Bath Echo - Issue 040 - 29/11/2022

ANGER OVER PERMIT CHARGES

THREE bus services that were recently cut will once again wel come residents back on board thanks to a temporary reprieve that will see £350,000 invested.

Following talks with the West of England Combined Authority, led by Dan Norris, a new oper ator, the Big Lemon group, has stepped in to run the 11 (to Bath ampton), 12 (to Haycombe Cem etery) and 20 (University of Bath to Twerton).

They will run for the next five months through to April.

West of England Metro Mayor Dan Norris will invest £350,000 until April, to keep the 11, 12 and 20 services running.

The latest news on the three Bath buses means all of the seven threatened bus cuts to ‘support ed services’ like the 11, 12 and 20 have now been stopped.

However, Mr Norris has urged people to use the revived bus

services as the future is still chal lenging.

The Metro Mayor said: “I know locals in Twerton, Bathampton and other areas of the city who rely on the bus will be pleased that we’ve managed to bring back these really important services.

“My thanks to the Big Lemon for taking them on. This is a tempo rary fix, but an important one. There will still be bumps along the way – we still need to sort out

the issue of bus driver shortages and the other many, many chal lenges on the buses.

“In the meantime, I’d say to lo cals – if you value having these buses, make sure you use them – and therefore help secure their future.”

Big Lemon CEO Tom Druitt add ed: “We are delighted to be able to support the continuation of these supported bus services in ...

Continued on page 2

Photo © John Wimperis

In this issue...

Recently cut bus services to resume across Bath

Continued from page 1 ... Bath, as they are essential for so many people.

“The Big Lemon is a social enter prise based in Brighton focused on providing local community bus services using low emission and electric vehicles.

“We are dedicated to providing an excellent passenger experi ence on all our buses, our drivers in Brighton are famous for the friendly and helpful service they provide, and we are really looking forward to launching a service with the same ethos in Bath on the 28th November.”

Lemon is planning to pick up the number 11, 12 and 20 routes.

“The new Bath routes are already live on The Big Lemon website and have been registered with the Transport Commissioner.

“I understand the company are still procuring vehicles and we’re keeping everything crossed for a grand launch on 28 November.

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The three routes were cut in Oc tober, when bus company First withdrew from their contract.

Councillor Sarah Warren, Cab inet member for Climate and Sustainable Travel, comment ed: “I have been working closely with my Lib Dem Councillor col leagues, and with Bath and North East Somerset staff on a plan to restore our vital bus services.

“We have been lobbying WECA very hard on our residents’ be half. It’s taken a lot of work be hind the scenes, but happily we can now announce that the Big

“I am very much aware that oth er communities are still suffering from bus service cuts, particularly those previously served by routes 178 and 42, which are not includ ed in this arrangement with The Big Lemon. We will continue to pursue all avenues for the return of those routes as well.”

Lansdown Councillor Lucy Hodge commented: “The num ber 20 bus is an essential service, which allows employees, volun teers, visitors and patients easy access to the RUH as well as the city centre.

“It is also much used by students in the more affordable rental ac commodation off Julian Road, for access to the University.

“I am very relieved to hear that this service has been saved and congratulate B&NES Cabinet and

Eight arrested during drug supply operation

AN investigation into a county lines network has seen two men being charged with multiple counts of supplying Class A drugs following an operation in Bath.

The charges follow an operation carried out in the Snow Hill area on Tuesday 15th November, as Avon and Somerset Police once again take part in Operation Scorpion and join other law enforcement agencies and partner organisations across the South West in disrupting and dismantling drug supply networks.

Officers arrested eight people during the operation, including two teenagers, and seized numerous weapons, cash and drugs.

Aaron Gardiner, 20, of Harlech Close in Keynsham, was charged with three counts of being concerned in the supply of class A drugs, namely heroin, crack cocaine and cocaine. He was also charged with one count of possession of criminal property.

Gardiner pleaded guilty to all four counts during a hearing at Bristol Magistrates’ Court on Thursday 17 November, and he has been remanded in custody until he is sentenced at Bristol Crown Court on Thursday 15th December.

A second person, a 22-year-old man, also appeared at the same court, charged with eight offences including three counts of being concerned in the supply of class A drugs, namely heroin, crack cocaine and cocaine, one count

of possession of an offensive weapon and two counts relating to modern slavery offences.

He didn’t enter a plea and was remanded in custody to next appear at Bristol Crown Court on Friday 16th December.

Two other men, a woman and two teenage boys, were arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of class A drugs.

The adults were released under investigation, while the teenagers were released on bail.

The eighth person, a man, was arrested on suspicion of trafficking a child.

The operation was jointly run by the force’s Operation Remedy County Lines team, the Bath Neighbourhood Policing Team and Operation Scorpion.

DI Angela Burtonwood said: “This is part of a county line investigation led by the dedicated team and in partnership with our neighbourhood and Op Scorpion partners.

“Warrants were obtained following information received from members of the public, which are vital in operations like this. County lines exploit both young and vulnerable people in the community. The seizures made during these warrants have significant impact and help keep the public safe.”

The neighbourhood policing team conducted reassurance patrols in the local area and members of the public were encouraged to speak to officers.

officers on their hard work lead ing to this very welcome result.

“The Lib Dems have been fight ing for months to save local bus services. We have said from the start that without a reliable, com prehensive and affordable bus service, people will be cut off from shops, services, leisure, em ployment and education.”

Bath MP Wera Hobhouse com mented: “I am delighted to hear

that these bus routes will be serv ing Bath again. So many have worked tirelessly to protect these routes and I am so glad more people will be able to get out and about as a result.

“Moving forward, it is imperative that other cancelled routes are considered too.

“It is vital that everyone in our lo cal community has easy access to public transport.”

Households hosting Ukrainian refugees to receive extra

£100

PEOPLE who continue to provide accommodation beyond six months for Ukrainian refugees in Bath are to receive an extra £100 per month of Government money.

Bath & North East Somerset Council is using central government Homes for Ukraine funding to help continue sponsorship arrangements that so far have seen more than 400 Ukrainian guests welcomed to the local area.

The Government had initially set monthly thank-you payments for sponsors at £350 and asked hosts to sign up for a minimum of six months.

Now, eight months on, sponsors who continue to provide accommodation beyond six months will receive an extra £100 per month of government money, taking the total monthly payments to £450.

Councillor Dine Romero, cabinet member for Children, Young People and Communities, said: “In general, the sponsorship arrangements have worked well and I would like to give a big thank you to all our sponsors.

“However, many sponsors only signed-up initially for a sixmonth period and so it makes sense to do everything we can to keep these arrangements going using the Government funding.

“We have huge pressures on housing in our area, whether that is social housing, private rented accommodation or temporary accommodation, so it is in everyone’s interests to support

the continuation of sponsorship accommodation wherever possible.

“We also want to avoid the disruption that ending a sponsorship can bring, including to education and access to other local services.

“The funding for the top-up will come from the central government Homes for Ukraine grant, which is ringfenced to support the programme.

“However, I have also written to Secretary of State Michael Gove asking for urgent clarification about the government’s plans for the level of these thank you payments, particularly as the £350 level set nationally was put in place before the recent increases in inflation and particularly energy costs.”

In addition, the council is also seeking to re-match sponsors for a second six-month period, as well as finding new sponsors.

If you are interested in becoming a sponsor, email H4U@bathnes. gov.uk.

Big Lemon will operate three services in Bath | Photo © Big Lemon

Photo courtesy of B&NES Council

Parking season ticket goes up over £200/month

John Wimperis Local Democracy Reporter

BATH locals have reacted with anger after the cost of an any day parking permit skyrocketed from £135 a month to £338 overnight.

Some ticket holders were not told of the increase and only found out when £200 more than usual was taken from their bank accounts.

Bath and North East Somerset Council is refunding the difference to people who had this money taken before the changes were announced – but they will still be expected to pay the increased charges in the future.

It will now cost £4,056 a year for the season ticket, which allows someone to park at Charlotte Street car park all days of the week. The previous annual cost was £1,633. The new price reflects a 35% discount on how much it would cost to park at Charlotte Street all day every day.

Councillors have said there has not been a significant increase for some time but families and business owners have reacted with anger to the sudden jump in the cost.

Adam Leon lives in central Bath and relies on his season ticket to park his family car.

He said: “The problem is, I don’t have any choice as I live in Bath and I have a family. I can’t ask my eleven year-old child to ride her

bike every day up Lansdown hill.”

He added: “I would challenge any council member to raise a family in Bath without a car.”

Because Mr Leon’s house was converted after 2006, council rules mean he is not entitled to a resident’s parking permit. He said: “I have no choice but to use the Charlotte Street car park. When I bought this property, I knew that.”

But he added: “I never expected they would put the price up by [150%] in one fell swoop.”

He said that he accepted needing to pay £110 a month to park at Charlotte Street when be bought his house in 2016, and that the increase to £135 in 2018 was a “proportionate increase.”

But he now worries that the overnight increase to £338 is so significant that it could impact the value of his house.

The parking charges are also affecting businesses in Bath.

Applications for business parking permits are currently closed, meaning that some local business owners also depend on parking at Charlotte Street.

Part-owner of Quiet Street Antiques Mike Barlow said that his business, which has stood on the central Bath street for 42 years, was struggling with rising energy costs and business rates. He commutes from near Bitton in an electric car and has a season ticket for Charlotte Street. He said: “That’s another two and a half thousand we’ve got to find.”

He added that the antique shop had recently spent money on a new delivery van in order to comply with the Clean Air Zone. He said: “That was an investment to get a van. That cost money.”

Mr Barlow and his business partner are looking at other ways of getting to Bath to avoid having to pay the increased season ticket cost. But they are also considering reducing their opening hours to five days a week.

