ECHO
Your free local newspaper for the city of Bath
Tuesday, 12th November 2019
Thousands of copies available across Bath every fortnight
www.bathecho.co.uk | Issue No. 008 | FREE
McFly and UB40 set to headline Bath Festival Finale Weekend P2
Temporary 18-tonne weight limit for Cleveland Bridge
Surveys show structural parts of the bridge have come to the end of their life A TEMPORARY 18-tonne weight restriction is being placed on Cleveland Bridge in Bath ahead of essential maintenance works. The weight restriction will come into effect from January as a precautionary measure and it is hoped work on the bridge could start later in the year depending on a successful funding bid. Surveys show some structural parts of the bridge have come to the end of their life and are in
need of repair or replacement. The bridge was originally constructed in 1826 for horsedrawn vehicles and pedestrians, but now carries 17,000 vehicles a day including more than 600 HGVs. Bath & North East Somerset Council has submitted a funding bid to the Government’s Highways Maintenance Challenge Fund to secure financial assistance for the significant programme of repairs.
Councillor Neil Butters, joint cabinet member for Transport said: “Cleveland Bridge is a historically and strategically significant structure, not only as a Grade II listed structure but forming as it does one of the busiest river crossings in the area. “Implementing the weight restriction is a precautionary measure until we find out about the funding. The repairs to Cleveland Bridge will require
one of the most significant road maintenance projects the council has undertaken for many years and because of this we are seeking the help of the Highways Maintenance Challenge Fund.” The temporary weight restriction will see vehicles weighing more than 18 tonnes diverted on alternative routes, which the council’s traffic management team is developing. Continued on page 2
Cuts put arts at risk of becoming “very white, very middle class” P4 Salvation Army launches Christmas present appeal for families in need P5 Name sought for new open space at Mulberry Park development P7 Charity secures £250,000 grant for new alcohol treatment centre P9 Get the latest news for Bath 24/7 on our website www.bathecho.co.uk
Properties in and around Bath seized by National Crime Agency MILLIONS of pounds worth of property, including 16 addresses in and around Bath, have been seized by the National Crime Agency (NCA) as part of a significant tax investigation. The property, which is worth up to £8.1 million and includes a villa in Tenerife, a Range Rover Evoque and 16 addresses in and
around Bath, has been recovered by the NCA following a civil recovery and tax investigation. Four members of the same family; Shane Davies, his wife Rhianna, mother Sheila and sister Tracey, agreed to surrender the assets, having conceded that they derived from the proceeds of unlawful conduct.
The property portfolio was acquired between 1998 and 2007. Investigations revealed that between 2004 and 2009 alone, it generated rental and commercial income of more than £2 million. The portfolio included a sevenbedroom converted barn and mill in Norton St. Philip, which on a holiday lettings website
boasted an indoor swimming pool, jacuzzi and five bathrooms. Also recovered was an 18th Century Georgian townhouse in Bath, which was operated as the Roman City Guest House, and the former Midford telephone repeater station. The defendants additionally agreed to pay back £368,000 of rental income
accrued from property lettings. NCA investigators believe that the portfolio was acquired through mortgage fraud and the sale of controlled drugs. The Davies family had claimed that the sizeable funds used to purchase the properties were the result of “gifts”. Continued on page 3