From The Mayor

Since my last column we have seen many events in Frome, including Frome Pride’s parade and the beginning of the Frome Festival.

The parade was the first stand-alone parade since Frome Pride’s inception in 2022. It was a joyous procession ending outside the library for music and speeches, stopping first in the Market Place for dancing and singing led by Ginny of Mojo Moves.

Frome Festival kicked off its 25th anniversary year with the now traditional Food Feast. If the queues at the stalls were anything to go by then it was a huge success.

I also visited a stone-carving masterclass led by local stonemason and author Andrew Ziminski, where he demonstrated how to carve a ‘Green Man’ in Bath stone. For many years I was an active member of the Frome Tunnels Project and their four festival tours sold out on the first day they were available. Tours sometimes run outside the festival, so follow them on Facebook if you want to go and missed out this time.

Outside my duties as mayor, I am the lead councillor for open spaces. This means I am the link between all the councillors and the magnificent team of rangers who keep our parks and other green spaces in such fantastic condition. I am sure I will return to this theme many times in the months to come but I want to point out now a consultation that has just started.

Many of you will know the large green space at Brunel Way. Frome Town Council has now taken charge of it from Somerset Council and we want your thoughts on how we manage it. Our communities team will be holding events there over the summer so do let them know your ideas on how you would like the space to be used in the future at https://www.frometowncouncil.gov.uk/help-shape-the-future-of-brunel-green/

Finally, I would like to pay tribute to Martin Bax, founder of the Frome Festival. I had the honour of representing Frome Town Council at his funeral when thanks were given for his life and especially the contribution he has made to Frome’s cultural life. He will be missed but his legacy will endure.

To request a visit from me, email lflaherty@frometowncouncil.gov.uk.

Cllr Mark Dorrington