Dedicated resident tackles rubbish near Frome bypass after ‘terrible’ build-up

A local resident, who regularly litter-picks across the town, has tackled the build-up of rubbish at one of the entrances into Frome in her latest effort to help clean up the town.

Tracey Eames, who has been litter-picking around Frome for eight years, went out with two friends armed with litter pickers to collect rubbish left on the side of the road near the Berkeley roundabout, close to the Frome bypass.

“The laybys look terrible and are absolutely full of rubbish, and I think that reflects badly on Frome,” says Tracey.

Among the rubbish they collected near the bypass were cans, paper waste, and around 20 bottles of urine. “We found the bottles that people have used and probably just flung out of the window to the side of the road,” Tracey said.

“It does not give a very good impression of Frome at all. This is the gateway into Frome; it looks terrible, and what do people think?”

“I’ve got to be honest, I think it’s people stopping, and I don’t think they’re from around here, so they aren’t worried. They probably aren’t going to come this way again, so it probably doesn’t matter to them.”

Tracey said there is also a gate near the layby, behind which dumped building materials were found.

“I don’t know how this can be prevented. Cameras, maybe, but how can you stop people driving past from littering?”

Tracey, who is part of Frome Litter Warriors, a council-run group that litter-picks around the town, says she usually picks up litter at the Old Showfield every day.

“When I was out, I picked up some litter along Brunel Way. Someone had stuffed two canisters of nitrous oxide gas, and I carried them home and put them in my recycling.”

“I think there needs to be more education about the impact of littering. If we all dropped litter, imagine what we would be living in. It’s for our future generations, for our grandchildren.”

Frome Mayor Cllr Andy Jones said, “As a trunk road, litter on the bypass is the responsibility of National Highways, and we have contacted them to ask them to address the issue. Littering is a source of concern for Frome Town Council, as it is for many residents, and we know the situation with litter on the Frome bypass is particularly bad at the moment.

“Littering is antisocial behaviour by individuals—and it’s illegal. Sadly, that behaviour becomes everyone’s problem once the litter is there. Thanks to the brilliant work of organisations like the Frome Litter Warriors, the Hoedowners, and many public-spirited residents who head out in their own time, we can and do take action within the town. However, it’s extremely unsafe for anyone without the proper equipment and training to litter-pick by a busy road like the A361, so please don’t be a hero! Don’t put yourselves at risk.

But do join us at Boyle Cross on Thursday 20th March for the Great British Spring Clean in the town centre from 9.45am to 12pm—equipment provided!

“We’ll continue the conversation with National Highways and work with our colleagues at Somerset Council—and you can also add your voice by using the reporting tool on their website at https://report.nationalhighways.co.uk/”

Pictured: Tracey Eames