He said: “There’s just empty shops everywhere, so the net income to the council – at the end of putting all of these people out of business – will be negative.”

Mr Leon also has a business in Bath, as a partner involved in running Mary Shelly’s House of Frankenstein. He believes the council wants to keep parking spaces available for visitors to Bath.

But he said: “I live in Bath. I raise a family in Bath. I have a business in Bath on Gay Street. I think I am

contributing way more to the city than the visitors.”

Sue Craig, who Mr Leon contacted as his local councillor, escalated his case and said that it had not been designed to affect people in his situation.

Keynsham councillor Lisa O’Brien objected to the traffic regulation order which brought in the increased charges. It also saw season tickets for Keynsham long stay car park almost double from £19.80 to £39.

She said: “You can’t escape the fact that this council is waging war on motorists.”

Councillor Manda Rigby, cabinet member for Transport, said: “We are aware of this issue.

“The change to off-street parking is only the second price increase across Bath and North East Somerset in the last 12 years. This increase was agreed as part of the council’s 2022-23 budget and it was widely consulted on earlier this year.”

New contract for information and advice service

A NEW contract has been awarded to Citizens Advice Bath and North East Somerset, meaning residents will retain access to free information and advice on various matters.

B&NES Council has awarded the organisation a contract to deliver confidential advice and support to residents online, over the phone and in person.

As well as information on benefits, debt, discrimination, employment, housing and immigration, the service will be supporting residents with general wellbeing, including guidance on healthier lifestyle choices and community involvement.

During the five-year contract, staff at Citizens Advice B&NES will work with Bath Jobcentre to support young people to access job opportunities.

The organisation is also in discussions with Women Work Lab to extend a successful trial which will provide a work placement for one person per year within their team.

In addition, 15 law students from Bath Spa University will be offered volunteer placements with the organisation every year. They will be working at Bath Law Clinic helping lawyers who are acting pro-bono for clients and will receive training in triage and interview skills, writing legal letters and recording case notes.

Citizens Advice B&NES was re-appointed by the council following an open procurement exercise carried out earlier this year. The new contract will cost £1.5 million over the five years.

Councillor Richard Samuel, deputy leader and cabinet member for Resources, said: “The funding will safeguard the Citizens Advice B&NES service for residents, which is especially important during the ongoing cost of living crisis.

“It ensures that vulnerable

residents can access free and impartial advice from trained and experienced staff and volunteers and allows people to find information about help they can get with essential costs.”

Simon Lawson, CEO of Citizens Advice Bath and North East Somerset, said: “I’m really proud to have secured this new contract to continue our vital work for another five years.

“We are on the front-line of the cost-of-living crisis and our advisers are working flat out to

help the residents of Bath & North East Somerset cope with a huge range of advice problems. We are needed now more than ever.”

During the six-month period from April to September this year, Citizens Advice B&NES helped 3,014 unique clients to deal with 7,863 advice issues; and recorded financial gains on behalf of those clients of £2,618,680.

If you need advice or information, Citizens Advice B&NES has ‘dropin’ offices in Bath, Keynsham and Midsomer Norton.

News in Brief

Appeal after cyclist injured in collision

An appeal for witnesses has been launched by police after a cyclist was injured in a collision in Bath at the end of October.

A black Audi was involved in the incident with the cyclist and failed to stop at the scene.

The cyclist was knocked off his bike on the A367 Wells Road, at the Bath junction with Oldfield Road, on Friday 28th October.

Between 10.45-11.10pm, the Audi, thought to be an A5 with a 60-plate, collided with the cyclist and drove off without stopping to provide details. It is thought the car has damage to a wing mirror.

The cyclist suffered four fractures to his jaw and broke his right cheekbone. He attended hospital and is now recovering at home.

If you were in the area at the time of the incident, or have any in formation which could help the investigation, call 101 and quote log 1052 of 28th October.

Santa and Elf Run fundraiser to return

Dorothy House’s popular Santa and Elf Run will return on Sunday 4th December, with participants set to complete the 2.5km or 5km route around the Hospice in Winsley near Bath.

The festive family fun run is open to all ages and takes place along a course through the grounds of the Dorothy House Hospice, starting and ending at Winsley Cricket Club. Participants can choose to do the 2.5km route once or twice to make it a 5km run.

The fun run starts at 11am on 4th December with registration from 10am and a warm-up session at 10.50am.

Entry costs £15 for 12+ years and £7.50 for 2-11 year olds.

All 12+ year-old participants will receive a Santa suit and 2–11-year-olds will receive an Elf hat at registration.

The festive clothing is included in the entry fee plus refreshments after the run. All runners aged 16 years and under must be accompanied by an adult.

All adult entrants are asked to raise a minimum sponsorship of £30 or make a donation in lieu of sponsorship to help support patient care at Dorothy House.

Dan Varley, Community and Events Fundraiser at Dorothy House said: “We are so excited to get everyone back in their festive gear for another year of the Santa and Elf Run and even more thrilled to be bringing it back to the Hospice.

“A huge thank you to our partners at Winsley Cricket Club for supporting the event too!”

Those taking part will be helping to raise vital funds for Dorothy House and will allow the Hospice to continue to deliver care to patients and their families, including at Christmas, a time that can be difficult for many.

The day will include not just the route to run, but added fun including a spinning photo booth, snow for spectators to throw and a raffle to raise additional funds.

Adam Leon says he has no choice but to park at Charlotte Street

Photo © John Wimperis

Photo © Barry Barnes / Shutterstock.com

Permission sought to cut down magnolia tree at the Royal Crescent

John Wimperis Local Democracy Reporter

THE Royal Crescent’s magnolia tree may be cut down after it was found to be damaging the building behind it.

Located outside No. 16, the tree grows right in the heart of the Bath landmark. But now the hotel it stands in front of says the tree is damaging the building’s structure and they have applied for planning permission to remove it.

Writing to Bath and North East Somerset Council on behalf of the Royal Crescent Hotel, architect Rhys Brookes said: “The tree is now so large that it is impossible to gain access to maintain the windows and masonry and, whilst regularly heavily pruned, it continues to grow and cause damage to the Grade I listed structure.

“Unfortunately, this damage is accelerating.”

Some of the masonry on the building’s facade has cracked as bricks have dropped by up to two and a half centimetres, which is believed to be due to the

tree’s root system disrupting the ground under the wall.

The roots have also upset paving stones which poses a trip hazard.

The hotel believes the tree must be removed to protect the building.

Mr Brookes added: “This is not a decision taken lightly as the tree forms a dominant feature on the elevation but has become necessary and ultimately is a decision that will have to be made sooner rather than later.”

The magnolia is the only major flora at the front of the crescent.

It grows from the basement courtyard at the front of the hotel and its foliage is pruned to surround the ground-floor windows.

Various sources claim the tree is anything from 150 to 200 years old and it can be seen in films and television filmed in Bath from 1966’s The Wrong Box to 2020’s Bridgerton.

The planning application will be open for consultation until 8th December and the council will aim to reach a decision by Boxing Day.

Charity sells Christmas trees to raise funds

A BATH-BASED youth charity, Mentoring Plus, will be selling Christmas trees this year to help raise vital funds to provide its services.

Mentoring Plus, which works across Bath and North East Somerset to support vulnerable young people, will be offering trees over the first two weekends in December.

The trees have been specially selected, have been UK-sourced and are from sustainable stock.

Becki Fox, Community Engagement Officer, said: “It’s been an extremely challenging year for us all and our youth

services are in higher demand than ever with families feeling the cost-of-living crisis and reaching out to us for support.

“The sale of every tree is significant and will make a real difference to us being able to continue to provide activities and mentoring programmes for young people who are facing tough challenges in their lives.”

You can pre-order your tree on the charity's website at https:// www.mentoringplus.net/ for collection or you can visit York Place, choose your tree and have a hot chocolate, as well as hear the youth samba band.

Haul of food donated to support local homeless

STAFF at Midford Manor, a new care home being built on Frome Road in Bath, have donated a food haul to local charity Julian House to support homeless people.

General Manager Carol Britton and Customer Relationship Manager Michelle Goreham donated various items, which included canned goods, snacks and drinks, to the charity which provides homeless services and accommodation, domestic abuse services, criminal justice, and employment support across the South West.

The care workers have now opened their doors over the winter period and have become a drop-off centre for future donations.

Senior Community and Events Fundraiser at Julian’s House, Gavin Osbourn said: “The team at Midford Manor took part in

our Circuit of Bath Walk and have been very supportive to Julian House all year.

“We are extremely grateful to them and all who donated. The last few years have made things much harder for our clients and the charity itself, so in tough times we need local community support more than ever.”Michelle Goreham, said:

“It is imperative to us at Midford Manor to consider our whole community and in these difficult times with homelessness on the rise, anything we can do to help is so important. We hope the collection of food items goes some way to supporting Julian House and we have become a drop off centre for future items if members of the local community wish to donate.”

If you would like to donate items, take them to the information suite at 6 Broad Street.

Winter support fund being introduced in Peasedown St John

free at the event.

• The other £400 will be available for community groups and residents to apply for as part of a Hardship Fund.

Peasedown St John Councillor and Library Operations Manager, Cllr Karen Walker, added: “Do you run a community initiative where you need funding for a Christmas event? Are you hosting a festive meal for the elderly and need some financial support?

Are you a single parent in need of help to put food on the table over the Winter?

A

The Peasedown Community Trust, which was established in the wake of the pandemic to lead, run and champion community causes, is setting aside £800 to provide help and support to some of Peasedown St John’s most needy.

