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March 2021 No. 13

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Covid: new variant may be in Bath

INSIDE

Clean Air Zone: who will pay? Page 8 Sophie’s digital drama world Page 12

PLUS Death of Bath rugby legend Page 15 Hospital radio has changed Page 17

By Harry Mottram. The latest variant of the Covid-19 virus may have spread to Bath according to the authorities. Dr Bruce Laurence, director of public health at Bath and North East Somerset Council has warned Residents protest against the building of homes on Tufa Field. From left: Richard the variant could create more cases Cartwright, Frances Teck, Simon Banks, Jane Roberts, Jenny Boules, Ginny Stokes of the virus in the city – just as the vaccination program begins to take and Gill Kenny. Friends of Tufa Field have a website: tufafield.ddns.net/ effect. He said: “If we aren’t very careful right now we could see another upsurge in cases. “Bristol and South Gloucestershire have got this new mutated variant. “It’s certainly very possible it’s spread to places we don’t know field known for its steep slope and By Harry Mottram. A battle of wills - the surge testing being done in its unusual geology of tufa flushes is taking place over the future of the those areas is really to understand - where water emerges from the Tufa Field off Englishcombe Lane. how much of it is where. limestone to form springs and a On one side are five councillors “They have found more cases of spongy rock called tufa. who voted to develop the green it since starting the surge testing, With water coming off the hill space for housing and the local plan so we will hopefully get a clear behind the field there’s been a that includes it, while on the other picture of the situation. serious issue of flooding. are residents and the local “If there are a lot more cases in Resident Frances Teck said: representative on the Council Cllr those areas, I would say it’s a fair “There’s been a problem with Jess David. guess we’ll have got it here too. flooding as there’s a big spring that In August last year the planning “It’s very hard to tell as there has led to water going into houses committee of Bath and North East are so many factors at play now, and gardens.” Somerset Council voted 5-4 to allow the vaccine effort and lockdown developers to build 37 homes on the Continued on page 3 Continued on page 3

Tufa Field plans prompt outcry

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My MP? Wera Hobhouse MP 26 Charles Street, Bath, BA1 1HU 01225 307024 office@werahobhouse.co.uk Jacob Rees-Mogg House of Commons Westminster London SW1A 0AA jacob.reesmogg.mp@parliament.uk My councillor? Oldfield Park: Shaun Stephenson-McGall 07483 299240 Shaun_Mcgall@bathnes.gov.uk

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Widcombe & Lyncombe: Alison Born 01225 319188 Alison_born@bathnes.gov.uk Winston Duguid 07899 066440 Winston_Duguid@bathnes.gov.uk Moorlands: Jess David 07977 500804 Jess_david@bathnes.gov.uk Southdown: Paul Crossley 07718 632959 paul_crossley@bathnes.gov.uk Dine Romero 01225 477496

dine_romero@bathnes.gov.uk Combe Down: Gerry Curan 01225 330349 / 07900684562 Gerry_curran@bathnes.go.uk Bharat Ramji Nathoo Pankhania Bharat_pankhania@bathnes.gov.uk 07464 867554 Odd Down: Joel Hirst 07792 869044 joel_hirst@bathnes.gov.uk Steve Hedges 07971270879 steve_hedges@bathnes.gov.uk Twerton: Sarah Moore 07807013635 Sarah_moore@bathnes.gov.uk Tim Ball 01225 400834 / 07970461674 Tim_ball@bathnes.gov.uk Westmoreland: June Player 07967 920064 June_Player@bathnes.gov.uk Colin Blackburn 07796 807157 Colin_Blackburn@bathnes.gov.uk

COMPLAINTS Despite our best efforts, we sometimes get things wrong. We always try to resolve issues informally at first but we also have a formal complaints procedure. If you have a complaint about anything in the Bath Voice, contact the News Editor using the details below. We aspire to follow the the Code of Conduct of the NUJ (National Union of Journalists), nuj.org.uk/about/ nuj-code. Further details of the complaints process can be found on our website or can be obtained by contacting the Editor by email: news@bathvoice.co.uk or by post: 1 Camerton Close, Saltford, Bristol, BS31 3BT or by phone: 07402 441485 All stories and pictures are © Bath Voice (unless otherwise stated) and may not be reproduced without permission. Bath Voice News & Media Ltd

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n NEWS Tufa Field proposed housing development runs into opposition Continued from page 1 Gill Kenny added: “It’s not NIMBY-ism as the land is not suitable for building because of the geology and the slope.” A spat over the decision to potentially allow housing developed between the Conservative group on the council and the Liberal Democrats. The charge was the Lib Dems were allowing development of a green space after announcing an ecological emergency while the Lib Dems said the original plans had been drawn up while the Conservatives were in office. Caught in the middle is the local Lib Dem Cllr Jess David who opposes the plans and supports the campaign to retain the green space. At the August planning meeting the motion to allow the application was passed by 5-4 votes, subject to the conditions and completion of a S106 Agreement as set out in the report which indicated a long list of requirements to make the site safe.

Cllr Jess David at the Tufa Field One action taken since the agreement that has angered locals was the imposition of a plastic boundary barrier to flush out the slow worms that live in the field. The land backs onto woods at the top of the slope and as a result attracts deer, badgers and foxes. Some residents believe a previous OS map had indicated a footpath across the field which would allow them access now, although the council officers have placed a high fence at the site to prevent anyone wishing to use the field although it is easy enough to get around and anecdotally is used by some wishing to take a walk.

Part of the application included provision for pedestrian access to the field from Stirtingale Road where a path and gate already exist. Compulsory purchase by the Council has already taken place said residents on land adjacent to secure access from both roads. Richard Carwright lives next to the Englishcombe Lane entrance. He said: “My main concern is the amount of traffic as there would be more than 37 cars coming through a tiny entrance. “As far as developers see it, this is an infill but I think there are a lot of problems. Where my house is now is a slump where the land slipped due to the water and geology - and that could happen again.” The developers insist the site is suitable for housing as long as a long list of measures are put in place to prevent any flooding or land slipping and to deal with the springs. In the plan a section near the top of the field would remain as a green

field between the woods and homes. It’s not the first time developers have had their eye on the land with plans in the 1950s, 1980s and 2000s according to residents. In previous years it has had occasional grazing permitted but has become something of a nature reserve by default. Resident Simon Banks said: “If you declare an ecological emergency you have to have an emergency response. That means having the bravery to change decisions you made under different circumstances.” Speaking at last August’s planning meeting Cllr Jess David said: “As a site of nature conservation interest I hope this administration will still be able to reconsider plans for this site.” The council is currently in the process of updating its Local Plan (Local Plan 2018). Residents and local Cllr Jess David have called on the council to remove the site from the Local Plan, responding to the recent consultation on updating local planning policies.

Continued from page 1

Medic: virus is coming under control should slow the spread. “The new mutation being close by is not good news but it’s also not unexpected. There will be new variants all the time.” On a more optimistic note Dr Laurence thinks that scientists are already developing new vaccines for variants so in the future so they would be offered in the same way the annual flu jabs are. He said: “I think what may happen is a new vaccine is bought out each year to tackle new variants as they come, much like with the flu vaccine. We will be chasing variants though. “It’s definitely concerning and could lead to more cases as it’s more infectious but a new strain is not unexpected. “It’s also not more dangerous, it’s not making people sicker and I am confident the vaccine will work against any strain. As with any new strain it takes time to get the full picture.” “Cases are dropping very consistently. We saw the peak on January 15 when we had about 400 cases per 100,000 in a seven day period. “That’s now down to about 101 per 100,000 so it’s a good fall.

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We’re now below the South West average. “Hospital admissions have come down but slowly, it’s not as frantic as it was a couple of weeks ago across Bath and North East Somerset and Wiltshire but its still not low enough. “It’s going in the right direction but unfortunately like with the previous wave we have sadly seen more deaths reported and some have been in care homes. “It is coming under control now and our death rate is one of the lowest in the country depending on which data you look at we’re either fifth or seventh-lowest. “But any death is extremely sad, we’ve had about 200 in total now.”

Dr Laurence

March 2021

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n NEWS

Apology over development

Funding saved lives in pandemic

By Local Democracy Reporter. A high-ranking councillor has apologised to Bath after plans for 80 student flats were approved on appeal without public scrutiny. Officers refused proposals to redevelop the Plumb Center site in Locksbrook Road but in an “extremely bizarre” move were overruled by a planning inspector. Councillor Matt McCabe said he thought Bath and North East Somerset Council’s policies were “clear cut”, so he did not call for the plans to be considered by the planning committee he chairs. He said developers were seeking loopholes to build student housing in Bath wherever they can, and there are “whispers” the buildings could be turned into hotels or listed on Airbnb. The owners of one student housing block, Twerton Mill, have already applied to temporarily turn part of it into an aparthotel, blaming lack of demand this year on the pandemic.

