A FROME councillor is standing down for personal reasons – creating a vacancy on the town authority.

Max Wide, who has served on Frome Town Council as councillor for Park Ward since 2022, is standing down.

Ahead of the next full town council election in 2027, a by-election could be called if enough people ask for one.

FTC said Cllr Wide supported devolution at the authority, a well as being “instrumental” in establishing the Vale of Frome Local Community Network, which he went on to chair.

Chair and leader of FTC, Fiona Barrows, said: “On behalf of all councillors I’d like to thank Max for the contribution that he has made to the council over the last three and half years.

“He has brought valuable expertise and experience in local government. He has particularly been instrumental in shaping our response to the new unitary council, the Vale of Frome LCN as Chair and navigating devolution. We are sad to lose him, but understand his reasons and wish him well.

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“It is an exciting time for us as a council as devolution continues to offer opportunities, and we implement an improvement programme to ensure we remain a bold and effective council.

“We will now take some time to identify an excellent candidate should Park Ward ask for an election – who we will otherwise co-opt for our remaining 18 months in office.”

For more information about standing, visit https://www.frometowncouncil.gov.uk/vacancy-for-a-town-councillor-as-max-wide-steps-down.

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