News in Frome

Plans for more than 200 new homes could be approved for several sites across Mendip before the end of the year.

Planners at Mendip District Council are attempting to deal with a backlog of planning decisions following the Dutch N court ruling, which raised concerns about phosphate levels on the Somerset Levels and Moors.

Frome College has sent out an update on how they carry on, given the decision yesterday (January 4) that all schools - primary and secondary - will close.

Although earlier today the minister Michael Gove told reporters that exams would NOT go ahead, the Principal of the college Emma Reynolds wrote to parents saying that this was not certain.

GWR, which runs some of the services to and from Frome station, has announced that it will continue to operate a reduced timetable and will further review service provision in light of the Government's latest national lockdown announcement.

More than 56,000 homes and business premises in Somerset will finally get superfast broadband by 2024 after new contracts were agreed.

Connecting Devon and Somerset (CDS) was created to oversee the roll-out of superfast fibre broadband in areas across the two counties where it was not viable for commercial providers to put in the necessary infrastructure.

Somerset Waste Partnership (SWP) plans to keep the county's 16 recycling sites open on standard winter hours for essential use during the latest COVID-19 national lockdown.

Government guidance - gov.uk/guidance/national-lockdown-stay-at-home - has clarified that people can visit recycling sites as they are an essential service.

Police are appealing for help to identify the rightful owners of a quantity of jewellery.

Frome College has sent out a letter to parents saying that they hope to re-open to Year 11s and 13s next Monday (January 11) but that the situation is " changing quickly on a national scale."

The letter from the Principal also highlights a job offer at the college for a Medical Test Co-ordinator.

If you are keen to hear the story of Fair Housing for Frome and the people who are behind it, now's your opportunity. Frome FM, known for high quality broadcasting and championing local causes, has granted us a monthly slot on the station and we have risen to the challenge of bringing our latest news to local listeners.

The January episode of the aptly name 'Housing Hub' recorded under safe lockdown conditions, introduces our key projects like Tiny Homes and the new Homeshare Mendip scheme which launches in February. Also featured is an update from Roger Saunders from Frome Area Community Land Trust discussing their plans to build genuinely affordable homes in the town.

A new system for registering complaints against public bodies suspected of failing to meet environmental law has gone live.

Ahead of the establishment of the new Office for Environmental Protection, an interim service is now in place to receive complaints about alleged failures of public authorities to comply with environmental law.

We can't wait to continue to spread the good word of our community and report on the stories that matter to you.

In the short time we have been in operation we're proud to have told hundreds of stories from around our wonderful area.