Bath Voice August 2023

bathvoice August 2023 No. 42

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An Oasis of hope for hard up Bathonians Founded in 1869 the Baptist Church on The Paragon features a community hub which aids a number of groups in the city to help those in need. Since 2018 the church became a member of the Oasis Community Hub, and was renamed as the Oasis Church Bath. The hub includes the Oasis Pantry, a space for addiction support groups and counseling, a hub for the delivery of food parcels and much more. See page 25 for an interview with the manager.

Hike in cost of parking diesel cars Sports News Pages 20-22 Murder charge Page 26

By John Wimperis, Local Democracy Reporter: All Parking charges across Bath are set to change and new rates will be based on the harmful emissions certain vehicles produce.

The new charges will hit everyone who drives a diesel car and anyone with a non-diesel car which emits more

than 131g of CO2 per kilometre, with the price of parking based on vehicle pollutants or engine size.

People driving electric vehicles or non-diesel vehicles below the threshold will escape the rise but analysis by Bath and North East Somerset Council, which is

implementing the scheme, suggests 66% of people who use the city’s car parks will pay more.

The council estimates it will make £225k a year from the increased charges, which are planned to go live in September, subject to a traffic Continued on page 3

August 2023

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MPs Wera Hobhouse MP - Bath 26 Charles Street, Bath, BA1 1HU 01225 307024 office@werahobhouse.co.uk Jacob Rees-Mogg - NE Somerset House of Commons Westminster London SW1A 0AA jacob.reesmogg.mp@parliament.uk BANES Councillors Oldfield Park: Ian Halsall 07575 922200 Halsall@bathnes.gov.uk Widcombe & Lyncombe: Alison Born 01225 319188 Alison_born@bathnes.gov.uk Deborah Joan Collins Deborah_Collins@bathnes.gov.uk 01225 395954 Moorlands: Jess David 07977 500804 Jess_david@bathnes.gov.uk Southdown: Paul Crossley 07718 632959 paul_crossley@bathnes.gov.uk

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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.

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n NEWS

Continued from page 1

regulation order consultation.

Emissions-based pricing is already used for residents parking permits and rolling it out across car parks was included in the council’s budget, passed in February.

Now new details have been revealed in a council report, set to go before the council’s Climate Emergency and Sustainability Policy Development and Scrutiny Panel on Thursday, July 6.

The report states: “The introduction of emission-based charging aims to improve the safety of vulnerable people within the community by improving air quality and reducing congestion so those with more polluting vehicles pay more and are encouraged to change behaviours to make other travel choices where alternatives exist.”

In 2021, Bath was the first city in the UK after London to introduce a clean air zone after it was directed by the government to reduce air pollution in the city.

New signs will be installed at pay and display car parks, with draft versions stating that a two hour stay will cost “£3.40 up to £4.60.” The top rate will be for diesel vehicles producing more than 225g of CO2 per kilometre.

But foreign registered vehicles will also have to pay the top rate.

Information about your engine will be sourced through DVLA lookup and it is proposed vehicles not registered with the DVLA — such as foreign registered cars — will have to pay the top rate, regardless of what their emissions actually are.

If the DVLA servers cannot be reached due to a system issue, all cars will be charged the lower rate.

The price increases are only planned for the council’s car parks within the city centre, not at any of the city’s three park and rides or at Odd Down Coach Park.

An online consultation on the scheme will be held from July 6 to July 27.

Car parking charges in Bath were most recently increased in November,

when they went up by 10p an hour, which was only the second increase in 12 years.

Season tickets for car parks were increased dramatically at the same time, with a 7-days-a-week season ticket for the Charlotte Street car park going from £1,633 a year to £4,056.

Come September, that ticket could cost £5,172 for the most polluting diesel vehicles. Citing previous press coverage of the cost of this ticket, the council stated that the increased cost will initially be limited to new customers.

The report said: “Customers that currently purchase season tickets, and where their account shows a valid season ticket at the date of the proposals being implemented, can

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

continue to purchase their existing season ticket at current charges for 12 months after the emission-based charges launch to help them plan and adjust to the new charges, for example to consider alternative options or the purchase of a lower emission vehicle.”

The season tickets will now also be tied to the specific vehicle, in line with how residents parking permits work.

Season ticket holders changing their car will be able to use their season ticket with a less polluting vehicle for a £10 administration fee, but will need to buy a new season ticket if they get a more polluting vehicle.

Picture: Avon Street car park

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Digital News: Last month the Bath Digital Festival took place with more than 35 events held across the city including a debate with Wera Hobhouse, MP for Bath, and Julia Adamson, BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT along with Fiona Dawson, Director at Mayden.

Julia Adamson said: “Every child has the right to a high-quality computing education. This knowledge will give children the ability to participate fully in a more digital society – to benefit from the digital landscape and emerging fields such as AI, data analytics and cyber security.”

The Bath MP said: “The digital divide in all its forms is a harsh everyday reality that many people are simply not aware of. It cuts across age, gender, geography and income, leaving many in our local communities shut out and cut off from learning, working, doing everyday tasks and connecting with others.”

Election News: New election boundaries could reshape the parliamentary constituency of Bath with part of North East Somerset joining Bath.

Since 2010, each council area has been divided into two constituencies.

But the 2023 Boundary Review,

recommends changes that will see Bath taking in rural areas including Bathford, Swainswick and Bathampton. North Somerset loses the area around Yatton and Kenn to the Wells constituency which loses Burnham-on-Sea to Bridgwater - but Bridgwater loses the large West Somerset area. North East Somerset that surrounded Bath loses much of the area to the North and South of the city but gains the populace area of Hanham on the edge of Bristol.

A new constituency has been created that touches the south of Bath in East Somerset and Frome.

To the east of Bath a new constituency of South West Wiltshire

takes in Bradford on Avon and Box while to the north of Bath there is Thornbury and Yate and to the west Kingswood.

The government has four months to bring forward an order to bring the recommendations into effect. The next election is likely to be held next year, but could legally not happen until January 2025.

Strike News: Bath and the rest of England has seen continued industrial unrest as trade unions lobby for increased wages and improved conditions.

At the time of going to press headteachers in the The National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT)

are potentially taking strike action this autumn after a vote suggested there would be a majority of members in favour of action.

Last month the Government made an improved public sector pay offer ranging from 5-7% which has taken some of the heat out of the pay claims.

However Junior Doctor who are members of the British Medical Association (BMA) are still campaigning for a 35% pay increase, saying pay rises over the last 15 years have been below inflation and the current offer of 5% was too low.

So far nurses, teachers, civil servants and rail workers have taken strike action this year. Teachers in the NASUWT union have voted for action in September although the largest union the NEU is recommending acceptance of the 6.5% offer.

Hospital Consultants held a 48 hour strike last month in their campaign for a wage rise. (Picture from the BMA.) Rail and Tube strikes are also ongoing as unions continue to their fight for improved pay and conditions in August along with the concerns over job losses over the proposed ticket office closures.

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n NEWS

Carer News: An orchestra of Young Carers from Bath and North East Somerset travelled to Westminster to perform music created with Bath Philharmonia to an audience of MPs, Peers and music industry professionals at the House of Commons (pictured).

The performance was part of an event, organised at the invitation of Wera Hobhouse MP, to celebrate the work of Bath Philharmonia and the impact of music-making on young carers.

Bath Philharmonia is the only professional orchestra in the UK that delivers a year-round transformational programme of creative music-making residencies for Young Carers.

Jess, a 12-year-old Young Carer said, “Normally, I just don’t know

how to express myself and I just try and get on with my life. The music helps get it all out. I can’t believe that we got to go to Westminster, and everyone there thought our music was fantastic!”

Jess is one of almost 800 young carers supported by The Carers’ Centre (Bath and North East Somerset).

Its dedicated young carer service provides essential emotional support and activities enable young carers to take a break from their caring role.

Jason Thornton, Music Director of Bath Philharmonia said,: “Music is a powerful tool that can help us cope with all kinds of emotions and we’d like to enable as many of the 800,000 young carers in the UK as possible to discover their own

creativity through great orchestral music.”

Mentoring News: Bath-based youth charity Mentoring Plus marked its 25th anniversary on June 27th with a rallying call for more adult volunteer mentors and community fundraising.

The charity, which supports around 180 children and young people every week with mentoring, activities and youth clubs, welcomed over 80 supporters, partners, volunteers and young people to its Riverside Youth Hub HQ for the special celebration.

The event included the premiere of a short film, Shoulder to Shoulder, made by young people in collaboration with the Egg Theatre including music recorded by young people with support from Bath Festival.

In terms of encouraging new mentors CEO Helen Goodchild said: “You don’t need any prior experience, we train and support you and pay full expenses.

“You can make a huge difference to a child in need of support a couple of hours a week, getting out and about, doing things you both enjoy like sport, cooking, music or dog walking.”

Mentoring Plus relies on charitable funding for about a third of its income, and is appealing for more individuals, groups and businesses to get behind local young people.

Adults wanting to find out about volunteering and fundraising can visit https://mentoringplus.net/ getinvolved or call Mentoring Plus on 01225 429694.

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n NEWS

Council house development suggestion - or a new factory and jobs for controversial site on Entry Hill

By John Wimperis, Local Democracy Reporter: Land next to a Bath golf course which the council made a controversial agreement to sell to a local manufacturing company had already been “rejected” as a site for housing, a top councillor has said - reports Local Democarcy Reporter John Wimperis.

