FROME Area Community Land Trust have launched their new website and appointed a new board member in readiness for the next stage of their endeavours to provide genuinely affordable housing for local people in Frome.
The new website https://fromeareaclt.org, developed by locally based Ben Wakeford at the Old Church School, features extensive information about the local CLT. Frome, like so many places has a serious shortage of social housing with a long waiting list of people and families hoping to be housed in an affordable and stable home.
The Frome Area CLT is one of many in the UK and is following the lead set by Brighton and Lyme Regis, where community led housing schemes have already been developed for local people.
Frome Area CLT report, “A recent and welcome addition to the CLT board is Mendip District and Somerset County councillor John Clarke, who brings his local authority experience as the organisation step up efforts to acquire land in the town.”
John said, “The need for affordable housing in the town is well known and as little socially rented housing has been built over the last few years, the CLT is our best option to get things moving. Community Land Trusts have a brilliant record in breaking through barriers and getting homes built in the UK, so I’m really pleased to be on board with this in Frome and hope that I can help make things happen.”
The CLT, along with their sister organisation Fair Housing for Frome, have serious concerns regarding the post Covid-19 housing situation.
They say, “With many people either losing their income or having it greatly reduced, there will be a rise in people struggling to pay rent in the private sector, potentially becoming amplified as a significant percentage of private landlords don’t accept benefit claimants. Housing associations are going to be under increasing pressure to provide homes which just aren’t available in the required numbers. Whilst solutions provided by Community Land Trusts are relatively small compared with major social housing providers, CLTs do make a difference and help keep families in the communities and home towns in which they have roots.”
For those wanting to get involved, the Frome Area CLT encourage people to visit the new website and join the CLT for a minimum of £1. Becoming a member ensures that you are kept up to date with the CLT’s progress, can attend meetings, meet the board and potentially help the organisation. Go to https://fromeareaclt.org for more information.
