Bid process for Badgers Hill halted over funding concerns
Council seeks viable options for site's future as a community asset
Frome Town Council has decided not to proceed with the bid process for Badgers Hill due to concerns over funding.
Following an invitation in January 2026 to submit bids for the lease or purchase of the site, two proposals were received.
Both bidders were unable to provide proof of funds required to advance their offers, leading the town council to halt the process for now.
The council's invitation included criteria intended to ensure Badgers Hill's future as a sustainable sports and community asset.
Central to this was the submission of viable business plans supported by evidence of the financial capability to acquire and invest in the site.
However, neither proposal met these financial criteria during the initial assessment and presentations to Frome Town Council's internal project team.
Leader and Chair of Frome Town Council, Fiona Barrows, emphasised the importance of financial credibility in any future arrangement due to levels of public investment already made.
Barrows said: "We stepped in to pay off the debts of Frome Town Holdings in 2022 to prevent the site from being lost to our community forever, because we understood how important Badgers Hill is to the footballing community and to the town as a whole.
"The site is now owned by the community – by the people of Frome – and with that comes a responsibility to protect it for the future and ensure it is managed in a way that is robust, deliverable, and in the best interests of everyone.
"Having invested significant public money, time and effort into securing the site, we must be confident that any future partner can demonstrate the financial certainty needed to deliver on their plans.
"We remain committed to finding a positive and sustainable way forward and welcome further discussions with interested parties."
The council is now exploring alternative options for Badgers Hill and will continue to engage stakeholders to secure a viable long-term future for the site.
Details of the bids remain confidential as per the conditions under which they were submitted.