Frome Town Council sets out bold new plan

A new ambitious council plan has been launched by Frome Town Council to strengthen the town’s social, economic and environmental resilience.

The plan follows the formal devolution of assets and land to the town from Somerset Council, as a result of their financial crisis, and plots a path for the town council for the next two years.

Leader of the council, Cllr Fiona Barrows, said, “This plan builds on our work over the last three years responding to urgent challenges, such as the cost-of-living crisis and the threat of losing key local assets. With this new plan, we’re shifting to securing longer-term, sustainable impact across the town. It also introduces measurable goals for the first time, as we aim for improved participation, greater transparency and accountability across all areas of our work.

“Frome has always done things differently. This plan is about holding onto our creativity and agility while stepping up for Frome, to look after our new responsibilities and assets, continuing to make tangible improvements to the town.  We can’t fill every gap left by national and county cuts but by working together as a community, we can continue to make Frome a town that truly works for everyone.”

The Council Plan 2025-27 is built around five key aims: 

1. Grow community wellbeing – Strengthening local support networks to ensure help reaches residents before crisis point, with a focus on children and young people

2. Support a thriving town – Investing in the town centre, supporting local business, attracting new funding and exploring opportunities for post-16 education.

3. Cultivate environmental sustainability – Enhancing biodiversity, increasing renewable energy, promoting home energy efficiency and protecting the River Frome.

4. Improve assets and infrastructure – Maintaining and developing Frome’s open spaces and facilities, improving public transport links and championing sustainable development.

5. Be a bold and effective town council – Reviewing and refining internal processes, communication and community engagement and ensuring the council remains innovative, transparent and forward-looking.

The strategy also highlights projects such as improving and expanding the community space at the Key Centre, a previously Somerset-owned, once much-loved asset, supporting the development of a reuse hub, delivering a new skatepark at Mary Baily Playing Fields and launching a new digital platform to make it easier for residents to shape local decisions.

Fiona added, “This is a plan built through engagement with the community. And we are not stopping here. We’re asking residents, businesses and community groups to continue working with us, keep talking to us, share ideas and help shape the future of Frome.”

Residents can read the full plan at bit.ly/council-plan-ftc-2025-27 and sign up to the Frome Matters newsletter at bit.ly/subscribe-frome-matters for regular updates.