A Bath homelessness charity says vital funding at the start of the coronavirus pandemic changed and saved lives. With the country heading into lockdown, street homeless people with few options to self isolate safely were quickly identified as one of the most vulnerable groups. After a Government directive to get “everyone in”, 40 bed spaces in Bath and North East Somerset were rapidly found, furnished and brought into use. One of the properties was a council-owned building in London Road that is now set to undergo a £1million revamp to help former rough sleepers turn their lives around. Reflecting on the “everyone in” initiative, Julian House operations director Roanne Wootten said: “The number of people sleeping rough has been dramatically reduced as a result of this commitment. “Lives have not only been changed for the better. In some cases they have been saved.” She added: “The success of this initiative in the area is mainly a result of excellent partnership working between Bath and North East Somerset Council and the agencies that make up the local homelessness partnership. “This was joined up working at its best. Those agencies include public health, Curo, DHI, SDAS, the Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership, Homegroup, the Department of Work and Pensions, the police and Genesis Trust – chaired by Julian House.” Graham Sabourn, the council’s head of housing, told councillors this week: “One of our challenges is often getting rough sleepers to take up accommodation. Often there’s resistance to take up accommodation.”

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An artist’s impression of the proposed redevelopment Planning committee members were left “between a rock and a hard place” when Summix submitted a revised scheme for the site, including 72 student flats. It was approved with just three votes – two councillors opposed and eight abstained. Cllr McCabe told the planning committee meeting on February 10: “I wanted to start off by apologising. When the first application came through we didn’t send it to committee because it seemed clear cut that student accommodation was simply not appropriate in an industrial estate. I thought our

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policies were very clear on that. “Developers have started sifting through to see where we haven’t specifically said we don’t want student accommodation and are whacking in applications to see if they’ve found a loophole, and taking it straight to the planning inspector to see if they’re right. “I’d like to apologise to the people of Bath that I didn’t send it to committee the first time, because then we might have been able to discuss how awful the building looks. Now we have the rulings, even though they’re extremely bizarre.” He added: “I wonder how long it will be before we see this building on Airbnb, or a request for a change of use to a bijoux hotel, as is whispered some of the other PBSAs [purpose-built student accommodation] are considering.” Officers refused the first application, saying student accommodation risked prejudicing the operation of the industrial estate and there would be too much student accommodation in the area. Planning inspector John Woolcock overturned all the reasons for refusal and allowed the appeal. He said meeting Bath’s “substantial shortfall” of PBSAs would allow shared houses known as HMOs that are currently occupied by students to be turned back into family homes. An angered Cllr Manda Rigby was not convinced by that argument, saying: “Can we point to any one HMO that has come back into family use because PBSA has been built? No we can’t.” She said Cllr McCabe should not have to apologise because anyone else looking at the council’s policies would have come to the same conclusion. On appeal developer Summix secured permission to build 80 student flats, 1,354sqm of employment floorspace and a 354sqm replacement gym for the Genesis Lifestyle Centre. Officers said the firm’s new application improved on that “fallback position”. It cuts the number of student bedrooms to 72 and proposes 1,180sqm for light industrial use and 290sqm for the gym, all in a three-storey building. It will be up to Summix to decide which scheme to proceed with.

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Homelessness remains a problem

March 2021

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n BUSINESS NEWS

A new CEO plus trees donated and a college course Publisher’s new boss. Science publisher Select Science has appointed Kerry Parker as its new CEO and has a new investment partner in the shape of Vespa Capital. as new investment partners. Located in Corston, and employing 30 staff, Select Science provides online information to scientists around the world at the forefront of cancer research, the fight against Covid-19 and various scientific fields. Kerry, who has lived in Bath since she started work for the form as an editorial assistant 15 years ago, steps

up to the new role from her previous position as Publisher and Editor-inChief. Vespa Capital invests in businesses in the pharmaceutical, digital and product reviews industries. Chamber of Commerce. Bath Chamber of Commerce is the largest business membership and campaign organisation in the city and is part of Business West – the largest organisation of its kind in the UK. To join or to find out more visit https:// www.businesswest.co.uk/chambers/ bath-chamber-of-commerce

The staff at Select Science with Kerry Parker at the front on the left in a floral dress

Business course. Bath College has a Business Level 2 course aimed at young people. Topics include Enterprise, Principles of Marketing, Business Finance, Customer Service and Work Experience. To study on the full time course applicants need four full GCSE’s at grade D/3 or above or a BTEC Diploma Level 1 in a related subject. For details of the course visit https://www. bathcollege.ac.uk/product/business Helpful work: The Friends of Lyncombe Hill Fields have had tonnes of gravel delivered by Mike Clark and Guy Everitt of Alun Griffiths (Contractors) Ltd for making the paths safer and less muddy so there is improved access for pushchairs and those less steady on their feet. Also of help to the community nature reserve is the donation of hundreds of trees from The Conservation Volunteers (TCV) who are sponsored by OVO Energy creating a tiny forest at the site. The FSB (Federation of Small Businesses) is Britain’s biggest business representation group with hundreds of members in the Bath

Alun Griffiths (Contractors) provided gravel to the Lyncombe Hill Fields area alone. The FSB offers all its members – made up of small business owners, the self-employed, sole traders and entrepreneurs – a wide range of practical benefits and support packages to help their business grow as well as a direct voice to Government via its local, regional and national policy teams. The local contact for the FSB is Development Manager (and former Bath Chronicle and Somerset Guardian editor) Sam Holliday (sam. holliday@fsb.org.uk) and you can find out more about the FSB benefits, policy work and its Covid advice and support at www.fsb.org. uk.

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n NEWS

Don: the great Bathonian policeman celebrates his 100th birthday with cake By Harry Mottram: One of Bath’s favourite sons blew out the candles on his cake to mark his 100th birthday in January. Donald Stennard had fought in World War Two and when war ended joined the police force in the city where he served for three decades. ITV News reported: “The great-grandfather was surprised with cake and bubbly on Tuesday 16 January as the Winfield Lodge nursing home team marked the milestone. “His family say he has an amazing sense of humour and all the staff and ladies at the care home love him. “A true man of Bath, Don Stennard was born in Combe Down and went to Combe Down primary school. “He left school age 14 and was

an engineer for seven years before in 1942 he was called to join the army. There he served in the Royal Engineers and was deployed to France and Holland.” Don’s is an extraordinary life having been married to his childhood sweetheart Dorothy for 75 years and walked the beat from 1945 to 1976 as at first Constable Number 26 before promotion to sergeant in 1960. Following his retirement he continued to work in the justice system taking on the roll of a county court bailiff for to years before finally before taking work as a court usher. Don was recognised by the Mayor in the Citizen of the Year award 2006 for his outstanding contribution to the life of the city and being an ambassador for the city of Bath.

In January Donald Stennard marked his 100th birthday. Dubbed as the oldest exBath copper Don celebrated with a cake (pictured) at the Winfield Lodge Nursing Home. Above: Don and his late wife Dorothy on their wedding day, on duty in Bath ITV News reported: “His family says Don still enjoys reasonably good health, but has mobility problems - due he says to worn out knees. “The 100-year-old received many happy birthdays from well-wishers on social media recalling memories with the ‘great Bathonian’.” Cllr Manda Rigby said: “In normal circumstances, if it had

been wanted, I’d have gone to visit today, had a glass of bubbly and some cake and enjoyed a chat. “Please pass on my very best wishes to the birthday boy, from The Right Worshipful Mayor of Bath.” When Don joined the police force in 1945 police pay for a constable was £6.27 a week but had risen to £67.40 a week in 1976 when he retired.

Jerome Thomas Green Party

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Bath set to vote for ‘Metro Mayor’ Live happily and conﬁdently in your own home with award-winning care and support. Get in touch Bath and North East Somerset: 01225 536300 / bath@abneyandbaker.com www.abneyandbaker.com @abneyandbaker abneyandbaker P.S. If you’d like to join our great team of carers do get in touch.

By Harry Mottram. Voters in Bath and much of the old Avon area will be choosing the new ‘Metro Mayor’ on Thursday, May 6. Officially known as the West of England Combined Authority’s Mayor, the civic leader’s role is to work with the former constituent parts of Avon (excluding North Somerset) to pool resources and work on issues like transport links, skills and training as well as access more Government funds for the region as a whole. The idea is for the mayor to chair a committee of the various authorities (officially known as the West of England Authority) in his or her region and bring a sense of common purpose to improve the area. That is easier said than done as has proved so recently with something of a spat between the

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Labour Mayor of Bristol Marvin Rees and the outgoing Tory Metro Mayor Tim Bowles who is retiring. Marvin Rees accused Tim Bowles of leaving Bristol out of some of the plans and job creation schemes which Bowles rejected. And there was a dispute over North Somerset’s decision not to join the combined authority along with accusations that once they changed their minds Bristol put up objections for them to join. The election uses the supplementary vote system, in which voters express a first and a second preference for candidates. If no candidate gets more than 50% with the combined votes there is a second ballot between the top two to decided on who is the mayor.

