Frome is currently in the midst of an initiative to create safer environments for local children as they travel to and from school. Since April 2024, the Frome Safer School Street scheme has been in effect, encompassing four primary schools in the western part of the town. This includes the implementation of 20mph speed limits, distinctive traffic calming measures, and road closures to motorised vehicles during pick-up and drop-off times.
Funded by the Department for Transport (DfT), the scheme is undergoing a trial period, scheduled to conclude at the end of October after an 18-month evaluation. Seeking public opinion on the impact of the changes, Frome residents are being asked whether the measures are effectively enhancing the safety of local children and if they should be made permanent following the trial period.
To ensure comprehensive community feedback, Frome Town Council has initiated an online survey and scheduled a meeting at Oakfield Academy on May 14. This gathering will facilitate the collection of opinions from local residents, with representatives from the town council, Somerset Council, and Sustrans, a government active travel charity, in attendance.
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Additionally, a series of ‘pop-up’ events are planned to occur from early May within the School Streets zones near Oakfield Academy, Trinity First School, Critchill School, and Avanti Park School. Town councillor Carla Collenette expressed the hope for broad participation in these events, stating, “The more respondents, the better and more complete the overall picture, so please do take the time to tell us your experience.”
Apart from gathering public input, recent efforts have resulted in the completion of a new crossing over the B3090 The Butts, offering a safer pathway to the impacted schools for residents residing on Water Lane and the wider Keyford area. Sustrans chief operating officer Matt Winfield emphasized the collaborative nature of the scheme’s design, underscoring the importance of revisiting residents to evaluate the scheme’s impact.
The event at Oakfield Academy is scheduled for May 14, running from 5pm to 6.30pm. To participate in the Safer School Streets survey, individuals can visit www.bit.ly/safer-school-streets-evaluation-residents, scan the QR code on posters around Frome, or obtain a paper form from Frome Town Hall until May 30. Furthermore, participants in the survey, whether in person or online, will have the opportunity to enter a prize draw for a £100 One4All voucher.