Services meet packed audience at community group meeting

Trinity Residents’ Association hosted a well-attended meeting for residents of the Trinity area of Frome to discuss their concerns with the police, fire brigade, local housing association, and county, district and town councillors.

Supported by Frome Town Council, the newly- formed community group has already had a positive impact in the area with new rubbish bins, litter picks, a street party and a community gardening project. 

Residents expressed their concerns in the area about rising arson attacks and drug dealing, with motor vehicle speeding and litter problems also hot topics of conversation. 

 Local police inspector Mark Nicholson and sergeant Rachel Clark attended with local PCSOs. The team updated the public with recent activity and operations in the area. Rachel Clark stressed the importance of reporting not only crime, but anti-social behaviour, and any suspicious activity to the police as soon as practicable.

 Rachel Clarke said, “We are delighted to be invited to the community meeting, to listen to the local concerns, and feedback positively on the work we’ve been doing with our colleagues from Devon and Somerset fire service. We are looking forward to greater collaboration with the community group and other residents in the future”.

Local resident Adam Baylis, who chaired the meeting, called for residents to join the community group and take part in positive activity in the area.  He said, “Trinity is not an area which needs rescuing, it is a great place to live and one we are all proud of.  I am sad that we are all here tonight to talk about the things that concern us, but collectively we can make good things happen.”

 The community safety officer for Devon and Somerset Fire Service, Neil Giddings, talked about the much wider education programme that the fire service is involved in and the number of projects that the fire service run. This includes offering local people home safety checks.

 All of the services made a commitment to continuing the dialogue with residents across Frome to help communities make positive changes.  There were many suggestions from residents and others in the room which will be considered over the next few months, but the message was clear: all residents in Trinity are part of the solution.

Residents can contact the Police on 101 for non emergencies, 999 in an emergency or anonymously through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. For home safety fire checks go to www.dsfire.gov.uk. For more information about Trinity Community Group go to www.trinity communitygroup.co.uk or contact Frome Town Council on info@frometown council.gov.uk