FOLLOWING a Mendip District Council consultation about where to install bike racks in Frome, the town council has asked for funding to carry out its own consultation instead. Town councillors said that the plans do ‘not match the street furniture and were ridiculous in shape and design.’
At the full town council meeting on Wednesday 18th January, cllr Nick Dove, who represents Frome’s town centre, gave an update, explaining that Mendip District Council proposed to install bike racks in five locations across town, including Stoney Street, following the results of the consultation.
Cllr Nick Dove said, “There was a recent exercise undertaken by Mendip that suggested installing bike racks around the town. They suggested they conducted a comprehensive consultation with residents and local organisations about best places to put the bike racks.
“They then came back with a proposal for five locations about where best to put the bike racks. Two ideas were the bottom of Stoney Street. It’s totally unsuitable. They were called Penny Farthing bike racks and they were frankly a ridiculous shape and design. I don’t know how you would attach more than two bikes to them and they also wanted to paint them in teal, not matching the other street furniture we have in the town.
“Mine and others’ views was that this was a pretty poor exercise. When we pushed back and reflected the views, they said we would get nothing. What I have asked for, is if we could have the money they were going to spend on those bike racks and give it to us. We need more bike racks and we could put it where we know they will be best used and we can choose a design that matches the street furniture.”
The consultation was carried out following requests from residents in some areas for safe places to lock up bikes. The district council then applied for money from Somerset County Council’s public health fund and received £50k to spend on the project.
Other areas which had a consultation included Glastonbury, Mells, Shepton Mallet, Street and Wells, who will potentially have new bike racks installed.
The consultation closed on Friday 4th November. A further update will follow.