Pages 14-17: What’s On in April
Page 13: Sport and Bath Rugby Foundation
More than 8,000 runners took part in the event last month raising tens of thousands of pounds for a variety of charities. More on the Bath Half on page 6.
More than 8,000 runners took part in the event last month raising tens of thousands of pounds for a variety of charities. More on the Bath Half on page 6.
John
Wimperis,Local Democracy Reporter: People have been asked to have their say on Bath and North East Somerset Council’s plans to build 16 homes on Bath’s “tufa field” for people with autism and learning difficulties.
The council says the homes will
be “life changing,” allowing people to live independently but with appropriate care and support in their own homes, reducing the need for out-of-area placements away from family and friends. There is currently a shortage of supported living in the council area, and the council
says that the housing scheme in the field will provide a “soothing and tranquil setting” while protecting the landscape.
But many locals have urged the council not to build on the field on Englishcombe Lane in Bath. The site
Continued on page 3
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MPs
Wera Hobhouse MP - Bath 31 James Street West, Bath, BA1 2BT. Tel 01225 307024 office@werahobhouse.co.uk www.werahobhouse.co.uk
Jacob Rees-Mogg - NE Somerset House of Commons Westminster London SW1A 0AA jacob.reesmogg.mp@parliament.uk
BANES Councillors
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Continued from page 1
is ecologically and geologically significant due to its limestone blushes where rare limestone formations called tufa form.
A bid three years ago to build 37 homes over the field caused outcry and was scrapped when current council leader Kevin Guy took over the running of the council. But the council then began plans to build a smaller social development on the field.
Geological surveys began on the site in August and now the council says it is ready to submit a planning application at the end of March, but the public are being asked to have their say on the plans first.
Deborah Collins, council cabinet project lead for built environment and sustainable development, said: “We have worked hard to develop a scheme that provides residential accommodation in a sensitive way while protecting the landscape. I am immensely proud of this scheme and I believe it will have a transformative effect on people’s lives.”
The “low density” homes will
be built in two clusters on each side of the field, with a “forest garden” in the middle around the flushes, with a decked walkway crossing it. The housing will include both one, two, and three bedroom homes with sheltered seating at the front alongside a communal facility.
The development includes 11 single-storey and five split level homes. The buildings will have “green roofs,” with internal spaces designed with resident’s comfort in mind, with controlled lighting and “comfortable micro-climates.”
The council says the proposals have been designed to protect the ecology of the site, with a 10 metre buffer around the suite, a bat corridor, and protective measures for badgers, reptiles, and small mammals.
A face-to-face drop in session on the plans was held at at St Luke’s Church Centre off Wellsway last month, for people to see the plans, ask questions, and give feedback.
Ms Collins added: “Feedback from previous engagement activity has fed into these proposals and I want to thank everybody, including residents and community
groups, who has worked with us to develop this scheme. And I would encourage as many people as possible to visit the exhibition either in person or online and complete a feedback form telling us what aspects they like and what actions can be taken to change elements that concern them.”
A planning application will be submitted at the end of last month. If approved in the summer the council hope, work could start on the site in late 2024.
Harry Mottram Comments: Tufa Field has had a long history of proposed developments. It’s owned by the council but has geological issues of being water logged and of subsidence and is on a steep slope.
The access is also very narrow. There has been a number of campaigns by locals to keep it as a green field due to the abundance of wildlife that live there – from slow worms to deer and from rabbits to foxes.
When Kevin Guy became Council leader there was a belief that all plans would be dropped. That was short lived – and the current plans have been on the
agenda ever since.
The balance of debate revolves around the erosion of green spaces in the city and the current shortage of homes.
Tufa Field: Those wishing to save Tufa Field from development have a website with news, comments and photos to support their voice.
They point out the expense the development will cost which is worth looking at in detail - but essentially the 15 homes along with landcaping, an entrance and the protective measures may be just over £6million pounds.
That is in part due to the location and the nature of the type of housing provided.
Their main criticism is aimed at the Council over its lack of transparency over the costs and the process of planning so far.
They said: “Council expenditure is at best obscure, some would say obfuscated... So it comes as something of a relief to find that public tender records are available, not through the Council, but through central government records.”
Ofsted fall-out: Bath College’s Principal and Chief Executive Jayne Davis resigned last month.
She had served as Deputy Principal since 2016 and was promoted as Principal and Chief Executive in 2021.
After being rated as Good in 2018 the college was rocked after Ofsted said it needed to make improvements.
Andy Salmon of the college’s Govenors said they were looking at the reasons for the Ofsted criticism and were making changes. Some people may feel that clearly one of those actions is a change in personel.
Flat horse racing: Wera Hobhouse, Liberal Democrat MP for Bath (pictured) has spoken in the House of Commons about the future of British racing, and had good things to say about Bath Racecourse.
She praised the Lansdown racecourse for ‘playing an integral role in the city’, amid discussions on changes to gambling regulations.
Bath Racecourse attracts thousands of visitors to the city, who enjoy its various events as well
as its afternoon and evening racesoften with a theme.
It’s Britain’s highest flat racecourse dating back to 1811 hosting over 20 races a season.
The MP expressed concerns that racing would be vulnerable to proposed changes to gambling regulations. During the Westminster Hall e-petition debate on Financial Risk Checks for Gambling, many MPs discussed proposed affordability checks for those engaging in gambling.
While she joined their calls for better regulations to prevent harm and addiction, the Bath MP emphasised the importance of ensuring that gambling legislation protects the fun of harmless, casual betting.
Mrs Hobhouse warned that affordability checks could become intrusive. Instead, the Liberal Democrats are proposing that the government adopt a public health approach to gambling legislation. The Bath MP said that there should be a soft cap on gambling losses, set at £100 per month. As the majority of gamblers do not lose
anywhere near £100 a month she said meaning occasional gamblers would not be affected by this cap and would not have to log their financial data on any database.
Some serious gamblers may not agree with her on that one.
If you check online discussions between gamblers then £200 plus are common bets and with the losing margin higher than 50% regulars could be hit with her proposal
Bath Food Bank News: During 2023 together the foodbank has supported 5,279 people including
1,452 children with emergency food. This number has increased by 29% from the previous year and includes approximately 600 households who visited the foodbank for the first time.
For more visit bath.foodbank. org.uk
Refugee football: Bath City Foundation run weekly football sessions for refugee families and young people in Bath, in partnership with Bath Welcomes Refugees and Julian House. To find out more contact Info@ bathcityfoundation.org.
MP’s earnings. By John Wimperis, Local Democracy Reporter: North East Somerset MP Jacob Rees-Mogg earns over £29,000 a month for his second job presenting an opinion show on GB News.
The Guardian reported on Wednesday February 28 that the channel had paid more than £660,000 to Conservative MPs since its launch, and had paid a total £1,100 to Labour MPs for one off appearances. The paper reported that Mr Rees-Mogg was the MP who received the most from the channel.
GB News paid Mr Rees-Mogg over £324,000 in the last year for presenting his primetime TV show and he currently receives just over £29,000 a month for 40 hours work, which includes preparation work. For his job as the MP for North East Somerset, he is paid a salary of £86,584.
The North East Somerset MP said: “I have always had other responsibilities be it at Somerset Capital Management, as a minister or now with GBNews. This has never impeded my ability to serve constituents and indeed helps as it gives me a wider perspective and with GBNews an immediate ability to raise issues that are of local as well as national concern.
“All MPs need to have a relationship with the media to communicate with and answer to voters. I am fortunate to have a direct route.”
Jacob Rees-Mogg’s State of the Nation airs at 8pm on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.
94 Bus funding. By John Wimperis, Local Democracy Reporter: Funding has been restored for an “invaluable” rural bus serving villages along the Avon between Bath and Trowbridge.
The future of the 94 bus has been at risk since half of its funding was cut in 2022, prompting concerns the bus would be axed. Now Bath and North East Somerset Council has said it has secured the funding to keep the bus going.
Local councillor on Bath and North East Somerset Council, Fiona Gourley (Bathavon South, Liberal Democrats), said: “I would like to thank everyone who joined me to lobby so hard for this vital service. Over 1300 people signed my rural bus petition, including many along the route of the 94. I have heard from so many people, including elderly residents ringing in tears,
desperately worried about the loss of their buses, and the negative impact on their lives.”
Julian Carpenter, who is responsible for highways and transport on Freshford Parish Council said: “Parish councillors and residents have campaigned to keep the 94 bus running and we are delighted to hear that it will continue to serve the village.”
The 94 runs between Bath and Trowbridge via Claverton Town, Monkton Combe School, Limpley Stoke (a Wiltshire exclave across the Avon), Freshford, and into Wiltshire proper to Westwood and Trowbridge. Because of its border hopping route, the cost of running the bus had been funded on a 50/50 basis by Wiltshire Council and Bath and North East Somerset Council.
