Posted on

Our MP supports the sewage campaign

Our local MP David Warburton is supporting a private members bill to stop water companies discharging untreated sewage into rivers. He met with Sue Everett and Mike Bull from FoRF to hear about the problem in Frome for himself. He wrote afterwards to Sue:


“I can certainly assure you that, when the Bill returns to the House of Commons for its second reading in January, I will be giving it my full support.

“Protecting our rivers and waterways is an issue of huge importance to our communities in Somerset and it’s always been of critical interest to me to address improvements to the maintenance of our waterways and also enhance flood prevention and dredging. “… must thank you, along with the Friends of the Somerset River Frome group, for the crucial work that you do for the town and its wider environment. And I am delighted that, largely thanks to your efforts, discharges into the river are now being monitored.”

The Bill, tabled by Philip Dunne, the Conservative chair of the environmental audit committee, seeks to place a duty on water companies to ensure untreated sewage is not
discharged into rivers and inland waterways. The second reading of takes place on 22 January.

Posted on

Wallbridge Adderwell once again under threat

The new landowner of the riverside meadows between Wallbridge and Adderwell has blocked access to the much-loved walk and caused considerable damage by leveling the water-meadow with a bulldozer.

When heavy equipment crosses the soft soil of the river bank.

FoRF is part of a new group Save Wallbridge Adderwell Path (SWAP) which aims to ensure access to the footpath is retained. SWAP is supported by over 1500 individuals who have signed a petition and many local organisations, including CPRE and Frome Town Council.

If you’ve walked this path the past, especially in the 1990’s, we’d like to hear from you. Completing an Evidence Form would be most helpful

Posted on

New Frome River Strategy published

Our new vision:

“As Frome grows, its River should be conserved as a clean, healthy, nature-rich, free-
flowing river system which provides a natural habitat for a diversity of life and an
accessible green corridor which connects people to nature.”

Our Aims

  1. To maintain and improve the ecological quality of the River, its green corridor and
    tributaries.
  2. To promote landscape improvements which enhance the urban River environment.
  3. To prevent and remediate adverse human impacts on the River and its catchment.
  4. To promote public enjoyment and health benefits by enabling environmentally
    sensitive access.
  5. To nurture interest in and knowledge of the River and ensure its condition is
    monitored.

Thank you to everyone who made comments on the draft. Sue Everett and I have now revised the document and the final version will be presented to Frome Town Council on Wednesday 20 May for endorsement and incorporation into their plans.

The FoRF Committee will be now looking at how to take forward each of the five strands and looking for volunteers to help in each category.