March 2021

n PEOPLE

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The man managing the project to restore Bath’s landscapes By Harry Mottram. Like the landscape of Bath itself the project that is Bathscape encompasses a variety of themes. “It is a scheme of 25 projects with themes,” explained the manager Dan Merrett, “first of all we are preserving and restoring the landscape itself in particular the woodlands and grasslands. “Then there is archaeology which has an advisory service which goes out to landowners to give them advice on the archaeology on their land. “We also have therapeutic landscapes which builds on the idea that people used to come to Bath to get health benefits and how we can update that idea for modern times. “That includes encouraging people to go for walks and to enjoy the fresh air and hillsides. “The one silver lining of Covid is it has encouraged people to explore the countryside near them to keep themselves going.” Bathscape may seem abstract at first but essentially it is a

Bathscape manager Dan Merrett at the viewpoint in Alexandra Park partnership funded by the 2018 to promote the better National Lottery Heritage Fund management and use of the and supported by a whole range Bathscape, the beautiful natural of groups from the Council, landscape surrounding the Network Rail, both universities, historic city of Bath. the National Trust, The Wildlife With its aim to restore and Trust to the city’s Residents enhance the Bathscape, to make Association and many more. it more accessible and to educate It was started back in October and inform.

When you look at the landscape around the city there are huge contrasts from the urban industrial areas to the skyline with its views across the valley and to the Cotwolds and the hills of Somerset to the south. Forest, parks, fields, rivers and canals, steep slopes and wooded valleys - it has the lot. “The beauty of Bath is that it is quite different on each side with a river valley and the hills of Combe Down and the National Trust land,” he said, “Bathscape is the whole of Bath not just the Georgian centre.” Dan Merrett, 49, lives with his family in Lower Weston and came to Bath originally manage a project on bats. He trained as a draughtsman and studied environmental studies before working in wildlife and the field of conservation. The five year project also links up with community groups, schools and youth groups. For more information visit: https:// www.bathscape.co.uk/

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March 2021

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n NEWS

Clean air zone starts this month on March 15 - but will it send lorries into the outskirts? Residents are bracing themselves for a major change to how traffic uses the city centre with the introduction of the Clean Air Zone on March 15. It has been introduced to help the city meet UK air quality legislation. Several places in Bath currently exceed the legal limits for nitrogen dioxide (NO2) pollution which is mainly caused by diesel and older petrol vehicles. This situation is unacceptable because of the role that poor air quality plays in damaging health locally, and in the Climate Emergency more widely. In 2017, the government directed the Council to reduce levels of nitrogen dioxide in the city in the shortest possible time. The council said: “It is providing all of the funds for us to do this, and the Joint Air Quality Unit (JAQU) is independently verifying all of the work being done. “Our technical work has shown that a charging zone for traffic is the only measure that can achieve compliance in the required time frame - effectively deterring the majority of higher emission vehicles from driving in the inner city area by charging them to drive into the zone. “Following a public consultation in Oct/Nov 2018, the council agreed to introduce a class C charging clean air zone with traffic management at Queen Square, charging all higher emission vehicles, except private cars and motorcycles, to drive in

Bath’s city centre from 15 March 2021. “Traffic management in Queen Square is a necessary compromise to enable us to avoid charging private cars. It also helps to moderate traffic flow to other parts of the city, where emissions would rise to unacceptable levels if large queues were allowed to form. “While we are not charging private cars, the council is currently looking at lots of ways to improve walking, cycling and public transport to encourage more people to choose more sustainable ways of getting around. “We ask that all drivers consider whether or not they need to take their vehicle, and to consider walking, cycling or taking public transport instead, especially for shorter cross-city journeys.” Private cars will be exempt but the most-polluting commercial vehicles such as buses and lorries will be charged. High-emission commercial vans will pay a £9 fee and HGVs and buses £100. (RHA) said they were disappointed backroads on the edges of Bath Private hire vehicles and taxis that Bath as pressing ahead but this is not available to larger will also have to pay a £9-a-day with the plans pointing out that trucks. charge. vehicles that don’t meet Euro 6/VI They will possibly avoid Concerns have been raised by standards will be charged to enter the city andPage go via the Willow Gardeners Oct 20.qxp_Layout 1 11/09/2020 08:58 1 M4 and people living in the outer suburbs a clean air zone. M5, use the Trowbridge to of the city over whether lorries They said: “The zone takes Midsomer Norton routes and the and vans may use their residential in sections of the A4 and A36 Chippenham to Marshfield roads. streets as a way to avoid charges which are key freight routes in the Full details of the clean air thus increasing pollution. region, effectively turning them zone and how to pay and who is And commercial hauliers and into toll booths for through-traffic eligible plus much more can be couriers have concerns over delays not destined for Bath.” found at https://beta.bathnes.gov. to deliveries and an increase in Vehicles wishing to avoid uk/bath-clean-air-zone costs. the charges can do so with the The Road Haulage Association

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n NEWS IN BRIEF and search for PTA Beechen Cliff School. At the time of going to press the funds were building up nicely. Stabbing: Police have reported that an 18-year-old man has been arrested following a stabbing. Detectives are investigating an incident in Bath on13 February which has left one man in hospital. Police were called to an address in St James Parade shortly after 10am. Officers found a man, in his 20s, injured having sustained a stab Beechen appeal: The parents and wound. He has been transferred to hospital and is believed to be in a teachers association (PTA) at stable condition. DI Dan Rowan said: Beechen Cliff School (pictured) “An 18-year-old man has been have launched crowd funding appeals to raise cash for a number arrested and is currently in police of causes. One is to raise £5,000 to custody. “Officers remain at the scene at the improve mental health provision, moment carrying out enquiries. The another is to raise £5,000 to buy neighbourhood team has been laptops and IT equipment while another is to raise £10,000 to fit out made aware to help them with its high-visibility patrol plans. the new all-purpose school “Anyone with information about clubhouse installed as a shell just what happened is asked to call 101 before the first lockdown with all and give the call-handler reference mod cons. The shell has already 5221031776.” been used as emergency satellite Bear vision: Last month the Bear canteen. To support the appeals go to app.investmycommunity.com Flat Association of residents held an

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online meeting to air their ideas for a vision for the future of the main shopping area betwixt The Gore and Hayes Place. To see diagrams and maps or their ideas and to read on how they would like Bear Flat (pictured) to look in the future visit their website at http://bearflat.org. uk/ and search for Vision. The organisation welcomes new members and also comments on their ideas to planning@bearflat.org. uk. 5G and the MP: Guardian columnist Nick Cohen sparked a row on social media over his accusation that Bath MP Wera Hobhouse had “decided to comply with the wishes of the dupes and cranks” over the conspiracy theories surrounding G5 by opposing a new mast in the city. The story was picked up by Private Eye magazine and the media in general. Cllr Dine Romero said the report was incorrect and the objection to the new mast was it was by a greenbelt area and was inappropriate. Initially the MP cited health concerns but agreed after research that the mast was safe. Planning was refused for

the mast as it was considered too tall. Another mast has been approved near to the existing one but will not carry 5G. See page 11. To judge what the planning committee said and what the grounds for objecting to the mast were see the meeting on Youtube at https://youtu.be/ sZYpKshknso?t=12354 Test centres: Book a free COVID-19 rapid test if you’re an essential worker with no symptoms at The Apex Hotel, James Street West, Bath BA1 2DA; Keynsham Masonic Hall, 99 Bath Road, Keynsham BS31 1SR (from 8 March 2021); Centurion Hotel, Charlton Lane, Midsomer Norton, Radstock BA3 4BD (from 10 March 2021). Details at: https:// beta.bathnes.gov.uk/rapid-test

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March 2021

bathvoice

n MOTHERING SUNDAY

A day to celebrate mum By Harry Mottram. Mothers are twice blessed as they have two days when their role in the family is celebrated. There’s the one midway through Lent traditionally known as Mothering Sunday and then the second one in May that has been adopted from America. That second date gives a welcome boost to the business of florists, card makers and the suppliers of gifts. Its beginnings date to the American Civil War but began in 1905. It evolved through the work of Anne Jarvis whose mother had helped care for wounded soldiers in the Civil War and wanted to dedicate a day to celebrate the caring work of women. Her daughter managed to champion her work by launching Mother’s Day in the USA as the second Sunday in May. It quickly became commercialised and grew in profile - with other nations adopting the day. The original Mothering

Sunday dates to at least the Middle Ages as a celebration of the Mother Church and the role of mothers. During the 19th century the day became increasingly associated with mothers as the newly created greeting card and gift industries took off. Children who had left home for work in factories, mines and as servants would return to the parental home with gifts of cake and flowers for their mothers. Increasingly in the 20th and 21st centuries the date is marked by offers of restaurant meals for mum, weekend breaks for mum and even the marketing of new domestic gadgets for mum - all to mark the day. What do mums want on the day? Well all mothers want is the love of their family and hopefully for them all to rally round, cook her a Sunday lunch and do all the chores that are usually left to her. This year the date is Sunday, March 14th.

The author’s mother and older sister in Seaton in 1952. She had six children and as a devout Christian made sure we all celebrated the day by cooking lunch and bringing her breakfast in bed before attending church in the morning on Mothering Sunday

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March 2021

bathvoice

n NEWS

Claims mast is unsafe rejected in debate

nNEWS IN BRIEF Empty homes: Owners of empty properties that have been vacant for 10 years or more are being encouraged to bring them back into use with an additional premium being introduced to Council Tax charges from April this year that start with a 50% premium for empty properties rising to 300% for ones empty for 10 years or more. The current total number of properties empty for six months and over in Bath and North East Somerset is 814. Utility vouchers: Vouchers worth up to £49 to pay for gas and electricity are being made available to people in Bath and North East Somerset who are affected by fuel poverty by Bath & North East Somerset Council. Residents can apply to Citizens Advice BANES for the electronic fuel vouchers, which can be exchanged in shops and with suppliers to be charged to key meters or electricity and gas accounts. The value of the vouchers are £28 for a single person and £49 for a family or couple. The scheme will be available until March 31. Details at www. citizensadvicebanes.org.uk on 0344 848 7919 or 0300 247 0050.