Bath and North East Somerset Council does not commission buses directly as the West of England Combined Authority (WECA), which it is a member of, is the transport authority for its area. But last year, a bitter row between the council and WECA over who should pay for supported buses in the area saw most bus routes in rural North East Somerset axed.
The 94 lost half its funding but, while other buses stopped running, Wiltshire Council stepped up their funding to cover the entire cost of the bus. Speaking in July 2023, Wiltshire Council’s cabinet member for transport Caroline Thomas urged WECA Metro Mayor Dan Norrs to restore its funding and warned: “We are unable to sustain this for much longer given the extent of financial pressures across the entire network in Wiltshire.”
Speaking this week, Ms Gourley said: “I am relieved that Bath and North East Somerset Council has secured the funding and thank Wiltshire Council for their patience in continuing to keep the service running.
“Now we need to restore regular rural public transport to the rest of North East Somerset, using some of the £57m that WECA has for public transport.”
Chair of Monkton Combe Parish Council, Des Wighton, said: “Residents and workers use this service to get into Bath and Trowbridge. It is invaluable, and now it is secure, we will work closely with communities along the route to encourage more people to use the 94 as this is better for the
environment, the economy, and their health.”
Ms Carpenter added: “For some Freshford residents the 94 bus is an essential service with no alternative options – whether that’s for getting to school, college, work, or appointments. It’s a lifeline for some in the village and a vital community amenity.”
The news comes shortly after the North East Somerset village of Paulton, which lost its beloved 82 bus in the cuts, also recently secured funding to bring a new bus to the village, the first scheme to be funded from WECA’s WESTlocal scheme.
Cool clothes. By John Wimperis, Local Democracy Reporter: A former Iceland in the centre of Bath used to store cool clothes
instead of frozen food.
The supermarket next to Southgate in Bath closed down in April 2022 and the shop has sat vacant ever since. Now, the nearby Zara shop hopes to re-use the space as a stockroom so they can expand their shop floor.
A statement submitted with their planning application to Bath and North East Somerset Council said: “This storage space would be used as a stockroom for the existing retail unit. The existing back of house storage space within the Zara retail unit would be repurposed as retail floorspace, effectively creating a larger retail unit.”
Black vinyl film with no branding would be applied to the inside of the shop’s windows.
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The Bath Half, first held in 1982, was won this year by Omar Ahmed of the Birchfield Harriers in the mens’ race in a time of 1:04:42. Team Bath’s Harry Palmer came in 23rd with a time of 1:08:56.
In the women’ race Becky Briggs of Hull (pictured) came in first (for the second year running) in a time of 1:14:24. In second place was Team Bath’s Anna Domville just half a minute behind Becky.
In the men’s over 75 age group Pat Rogers of Bath was first while in the junior men Joe Marley was first home. In the womens’ over 70 age group Anne Dockery was almost an hour ahead of Christine Sanders in second place of Weston Harriers. While in the female under 20 race Team Bath had one and two with Annabelle wallace and Phoebe Aspinall.
Last runner home was Kathleen Harrington who was cheered on for a fantastic effort.
All results and times can be seen at https://www.tdleventservices.co.uk
London Marathon Events (LME), have taken over over the Bath Half Marathon as Andrew and Mel Taylor,
the current organisers, have stepped down following this year’s race.
Hugh Brasher, Event Director for London Marathon Events who is in Bath today, said: “The Bath Half started less than 12 months after the first London Marathon and is a much-loved event.
“We are excited to be taking over from Andrew and Mel and we will be working with local groups, charities and the Council to make the event bigger and better than ever. We’re delighted to offer everyone this special £50 Early Bird entry for 2025 and are certain that the event will sell out in record time.”
The 2025 Bath Half will take place on Sunday 16 March 2025 and entries are now open.
Avon and Somerset Police and Crime Commissioner election News: Residents in Bath & North East Somerset are being urged to register to vote and check their Voter ID so they can have their say on who represents them in the Avon and Somerset Police and Crime Commissioner election.
The Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) oversees your local police force and ensures they are prioritising what matters to you. The Avon and Somerset Police Area includes Bath & North East Somerset Council, Bristol City Council, North Somerset Council, Somerset Council and South Gloucestershire Council .
In order to vote, residents must be on the electoral register. With the deadline to register to vote fast approaching, Bath & North East Somerset is urging people who have not registered at their current address to make sure they are registered in time.
The deadline to register to vote is
midnight on Tuesday 16 April. It takes just five minutes to apply online at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote.The deadline to apply for a postal vote is 5pm Wednesday 17 April.
Residents who are already registered to vote will be receiving their poll card in the post from today. Electors voting in person at the polling station are now required to present an accepted photo ID before being issued with their ballot paper.
Those who are registered to vote at the polling station but do not have an accepted photo ID can apply for a Voter Authority Certificate before the deadline at 5pm on Wednesday 24 April. Candidates will be known on 10 April. See the Bath Voice website for details soon after that.
Voters have a range of options for casting their vote – in person, by post or by appointing someone they trust to vote in their place, known as a proxy vote.
The deadline to apply for a proxy vote is 5pm on Wednesday 24 April. Further details can be found on the website www.avonpccelection.org. uk
It’s a real honour for me to write for Bath Voice. I’ve always had a deep connection to the city – I grew up visiting the famous weekly Antiques Fair with my father, and I knew many of the antique shops and their owners from a very young age. In later life I went to wonderful Bath Spa University and have many happy memories connected to Bath.
You may (or may not!) know that last year our company, Auctioneum Ltd, opened our new saleroom at Broadlands Fruit Farm in Bathford.
We host a variety of auctions every month – including fine art, antiques, jewellery, militaria, toys and memorabilia.
Set within the gorgeous Bath countryside, our new saleroom offers ample free parking, tea and coffee and a warm welcome for anyone visiting!
We’re open for drop-in valuations every weekday, and are accepting items for all
upcoming sales. Myself and our team of expert valuers will be happy to assist you.
We also do free home visits, house clearance and probate work if required.
We’ve been welcomed to Bath with open arms by the local community, and we’re really proud to be based in the city.
I’d like to take the opportunity to wholeheartedly thank everyone who has used our services so far, we wouldn’t be anywhere if it weren’t for the wonderful clients –both buyers and sellers – that we
meet every day.
As summer approaches we’ll be taking our famous Valuation Roadshows around the City, so be sure to look out for our adverts and signs.
The first Valuation Roadshow will take place on Saturday 27th April at St Thomas a’Becket Church
in Box (SN13 8NR) from 11am onwards.
I look forward to sharing any interesting finds, saleroom stories and auction tales with you in this monthly column.
Andrew Stowe ASFAV Auctioneer Auctioneum Bath
BRISTOL & BATH AUCTIONEERS
FORMERLY EAST BRISTOL AUCTIONS LTD
T: 01225 251303
E: info@auctioneum.co.uk
www.auctioneum.co.uk
Auctioneum
Theatre News: The Bath Light Operatic Group are set to present a stunning musical show at the Roper Theatre in Bath in April with Showtopia. Featuring songs from the shows such as Oklahoma, Spamalot, Carousel, Bat Boy, Les Miserables, Back to the Future, Dear Evan Hansen, Phantom, Guys & Dolls, Hamilton and many more –taking the audience on a journey they’ll never forget. Showtopia runs from Thursday 4th April 2024 –Saturday 6th April 2024.
The Bath Light Operatic Group produce a large musical at the Theatre Royal, Bath each Autumn, and a Concert or Smaller Musical each Spring at the Roper Theatre, Bath.
The beginning of the group can be traced back to 1948, when the Oldfield Park Rangers Company presented a performance of Hiawatha. HMS Pinafore followed the next year. In 1951 more men joined the company forming The Bath Light Operatic Group.
Their first performances were The Pirates of Penzance (1951), The Mikado (1952), and Patience (1953). In 1954 with five shows under the group’s belt came the move to a real theatre, The Palace Theatre, opposite the present Theatre Royal. The group stayed at The Palace for two years producing The Gondoliers (1954), and The Quaker Girl (1955). At this time the group’s constitution was established under the then management committee. In 1956 the group moved to the Theatre Royal Bath where they produced The Geisha and apart from in 1982 when the theatre underwent extensive renovations they have been there ever since. In 1961 the group was renamed The Bath Light Operatic Group to reflect the removal of the upper age limit, however the emphasis has remained on attracting young members.
In 1968 in an attempt to recoup large production costs Cyril Haskins (the then Musical Director) started
a series of annual concerts titled SONGS FROM THE SHOWS.
These concerts have continued annually and contribute significantly to the yearly running costs of the group. They have developed into a threenightly presentation, presented for a long time at the elegant PUMP ROOMS, BATH with a grand piano, also at the very large and opulent BANQUETING HALL in the GUILDHALL, BATH.
In 2013 they moved to the hitech and sleek modern venue, THE ROPER THEATRE, Bath Showtopia runs from
Thursday 4th April 2024 –Saturday 6th April 2024. For tickets visit https://www. ticketsource.co.uk/bath
Roper Theatre Bath at Hayesfield School, West Wing, Upper Oldfield Park Campus, BA2 3LA. Box Office: 07974014490.
