Opening gambit

So, here goes... we're Second Homers in Frome.

If the response to the recent proposal to cut 2nd Home Council Tax rebates was to be believed, Second Homers are loathed across the nation only slightly less than bankers and politicians. Certainly, if the 'weekenders' sail in and out, contributing nothing to their adopted community/economy, I can understand the objections. Thankfully, we're not all like that... More on this in future posts.

But why Frome? Because it's special. How trite a comment is that!? Well, if I may be so bold, it's both trite and profound. Profound because there are places that touch you in an often indefinable, but deep way. As the tourist office will never grow weary of telling you, Frome has more listed buildings than any other town in Somerset. And there's no doubt that, in parts, it's an extremely attractive place with narrow, winding streets and beautiful stone buildings. Its cultural life is something to be proud of too  - 2 theatres, a community hall/music venue, an art gallery/concert hall, a summer arts festival, a winter folk festival, loads of amateur music-making, its own radio station and so on. Remarkable for a population of, what, 25,000? But a "special" place is more than the sum of its parts. Architecture, the arts and specialist shops (Mary Portas approves!) are all well and good.  But we've found the people to be friendly and the buzz around the place most seductive. Sometimes it's difficult to intellectualise responses to people and places. So to us, Frome is just "special".

More anon...

http://www.frome-tc.gov.uk