16 councillors on Bath and North East Somerset Council signed a “callin” of the single-member decision by former councillor Richard Samuel to sell the Entry Hill Depot site, bringing it before the council’s corporate policy development and scrutiny panel on Tuesday July 11.

Councillors criticised the decision to sell the site to local engineering firm Cross Engineering after an independent “Red Book” valuation rather than putting it up for sale on the open market, and questioned whether it could have been used for housing.

But the committee voted to dismiss the call-in after council

cabinet member economic and cultural sustainable development Paul Webber said the site had been “rejected” for housing six years ago, and the sale to Cross Engineering would create 15 jobs.

The site is next to, but not a part of, the Entry Hill Golf Course — which has faced its own controversy around its future use.

Councillor Saskie Heijtjes said councillors believed the decision on April 13 to agree to the sale was “rushed and unfair due to the local elections.”

She proposed that the sale be halted for the council to look at the environmental impact and to explore the option of using the site for council housing.

She said: “There was insufficient consultation with only five days allowed for responses. Councillors have also expressed deep concerns about transparency as the site was not listed on the market but sold by the Red Book valuation approach.

“My main concern is that the council seems to be keen to welcome a factory into a densely populated residential area of the city within a world heritage site without any regard for the ecological environment or the community.”

Also supporting the call-in, Councillor Shaun Hedges said: “The site is rare, desirable, and unique so how can we have confidence in a Red Book valuation without testing the market and understand all the interested parties and development options.

“The report seems to place weight in a capital receipt in this financial year, but surely its more important to find the best outcome, however long it takes. After all, we will have to live with the result of this for decades to come.”

Councillor Eleanor Jackson added: “I think we are back again with the saga of the family silver being sold off.”

She said: “It reminds me too much

of privatisation in the Thatcher–Major era when national assets were sold undervalued and we are now paying the price with privatised water supplies and private public transport.

Our residents expect you to look after our heritage, not flog it for a quick gain.”

She said that the site could be reallocated for housing in a future local plan.

But Mr Webber, representing the position of Mr Samuel who has now retired from the council, said that the site had been considered for housing six years ago and found to not be suitable.

He told the committee: “The subject site has been redundant for several years and is surplus to operational requirements. Its historic use has always been industrial in nature, from the initial quarry workings to its use as a corporate depot used by highways.

“Once it became apparent that Continued on next page

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n NEWS Continued from last page

this site was surplus to operational requirements, it seemed obvious that the council should look for alternative uses that could fulfil the council’s objectives and therefore the council’s associated housing company ADL undertook due diligence, an investigation to potentially develop the site for residential accommodation. A HABR architect feasibility report together with an ecological survey were produced in June to October 2017.

“For many reasons including ground conditions, ecology, highways issues, and contamination, ADL rejected the opportunity to bring the site forwards for residential development.”

In August 2020, he said the council had received an unsolicited request from Cross Engineering to buy the site as “a satellite manufacturing facility to their existing prememis nearby.”

He added: “The new facility at Entry Hill could add a minimum of 15 members of staff in the short term and therefore an additional [gross value added] of £1.4m a year, with potential for additional growth and

well as securing the future for this valuable company in Bath.”

Councillors Tom Davis, Winston Duguid, and Alison Born had attended a site meeting to discuss having housing on part of the site but it was judged to not be feeble, he added.

Mr Webber said: “The fact that this matter has been considered informally by a number of councillors and at length by the former councillor and cabinet member for resources leading to a formal member officer board providing their steer towards a formal member decision, to my mind provides adequate transparency and governance. This is safeguarded further by seeking the endorsement by the head of corporate estate and a section 151 officer.

“Albeit, I do take the point that this is a high profile decision and it is unfortunate that its timing was so close to the local election and purdah period. I can only advise that the timing was not deliberate but a direct result of officer capacity.”

He added that any environmental issues would be dealt with at the planning permission stage of any building on the site, and that the

felling of mature trees on the site had not been connected to the sale but due to ash dieback.

Councillors voted to dismiss the call-in and allow the decision to take immediate effect.

The ongoing saga of Entry Hill Also on Entry Hill is the former golf course that has been the subject of much debate over its future.

A plan had been hatched to replace the golf links with a cycle park after the course was closed during the Covid Crisis.

The reason behind the plan was that the golf course required a large subsidy to keep it going as there were not enough golfers or patrons of the cafe to make it viable.

The plan to create a bike park fell through after the Bristol firm that already run a similar park in that city decided it could no longer proceed with the project.

Since then the golf course (and previously a land fill site) has reverted to being a park.

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School News: Meet George Samios, the head teacher at Twerton Infants School perched as it is on the rather steep Poolemead Road in Bath.

The north gone south pedagogue (originally from Wigan) studied architecture before finding his true vocation in teaching the very young and so took a PGCE (teaching qualification) at Bath Spa University.

Married with two children, a Bath Rugby fan and with a continued interest in the built environment he worked first at Colerne as a teacher and then as deputy head in Twerton before being appointed head.

“Twerton is a great community but perhaps not typically Bath,” he said, “Families have financial pressures which have been impacted by the economic issues.”

He said the school had seen a steady number attending starting with a fresh cohort in September but like other schools in the city there has been a slight drop in numbers.

Due to Government funding failing to keep up with inflation there’s a £50,000 annual deficit which has to be bridged. There’s a reliance on funds from an annual fete and £40,000 a year

Pictured: head teacher of Twerton Infant School George Samios.

He has appealed for a new school Governor - anyone with practical or professional skills and an interest education should contact the school.

from St John’s Foundation - the Bath based charity - which help funds the Special Educational Needs (SENs) staff and school meals.

Bath City FC and Bath Rugby Club visit to help with activities and certainly there is a warm atmosphere in the school when you visit which has an Ofsted Good rating.

Harry Mottram Railway News by John Wimperis, Local Democracy Reporters: Every railway ticket office in the Bristol region will shut under controversial

plans that have sparked outrage from political leaders and disability campaigners.

A three-week consultation has launched into the industry-wide proposals, which would see up to 1,000 ticket booths in England closed over the next few years.

Great Western Railway (GWR) says staff would move onto platforms and concourses where they would be better placed to help customers and provide travel advice, as well as continuing to sell tickets.

All of the operator’s stations that have ticket kiosks fall under the consultation process, which runs until July 26.

Labour metro mayor Dan Norris, the elected head of the West of England Combined Authority (Weca) which is responsible for strategic transport, has met with Rail Minister Huw Merriman to raise his opposition to the plans.

He told the Conservative MP that residents were “up in arms” and urged him to be “flexible and pragmatic”.

The affected stations include Bristol Temple Meads, Bristol Parkway, Filton Abbey Wood, Bath Spa, Yate, Oldfield Park and Keynsham, which sold a combined 600,000 paper tickets last year.

Mr Norris said the office closures would make life hard for everyone, especially disabled people and those who struggle to use the internet and book tickets online.

He said: “I told the minister just how concerned I am at the apparent railroading through of these proposals.

“Many people in the West of England value the advice provided by Continued on next page

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Continued from last page

staff in ticket offices.

“It’s not always simple knowing what’s best value, or the difference between peak and off-peak times, or why an advance single or a superoff-peak may be the way to go for a particular journey – tickets are tricky.

“I told the minister it makes much more sense for the railway worker to use their discretion and sell tickets to passengers who would find that helpful, maybe because they find it challenging to buy a ticket from a machine or if there are issues with the machines or simply because there is a queue.

“We need to do everything we can to encourage people onto our railways, not put up barriers.”

Public transport and disabilities campaigner David Redgewell told South Gloucestershire Council cabinet on Monday, July 10, that all ticket offices were earmarked to shut across the region’s railway network from Taunton to Gloucester.

He said: “At Bristol Parkway there may be a desk like you see in a bank but with the levels of service greatly reduced.

“We don’t think this is in the interests of passengers, especially passengers with reduced mobility and in need of assistance.

“This is causing great concern to disabled groups and we ask the council to formally raise objections.”

Mr Redgewell said tickets such as half-price fares for wheelchair users were not available at ticket machines, which sold only a limited range.

Cabinet member for planning, regeneration and infrastructure Cllr Chris Willmore (Lib Dem, Yate North) told the meeting: “This proposal will mean there is no human being selling tickets for trains anywhere in South Gloucestershire.

“You will have to travel to Bristol Temple Meads or Bath in order to get a human being who can sell you a ticket.

“That’s a complete failure to understand small stations or the needs of elderly and vulnerable passengers.

“We will be responding strongly and, alongside Banes, have already urged Weca to do so.

“While the plan is to keep stations like Yate and Filton Abbey Wood staffed the same number of hours, this proposal will mean that the

people working at the station will not be allowed to sell tickets – they will merely be able to assist you in using the machine.

“This completely misunderstands how often the machines at stations like Yate and Abbey Wood simply don’t work, so there’s no point in them being able to assist you to use the machine.

“It fails to understand the high level of cash sales – 26 per cent of the sales at Yate station ticket office are cash, and the machines don’t take cash sales.

“What they’re planning to do is pay people the same number of hours to be at the station but not allow them to sell tickets.

“That’s bonkers in anybody’s language and we will be campaigning strongly to stop this.”

Research by the Royal National Institute of Blind People found that only three per cent of people with sight loss said they could use a ticket vending machine without problems and 58 per cent said it was impossible.