Gaza debate: A council meeting in Bath was dominated by the issue of Gaza on March 4, as protestors urged their local councillors to do more to support a ceasefire writes John Wimperis.
A statement from all group leaders expressing their “deep sympathy” for all those affected and hope for an immediate ceasefire and release of all hostages was read out, but protestors argued that Bath and North East Somerset Council should still pass a motion to tell the government to call for a ceasefire. And the Green Party’s motion was judged to be unconstitutional.
John’s articel in full is on the Bath Voice website.
Review: The Holburne Museum, Bath: If like me you like a grand stair case then the Holburne Museum has a five star one as it rises up magnificently up the two storey former hotel and now art gallery built in 1794. Or should I say the home of Lady Danbury of TV’s Bridgerton? Yes – it is tele-perfect for period dramas. The grand Georgian era classical Grade 1 building was the home of Sir Thomas William Holburne who collected a lot of artworks and paintings on his naval travels and his collection is the basis of the museum. But I wanted to see the art of Gwen John – the sister of Augustus John the 1940s artist and pin up – in part because as a family we’ve holidayed in Tenby where the work of the siblings are on display in the town museum. So a sort of home coming and proof that women can paint and draw.
Ah. According to a chap I met women aren’t very good at art – and his opinion led to a full on argument with his wife in the café who introduced herself as an artist. I shared a table with them and the gentleman in question was quickly on the back foot as his wife quoted Mary Beale, Angelica Kauffmann, Elizabeth Butler, Laura Knight and so many other female artists that I lost count and he eventually conceded defeat saying they had not been recognised in the past compared to men. I did point out in Jane Austen’s novels the female sex include drawing as part of their accomplishments – and the art of Gwen John (1876-1939) was on display upstairs, but I decided not to get drawn into a heated domestic quarrel and left to see her exhibition upstairs – and what stairs they are. Other modes of elevation are available in the form of a lift.
Gwen’s paintings have such a delicate and sensitive touch – mostly portraits – with many women as her subjects. My favourite one was Mère Poussepin (Mother Poussepin) since it is rendered almost entirely in light tones without strong shadows – and even her dark gown is light in colour. It’s in complete contrast to the darker hues of her self-portrait and like all of the portraits there’s a slight feeling of melancholy about the expressions.
When you enter the front door of the Holburne there is a work in progress of a seven-panel mural depicting 130 women from British history and culture commissioned by the National Portrait Gallery
as part of a three-year project to enhance female representation in its collection. The mural, by Jann Haworth and Liberty Blake, was inspired by the absence of women in the album cover for the Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.
There was an exhibition of Gillian Lowndes called Radical Clay, and Lubaina Himid’s vibrant textiles adorn several rooms adding a very different tone to the more formal art galleries. Sir William Holburne had certainly been busy collecting paintings with works by Gainsborough, Stubbs and Turner. One painting by George Stubbs is of a family with their
horse and trap. Excellent rendition of the horses but perhaps not so brilliant are the people – while in Gainsborough’s painting of a family in their extensive grounds the depictions are brilliant – I just wish he’d done some badly drawn horses to balance things up with Stubbs. Whoops – it is easy to fall into the game of making captions for some of the works. A painting of the actor Garrick cries out for a caption as he raises a dagger above the head of a frightened lady such as ‘line!?’ Time was against me as I had a pressing engagement with a pint of beer in The Raven so I really must return to do the rest of the collections, justice another time. The ceramics, glass, miniature portraits, Roman glass, furniture and much more I could only glance at. So with the clocking ticking towards opening time, I made my exit mounted my bicycle and peddled off down the magnificent Great Pulteney Street with a mind full of high art – and my ears still ringing over the argument about women and art. I think Gwen John’s portraits rather settled the matter.
Harry Mottram
The former Bath Press site on Lower Bristol Road has been bought again – this time by City & Country for £13.8 million who have announced plans to develop the five acre brown field site with homes and offices.
Aberdeen Standard Investments bought the site in 2017 and outlined plans for a similar scheme of residential and commercial properties. The site housed a sprawling industrial set of buildings for the printing and publishing company Bath Press constructed at the end of the 19th century and still features the one remaining part of the building that of the frontage.
It became vacant in 2007 and most of the buildings were demolished in 2018 and has been the subject of a number of proposals since then – all of which in the end did not proceed. They included St James Investments and Tesco who put forward plans for a supermarket, offices and homes in
2011, while Spenhill Developments submitted plans for 244 homes and a basement car park. With public consultations and calls for a proportion of affordable housing and some form of park area the site has been the centre of arguments over this large section of central Bath. Bath Voice understands that outline planning permission was agreed meaning City & County feel they can move onto the
development stage sooner rather than later.
City & County believe they can press on now with their proposals bringing to an end the long running saga of speculation over the future of the site. Land and property director Simon Marner said: “This is a significant acquisition for the business, with the site due to deliver more than 250 units in addition to the
commercial space. Bath is a thriving city, known for its status as a World Heritage Site and a centre of international cultural significance, and is an excellent fit for our brand. We have ambitious plans for the next five years as a business, as we continue expanding our newbuild arm and restoring heritage buildings to provide beautiful, modern high-specification homes. As with all our new-build homes, we pride ourselves in the quality of our design and the creation of community.”
The new owners are behind the Factory Number One development in Bristol formerly the first tobacco factory of W.D and H.O Wills along with a number of other sites including Burderop Park in Wiltshire.
With a housing shortage in the city and the developer keen to start work it will be up to the planners to see what those proposals are and what sort of opposition there may be to the plans.
General Election News: It may not sound it but the new constituency of North East Somerset and Hanham is set to see one of the great political battles of this year. For years North East Somerset was the safe seat of the Conservative’s Jacob Rees-Mogg but with boundary changes the constituency has lost much of its Somerset area and now has the Bristol suburb of Hanham included.
The demographic change throws the potential result up in the air – and that was before the dipping of fortunes of the current Rishi Sunak’s Tory administration. Various polls have suggested the once safe seat of Rees-Mogg is now a marginal – potentially with one of Bath’s most well-known people
– namely the Mayor and Councillor Dine Romero of the Liberal Democrat Party taking on the highprofile Tory MP. She has announced that she will be fighting to be the area’s next Member of Parliament – in the expected general election later this year. Labour are yet to choose between Dan Norris, Dr Rebecca Montacute and James Coldwell and despite the Mayor standing for the LibDems it is Labour who may well be the main challenger to Jacob Rees-Mogg
Or it could be a traditional three-way marginal with the three main parties battling it out –assuming the Greens, Reform, UKIP and Independents don’t also have an effect. As the late Labour PM Harold Wilson once said, ‘A week is a long time in politics,’ so anything could happen between May and January next year.
Murder convictions: It was a murder that shocked everyone in Weston in Bath last year – a 16-year-old boy from Kingswood was stabbed in the neck at a party
in Eastfield Avenue. Now the trio of teenagers who were charged with his death have been found guilty of murder and manslaughter.
Writing for BBC Bristol Emma Elgee and Dan Johnson reported: “Three teenage boys have been found guilty of killing a 16-yearold with a large zombie knife at a house party. Mikey Roynon, from Kingswood, Bristol, was stabbed in the neck during a row at a house in Bath on 10 June 2023. Jurors found one boy guilty of murder and the other two guilty of manslaughter. The 16-year-olds can not be named for legal reasons. The boy found guilty of murder had admitted stabbing Mikey but said he acted in self-defence.”
On the night of the crime around 50 young people were at an address in Eastfield Avenue when shortly after 11pm on Saturday, 10th June, 2023, there were reports that someone had been stabbed. In the confused situation as young people screamed and shouted for help medics were called who
attempted to save Mikey’s life, but were unable to be saved him and he died a short time later at the scene. A post-mortem examination was been carried out and confirmed he died from a single stab wound.
The BBC reported that CCTV footage was shown at the trial in Bristol which showed the defendants arriving from a bus journey apparently carrying sharp objects. It appeared from that evidence they had arrived armed but after the stabbing they disposed of their weapons.
In their report on the trial and BBC said: “During the trial the three defendants chose not to give evidence to the court but gave written statements. Two of the boys, including the one who inflicted the wound, admitted possessing knives but the other boy denied having one. All three denied murder.”
Following the shocking incident friends, families and neighbours held a vigil at the scene with a balloon launch and cards and flowers left near the scene of the stabbing.
Cost of Royal Visit: Bath and North East Somerset Council spent £12,600 to host Queen Camilla last month, a freedom of information request by campaigners has revealed writes John Wimperis.
The Queen visited the city in February to mark the 850th anniversary of St John’s Foundation, a charity that works to change people’s lives around Bath and its surrounding area which she has been patron of since 2009. She had tea with residents of the charity’s historic alms houses before heading to Bath Abbey, where she was welcomed by almost 900 school children from seven primary schools supported by the charity, to unveil a plaque.
