News in Frome

Somerset County Council has denied claims made by an MP that it overpaid its highways contractor to the tune of £361,000.

The council has a contract with Skanska to carry out essential road repairs and maintenance across Somerset, which is worth £30 million a year.

Frome Window Wanderland is back for a fourth year and the team, with the help of the town, hope to transform the streets of Frome into a magical outdoor gallery for all to enjoy! The covid safe event is being held on the weekend of Friday 26th February to Monday 1st March, 5.30-9pm each evening.

Supported by Frome Town Council and Black Swan Arts, the organisers hope to build on previous events and for more households than ever to sign up. Claire from the team at Window Wanderland said: "We grow in numbers year on year and we were blown away by the brilliant window displays for the Halloween Window Wanderland. It's so simple to take part, it's free and everyone is welcome. You can make a display in the windows of your flat, house, business, school, nursery, car, campervan, shop – or in your front garden! It can be as simple as fairy lights or as elaborate as your imagination takes you."

A decision has finally been made in the long-running Saxonvale development in the centre of Frome.

Mendip planning board were told that plans, which were approved during a four hour session, had been revised and been given a huge amount of scrutiny,

One of the first patients to receive sight-saving surgery at the Newmedica Frome eye health clinic and surgical centre has spoken about how it's changed his life.

Jamie Garden, 71, was the first patient through the doors of the new location within Frome Medical Centre on Enos Way, Frome.

Frome's independent shops, creators and makers bring life to our town, they keep our local economy strong and turn shopping experiences into a personal connection. In the past year, local small businesses have showed amazing creativity and resilience. With shops needing to close their doors and fewer markets and fairs happening, having a strong online presence to reach customers can be key to continued success.

Frome Town Council and Frome Chamber of Commerce are hosting a free online workshop for all independent retailers, creators and makers. The workshop takes place on Thursday 25th February 11am – 12:30pm and will include 20 marketing ideas that cost nothing to implement but will make a big difference. A presentation and practical exercises will be included to help those attending develop an action plan that they can tailor for their individual businesses.

A report released today by independent local healthcare champions Healthwatch, shows that although the NHS 111 service in Somerset and Devon is rated highly by the public, there are inconsistencies in the quality of the service.

111 is the NHS non-emergency number. When you call 111 you speak to a highly trained telephone adviser, supported by healthcare professionals (nurses or paramedics). They ask you a series of questions to assess your symptoms which allows them to direct you to the best medical care for your needs. NHS 111 is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, with calls free from landlines and mobile phones.

The number of admissions with a primary diagnosis of drug-related mental and behavioural disorders has fallen from 7,376 in 2018-19 to 7,027 in 2019-20.

That is according to a new set of research numbers by NHS digital, which also shows that 70 people were admitted for drug related or mental disorders in 2019 across the whole of Somerset and 20 admitted for similar problems in B&NES.

Mendip District Council appears to be holding out the hope that the Saturday market may possibly return... but not for some weeks.

A major campaign is underway to persuade the council to reverse a decision to close the Saturday market due to falling footfall, lack of traders and to re deploy market staff in other areas, including the local coronavirus vaccine sites.

Staff at Lidl in Frome will be getting a one-off £200 thank you payment for their hard work and ongoing dedication during the pandemic.

The discounter will award frontline colleagues, including customer assistants, warehouse operatives and cleaners, across over 800 stores and 13 distribution centres with a £200 "thank you" payment. The payment is in recognition of their tireless efforts to keep the nation fed and provide a safe shopping experience for customers up and down the country. In addition, Lidl GB will give all office based colleagues, amounting to approximately 1800 people, a one-off £100 payment to recognise their efforts in supporting the business.

The scaffolding has started to be removed from under the Rodden Road rail bridge in Frome, with the works scheduled to be completed and the road opened to traffic from January 31.

The work, on what is a main transport artery across Frome started last year.