Packsaddle Fields, a cherished green space on Frome’s northern edge, may soon be closed off to the public as legal tensions mount over proposed development plans. Owned by the public since 1973 and initially intended for a school, the land is now at the heart of a contentious dispute that pits community interests against housing needs.
In March 2022, Somerset County Council announced intentions to sell Packsaddle Fields to the housing association LiveWest. LiveWest submitted plans in March 2023 to build 74 homes and a children’s home on the site. However, these development proposals were rejected by the council’s planning committee in January, a decision upheld by the Planning Inspectorate after a public inquiry in August.
Despite the refusal, the council is contemplating fencing off public footpaths on the land, including a permissive path that allows local people access, effectively limiting community use of large parts of the site. LiveWest has initiated a legal challenge aiming to overturn the inspector’s decision and revive the housing plans.
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Under the existing contract, the council is obligated to “use reasonable endeavours” to help LiveWest pursue planning permission and support any appeals or legal challenges. This obligation could necessitate closing the permissive path and fencing off other access points to the fields, with the council trying to avoid potential legal actions from LiveWest if it fails to comply.
Councillor Mike Rigby, responsible for economic development and planning, expressed the difficult position: balancing local attachment to the land with wider housing requirements and contractual obligations. He noted that access has always been permissive rather than a legal right of way, and the council must avoid costly legal consequences by supporting the developer’s appeal.
Local residents and the community group People for Packsaddle have strongly condemned the council’s proposed actions. Describing the plans as “shameful” and “immoral,” they accuse the council of prioritizing developer demands over public welfare. The group highlights the vital role Packsaddle Fields plays in community wellbeing and calls for the council to reconsider.
The Government Legal Department responded firmly to LiveWest’s challenge, labeling it “unarguable” and expressing intent to oppose any legal proceedings. Following this, Councillor Rigby advised pausing the fencing plans pending a review, a move welcomed by local representatives advocating for the community.
People for Packsaddle have invited Councillor Rigby to visit the site and engage with residents, hoping to foster understanding and change council policy. They emphasize Packsaddle Fields' importance for mental and physical health and community cohesion, urging the council to protect this invaluable green space.
The unfolding situation at Packsaddle Fields highlights the ongoing conflict between development pressures and preserving public access to treasured natural environments—a balance Somerset County Council must carefully navigate in the months ahead.