But republicans have warned that the event came with a price for the local council taxpayer. Danni Wayne Rawlings, a volunteer with campaign group Republic, which campaigns replace the monarchy with an elected head of state, discovered the cost to the council through a freedom of information request.
Bath and North East Somerset Council spent £4,956.93 in council services across events, emergency planning, CCTV, highways, parking,
communications, cleansing, and heritage services, and on external stewards to support the events. It also cost £7,646.85 in officer time — a total cost to the local council of £12.603.78.
Council leader Kevin Guy said: “We were very proud to see Her Majesty The Queen in Bath for the 850th anniversary of St John’s Foundation. The Royal Family will always receive a warm welcome in the city of Bath.”
But Mr Rawlings warned: “As a teacher, there’s so many budget cuts. […] All these things we are struggling with — but all this money for an unelected head of state.” He said it “cannot be justified.”
Bath has a long history with the royal family, with King Edgar crowned in Bath Abbey in 973. But in more recent times the city has faced budget cuts, with Bath and North East Somerset Council forced to take major action to balance its
budget including a cut of £800k over two years to its funding to charities to help the most vulnerable and introducing parking charges in Midsomer Norton and Radstock.
HMO Widcombe: A maisonette on a sought-after Bath crescent could be turned into a shared house. writes John Wimperis.
A change of use application submitted to Bath and North East Somerset Council seeks planning permission for a three-bed maisonette on Widcombe Crescent to be let as a house in multiple occupation (HMO). No changes to the floorplans are proposed.
The maisonette is spread across two floors, with some rooms including the kitchen and living room on the level with the front door, but with another bedroom on the floor below and access to the garden.
HMOs are often associated with students — particularly in university towns like Bath — but any property let to three or more individuals who do not form a single household is considered an HMO. You can view and comment on the application on the Council’s planning website.
Parking news: Parking charges in Bath could soon go up by 10p an hour, with bikers set to be charged too for the first time writes John Wimperis.
Proposals set to go out for consultation in May would increase the baseline hourly charge of council car parks in Bath — where prices are based on vehicle emissions — by 10p an hour in October 2024 and October 2025. The bands for more polluting vehicles will be calculated from the new baseline, a 2.5% increase for each polluting band, or 5% for each band based on engine capacity.
Motorbikes would also have to start paying to park in the city under the proposals, something that was previously free. Bath and North East Somerset Council’s cabinet member for highways Manda Rigby (Bathwick, Liberal Democrat) told a council scrutiny panel on Thursday March 21: “Increasingly motorbikes are of a size where they take up a full bay or a full space, so we are looking to charge them as well.”
These charges will also be based on emissions, but the proposed
bandings have promoted fears that a small 50cc moped charged as much to park as an old banger. Pay and display machines look up a vehicle’s emissions from the DVLA and charge based on how much carbon is emitted or, if this information is not available, the capacity of the engine.
Under the proposals, a motorbike of under 151cc would be charged as much as a car under 1550cc. But Shaun Hughes (Midsomer Norton North, Independent) — a keen motorcyclist with seven motorbikes — warned this could be unfair.
He said: “If we’ve got a young lad got himself a 125 scooter or even a 50cc scooter to get to Bath because he’s going to Bath college, he’s got his first job, or he’s got an apprenticeship, am I right in saying he’s going to have to pay potentially £15 a day to park — £300 a month?”
Ms Rigby said that it was a suggestion of what could be charged if there was not emissions data on the DVLA system. But she added: “We are going out to a consultation that says are
we looking at this in the right way? Should we be charging motorbikes, and if so how should we be charging them?”
The consultation will also cover proposals to roll out emissions based charging to all council managed paid for parking locations, including on street parking in Bath and the currently free car parks in Midsomer Norton and Radstock, but not the park and rides.
Ms Rigby said the idea behind emissions based parking is that “the polluter pays.” She said: “Air pollution from traffic remains a — possibly, in some cases, the — major contributor to air quality, and that has a huge impact on the health of people, particularly vulnerable people.”
Emissions based parking was introduced in Bath in September 2023.
Canal boater news: Boaters on the canals around Bath say they are being “punished for the deeds of a minority” after their refuse facility was closed due to fly tipping — despite often being the ones
cleaning up the mess writes John Wimperis.
People who live on the Kennet and Avon canal found out on March 5 that the bins at Bathampton would no longer be collected after March 11, with the Canal & Rivers Trust planning to remove the facility. The trust said the site had become a “regular target for fly tipping and vandalism” but outraged boaters have been left wondering how they are supposed to dispose of their rubbish now — and asking why the facility could not simply have had a lock put on it.
Bath and North East Somerset Council and the Canal & Rivers Trust said, in a joint statement, that they were working together to resolve the situation. But council leader Kevin Guy, who is also the local councillor for Bathavon North, said in his capacity as local councillor that the trust had “failed both the Bathampton and boater communities.”
Over 350 people have signed a petition calling for the “much needed” facility to stay open.
By Harry Mottram: He describes himself as a journalist with an eye for a good story but with the heartbeat of a historian and the arm of a pike man in the English Civil War. Combe Down resident and author Nicholas Carter has been fascinated by the 17th century conflict that saw father fight son and brother battle brother in a series of bloody battles that tore the country apart. Parliament versus the archaic power of the monarch with Parliament coming out on top in a struggle lasting from 1642 to 1651.
Now a new novel by Bath author Nicholas Carter has been published in volume six of the Shadow of The Crown series based on the English Civil Wars in the West Country. Black Tom’s Red Army concentrates on the formation of Parliament’s New Model Army and its baptism of fire at the Battle of Naseby in Northamptonshire.
It also features the Battle of Langport in Somerset and the storming of Bath by Parliamentarian dragoons and cavalry. Volume seven, Forlorn Hope, which focuses on the subsequent siege of Bristol,
will follow shortly.
Carter, a retired journalist and editor, started work on the Shadow on the Crown series in the 1990s, basing the story firmly in the West. The first book in the series, Turncoat’s Drum, includes the skirmish at the island, Claverton and culminates in the Battle of Lansdown.
Carter’s books stick closely to actual events with his fictional characters weaving in and out of the historical narrative.
He says: “The first five books in the series went down well with fans of historical fiction and I noticed a number of reviews asking whether I would be writing more. I had sketched out volume six but got hung up wondering how to switch the action from the cataclysmic Battle of Naseby near Leicester back to the West without sacrificing pace and the reader’s patience!
“I hit on the idea of leaving the main army behind and adding a secret mission which would bring the main characters back together where I wanted them, in Bath ready for the storming of the city by John Okey’s dragoons.”
As usual in the Shadow on the Crown series the most ridiculous sounding events actually happened.
“Although the storming of Bath wasn’t a huge battle by Civil War standards there were a number of incidents which I wanted to cover. The garrison had the audacity to refuse entry to a company of reinforcements from Bristol on the grounds they could have been carrying the plague. Bristol’s Governor Prince Rupert would have been spitting sparks when he heard about it.
“The garrison had also cut holes in the doors of the Southgate so high that they couldn’t depress their muskets low enough to hit the Roundhead forces attempting to rush the gates. You literally couldn’t make it up.”
Carter, who has lived in Combe Down for the past 26 years, has been writing full length books since he was at school in South Bristol.
He joined his local Sealed Knot regiment to learn the dark arts of the pike block and keep the series as pungent and authentic as possible – as well as visiting many of the principal battlefields such as
Cheriton, Marston Moor, Naseby and of course Lansdown.
“I approached the historical narrative with a journalist’s eye for a good story and illuminating detail.
“As well as finding out how the armies would have fought, the drills and drum beats you would have heard, re-enacting these famous battles provided insights you would never have read in a book.
“Many of the supporting characters are based on people I met. I was always keen on including some interesting aspects from their own research into the period – but without overburdening the general reader!”
Black
Tom’s Red Army is available from Caliver Books https://www. caliverbooks. com priced £11.50.
You may have heard about Bath Rugby Foundation but perhaps like many are not sure what it does.
In a nutshell it is Bath Rugby’s charity and its main purpose is to empower vulnerable children and young people in Bath and the surrounding area to succeed - basically by providing support, workshops, training and encouragement to the 8,154 children in Bath and North East Somerset who are on the breadline.
Founded in 2003 the foundation initially provided rugby coaching to school children from disadvantaged backgrounds but as the needs of the poorer areas of the city became more obvious the foundation moved its focus to meet the needs of these children and shifted away from purely coaching rugby skills.
For those who think of Bath
Fixtures: For results visit the website. Teams listed n Alphabetical Order. Email reports, results and fixtures to harryfmottram@gmail. com
Football: Bath City FC. Bath play in the National League South, the sixth tier of the football pyramid.
• Mon 1 Apr Away V Taunton.