A GWR spokesperson said transactions at its ticket offices had fallen below 15 per cent.

They said the plans would see

ticket office staff working on platforms and concourses where they could be closer to customers and help them with a wider range of issues, while the kiosks could be phased out over a number of years.

The spokesperson said: “Digital tickets have made it easier and faster for customers to buy and manage tickets online, which means fewer people than ever are using ticket offices.

“With 85 per cent of ticket sales taking place outside a ticket office on the GWR network, we think it makes sense to put our people where they can be most help to customers.

“This consultation is designed to allow the public to test and examine our proposals, and make sure our plans are compliant with the safeguards put in place at privatisation so that the needs of customers will still be met.”

GWR’s passenger assist programme, which helps disabled and mobilityimpaired customers navigate stations and board trains, will not be affected.

More information on how to take part in the consultation is at www.gwr. com/haveyoursay

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n NEWS Crime News: After intensive questioning and the gathering of evidence and of talking to a wide number of witnesses Avon and Somerset Police have confirmed they are treating the death of Mikey Roynon as murder.

The case has shocked the community of the area around Eastfield Avenue in the Weston part of Bath leading to the presenting of floral tributes and a vigil to remember the Kingswood teenager.

In a statement the police said: “Two teenage boys have been charged with the murder of 16-yearold Mikey Roynon. Detectives from our Major Crime Investigation Team have charged a 15-year-old boy from Dorset and a 16-year-old boy from Wiltshire with murder and possessing an offensive weapon. The charges come after a magistrate granted officers more time to question the pair. Mikey died from a single stab wound at a property on Eastfield Avenue in Bath on Saturday night (10 June). The two boys, who currently remain in police custody, will appear before magistrates at Bristol Youth Court this morning (Thursday 15 June).”

Detective Inspector Mark Newbury, the senior investigating officer, said: “This is a significant development in our investigation and in our quest to achieve justice for Mikey.

“His family have been informed and specialist family liaison officers continue to support them. They have been at the forefront of our minds as we’ve carried out the enquiries which have resulted in these charges.

“The investigation is ongoing and there is still a lot of work for us to do.

The cordon has now been reduced but officers are likely to remain at the property for the next few days.

“The support of the local

community has been invaluable and I’d once again like to thank them for their patience and understanding.”

Bath Voice have reminded readers and the public that and you might be in contempt of court if you speak publicly or post on social media about the case.

Police made this appeal: “We’d like to remind people it is important there should be no commentary or sharing of information or images online which could in any way prejudice any future proceedings.

Not only could the sharing of images impact on this case, they can be traumatic for people, especially children, to view. We’d also like to highlight it can be an offence to identify anyone who witnessed all or part of the incident as well as those who have been arrested.”

Culverhaye News

By John Wimperis, Local Democracy Reporter: The Culverhay swimming pool should be reopened and a commitment made to bring education back to the vacant school, a councillor has told Bath and North East Somerset Council.

Attending a meeting of the council’s cabinet on Thursday July 13, Southdown councillor and former cabinet member Dine Romero said: “I am here tonight to ask you to confirm your commitment to vocational education on the Culverhay School site and at the same time, as it is the same site, to confirm you do wish to see the swimming pool reopened.”

Culverhay School — renamed Bath Community Academy for its final years — has largely sat vacant for the five years since it closed. But Ms Romero said that Bath College was looking at plans for vocational

Culverhay in Bath

education at the site.

Ms Romero said: “We know that the current mostly academic educational offer is not right for every child. We also know that we need to build up a skilled workforce for the future. In particular in Green and renewable industries.

“So I hope you will work with Bath College to see all of these ambitions come true and to bring vocational education to Culverhay.”

She added: “The college has asked for certainty from the council on Culverhay and without this firm assurance, potential capital investment and so the project itself could be at risk.

“So please let the college know that you — we — are committed to vocational education at Culverhay.”

Ms Romero also called on the council to reopen the swimming pool on the site. Although dry sports facilities have been brought back into use as Culverhay Leisure Centre, the swimming pool remains closed.

Ms Romero said: “Swimming is a life skill as well as a great form of exercise for many more people

than other high impact sports, and so should be accessible for all. The city centre pool and the one in Keynsham are not near enough to be a viable choice for many local families on low incomes or for older people and so now, with Culverhay shut, they no longer go swimming at all.”

She added: “Culverhay’s aged boilers are well past their best so you could use this as a chance to try something new and radical and showcase your commitment to green energy. Why not create a self-sufficient system to heat the pool, a system which is reliant entirely on renewable energy?”

Council leader Kevin Guy responded: “Thank you very much, councillor Romero. And thank you for restating our Lib Dem commitment to bringing education back to the Culverhay site.”

Ms Romero invited council cabinet member for children’s services Paul May to present an update to the council’s children, adults, health and wellbeing policy development and scrutiny panel, which Ms Romero chairs, in September.

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11

12

n NEWS Bus News: Metro Mayor Dan Norris said a third of journeys currently requested through the WESTlink app are not being fulfilled.

Local Democracy Reporter John Wimperis reports that the on-demand minibus service, which does not follow set routes but takes people on requested personalised journeys, was launched in April as a joint venture by the West of England Combined Authority and neighbouring North Somerset Council.

Travel can be booked through an app, online, or on the phone — but the service is unable to deliver many of the requested journeys due to a shortage of drivers.

Mr Norris told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “The demands that people are making through the app, it can only fulfil about two thirds of those demands.”

He said that the service was currently short of 24 drivers, with seven new drivers set to receive training next week.

Asked when the service would be fully running, Mr Norris said:” That’s really hard to say because I have been amazed at how long it’s taken to

bathvoice

August 2023

recruit on main bus routes.

“We have now done that. We are now on a trajectory that’s positive on the main bus services.”

He said that, for the first time, more drivers were being recruited than were leaving but added: “It’s too early to say when we’ll be out of the woods.”

But Mr Norris, who was himself unable to book travel on WESTlink on a “difficult day” for the service earlier this month, insisted that the service was still in its early stages.

He said: “We are looking at what’s working well, what needs improvement.”

He added: “We are trying to discover what it is people like; what is it people want more of?”

WESTlink automatically tries to find the best route, as it picks up multiple people from different locations and takes them to different destinations. It works best when a group of people all want to go to another location, the Local Democracy Reporting Service was told.

In line with this, the combined authority has signed up some

companies to promote the service among their staff, but it has not yet granted Bath and North East Somerset Council’s request to advertise WESTlink in areas of North East Somerset where local buses have been cut.

Writing to the Metro Mayor on June 7 to ask him to publicise WESTlink, the council’s deputy leader Sarah Warren said: “Your failure to deliver an effective marketing and communications campaign means that our residents and communities remain largely unaware of this service.

“You are putting at risk their ability to reach vital health, employment, education and leisure facilities, and the success of the pilot, which you have only committed to fund for two years, throwing into doubt the future of public transport in our more rural areas.”

But Mr Norris said: “We can’t promote them until we know they are running reasonably effectively and well.”

He has insisted that WESTlink, which only runs 7am–7pm six days a week, is not intended to replace

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

recently-axed bus services.

Publicly-supported buses in North East Somerset were slashed after a funding row between Bath and North East Somerset Council and the Metro Mayor over whose responsibility it is to pay for them.

Bath and North East Somerset Council insists that, as transport authority, the Metro Mayor should fund the routes.

But Mr Norris, who relies on a transport levy paid by local councils to pay for the supported buses, says that Bath and North East Somerset Council need to increase their contribution to keep all the routes going.

He said: “At the moment the bus services that have been subsidised or supported have been chosen by [Bath and North East Somerset Council], and consequently North East Somerset has been the big loser.”

The council, who are funding Bath’s supported buses for another year, have insisted that they had to use their money to keep buses running in the city as it is not served

by WESTlink.

August 2023

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August 2023

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14

n WHAT’S ON

Six appeal at the theatre and LEGO fest in Claverton Theatre Picks In Bath Wed 9-Sat 12 Aug. Theatre Royal Bath. Hey Duggee. TV’s CBeebies characters in a vibrant interactive production bursting with music, puppets and laughter.

Mon 14-Sat 26 Aug. Theatre Royal Bath. Six. The hit musical about the six wives of Henry VIII returns to Bath.

Thu 24 Aug-Sat 23 Sep. Ustinov Studio. Farewell Mister Haffmann.

Set in 1942 in Nazi Occupied Paris jewish Monsieur Haffmann enters a bizarre life swap to survive.

Wed 6-Sat 9 Sep. Mission Theatre.

Beginning. This funny, uplifting, and at times heartbreaking play by David Eldridge takes an intimate look at the first fragile moments of risking your heart and taking a chance.

12-16 Sep. Theatre Royal Bath.

Oliver! Musical adaptation of Charles Dickens’ 1838 novel Oliver Twist and the stage musical and film by Bath Light Operatic Group.

Theatre Picks Outside Bath Fri 1 Sep. Swindon Arts Centre.

Persuasion. DOT Productions with a new adaptation based on Jane Austen’s

Six runs at the Theatre Royal Bath this month

final novel - often judged her best.

Fri 1-Sat 2 Sep. Bristol. Alma Theatre.

God of Carnage. The Malmesbury Repertory Company stage Yasmina Rezas’ hit comedy about two sets of parents who fall out over a minor incident involving their children.

