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Health News: The Royal United Hospital (RUH) has a new machine (pictured) that will make radiotherapy treatment for cancer patients quicker.

A Truebeam Linear Accelerator (TLA) has been installed in the radiotherapy department which will also help clinical staff by giving clearer images of scans.

To prepare for the new equipment the RUH’s radiotherapy treatment rooms have been upgraded over 18 months with around 180 tonnes of steel installed in the walls to increase radiation protection for patients and staff and fit out the room for clinical use.

The TLA will be ready for use later this spring. The radiotherapy department see around 1,300 patients each year.

Pub News: The former bank and home to Loch Fyne Fish restaurant is to become a gastro pub.

The grade II listed building on the corner of Milsom Street and George Street is being converted by pub chain Green King who hope the hostelry will open next month. Planning permission was granted last October.

Greene King already runs three other pubs in Bath: the Westgate on Westgate Street, the Saracen’s Head on Broad Street, and the Bear Inn in Bear Flat.

Crime News: Police have appealed for witnesses after a firearm was discharged outside a Bath address.

Officers are investigating after a handgun was used outside a property in Snowhill at around 11pm on Friday 6 January.

A car was also damaged at the same location the following day. Police believe these incidents are linked.

Neighbourhood policing Chief Inspector Ronald Lungu said: “Thankfully, no one was injured during either incident, but we have increased high-visibility patrols in the area as a precaution and to provide reassurance to the community.

“We would like to speak to anyone who was in the area and may have seen or heard anything suspicious that evening.”

If you have any information or may have CCTV or doorbell footage from around the area, please contact 101 and quote reference 5223004403.

Housing News: Local Democarcy Reporter John Wimperis reports that Bath’s first council homes for more than 20 years are ready — seven flats in a refurbished Victorian villa.

There were over 600 applicants for the seven flats, which were being advertised through the Bath and North East Somerset’s Homesearch platform. The council are now “whittling down” the shortlist, with priority given to people working in the NHS.

With the flats ready for the council’s first social tenants in 20 years to move in, the Local Democracy Reporting Service was invited to take a look around.

Located near the Royal United Hospital in Bath, 117 Newbridge Hill is owned by Bath and North Somerset Council and was being used as council offices before a decision was taken to renovate it and sell it off as flats.

But after the Lib Dems took power with plans to build council housing, the development was commandeered to become their first social housing project.

The villa now contains seven homes, two of which are twobedroom flats with their own front doors at the rear of the property, and five of which are one-bedroom flats coming off a central lobby and stairwell.

The flats will be rented at a social rent level, with the cheapest costing £91.50 a week and the most expensive £125.22.

The next plan in the pipeline is to build eight council homes on a storage yard by Argyle Works on the Lower Bristol Road. The scheme was granted planning permission at the end of September.

There are plans for 200 council homes at various stages in the pipeline.

Retail News: Local Democarcy Reporter John Wimperis reports that a womens wear brand Mint Velvet hopes to open a new shop in New Bond Street.

A planning application was submitted last month to take over two neighbouring vacant store fronts on the street and combine them into a large Mint Velvet store.

The shops were previously occupied by fellow women’s retailer Karen Millen, which closed its Bath branch down in 2019, and tea shop T2.

Bath and North East Somerset Council will aim to make a decision on whether to grant planning permission by March 2.

To advertise, contact Erica on erica@bathvoice.co.uk or call 07402 441485