Frome residents have more time to have their say on the latest plans to redevelop the Saxonvale site in the town centre.

Two rivalling proposals for the brownfield site have been put forward – one by the Bath-based Acorn Property Group (which secured outline planning permission in September 2021), the other from the home-grown Mayday Saxonvale (which was approved by Mendip District Council's planning board in July 2022.

Acorn staged a consultation event in Frome on May 25, inviting residents to have their say on proposals for the new footbridge which would link the site to the existing homes on Willow Vale and the Rodden Meadow green space.

Having had some issues with the on line form, Acorn said residents who were not able to attend now have until June 15 to give their views – with a formal planning application for the bridge due to be submitted to Somerset Council in July.

More than 50 people attended the consultation event, which Acorn described as being "positive".

A spokesman said: "The majority seemed to support the proposals for the park, footbridge and play area.

"Some asked to see the wider site; we explained we had a new architect appointed, and we are currently revisiting the masterplan which will be ready to bring out for consultation later this year.

"The bridge is technically challenging and unlocks the development (we cannot commence until the bridge is approved) so this needs to come forward first.

"People liked the idea of a new café within the park, the boules court, keeping the park as natural as possible, improving biodiversity and providing a pond.

"We will review the comments, continuing engaging with local residents and feed this into a planning application over the coming weeks."

To give your feedback on the footbridge proposals, visit www.saxonvaleredevelopment.org/community-consultation-1 . A further consultation event on the wider Saxonvale masterplan will take place later in the year.

If Acorn secures planning permission for the footbridge, construction could get under way in the spring of 2024.