on the ideas that are lying around. . . That, I believe, is our basic function: to develop alternatives to existing policies, to keep them alive and available until the politically impossible becomes politically inevitable”.  (Milton Freidman)

These more significant ideas are shared and discussed by ifF councillors and a much wider group – they cover development without growth; carbon neutrality; participation above consultation…..  they probably have more in common with the ideas milling around outside St Paul’s Cathedral where the hardy sleep in the cold protesting at the injustices of the banking system.

IfF arose out of an actual or perceived crisis.  A crisis of confidence in the existing town councillors’ capacity to fulfil their roles…… and lying around was the bubbling thought of a number of individuals to stand for the council, underpinned by a set of ideas which, I would argue, are much more significant and potentially ground breaking than those we have seen yet.

Crisis is occurring at a local as well as a national level.  Frome has increasing levels of unemployment – with some of the most deprived communities in the South West.  We will all be increasingly impacted upon by climate change and peak oil through rising costs and (I believe) parallel social unrest.  What interests me, is how – at a very local level – to we enable the spaces for alternative policies to be nurtured, kept alive, and available until the politically impossible becomes the politically inevitable?