Chairman of the Peasedown Community Trust, Gavin Heathcote, said: “Thanks to everyone who has been in touch over the last few weeks to ask what support we’ll be providing to Peasedown residents over the winter months.

“At our recent Trustees meeting we agreed to set aside a sum

of money and create the first ever Winter Support Fund for Peasedown St John!

“We’re putting £800 into the new Fund. With the huge increases in the cost of living, and with families struggling to heat their homes, we hope this new fund will help.”

The fund will be distributed in two ways:

• The charity is setting aside £400 for an event at Peasedown St John Community Library on Saturday 10th December where Peasedown residents can go along and collect free Christmas and winter supplies. People will be able to collect chocolate selection boxes, Christmas puddings, hot water bottles, woolly hats, gloves, scarves, hot water flasks – all being given away

“If so, we’d love to hear from you! We’ve created this new Winter Support Fund, the first of its kind in Peasedown St John, to help some of our village’s most vulnerable during the current cost of living crisis.”

Applicants for the Hardship Fund should note:

• The Winter Support Fund is for Peasedown residents only.

• The Trust does not give cash or cheques to individuals. Support will be provided in the form of food vouchers.

• All applications/requests for funding must be made via email in writing. All applications will be kept confidential.

The Trust does accept referrals from third parties such as social workers, GPs and other agencies. For more details, community groups and residents can contact the Peasedown Community Trust by emailing peasedowncommunitytrust@ gmail.com.

The magnolia grows from the basement courtyard | Photo © John Wimperis

CHARITY based in the village of Peasedown St John near Bath has created its first-ever Winter Support Fund to support local residents.

Members of the Peasedown Community Trust

Michelle Goreham (left) and Carol Britton (right) donate items to Julian House

Bath Cats and Dogs Home launches winter appeal

BATH Cats and Dogs Home has launched a winter appeal to raise funds to support injured and sick rescue animals across the area.

The aim of the appeal is to raise £20,000 towards funding animal welfare for unwanted pets and to provide the medical care often urgently needed when rescue animals arrive at the home.

Due to the cost-of-living crisis, and the impact of the pandemic, the charity is seeing a significant increase in rescue animals arriving with advanced medical problems.

Animals who have been neglected, abandoned or mistreated are frequently brought in by Dog Wardens or the RSPCA. Often the severity of the injuries or medical conditions means the veterinary staff at Bath Cats and Dogs Home’s vet suite have to act quickly to alleviate pain and suffering to turn the animals’ lives around.

This summer, three Chihuahuas called Babe, Tinkerbell and Ferdinand, were left in a box in a car park in Wiltshire and were brought in by an RSPCA inspector. Their care by the charity’s team highlights the expert, emergency medical care often needed to save rescue animals’ lives.

Eleven-year-old Babe had a severely deformed hind leg with flesh wounds, so the vet team acted immediately to prevent her death from sepsis and gave her an emergency operation to remove her leg.

Tinkerbell, aged nine, was nervous and in great pain with diseased gums and teeth on arrival at the home. The vets took urine and blood samples and removed all her teeth bar one.

Thirteen-year-old Ferdinand was extremely underweight and was hand fed to help him digest his food and gain weight.

All his teeth were removed due to disease and he was very frightened of handling and had separation anxiety, often needing a safe space to hide in.

Since they were brought into the rescue centre, they are now recovering well from their ordeal with love and care.

Babe and Tinkerbell have been rehomed together and Ferdinand has also recently been adopted into a new family.

TV presenter and celebrity vet, Dr James Greenwood said: “The transformation of these dogs’ lives is wonderful, sadly, they are just three out of hundreds seen every year at Bath Cats and Dogs Home.

“This life-saving veterinary work is made possible by the generosity of supporters of the charity and the rising cost of care and growing number of animals needing complex medical treatment means every penny is important.

“Any gift you can afford towards this appeal will help animals in vital need of care and provide them with medical treatment to ensure a speedy recovery and help them find the loving homes they deserve.”

Rachel Jones, Chief Executive at Bath Cats and Dogs Home, said: “Since January, we have taken in 190 stray dogs and cats that were sadly unclaimed by their owners and are believed to have been abandoned as a result of people struggling to cope or to afford the cost of a pet’s medical care.

“A rising number of animals are also being given up to the Home by their owners and behaviour issues, financial challenges and changing circumstances are often cited as reasons for this.

“Much of our rescue work goes on behind the scenes and our medical treatment and round the clock animal care can be expensive.

“Please support our appeal to help give animals the medical

Warning issued over floodwater

FIREFIGHTERS from Avon Fire & Rescue Service are urging people to take care after revealing they performed 33 rescues from vehicles in water between 2012 and 2021.

With winter weather on the way, recent thunderstorms have provided a reminder that flooding continues to affect those living and working in the local area.

Country lanes and low-lying ground are often worst affected, and what looks like a shallow puddle can hold dangers within.

Seán Heighton, Station Manager at Avon Fire & Rescue Service (AF&RS) said: “The effects of floodwater can be very serious

and entering what looks okay from the surface can have very expensive or even dangerous results.

“Finding another route may be frustrating, but being on time isn’t worth taking a risk.

If you encounter floodwater on the road, do not attempt to drive through it, even if it looks shallow.”

Seán added: “Even seemingly shallow water can reach a vehicles engine, suck water up and cause the car to stall and break down.

“This is particularly dangerous when on a country road or driving at night, where you may not be able to call for help.

“Remember, even in relatively shallow water, a strong current can knock over a person or even pick up a car. Not all flood water is still.”

AF&RS has offered advice for floodwater on the road, which includes:

• If you see a flooded road ahead, turn around and find an alternative route.

• Water on the road can be deeper than you think, so don’t try and continue through floodwater.

• If you can’t go another way, get to higher ground and wait for waters to subside.

• If your car becomes affected by water, consider if safe to get out and if you can, climb to higher

care they so urgently need and help us keep the most vulnerable animals safe this Winter.”

Michaela Taylor, Head Veterinarian at Bath Cats and Dogs Home, added: “When sick animals arrive with us, we often have to operate very quickly to give them the best chance of recovery, and it’s thanks to fundraising appeals like this that we have the equipment and supplies on hand to do that.

“It is moving to see so many animals bounce back after treatment and move on to their forever homes. Thank-you so much for supporting our appeal

from me and all our amazing animals.”

The appeal will allow the charity to care for dogs and cats when they need it most.

Typical medical costs faced by the home on a daily basis include £10 to provide a diabetic cat with insulin for a whole week, £34 to provide vaccinations and kennel cough vaccination for a stray dog or £50 to fund the long-term medical support of a dog who needs ongoing care.

To support the appeal, and help rescue animals get the emergency care they need, visit www.bcdh.org.uk.

ITALK about buses a lot. I get asked about them a lot too. Many emails I get from Batho nians are about how fed up they are with cuts or cancellations. The unreliability. Me too. In fact, buses are the one thing I lose sleep over at night. It sometimes feels a bit one step forward and then one step back. After months of work, I was de lighted to be able to save the 11, 12 and 20 services which are impor tant ones for Twerton and Bath ampton locals, investing another £350,000 until April to keep these three buses running. Though let me be clear - this is a temporary fix, albeit an important one. But

then came the unwelcome news that First are reducing the fre quency of some services. The reasons are well rehearsed, not least the Government’s illthought-through plan to ask bus drivers to become HGV lor ry drivers. So, the single biggest challenge we face today is the se vere bus driver shortage.

For once, most reductions in ser vices aren’t because of money (though, rest assured, I’ll keep pushing for more cash from gov ernment) but because of a lack of drivers. Bus companies tell me time and again that of course they’d run such and such a ser vice if they could, but there is no

one to drive the bus. That’s why we need innovative ideas to get people driving. I was therefore delighted to join Stagecoach last week at a special event targeting the recruitment of Ukrainian refugees staying in the West of England. I’m talking to students about how they can drive buses during term time. I also met some fantastic new Firstbus recruits including one who’d been lured away from be ing an Amazon driver who told me how being a bus driver was a great job because you get to meet people every day and make their lives better.

The thing about bus drivers is

ground.

• If you drive through any puddle of a significant size, test your brakes as soon as it’s safe to do so.

• In an emergency, always call 999.

You can also take further precautions by making sure you’re prepared for adverse

weather whilst driving. The fire service suggests creating an ‘emergency kit’ filled with things such as a torch, warm/ waterproof clothing, bottled water and a first aid kit to name a few. Having these items can help to keep you safe whilst waiting for emergency services to arrive.

that they are commu nity heroes. They take children to school, people to the shops and the GPs, and they are helping every day to get people out of cars to help meet our ambitious net-zero tar gets.

As part of my ambitious bus driv er recruitment drive, I’m looking for even more community he roes, which is why I am funding a region-wide campaign to target new would-be drivers. The re cruitment drive is being backed by tailored careers support and training from the West of Eng land Combined Authority with a

single access point for people interested in becoming a bus driv er.

I’m especially keen to encourage more women and people from ethnic minor ities who are currently underrep resented in the industry to con sider driving a bus. Only around 8% of bus drivers are women, yet women make up more than half of the population. It’s clear there is untapped potential there.

To give Bathonians the bus net work they need and deserve, we need to get on top of the bus driver shortage. It isn’t easy; but we’re gripping this issue.

A firefighter during water safety training | Photo © AF&RS

COLUMN | Dan Norris, Labour Mayor of the West of England

Rescue dogs Tinkerbell and Babe with staff | Photo © Bath Cats and Dogs Home

Pictures from the Past: Walking the city streets

Broad Street

Kirsten Elliott Akeman Press

IN this new series we will take a gentle walk up a variety of city streets. We start with Broad Street.

