WHEELS are in motion to make Frome Market Place more pedestrian friendly as the town council gets set to press ahead with plans for courtesy crossings and traffic calming measures.
The council has announced it will be working with Somerset County Council to improve the town centre for pedestrians, and will be appealing against the refusal of its plans for the Boyle Cross area.
The town council’s economic development and regeneration manager, Peter Wheelhouse, told Frome Times, “Local people have consistently told us that improving safety for people walking in the Market Place is important, and it’s something the council has been working towards for a while.
“We understand that it’s a busy and important road and we’re not looking to pedestrianise it, but the area is dominated by vehicles at the moment and we’d like to shift the balance in favour of pedestrians. We’re considering making it easier to cross outside the Market Cross Cafe, and the George Hotel, and possibly changing the road surface to ensure drivers slow down around the popular crossing points.”
Town councillor Mel Usher said, “Once implemented, we think this project will make a big difference to people’s enjoyment of the town centre, as well as making it safer.
“Thanks to cllr David Fothergill and his highways team for their help on this; we look forward to a fruitful partnership. There is also the matter of securing approval for our plans to improve the area immediately around the Boyle Cross monument, and an appeal to the Secretary of State will be submitted shortly.”
The council has said the most pressing plans are ones to make it safer for people on foot to cross the road in the Market Place.
The town council will also be seeking to overturn Mendip’s refusal of plans to pedestrianise the parking area opposite the George Hotel. To view those plans enter reference 2014/1269/FUL in the planning search at www.mendip.gov.uk
