Plans to build new homes on Packsaddle Fields, a beloved green space at the northern edge of Frome, are moving forward despite widespread public opposition. Owned by Somerset Council, Packsaddle Fields has served as a popular walking area for families and residents for over 50 years.
Somerset Council reached an agreement with housing developer LiveWest to redevelop the site. Although LiveWest was twice denied permission to build 74 homes and a children’s home there, the council fenced off most of the land in early March, restricting public access to only an existing right of way.
In response, the local pressure group People for Packsaddle organized a protest demanding the removal of the fences and protection of the fields from development. However, the council remains steadfast, with a senior official describing the site as “an appropriate piece of land to be developed as housing.”
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At a recent meeting of the council’s climate and place scrutiny committee in Taunton, Jackie Wheeler of People for Packsaddle emphasized the importance of the fields as an asset of community value. She noted that the land lies outside the town’s development boundary and has never been designated for construction.
Wheeler criticized the council for erecting fences and restricting public access without proper consultation, questioning why the decision was treated as an “operational” matter rather than a key decision, especially as it significantly impacts public use of the space. She also challenged claims that the fencing was authorized due to a legal threat from LiveWest.
Chris Hall, the council’s executive director for community, place, and economy, clarified that Packsaddle Fields is privately owned by the council and held specifically for development purposes. While a permissive path was allowed across the land connecting to public rights of way, wider recreational use was unauthorized and formally revoked by Somerset County Council in 2020. The recent fencing aims to prevent unauthorized access and trespassing.
Hall emphasized that although the land is registered as an asset of community value, this status does not grant public access or alter the land’s development designation. He reaffirmed the council’s commitment to supporting LiveWest in building housing on the site, highlighting the contractual obligations involved and the desire to increase housing in the area.
The debate over Packsaddle Fields underscores the tension between preserving community green spaces and meeting housing demands, a challenge facing many local authorities.