In our first picture we are at the

bottom of the street in 1947 or 48. We can be this accurate because the Ministry of Labour office on the extreme left is also the office for National Service, which was introduced in 1947. In addition, the car heading up the street has a Gloucester registration dating from the same time while the Bath Hospital Scheme, based at what is now Chapter 22, closed in July 1948.

To the right we can just see part of St Michael’s church, while beyond it, the antique shop is still part of the Saracen’s Head pub. Moving further up the street, the second picture, photographed by Mowbray Green for his book on the 18th-century architecture of Bath shows us what is all now Rossiter’s about 1900. Back then it was three shops – Weaver & Son, sewing machine salesmen

and bedding makers, Jelf & Co who sold bicycles and finally, Mrs Rossiter, a tobacconist. What is interesting about her shop is that between 1900 and now, it lost its top two storeys, the second floor being replaced with attics.

Higher up the street on the left hand side, King Edward’s School also attracted the attention of Mowbray Green. Sharp-eyed readers will notice the parapet

and pediment was decorated with the heads of scholars. They were still there in the mid 1960s, but had gone twenty years later. Finally, we reach the top of the street in 1897. That year, the shopkeepers were in festive mood, celebrating the diamond jubilee of Queen Victoria. Perhaps surprisingly, this part of the street has changed very little in the past 125 years.

Egg-shaped (4)

Occurring after one's death (10)

Kind of engineer (10)

First son of Adam and Eve (4)

Six (4-5)

Also-ran (5)

Garment of ancient Rome (4)

Nobles (5)

Accustom (5)

Sailor (7)

Caterpillar (5)

Paces (5)

Harmonize (4)

Plot of ground (5)

Old Peruvian (4)

Immeasurably deep (10)

Overstate (10)

Indifferent (2-2)

Small community (7)

Satan (7)

Portion of time (6)

Small bag (6)

Consecrated (4)

Former Portuguese territory in S China (5)

Join (5)

Name of a thing (5)

Dens (5)

Gravy (5)

Staggers (5)

Coral builder (5)

White heron (5)

Shatter (5)

Golf clubs (5)

Lattice (7)

Winged horse (7)

Against (6)

Previously (6)

Addition (5)

Loud, resonant sound (5)

unusual talent (4)

Crossword Competition! For your chance to win £20, submit your full name, postal address and answers by email to puzzles@bathecho.co.uk and we'll enter you into our draw. The winner will be the first randomly opened entry with the correct answers on 09/12/22. Please note: We will not accept crossword entries to our postal address. The winner will be notified by the email address they use to enter this competition.

Wessex Water encourages simple steps to help reduce bills

BATH-BASED Wessex Water has offered simple steps to save water which could help residents reduce their bills this winter.

The cost-of-living crisis has led to many people looking for new and easy ways to save money around the home, and using less water is an effective way for customers with a meter to directly drive down their monthly outgoings. Heating water makes up a large portion of the average energy bill, so even unmetered Wessex Water customers could make big savings by making small changes to their everyday habits.

The company has issued winter water-saving tips aimed at households of four people.

Advice includes:

• Shorter showers: Spending one minute less in the shower could save £150.

• Washing machines: Cutting out two cycles per week to save £50.

• Fixing leaky loos: This could result in a massive £400 annual saving.

To check if your toilet is leaking, Wessex Water advises drying the back of the pan and leaving a dry piece of loo roll on it overnight – if it’s wet in the morning you might have a leaky loo.

The company said its reservoir and groundwater levels are below

average for the time of year, despite wet weather in recent weeks, and an environmental drought has been declared in the region.

Ashlea Lane, Wessex Water’s Director of Water Production, said: “Unlike some other companies, we haven’t imposed a hosepipe ban this year and we’re really grateful to our customers for using water responsibly.

“We do need everyone to keep that going, and simple changes like taking shorter showers and only using washing machines on full loads will not only save water but help reduce energy bills too.”

Wessex Water has already helped more than 50,000 customers who

are struggling financially through a range of affordability schemes.

Support can be tailored to individuals and includes flexible payment plans, payment breaks and a discount for low-income pensioners.

Demand for water has been met thanks to Wessex Water’s £230 million investment in a water supply grid, while it is able to further protect the environment by ‘topping up’ rivers with water from underground sources.

The latest technology is also being used to help detect and repair leaks.

Around 1,200 leaks are fixed every month, often on the same day they’re reported.

Struggling veterans being urged to claim new grant support

VETERANS who are struggling with the increased cost of living are being urged to take advantage of new grants worth up to £200 a month.

The Royal British Legion has launched Everyday Needs Grants for members of the Armed Forces community.

The grants are worth up to £2,400 per year, and are designed to help people finding it hard to pay bills or purchase essentials.

The scheme is open to serving and ex-serving personnel as well as families, dependants and carers including current and former spouses, partners and widows or widowers.

Anyone struggling with increasing costs is encouraged to apply, whether or not they are already in receipt of meanstested state benefits.

The programme is designed to provide quick and easy help with essentials such as kitchen appliances, clothes and energy costs. The Royal British Legion noted a 20% rise in requests for

support with urgent needs, such as food and household costs, over the last 12 months and is expecting this to increase further over the winter.

Meanwhile, workingage adults in the exService community are more than twice as likely to receive a sickness or disability benefit than UK adults, according to research by the Royal British Legion.

MP for Bath Wera Hobhouse commented: “I am delighted to see these measures by the Royal British Legion bring some protection to those struggling under the weight of the cost of living crisis.

“Veterans have, and continue to contribute vast amounts to our local community here in Bath. It is only right that those who have given so much can claim help, especially amid the current economic climate.

“Help is also available for people who are not necessarily linked to the Armed Forces, so I encourage all who are eligible to apply to do so.”

Covid-19 boosters and flu vaccinations for those 18 years and over, subject to eligibility. Check what you’re eligible for on the NHS webiste or phone 119. For those under 18, please find out how to get your vaccinations on the www.nhs.uk website.

Graduate’s washing machine project arrives in Uganda

FAMILIES in Uganda are set to receive new handcranked washing machines, developed by a graduate from the University of Bath with his team at ‘The Washing Machine Project’.

The Washing Machine Project (TWMP) is in Uganda distributing manual crank-handle washing machines to Sserinye Primary School and Orphanage on Lulamba Island.

The school will receive 20 Divya washing machines that will positively impact up to 300 primary school children.

The machines were funded through a three-way partnership between the project, RS Group PLC, and Help Core, a German NGO.

Founded in 2019 by engineer and humanitarian, Navjot (‘Nav’) Sawhney, for the past four years TWMP has been refining designs of its hand-cranked machine and scaling up production.

So far, the simple-to-use, zeroenergy, off-grid machines have been delivered to over 21,000 people in five countries, including in refugee camps in Iraq.

The project was inspired by Nav’s time in South India where he designed cookstoves with the charity Engineers without Borders.

There he met his neighbour,

Divya, who described her everyday struggles with clothes washing. Nav promised her a washing machine and when he returned from the UK, brought back a prototype.

Since then, TWMP has conducted research in 17 countries, interviewing over 3,000 families, including in Uganda, Jamaica, Nepal, India and the Philippines, to understand more about the everyday challenges associated with clothes washing.

The charity has also partnered with some of the most prominent international NGOs.

The team have also successfully carried out pilots in Iraq and Lebanon and received orders from multiple countries for over 3,000 washing machines.

The trip to Uganda marks another milestone for the team, which through its partnerships hopes to reach over 100,000 people around the world by 2024.

Speaking from Kampala, founder, and University of Bath alumnus, Nav Sawhney said: “70% of the world’s population do not have access to an electric washing machine and for many, washing clothes in buckets or rivers is the only solution.

“This is back-breaking work and a major barrier to education for low-income and displaced people which disproportionately

affects women. Our solution, the Divya machine, which is inspired by my neighbour in South India, has already benefited hundreds of families living in refugee camps in Iraq and Jordan.

“We are excited to be in Uganda this week, helping to deliver and install more of these machines which we know can make a significant, positive impact on people’s lives.”

At the University of Bath,

GP practices to offer appointments outside of their usual hours

GP practices across the region are now offering more types of appointments as well as making slots available outside of their traditional opening hours.

Since the beginning of last month, practices in Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire have begun to offer a select number of appointments in the evenings and at weekends.

As well as this, practices have expanded the types of appointments being offered to patients, with many whose conditions do not require an inperson conversation receiving care over the telephone or by video call.

However, despite the introduction of more virtuallyheld consultations, patients are being assured that face-to-face appointments are still very much available.

In September, 65 per cent of all patient interactions in Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire were carried out in person, whereas 31 per cent of consultations took place over the telephone.

Dr Francis Campbell, a Partner Member for Primary Care on the Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire Integrated Care Board, said: “Virtual appointments are nothing new but, since the pandemic, when seeing patients in a different way became a necessity, this

innovative approach to providing care has really taken off.

“Patients tell us how much they value the convenience of being able to access care from the comfort of their own home, while also fitting in appointments around their work and personal commitments. As GPs, we understand that people with a worry or concern want to receive care and support as quickly as possible, which is why we are working hard to provide more appointments, as well as a greater variety of appointments.

“In-person consultations will always remain available for those who need such an appointment, but by having a mix of the two, we are able to provide a service that ensures as many people as possible can get the type of care they need quickly and safely.”

More than 10,000 people across Bath and North East Somerset,

Swindon and Wiltshire took part in the latest GP Patient Survey, which measures satisfaction of local primary care, and around one in ten of those questioned said they had received care either online or over the phone.

Of those who were offered a virtual appointment, more than 77 per cent said they were satisfied to have had their care provided in this way.

