By Local Democracy Reporter Daniel Mumby
Somerset Council will push forward with plans to build new homes at Packsaddle Fields despite considerable public backlash.
The green space, at the northern edge of Frome, is owned by the council and has been a popular walking spot for local residents and families for more than 50 years.
LiveWest entered into an agreement with Somerset Council to redevelop the site but was twice refused permission to erect 74 homes and a children’s home on the space.
While LiveWest plans its next move, the council fenced off the majority of the site in early-March, leaving only the existing public right of way accessible to local residents and visitors.
The People for Packsaddle group staged a protest at the site on 14th March, demanding that the newly erected fences be taken down and the fields protected from any future development.
But the council has now doubled down on its commitment to build homes on the land, with one senior officer describing it “an appropriate piece of land to be developed as housing”.
Jackie Wheeler, from the People for Packsaddle campaign group, raised the issue when the council’s climate and place scrutiny committee met in Taunton on 23rd April.
She said, “Packsaddle Fields is an asset of community value. It’s outside the development boundary and has never been designated as development land.
“The Packsaddle community and wildlife have enjoyed and benefited from this undisturbed eight acres of green space for 50 years.
“Last month, the council fenced off the fields and denied public access.
“Why was this decision not brought before this scrutiny committee prior to implementation, to allow members to assess the validity of the ‘threat of being sued’ against the council’s statutory duties to protect public open space?”
Chris Hall, the council’s executive director for community, place and economy, said, “There continues to be a level of misunderstanding surrounding the site.
“Packsaddle Fields is privately owned by the council and is held by the council for the purposes of development – the site is not public open space.
“We had allowed a permissive path to be established, which allowed access across the field and connected with the existing public rights of way network.
“Any wider use of the site is unauthorised, which includes recreational uses. Any such use was formally removed by Somerset County Council back in November 2020.
“We have now fenced off the land to secure the site from unauthorised use and trespass.
“The site is registered as an asset of community value – but this designation does not confer access or usage rights, nor does it change the status of the site.
“We believe this is an appropriate piece of land to be developed as housing. We are mindful of the contract that we have signed and any implications arising from it.
“We want to see more homes built in this area and we wish to develop this site for housing.
“Therefore, we will continue to support LiveWest in delivering that objective.”
Pictured above: Chris Hall, executive director for community, place and economy. Credit: Somerset Council. Below: People for Packsaddle group protesting
