COMMUNITIES across Frome are standing up against plans to build houses on much-loved green spaces.
Residents say that the plans for up to 30 houses across several sites in the town will result in the loss of green space that is used by residents young and old for recreation purposes, impact wildlife living in the area, and exacerbate already “nightmare” parking issues.
Behind the proposals is the Fair Homes Project – a partnership between Frome Area Community Land Trust (FACLT), Selwood Housing Group, and Mendip District Council. The project aims to build up to 30 “new high-quality, fair rent, family homes”, for those in “desperate” housing need.
Director of the Frome Area Community Land Trust, John Clarke, has acknowledged the “mixed feelings” stirred up by the project, and has explained the challenge to find suitable space to help combat Frome’s “social housing crisis”.
He said, “There is no easy solution. If not these green spaces for social housing, then where should social housing be built?
“The answer is surely not building social housing regardless of the environmental cost. Nor is the answer not building social housing because all green spaces must be protected regardless of the social cost.
“It is about meeting the need for both and finding the balance between protecting green space and providing housing for those in urgent need of a home. This is about homes and the question should be asked: do homes take precedent over the loss of some green spaces?”
Included in the consultation – which closes this Friday, 11th June – are green spaces at eight sites: Farley Close; Hodders Close; Randolph Road; Feltham Drive & Austin Close; Cranmore View & The Grove; Selwood Crescent; Grove Mead; and Mountfield.
A ninth site, Tower View, was withdrawn from the consultation as it is considered a memorial space by residents.
A number of community meetings and protests about the plans have been held across the town – and there has been calls for the consultation to be extended, to allow for more residents to have their say.
Farley Close resident, Tracey Matthews, told Frome Times, “It’s a fantastic green area where our children play together, have fun, [get] lots of fresh air and most importantly are extremely safe. There’s not anywhere local that they can play – losing it would force families to go further afield.
“And we are concerned for the wildlife – hedgehogs and bats which we all love. And the parking – there’s limited parking here and parking can already be a nightmare for us.
“For our campaign we are asking the community to contact us if they have ever lived at Farley Close and may have some photos of them on the green. The email address to contact us on is savefarleyclosegreen@gmail.com ”
About the proposal for the Cranmore View & The Grove green space, Lisa Rendall – who has observed and photographed wildlife on the green, including a rare pink grasshopper – said, “I’m hugely concerned about the wildlife that use that space, which will be lost if the houses are built on the green. And people use the space to walk their dogs, and let their children play there.
“And we’ve been there 40 years and the parking is terrible already – which raises problems for the emergency services.
“There are lots of other places they could build these houses – there’s not going to be any green space left in the town at this rate.”
A Selwood Crescent resident – where a 78-strong protest was held over the Bank Holiday Weekend said, “In addition to being a well-used play area for children too young to cross roads alone, an area where community events have been held over decades and a safe place to learn to ride bikes, its daily visitors also include older residents no longer able to walk significant distances or, in many cases, also no longer able to drive.”
About the plans for the green spaces at Mountfield and Feltham Drive & Austin Close, trustee of The Friends of The Mount, Marston and Keyford, Scott Ward said, “We are completely supportive of any project that aims to address the needs for social housing in our town, but are sad to see the green spaces in our area being considered for this project.
“The Mount is an area of town with lots of income families and residents already in social housing and the green spaces were designed to break up the terraced houses and provide a much-needed natural respite, especially in the recent times during lockdown and restricted access to places outside of the immediate area.
“We think that the proposed plans can be amended in some cases to minimalise the impact on our green spaces and possibly make use of other spaces not already highlighted by the proposals.”
For more information about the Fair Homes Project, visit the website – register your interest, and have your say: selwoodhousing.com/fairhomesproject
