A local community group, People for Packsaddle, is continuing a campaign to save a local green space from development.

The People For Packsaddle group is working hard to save the fields, which are an Asset of Community Value situated outside the town's development boundary in the northern part of the town, from an application for 74 market value homes. 

The application to develop the land was submitted in May 2023 and a decision is expected in the coming weeks by the Somerset Council Planning East Committee.

People for Packsaddle is hoping the decision will "fall in favour of the fields" and stand ready with an own offer to buy the land themselves if this happens - saying they have £250,000 available to buy the land.

Toby Culff, of the People for Packsaddle group, said: "The first iteration of the planning application provided for zero social rent or shared ownership houses.

"This has since been amended and the application now provides 74 three and four bedroom houses, with only 15 per cent social rent and shared ownership housing.

"This equates to just eight social rent and three shared ownership dwellings. People for Packsaddle, and others who have objected to the application, believe this high level of 'executive housing' are not the homes Frome needs."

Toby continued: "The Asset of Community Value status of the fields has also been downplayed and disregard throughout the planning process.

"Furthermore, we have watched devastating mechanical clearances of the fields and the dangerous and badly managed introduction of cows for the first time in around 40 years.

"We have pledges from local people, who want us to buy this precious space, amounting to a quarter of a million pounds and we have a plan in place to protect and enhance the biodiversity of the fields, as well as to manage them for the benefit of the people of Frome now and in the future."

More than 250 objections were submitted in response to the application.