• Sat 6 Apr Home V Tonbridge
• Sat 13 Apr Home V Torquay
• Sat 20 Apr Away V Aveley
Football: Bath City Women
The Bath City Women Development Team play in the Somerset County Women’s League in Division 2 North.
• Sun 31 Mar. Away V Purton
Football: Larkhall Athletic FC.
Rugby and its supporters as being the well-heeled of the city wrapped up in what some may see as a minority sport for the privileged then think again.
The Foundation based at the Rec and rugby ground is an inclusive social operation helping children from all walks of life with some lovely case studies posted on their website of where they have helped young people to develop and gain confidence - many through the HITZ programme.
HITZ is the UK’s largest rugby union social inclusion programme working with over 2,000 16-24year olds across England. For more information on HITZ see the website as it works across 40 sports but it also about improving maths and English through its academy programme and improving the life chances of young people.
Caitlin Roy for instance wanted to play rugby but was overlooked
Founded in 1914 the Larks play in the Southern League Division One South (SLD1S) and are based at the Securitas Stadium, Plain Ham. With a development team, a youth team and a women’s team the Larks are one of the leading outfits in the city. They are part of Larkhall Sports Club. Visit https://larkhallathletic.com/
• Mon 1 Apr. Home V Westbury.
• Sat 6 Apr. Home V Mousehole.
• Sat 13 Apr. Away V Paulton Rovers.
• sat 20 Apr. Home V Bideford.
• Sat 27 Apr. Away V Cribbs.
Football: Odd Down FC. They are currently members of the Western League Division One (WLD1) and play at the Lew Hill Memorial Ground.
• Mon 1 Apr. Away V Warminster
as she has both dyspraxia (affecting coordination) and a spinal condition and there is Stan Groves who had the toughest start to life when, soon after his addict parents left him aged just two, he was diagnosed with leukaemia.
It’s a sobering thought that Twerton West is in the top 10%
• Sat 6 Apr. Home V Bishop Sutton
• Sat 20 Apr. Home V Bradford O A
Netball: Team Bath Netball. Team Bath Netball play in the Vitality Netball Super League which begins in March. Details at https:// netball.teambath.com/ Home games in 2024, 7.30pm unless stated:
• Fri 5 Apr. Home V Leeds Rhinos
• Fri 12 Apr. Home V Cardiff Dragons
• Sat 4 May. Home V S. Storm. 4pm.
• Fri 10 May. Home V Loughborough
• Fri 24 May. Home V Manchester
• Fri 31 May. Home V S. Sirens.
Rugby: Bath Rugby Union Club Men
The Blue Black and Whites (BB&Ws) playin the top flight of the English pyramid structure - The Gallagher
most deprived areas in the UK while Whiteway is in the bottom 1% in the country in its provision of education and training for children and young people.
So the next time you think of Bath Rugby as a bastion of privilege and the affluent - think again. See their website for details.
Premiership.l
Details at https://www.bathrugby. com/
• Sat 20 Apr. GP. Away V Exeter.
• Fri 26 Apr. GP. Home V Saracens.
• Sat 11 May. GP. Away V Newcastle.
• Sat 18 May. GP. Home V Northampton.
Rugby: Combe Down RFC
The club play at Holly’s Corner, Bramble Way. Details at https:// combedownrfc.rfu.club/
• Sat 6 Apr. Away V North Dorset.
Rugby: Bath Saracens RFC
Bath Saracens are an amateur rugby club competing in the Dorset & Wilts 3 Central. See https:// bathsaracens.co.uk/events/ category/games/
• Sat 6 Apr. Home V Warminster.
Pick of Diary Events in Bath
Mon1-Sun 21 Apr. Bath Comedy Festival. For details visit https:// www.bathcomedy.com/
Thu 4 Apr. Green Park Brasserie. Comedian Rosie Holt. 6pm. Spoof politician sometimes mistaken for the real thing.
Sat 6 Apr. Holburne Museum. Classical Concert. Fundraiser by The Friends. Irena Radić plays Rachmaninov.
Sun 7 Apr. Bath Racecourse. Horse racing in the afternoon from 11.40am.
Mon 8 Apr. BRLSI Queen Square. Talk on Benin Bronzes. Join Tony Coverdale of the Saltford Brass Mill Project as he explores the history of the brass trade and its close ties to slavery.7.30pm.
Tue 9 Apr. Bath City Centre Youth Space 28 Southgate St. Sound Crafter. For young people 11-19 (yr7+ and up to 25 if additional needs). Sound Crafter is a space to begin to explore making music, no experience necessary. 4-6pm.
Wed 10 Apr. Bath City Centre Youth Space 28 Southgate St. Galdem is a space for empowering, supporting and enabling young women. 4-6pm.
Wed 10 Apr. Widcombe Wayfarers
Walking Wednesdays. We meet on the 2nd Wednesday of every month, starting at 10am at the west end of Widcombe Parade. Walks last between 1-2 hours and are medium paced. Come dressed for the weather, with suitable footwear and be prepared for a few
climbs.
Thu 11 Apr. Forum. Aftermirth. Daytime comedy for new parents. 10.30am.
Sat 13 Apr. Sydney Gardens. Bird Workshop with Lucy Starling. Learn how to identify birdsong in the park at Sydney Gardens. Bring a notepad and pen. Children under 16 free (max 2 per ticket holder). Includes refreshments.9.30-11.30am.
Sat 13 Apr. Widcombe Social Club. Spring Quiz. 7.15pm. Join in for a not-too-serious but sometimes challenging quiz with various general knowledge, picture and music rounds. There will be prizes!
Tue 16 Apr. American Museum. Brilliant Beasties with Sally Warhurst in a monthly session for pre-schoolers and their parents with singing, rhyming, storytelling and making, while learning all about the Brilliant Beasties, our animal friends.
Wed 17 Apr. Chapel Arts. Folk music with Daoriri Farrell. 8pm.
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Fri 19 Apr. Bath Abbey. London Concertante with Vivaldi’s Four Seasons by Candlelight and The Lark Ascending classical concert. 7.30pm.
Fri 19 Apr. Bath Cricket Club. Pre-season party from 6pm. The club will also be joined by a food pop-up and Canned Wine Co, who will be looking to reveal their range that will be stocked behind the bar during the 2024 season.
Sat 20 Apr. Avon Street. Funeral For nature. A family-friendly Extinction Rebellion event with Red Rebelgroup. Take part in one of the most powerful and ambitious street theatre pieces yet to be enacted on behalf of biodiversity loss. See coderedfornature.uk
Sat 20 Apr. Burdall’s Yard. Battle of the Bands Final. 7pm. Three bands battle it out for cash prize and a slot at Party In the City.
Sun 21 Apr. American Museum and Gardens. Jazz concert. The John Martin Quartet presents Reconstruction with John Martin, saxophones, John Law, piano, Henrik Jensen, bass and Dave Smith, drums. 4.20pm.
Sun 21 Apr. Komedia. Aquapella. Bath’s renowned a cappella group returns to Komedia for another spectacular night of vocal music. 7.30pm.
Sun 21 Apr. Jewish Cemetery. Open Day. Free. 11am-4pm. About 100 people from Bath’s 18th and 19th century Jewish community are thought to be buried in this peaceful semi-secret place behind high walls. Combe Down on Bradford Rd by the roundabout entrance to Mulberry Park, 1 Greendown Place BA2 5DD.
Wed 24-Sat 27 Apr. Mission Theatre. Old Time Music Hall. With Bath G&S. Includes classics
Bath Light Operatic Group ‘Showtopia’
Songs from The Shows
4th - 6th April 2024, 7.30pm
The Roper Theatre, Hayesfield School, Upper Oldfield Park, Bath Tickets www.ticketsource.co.uk/bath or 01225 863740
such as “My Old Man”, “Daisy, Daisy”, and “Any Old Iron.” 7.30pm and a Saturday matinee.
Sun 28 Apr. Green Park Station. Bath Vintage and Antiques Market. All day.
Thu 2 May. Toppings Book Shop. Tiny Tales Picture Book Reading. 9.30am. Tiny Tales is for children aged 2 to 5 years-old. They will have stories, colouring-in, and silly games as well as juice and biscuits for 45 minutes of fun. It’s free of charge, but we would appreciate it if you could sign up to help them estimate numbers.
Thu 2 May. House of St John’s. Bath Girls Business Club. 6.30pm. Tickets on Eventbrite.
Mon 6 May. Bath Racecourse. Family Fun Day. From 12.20pm. Funfair Face Painting Bouncy Castle Entertainers.
Wed 15 May. Jewish Buriel Ground Combe Down Guided walk. 6pm. Email info@ bathjewishburialground.org to book.
Fri 17-Sun 26 May. The Bath
Festival. Various venues and a long list of events celebrating books and music. See their website for details.
Sat 13 July. Bath Carnival. Take part or watch and enjoy the hundreds of people in the city’s big parade.
