A BELOVED green space in Frome cannot be sold off to locals to prevent homes from being built there, Somerset Council has confirmed.
Packsaddle Fields, which lies on Frome’s northern edge, has been in public ownership since 1973 and was originally earmarked for a new school.
Somerset County Council announced in March 2022 that it was planning to sell the land off, entering into an agreement with housing association LiveWest – who put forward plans for 74 homes and a children’s home on the site in March 2023.
Stuart Hearn from campaign group People for Packsaddle addressed the council’s executive committee on 2nd December, calling on councillors to halt the development plans and engage with local residents over purchasing the site.
But he was told that selling the site for development would “obtain a higher return” than giving it to the community.
Stuart Hearn told the executive in Taunton, “These fields
are eight acres of green space and are a listed asset of community value, the only one of its kind in Somerset.
“Since 2022, I have written to the council on five occasions offering to buy the fields on behalf of the local community, many of whom are elderly and vulnerable, so that the fields can be enjoyed by our community in perpetuity.
“I have not received a single response to any of these emails. This is not the action of a council that ‘listens to you’ and ‘cares for the most vulnerable’.”
LiveWest’s proposals to redevelop the site were originally due to be considered by the council’s planning committee east on 5th November.
However, the application was pulled from the agenda at the last minute to address outstanding issues regarding viability and contributions for local schools.
Stuart Hearn said,“The proposed development scheme is not policy-compliant as it does not offer the required 30 per cent affordable housing.
“It is neither sustainable nor green as the vast majority of the houses will not have solar panels or heat pumps – they will instead have gas-burning boilers.
“Do you accept that these actions are contrary to your published vision, specifically of being a ‘greener Somerset that cares for the most vulnerable and listens to you’?
“What will you do to investigate and rectify this situation in order to comply with your published vision?”
Councillor Mike Rigby, portfolio holder for economic development, planning and assets, responded that the council needed to get the best value out of any sale of publicly-owned assets, including the Packsaddle site.
Under Section 123 of the Local Government Act 1972, any local authority must attempt to secure the best possible price for any land, property or assets which it seeks to sell off.
Councillor Rigby said, “The council is committed to the reduction of its property and land portfolio to reduce costs and obtain capital receipts.
“This land was not required to support our statutory obligations, and it was therefore considered that the best use of the site was to sell it to meet local housing need.
“The sale of the site is conditional on obtaining appropriate consent. This option obtains a higher return than simply selling the land.”
The council has not confirmed how soon the LiveWest application will come before the committee (which handles major applications in the former Mendip area) for a final decision.
By Local Democracy Reporter Daniel Mumby
Packsaddle Fields, Photographed by Daniel Mumby