The trend mirrors what was seen at the start of the coronavirus pandemic when a local survey carried out by the region’s former clinical commissioning group showed 80 per cent of people thought a virtual appointment was the same or better than one that was face-to-face.

That survey also revealed that two-thirds of those who were questioned said they would consider proactively asking for a virtual appointment in the future.

Nav studied the MSc in Humanitarianism, Conflict & Development.

Director of Studies for that course, Professor Jason Hart said: “It is great to see how Nav and his team are taking forward The Washing Machine Project. We’re also delighted that this project has created volunteer opportunities for former and current students on our MSc programme to gain valuable experience.”

TWMP is also working in the UK. Currently, one in five of the phone calls it receives are from UK residents struggling to pay utility bills and are opting for manual washing solutions instead of electric ones.

As a consequence, Nav and the team are also partnering with Innovate UK to trial manual washing solutions for homeless people in London with UK-based homeless charities.

Helping play your part against antimicrobial resistance

PEOPLE in Bath are being told about the ways they can help to play a small but significant part in preventing antimicrobial resistance.

Each year, up to five million people worldwide lose their life as a result of antimicrobial resistance, which occurs when bacteria, viruses and other illness inducing germs become immune to the medicines that once kept them at bay.

Antimicrobial resistance is a key focus of the World Health Organisation, with the body dedicating the third week of November each year to raising awareness of the issue.

One of the biggest catalysts for the increase of drug-resistant antimicrobials is the misuse and overuse of antibiotic medicine.

People who are prescribed a course of antibiotics can easily play a part in limiting the spread of antimicrobial resistance by completing their course of medication as instructed, and not throwing any excess drugs in the bin or down the toilet.

Instead, people should take their surplus medicine to a pharmacy, which can arrange for the items to be destroyed in a safe and

effective way.

Connie Timmins, Lead Nurse for Infection Prevention and Control, Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire Integrated Care Board, said: “We rely heavily on antibiotics for making us feel better when we are suffering from an infection caused by bacteria.

“This is why antimicrobial resistance is very concerning, as it has the potential to make many of the drugs that we take for granted in everyday health and care less effective or, in some cases, ineffective.

“We’ve all seen the posters about antibiotics not being designed for colds and flu, and that is absolutely right, as taking them when not needed can fuel antimicrobial resistance.

“The best thing local people can do to help slow the rise of antimicrobial resistance is to always follow the advice of their doctor or pharmacist when given a course of antibiotics.”

World Antimicrobial Awareness Week ran from Friday 18th to Thursday 24th November, and was marked in countries across the globe.

Nav with families in Uganda | Photo © Katende Adirl

Volunteer elves being sought to package Christmas gifts

A BATH-BASED charity is on the hunt for volunteer elves to help prepare deliveries of more than 1,500 gifts, goodies and activities for young people staying in mental health units this Christmas.

People are being sought to come together on 3rd and 4th December in the city centre.

The volunteer elves are invited to sign up to help for a morning, afternoon or evening ‘elf duty’ shift, or even a whole day.

Tasks will include assembling individual and ward gifts, counting fidget toys and wrapping paper, batching homemade Christmas cards and fitting everything in boxes ready for CAMHS units across the country.

Volunteer elves can be of any age but those aged under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.

Festive snacks and music will be available and Christmassy hats and jumpers are encouraged.

Christmas For CAMHS have been organising gifts for CAMHS units across the country for 7 years, ever since it came to trustee Dr

Ro Bevan’s attention that young people in mental health units rarely receive any donations, unlike their counterparts in hospital for physical ailments who are often provided gifts.

Speaking about joining last year, volunteer Cat said: “Helping with the Christmas for CAMHS packing was a wonderful experience.

“There was the most amazing buzz around the room, everyone working hard to make sure

that each young person could have a specially chosen gift on Christmas Day.”

Anyone interested in signing up to the packing weekend can register via website at: https://bit.ly/packingelves2022 or by emailing info@ christmasforcamhs.org.uk.

To make a donation to support the charity’s work, you can visit their JustGiving page at https:// www.justgiving.com/campaign/ christmas4camhs.

Care home asks community to help spread festive cheer

A CARE home near Bath has launched a festive plea to the community to send in messages of yuletide cheer to residents and staff this Christmas.

The team at the Shockerwick House Bupa Care Home are calling on residents to help spread some joy and rally a sense of togetherness during the festive period.

Hoping to make residents feel more connected to their local communities, the cards received will be opened and placed around the home for everyone to read and enjoy.

Anita Schulz, Home Manager at Shockerwick House, said: “Sending and receiving cards is a tradition that many of our residents love, so this Christmas we wanted to make the winter season extra special by calling on our local communities to surprise our residents with lots of lovely cards.

“We know that receiving a card full of festive well wishes would really mean the world to our residents this year.

“It’s a small gesture of kindness which would have such a positive impact, providing residents with a great sense of warmth, support, and togetherness – the ultimate definition of festive cheer!

“We know how wonderful our local community is and are hopeful that people will come together in a show of festive spirit to boost everyone’s moods in the homes and make it an even merrier Christmas.”

Anyone wishing to send Christmas cards to residents at Shockerwick House Bupa Care Home, can post them to the following address: Shockerwick House Bupa Care Home, Lower Shockerwick, Bath, BA1 7LL.

RICE dementia research charity welcomes special guests

LOCAL charity, RICE, the Research Institute for the Care of Older People, recently welcomed three guests to meet patients and carers and find out more about their work.

The guests, including the Mayor of Bath, Cllr Rob Appleyard, Annie Maw, the outgoing LordLieutenant of Somerset and Jennifer Duke the High Sheriff of Somerset, also visited the charity’s memory clinic and learnt more about dementia research and clinical trials.

This was the last official charity visit for Annie Maw before handing over the reins to the new Lord-Lieutenant of Somerset, Mohammed Saddiq.

After being welcomed by Melissa Hillier, CEO and Professor Roy Jones, President of RICE, the guests were given a tour of the RICE Centre.

They were also shown how psychologists at RICE use questionnaires and other visual tools to help them accurately diagnose patients with cognitive impairment and dementia.

The guests were introduced to patients and carers who explained their experiences of being involved with RICE and how it had benefited them, particularly, the sense of purpose they gained from bring enrolled in clinical trials. RICE is an internationally recognised research institute, treatment centre and Memory

Clinic dedicated to improving quality of life for older people through its research and support for people with dementia, their families and carers.

As well as undertaking dementia research and conducting clinical trials into potential treatments for dementia, RICE hosts the NHS Memory Clinic for Bath and North East Somerset.

The RICE Memory Clinic receives referrals from local GPs, assesses patient’s memory and thinking skills and provides treatment and medication for dementia.

The centre also runs courses for carers and Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (CST) courses for patients.

Lord-Lieutenant of Somerset, Annie Maw said: “It was inspiring to see the work that RICE is doing to find solutions to some of the difficulties faced by older people such as dementia. The RICE Centre is such a cheerful place and those attending the Memory Clinic obviously enjoy being there and are clearly reassured and helped by all that you provide to support them. Good luck with your valuable work and with your fundraising for the President’s Appeal.”

Melissa Hillier, Chief Executive Officer for RICE said: “We were delighted to welcome such influential and supportive visitors to RICE.

“All three of them had a

tremendous empathy for people dealing with dementia and were keen to learn about how RICE supports patients, families and carers through our clinical diagnosis service, our research into dementia and our support courses for patients and families. “Dementia is on the rise and will impact over 1 million people in the UK by 2030 so the more that RICE can contribute to research on potential treatments for the different types of dementia, is vital.”

Jennifer Duke, High Sheriff of Somerset added: “It was a real pleasure to visit local charity, RICE, who do so much to support

the care of older people in Bath and North-East Somerset who have memory problems.

“I was particularly impressed to hear that their Memory Clinic has cared for over 12,000 patients and their families since opening and that RICE has recently gained an Outstanding rating from the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

“Please consider contributing to the charity’s President’s appeal which will enable the growth of RICE’s research capability for research into dementia treatments.”

Tony Evans, who lives near Box and is a RICE patient said: “I’m thankful that RICE was able

to give me an early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease as it motivated me to adapt, plan ahead, make the most of my health and enjoy my hobbies including climbing.

“Another benefit of working with RICE has been gaining access to the EVOKE clinical trial which has added a great sense of purpose to my life to be aiding the urgent cause of dementia research.

“I’d gladly recommend an early visit to RICE to anyone who has memory issues, their team have tremendous expertise and are a great support to my wife, Diane and I, as we learn to live with Alzheimer’s.”

Dr Cathy Wernham, Cllr Rob Appleyard, Melissa Hillier, Annie Maw, Jennifer Duke and Prof. Roy Jones | Photo © RICE

Packing up festive goodies last year | Photo © Christmas for CAMHS

Health

Royal United Hospital welcomes CQC inspection report

A REPORT from the Care Quality Commission which found that staff at the Royal United Hospital in Bath do their utmost to provide safe and effective care and treatment has been welcomed.

The focused inspection by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), the independent regulator of health and social care in England, into the hospital’s medical care took place in August.

RUH Chief Nurse Toni Lynch said: “This is a positive report from the CQC which recognises the outstanding work of our staff and the excellent care provided to our patients.

“I’m particularly pleased that inspectors highlighted the respectful and considerate way our staff treat patients and that patients felt listened to by ward staff.

“Inspectors also acknowledged the understanding and respect our staff give to people’s personal, cultural, social and religious needs and the positive feedback we receive from patients and their families.”

The report also identified some areas for improvement, particularly in relation to the way care is provided to vulnerable patients, for example those who lack capacity to make their own decisions or are experiencing mental ill health.