Pick of Diary Events out of Bath
Sat 13 Apr. Bitton. Avon Valley Railway: Murder Mystery Dining Train. Gather on the platform for a chance to see a murder then dine on board and decide who is the murderer. From 6.30pm.
Sat 13 Apr. Tour de Bristol. UWE Centre for Sport, Coldharbour Lane. Join Bristol’s biggest charity bike ride and pedal for patient care. Choose from three different routes - 40, 65 or 100km - all starting from the UWE Centre for Sport and heading into the Gloucestershire countryside.
Theatre Picks In Bath
Egg Theatre
Sat 23 Mar-Sun 7 Apr. Squirrel. This is a story of new growth and new beginnings with a sprinkling of magic and puppetry to charm audiences of every age! Recommended for children aged 6 months to 4 years who are actively encouraged to take part in the show. Age: 0-6mths. Various perf times.
Main House Theatre Royal
Tue 30 Apr-Sat 4 May. Bonnie and Clyde. Musical based on the famous gun toting murderers. 7.30pm, Weds, Thu, Sat matinees.
Mission Theatre
Tue-Fri, 14-17 May. The Girl Next Door. Time slip romantic drama by Alan Ayckbourn.
Rondo Theatre
Wed 24-Sat 27 Apr. Skylight. David Hare’s relationship drama set in a flat as a teacher experiences an unexpected reminder of the past.
Walk of Life 2024
Saturday 11 May!
The annual sponsored walk, organised by RUHX, official charity of the Royal United Hospitals Bath, is the chance for people across Bath, Somerset and Wiltshire to step out and show their support for patients, families, and hospital staff. Choose to walk a whopping 10 miles or a marathon 26.2 miles from Wiltshire to Bath, along the Kennet & Avon canal, with a celebration finish line at the Holburne Museum. Register now for £20 and raise £100 for the RUH (or £8 for children with a reduced fundraising target of £50). ruhx.org.uk/events/walk-of-life/
Bath Drama production.
Roper Theatre
Thu-Sat 4 -6 Apr. Bath Light
Operatic Group: ShowtopiaSongs from The Shows. 7.30pm. www.ticketsource.co.uk/bath or 01225 863740
Ustinov Studio
Thu 21 Mar-Sat 20 Apr. The Lover/ The Collection. Double bill of plays by Harold Pinter. Various perf times.
Theatre Picks Outside Bath
Bristol Old Vic. Tue 7 – Sat 11 May The Glass Menagerie. Tennessee Williams’ family drama.
Taunton. Brewhouse. Sun-Mon, 5-6 May. the Tiger Who Came to Tea. Join the tea-guzzling tiger in this delightful family show packed with oodles of magic, sing-a-long songs, and clumsy chaos.
Exhibition Picks in Bath American Museum, Bath. Claverton. American Road Trip. 9 Mar-31, Dec, 2024. Images, sounds and sets allowing you to experience a trip across the USA.
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Burdall’s Yard. Art exhibition. Pedro Ramalho - An Illustrated Odyssey. A series of oil paintings inspired by the existentialism thought. Until Sat 27 Apr.
Herschel Museum of Astronomy. It is located in a town house at 19 New King Street that was formerly the home of William Herschel and his sister Caroline. In 1977 the William Herschel Society was set up to gather support for the rescue of the building. It was purchased in 1981 with the aid of Doctors
Leslie and Elizabeth Hilliard, saving it from demolition. William discovered Uranus whilst residing in the house in March 1781 using a 7 foot telescope designed and built in the attached workshop.
Holburne Museum. The heart of the present day collection was formed by Sir Thomas William Holburne (1793-1874). It was eventually bequeathed to the people of Bath. Current shows include Jann Haworth & Liberty Blake: Work In Progressto 30 April, the art of Lubaina Himid: Lost Threads to April 21 and the art of Gwen John until 14 April.
Museum of Bath at Work. Julian Rd, Bath BA1 2RH. Enter the world of working Bath through a series of authentically reconstructed workplaces, workshops and display galleries. Exhibition: All Day Long: The Workers of Bath in Fifty Portrait Photographs.
Museum of East Asian Art.
MEAA’s collections consist of some 2,000 objects. The majority of these are of Chinese origin, spanning from 5,000 BC to the present.
Victoria Art Gallery. Exhibitions include Catherine Ducker: Emotion
in Colour. 9 Jan to 14 April. From Jan 19 to April 14: The Wonderful World of Ladybird Book Artists. This colourful, family-friendly exhibition includes rare books,
original artwork and artefacts, and reveals how illustrators played such an enormous role in Ladybird’s extraordinary success. Tracing
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the interconnected work of these artists, the company’s story is recounted over Ladybird’s ‘golden years’ – 1940 to 1975. Visually rich and varied, the exhibition will evoke many memories of childhood. Hundreds of Ladybird books are available for visitors to browse through and share in our themed retro reading areas. There’s lots for children to enjoy, with a free exhibition ‘I Spy’ trail and a quirky ‘Coco the Caravan’ reading den. Find out more on our Thursday lunchtime tours, 1.30 – 2.00pm every week, free with an exhibition ticket.
Exhibition Picks outside Bath Bristol Museum & Art Gallery. To 1 Sep. The Art of Japanese porcelain. The exhibition examines how Japan became the global leading makers of porcelain between 1640 and 1680.
Somerset Rural Life Museum Glastonbury. Somerset Floods - 10 years on - photography exhibition. An exhibition of photographs by Matilda Temperley, reflecting on ten years since the county’s devastating floods of
winter 2013-14.
Attractions in Bath Assembly Rooms. The National Trust are working on the Georgian Experience, due to open in 2026. You can book a visit the once centre of Georgian social life – wearing period costume is optional.
Bath Abbey. Not just a place of worship with numerous events and services but also features a shop, tower tours, a discovery centre and a social history museum.
Bath City Farm. 37 acres overlooking the city on Kelston View. A working farm with café, facilities, workshops and gardens. Bath World Heritage Centre. Interactive exhibits and displays designed to reveal the history of Bath and show visitors and residents free walking trails and guides to help you explore everything Bath has to offer.
Jane Austen Centre. Gay Street. Everything you need to know
about the author and her life.
Mary Shelley’s House of Frankenstein. Gay Street. Monsters and more.
Museum of Bath Architecture. The Bath Preservation Trusthas reopened the museum at he Countess of Huntingdon’s Chapel. The museum tells the story of the rich architectural history of Bath, from its transformation from a small medieval town into the world-famous Georgian city, to the Victorian expansion and 20th century demolitions.
No.1 Royal Crescent. Features an immersive experience, which will allow you to see life as it was lived in Georgian Bath during the late 1700s. Look beyond the Crescent’s famous Palladian façade and see what life was like for the wealthy and their servants in eighteenthcentury Bath Great views from the windows.
The Roman Baths. The hot water that comes out of the ground is the reason Bath exists. A fascinating tour of the city’s history from the time of the Romans.
By
Harry Mottram:the campaign to save the Combe Down Allotments from developers took a new turn during a meeting held at the community’s primary school on March 18, 2024. Cllr Dr. Bharat Pankhania, spoke about the strong support that he had received from Bath and North East Council and that currently they are taking legal action to secure the lease of the allotments.
The meeting held by the supporters, allotment holders, the local councillor and Friends of Combe Down Allotments heard how there was the possibility of the allotments being run by a self-management set up, also the latest on the allotments becoming an Asset of Community Value and news in general to save the allotments.
Notes taken by the Friends at the Public Meeting Supporting Combe Down Allotment held at Combe reported: “Along with the designated Local Green Space, it was explained that action also needs to be taken by the local community in helping to nominate the allotment site as an Asset of
Community Value and requests were made for the audience to write a short statement saying why they personally valued the Combe Down Allotments. Many statements from individuals are required in order for the application to be considered by the Council so the requests for these are ongoing.”
There was also an appeal by organisers for more people to join the Friends of Combe Down Allotments group which will be an unincorporated group with a constitution and will enable future actions such as self-management and fundraising to take place.
The organisers also reported: “It was explained how the potential of self-management is currently being explored and what needs to be put in place if any future opportunities develop. The group are arranging a Zoom meeting with the National Allotment Society South West representative to learn more about self-management and once confirmed will be open for all.”
By an accident of history, the large allotment site at Combe Down has been held in leasehold since 1895. The site, along with the
adjacent quarry and the Monkton School playing fields, is owned by a distant relative of the original landowner, who is not a resident of Bath. The site was originally procured by the Monkton Combe Parish Council to serve the workers in the Bath stone mines but, following city boundary changes in 1967, became the responsibility of Bath City Council. The Council has
THE recent loss of young lives across the West of England is a huge concern.
At my annual Schools Summit, students pitch ideas to me for new policies.
Sometimes it’s the environment, transport, or about skills. This year’s big theme turned out to be how to tackle knife crime.
Many young people are currently worried, anxious and unclear about what they can do to best avoid knife violence. But they know the awful toll of young lives only too well.