Thu 31 Aug – Sat 2 Sep. Bristol Old Vic. Orpheus and Eurydice. A modern retelling of the ancient Greek legend by

a community theatre production with a large cast directed by Lisa Gregan.

Fri 1-Sat 23 Sep. Salisbury Playhouse. Perfect Nonsense.

Comedy drama based on PG Wodehouse’s stories of Jeeves and Bertie Wooster.

Pick of Diary Events in Bath Fri 4 Aug. Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution. The World

in 2050- Are You Ready For The Future. Talk at 7.30pm by Professor John Lennox, Emeritus Professor of Mathematics, University of Oxford on the decisions we make today will shape the future.

Sun 6 Aug. Holburne Museum.

Virtuoso Musical Gems. Two accomplished musicians - Dominika Maszczyńska and Sam Brown -bring a programme of pieces written for the instruments of the 19th century salon: the fortepiano and romantic guitar. The programme will feature virtuoso and chamber music by Schubert, Rossini, Giuliani and others.

Mon 7 Aug. Mayor’s Guided Walk.

The Benedictines in Bath. For 1,000 years the religious order dominated the city. Start between the entrances to the Roman Bath and the Pump Room.

Finish: St John’s Church, South Parade.

Wed 9 Aug. Widcombe Wayfarers Walking Wednesdays. A friendly stroll, making the most of the beautiful countryside from10am at the west end of Widcombe Parade. Walks last between 1-2 hours and are medium paced. Come dressed for the weather, Continued on page 13

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15

n WHAT’S ON

Continued from page 12

with suitable footwear and be prepared for a few climbs. Registration not necessary - just turn up.

Sat 12 Aug. Widcombe. The Boundary Stones of Widcombe History Walk.

2pm. a walk around the remaining boundary stones of Widcombe and learn some fascinating local history on the way.

Sun 20 Aug. Komedia. Lawrie Duckworth. Free. 2pm. In the Electric Bar. The Somerset troubadour spins stories and sings songs and plays guitar.

Wed 23 Aug. Chapel Arts. Iago Banet - The Galician King of Acoustic Guitar.

Classical guitarist who fuses styles including gypsy jazz, blues rock, country, dixieland, swing, pop and folk.

Sat 27 Aug. Larkhall. Fun Day at Larkhall Sports Club. From 1pm.

Traditional fairground games, face painting, bouncy castle, craft stall, tea n cake, barbecue, raffle, live music, £1 adult, children free.

Thu 31 Aug-Sat 2 Sep. The Forum.

Play in Three Days. Clarion Call Arts Academy. Young people stage three days of performances in a celebration of the arts.

Sat-Sun 9-10 Sep. Combe Down Art

Bath Light Operatic Group presents Lionel Bart’s Oliver!

Musical adaptation of Charles Dickens’s 1838 novel Oliver Twist and the stage musical and film.

12 Tue-16 Sat September, 2023 Nightly at 7.30pm with 2.30pm matinees on Tuesday and Saturday at Theatre Royal Bath Box Office 01225 448844 www.theatreroyal.org.uk Trail. At Combe Down Community Centre and various venues. 10am - 4pm.

For details see www.cdarttrail.com Pick of Diary Events outside of Bath Fri 4-Sun 6 Aug. Weston-super-Mare Shanty and Folk Festival. Pirates and sailors give voice to folk music and shanties in the Italian Gardens and at the venues across town.

Sat 5 Aug. Bowood House. Sense and Sensibility. Heartbreak Productions bring Jane Austen’s novel to life outside in the gardens.

Sat 5-Sun 6 Aug. South Glos Showground, Oakley Green, Westerleigh. The countryside comes to

Combe Down Art Trail Saturday 9th – Sunday 10th September 10am – 4pm

town with this celebration of all things rural. Includes livestock, show jumping and live music and entertainment.

Thu 10-Sun 13 Aug. Bristol International Balloon Fiesta. Free but not the car park which can have long queues but with mass ascents of over 100 hot air balloons scheduled for early morning and teatime each day, plus Night Glow shows and fireworks its a family friendly event in the beautiful grounds of Ashton Court Estate.

Exhibition Picks in Bath American Museum, Bath. Claverton.

The Museum features collections from the United States where you can visit room sets that recreate periods of American history giving the feeling that someone has just stepped out, as well as our world-renowned folk art, quilt and map collections. The Exhibition Gallery has a rotating programme of temporary exhibitions with Brick America a Lego exhibition.

Until 31 December - discover famous buildings, cityscapes and vehicles, plus models inspired by movies, history, NASA, iconic people and much more, with many models and mosaics built specially for the American Museum & Gardens by LEGO artist Warren Elsmore and his team.

The American Museum, Claverton

Assembly Rooms. The National Trust are working on the Georgian Experience, due to open in 2026.

Bath Postal Museum. Postal Workers, in wartime and in long service. A display coinciding with the move of the Bath Post Office from the ground floor at 27 Northgate Street to upstairs in W.H. Smith in Union Street on 4th July.

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.

Burdell’s Yard. Art exhibition. Shay Continued on page 16

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16

n WHAT’S ON Continued from page 13

Parsons. To 31 Aug. Shay is a Bathbased photographer making abstract, impressionist images of the natural world. Free entry.

Herschel Museum of Astronomy.

Exhibition: Star-Crossed Museums until August 31. A new collaboration with the Museum of East Asian Art to celebrate the Japanese Star Festival “Tanabata” this summer. Tanabata celebrates the mythical meeting of the deities Orihime and Hikoboshi.

Holburne Museum. The heart of the present day Collection was formed by Sir Thomas William Holburne (17931874). As a second son, Thomas William (generally known as William) first pursued a naval career. He ultimately inherited the Baronetcy in 1820 following the death of his elder brother, Francis, at the Battle of Bayonne in 1814. In 1882 this collection of over 4,000 objects, pictures and books was bequeathed to the people of Bath by Holburne’s sister, Mary Anne Barbara Holburne. One of the Holburne’s main purposes is to preserve the things that have been entrusted to our care.

Museum of Bath at Work. Julian Rd, Bath BA1 2RH. Enter the world of working Bath through a series of

The American Museum at Claverton has an exhibition showing some of the United States’ most famous buildings and sights - all in LEGO. The child friendly Brick America continues to December 31

authentically reconstructed workplaces, workshops and display galleries. Two thousand years of working life are on display from a Victorian ironmongers and engineering works, a soft drinks making factory and even a Bath Stone mine working, all on show in a former Real Tennis court, dating from 1777.

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. The collections also contain artefacts from Japan and Korea and a number of countries in South East Asia.

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 eighteenth-century Bath.

Victoria Art Gallery. Kaffe Fassett: Timeless Themes – New Quilts. 1 July 2023 to 1 October 2023. This vibrant exhibition showcases 23 large new quilts and ties in with Kaffe’s forthcoming book, Timeless Themes.

Also Candace Bahouth: Enchanted Visions for the same period - Candace Bahouth creates grand rococo mirrors decorated with porcelain and china pieces.

Exhibition Picks outside Bath Bristol Museum and Art Gallery. The Cave Art of Lascaux: a Virtual Reality Experience at Bristol Museum & Art Gallery. Step back in time 21,000 years and visit the incredible Stone Age cave art of Lascaux in immersive 3D. Until 10 Sept 2023.

Stonehenge Visitor Centre. Circles of Stone: Stonehenge and Prehistoric Japan is a new exhibition celebrating the rich culture of prehistoric Japan.

Through a number of exquisite objects, some seen for the first time outside of Japan, the exhibition tells the story of Japanese settlements and stone circles of the middle and late Jomon periods, roughly the same time when Stonehenge was built and used. Until 20 August 2023.

Our Monthly Talks

Join u3a in Bath and Enjoy these Benefits * Staying active, keep learning and having fun * Meeting people and making new friends * Access to online learning and training * Free attendance to talks and learning events * Meeting other members with similar interests * Learning new things and sharing your skills

About u3a in Bath

Monthly Talks are usually held on the first Thursday in the month (except August) and start at 10.30 a.m..

Doors open at 9.45 a.m. for coffee.

Admission is free for members but a donation of £2 for non-members.

Talks take place at: The Pavilion, North Parade Road, Bath BA2 4EU

Upcoming Talks are: 7 September 2023 BRISTOL PORT: PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE

by John Chaplin

There are 450,000 of us in the UK and 1,300 in Bath.

We are in “u3a in Bath” and our members are all retired or semi-retired.

We take part in a range of educational or recreational activities.

See the complete list of over 100 interest groups on our website u3ainbath.uk

5 October 2023 ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE IN THE POST-COVID ERA

by Graham Cope

Come and join us You can join us by going to our website www.u3ainbath.uk and completing the online application form or you can download the application form from the website and send it to Membership Secretary, u3a in Bath, PO Box 4040, Bath BA1 0EJ. You can also join in person at one of our monthly talks at The Pavilion.

Membership fee is only £15 per person per year.

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

2 November 2023 WHAT DIPLOMATS DO AND IS IT WORTH DOING?

By Francis Cornish DMG LVO FRSA

August 2023

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17

n NEWS

Confusing road markings in parking zone protests

By John Wimperis, Local Democracy Reporter: People living on a street in Bath have been left frustrated after confusing and contradictory road markings were painted outside their homes.

Denmark Road is one of many roads included within the new Oldfield Park and Westmoreland Residents Parking Zone. Although many on the street were happy for something to be done, the new road has left people unhappy and confused.

