Another week, another column! The weeks for me are usually stuffed and full of working, podcasting, emails, and meetings yet this column seems to come around at an alarming speed. I’d firstly like to start off with saying how delighted I am that the Saturday Market is back open after a brilliant campaign from the traders, locals, and Frome Town Councillors.
We can now once again shop for our essentials in a safe, socially distanced, and open-air environment AND we get to guarantee the livelihoods of our local traders who are treasured and valuable members/assets to our community and MARKET town.
The experience however did highlight some areas between Frome Town Council (FTC) and Mendip District Council (MDC) (who initially shut the Saturday Market down to support the vaccination programme) that need assessing and strengthening when it comes to inter-tier communications and process. Reconciliation may seem like a very heavy word but when highly emotive issues are negotiated and resolved it may be nourishing to practice and preach this more often.
What could FTC and MDC do better next time around? How can we be of better service to each other? These questions of course are mainly rhetorical, our goals across all tiers of local government are largely the same, just perspectives change. This was of course in many ways an example of local politics at its best and especially independent local politics, having the ability to plan, strategize and mobilize quickly and without the red tape or bureaucracy that comes with party politics was, I think, the key to this result. I’d like to thank all everyone including my fellow councillors who threw themselves wholeheartedly into this.
In other news WINDOW WONDERLAND IS BACK! Yes, you read that correctly, “A Covid-safe festival of light and colour where people transform their neighbourhoods into a magical outdoor gallery of unique displays in their windows!” starting Friday 26th February – March 1st from 5.30-9pm each evening. Now in its fourth year, and the number of windows taking part keeps growing! This event is supported by FTC and Black Swan Arts with the wonderful team at Postscript on Stony Street are offering a 10% discount on materials bought for window displays through their click and collect facility when you mention Frome Window Wanderland.
You can sign up using this link: https://www.windowwanderland.com/event/frome-2021/
This really is one for all you curtain twitchers…. We see you!