Mason Rist and Max Dixon – aged just 15 and 16 respectively – were stabbed in Knowle West back in January.
Darrian Williams, also just 16, was killed in Easton in February.
Another 16-year-old, Mikey Roynon, was stabbed and killed at a birthday party in Bath last June.
In 2022, Radstock teenager Charley Bates was another young victim. His killer was prosecuted last August.
Knife crime is impacting young people, who are changing their behaviour from fear, for example staying in more and not seeing their friends so frequently.
There is no single answer – far from it. But I do know we must act.
We need to invest in young people and the resources that help them. Real-terms reductions to local council budgets for the past 14 years have hit youth services very badly.
There is also a lack of mental health support for youngsters growing up in an ever more complex and fast-changing world. As a former NSPCC-trained child protection officer, this is something close to my heart.
Young people need mentors, to take part in activities that build their self-esteem. They also need access to first rate support from qualified professionals.
Sadly, young people are staying away from youth clubs and youth provision because they and their parents are frightened. That’s a vicious circle we need to break.
We also need to smash the myth that carrying a knife makes you safer. It doesn’t.
However secure it makes you feel, you’re actually more likely to be stabbed with your own knife than anyone else’s. By carrying a knife, you’re potentially arming your attacker.
The police are right to hold knife amnesties. But the fall in police numbers and prosecutions under this government is unacceptable. I also can’t fathom the reason to wait until the autumn to ban dangerous ‘zombie knives’ and
held rolling leases since that time. Unfortunately, the owner of the land has recently given advance notice of his intention to end the lease in 2025.
The B&NES Allotments Association (AA) represents the interests of over 600 allotment users in the city of Bath. There are 24 Council run allotments sites, with over 1,000 plot holders (more counting families and friends). There is an evergrowing waiting list for plots – now running at around 600 people. This reflects the national resurgence of interest in local food growing and local food security, as well as in the many social and well-being benefits of outdoor horticulture. Notably more young people and women are joining the movement. Parish councils run the sites in rural areas, and there are also some privately run sites in the city. A petition to save the allotments has been signed by thousands of Bathonians. To sign visit https:// www.change.org/p/save-combedown-allotments
machetes. And when the worst happens, we need people trained to react.
At my schools summit, youngsters learnt from the brilliant anti-knife crime campaigner Leanne Reynolds how to use ‘bleed kits’, which contain everything needed to give first aid to someone rapidly losing blood.
So, here’s the deal: to tackle knife crime head-on, we need to get everyone on board – community groups, charities, businesses, police and especially young people.
It also requires political parties to work together, something as West of England Mayor I’m keen to encourage.
The senseless loss of young life is an utter and total tragedy. It’s time for action, so we can beat it – together.
Masquerade: The Lives of Noel Coard – Oliver Soden
This is a fascinating biography of one of Britain ‘s most famous playwriters, actor and general wit!
It was also the basis of a documentary on BBC2 shown last Christmas about Noel Coward. Noel Coward wrote over fifty plays, nine musicals, screenplays and a novel. He was born in relative poverty but worked in regional theatre and then started producing his own plays. His first limited success was The Vortex and then the plays Private lives, Hay Fever and Blithe Spirt followed. He moved in famous circles from royalty to Hollywood and became to be know as “the master”. In the 1940s I was especially intrigued by his war work which I knew included screenwriting but not spying!
as well as independent sources. It touches on his most intimate relationships which he kept hidden, publicly for many years and his later career as a stand up in Las Vegas – the quintessential Englishman! A sparkling story-packed life.
Corpus – Rory Clements
This was recommended to me by my husband, and I am very glad that he gave me the recommendation.
Rory Clements is well known for his books set in the 16th Century but this book and the subsequent two afterwards are set in the 1930’s. The story starts in Berlin where a young Englishwoman evades the Gestapo to deliver vital papers to a Jewish scientist. On her return to England, she is found dead.
government. Next a well -connected couple with fascist leanings are also found murdered, so it falls to Thomas Wilde, a Cambridge professor, to follow the clues which takes him, and his neighbour Lydia, into a murky world of espionage and links surrounding the Abdication crisis.
The story is very pacey, with brilliant characters - I particular like the hero, Thomas Wilde, who appears to be a dusty academic but is not all that he seems. There are excellent historical details from the Spanish Civil War, Nazi Germany and the Abdication crisis. I really enjoyed this book.
One Day –David Nicholls
Following the highly successful television drama of One Day why not read the book?
the rainforest. Jack of course agrees but this is no easy holiday. The trip descends into real danger for Jack and his Mum as they are plunged deep into the rainforest and Jack feels this is not the adventure he craved for and thoughts of late Dad resurface. This book is definitely aimed at 9-12 year olds as addresses some poignant themes.
This book is extremely well researched – using Noel Coward’s own diaries
Furthermore, in an exclusive London club, a conspiracy is launched that threatens the very heart of
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Follow the poignant, funny and romantic “friendship” of Emma and Dexter. They meet at University and decide to meet up every year on 15th July – St Swithin’s day. Their story twists and turns around relationships with other people and the up and downs of life until the devastating ending. It remains a very popular book and a great read.
Children’s Fiction
Never Say Whatever Again – Max Evans
Storytime: Thursday at 11am is Storytime at Keynsham Library – term time only and for 0-4 years. Come along, with a cushion and listen to some fantastic new stories.
As here’s always so much going on in all our libraries, and it’s all free, so drop in and see what’s on offer. For families with children, sing along at Baby Bounce and Rhyme, or get comfy whilst listening to stories at our ever-popular Storytime.
This is book 2 of a great series – so meet Viv – she saves the world, she is a spy! However she is failing at the top spy school –Rummington Hall where the motto is “Failure is Not an Option” – eek! To make the situation worse her step-brother – Russell – is a top student but then Viv realises that the evil Umbra is still at large.
Join Viv in this funny, pacey story as she tries to thwart her arch enemy, avoid being expelled from school and keep her parents happy.
Wild – Ele Fountain
From the prize winning author, Ele Fountain comes a gripping rainforest adventure. Jack craves adventure and this means he falls into trouble at school. His Mum is always busy at work but as she gets more concerned about Jack, she makes a surprising suggestion that he join her on her next trip into
For adults, we’ve got book clubs, writing classes, and much more throughout the year. Joining the library costs nothing, so pop in or visit www. librarieswest.org.uk to also access thousands of eBooks, eMagazines, Audiobooks, and a wealth of other resources! Our ‘Virtual Library’ has loads going on, including the latest library news, competitions, book reviews and, all our digital offers. Search ‘Bath and North East Somerset Libraries’ on social media or visit bathneslibraries. wordpress.com
Tues 10-4pm, Thurs & Fri 10-1pm and Sat 10-1pm. Email for more info at Moorlandroadcommunitylibrary@ gmail.com And visit https://www. moorlandroadcommunitylibrary. com/ to find out how to volunteer and much more. The library is seeking more volunteers to help keep it open for longer.
Plaque plan: A historic Bath charity is seeking planning permission to install a plaque unveiled by Queen Camilla this month writes local democracy reporter John Wimperis.
The Queen paid a royal visit to the city at the start of the month to mark 850 years of St John’s Foundation. It was founded in Bath in 1174 by Bishop Reginald Fitz Jocelin as a mediaeval refuge to provide food and shelter to the poor and vulnerable, and the foundation continues to today, providing accommodation and other support to older people, support to children and school, and financial support to people in crisis.
On her visit to Bath, the Queen had tea and cake with residents of the charity’s almshouse, before making her way to the courtyard of Bath Abbey where she was greeted by over 800 schoolchildren from five of the local schools supported by the Foundation Fund.
Inside, she unveiled a plaque celebrating the 850 years of St John’s Foundation — and now the charity has applied to Bath and North East Somerset Council for listed building consent to install it on the paving of their courtyard at Chapel Court.
Banking News: In 2020 the branch of Barclays Bank at the University of Bath closed for good as according to the bank’s press office too few people used it while in 2022 TSB closed its branch in Quiet Street for similar reasons. Undeniably banking habits of the general public have changed over the last few years mainly due to the switch to on-line banking – but for those who trade in cash or need to speak to someone in a branch or for many older people who don’t use the internet there is a problem.
With the closing of the Lloyds and NatWest branches in Oldfield Park and the Santander branch at Bath University the city has been left with just nine banks. In many Somerset towns there are no longer any banks causing a headache for traders although banking and cash can be accessed at most Post Offices.
The local MP has raised the issue - Wera Hobhouse, has, joined 55 other MPs in writing to the Chief Executive of the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to raise concerns about recent banking closures across the country. Currently, a
Consultation on SEND school travel: School travel support eligibility for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in Bath and North East Somerset is under review.
The council said parents and carers are being asked for their views on an updated policy to support the best way for pupils to travel to and from school.
Bath & North East Somerset Council is consulting on a review of its SEND Home to School Travel Policy to clarify eligibility criteria and make travel support choices clearer for families, in response to new government guidance published last year.
