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Local community gathers before fields are fenced off
This is what happens when a council wrongs its local community. An enormous thank you to everyone who came along to our gathering at Packsaddle Community Fields today. It was wonderful to see so many people of all ages and who all use the fields for different reasons. And it was a lovely opportunity to…
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Open letter to Somerset Council Portfolio Holder for Lead Member for Economic Development Planning and Assets
Letter sent to Cllr Mike Rigby, 7th March 2026 Please see below a letter, which we have today sent to Councillor Mike Rigby, Somerset Council Portfolio Holder for Lead Member for Economic Development Planning and Assets, regarding the Council decision to close the permissive path and fence off the public footpath in Packsaddle Community Fields.…
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Gathering at Packsaddle Community Fields
Sunday 8th March, from midday Following the devastating announcement by Somerset Council that they will be restricting access to the fields by limiting our use to the public right of way on the north edge of the field only, we’d love for as many people as possible to join us for a gathering at the…
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Correspondence from Somerset Council
Received from Somerset Council on 6th March 2026 Dear Local Councillors and Residents, We are writing to you to confirm that as previously outlined during a briefing meeting with yourselves on 3 November 2025 and as detailed in our external communications following this, (Council to remove public access over permissive path at Packsaddle site), we…
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People for Packsaddle Response to the Somerset Council statement dated 3rd November
People For Packsaddle has been made aware of a decision by Somerset Council to remove public access to the permissive path and to fence off the public footpath in Packsaddle Community Fields. This action has been proposed by the Council in order to “use reasonable endeavours to assist the developer in obtaining planning permission and…
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The latest move from LiveWest and Somerset Council
This evening we received a copy of a press release from Somerset Council. The press release announces that Somerset Council will be removing public access to the permissive path in Packsaddle Community Fields and fencing off the public footpath. This is the press release in full (in italics): Council to remove public access over permissive…
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LiveWest submits pre-action letter to Government Legal Department
LiveWest has submitted a ‘Pre Action Letter’ to the Government Legal Department, asking it to quash the Inspector’s recent decision. LiveWest asserts that the Inspector erred on a point of law, relating to the entitlement of Packsaddle Community Fields to protection, as an area of open green space, under ‘DP16’. Our legal team has submitted…
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Planning appeal decision announced
The Planning Inspector has today announced his decision to dismiss the appeal from LiveWest to overturn the decision made by Somerset Council to refuse permission to build on Packsaddle Community Fields. You can read the full appeal decision here:
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Planning appeal, August 2025
The Planning Appeal, lodged by LiveWest, took place from 12th to 15th August 2025. Members of the local community spoke up in defence on the fields on the opening day of the appeal. An enormous thanks to all those who stood up and did this. The appeal concluded on 15th August. The closing speeches are…
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Final fundraising push to contest planning appeal
A local Frome group is asking for the town’s support in its final battle to save thecherished Packsaddle Community Fields; a crucial green space for residents andwildlife, and a designated ‘Asset of Community Value’. Plans from developer, LiveWest, to build on Packsaddle Community Fields havefaced unfailing resistance from local residents, and have been resoundingly rejectedby…