Locals say that the parking bays on both sides of the street do not leave enough space to drive down the street; a neighbouring free car park now costs over £500 a year; some parking bays are curved, meaning cars cannot fit in them; and parking bays extend across the end of people’s driveways.

Now fixing the errors will mean a new traffic regulation order has to be secured by the council, a process which takes months and costs £4,500.

Adam Fouracre, who lives on the street, said: “It just makes you wonder what we pay our council tax for.”

Mandy Moon has lived on the street for 36 years, and now is one of several people on the street who now has a parking bay across the end of her driveway. She said: “I’m worried I’m going to wake up and not be able to get out of my house.”

The council has painted white “H bars” across the end of these driveways to tell people not to park there, but seeing these markings within parking bays has created a confusing picture.

Ms Moon said that she had a neighbour tell her: “‘I’m really confused, am I now allowed to park outside your house?’”

Ms Moon had tried to raise the issue in the council’s consultation process. She said: “We have done everything we can to highlight what was a problem at the beginning and it was totally ignored.”

It was only after the lines had been painted that the council acknowledged the mistake.

Further down the street, the two parking bays which follow the kerb around corners have caused more confusion. Street resident Louise Poole said: “They painted them as if the cars are curved.”

But it is the two rows of straight bays which run down each side of the street which Mr Fouracre is most worried about. He warned that there is

Denmark Road locals have concerns about the road markings (Image: John Wimperis)

not enough of a gap between the bays on each side.

He said: “I was shocked how how narrow it was.”

Currently, people on the south side of the street park with two wheels on the pavement, but the new parking bays denote spaces fully on the roads.

Mr Fouracre said: “If they all park up to the lines we wouldn’t get anything down here.”

Located in Oldfield Park, Denmark Road will get more busy in September when students come back to study in Bath from their summer break.

June Player, who represents the area as an independent councillor on Bath and North East Somerset Council, said she had thought it was good to do something to tackle parking issues on the street, but when she saw what was being proposed there was “no way” she would have supported it.

She said: “What really upsets me about the situation is I have now so many unhappy residents and I find that really quite distressing.”

She said that people on the street should never have been put in this position.

Many on the street had used the free car park at the end of the road as an extra place to park, but now this needs a separate permit which only covers the car park.

Ms Player said: “It’s gone from nothing to park there to £547 a year.”

She added: “I have asked them to

scrub that and put it in as part of the RPZ.” Since the need for a permit, locals say the car park is barely used.

Mike Webb, who also lives on the road, said he usually only sees three or four cars parked there. He added: “It’s just money making. What are they going to do with all this money when they get it?

“Are we going to see any benefit down our street?”

For people planning to park on the street, a resident’s parking permit is likely to cost between £100 and £162.50 a year. Permit prices are based on your vehicles emissions and could be as cheap as £50 a year for an electric vehicle or, for the very largest pre-2001 diesel engines, up to £250.

Ms Moon said: “I think everyone’s struggling financially but now they want us to pay for permits.”

Denmark Road local Jo Lamb added that everything had a “cumulative impact.”

She said: “It does make a difference to your quality of life.”

But the council administration has defended the residents’ parking zone plan and the road markings. Manda Rigby, council cabinet member for transport, said: “We’ve been told by residents who have had parking zones installed, they are improving their streets.

“One of the issues which a zone tries to address is pavement parking

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particularly in narrow streets like Denmark Road. When enforcement starts residents in Denmark Road should see less pressure on spaces, however this, along with any other issue will be monitored in a rolling review of all RPZs in the city next year.

“Specifically with Denmark Road we have talked to residents and explained how the markings work.

“The curved bay is only suitable for smaller vehicles but does provide an additional parking space and we would take a common sense approach to enforcement.

“In response to the suggestion by residents that Southview Car Park should be included, we explained, as part of the consultation, that it can’t be used because it is not a public highway and therefore different highway regulations apply.

“While the zones are an additional cost for residents, we have tried to mitigate this by providing different permit durations so people do not have to pay for a full year all at once. The permit also takes into consideration vehicle emissions which means the average cost of a permit works out at about 35 pence a day.”

The Oldfield Park and Westmoreland Residents Parking Zone will come into effect from July 31.

You can apply for a residents parking permit here: https://beta. bathnes.gov.uk/apply-residentsparking-permit

18

n NEWS

August 2023

bathvoice

Debate over cuts to bus services heats up

By Local Democracy Reporter, John Wimperis: Bath and North East Somerset Council have sent the Metro Mayor proposals for a “cost effective” network of bus routes which they are urging him to fund.

Many buses in North East Somerset have been cut and more are under threat amid a funding row between the council and the West of England Metro Mayor Dan Norris over whose responsibility it is to fund the routes.

Speaking at a meeting of the council’s cabinet on Thursday July 13, deputy leader of the council Sarah Warren said her team had developed a proposal that they believed could solve the crisis.

She said: “To address this desperate situation, my team and I have spent the last few months talking to both [Bath and North East Somerset councillors] and parish councillors from across North East Somerset, cabinet leads from neighbouring councils, bus experts, campaigners and residents, as well as to the Metro Mayor and his staff.

“We have developed a proposal that provides a cost-effective solution to improve local services.”

Ms Warren proposed the Mr Norris fund or co-fund several at-risk buses, alter or extend others to cover cut-off areas, and run WESTlink buses as regular services on some key routes at peak times.

The two have had high-profile clashes over the funding of the buses, with Mr Norris accusing the council of being “disingenuous” and “mean-spirited” at a West of England Combined Authority Committee meeting last month (June 16).

He insists that it is the council who is responsible for finding the money to keep the bus services running. He said their transport levy contribution to the West of England had only been enough to fund some bus services, which the council had selected itself.

Ms Warren dismissed his comments at the committee meeting as “misrepresentation.”

Speaking at cabinet, she said: “In this financial year we have increased our contribution by 30% to £1m, recognising the significant increases in costs to provide bus services. Unfortunately however, the prices of our bus services increased by around 200%.

“Like other councils, [Bath and North East Somerset] has no

significant funding for buses over and above that which is already transferred annually to [the West of England Combined Authority] as our transport levy. The remainder of our budget is fully committed to other purposes.”

Ms Warren said that Mr Norris should use some of the £57m Bus Service Improvement Plan funding from the government to fund the routes. Originally ringfenced against being used on supported bus services by the government, they have now indicated the money may be able to be used to support buses, although Mr Norris has warned “the devil will be in the detail.”

Meanwhile, people in rural North East Somerset have keenly felt the impact of the cuts.

In an address to the cabinet, Joy Arnold told councillors: “I have lived in Tunley for 60 years, during which time we have always had a bus service to and from Bath, and onwards to Timsbury and Paulton.

“The loss of the 768 and 179 bus services is a real problem for me.

“A few months ago I lost my husband, who had always driven his car which provided us with transport and for John to get to work, but regrettably I never learnt to drive.”

She told the meeting that she had always used the bus to get to work in Bath and had continued using it since retirement, but had not had a good experience with WESTlink. She said: “It is not reliable and is therefore of no use when you have to keep appointments such as doctors, dentist, hospital etc.”

She described recently waiting for over an hour at Odd Down Park and Ride for a WESTlink to take her home from an appointment, eventually having to ask a coach driver if he could ring her daughter at work to collect her.

Mrs Arnold said: “Her boss was understanding and sent one of his van drivers out to take me home. I tried ringing West Link when I got home but only had continuous music, by now I’d had enough and gave up.

“What should have been a 15 minute bus ride home ended up taking me an hour and a half.

Luckily enough the weather was in my favour.”

In the proposals sent to the Metro Mayor, the council has proposed that the 522 bus, which was launched in April and connects Bath and Bristol via Midsomer

Norton, be re-routed to connect the cities via Tunley and Hallatrow instead. The proposal states this would bring a good bus service back to these villages, rather than to areas with good bus services already, and make the route faster.

The proposals also suggest extending the Frome to Midsomer Norton 414 bus to Paulton, in order to replace the popular Radstock to Paulton 82 bus which was cut last month.

The proposal suggests that the Metro Mayor co-fund the route with Somerset County Council, who fund the current 414.

Other proposals include keeping the Trowbridge to Bath 94 running by the Metro Mayor co-funding it with Wiltshire County Council; funding the Chew Valley’s 672 bus — which is due to finish on July 31 — for another year using Local Transport Fund funding; and that the Metro Mayor co-fund a new Bath to Wells express with Somerset County Council to go

through villages, such as Tunley, which have lost the 179.

Finally, the council proposes using the on-demand WESTlink buses to run a timetabled service along the routes of the axed 179 and 768 services at rush hour and school times. In the longer term, the proposals suggest a new 777 bus to serve this route at peak times.

In a letter to Mr Norris dated July 11, council leader Kevin Guy urged him to adopt the proposals. He said: “We all need the opportunity to travel independently, not to own a car and to travel by healthier means, and the Bus Service Improvement Plan fund was designed to support this aim.

“Both our rural bus services, and our small local bus companies, play an essential part in our communities and now require support from the West of England Combined Authority. We all need a public transport system we can all rely on the good of the planet and the future.”

Can you help for one hour a week?