Around 520 children and young people with SEND in B&NES currently receive home to school travel support which costs the council £4.3million per year.
The consultation runs until May 7. If approved in a single member decision later this year, the new criteria would begin to be applied from September 2024.
Recycling changes: Recycling of domestic DIY waste will continue to be free of charge at B&NES’ recycling
“last bank in town rule” operates in most areas which prevents LINK, who carry out assessments of cash access, from considering whether an area requires a new cash solution to protect access to cash, if there is still a remaining bank or building society branch in a town. The letter calls for the FCA to grant LINK the ability to operate on a case-by-case basis to assess whether a town requires more avenues for people to access cash, rather than waiting for the last bank in a town to shut its doors for good.
Wera Hobhouse, Liberal Democrat MP for Bath, said: “Everyone should be able to access cash. It is fundamental to a functioning community. Yet, following the pandemic, which marked a shift towards online banking, many of my constituents have found it increasingly difficult to access cash. One by one, banks are closing their doors in Bath, leaving vulnerable members of the community isolated from being able to access their hard-earned cash. We cannot just sit on our hands and allow banks to disappear from our high streets. But the FCA’s current
centres, however no more than the equivalent of two 50-litre bags of plasterboard, rubble, soil and ceramics is allowed to be disposed of in a single visit.
The number of visits is also limited to four single visits per household in any four-week period.
The changes took place from March 4.
Planning News: In Bath a house could be demolished so two more can be built in its place. Chalfont, a “bungalow-style” two storey house on on Charlcombe Lane, could be replaced with a larger two storey house, with a new bungalow built in its garden as a separate property under a planning application submitted to Bath and North East Somerset Council writes John Wimperis.
Both houses would have slate roofs but with the front southfacing pitches of the roof covered in “solar slates” instead. Each house will have a separate home office at the end of its garden.
A previous application was withdrawn following concerns from neighbours about the height of one of the proposed new houses. Now the applicants are hoping that
proposals come up short. LINK must be able to intervene early and assess areas individually to determine what a community needs.”
Chamber of Commerce: The business organisation is holding a drinks and networking event at the The Royal Crescent Hotel on Thursday 9 May. It is open to anyone who wants to network, including Business West Chambers of Commerce members. Tickets and info at https://www.businesswest. co.uk/events/drinks-networkingroyal-crescent-hotel-spa
by reducing it to a bungalow, the application will be met with more support.
Corston Fields: Plans to build a new village in the countryside near Bath have been met with shock from locals and from the farmers whose fields could be built on writes John Wimperis, Local Democracy Reporter:
Corston Fields Farm is between Burnett and Corston, the farm is known for its wine and local quinoa but now Bath and North East Somerset Council ’s consultation on the options to include in its new local plan, has identified the farm and the surrounding area south of Burnett, just north of the Two Headed Man junction, as a “potential site” for new development. The council said it had no immediate plans for building on the area but, if included in the local plan, it could open the doors for homes to be built.
Locals fear the plans could lead to 3,000 homes being built across the fields. Posters have been put up near the Wheatsheaf Inn reading ‘Hands off the Green Belt.’
Details are on the Council’s website.
Business West: The group have published what they would like from the next Government. They said: “We urgently need to address transport connectivity in our region. This is not just a ‘transport’ issue; it is fundamental to improving economic growth, social mobility, cohesion and achieving net zero targets.”
Alcohol sales: The Spar store in Chelsea Road has been granted permission to extend the hours it sells alcohol from 6am to 11.30pm instead of 8am to 11pm. New owners have taken on the franchise store.
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Letter to the Ediror: Dear Sir, I am writing in reference to your article: Developers want to knock down classic 1960s building” March 2024.
Cyril Beazer, mason and builder, had an office, joinery works and builders yard in Cheltenham Street on a site of war damaged houses.
His son Brian was the major force in the expansion of the business and in 1974 he completed the construction of new offices called Beazer House in Midland Bridge Road. As the firm expanded he sold Beazer House to Thrings solicitors and acquired the offices of Stothert and Pitt on the Lower Bristol Road.
The new “Beazer House” was the company’s HQ for several years but it was built by Stothert and Pitt. The simple block design may reflect their engineering aesthetic.
Yours, Derek Walker, Surveyor
New: School plans new extension to support children with autism
by John Wimperis,
Local Democracy Reporter: A Bath school is planning to build a new floor on top of one of its buildings to provide a space for children with autism.
Ralph Allen School at Odd Down is hoping to build a new floor on top of part of its DT and IT block with new classrooms, a living room, quiet room and therapy room.
A statement submitted with the planning application to Bath and North East Somerset Council said: “Inclusivity is at the heart of Ralph Allen School’s ethos
and the school has undergone successive modifications to ensure young people with special needs and disabilities are able to fully participate in the whole life of the school.”
It added: “The school wishes to build upon their previous efforts, to deliver a new Student Resource Base facility to accommodate up to 20 pupils with special educational needs who will be attending mainstream school and receiving additional specialist support.
“The resource base is planned to support pupils with Autism
Spectrum Disorder.”
Bath Festival News: The Bath Festival, the city’s oldest and biggest arts festival, brings its annual celebration of books and music to our beautiful city this spring.
The 2024 festival is a sparkling mix of inspirational speakers, consummate story tellers and music to lift the spirits and soothe the soul.
Highlights include Clive Myrie in conversation with author Kit de Waal and journalist Rebecca Thomson, who broke the Post Office accounting scandal, will join a discussion panel, including Nick Wallis, author of the Great Post Office Scandal, and Post Office manager Nicholas Arch, to talk about this huge miscarriage of justice.
The festival runs from Friday 17 May to Sunday 26 May. See the website for details.
local democracy reporter: Major changes to the Westlink minibus service are planned next month to stop commuters from “abusing” the scheme writes Alex Seabrook. The dial-a-ride minibuses operate across the Bristol region but some users are booking trips far longer than intended, causing the service serious issues.
Westlink was launched in April last year, and is known as “demand responsive transport”. Passengers book a trip on an app, and a bright green minibus picks them up and in theory takes them to existing bus routes, for a £2 fare.
But the service, set up by the West of England Combined Authority, has faced several problems including a shortage of drivers. From this April, the transport zones will be made much smaller, to stop passengers from booking excessively long trips, such as to Bristol Airport.
Bob Scowen, interim head of integrated transport operations at the combined authority, said: “There are changes to zones, and there also changes to what you can do. If an alternative bus service exists already, then you have to take that rather than take
the whole journey from A to B on the minibus. There’s also some improvements to through-ticketing arrangements.”
He was speaking to councillors on the West of England audit committee, during a public meeting on Monday, March 4. Through-ticketing means passengers will be able to book just one ticket for a journey involving more than one bus ride, instead of paying for each ride.
The scheme was “launched at the worst possible time”, according to Mr Scowen, due to a lack of bus drivers across the country.
At the same time, almost half the subsidised bus routes in the West of England were withdrawn. These routes were unprofitable but received public funding, until local councils decided they could no longer afford to support them.
While the combined authority has denied Westlink replaced the cut bus services, the scheme was introduced at the same time the services were withdrawn. Westlink faced teething problems from its outset, with some passengers struggling to book trips and a shortage of drivers. Transport bosses were only granted an operator licence days before the
scheme launched.
The West of England did not run a full marketing campaign to promote the scheme, due to concerns that the shortage of drivers meant the service would not be able to meet the increased demand that a campaign would generate. Seven per cent of journeys taken so far have been over 10 miles in distance, but “very long journeys should not have been possible”.
Another issue is that Westlink will run out of government funding in two years. The scheme is funded from the Bus Service Improvement Plan, which expires in March 2026. After that, the combined authority will have to make the service pay for itself, but there are “potentially pretty huge” risks that it could be scrapped after the government cash dries up.
Full details of the planned changes to the scheme have not yet been formally announced. Councillors urged the combined authority officers to give them advanced warning of the changes to Westlink.
Death threats: Local councillors have spoken of receiving death threats and having their homes, families, and pets targeted, as they called for more to be done to end
the abuse of elected officials and council staff at Bath and North East Somerset Council.
Tim Ball said he had been sent death threats when trying to get the area’s first Gypsy and Traveller site approved, Michael Auton said he had received a death threat with comments about his weight over a campaign leaflet, and Robin Moss said he had a brick thrown through his window. Steve Hedges said that in the past people had watched him leave his home, waiting to call his family with abuse.
Mr Hedges also described when he returned home to find a family pet had been deliberately killed.
Councillors were sharing their experiences at a council meeting on March 14 after Lesley Mansell tabled a motion condemning “increasing levels of toxicity” and calling on the council to take a zero tolerance approach to abuse of councillors and officers.
Backing the Local Government Association’s “debate not hate” campaign, her motion commits the council to train councillors in online safety, set up a clear reporting mechanism for harassment, and work with the police. Councillors voted unanimously to pass the motion.
House,
