Councillors in Frome have expressed "disappointment" at the "continued state of cleanliness" in the town centre, with bins left unemptied and litter building up on the streets.

The "ongoing issues" have caused growing frustration among residents and businesses.

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. 

Frome Town Council members 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 Nick Dove said: "Keeping Frome clean and welcoming is a priority: I speak about it almost every council meeting.

"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. 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, FTC have 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''