Volunteers provide vital maths and English support to pupils from lowincome families

No experience necessary Apply: actiontutoring.org.uk

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20

n SPORTS NEWS

By Harry Mottram: listed are the fixtures plus information of the various sports teams and clubs – I try to keep them up to date but do send in your results and news to news@bathvoice.co.uk We also list fixtures, results and give some basic news and information on our website at www.bathvoice.com Sports listed in Alphabetical Order Athletics: Team Bath Athletics Club is based at the University of Bath Sports Training Village and is open to all abilities and ages from 7 upwards. Sports include track and field, road and trail running, endurance and cross country. Club nights are Tuesdays and Thursdays 6pm -8pm.To join and for details visit https://teambathac.org/ Badminton: Bath Badminton Club. Sports Centre, North Parade Road, Bath. The club meet on Thursday evenings all year round except certain holiday periods and August. www.bathbadminton.co.uk Badminton: Oldfield Park Badminton Club, Hayesfield Sports Hall Upper Oldfield Lane. www. badmintoninbath.co.uk/ Badminton: Bath Women’s Badminton Club. Sports Centre,

There is an equestrian competition at nearby Gatcombe Park in August

North Parade Road, Bath. www. bathwomensbadmintonclub.net/ Boules: City of Bath Pétanque Club. The club plays Pétanque and is open to all, with juniors and non-players welcome. If you haven’t played before, give it a go. The club is based at Larkhall Sports Club but they also play in Queen Square Wednesday mornings, weather permitting.

Bowling: Bath Bowling Club.

Based at Pulteney Road the club is open for membership to anyone

who wishes to take up the sport, whether you wish to play socially, competitively or both. The outdoor season is normally from April to September and your first year’s membership is free of charge. Pop along and come in and see us, have a drink and watch a game. Visit https://www.bathbowlingclub. com/ Cricket: Bath Cricket Club: The club is based at North Parade and was founded in 1859 and has a long and interesting history charted on

their website at www.bathcricket. com. There are four main teams with the first team’s fixtures listed below – with two elevens of the Bath Wanderers Women sides and an U19’s XI as well. Plus, there are teams for girls from U10s to U15s, and youth cricket for the same ages. The men’s first team play in the West of England Premier Cricket League, the ECB National Club Championship, the ECB T20 competition and the Somerset Cup. First team fixtures: • Sat 5 Aug. Home. WEPL V Potterne • Sat 12 Aug. Away. WEPL V Bristol • Sat 19 Aug. Home. WEPL V Lansdown.

• Sat 26 Aug. Away. WEPL V Bedminster.

• Sat 2 Sep. Home. WEPL V Taunton Deane.

Cricket: Bath Wanderers Women Cricket Club: The team are in the West of England Premier Cricket League: • Sun 13 Aug. Away. WEPL V Frenchay Cricket: Bear Flat Cricket Club: Established in 1982, the Bears are in Division 1 of the Wiltshire County Cricket League on Saturdays, with a home ground at The Glasshouse Academy, Bradford Road, Combe Down, Bath; there’s also games in Division 7 Blue of the Somerset Continued on next page

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August 2023

bathvoice

n SPORTS NEWS Monmouth League on Saturdays, home ground the Ken Willcox Ground, Peasedown St John, Bath; and friendlies against clubs based in Somerset/Wiltshire on Sundays; and T20 games against clubs based in Somerset/Wiltshire midweek; plus they participation in the Somerset Knock Out cup. For more details of the various teams plus the youth and children teams visit https://bearflatcc.org.uk/ • Sat 12 Aug. Home. V Malmesbury.

• Sat 19 Aug. Away V Marlborough.

• Sat 26 Aug. Away V Calne.

• Mon 28 Aug. Away V Hinton C’hse.

• Sat 2 Sept. Home V Chippenham.

Cricket: Somerset County Cricket Club: The club are based at the county ground in Taunton although in the past have played some matches at Bath and Weston-super-Mare. Bath is in Somerset and are our county team.

They are in the top flight of the cricket structure and have two first class elevens plus a women’s team and female players can be selected for the regional team Western Storm. For details visit https:// somersetcountycc.co.uk/ Men 1st XI fixtures: • Tue 1 Aug. (Minor CC) Away. V Cornwall

21

Last month the annual boules tournament took place in Queen Square with thousands raised for charity. Bath Boules website is at https://www.bathboules.co

• Fri 4 Aug. (One day Cup) Home V Warwickshire • Sun 6 Aug. (One day Cup) Home. V Worcestershire • Wed 9 Aug. (One day Cup) Away. V Northamptonshire • Fri 11 Aug. (One day Cup) Home V Susssex.

• Sun 13 Aug. (One day Cup) Away. V Gloucestershire.

• Thu 17 Aug. (One day Cup) Away. V Durham.

• Sun 20 Aug. (One Day Cup) Home. V Glamorgan.

• Tue 22 Aug. (One Day Cup) Away. V Derbyshire.

• Sun 2 Sep. LVICC. Away. V Hampshire.

• Tue 19 Sep. LVICC. Home. V Kent.

• Tue 26 Sep. LVICC. Away. V Warwickshire.

Croquet: Bath Croquet Club: The club is based on the Rec and features its own green and club house. To join or for more info contact Hester Henebury on email hester2210@btinternet.com or visit https://www.bathcroquet.com/

Equestrian: Bath Racecourse There are meetings throughout August check https://www.bath-racecourse.co. uk/whats-on for details.

Equestrian: Gatcombe Park: British Eventing Meeting runs from 4-6 August 2023. See https://www. festivalofbritisheventing.com/ for details.

Football: Bath City FC. Bath play in the National League South, the sixth tier of the football pyramid.

The home ground is Twerton Park and the manager is Jerry Gill.

Known as the Romans and play in black and white vertical stripes.

• Sat 5 Aug. VNLS. Away V Dartford.

• Sat 12 Aug. VNLS. Home V Maidstone • Tue 15 Aug. VNLS. Home V Westonsuper-Mare • Sat 19 Aug. VNLS. Away v Eastbourne • Sat 26 Aug. VNLS. Home V Hampton and Richmond • Mon 28 Aug. VNLS. Away V St Albans • Sat 2 Sep. VNLS. Home V Havant and Waterlooville • Tue 5 Sep. VNLS. Away V Truro Football: Odd Down FC. They are currently members of the Western League Division One and play at the Lew Hill Memorial Ground.

• Tue 1 Aug. WLD1. Home V Hallen • Sat 5 Aug. WLD1. Away V Portishead

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n SPORTS NEWS • Tue 8 Aug. WLD1. Home V Gillingham • Sat 12 Aug. WLD1. Home V Brislington • Tue 15 Aug. WLD1. Away V Wincanton • Sat 19 Aug. WLD1. Home V Wells • Tue 22 Aug. WLD1. Away V Bitton • Tue 29 Aug. WLD1. Away V Keynsham • Sat 2 Sep. WLD1. Home V Cheddar • Sat 9 Sep. WLD1. Home V Middlezoy Tennis: Bloomfield Tennis Club was founded in 1927 and is located at 98 Wellsway, Bath. The club welcomes new members. To join visit https://clubspark.lta.org.uk/ BloomfieldTennisClub Tennis: Bath Tennis Club is at Park Lane, Weston, and bills itself at a friendly club. The club has a number of membership categories ranging from pay as you go to full membership. For details visit www. bathtc.co.uk

Bloomfield Tennis Club is a friendly club

August 2023

bathvoice

22

The Modern Pentathlon Championship comes to Bath

The University of Bath is staging the 2023 UIPM Modern Pentathlon and Laser Run World Championships, from 19-28 August 2023.

The combined World Championships will see athletes qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, with the Modern Pentathlon Championship being contested in the new 90-minute format which will make its debut in Paris.

It will be the sixth time that Britain has hosted the games, the last occasion being in London in 2009, and the first time it has taken place at the University of Bath, home since 1998.

The Laser Run World Championships, staged as part of the week-long competition, will be taking place in Britain for the first time having been introduced as a sport in its own right in 2015.

All five pentathlon disciplines will once again take place at the Bath Sports Training Village. They are: fencing (one-touch épée), freestyle swimming, equestrian

show jumping, pistol shooting, and cross country running.

Pentathlon GB is made up of 12 members who will also contest the relay events, with both the men’s and women’s titles being decided during an action-packed Family Day on Tuesday 22nd August, when all tickets are priced £5.

Spectators are will be able to

watch demonstrations and discover the five disciplines for themselves at ‘give it a go’ taster sessions.

The name derives from the Greek péntathlon or “contest of five events”and was first seen in the 1912 Olympics.

For tickets and more information visit hpentathlongb.org/2023wch

The Modern Pentathlon takes place at Bath University in August

n MESSAGE FROM AVON & SOMERSET PCC

Changing the culture of policing LAST month, Chief Constable Sarah Crew made an announcement regarding institutional racism in Avon and Somerset Police.

This is about vital work to change the culture of policing, following the results of many reviews and reports, including those conducted

by Macpherson and Casey, which also looks at wider issues of misogyny, homophobia and general police conduct and standards.

Culture change is not something that happens overnight: it takes a minimum of five to ten years and involves looking at many areas within the service.

This includes improving our vetting and selection processes, retention, and progression of staff, how police complaints are handled and, crucially, the training given to the workforce within the wider police family.

I have let the chief constable know I support her and have full confidence in her leadership.

This is a challenging issue to face. However, through initiating

and continuing these uncomfortable and difficult conversations, the chief constable is demonstrating openness, courage and willingness to be held accountable by the communities that she and our police officers and staff serve.

