Local councillors are tackling the cleanliness of Frome’s streets after ongoing frustration from the community over bins being left unemptied and litter building up.
A spokesperson for Frome Town Council said Somerset Council is responsible for emptying town centre bins via a contractor and is transitioning to a new way of working from June 2025, causing some temporary disruption.
“Keeping Frome clean and welcoming is a priority: I speak about it almost every council meeting,” says Frome Town Councillor Nick Dove. “Rubbish and dog poo bins overflowing and streets that haven’t been swept for months are not a good look; it just isn’t good enough.”
Frome town councillors are working with the county council to improve the service, as well as implementing improvements to street cleansing and weeding.
The council has purchased a new motorised street sweeper, which will remove litter and weeds on a rotating basis every two weeks, to keep Frome looking its best and encourage tourism. This follows the recruitment of a town centre ranger in 2024, who tackles weeds and issues with street furniture around the centre.
Cllr Dove said, “We know residents and businesses share our frustration when bins are left overflowing and there is rubbish in our streets, and understandably they’re looking to us as their town council to help.
“Somerset Council’s contract with ID Verde is coming to an end, and we appreciate that their workers are in a difficult position, but the truth is that this contract has not been fit for purpose for a long time.
“While we wait for Somerset Council’s new system to bed in, Frome Town Council has taken the proactive step of recruiting a town centre ranger to help keep the centre clean and tidy, and a new mechanical street sweeper that will tackle weeds and rubbish in our streets as part of a regular cleaning schedule, making a real difference to the look and feel of our streets. In addition, there has to be a sensible, cost-effective way in which any new arrangement to remove rubbish will include commercial waste, which blights the town centre. A daily collection of this rubbish from our town centre businesses would make an enormous difference to the look of the town.”
Frome Town Council has said it will continue to monitor the situation and work with Somerset Council to find long-term solutions that maintain a high standard of cleanliness in the town.
Residents with concerns about bin collections and street cleaning should contact Somerset Council via their neighbourhood services email: neighbourhoodservices@somerset.gov.uk