Manvers Street, Bath, BA1 1JQ

from Bath Voice December 2021

n NEWS

Co-operative store in Oldfield Park centre of new plans

Continued from page 1 properties. The essence of the project remains as per the previous scheme, to redevelop and regenerate the area including significantly improving the facilities for the existing Co-op store. The proposals represent an efficient use of land for the redevelopment of a brownfield site. The development brings much needed range of new residential accommodation to the area, broadening the housing mix available.

“The redevelopment and regeneration of the important Scala site replaces unattractive and largely obsolete buildings with quality modern architecture.”

Westmoreland’s Councillor June Player said the changes – apart from removing a level from the four-storey student block – did not go far enough.

“Any proposal that decides to remove affordable housing and increase parking miseries in a location where affordable housing is needed and parking is already at stress levels should instantly be refused,” she said, asking for the fate of the application to be decided by the planning committee.

She was among more than 150 objectors, with one asking if the minor adjustments were meant to “grind down the opposition”.

Amanda Jefferies said Oldfield Park had been “engulfed” by shared houses and there was too much student accommodation,

An artist’s impression of how the development may look

while Ben Pope said it was “farcical” to suggest the no-car policy could be enforced.

Caroline White urged the council to “get a move on” with the residents’ parking zone planned for Oldfield Park “instead of putting students, tourists and money first”.

Another objector, Simon Butcher, added: “It is baffling and depressing that this city continues to put the wants of students and universities ahead of people who live all year round.

“More and more and more student housing / rooms / blocks / accommodation. This is not what local people here need or want.”

The appeal could yet see Rengen’s previous plans for the Scala approved. They were refused by councillors against officer advice in May.

Calling for a public inquiry, the developer said: “The planning committee has a history of rejecting schemes for student accommodation where there is no policy grounds for refusal and alternative matters are given more weight that they should be in the decision process leading to unreasonable refusals.

“The appellant will present evidence that will demonstrate that the design is not just acceptable but enhances the area and that any impacts on neighbouring properties do not justify the refusal of planning permission.”

B&NES Council is yet to submit its response to the appeal, which will be heard in January.

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n PEOPLE Singing together on a journey into space and time

By Harry Mottram: In October something amazing happened which defied the doom and gloom of Covid-19.

Pupils from schools across Bath and beyond came together to perform Stardust in Bath Abbey in a concert orchestrated by Shean Bowers of the abbey and professional career and a performance coach from Colerne in Wiltshire.

Along with Shean Bowers, Tessa Armstrong (pictured) is a co-founder of the Bath charity Voices for Life that helps to inspire children to be happy and confident through the ‘provision of high-quality specialised singing and confidence and wellbeing programmes for primary schools.’

Through her work with schools and her connections through her children at the abbey’s choir the Voices for Life was born during the pandemic.

“My children are in Shean’s choir in the abbey, and it was with discussions with him that we founded Voices for Life,” she said, “as he also goes into schools. Shean is Assistant Director of Music and Organist at Bath Abbey.” The discussions led to the charity being established with trustees including Sarah Halls the Headteacher at Weston All Saints Primary School Bath, David Goucher the Headteacher at Oldfield Park Junior School and Mary Edwards who has been involved in music education as teacher and advisor and the author of a number of music education publications. Peter Martin is the chairman, the Mayor of Bath June Player is the patron and Nicola Blank is also a trustee.

The group decided to commission a new work especially for children with the theme of an oratorio about space, based on visiting different ‘feeling planets’ and Stardust was created. It was written by librettist, Sue Curtis, and composer, Jools Scott.

Workshops were organised involving 270 schools: Moorlands Junior School; Oldfield Park Junior School; Combe Down Primary School; Widcombe Junior School; St Andrew’s Church School; Colerne Primary School CE Primary School; and St Julian’s Church School, Wellow.

“I have been offered some funding from a private individual so we can run the project again next year,” she said, “so I am now planning it now hopefully before June of 2022. Music provision has diminished in schools but Voices for Life it is also about the well-being and confidence of children with the Covid lockdowns in mind.”

For information visit voicesforlife. org.uk

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