Community

The tiny single-track roads, that flow into the village of Batcombe can often take a traveller in many directions. It seems I’ve never reached this village the same way twice, as you glide in the steep valley of the River Alham (5 miles south-east of Shepton Mallet) through tiny hamlets, on undulating roads. Batcombe village,…

Myself, Councillor Alex Wiltshire and Councillor Sarah Dyke (also Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Somerton and Frome) spent much of the day in Baltonsborough, helping the community come to terms, consider options, since the sudden announcement of the closure of Balsbury Shop. We attended the village meeting, listening to concerns and ideas for a way forward.…

Today, I attended a coming together to celebrate the life of Sally Atkins of Ditcheat, formally of Stoney Stratton. Sally was a cornerstone of the community, and a hugely popular person. This was evidenced by the large numbers who joined her family today at Castle Cary Rugby Club. Sally was always encouraging and interested in…

In 2008 I was asked to present ideas for place marketing to the Catherine Hill Traders, who were a group of business owners based on and around Catherine Hill, in Frome. At this time Catherine Hill had few thriving businesses, while it did have something special: people with great ideas prepared to come together and…