Despite significant public opposition, Somerset Council is moving forward with plans to build homes on Packsaddle Fields, a beloved green space on the northern edge of Frome. The land, owned by the council, has served as a popular walking and recreational spot for local residents and families for over 50 years.
The development company LiveWest has an agreement with the council to redevelop the site. Although its initial proposals for 74 homes and a children’s home were twice rejected, the council fenced off most of Packsaddle Fields in early March, restricting access to only the existing public right of way.
Local campaigners from the People for Packsaddle group protested against the new fences, demanding the fields remain open and protected from development. However, Somerset Council has reaffirmed its commitment to transform the site into housing. A senior council officer described the land as “appropriate” for residential development.
READ MORE: Lando Norris Confident Max Verstappen Will Stay in F1 as Miami GP Approaches
READ MORE: Historic Sherborne Building Blaze ‘Could Have Been Prevented’
At a recent climate and place scrutiny committee meeting in Taunton, Jackie Wheeler of the pressure group highlighted that Packsaddle Fields is an asset of community value. She emphasized the importance of the eight-acre green space outside the town’s development boundary, which has never been officially designated for construction. Wheeler criticized the decision to restrict public access without committee approval, questioning whether the threat of legal action from LiveWest justified the fencing.
In response, Chris Hall, the council’s executive director for community, place, and economy, clarified that the fencing was authorized to prevent unauthorized use and trespassing. He noted that the site is privately owned by the council for development purposes and is not considered public open space. While there had been permission for a path through the fields connecting to public rights of way, wider recreational use was removed by Somerset County Council in 2020. Hall stressed that the asset of community value designation does not grant public access rights or alter the land’s status.
Hall also reaffirmed the council’s goal to develop housing at Packsaddle Fields, expressing support for LiveWest’s efforts to deliver new homes in the area. The council cites contractual obligations and a desire to meet local housing needs as key reasons for its continued commitment to the project.