If only we could have two hours free parking in Frome we would spend thousands every year.

That is the promise from a Frome couple who say they are deterred by going into the centre of town for a meal or a pint.

The couple contacted Frome Nub News to say that while they might not be youngsters any more they would also take their son and his children along, and could spend £10,000 per annum or more a year in the town centre.

The state of Frome Town Centre has been on discussion boards for months - and as Home closed up, and some of the Cheap Street shop fronts remain resolutely shuttered, the town is increasingly looking very quiet.

Soon to be 82 year olds, Pam and Peter Chapman said " On the rare occasions we HAVE to venture in it's dead. So sad. But if there were two hours parking it might make a difference."

The couple who have lived on the outskirts of Frome in Friggle Street, since 1969 have appealed to Mendip to change the parking rules, however when we approached Mendip, they admitted that changing parking is not likely, as the council is being swallowed by the unitary authority.

They told us parking will very soon not be any concern of theirs.

They will be handing over the management of the car parks to the new unitary authority on April 1.

" Any changes to parking conditions would be undertaken following vesting day," Mendip told Nub News.

Currently there are places close to the centre of Frome you can park for FREE but only for an hour

A window on life in Frome

As we emailed about the parking issue, Pam told us about the changes she had seen in Frome over the time they have lived here. When they first got married, the price of a cottage in pretty much any village near Frome was less than £1,000.

She said: " Hindsight is a wonderful thing but wages were pro rata, water rates about £2.00 every 6 months and we all struggled to pay our mortgages. None of us had any savings at the end of each month. My husband was kept alive by Pangs in King Street until we met !

"Give us two hours parking free all year round on Market Day - not just around Christmas, when we don't venture out, and I will guarantee I'll get my walking stick and my husband's arm and spend it in Frome. "