REASSURANCES from Mendip District Council that the former Broadway allotment site is not being considered for housing has been met with caution by campaigners.
The district council has told Frome Times and the Broadway Allotments and Community Garden Association that the site is not part of its “current social housing programme of works”.
Campaigners have questioned the use of the word “current”, demanding that the council gives further reassurance that the site has been removed completely from consideration.
When asked by Frome Times for clarity about its statement, a spokesperson for the council said, “I’d hope the statement is clear and residents should be reassured.”
But campaigners say that they are far from reassured. Chair of the association, John Clarke, told Frome Times, “We will be reassured about the future of the site when a decision to remove the site from consideration as part of the social housing programme is taken.
“As far as we are aware, no such decision has been made. We are hopeful the council will listen to the community who have expressed their view clearly that they wish the site to be made a site for community allotments and garden, for the benefit of the town under the management of Frome Town Council.”
The Broadway Allotments and Community Garden Association believes that the district council is considering the site – described as “Frome’s last undeveloped green space” and home to an “incredible plethora” of wildlife – for social housing.
They want the district council to transfer ownership of the site to a willing Frome Town Council, to allow for the green space to become a community allotment and orchard.
Recent surveys carried out on the site by the district council has caused campaigners to believe that the next few weeks could be “critical” to their fight to save the site.
In response to the association’s campaign, Mendip District Council released a statement, which said, “Mendip District Council wishes to clarify the situation regarding council-owned land at Broadway in Frome.
“Broadway is not being considered for development in the council’s current social housing programme of works.
“The council, working with local partners, including the Frome Area Community Land Trust, is focusing on delivering good quality social housing at other potential plots in Frome – and indeed across the district.
“The schemes – subject to pre-planning consultation and the planning approval – will create jobs, boost skills and the local economy, and leave a lasting legacy of social homes offering discounted market rents for residents.
“They deliver on the council’s priorities of ‘making Mendip a fairer place’, and its climate and ecological commitment, due to the nature of high-quality, energy-efficient green builds envisaged.
“But most importantly, the social housing programme will begin to address the urgent housing shortage and provide homes for those in real housing need.”