It’s important to note that institutional racism is not just about policing alone.

Policing is one element of the criminal justice process and, as the chair of the Local Criminal Justice Board, this is about our joint work with the wider criminal justice system (CJS) agencies like the Crown Prosecution Service, courts, prisons and probation to tackle racial disproportionality within our respective organisations.

Such work is already underway, with the recommendations in the Identifying Disproportionality in the Avon and Somerset Criminal Justice System report.

I will continue to update you on this area of work and, as your PCC, support the scrutiny and accountability of the chief constable on these issues, as Avon and Somerset

Police continues towards its vision to deliver outstanding policing for all of our communities.

Moving on, Avon and Somerset Police has joined all five police forces and PCCs in the South West and the South West Regional Organised Crime Unit (SWROCU) as part of the region’s ongoing work to target and disrupt organised crime groups harming our communities through drug supply.

Avon and Somerset Police is the top out of all forces for the number of operations focused on drug supply disruptions; all five police services in our region are in the top 10, and have been for the past two years.

In Avon and Somerset, officers have seized over £3 million worth of cannabis and arrested 20 people in relation to crimes linked to the illegal cultivation of the plant.

This operation continues to go from strength to strength. We collectively continue to make our communities safer by targeting the criminals bringing drugs and violence to our region, as well as protecting the vulnerable they seek to exploit, as

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

With Police and Crime Commissioner Mark Shelford workers or as users of the drugs they supply.

Taking a regional approach really does make a difference, so much so that the number of county lines in our region is decreasing, as criminals are having to change the way they operate.

The message is clear: the South West is no place for drugs or drug dealers.

August 2023

n FEATURE

bathvoice

23

City to country: the joys of walking the canal tow path

By Josh Barnett: We had been walking for just over an hour now, but already the noise and commotion of the city were a distant memory. Immersed in the deep greens of the surrounding trees and cooled by the gentle breeze, the smell of sewage and exhaust were replaced with wild garlic, and the sounds of construction sites and traffic jams with the peaceful chirping of the birds. I was struck by both the serenity and simple beauty of the environment I found myself in and also the relative ease in which it had taken me to get there.

I was taking part in an event held by my school, Beechen Cliff, deemed the centurion challenge, that involved walking 100 miles in 48 hours, all of which would take place on the canal tow path. It is a gruelling walk; 90 students from both Beechen Cliff and Haysefield school took part, of which only 32 managed the full 100 miles. Those who completed the challenge, walked 22 miles on the Friday afternoon, 56 miles on the Saturday and finally another 22 miles on the Sunday morning. Needless to say, some of the blisters looked pretty horrendous! Despite its intensity, it was this challenge that really opened my eyes to all the opportunity that the canal has to offer.

Whilst our trip only covered 50 miles of the tow path, the Kennet and Avon Canal spans a total of 87 miles and has 104 locks dotted along the route. Furthermore, it is home to some very impressive scenery as it runs through areas like Wiltshire and the Cotswolds.

Originally, the purpose of the canal was to improve both trade and communication links between small towns like Trowbridge, Devizes, and Hungerford and after 16 years of construction, the canal opened in 1810. However, once the Great Western Railway opened in 1841, the importance of the canal in terms of transportation rapidly declined as it became more efficient to move goods by rail. It was due to this and impacts from the second world war that caused the canal to fall into disrepair and sections to be closed because of a lack of maintenance. Fortunately, thanks to the efforts of volunteers and other restoration groups that lasted over 50 years, the restoration of the canal was completed in May 2003 and to this day it remains open, for all to use.

Whilst reopened, today the function of the canal is very different to when it was initially constructed. In spite of the pain our feet and legs were in, on our walk, my friends and I couldn’t help but notice all that was going on around us. We met houseboat residents, fishermen, cyclists, runners, swimmers at the Dundas aqueduct, dog walkers, and families enjoying the fresh air and we felt a communal atmosphere as people shared the tow path with one another. We also passed through a great variety of different landscapes, from flowing rivers to rolling fields, all of which were equally stunning. Today, the canal serves as a means to escape the stresses of the city socialise with friends and family, and provides easy access to nature and fresh air.

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The view from Foxhangers camp. Pic: Josh Barnett

I would whole-heartedly recommend finding time to get out onto the canal to enjoy for yourself all the scenery and activities that can be found along the tow path, I was taken aback by just how much

there is to see and do. Why not get out and see for yourself.

• Josh Barnett is a student at Beechen Cliff School in Bath and wrote this feature as part of his work experience schedule.

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

August 2023

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24

n NEWS Bath Press site: Founded in 1889 the site of the one time Pitman Press on Lower Bristol Road has been left to gather weeds and litter for 16 years.

Previously the Bath Labour Party told Bath Voice they would have looked to use legal means to force the owners to develop the site for housing if the rules on compulsory purchase are changed by a future Labour Government.

Bath Business News’ Robert Buckland reported on a planned redevelopment of the site: “Owner Abrdn (formerly Aberdeen Standard Investments), which bought it in 2017 for £100m, has put it on the market for an undisclosed sum, with its marketing agents describing it as an ‘exceptionally rare’ site for Bath.”

He added: “It survived as a printing works until 2007 when it finally closed down and the remaining 200 workers made redundant.

“Following that many of the buildings on the sprawling site were demolished by a previous owner – although the frontage of the original printworks, which is locally listed, has been preserved, along with the original chimney.”

Back in 2012 Tesco proposed the site for a supermarket and new homes but a public inquiry ruled it out.

Buckland said that ‘since acquiring it six years ago Abrdn has drawn up a number of schemes for the site without starting work, claiming they were not viable.

He continued: “The latest proposed development – designed by Scottish architects CDA and Bath-based landscape architects Macgregor Smith – gained planning permission fro Bath & North East Somerset Council last November and incorporates the site’s historic elements with contemporary architecture.

“Marketing agents Savills said the apartments planned for Bath Press site, which have been designed in conjunction with a build-to-rent operator, include one, two and threebedroom units in four and five-storey blocks.”

In 2021 owners Aberdeen Standard Investments proposed to build 246 new homes there which gained a planning green light but the plan hit the buffers when it proved not to be viable.

The site is up for sale by informal

tender on a freehold basis with vacant possession.

Ticket Office News: GWR’s plans to close all ticket offices at railway stations including Bath Spa has not been well received.

Bath’s MP Wera Hobhouse raised the issue in Parliament last month highlighting the impact this would have on residents and visitors on travelers who find it difficult to use ticketing machines.

In response, Huw Merriman, Minister for Rail, argued that closing ticket offices would lead to staff being present at stations instead, which he claimed would attract more people to rail.

Local Democracy Reporter Adam Postans reported that the Labour metro mayor Dan Norris, head of the West of England Combined Authority, met with Rail Minister Huw Merriman to raise his opposition to the plans raising the problem that disabled people and those who struggle to use the internet and book tickets online have.

Many people rely on the advice

given at ticket offices - not just for information about the next train but general inquiries as well.

The BBC reported on the how blind people would find it even harder to use the railways.

They reported that research by the Royal National Institute of Blind People found that only 3% of people with sight loss said they could use a ticket vending machine without problems and 58% said it was impossible.

Rail union, RMT is campaigning to save ticket offices, with protests and demonstrations and an online petition and are taking strike action on 20,22 and 29 July over pay, conditions and now the ticket office closures.

One aspect of the closures is that of job cuts and staffing levels.

The RMT’s Mick Lynch said: “Ticket office closures under Schedule 17 means there will be no regulations on staffing levels at stations whatsoever.”

Which he said compromised safety for the passengers with companies cutting staff levels.

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August 2023

bathvoice

25

n NEWS The Oasis Hub Bath is a Godsend for so many experiencing hardshipand you don’t have to be a Christian to use its modern facilities

By Harry Mottram: I’ve walked past it and cycled past and driven past it but until I met Jo Dolby at the Oasis Hub Bath on The Paragon, I hadn’t noticed the one time Hay Hill Baptist Church that helps so many in the city.

Based in the Oasis (Baptist) Church in Fountain Buildings, on the raised pavement the hub is managed by Jo who is a committed Christian but also a facilitator (to use the modern term) for the building that is far more than a church.

There’s the Oasis Living Room where you can go to keep warm and relax should your heating bills force you to turn off the gas, the Oasis Pantry that supplies low cost food each week to hard-up residents each week, and Bath Mind’s ‘Breathing Space’ project which runs every night of the year.

And that’s just one of many projects that operate using the Oasis Hub. Over to Jo: “We are just one of 36 Oasis Hubs in England. Each hub works differently - some are in schools

or academies and some like ours is in a church.

“Before we became a Oasis Hub we were Hay Hill Baptist Church and we still are a church and is very much part of our identity. We joined Oasis as we wanted to become a community hub and its values aligned with our values so it was a natural fit for us.

“We have a tiered delivery model which is how our community hub works, so we have direct delivery which we run ourselves such as the Food Pantry and we also do one off projects like delivering food parcels to families during lockdown.

“We’ve run a conversation cafe for Ukrainian refugees which we’ve paused but will start again in the autumn. And there’s the Oasis Kitchen with a cooking club and the Oasis Living Room ideal for those wanting a warm space.”