By Local Democracy Reporter. A new mast set to be erected on the edge of Bath will not Artist’s impression of the plans for immediately offer 5G – but could Bristol Airport be upgraded to host the Airport expansion: The Public technology. Inquiry in the Bristol Airport The 23.4-metre monopole in expansion opens on 20 July 2021 the Larkhall Sports Field will and is scheduled for 16 sitting days. stand just 60 metres from a site The airport wants to expand with where a shorter, wider 5G mast more facilities and a second was rejected in December after it terminal so as to increase flights in A Vodafone mast was deemed inappropriate in the the future. Locals living near the green belt. Public speaker Fiona Williams airport are against the plans and Vodafone and O2’s approved said: “You may be voting for a 4G won round one of the battle. scheme will replace a temporary mast now and end up with a 5G However many people in Bath use mast in a more prominent mast, with no say in the matter. the airport as their nearest access location in the green belt that has “For home working, it’s not so to international air travel. Bath and been running on diesel for some much increased mobile coverage North East Somerset Council are two years. Bath and North East that’s needed, it’s fast broadband. against the plans as it will lead to Somerset Council’s planning If we end up with a 5G upgrade it an increase in the carbon footprint committee was told the public will largely be for connecting in the region. Bristol City Council is gains of the scheme outweighed smart appliances and mining also against the plans as is North the visual impact. personal data. Somerset Council with South Gos in But Councillor Lucy Hodge “Surely it’s not worth ruining favour. Bristol Airport said the plans said it was difficult to determine the beauty of this area with a would increase routes and flights the benefits after more than 130 75-foot mast for such dubious for Bathonians. people objected and only three benefits.” filed letters in support. Representing the applicant at “I’m a bit worried about the meeting on February 10, Paul saying this is for the public good Street said the mast will not when the public haven’t asked provide 5G but could be for it and have demonstrated upgraded. they don’t want it,” she said. “We don’t deny there will be Many of the objections some visual impact. That impact focused on the supposed health needs to be balanced against the risks of 5G. benefits,” he said. “There would One person wrote: “To build a be a considerable public benefit No need for an expensive care home mast like this in such close from the provision of the proximity to schools, recreational improved communications Stay independent at home with your own live in carer spaces for children, houses, and network.” No for expensive care beautiful countryside, when the He acknowledged the health No an need fortoanstay expensive care home Manyneed people want in home their own home as they get older long-term effects on health are concerns and said his client can No need for an expensive care home Stay independent at home with your own live in carer Stayanindependent at home with your own live in carer No need for expensive care home still not known, is short-sighted, offer to undertake radio frequency No need for an home with your own want live into carer callous and driven by greed.” Stay independent Many people stay in their own home as they older surveys onceatthe mast is in place Stay independent homewant with to your own liveaninown carer Many at people stay in their homeget as they get older since 198 Featherbed Care has been providing live in carers Another said 5G was No need for an expensive care home to demonstrate operating No need for expensive care home Many people want to stay it in istheir own home as they get olderNo need for an expensive care home Stay independent at h No need for an expensive care home “untested and unnecessary Many people want stay in their home asvery get older within guidelines. Weto believe in own only thelive best care affordable cos Stay independent atthey home with your ownat livean in carer carer Stay independent at home with your own live in technology”, adding that the Featherbed Care has been providing in carers since 1986 Stay independent at home with your own live in carer Stay independent home with your own live in carer Planning officer Christopher Featherbed Care has been providing live in carers since 1986 Many people want to stay Care has been providing live in carers since 1986 mast would be a “blot on Featherbed the Many people want to stay in their own home as they get older We believe inbelieve onlyMany the very best care at in ancare affordable cost Griggs-Trevarthen told people want to stay their own home as they get older We in only the very best at an affordable cost Many people want tocarers stay in their own home as as they get get older Many people want to stay in their own home they older Featherbed Care has been providing live in since 1986 We believe in only the very best care at an affordable cost landscape”. councillors that development in Councillors were reminded believe in only the very best care at an affordable cost the green beltWe is by definition Featherbed Care Care has has been been providing providing live liveFeatherbed in carers carers since since Care 1986 has been Featherbed in 1986 that government guidance says Featherbed Care hasthe been providing liveat in carers since 1986 inappropriate but the benefits We believe believe in only only very best care care an affordable cost Featherbed Care has been providing live in carers since 1986 the ve We believe in only We in the very best at an affordable that 5G is safe. We believe in only the very best care at an affordable cost cost “clearly” outweigh the harm. We believe in only the very best care at an affordable cost Speaking at the planning Proposing approval, Cllr committee meeting, public Manda Rigby said all masts in the speaker Karen Churchill claimed area will need to be in the green the safety guidelines were belt and there was “no better unreliable and warned there is place to put this mast” than in still a risk of the other mast being this field. Call for a brochure today approved on appeal. She said the Call for aCall brochure today She said the look and feel of for a brochure today 0117 Freephone: 0800 111 4885 cumulative impact of the 0117 9860710 /9860710 Freephone: 0800a 111 4885 111 4885 the 9860710 mast was /much better than Call for brochure today 0117 / Freephone: 0800 Call for a brochure today Email: featherbed@featherbedhomecare.co.uk radiation from multiple masts the one that was refused and Email: featherbed@featherbedhomecare.co.uk Call/ for for a brochure brochure today today Call for a brochure today Call a Email: featherbed@featherbedhomecare.co.uk 0117 9860710 Freephone: 0800 111 4885 was uncertain. 0117 9860710 / Freephone: 0800 111for 4885 Call a brochure 0800 today111 4885 therewww.featherbedhomecare.co.uk was “counterbalancing 0117 9860710 9860710 Freephone: www.featherbedhomecare.co.uk 0117 9860710 Freephone: 0800 111 111 4885 4885 0117 //// Freephone: 0800 www.featherbedhomecare.co.uk The new mast will maintain 0117 9860710 Freephone: 0800 111 4885 Email: featherbed@featherbedhomecare.co.uk good” from the removal of the Email: featherbed@featherbedhomecare.co.uk Email: featherbed@featherbedhomecare.co.uk featherbed@featherbedhomecare.co.uk Email: Email: Call for a brochure today 2G, 3G and 4G coverage in the Call for Email: featherbed@featherbedhomecare.co.uk temporary mast. www.featherbedhomecare.co.uk www.featherbedhomecare.co.uk www.featherbedhomecare.co.uk www.featherbedhomecare.co.uk area. 0117 9860710 / Freephone: 0800 111 4885 www.featherbedhomecare.co.uk The motion was carried. 0117 9860710 / F Email: featherbed@featherbedhomecare.co.uk Email: featherbed@

Care in your own home

Care in your Care in own yourhome own home Care in your own home Care in your own home Care in yo Care in in your your own own home Care ownhome home Care in your

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www.featherbedhomecare.co.uk

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bathvoice

n PEOPLE

March 2021

A new form of theatre is happening in Bath driven by Sophie By Harry Mottram. There was a moment when a pantomime dame dressed in an outrageous frock called for children to take to the stage years ago. Sophie Jacobs-Wyburn who runs the Egg Assembly at the Theatre Royal Bath for young people couldn’t quite remember the details but at the age of seven Sophie wanted to be part of the magic of theatre. “I remember it was a long way to the stage up steps and I also remember the dame was wearing a dress with prints of giant licorice allsorts on it,” Sophie recalled, “but I’m not sure if it was in Bristol or Bath.” Sophie is 35, so that would suggest the dame was possibly the late Chris Harris who at the time was staging pantos and playing dames at The Bristol Old Vic before he became a fixture at the Theatre Royal Bath every Christmas. Sophie JacobsWyburn is a single mother of two and lives in Bristol Born in Wales Sophie’s early life was in Ebbw Vale before her family moved to Downend in Bristol. Following school Sophie attended The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama in 2010 where Sophie studied acting specialising in collaborative and devised theatre. After college Sophie has worked for a variety of theatre companies and theatres from roles in education to directing before settling at the Egg Theatre in Bath and later becoming the director of the Bath Theatre School in 2018. “I’ve actually acted on stage at the Ustinov,” Sophie explained, “I was 16 and it was a play called Pass It On which I was directing - part of the Connections Festival at the Bristol Old Vic. “One of the actors couldn’t

make the date of the performance at the Ustinov so it was quite a step up. “I was playing one of two sisters and it was about teenagers talking about their lives but are overshadowed by outside events like the Poll Tax riots, and the one I was in was with the backdrop of the Falklands War and our father was in the armed forces.” How about line learning at short notice? Sophie said because Sophie was directing the play Sophie was familiar with the lines and also has not had a problem with learning lines. “The difficulty with learning lines, “Sophie explained, “ is if you are learning just words they won’t stay in your brain. If you know what the words are and why you saying them learning will come more naturally.” Back to that seminal moment when Sophie was just seven years old at the pantomime. “I am interested in theatre that challenges our perceptions of what an audience should be,” Sophie explained, “I’m a big fan of immersive theatre and promenade theatre - so I seek out those unusual settings of theatre that isn’t taking place within a theatre building. “It’s so exciting to take an audience out of a traditional setting where they expect to be an audience and they are being asked as why they are there and what do they expect from a performances.” In short theatre where the audience are as much a part of a production as the cast. Which takes us back to her first experience or taking part if only briefly in that panto all those years ago. It also explains Sophie’s passion for the newly developing collaborative digital theatre. “When Covid started a lot of theatres began doing things online but we didn’t want to just jump online for the sake of it. “We secured some funding from Innovative UK and set about setting up The Egg Assembly which is and isn’t a theatre school. “It was set up to explore digital

