Frome community action
The aim of this page is to recognise, celebrate and encourage the self-empowerment of community agency networks (CANs) and community groups' activism for climate, environment and many other sustainability topics across Frome.
News
Frome residents win five-year battle for community-led housing project, theguardian.com (Jan 23, 2025) — “What’s really exciting for me is that it’s not actually about the amount of commercial space or the affordable housing it will provide – it’s about the sense of confidence and agency and possibility that I think it will give us as a community.” Fiona Barrows, Frome town councillor- The Tories are tearing themselves apart over housing – but this is another crisis of their own making, John Harris, The Guardian (Nov 27, 2022)
- If we want a cosmolocal revolution, writes Benjamin Still, we must learn from how soil binds the world together, The Alternative UK (Jan 23, 2022)
- The Guardian view on the planning bill: new towns must be for people who need them, Editorial, theguardian.com (Mar 11, 2025)
- Dramatic fall in London’s levels of deadly pollutants after Ulez expansion, theguardian.com (Mar 07, 2025) — People in capital breathing much cleaner air, with significant improvements in capital’s most deprived areas
- Six climate change activists sentences reduced by appeal court, BBC News (Mar 07, 2025)
- ‘Global weirding’: climate whiplash hitting world’s biggest cities, study reveals, theguardian.com (Mar 12, 2025)
- Only seven countries worldwide meet WHO dirty air guidelines, study shows, theguardian.com (Mar 11, 2025) — Governments could clean their air with policies such as funding renewable energy projects and public transport; building infrastructure to encourage walking and cycling; and banning people from burning farm waste.
- Many cities are banning ads for airlines, SUVs and fossil fuels – and yours could be next, theconversation.com (Mar 10, 2025)
Video
Networks and sustainability initiatives
- Frome Neighbourhood Network, frometowncouncil.gov.uk, added 15:04, 14 December 2020 (UTC)
- Sustainable Frome
Each week 3 different short videos from across the UK or world.
Wales community resources, Climate action Scotland, London community resources / ...This week's Global videos
Community involvement
The civil parish of Frome has adopted the style of a town, and there is a Town Council of 17 members. In May 2019 all 17 council members elected were members of the Independents for Frome party (ifF). The Town Council has been involved in a number of sustainability orientated initiatives, see subsequent sections.
- Have your say 2019 Frome Town Council
- Independents for Frome
- Breaking the Mould, One Day Conference held at Frome Town Hall, April 2018
- Participatory Budgeting Frome
- Frome Town Council
see also:
- Community involvement UK, Flatpack democracy
- Flatpack Democracy Civic Politics Revolution in Frome, wiki.p2pfoundation.net
Food activism
Food Frome, food heritage society - Frome Allotments - Incredible Edible Frome
The Town Council installed the first community fridge in the country in May 2016; 90,000 items a year have been saved from landfill. This was joined by a community larder in October 2017.
Frome has an online market, the Food Hub launched in November 2018, where sustainable supplies from local farmers and food producers can be sourced, either for collection or by delivery (central Frome only).
Housing and land
- Frome Area Community Land Trust, creating fairer housing for Frome. added 11:13, 4 February 2025 (UTC)
Towards sustainable economies
- Loop:Frome, added 09:45, 2 May 2023 (UTC)
- Edventure Frome, school for community enterprise, added 17:05, 16 March 2021 (UTC)
Health and wellbeing
A project, Compassionate Frome, to combat loneliness in the town was established by a local GP in 2013. It is claimed that it reduced emergency hospital admissions by 17% over three years when in the rest of the county they rose by 29%.
Reduce, reuse, repair and recycle
- Loop:Frome, new community start-up rethinking resource. "By closing Frome's food waste loop and transforming this resource into a living, nutrient-dense compost, we are contributing towards the town's goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2030. As well as creating sustainable and regenerative infrastructures." added 16:24, 27 January 2022 (UTC)
Sharing
SHARE: a Library of Things, Frome
In early 2015, the UK's first high street Library of Things was set up in the town. In one year (May 2018 to April 2019), use of the shop helped avoid 92 tonnes CO2e of greenhouse gas emissions, saved 117,000 kg of material usage and avoided 10 tonnes of manufacturing waste. In the same period its members collectively saved £66,800 by borrowing instead of buying items.
Climate action
- Imagining a better future for Frome, Oct 17, 2019 Frome Town Council
Ethical consumerism
Sustainable transport activism
The Town Council employs a resilience officer, one of only two at town council or parish level in the country; a principal task is to support the strategic priorities for transport. Initiatives include a public-access car club, operated by the social enterprise Co-wheels. Electric charging points are available at the Cheese and Grain, the Town Hall, the Football Club and Frome Medical Practice.
Frome is an accredited Walkers are Welcome town since 2018. An extensive list of walks and guides is available. Guided walks on a range of topics are now online.
Cycling activism
Two cycling clubs operate in the town: the Frome CTC, nicknamed the Coffee and Tea-Cake Club, and the Frome & District Wheelers. E-bikes are available for hire, courtesy of a Town Council initiative.
Urban sustainability
- Mayday Saxonvale, "not-for-profit social enterprise, with the sole objective of delivering a sustainable plan for Saxonvale governed by the needs, priorities, and aspirations of our town." Mayday Saxonvale on youtube.com, added 16:11, 29 January 2025 (UTC)
Environment quality
On 13 December 2017 the Town Council unanimously agreed to become a 'single-use plastic'-free council.
Open spaces
There are a number of public green spaces within the town, both formal and informal; some are substantial such as the Victoria Park or the Rodden Meadow; others may be smaller but are valued within their neighbourhoods, such as Weylands or the Dippy. Many of the public spaces have organised litter picks, arranged by local community groups.
River action
- Friends of the River Frome, community group of volunteers, and registered charity, that works to improve, protect and celebrate the Somerset river Frome. "We do everything from river clean ups and water testing, to negotiating with developers to protect the river." added 11:27, 4 February 2025 (UTC)
About Frome
Frome ( FROOM) is a town and civil parish in Somerset, England, on uneven high ground at the eastern end of the Mendip Hills and on the River Frome, 13 miles (21 km) south of Bath. The population of the parish was 28,559 in 2021.
Frome was one of the largest towns in Somerset until the Industrial Revolution. The town first grew due to the wool and cloth industry; it later diversified into metal-working and printing, although these have declined. The town was enlarged during the 20th century but retains a large number of listed buildings, and most of the centre falls within a conservation area.
The town has road and rail transport links and acts as an economic centre for the surrounding area. It provides a centre for cultural and sporting activities, including the annual Frome Festival and Frome Museum.
In 2014, Frome was named by The Times as the "sixth coolest town" in Britain. It was shortlisted as one of three towns in the country for the 2016 Urbanism Awards in the 'Great Town Award' category. In its 2018 and 2021 report on the "Best places to live in the UK", The Sunday Times listed Frome as the best in the South West. In April 2019, Time Out listed Frome among 15 of the best weekend breaks from London.
Frome archive
Video archive
- Edventure - What our students say, 2018, youtube.com
- Share - A library of Things by Edventure Frome, Frome Town Council and the Cheese and Grain. 2015. youtube.com
- Frome Open Homes 2014, youtube.com
Past events
- 2012, Independence Day - Frome