Frome residents recently helped shape the future travel and transport infrastructure in the town at the first of two workshops, the second of which will be repeated on Thursday 23rd September, allowing more residents thoughts and ideas to be included.
Frome Town Council have successfully secured funding for a Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP) which will create detailed designs for safe walking and cycling routes and other infrastructure to support active, sustainable travel.
Residents at the first workshop on 12th August were introduced to inspiring case studies and learned about the benefits of walking and cycling to climate security, health and prosperity before splitting into smaller groups for further discussions.
Hot topics in the groups included secure bike parking both around the town and for those without storage space at home and expanding community schemes for easy short-term borrowing of e-bikes and possibly e-scooters.
Sustainable transport was also enthusiastically discussed, with attendees wanting to see more trains passing through Frome station, lower bus fares, improvements to bus routes and sheltered seating at every bus stop. There was a common thread running through the discussions with the emphasis on making active and sustainable travel as inclusive as possible, making sure improvements benefit disabled, low-income and elderly residents.
Councillor Anne Hills, who attended the workshop, said: “This was a great opportunity to not only raise some issues I’ve had travelling around Frome, but also to look to the future and plan solutions. There are many different barriers people face when trying to reduce car usage so it’s important to hear from as many people as possible. If we can break down those barriers there are fantastic benefits for wellbeing, tackling the climate crisis and the local economy. I’m excited to see the plan drawn up and put into action!”
The LCWIP will draw from the issues, ideas and solutions raised in the workshops as well as the areas pointed out for improvement on the Walk Ride Frome map earlier in the year. The draft plan will be created ahead of a follow-up workshop on Wednesday 10th November from 7:30-9:00pm where residents will get the opportunity to comment.
The next LCWIP workshop is Thursday 23rd September, 7:30-9:00pm on Zoom, with all residents of Frome and the surrounding villages encouraged to come along, learn more and help shape Frome’s future travel.
If you are unable to attend the meetings and would like to share ideas or locations that should be included in the LCWIP please email your ideas to Emma Parker eparker@frometowncouncil.gov.uk
For updates on Active Travel activities in Frome, sign up to join the mailing list here http://bit.ly/activetravelfrome
This work is funded by Somerset County Council’s Climate Emergency Community Fund.