The Egg Assembly is an online digital theatre project for children

training in creativity. “It is led from a theatre background but we don’t exclude anything but there is something strange happening in theatre arts. If you watch a theatre show online it is not quite a theatre show or a film. A strange hybrid is emerging between theatre, film and video gaming and what we are discovering is it allowing young people to explore this new artform.” The theatre school normally has around 120-190 students aged from 5-18 and split into age groups beginning with playled drama to running their own theatre companies from the age of 16. The students come mainly from Bath but also from Somerset, Wiltshire and even further afield for the online Egg Assembly. The youth theatre also has courses that are free, some have grants and bursaries and some are full fee. There is a usually a full scale production in the summer although this year it seems unlikely to happen due to covid as the school is suspended. There are no auditions but there is a waiting list to join. Sophie describes herself as a “champion of innate creativity, a

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

theatre-maker and an advocate for creating professional art with those of all ages, backgrounds, and experience levels.” Sophie specialises in puppetry, theatrical anarchy, and joyful pushing of the boundaries. This informs the work of The Egg Assembly, alongside the passion and dedication of all the Egg Assembly team Sophie said. The assembly is putting together a project ready for a performance this summer. Sophie adds: “The project focuses for us would be The Egg Assembly as a concept (how it functions, its aims etc), the accessibility of the training, and the online interactive experience currently being developed by members. “This is centred around the concept of a Crime Thriller, focusing on environmental crime and its impact, and will be created by young creatives led by professionals through The Egg Assembly’s digital platform. “It should be launched to a public audience in June.” For more information about the Egg Assembly visit theeggassembly.com while for the theatre school Google the Theatre Royal Bath and add the words Youth Theatre or visit their Facebook page.

March 2021

bathvoice

n NEWS

Row over parking By Local Democracy Reporter. Council chiefs have denied claims they put “profit before health” after it continued to charge people to use a car park near a coronavirus vaccination centre in Bath. Thousands of people a week are getting the Covid jab at the Pavilion, but GP Sharon Gillings warned that any supposed barrier could put some vulnerable residents off attending. More than 470 have signed her petition urging Bath and North East Somerset Council to waive the charge for patients using the Bath Sports and Leisure Centre car park. Although charges for the car park remain in place, Bath and North East Somerset Council leader Dine Romero said that the body was not planning to profit from vaccine patients and that a more “informal mechanism” of free parking would be put in place. Dr Gillings said it remains unclear how that mechanism will work. Writing online, she said: “Imposing parking charges flies

in the face of the wonderful community spirit that has characterised the local response to the pandemic. “We urge the council to drop these charges immediately and stop profiting from the pandemic.” The GP practice-led vaccination centre opened at the Pavilion on January 12. Up to 700 people a day will visit this week to get their first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine, and they will have to return for their second. According to the council’s website, it costs £1.60 to park in the short-stay car park for an hour. Parking is one of the council’s key revenue streams and has been heavily impacted by the lockdown. It has been able to recover some of its lost income from central government. Councillor Romero said: “I want to be very clear, the council is not, and would not, profit from charging to park for vaccinations. “The council has helped our NHS colleagues to set up the Pavilion vaccination centre in a very short space of time.”

Election battle heats up for the top cop job On Thursday May 6, Bathonians will go to the polls to elect a new Avon and Somerset Police and Crime Commissioner to replace the current one of Sue Mountstevens who is standing down. The role of the PCC is to hold the Chief Constable and the Police force in the area to account

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and ensure they perform to public expectations. The hopefuls after your votes are: Heather Shearer (Liberal Democrat); Mark Shelford (Conservative); Kerry Barker (Labour) and John Smith (Independent). More next month on the election.

Libreal Democrat Heather Shearer is vice chair of the Police Crime Panel and is also a parish and distric councillor in the Mendips

Labour’s Kerry Barker is a barrister with 50 years in the criminal justice system. He was runner up to Sue Mountstevens in the last election

Conservative’s Mark Shelford is a former soldier and Conservative councillor for Lyncombe and was deputy leader of the Tories in the city

Independent John Smith is the current Deputy PCC to Sue for the area. Previously he has worked as a lawyer and for the PCC for the last few years

bathvoice

n NEWS

Praise for new housing development on former military site By Local Democracy Reporter: Curo’s Mulberry Park development of 700 homes, open spaces and community facilities in Bath was found to be an ”unqualified success” after being assessed against the Building for a Healthy Life principles, the country’s standard for creating neighbourhoods that are better for people and nature. Design for Homes Chief Executive, David Birkbeck, is the author of the Building for a Healthy Life design code. David says: “It’s been tough to get round everything built this year but Mulberry Park was a joy to visit and the scheme we’d rank highest in England currently. “It’s the perfect model of place-making, rather than just housebuilding, a neighbourhood that puts healthier lifestyles first, with streets and public spaces so well landscaped that people will

March 2021

want to use them for a leisurely walk either to its excellent facilities or the rest of Bath beyond.” “It’s going to have everything, plenty of great quality open space like the future park and woodland walk, as well as pedestrian connections to the city centre and super-wide pavements with proper, mature street trees like you used to see. It also has so many services on site that residents need - the school, nursery, café and even work and employment space.” The Building for a Healthy Life design code was developed in partnership with NHS England to encourage the planning of healthier lifestyles into new housing developments. The guidance promotes improved connections for walking, cycling and public transport, helping to cut pollution and enhance air quality. Mulberry Park Street Scene 1

The Mulberry Park development in Comb Down was named after the Mulberry Harbours used on D-Day in 1944. The plans for the harbours were drawn up at the former MOD site in 1942 - Credit Andrew Sykes and Curo David says: “The street layout is so rational and beautifully landscaped, it’s got to be one of the best we’ve seen in decades for encouraging people to walk. If that helps people walk sometimes instead of taking the car every time, it’ll cut the number of pointless short car journeys that are driving up traffic and air pollution. “There are also other design features to the homes that will make a real difference, such as recessed balconies for apartments. These offer more privacy, encouraging residents to use them more often and to sit outdoors when at home. The benefit of all that extra daylight in a decade or so

of occupancy cannot be stressed enough. “We consider the scheme to be an unqualified success, an extremely high-quality example of Building for a Healthy Life principles.” Curo Chief Executive, Victor da Cunha, says: “More than 370 families now live at Mulberry Park and this growing community is going from strength to strength.” • However not everyone is a fan of the development on the former MOD Foxhill site. The Bath Preservation Trust objected to scale, height and style of the plans when they were revealed for phase two in 2017. What do you think? Email news@bathvoice.co.uk

Volunteers, gravel and hundreds of trees give hope By Harry Mottram: It’s wet, it’s muddy and it’s hard work but the volunteers helping to enhance the nature reserve at Lyncombe Hill Fields are making a difference. Gravel by the tonne is being laid to stabilise the paths and make access easier while clearing overgrown pasture land of brambles are creating wildflower meadows and butterfly friendly environments. And there is the small matter of hundreds of trees being planted to create a tiny forest and to strengthen the hedges on the

site’s fields above Widcombe. Anita Breeze of the Friends said: “Out of more than 100 people who have volunteered around 40 are working on the site at the moment. It’s extraordinary the contributions being made. “Someone has set up the website, there is a team of people working on mapping the site and 30 in the maintenance team are planting the forest. “We had a bird survey as part of the national bird watch in which a red kite was seen .” In pouring rain volunteer Chris L-R: Chris Kinchin-Smith, Maurice Tennenhaus and Anita Breeze

Volunteers Fergus and Pete lay gravel on the paths to aid access. For more on the donations of gravel see Business News

Kinchin-Smith explained about the tiny forest: “If you go back three months the site was impenetrable with blackthorn and brambles so the biggest task was preparing the site. “Digging down to take out the roots with teams of eight for covid compliance and then we started the planting in snow on January 25th.” Maurice Tennenhaus organised the tree planting which featured a wide range of broad leaf trees. He said: “There are 600

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

in the tiny forest with birch, crabapple, oak, rowan, maple, dogwood, cherry and beech with 17 species from TCV the tree conservation people.” He explained that the way they are planted close together allows the roots to exchange information about disease revealing that trees do talk to each other. That’s something I didn’t know! To take part as a volunteer or for more information visit https:// friendsoflyncombehillfields.co.uk/

