some drug hot spots around town, then off to the old Victoria hospital where I had a guided tour as this had become a place of crime, flash lights in a derelict building was quite scary and the building is a maze of corridors full of hazards. Then we were off on patrol when were called back to the park road as reports were made of troubling making and seven people were arrested, they all had to be processed. We done a drive by the Hope caravan where I am a regular helper and the police had nothing but praise for this and then to the Pcso’s office in the market place to check up on this. The pcso’s seemed to know everyone by their first names that really impressed me and their dedication and local knowledge was second to none. They have a positive relationship with everyone that they bumped into that evening. The great thing about this was how the police and the pcso’s worked together with no friction what so ever. Their was another incident in the town centre so it was busy all night with no gaps in between, you get the impression of the stereo types police that sit in the patrol car eating donuts all the time this could not be further from the truth. These guys work their socks off making Frome a safe place for all of us. I do remember about 8 years ago when we never used to see the police on the beat due to the paper work they had to compile doing the job. Then I seen my first pcso walking around the Stonebridge estate and I immediately felt safer to see a police presence and I knew instantly what a great idea this was. I do apologise if I did not mention the other pcso’s names but I can assure that you do a great job and thanks for looking after me so well that night. I look forward to coming out again.

Cllr Derek Tanswell

Market Ward, Lib Dem

Cllr.tanswell@mendip.gov.uk

07980 970060

Trinity Church big coin challenge.

Was a fun day with all the coins being put into a line from the Church altar along Trinity Street and down to the bridge café and my children had great fun and stayed to the end putting down some of the last coins. I was surprised by the generosity of all the coins donated however I was not surprised by the community spirit of the people of Frome. The coins collection was so successful that after the coins had reached the Bridge Café then a second line made its way right up to the steps of the church. Well done to all involved and it’s amazing that what people can do together.

Derek Tanswell

Sharon Snook

You can make a difference

Well you think you can’t change things so you don’t bother so you just moan in private about. Well some of the good people of Frome have made a difference by making their voice heard.

Firstly we campaigned on saving Frome Library from shorten hours, with our Somerset County Councilors Maggy Daniel and Alvin Horsfall and with a court order this was proved to be unlawfull and the hours will be reinstated.

Weylands Allotments was a done deal, but with a petition of 86 signatures the plan was rightly thrown out another victory for the people. Thankfully with all the press attention, the church has come up with a new site that looks good for FTC. Well done to all involved for finding an alternative site.

Frome town center closed to traffic to make way for market stalls. This was another done deal without consultation and was simply going too happened until we exposed it. The people of Frome woke up and made a difference and Cllr Sharon Snook first put the plan for expanding market into West way center and Scott road has been given no credit for this whatsoever. I have spoken to no one in Frome who agrees with closing the town centre. If they really want to see how angry the people of Frome are then they should as a one off close the town center on a Wednesday, now what would be a wake up call. We are promised that the road close would not go ahead but I am not so sure if we will see it creeping issue. The consultation was flawed as it never consulted the associated business that use the main route through Frome Town Center who charges would have increased due to extra cost in petrol and time lost in labour. Their was an agreement on the table agreed by the steering group but with pressure from other people and it was reneged upon so you can see why I have little faith in it all. However the county cllrs put a stop to by not agreeing the road close, with further pressure from Cllrs Snook, Tanswell, Boyden, Bullen with a cross party agreement this was stopped.

Power to the people that’s what we stood for, to stand up for everyone and not just get sucked into what the political elite want. We will endeavor to put first what our constituents want and what is best for Frome, that’s what we are all about. “People power”

Cllr Derek Tanswell

Cllr Sharon Snook

Lid Dem

Market Ward

Tel: 07980 970060

Cllr.tanswell@mendip.gov.uk

Last Monday, Mendip District Council’s Cabinet endorsed a new approach to revitilising and expanding Frome’s twice-weekly market. As members of the project Steering Group and as ward councillors (cllrs Snook and Tanswell), local Lib Dem councillors have been instrumental in getting this far, having worked with other councillors and Mendip and Frome Town Councils to improve Mendip’s initial plans (that involved a trial move to the Market Place). Together, we were able to persuade Mendip to consider other options, undertake public consultation and draw up a comprehensive plan to improve the market. We are glad that Mendip have taken notice of local councillors and local people’s concerns. Thanks go to the 400 people who responded to the consultation, as you have helped guide the scheme.

The new plan is the best of both worlds, as the market will now be expanded and improved without the disruption of closing the main road through the town centre on Saturdays. The market would both remain in and expand from its present locations in the Market Yard car park (which is the easiest site for elderly, disabled and other people with walking difficulties) and the Market Place, and be expanded into Scott Road, the Westway and Kingsway Precincts. Together this should make the market much more visible and attractive, and really put Frome’s market on the map.

Three trial ‘Frome super market’ special Sundays are also now proposed in town this summer, to link up with the Artisan market, which been a real Frome success story, as we saw last weekend.

Overall, the market needs better publicity and promotion, including big signs on the outskirts of town, attractive new stalls and covers, and better signage for the town market (avoiding confusion with Standerwick) and these are now part of the plan.

It would be brilliant to see Mendip reinvest some of the money they make out of market traders back into it. The new plan is also backed by Frome’s County Councillors, including cllrs Horsfall and Daniell, who approved road closure orders for King Street and Scott Road but turned down original plans to close off the town centre on Saturdays.

Frome’s markets are one of the main ways we bring people into the town – the new move really embraces our Market Town heritage, and hopefully people attending the market then revisiting Frome will strengthen our economic success for the future.

The project also ties in nicely with Frome’s new Town Team’s bid last week for Frome to be a ‘Portas Pilot’ town, as the Portas Review (by Mary Portas, who visited Frome’s shops and cafes last year) recommended making much more of our towns’ markets to ensure the future of our town centres.

The Steering Group now includes a good mix of councillors from three parties and our three councils, and reps of the business community and market traders, who we have been pleased to help get involved. Having gained agreement on these plans, we hope the improvements can be moved forward quickly and will be a real success for Frome.
Derek Tanswell

Sharon Snook

Lib Dem Mendip District councillors for Frome Market ward.

The Olympic Torch is coming to Frome.