Why do we need a Movement and Place Plan?
Getting around in Somerset isn't always easy.
Many bus services have been reduced over the years, with fewer routes and less frequent buses. Rail services provide an important link to larger towns and cities, but they can also be limited, overcrowded and unreliable. Journeys by public transport are often slower and less convenient than travelling by car, making it harder for people to access jobs, education, healthcare and other essential services.
This lack of transport choice can also limit opportunities for young people, making it harder for them to stay in the rural communities where they grew up and more likely that they will move away to find work, training and services elsewhere. For older people, social isolation can be a particular concern, with implications for health and wellbeing.
Walking and cycling can be excellent options for shorter journeys, but safe and continuous routes between Frome and surrounding villages are often incomplete or missing altogether. This limits travel choice and makes active travel less practical for many everyday journeys.
Road safety is another important challenge. Many villages sit on key routes used by commuters, freight vehicles and through traffic travelling between towns and destinations across the region. This can make it more difficult for people to walk, cycle or cross roads safely, affecting both quality of life and the character of local communities.
How will the plan help?
The Frome Area Movement and Place Plan will help identify these challenges and set out a shared, long-term plan to improve connectivity, safety and travel choices across Frome and the surrounding parishes.
Having an agreed plan will help local councils and partners to:
- Make better decisions by providing strong local evidence to guide planning and future development.
- Secure investment by helping attract external funding and making the best use of developer contributions to deliver transport improvements where they are needed most.
- Improve safety by identifying where changes to roads, streets and traffic management could make journeys safer and reduce the impact of traffic on local communities.
- Work together more effectively by creating a shared plan for councils, transport operators, businesses, community organisations and other partners to deliver improvements across the whole area.
Have your say
Your local knowledge is vital to helping shape the Movement and Place Plan.
Take our Survey and add your concerns and suggestions to our Interactive Map.
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