March 2021

nSPORT

bathvoice

Dave Egerton: one of the greats from Bath Rugby’s golden era By Harry Mottram. One of Bath’s favourite rugby players of the glory days on the 1980s and 1990s died last month. Dave Egerton was 59 and contracted Covid-19 and was admitted to hospital where he passed away. For those with long memories the era of Gareth Chilcott, Simon Halliday and John Hall amongst many others the name of Dave Egerton will be recalled for his attitude which made him a team player in the ultimate team sport. Marking the 150th anniversary of the club he said: “Rugby is a team sport, a collective sport. There is no one person who could have done it on their own. “I think that every single player who played during that era was a special player, just to be able to get in the team in the first place. “The old adage was, it’s not good enough to just be in the team,

you’ve got to make a difference when you’re in there.” Egerton played during the time when Rugby Union moved from purely amateur to a professional status. Bath Rugby Club were one step ahead of the rest of the teams under the guidance of Jack Rowell as they won the newly created Courage League Division One in 1988/89, 1990/91, 1991/92, 1992/93, and 1993/94. It’s a feat that is unlikely to be repeated. By the millennium with professionalism pulling in international players from around the globe and big money from TV and the likes of Saracens, Northampton and Wasps soon rivalling Bath those successful years couldn’t last. Originally from London Egerton was to be an incredibly

fit and fast number eight which saw him awarded seven England caps and represented the British and Irish Lions against France in 1989. Fans of the Blue, Black and Whites will recall his days as the player who scored an average of a try every three games during a long career of 163 games from 1985 to 1995. In recent times he had been a commentator on BBC Radio Bristol lending his expert knowledge to the airwaves. Bath Rugby paid tribute to him on Twitter: “We are all deeply shocked and incredibly sad to learn that club legend, Dave Egerton, has passed away. “A wonderful gentleman and talented player, taken from us far too soon. “Our thoughts and love go out to his family and friends.” Former England player and

TV commentator Brian Moore said: “Dave Egerton was a contemporary of mine as a student and in the England team. He was an intelligent, amusing guy and a very good player. “ RIP Dave - you will be missed and all my thoughts are with your family.”

Bath Rugby legend Dave Egerton in action for England ‘B’ v France ‘B’ in January 1988

Bath sports news in brief Bath City FC: The National League South was cancelled last month due to Covid and a dispute over grants and loans from Sport England. The Romans believe the league should not have started the new season without financial guarantees. The club were dangerously close to the drop zone on the cessation of the league which means they can start afresh when the 2021-22 Season kicks off. The club said they supported the cessation of the league as playing with no spectators was financially unsustainable.

Bath Rugby: The club continue to play out their fixtures without a crowd although they hope that will change this spring. See What’s On for fixtures. In the meantime they have organised their charity rugby walk in aid of Dorothy House and Bath Rugby Foundation, over the Six Nations period. You can choose your own course including walking to the Rec and back or even walking to Murrayfield and back by March 20th.

Details on the club’s website. Bath Cricket: Following on from last year’s John Downey Trophy match this year’s fixtures have been announced. 23rd May - Lansdown Under 13s vs Bath Under 13’s at Combe Park; 6th June - Bath Wanderers vs Lansdown Ladies at North Parade; 27th June - Bath U15s vs Lansdown U15s at North Parade; 29th August - Bath 1st XI vs Lansdown 1st XI at North Parade 5th Sept - Lansdown Over 30’s vs Bath Over 30’s at Combe Park. Team Bath Netball: In the 2021 Vitality Superleague the team beat Loughborough Lightning with a 48-44 victory on St Valentine’s Day. The day before the Blue and Golds also came out winners in a tough away fixture with Celtic Dragons. Anna Stembridge, Team Bath Netball Superleague Head Coach, said of the Lightning game: “We were expecting it to be a really competitive game. Lightning are a good team and you know you have to ride the wave against them, that they are going to keep coming back at you.”

Vicky Holland

Tom Dean

With just weeks before the start of the rescheduled Tokyo Olympic Games athletes at Bath University are fine tuning their training regimes ahead of the games that run from 23 July to 5 August with the Paralympics from 24 August to 8 September. Swimmer Tom Dean believes the delay could work in his favour as he seeks to follow in the wake of some celebrated University of Bath-based swimmers. It is 25 years since Paul Palmer became the first sportsperson to bring an Olympic medal back to the Team Bath pool, a 400m freestyle silver in Atlanta. Securing qualification for his first Games is his primary goal

but 20-year-old Dean is well aware of his training centre’s history of success and is keen to write his own chapter and to emulate the success Team Bath have had in the games in recent years. Another hopeful is Vicky Holland in the triathlon. It will be a third Games for the 34-yearold, who made history at Rio 2016 when she won bronze to become the first female triathlete to win an Olympic medal for Great Britain. Also in contention are Joe Choong (modern pentathlon), David King (athletics) Ben Fletcher (judo), plus wheelchair fencers Dimitri Coutya and Piers Gilliver.

Countdown to the Japanese Olympics as Bath goes for gold

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bathvoice

March 2021

n WHAT’S ON

Every event is on hold... in the era of Covid-19 It’s been a very frustrating time as every month Bath Voice publishes events in the forthcoming months but then Covid-19 means they are cancelled. Hopefully some of these dates will be kept and we can start to enjoy going out again writes Harry Mottram Mon, 1 Mar. Holburne Museum. Venice by Canaletto (1697 – 1768) continues to May 5, 2021. Classic views of the Grand Canal and the Piazza S. Marco but also some of the city’s less well-known nooks and crannies. Book tickets online. Sat, 6 Mar. Rugby Bath V Exeter. 3pm KO. West country rivals The Chiefs visit the Rec in the expectation of an away win but Bath have other ideas and need the points and with recent wins against the likes of Gloucester they will feel confident. Wed, 10 Mar. Theatre Royal Bath. Office Suite. Two plays by Alan Bennett on a double bill with A Visit From Miss Protheroe and Green Forms. Nightly 7.30pm. Matinees Thursday & Saturday 2.30pm. A comic picture of office life from the pre-internet era when filing and form-filling were a significant part of the working day. Continues to Sat 27 Mar.

Sun, 14 Mar: Bath Contemporary Artists Fair. Green Park Station. 10am - 5pm. The best of contemporary art from the city including fine art, photography, sculpture, textiles and much more. Sat, 20 Mar. Rugby. Bath V Worcester. Another crunch game for the Blue, Black and Whites. Thu, 1 Apr. Comedy. April Fools Gala. The Forum. 8pm. With Jess Robinson, Silky, Catherine Bohart, John Moloney (MC) and possibly Bill Bailey. Thu, 15 Apr, 7.30pm. Chapel Arts. Miranda Sykes. Doors 7pm. The acclaimed singer and bassist with ‘Show of Hands’, is returning to her roots. Fri, 16 Apr. Chapel Arts. Tankus the Henge. 7.30pm. Their funkfuelled repertoire is wildly eclectic, ranging from New Orleans inspired swing to heavy rock riffs, and since their beginnings in the ratty alleyways of London’s Soho, the

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band has evolved into a wild groove machine. Sat, 17 Apr. Rugby. Bath V Leicester. the Tigers come to the Rec for a season defining match with hopefully a home win. . Mon, 19 Apr. History of Bath Research Group talk. AGM and Illustrated Talk on the History of the Hartwell and Surrounding Sites. 7.30pm. Speaker: John Ennor. Details at http://historyofbath.org/ Fri, 7 May. Comedy. Stewart Lee: Snowflake / Tornado. 7:30pm. Double bill. The Forum Sun, 6 Jun. Comedy. Frank Skinner. Theatre Royal Bath. 7.30pm. Folowing a run at the Garrick Theatre in London Frank brings his Shoxbiz show to Bath Groups and societies: Girl Guides. Visit https:// girlguidingbath.org.uk/ to find your local group. Boy Scouts. Visit http://www. bathscouts.org/ to discover your local

