Frome

Sustainability initiatives

• Sustainable Frome

♥ 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). ^W 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

see also: Community involvement UK, Flatpack democracy

♥ Climate action

• Imagining a better future for Frome, Oct 19 Frome Town Council
• see also: Extinction Rebellion, Extinction Cafe Frome

Community energy

see: Community energy UK, Networks

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. ^W

Environment quality

On 13 December 2017 the Town Council unanimously agreed to become a 'single-use plastic'-free council. ^W

Ethical consumerism

Fairtrade Frome

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). ^W

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%. ^W

Localism

Independence Day - Frome, a 2012 event

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. ^W

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. ^W

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. ^W

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. ^W

Networks

• Frome Neighbourhood Network, frometowncouncil.gov.uk, added 15:04, 14 December 2020 (UTC)