On Wednesday 2nd July, Frome town councillors will consider a revised proposal from a private operator to lease Badgers Hill stadium, with an option to buy. They will also consider a proposal by the same operator to purchase the freehold on a payment plan. Chair and Leader of FTC Cllr Fiona Barrows said:
“Badgers Hill is a valuable and much-loved community asset. Taking it out of public ownership, as these proposals would do, is a major decision, one we would never take lightly.
Frome Town Council stepped in to save the site from repossession three years ago. We did this because we recognised the importance of football in building community pride and bringing people together.
Over £1million in public money has now been invested in the site. That money belongs to everyone in Frome, and we have a duty to steward that investment.
Earlier this year, a private operator approached us to buy or lease the site. With the current model not working and strong support from Frome Town AFC, we entered into negotiations, making it clear throughout that any deal would require council approval and be subject to legal advice.
At our last Extraordinary Council Meeting on 5th June, councillors agreed the original offer didn’t meet legal requirements around community benefit and posed too much risk. We left the door open to revised proposals and have continued discussions in good faith.
Our focus has always been on safeguarding Badgers Hill, protecting public money, and ensuring that football remains inclusive and accessible for all. We’ve asked for reasonable protections – a deposit, a market rent and a five-year limit on the option to buy. We’ve also sought to protect the interests of Frome Town Women and Frome Town United and secure other community benefit from the stadium. Councillors will consider the private operator’s latest response on these things.
This is not about taking sides. It’s about doing right by the whole town, and making sure Badgers Hill remains a place for football and our community for generations to come”
You can read more about the proposals in the council’s report for the meeting on 2nd July. In-person tickets for the meeting are sold out, but it will be livestreamed on the FTC YouTube channel.