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March 2021

n PEOPLE

bathvoice

Just don’t mention The Verve’s single By Harry Mottram. Jeremy Clarkson once said that the one record you couldn’t play on hospital radio was The Verve’s The Drugs Don’t Work Any More. That aside hospital radio is not that different from say Radio 2 or Radio Somerset with its mix of local news and golden oldies. It’s mission of course is to provide a dedicated radio channel for hospitals and in the case of the Royal United Hospital in Bath that is the mission of Bath Radio. Or rather was as there’s been a change as the station as the RUH’s independent charitable broadcaster is branching out to give a wider service to the city as a community radio station. The chairman Julia Furguson explained the transformation. “Last year we rebranded to become more of a station for the whole of Bath rather than just the hospital,”Julia explained. “Over the last couple of years we have significantly expanded our broadcasting with more live shows, spoken word programmes and a number of strands that reach out across Bath. “We have programmes about what’s on in the city in the arts scene, profiles of those involved in the arts and its institutions. “And historically we have broadcast live commentary from the rugby at Bath and we’ve a branch of Bath Radio that encompasses charities and their work in the city.” Julia was still a young child when the station was founded in the age of The Swinging Blue Jeans and Carnaby Street. Since then the station has become something of a fixture in the ears of both patients and locals who listened to the station after leaving or visiting the RUH. “It grew out of Bath Hospital Radio in 1964 and since then there has been various incarnations and it has occupied a number of studios,” she said, “but for the last few years it has been at the Royal United Hospital site in the Lodge.” With a mission to provide conversation, news, views and music for those in the RUH and beyond the broadcaster has kept spirits up, provided companionship and

entertainment and enlightenment for close on 57 years. “Quite a few people want to be broadcasters,” she said, “and it’s good to see them come in and get trained and develop. “We have no paid roles, it is all voluntary but it is so gratifying to see how the broadcasters give so much time, commitment and passion and talent to their roles.” From Jeremy Vine to Ken Bruce hospital radio has launched many a career although for many it provides a creative outlet in their lives. The station features presenters such as Darren Huish who covers sport, NHS worker Steven Walker, Beth Atkinson fresh from university, punk fan Danny Mitchell, BBC Radio 5Live’s George Simons, playwright Elaine Miles, technical bod Ollie Lewis and of course Julia who broadcasts classical music on a Thursday morning. A quick look at the station’s website reveals many more presenters with a range of experience in broadcasting. Some like Julia work full time, some are retired and some are former professional broadcasters who are still addicted to the microphone. Julie has also previously been a listener as she was diagnosed with breast cancer a few years ago and was treated at the RUH so

Presenter and Chairman of Bath Radio Trust broadcasts on Thursdays she knows first hand how valuable the station is. A full time freelance business psychologist she is a mother to two grown up children and wife to neuroscientist Steve Ray and they live in the Camden Crescent area of Bath. • Bath Radio (incorporating Bath Hospital Radio) is a community radio station for Bath that produces more than 30 hours of broadcasting each week. They are a registered charity run by a board of Trustees comprised of Julia Ferguson, Howard Crowter-Jones, Nick Barnett and Oliver Lewis. To listen to the station or for more

Got a story for Bath Voice? Email Harry on news@bathvoice.co.uk

information visit https://www. bathradio.org.uk/ • The station should not be confused with a rival station called Radio Bath - a volunteer radio station broadcasting online and on DAB across Bath, North East Somerset and West Wiltshire. Radio Bath began last year with Steve Fountain and Simon McNeill-Ritchie who were joined by Loraine Morgan-Brinkhurst. They have applied to The Charity Commission for Radio Bath to be registered as a foundation Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO). For more info visit radiobath.com

Outside the studio at the RUH - it was once the lodge to the manor house that lies within the grounds

March 2021

bathvoice

n NEWS IN BRIEF

Police precept increase, food festival is back and parking Parking charges: The council are considering increases to parking charges including rises to resident parking permits priced, in bands, according to emissions; 10p-perhour increase in street parking, each year, for three years; parking and permit hours to be extended; and ending free parking on Sundays. Bathampton Meadows: The future of Bathampton Meadows as a green space and wildlife habitat could be secured in a deal with the National Trust under proposals to be considered by Bath & North East Somerset Council. A report, to be considered in a single member decision by Cllr Richard Samuel, cabinet member for Resources, states that transferring ownership of the 24-hectare site to the National Trust would ensure more of the land is opened-up to the public while being protected in perpetuity for future generations. The report says improvements in land management would also bring environmental

benefits. The deal would form part of the council’s Bath River Line project which aims to transform the 10km stretch of the river corridor from Newbridge to the west of Bath to Batheaston to the east. September food: The Great Bath Feast returns this September with a festival market held in Milsom Street along with chef demos, pop-ups and a Food & Drink trail for all to enjoy. The event will run from 24th to 26th September. For more see www.greatbathfeast.co.uk/ Police precept: Avon & Somerset’s police and crime commissioner has written a barbed letter to the councillors who torpedoed her plans to recruit 70 officers. Sue Mountstevens says she is worried about morale in the force after the cross-party police and crime panel vetoed an average £15 annual rise in council tax to pay for the extra workforce. The police wanted the increase to cover a growth in sexual offences as well as better

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management of offenders and more proactive policing citing the rise in crime has come after years of cuts to the force. The police panel were set to meet last month to decide on a smaller rise. Avon and Somerset Police gets 60 per cent of its funding from government and 40 per cent from council tax. Energy black hole: Newly released confidential papers reveal Bristol Council ploughed nearly £40million into Bristol Energy before selling it. But the last few millions were

injected in a last-ditch attempt to prevent the failed company going bankrupt before the council could sell it and recoup some of the losses, the documents reveal. Bristol Energy lost nearly £50million before the local authority broke it up and sold it for a promised £15.3million last year. Bristol City Council has previously admitted to investing “up to” £37.7m, the cap on core funding for the company set by the ruling Labour cabinet in April 2019. But now previously exempt papers reveal the council’s total investment in the firm reached £39.7million in April last year. The documents, hidden from public view until now but seen by cabinet members behind closed doors in March 2020, show an additional £2million of “innovation funding” was provided under contract to Bristol Energy “in readiness for” the council’s £1billion, zero carbon City Leap programme.

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March 2021

bathvoice

n ADVERTISING FEATURE

n NEWS

Bath magistrates cases include assaults and an e-scooter offence The roll out is underway in Somerset

Based in the city of Bath, Truespeed are rolling out ultrafast broadband in Somerset Bath-based Truespeed has started rolling out its ultrafast, gigabitcapable full fibre broadband network in Bath, propelling the World Heritage city into the gigabit era. In parallel, the firm is expanding its footprint into neighbouring areas in Somerset including Keynsham, Saltford and South Widcombe. In Wells, where the Truespeed build began in earnest in June 2020, Truespeed has now passed over 3,000 premises. Today the firm has announced that it is boosting its investment in Wells, with plans to connect more areas of the city and continue expanding its current building works in surrounding areas such as Wookey and Coxley. Wera Hobhouse, MP for Bath said, “Truespeed’s investment will benefit the city enormously as ultrafast broadband connectivity can’t come soon enough for Bath businesses and residents. “It’s great that a Bath-based firm is at the forefront of supporting our communities and taking our beautiful city into the full fibre fast lane.” Evan Wienburg, CEO of Truespeed, commented, “We’re excited to get going in Bath while stepping up the roll-out of our full fibre network in Wells and surrounding areas in Somerset. We’re lighting up our map of the South-West and bringing under-served households and businesses the future-proofed gigabit capable connectivity they deserve.” On a mission to bring

left-behind towns, cities and rural communities across the South-West the benefits of affordable, full fibre broadband direct to their doors, Truespeed’s ultra-fast broadband infrastructure roll-out continues apace. Truespeed has already connected over 200 communities ignored by national broadband providers. By building a brand new infrastructure, Truespeed is able to deliver 10 gigabit-capable full fibre broadband directly into premises – guaranteeing lightning quick connectivity and cast-iron reliability, even at peak times. The company is en route to its ambitious target of passing 500,000 properties by 2025. True to its community-first ethos, Truespeed also offers primary schools and community hubs passed by its network free ultrafast broadband for life. To date, over 100 schools and community hubs have signed up. Founded in 2014, Truespeed is based in Bath and delivers full fibre broadband to hard to reach homes and businesses. By building a brand new infrastructure, the firm is able to deliver 10 gigabit-capable full fibre broadband directly into premises, providing a highperformance, highly reliable connection, and future-proofed connectivity. In 2017, Truespeed secured a £75 million investment from Aviva Investors. To learn more visit www. truespeed.com

A 44-year-old man has been fined more than £1,000 after he was stopped by police in April last year for riding an e-scooter illegally. Souhail Somrani, of Redfield, Bristol, was reported for driving without insurance after he was seen riding the e-scooter in a public park near Brandon Hill on 18 April 2020. He was additionally reported for driving a mechanically propelled vehicle otherwise than in accordance with a licence, due to the fact that he was stopped while riding on a public footpath. He received six penalty points and fines and costs totalling £1,058 after being found guilty of the offences by Bath Magistrates Court on Thursday 4 February. • Bath Live reported theat Brian Andrew Woodman, 35, was sentenced to 12 weeks in prision on Wednesday, February 24 for a Boxing Day incident then he beat a police officer in North East

Somerset. The official court list says: “Offence so serious because of a deliberate attack on a public servant carrying out public duties.” Woodman, of HM prison Hewell, was on post-sentence supervision from a recent sentence in relation to like offences. Woodman plead guilty and has to pay £128 in compensation. • Bath Live also reported that on the same day Bath Magistrates Court another man was sentenced after an assault. Andrew Keith Sheppard, 50, of Banwell Road, Odd Down has been committed to prison for 16 weeks, suspended for 12. Sheppard assaulted a man causing actual bodily harm. He plead guilty to the offence which happened on July 13 last year. Bath Live reported that Sheppard has to pay £1,000 in compensation and pay £128 to the victim’s services fund as well as £85 to the Crown Prosecution Service.