Toni Lynch said: “We were notified of the areas we needed

to improve shortly after the inspection took place and swiftly put in place an action plan to address these areas.

“I am pleased to say we have already made good progress against this plan, improving our processes around caring for vulnerable patients and ensuring staff have up to date training in this area.

“Thank you to all of our staff who work so hard day in, day out to provide our patients with the very best care and support.”

Catherine Campbell, CQC head of hospital inspection, said: “Our inspectors found that staff on the front line were doing their utmost to provide safe and effective care and treatment of patients.

“This was despite additional pressures in departments where there was a shortfall in the number of permanent staff available.

“The Trust did, however, make sure that in those wards where extra staff were needed, bank or agency staff were used after having a comprehensive induction.

“Generally, we found staff providing excellent care, although, some team members didn’t always know how to support people who lacked capacity to make their own decisions or were experiencing mental ill health. We did raise this to the Trust leadership team following the inspection.

“They took immediate action and have provided us with a comprehensive action plan which clearly addresses all concerns we raised.”

Other findings from the inspection included:

• Staff took time to interact with patients and those close to them in a respectful and considerate way.

• Patients said they felt listened to by ward staff and they knew how to seek help if they needed it.

The entrance to the Royal United Hospital in Bath | Photo © RUH

• Staff had a good knowledge of the services available within the hospital but also the wider community.

• Staff used a nationally recognised tool to identify deteriorating patients and highlighted issues appropriately.

• People’s personal, cultural, social, and religious needs were understood and respected.

• Feedback from people who accessed and used the service was consistently positive.

Patients and their families said the staff were caring and attentive and went over and above to make sure they had what they needed. The focused inspection does not impact the overall rating for the RUH’s medical care service which remains ‘good’ overall. The hospital remains ‘good’ overall and for being safe, effective and well-led. Caring remains ‘outstanding’ and responsiveness remains ‘requires improvement’.

Same-day hip and knee joint replacements being offered

A HOSPITAL near Bath has become the first in the local area to begin offering same-day hip and knee joint replacement surgery, without the need for an overnight stay.

The Sulis Hospital in Peasedown St John has put together an enhanced recovery programme to help patients recover from surgery more quickly.

Historically, patients who undergo knee or hip joint replacement surgery would spend an average of three days in hospital to recover, however, a team at the hospital has been able to reduce this number to just an average of one day spent in hospital with many going home on the day of surgery.

Joanna Gotley, Physiotherapy Lead at Sulis Hospital, commented: “Safety is always our number one priority and by pre-assessing patients, carefully planning follow-ups and rehabilitation, we are able to offer same-day surgical procedures which are proven to allow for a much quicker recovery.

“Each patient is assessed individually and, for most, this procedure will be the best

and quickest method to allow a quicker recovery with each patient having a bespoke and tailored discharge plan put in place.”

The new Sulis Hospital Enhanced Recovery Project (SERP), focussing on Hip and Knee Joint Replacement surgery, aims to optimise the pathway and outcomes for patients by reviewing the whole journey, from pre-operative planning to early and effective discharge from hospital.

The aim of an enhanced recovery programme (ERP) or enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) is for patients to return to normal life as quickly as possible and to reduce the chance of postoperative complications.

There are a number of benefits to having Day Surgery procedures, such as the patient being at home in their own surroundings the same day, helping them get back to their daily routine more quickly.

Patients who undergo same-day surgical procedures will benefit from fewer complications, faster recovery and reduced risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT).

44 patients have so far undergone Day case Joint Replacement Surgery within a three-month period, with an average of 0.96 days spent in hospital.

By recovering in their home environment, each patient is also encouraged to take ownership of their recovery, increasing independence.

Alongside this, day-case surgical procedures will help to reduce the backlog of patients waiting for surgery, which is currently standing at a record high of 7

million people in England alone.

Sylvia Smith, a recent patient at Sulis hospital said: “I would like to express my appreciation for the brilliant treatment I have received at Sulis Hospital. I can only describe my hip surgery as miraculous.

“It was amazing to be able to recover at home after leaving the hospital on the same day as my surgery.”

Sam Heaton, Consultant at Sulis Hospital said: “Patients are the key member of the team and are

very much a part of this journey, not a passenger.

“Modern anaesthetics for your joint replacement involves a low dose spinal anaesthetic and a powerful local anaesthetic which both combines to numb the surgical area and give much better post-op pain relief than a general anaesthetic. Combining this with early physio mobilisation is crucial in early fast recovery and reducing complications.”

Day-case surgeries are not a suitable option for all patients and a number of factors will be considered in each case, as all patients are treated as individuals.

Sulis Hospital Bath, formerly known as Circle Bath prior to the Royal United Hospital acquisition, continues to offer the same standard of care for both private and NHS patients. It is the first fully-operational private hospital in the UK where 100% of the shares are owned by an NHS Trust.

The acquisition by the RUH has increased capacity for both NHS and private patients, reducing waiting times for 4,933 patients in the last 12 months.

An operating theatre at the Sulis Hospital near Bath | Photo © Sulis Hospital

Education Schools hold litter picks as part of Clean and Green campaign

PUPILS from schools across Bath have been taking to the streets to tidy up their local neighbourhoods in support of B&NES Council’s Clean and Green campaign.

Pupils at the Royal High School took part in a litter pick as part of a school Sustainability Week that was organised by the student-run Green Team.

Between them, four groups of youngsters collected eight bags of litter from the streets around Lansdown including Circus Mews, Sion Hill and Lansdown Crescent.

More recently, Paulton Junior School’s Eco Club organised a litter pick to tidy up the area around their school.

The school’s Eco Club includes representatives from every class, so the event involved volunteers from the whole school.

Fourteen pupils took part and tackled the litter in areas including Paulton Memorial Park, Elm Road, Mendip Close and High Park.

Pupils from Bathwick St Mary’s Church Primary School collected six bags of litter during their litter

pick.

The class split into two groups and collected litter around the Bathwick estate and the canal footpath leading up to the school.

Mrs McHugh, teacher of the Year 4 class at Bathwick St Mary’s Church Primary School, said: “Our pupils all tackled the litter pick with great enthusiasm and commitment on the day.

“They all understand the impact that litter can have and the threat to wildlife and are keen to do something about it. They enjoyed being able to serve and help our local community.”

Litter pickers were offered to all primary schools across B&NES as part of the council’s Clean and Green campaign.

So far, 29 schools have responded, and 277 litter pickers have been given out.

Councillor David Wood, cabinet member for Neighbourhood Services said: “It’s rewarding to see the pupils taking practical action to deal with the issue of litter and the harm and pollution it can cause to the local environment.

“It is a good message for us all to

remember to use the bins and not drop litter in the street and to help to keep our streets looking their best for residents and visitors.”

Any schools wanting to organise their own event can contact the council’s Clean and Green team by emailing CleanAndGreen@ bathnes.gov.uk.

Bath residents may have caught sight of the council’s newest fleet member – an electric sweeper – that has been out and about

cleaning the streets in central Bath. The vehicle is capable of speeds up to 40km/hr and can last up to nine hours on a full charge It boasts zero emissions and it’s quieter than the current diesel models.

The council is expecting delivery of a second model shortly that will also be able to wash and scrub the pavements to remove dirt and grime.

Councillor Wood added: “As a

council we have recognised the climate emergency and are taking action to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels. We are moving to electric vehicles wherever possible for our waste, recycling and cleansing operations as part of a move to help reach our target of net zero carbon emissions by 2030 and these two vehicles join the other seven electric vans and six electric bikes already in our fleet.”

Pupils from Bathwick St Mary’s Church Primary School | Photo © B&NES Council

Salvation Army teams up with toy shop for Christmas initiative

THE Salvation Army in Bath has partnered with the city’s branch of toy retailer The Entertainer to launch The Big Toy Appeal, to ensure underprivileged children can open a gift on Christmas Day.

The Big Toy Appeal encourages customers to pick up an extra toy to donate towards the cause when they visit The Entertainer in-store or shop online.

For every gift donated, The Entertainer will also contribute a toy, doubling the number of donations that will go towards families in need of support this Christmas.

Through customer donations and matched toys, over 92,000 gifts have been provided since the campaign launched in 2018. This year, the retailer is aiming to reach a target of 100,000 total toys donated through The Big Toy Appeal.

Providing Christmas presents for children can place additional pressure on families, with many turning to charities like The Salvation Army for support, using foodbanks and other donations to help them through the Christmas period.

Tony Daniels, Director for Community Services for The Salvation Army, said: “The cost of living crisis continues to place

family budgets (and others) under significant and sustained pressure.

“Therefore, Christmas this year will be extremely difficult for many families to budget for, given that the current economic crisis show no signs of abating.

Clearly, our Big Toy Appeal is needed more than ever and will allow us, partnering with the Entertainer, to bring Christmas joy and support to families who need it most right now.”

Gary Grant, founder and executive chairman of The Entertainer, commented: “At The Entertainer, we believe that every

child deserves the gift of play and to enjoy the wonder of Christmas.

“The Big Toy Appeal is all about making the festive period easier for those families who struggle at Christmas by providing toys to open on the big day.

“We’re incredibly proud that each year The Big Toy Appeal has been able to support even more families, with over 92,000 toys donated since 2018.

“Every child deserves to know they are special, and The Big Toy Appeal is a chance for us all to work together to help families celebrate the wonder of Christmas.”

Free help available for TV interference issues

WITH mobile networks in Bath being improved to boost performance and coverage, residents are being reminded about the support available if they begin experiencing interference on their TV.

There is a small chance the network upgrades may cause interference to television signals received through an aerial such as Freeview, BT, TalkTalk and YouView.

Symptoms could include intermittent sound, blocky images, known as pixelation, or a loss of TV signal.