The hub also has partnerships with organisations like Bath Mind and food delivery groups who use the centre to coordinate their work with vulnerable groups. In short the hub helps a lot of

Originally from Nottingham Jo Dolby (pictured) came to Bath as a student when she was 19 to do a youth work degree but also ran a youth project while she was studying at the Bristol Baptist College.”It was a professional qualification combined with theology which was the mix I wanted,” she said.

people on the fringes of society - and with that help they often go on to build successful lives. To paraphrase the Joe Cocker song: ‘we all need a little help from our friends.’

Jo was quick to stress that any group or individuals who use the hub won’t be persuaded to join the church - or as Jo put it ‘we won’t evangelize.’

In fact the Baptist Church has come a long way since the Baptist Union was founded in 1813 linking up the various churches with its roots in the 1630s.

“The church has not always been inclusive or welcoming,” she said, “but Oasis is known for its inclusiveness

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

and so it was really important for me and my wife - we’ve been married nearly 10 years - as the hub is all about welcoming and celebrating the community.”

It is worth reading the Impact Report published by the hub (and available on their website) to see what they do for Bath.

But some stats give an idea: 250 Pantry Members, 53 volunteers, 58,000 meals provided so far, 313 support group sessions, 571 people of whom almost half are children - who benefit from the meals.

For details visit oasisbath.org

26

bathvoice

n NEWS

TV News: The detective series that some in Bath love to hate is set to return to our television screens after the production company behind the programme were seen filming on the streets of Bath last month.

Tala Gouveia and Jason Watkins are the mismatched detectives, DCI Lauren McDonald & DS Dodds (pictured) who are tasked with solving what can only be called a growing crime wave in the city.

Rather like Midsomer Murders and Beyond Paradise there’s an element of fantasy and an alternative England in the show that sees the odd ball duo solve a series of robberies and murder mysteries which in the real world would be headline news for weeks. That said the complex plots, the uneven West Country accents, engaging characters and above all the backdrop of Bath and the surrounding countryside make it a minor TV hit with audiences.

This will be the fourth series of the show which has had mixed reviews from Bathonians. The West Country accents have jarred with some while the settings have been a joy – but the main gripe amongst critics is the hackneyed character device of having two leading characters who are seemingly poles apart and yet in the final section of the story are united in their solving of a crime.

Pub News: The Full Moon pub in Twerton could become a six-bed house under plans submitted to the council reports Local Democracy Reporter John Wimperis The Full Moon in Twerton dates back to 1872, although the Grade IIlisted building is an amalgamation of a terrace which is even older.

Despite being popular on match days and something of an institution in Twerton the pub closed down in 2020 and now plans have been submitted to Bath and North East Somerset Council to turn the vacant premises into a six bed house.

Writing in a planning, design, and access statement submitted with the application for listed building

consent, Bath Architect Robert Kann said: “The Full Moon public house has been in intermittent use over the last 30 years, with a series of successive owners attempting to run a successful business from the premises.

“The unfortunate situation is that the decline in the standard of presentation and services at the site has led to a long and slow decline in its value and use as a pub.”

But after six months on the market, with 11 viewings and one offer which did not proceed, it was bought by Lee Clark who now hopes the old pub could become a home.

You can view and comment on the application on the Council website.

Lyncombe Hill Fields News: Working in collaboration with More Trees, the volunteers have constructed a covered nursery to bring on saplings of natives trees grown from seeds gathered locally last autumn.

The tiny beech, blackthorn, crab apple, field maple, hawthorn, hazel, oak, spindle and whitebeam will be distributed to their final planting sites in the New Year. To join the merry band in the Hill Top Paradise as they call it - see their website.

Crime News: A 60-year-old man has appeared in court following the death of a man in Bath.

Michael Sloan has been charged with the murder of 55-year-old David Christian at an address in Drake Avenue on Sunday 9 July.

Formal identification is still to be completed but Mr Christian’s family have been informed. They will be supported by a specially-trained family liaison officer and the police said their thoughts are with them at this time.

A post-mortem has been carried out and established the man died after receiving a number of stab wounds.

Sloan, of Drake Avenue, appeared before magistrates on Tuesday 11 July and was remanded in custody ahead of a hearing at Bristol Crown Court on Wednesday 12 July when the case was adjourned to September with the trial planned in the New Year. He was remanded in custody again.

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

August 2023

August 2023

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n PUZZLES FOR ALL 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.

NOTE After feedback from readers, we have made The Fiend SLIGHTLY easier!

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bathvoice

August 2023

n BATH CARNIVAL

A riot of creativity, music and dance and...

By Rob Coles: The 10th Bath Carnival filled the streets with colour, life and sound, a spirit that was not dampened by a couple of short sharp showers towards the end of the procession on Saturday 8th July, 2023.

In spite of the rain the participants continued as they had started smiling and dancing throughout the long route. It was good to see groups from many South American countries displaying their flags, even a giant Hamster or was it a Guinea Pig? There were road closures as the procession made its way along Great Pulteney Street, Argyle Street, Pulteney Bridge, Grand Parade and on through the city centre with crowds often five deep as people strained to see the colourful dancers and amazing creations.

There was even a Welsh Dragon flag and a Devon General bus! The

friendly good humour continued at the Sydney Gardens all day party, The originators who created the Vauxhall pleasure gardens would have been well pleased.

It was a wonderful atmosphere and I recalled how I had worked on stalls at the Sydney Gardens illuminations of the late 1950’s. At the Carnival Party while walking along the railway path I met a young couple sitting in an alcove under the railway bridge just as I had done with my girl friend, who later became my wife, so the cycle of life continues.

• Cllr Kevin Guy, Leader of Bath & North East Somerset Council said: “Carnival brings together local schools, community groups, charities and freelance artists in one huge collaboration, reflecting the civic pride we have in our area. Here’s to next year!”

Photographs by Rob Coles of Bath.

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August 2023

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...despite the rain Bath Carnival is a success

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

August 2023

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30

n BATH LIBRARY BOOK REVIEWS AND NEWS Adult Fiction Cleopatra and Frankenstein – Coco Mellors I loved this tale of modern relationships set in New York. We meet Cleo, her student visa is running out, she has little money and seems to be flitting between parties. Then she meets Frank, outside a New Eve Party. Frank is twenty years older than her, with a successful career in advertising and he offers her chance to be happy, to paint and to finally get a green card.

They marry very quickly afterwards.

Their hasty marriage reshapes their lives and the lives of others around them, from Cleo’s best friend who is unsure about his relationships and Frank’s sister who embarks on sugar daddy dates after being cut off financially.

Then halfway through the book the pace changes and we meet Eleanor

who takes up a job as a copy writer in Frank’s company and her role in Frank’s and Cleo’s relationship. All the characters in this story are very well drawn; the locations are great; its funny and the themes modern and relevant.

A great read but please note there are adult themes.

A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian – Marina Lewycka This book was shortlisted for the Orange Broadband prize in 2005 and is a delightful read. When sisters Vera and Nadezhda realise that their recently widowed, 84-year-old father has plans to re marry, they must put aside their lifetime of feuding to save him. His new wife is a voluptuous gold-digger from Ukraine. She serves him boil in the bag cuisine and will stop at nothing in pursuit of a luxurious life. However their father is also pursuing his own eccentric dreams – writing a history of

Loft Boarding & Insulation

tractors in the Ukraine.

The sister’s campaign to try to remove the new bride unearths family secrets and stretches into the dark history of Eastern Europe and back to their father’s roots that he may want to forget. Warm funny, and a poignant read.

Adult Non-Fiction

The Adventurer’s Guide to Britain – Jen and Sim Benson Its summer so why not try this exciting guide to Great Britain and its glorious countryside. This book outlines some great adventures – 150 in total across Scotland, the Scottish Islands, Wales and England – aimed for any reasonable active person. These places can be accessed via cycle or walking and describe secret caves and wild swimming.

There are handy instructions for each guide such as camping sites; whether it is family friendly; local highlights; map references and challenge levels.

Here are some tasters: Kayak the River Wye 100; Black Down and the Temple of the Winds (Surrey); The Cotswold Way and my particular favourite Escape the City by bike which describes the Thames Valley Cycleway which starts at Putney Bridge in south-west London, goes through Windsor Great Park to finish in central Oxford. This is an excellent guide for all things outdoor and can take you to some excellent adventures within Great Britain and to see some break taking countryside.

Children’s Non-Fiction

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The Adventurer of Tintin: Explorers on the Moon – Herge Join Tintin, his dog Snowy and Captain Haddock on an intergalactic adventure. Their mission is to investigate the moon, but they have a bad start and it is up to Snowy to rescue them. The two Thompsons get up to some “hair” raising problems and what exactly is the engineer Frank Wolff up to. Can Tintin save the rocket and land safely back onto Earth? Read on and find out.

Superhero Street – Phil Earle

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A great story about an unlikely superhero.

Welcome to Seacross and all the wonderful characters on Story Street.

One of these is Mouse – overlooked at home because of the noise and disruption by the twins and the triplets but hiding under his trousers is his superhero cape. Can he rescue that stray cat stuck up a tree and when will his superpowers of flight kick in?

However superpowers can take any form and one day Mouse foils a bank robbery and he comes face to face with the arch villain Vortex – can he save the day. Read on and find out!

Library News

Remember Summer Reading Challenge – Get, Set, Read continues in your local Library. Sign up and start your challenge to read six books over the Summer.

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 everpopular Storytime.

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

Moorland Road Community Library 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.

August 2023

bathvoice

nLOCAL SERVICES AERIALS

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