The area around Frome College could be safer for pupils and calmer for traffic as a host of measures were discussed for slowing the roads around the main entrance.

Initially just discussed as a traffic calming series of measures around the B3090 , councillors at last night's planning meeting suggested widening the scheme to include all the areas around the school.

Additionally there were discussions about making Cuckoo Lane a one way system and imposing a 20mph limit on additional roads, and not just at school drop off and pick up times.

The consultation about the traffic scheme shown to councillors included:

New road signs showing a drop to 20mph at key times

Warning signs including new road markings on the main road past the college

Cutting back vegetation to make the line of sight for motorists safer.

Cllr Linda Oliver told the hybrid meeting: " These measures are much needed as it is really important to protect those around the community college. It is NOT just a speed reduction scheme, that is just part of the process to make this safer for everyone around that part of Frome."

The Principal of Frome College who has been one of those in consultation on the proposals has indicated that she would like to see more cycle lanes, while Ashely Reay from the local Speedwatch group has been talking about how to restrict speeds across the whole area and how best to implement speed limits, although as the meeting was told, this is a matter for the police, not Somerset Highways.

You can read the Frome Nub News profile on the local Speedwatch team by clicking HERE : when we interviewed him pre pandemic.

In other news - and that side of Frome - councillors agreed to vote for a proposal to close both Berkley Lane and Dark Lane to traffic, and hopefully stamp out fly tipping in that area.

The planning meeting was told that when Berkley was previously closed to traffic Mendip Council had saved £50,000 against the usual costs of clearing up from the rubbish tipped there.

However councils heard that creative answers were needed to the bigger issue of fly tipping, with waste often being dumped across from Wiltshire, and road closures leading to rubbish being dumped elsewhere.

If Mendip pushes ahead with plans, now agreed by Frome Town Council to close the two roads, those closures will be permanent. The decision would be ratified by the Secretary of State explained Cllr Linda Oliver, who covers Frome North so : " Those roads would not be opened (to cars) again. If this happens it will be a major achievement."