Free support is available from Restore TV. Restore TV’s role is to ensure people can continue to enjoy free-to-view TV when mobile networks are upgraded in their area.

It provides help to anyone experiencing interference with TV services caused by mobile signals.

Restore TV also offers additional support for people 75 years of age or older, are registered blind or partially sighted or receive any of the following benefits: personal independence payments (PIPs);

attendance allowance; constant attendance allowance or War Pensioner’s Mobility Support.

Ben Roome, CEO of Restore TV, said: “We know just how important TV is to inform, entertain and provide welcome company. Restore TV exists to ensure we all can continue to access free to view TV as mobile services are improved across the country.”

“If you see new TV interference, we’re on hand to help you resolve the issue. We can send a Restore TV filter, free of charge, for you to fit between your aerial lead and TV or set-top box to remove mobile signals and allow you to watch free to view TV as normal. “Full instructions are included, and we can provide further advice online and by phone if needed. In most instances, fitting the filter will resolve any issues, but if this isn’t the case, we may also be able to arrange a follow-up visit from a Restore TV engineer at no cost, depending on eligibility.”

Cable and satellite TV, such as Sky or Virgin, are not affected. You can contact Restore TV via 0808 13 13 800 or restoretv.uk

Church celebrates £1,500 of funding thanks to insurer

Church member Jill Suter said: “I was staggered when I heard that we had won, but it’s fabulous news and will really help us going forward.

To celebrate the milestone, the company launched its Celebration Awards to give a total of £22,500 to 15 Methodist Churches and the communities

Churches were asked to explain, in no more than 300 words, how they would use the funding to support their church’s work and how it will benefit the local community.

Hundreds of entries were submitted to the competition, demonstrating how churches are providing support to communities struggling to cope with the cost-of-living crisis while still recovering from the impact of the pandemic.

Peasedown St John Methodist Church runs the popular ‘Seeds’ toddler group, catering to around 30 families a week.

The pandemic lockdowns had a major impact on young families, with the after effects still being felt, making the work the church does more important than ever.

“The lockdowns really increased the strain on young families and although they have now ended, for some they have been replaced by the worry of how to make ends meet. The funding will mean our Children and Family Worker who works alongside the church volunteers at Seeds can undertake training as a parenting course facilitator so that she can run a course to help families and train others.”

Michael Angell, chief executive at Methodist Insurance, said: “It’s both humbling and deeply impressive that we had so many amazing entries showcasing the work of the Methodist Church. “Churches across the country have been doing their bit and sacrificing their own time to help those less fortunate and to serve their local communities in pursuit of their mission. Congratulations to Peasedown St John Methodist Church on their win and I am sure they will put the £1,500 award to good use and continue their outstanding work.”

Lack of support “dragging” the hospitality sector “through the mud”

BATH’S MP Wera Hobhouse has said that a lack of postpandemic support for hospitality businesses is “dragging the sector through the mud”.

Earlier this month, workers in the hospitality industry gathered in Parliament Square in London for the third time to protest the government’s lack of support.

Between January 2020 and 2021, there was a 10% fall in the total number of hospitality businesses in the UK, and many continue to be at risk of collapse.

From January to March 2020 to October to December 2021, the number of workers in the sector fell by 90,000 or 3.6%.

This compared to a 1.3% decline in jobs across all industries.

In Bath, it is estimated that 6,000 people are employed in the hospitality sector across around 525 businesses.

Between 2010 and 2020, the number of pubs dropped by 10% across the community.

Hospodemo, the campaign group organising the event, gathered in Parliament Square to urge the government to take appropriate

action to support the sector.

MP Wera Hobhouse attended the event to support a local Bath pub owner who was calling for Government action.

The campaign group are calling for a business rates holiday or reduction and a visa scheme to allow overseas workers to work in hospitality amid other demands.

Ms Hobhouse commented: “The pandemic has put the hospitality

workforce in crisis.

“The colossal amount of job vacancies demand there be an overseas hospitality worker visa scheme now to protect the industry from collapse.

“Brexit and a lack of pandemic support is dragging the sector through the mud. The Government must reach out before the hospitality industry falls even further.”

Toys will be donated to children who may not receive them this Christmas

A CHURCH in the village of Peasedown St John near Bath is celebrating after receiving £1,500 as part of specialist insurer Methodist Insurance’s 150th anniversary.

they serve.

Politics

Top politicians ordered to stop fighting and “play nicely”

Adam Postans Local Democracy Reporter

WATCHDOGS have ordered the region’s feuding political leaders to stop fighting, “play nicely” and work together or risk losing vital government money, in an “utterly damning” report.

Auditors Grant Thornton found five “significant weaknesses” in the West of England Combined Authority’s (WECA’s) arrangements to secure value for money (VfM) in its use of resources.

They concluded: “The presence of such a large number of significant governance weakness is a major concern.”

The finance experts also found that the way a top officer was given a £59,000 golden handshake placed the organisation “at the potential risk of committing to an unlawful payment”.

The 2020/21 VfM audit report makes three legally binding “statutory recommendations”, which are the most serious that can be applied to a public body and must be reported to government and addressed as an “urgent priority”.

Grant Thornton has issued such recommendations to only six of the 180 local authorities whose books it has examined this year – one in 30 – a WECA audit committee meeting was told on Thursday 17th November.

WECA bosses have accepted the findings but insist they run the “most successful combined authority in the country”, having brought in nearly £1billion to the region in the last year.

They also suggested the combined authority has achieved this because of, and not despite, the major public fallouts between metro mayor Dan Norris, who heads WECA, and the leaders of its three constituent councils – Bristol, South Gloucestershire and Bath & North East Somerset – and that a “pretence” of unanimity would be “unhelpful”. However, members of the crossparty audit committee slammed their response to the report as “complacent” and an attempt to “sweep it under the table”.

Two of the statutory recommendations, as well as one of two “key recommendations” the auditors also made – which are a step down but still urgent –relate to “strained relationships” among the four political leaders and even some top officers.

The report said: “The poor state of professional relationships between the combined authority mayor and the representatives of the other members of the combined authority, and between some chief officers, reflect a significant weakness in partnership governance.

“We are concerned that the ongoing poor state of relationships could start to limit the ability to work together to optimise strategic opportunities in future.

“External perceptions of dysfunction could also begin to affect the reputation of the combined authority with central government and other partners, ultimately affecting the ability to raise further funding and undermining public confidence.”

But auditors concluded that despite such perceptions, WECA “has not become dysfunctional” because significant new money had been secured and was allocated to projects effectively.

They recommended: “The mayor and members of the combined authority represented by the council leaders must commit to improving their working relationship and demonstrate that significant progress has been made within a reasonable timeframe.

“This should include a role for independent mediation and the constructive consideration of advice arising from this process.”

In response, WECA management said Labour’s Mr Norris and Bristol Labour mayor Marvin Rees, South Gloucestershire Council leader Conservative Cllr Toby Savage and B&NES Council leader Lib Dem Cllr Kevin Guy had taken part in a mediation process chaired by Prof Steve West which was still ongoing and should result in a “protocol for future working”.

Grant Thornton’s report said: “The level of collaboration and consultation on proposals put forward to [WECA] committee has been poor.

“Proposals have been presented to members as complete for decision, with little or no attempt to seek views or reach consensus.

“This has reduced the options open to members to either approve or reject at the risk of appearing to be standing in the way of progress and therefore creates a culture of distrust.”

It recommended: “A formal protocol should be agreed between member organisations within the combined authority to commit to consultation on key proposals at an earlier stage.

“Combined authority members should engage effectively in this process, to help mitigate points of contention before they are published and debated in public.”

WECA management said: “The mayor now meets on a regular basis one-to-one with the leaders of the unitary authorities (UAs).

“The chief executive meets her UA counterparts similarly oneto-one.”

The third statutory

recommendation related to the severance payoff.

Grant Thornton found turnover of senior staff was a “significant weakness requiring a key recommendation” to address a “pressing need” to finalise a senior management restructure, which the council leaders had previously blocked at WECA committee.

But auditors said: “We did not identify any general issues with management culture contributing to the loss of key staff.”

They recommended reviewing the future management structure to ensure it was fit for purpose, which combined authority bosses said they kept under constant review.

WECA committee, comprising Mr Norris and the three council leaders, was expected to vote on officer advice on how the combined authority should respond to each of the auditors’ recommendations on Thursday 17th November.

But the meeting lasted just six minutes and was adjourned when no one would second the paper.

WECA audit committee, which met immediately before it, had agreed unanimously that it should be postponed so a better action plan could be drawn up, as they were unhappy with officers’ response.

South Gloucestershire Lib Dem Cllr John O’Neill told the audit committee: “It’s not really an action plan.

“It doesn’t tell us what’s going to happen, who’s going to do it, timelines, there is nothing there that resembles an action plan.

“The paper today does not give rise to the seriousness of Grant Thornton’s recommendations.

“It is being swept under the table.”

Bristol Conservative Cllr Jonathan Hucker said: “The management responses are somewhat complacent.

“There is no indication of timelines or any plan being put in place to fix the very important issues that the auditors have identified.”

WECA chief executive Patricia Greer told the meeting that the auditors concluded there was no evidence that the strained relationships had had an adverse effect on how WECA worked.

“In the last financial year we have brought in nearly £1billion of additional funding to the region which would not have come in had we not had an effective combined authority,” she said.

“It’s the most successful combined authority in the country per capita in terms of the amount of money that is brought into the region.

“Our focus now is on delivery, making sure we can translate that money and make a difference to our bus services, our transport.

“So there is no evidence it has affected the workings of the combined authority.”