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March 2021

bathvoice

n NEWS

Dispute over future of city’s golf courses By a Local Democracy Reporter and Harry Mottram. Plans to turn the former Entry Hill Golf Course into a place for cycling and walking has been condemned by campaigners. The decision by the Council will see the former golf course become a new multi-use activity park. A consultation last year revealed that more than threequarters of respondents wanted it to become a mountain bike park, while another proposal was to turn into a nature park. However golfer Elizabeth Hallam, who previously claimed the survey was hijacked by the “cycling lobby on steroids”, told cabinet members on February 11: “You have a gem at Entry Hill yet every public statement has been prefaced with talk of declining numbers and financial losses. “What level of mismanagement have you overseen? What burden have you imposed on council tax payers? “I am so worried that you have been misled about the prospects for Entry Hill.” Now Bristol-based company Pedal Progression is to provide a new family cycle and activity park for bikers, families, walkers and nature-lovers alike. The park will provide free access to park areas and trails for walking and cycling, a learn-toride area with pump track and a new natural play park. New wildlife habitats and wider biodiversity will be

News in brief

encouraged with a nature garden, pond and community growing area. There will also be a new and expanded café with seating and viewing areas across the park. The Council said Pedal Progression, a skills coaching and bike hire company, is committed to engaging with the local community as they seek to get more people, more active, more often. Residents living locally to the park will receive letters from the company in early March. It is hoped that the cycle park will open in spring 2022 with the café expected to open in summer 2021. The course has been closed since last March due to the Covid-19 crisis although it is simple enough to enter and take a walk in the park. The decision has not gone down well with the golfers who dispute the Council’s claim the numbers of players were in decline. Some observers however point to the cost to the Council of maintaining the course of £80,000 a year as being the main reason for a change of use. Cllr Richard Samuel, the cabinet member for resources, said the council is no longer able to support loss-making ventures. Cllr Crossley said: “Discretionary services such as leisure must aim to deliver financially sustainable solutions. “Golf at Entry Hill has required significant subsidy from the council for some time now. “Any outcome from today must be affordable and meet the

touch - the congregation of St Alphege Church in Oldfield Lane can catch the services online at St St Michael’s Twerton: Rose Cottage John the Evangelist in Bath at Cafe and Food Bank is closed due to stjohnsrcbath.org.uk/ Covid but instead of people picking Catalytic converters: There has up parcels, they will be delivered. been an increase in daylight thefts This is to keep clients and volunteers of catalytic converters say Police. as safe as possible. If you need to The high price of the metals inside use Foodbank then please get in make them attractive to thieves and touch with the agencies you are they are relatively quick and easy to hooked up with and they will help swipe. In Bath and North East and show you what to do. If you are Somerset, where stolen in 2019/20. not attached to an agency and need Thieves simply cut the catalytic to use Foodbank, we recommend converter from the exhaust pipe of getting in touch with Genesis Trust: a parked car and sell them on to genesistrust.org.uk/ scrap metal dealers. An Catholic support: a reminder for investigation is being carried out Roman Catholics seeking to stay in following the theft of a catalytic

The Entry Hill Golf Course has been closed for months council’s desired outcomes as well as the needs of the community.” • Meanwhile another green space in the city where golfers enjoy playing the game is also under consideration by the Council over its future. The Approach Golf Course at High Common is also under review following the rejection of the only bidder to take on the course by the Council. Bath and North East Somerset Council’s cabinet said they had listened to residents after widespread concern for High Common and 4,300 people signed a petition to save the 18-hole Approach golf course. Ben Reed, who launched the campaign, disputed Bath and North East Somerset Council’s claim residents want to see an end to any commercialisation of High Common. He hopes to lead a volunteerrun takeover, with support from the authority funded by a new concession at the site’s cafe – but said if the golf course is allowed to grow too much it will be impossible to go back. Bathonian Mr Reed, who

works for Defra and has been playing golf for 25 years, said: “There’s been a gradual decline at the Approach. That’s not the current administration’s fault. It’s never been at the forefront of anyone’s priorities. That resulted in a rubbish course no one wanted to play on. “It used to be one of the best courses of its type in the South West. If it’s left as parkland for long enough it will be impossible to turn it back into a golf course.” The council went out to tender for a new operator for the Approach but the cabinet rejected the only bidder. Cllr Crossley, cabinet member for community services, said: “It’s clear that there is much passion and value for this site amongst the community and we appreciate everyone who has taken time to share their views on its future. “The Approach has operated at a cost to the council of around £28,000 a year and it’s not the case that we have neglected the site.” The site will remain as open public land while the Council considers its future.

converter from a car in Bath. At approximately 2.45pm on Thursday 18 February, the item was stolen from a Toyota Prius that was in a disabled bay within the Royal United Hospital’s main car park. Three white males wearing masks and hooded clothing were seen leaving the scene at around that time in a black Vauxhall hatchback, thought to be an Astra or a Corsa. Anyone with information: call 101 giving the call-handler reference number 5221035796. Jewellery theft: The window of a home in the Lower Weston area of the city was smashed and jewellery taken from the property between 1-6am on Sunday 27 December. A small quantity of cash was also stolen. The jewellery

Catalytic converter being stolen included a rose gold bracelet, three engraved silver bar brooches and a cameo brooch. Anyone with information should call 101 and give reference 5220288723.

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

March 2021

bathvoice

n PUZZLES FOR ALL

The FIEND 9

Each row, column and square (9 spaces each) needs to be filled out with the numbers 1-9, without repeating any numbers within the row, column or square.

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March 2021

n BATH LIBRARY BOOK REVIEWS AND NEWS Adult Non-Fiction

Adult Fiction

resort of Whitley Bay in England

Crops in Pots – Bob Purnell Jump into Spring with this little book full of great ideas. It explains, however big your garden is, how to create great vegetables and fruit throughout the year. It begins with really useful introductions on mixing edible plants with ornamentals; choosing your containers and finally that all important part which soil to use. Then it goes into great sections: starters, main courses and desserts. Each section has ideas on what to plant from salads – tomatoes and lettuces; veggies such as potatoes and peas and finally desserts fruits such as blueberry and strawberries. There is even advice on fruit trees like pear and apple. Well-illustrated and a real bible for growing your own.

The Seagull – Ann Cleeves It has been 20 years since Ann Cleeves introduced the world to the very enigmatic detective Vera Stanhope – played so brilliantly by Brenda Blethyn in the TV series of the same name. Here is a 2017 novel featuring Vera. John Brace, former police officer and now prison inmate, has some information for Vera and her team in return for protection for his family. This information opens up a cold case, revolving round a rundown nightclub called The Seagull. This club is where Vera’s deceased Father used to hang out and has unwanted memories for her. Can the cold case and her Father be linked? As always, the truth is much more complicated than first thought. Ann Cleeves is a brilliant writer and evokes the north east so well and in particular the seaside

The Boy from France – Hilary Freeman From the series of Camden Tales, a delightful story of Vix who awaits the news of who will visit as part of the school’s French exchange students with feigned indifference. As Vix has plenty to do with her sick mother to cope with, and no time for boys. But her student does turn out to be a boy, and, what’s more, he’s both gorgeous and charming. All her friends and schoolmates are jealous, especially when he appears to have eyes for no one but Vix. But is he for real? How long can it last? And will Vix’s secrets and lies harm the relationship? A sweet, romantic tale for younger teens with a brilliant setting and characters you want to meet again.

Young Adult Fiction

Children’s Fiction

Look out for your free World Book Voucher and all the exciting online events happening on 4th March 2021 No Ballet Shows in Syria – Catherine Bruton Aya is 11 years old and lives with her mother and baby brother. They are seeking a home from war torn Syria. They have left Aleppo, moved from refugee camps to a bedsit in Manchester. However, one day Aya stumbles across a local

ballet class and a rather fierce dance teacher. She shows great potential and could even earn herself a place at a very prestigious dance school. Huge uncertainty arises on whether she and her family can stay and there has been no news of her father. A beautiful, moving and ultimately uplifting story. Shadowsea – Peter Bunzl Enter the world of Cogheart - it is 1897 in New York and we meet Lily, Robert and their mechanical fox, Malkin. Follow them in their adventures and the chilling going-ons in their hotel. A strange boy being held captive and a creepy professor with a dangerous plan. As they search for clues, they are drawn into the watery, submerged world under the city. Is that a submarine they use? Read on and find out in the final outing of the Cogheart Adventures.

Library News

Always remember the two super free apps: RB Digital and BorrowBox where you can download newspapers, magazines and audio books all with the use of your library card. The Bath and North East Somerset ‘Virtual Library’ is still offering something for everyone. We are sharing facts, Baby Bounce and Rhyme, competitions, Storytime and crafts for children in the mornings and information, support, news and recommended reads for adults in the afternoon. Never miss a thing by following us on Facebook www.facebook.com/ bathneslibraries1, Instagram www. instagram.com/bathnes_libraries , and Twitter www.twitter.com/ BathnesL

Romans walked this way The Secret History of the Roman Roads of Britain: And Their Impact - MC Bishop As you walk down the Holloway from Bear Flat the city of Bath is spread out in front of you. With exception of the new buildings, railway and the A4 it is the view the Romans had of the city having tramped the length of the Fosse Way from Ilchester in Somerset and Exeter in Devon.

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

There are many books on the roads built by the Latin invaders but this one looks at their pre-conquest origins, how they were used in post Roman Britain and of their use in Medieval times right up to their influence on the 18th and 19th century road builders.

March 2021

bathvoice

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website: bathshowersbristol

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