She said a recent staff survey showed WECA’s culture was “incredibly positive” and among the best of any organisation in the country.

WECA director of law and governance Stephen Gerrard said: “The mayor and members of the combined authority represented by the council leaders must commit to improving their working relationships.

“This is about saying ‘play nicely together’.

“Whether they choose to do that or not is a matter for them – they

are politicians and they are of different political persuasions.

“That it’s not always going to happen.

“The reality is that the combined authority has delivered, and it’s arguable that it’s because of the conflict as much as despite the conflict.

“The nature of democracy means you have it, and trying to erase it under the pretence of agreement across the board is probably unhelpful.”

Dr Greer added: “We are accepting the recommendations and have some proposals in place for addressing those.

“But we are equally saying that they are politicians of different parties, and politicians by their nature are elected to bring political leadership and won’t always agree.”

Afterwards, Cllr Savage said: “The independent auditor’s report makes for utterly damning reading with no less than three statutory recommendations –this is unheard of.

“It’s thoroughly disappointing that we have not been given the opportunity to question the Weca mayor and the senior leadership of the combined authority over the alarming findings of the independent auditor’s report.

“The report highlights a number of serious governance failings at WECA and I, along with my local authority colleagues, recognise the need for the WECA mayor and senior officers to be held to account.”

A spokesperson for Mr Norris said: “The council leaders asked for an adjournment so they could more fully consider the report.

“It seems sensible the discussion will therefore take place after this period of reflection at the reconvened meeting happening shortly.”

The WECA meeting lasted six minutes | Photo © WECA Inset: Leader of B&NES Council, Cllr Kevin Guy

In Other News...

Young people urged to get lifesaving meningitis vaccination

ALMOST 1 in 5 18-year-olds missed their routine meningitis MenACWY vaccine in secondary school, leaving local teenagers unprotected before arriving at university.

Figures across the region vary considerably with uptake in some local authorities as low as 73.7% and others at 91.7% coverage.

Young people are being encouraged to get vaccinated if they haven’t received the lifesaving jab.

First-year or returning students can be at increased risk of meningitis as they mix with large numbers of other students from around the country and overseas. Low immunity levels and a lack of exposure to infections during the pandemic has left young people vulnerable to meningococcal disease.

The disease can cause meningitis, a dangerous swelling of the lining around the brain and spinal column, and septicaemia (blood poisoning) which can both trigger sepsis.

It needs urgent treatment and can be life-threatening.

Often confused with a flu, a hangover or COVID-19, students are particularly at risk of missing the early warning signs of meningitis.

A new digital campaign, launched by Meningitis Now, Meningitis Research Foundation, A Life for A Cure, the NHS, UKHSA and GlaxoSmithKline calls for young people to register with a GP, take up the offer of a MenACWY and familiarise themselves with meningitis symptoms.

Parents are reminded to check whether their child is protected by the MenACWY vaccination and to contact their child’s GP if they still require a vaccine.

Professor Dominic Mellon, Deputy Director, UKHSA South West said: “Young adults who may have missed their routine MenACWY vaccination are still eligible up to their 25th birthday.

“Check whether you’ve had your MenACWY vaccine and contact your GP if you need to catch up.

“It’s essential we maintain the highest possible uptake to prevent a resurgence of meningitis, which is serious and can be life-threatening.

“Being in confined environments with close contacts, such as university halls, pubs and clubs increases the chances of infection if unprotected.

“The MenACWY vaccine gives protection against four strains of meningococcal disease and is the most effective way of protecting against infection.

“However, it does not protect against meningococcal B (MenB), which is why it is still so important to make sure you are aware of the signs and symptoms of meningococcal disease including vomiting, severe headache, unexplained temperature rise, dislike of bright lights, neck stiffness, a nonblanching rash, drowsiness, and altered levels of consciousness.”

Dr Tom Nutt, chief executive of the charity Meningitis Now, said: “Meningitis is a devastating

disease that can strike anyone at any time and leave havoc in its wake. Many young people will know of someone from their community whose life, and that of their family and friends, has been torn apart by its impact.

“With vaccination the only way to protect yourself against the misery this disease inflicts we’d urge all those who haven’t yet taken advantage of this free MenACWY vaccination to do so as soon as possible.

“The good news is that by doing so you will not just be protecting your own health but that of your friends and the wider community too.”

The MenACWY vaccine protects against four strains of meningococcal disease, but it does not protect against all strains that can cause meningitis and septicaemia, and does not protect against Meningitis B. Having the vaccine will reduce

the risk of getting meningitis and septicaemia, but it is still important to be vigilant in being able to spot early symptoms of infection and to seek prompt medical assistance if you are concerned about family or friends who might be becoming unwell.

Symptoms of infection may include:

• Fever, cold hands and feet

• Severe headache, joint or muscle pains

• Stiff neck

• Dislike of bright lights

• Vomiting and/or diarrhoea

• Pale, blotchy skin with or without a rash, that doesn’t fade when a glass is rolled over it

• Irritability and/or confusion

• Drowsiness, difficult to wake up

• Convulsions/seizures

Not everyone will develop these symptoms and they can appear in any order. If in doubt seek advice from a medical professional.

Chief Constable “uncomfortable” over officers allowed to stay

Adam Postans Local Democracy Reporter

AVON & Somerset’s top police officer admits she has concerns about how some cops are allowed to continue working for the force, following a damning report into national vetting failures.

A government watchdog found that potentially thousands of recruits across the country should have failed crucial checks and concluded a culture of misogyny and predatory behaviour against women was prevalent in many forces.

The report by HM Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS), ordered after Sarah Everard’s kidnap, rape and murder in March 2021 by serving Met Police officer Wayne Couzens, did not include Avon & Somerset in its investigation.

But Chief Constable Sarah Crew says that while initial screening for new recruits in the force is “strong”, she is “uncomfortable” with both the appeals process and misconduct hearings when the outcome is not to sack officers but to find a more suitable role where “threat and risk is mitigated”.

HMICFRS, which made 43 recommendations, found many cases where applicants should not have become cops, including those with links to organised crime, along with predatory sex offenders, robbers, drug criminals and domestic abuse perpetrators.

Avon & Somerset police and crime commissioner (PCC) Mark Shelford, whose elected role is to hold the chief constable to account, asked Ms Crew about the report at a quarterly public grilling called the performance and accountability board.

The Conservative politician asked: “What reassurance can you give me that no serving officer or member of the wider police family poses a security risk to the public in the constabulary area?”

Ms Crew said she had overseen investment in the professional standards, vetting and countercorruption departments since becoming chief constable a year ago. We have increased the size of those teams and we have increased the leadership too,” she said.

“It is worth saying, because we recognise this is not a new challenge, that we know there

have been problems that sparked this inspection in the first place, not least the murder of Sarah Everard. We uniquely have an all-female leadership team in our professional standards department and our vetting team as well, so there is a unique insight.”

She said vetting processes had been reviewed several times in recent years and that professional standards had found areas for improvement.

“Our initial vetting is strong and we are in a good place with our re-vetting, when officers and staff need to be vetted again later in their career,” the chief constable said. We are in a good place too with ‘triggered vetting’ – when one person moves to another role, the vetting needs to be at a different level.

“And also we are building a culture where we are encouraging line managers as part of their leadership responsibility to identify when things change in one of their member of staff’s lives, it means re-vetting is necessary, so we built that into our annual career review process.

“So process-wise we are strong, there is real focus from the team – that increased team – on our

standards, our culture, because it is so critical to public confidence.

“There is more to do. There are areas that I have asked to be looked at, [including] the appeals process which is done independent of the team.

“We have conversations as well around situations where we may take someone to a misconduct panel but they are not dismissed by the chair of the panel and they come back into the organisation for us to place somewhere where actually we aren’t comfortable with that person being, and we have to look at roles where threat and risk is mitigated.

“So those are two areas that – if I’m being completely frank and honest – I remain uncomfortable about and we need to do more.”

She said the force was never complacent and that Avon & Somerset Police was regarded as “risk-averse” when it came to vetting, which she said was “reassurance” for the PCC and the public.

“There is a pressure and tension to bring new officers and staff into policing, and to do it quickly, and sometimes vetting is seen as an administrative process or a bit of bureaucracy that slows that down, but actually it is a real

important tension,” she said.

“So I see that risk-aversion, that tension against vetting, as being a good thing and a reassurance.

“This is a responsibility for every leader in the organisation to be watching for behaviour that is intentionally bad and which we must deal with through robust means, but also things that are not intentionally bad but need to be nipped in the bud and they need to be coached and educated and dealt with head-on.”

Ms Crew said she would ensure the force was doing or would do everything recommended in the report and “over and above that if there is anything else we need to do to improve that situation”.

Mr Shelford said: “One of those responsibilities of the leaders and commanders is to identify that change in people’s characters.

“That vapour-trail change is incredibly important and cannot be dismissed as a one-off.”

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When you’ve finished reading, please make sure this newspaper is recycled. Just pop it in your green recycling box, or use it for something handy around the house, such as lining your kitchen food caddy.

Across: 1 Often, 5 Strip, 8 Droop, 10 Armada, 11 Shekel, 12 Unify, 13 Living, 14 Cattle, 15 Heath, 17 Infect, 18 Oppose, 20 Extra, 21 Drawer, 23 Nassau, 25 India, 26 Patron, 28 Leaves, 29 Lousy, 31 Manila, 32 Sweden, 33 Where, 34 Story, 35 Newts.

Down: 2 Foreigner, 3 Examine, 4 Gobi, 6 Treetop, 7 Ideal, 8 Daughter-in-law, 9 Psychoanalyse, 16 Acted, 19 Statement, 22 Warrior, 24 Siamese, 27 Abaft, 30 User.