Bath Echo - Issue 042 - 03/01/2023

SEVEN PARKING ZONES APPROVED

Restrictions to be introduced despite opposition - P3

Chance to have say on council's budget plans

PEOPLE across Bath and North East Somerset are being invited to have their say on the council’s draft financial plans for the coming year.

The plans set out the changes the local authority is proposing to balance its budget for 2023-24, as required by law.

As part of the consultation, the council is asking whether residents support an increase in Council Tax by 4.99%, in pref-

erence to further budget reductions.

Following the Chancellor’s budget announcement, the Council Tax precept limit has been raised by 2%, split equally across general Council Tax and Adult Social Care.

Council Tax is made up of multiple parts, known as precepts, which are allocated to local authorities, Parish Councils, the police and fire service.

Adult Social Care needs £3.2m next year just to maintain services and the 2% Adult Social Care element of the 4.99% Council Tax increase will generate an extra £2.4m to help fund this.

The Chancellor has also announced some additional grant funding for social care. The council estimates that the amount allocated to the council that does not come with specific new spending requirements will be

around £3.3m. This funding will contribute to the rising costs of social care and help the council to close the budget gap without the need for additional savings from the ones being consulted on.

Councillor Richard Samuel, deputy leader and cabinet member for Resources, said: “We are going into this budget in a stronger position than many other ...

Continued on page 2

first month

that’s a big price crunch

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Draft financial plans out for public consultation

Continued from page 1 ... councils, because we have managed our finances well over the past three years.

“However, we still have some difficult decisions to make in the light of spiralling costs, social care pressures and the challenging economic climate particularly uncontrolled inflation.

“We are also facing a significant increase in demand for services, such as children’s social care. In the last 18 months the number of looked after children has risen by more than 30 per cent.

“The draft budget income and savings proposals which we have published today includes additional income of £5.23m and savings of £4.43m, alongside new spending to address inflation and pay increases plus demographic pressures in areas such as home to school transport totalling £16.06m.

“If all items in the list of emerging savings and income generation items were to be approved, there would remain a gap in drawing up the budget of £5.4m for 2023/24.

“This gap would need to be met by increasing council tax up to the limits set by the government or proposing further savings.

“However, as we draw up our detailed budget package to present to cabinet and Council in February next year, we want to hear what you think about any aspect of the budget.

The council is also consulting on proposals to increase the thresholds which determine the amount of support people get through their Income-Banded Local Council Tax Support scheme.

Councillor Samuel said: “In these challenging times we need to focus our support on the most vulnerable. As well as asking for views on our budget plans, we

are also consulting on proposals to increase the thresholds for Council Tax support in line with the 10.1% increase in Universal Credit. This would mean that residents in receipt of benefits or on low wages do not drop out of the scheme as they have an inflationary uplift in their income.”

The draft savings and income generation proposals are summarised as follows:

• More than a third of the savings and additional income being put forward is proposed to come from the Deputy Leader and Resources area, including an increase in income from the council’s corporate and commercial estate, a reduction in council running costs and reprofiling capital projects.

• Another third is identified from further additional income – including from Heritage Services, as the visitor economy returns post-Covid, and from Leisure Services. The proposals include

Inflationary uplifts to charges in Neighbourhoods Services, as well as additional income due to more recycling. Additional income would also come from inflationary uplifts to charges in Transport, the recovery of parking demand to pre-pandemic levels and new Residents’ Parking Zones, all of which would also generate income to help fund investment in highways and transport.

• Proposals in the Adult Services and Council House Building portfolio include a review of care packages so they match needs in an affordable way, maximising grant and other income and a restructure of the safeguarding team following its move inhouse.

Children’s Services’ savings proposals will see a focus on preventative services including an extension of Family Group Conferencing, as well as a review of

service funding arrangements.

• Other proposed savings and additional income include reducing consultancy spending and operational costs in Neighbourhood Services and removing vacant posts in Waste and Fleet Services. Savings would also be found by the removal of vacant posts in the Transport portfolio.

To take part in the consultation on the draft budget proposals, visit https://bit.ly/3Vq9i89.

The consultation will close at 5pm on Friday 20th January 2023. After this, detailed budget proposals will be drawn up for scrutiny and consideration by councillors at the following meetings: • Corporate Policy Development and Scrutiny Panel on 23rd January

• Cabinet on 9th February

Final decisions about the 2023 to 2024 budget will be made at the Budget and Council Tax meeting on 21st February.

New Bath Quays bridge opens to the public

John Wimperis Local Democracy Reporter

A NEW bike and pedestrian bridge has finally opened in Bath two years after it was installed but will not be officially named for months.

The bridge was installed in November 2020 but only opened this week. It links Green Park Road on the north bank of the Avon with the new Bath Quays development and the Lower Bristol Road across the river.

After the stretch between Cleveland Bridge and Pulteney Bridge, this had been the longest city centre stretch of river without a bridge.

The name for the bridge is currently being considered by a special committee and will be announced in the spring. Bath locals were invited to submit their own suggestions for what to call it, in a consultation which closed earlier this month.

The father of Ben Saunders, a Bath 18-year-old who founded a charity before he passed away in 2019 which has helped over 160 other families affected by cancer, has called for the bridge to be named Ben’s Bridge in his memory.

Bath and North East Somerset Council also had their own suggestions: Bayer Bridge, Newark Bridge, Foundry Bridge, Craneworks Bridge, or Quays Bridge — after the Bath Quays development the bridge forms part of.

Bath Quays is the council’s flagship development for the Bath City Enterprise Zone, a redevelopment of the Victorian Newark Works building and the construction of Bath’s first new office space “for a generation” in No. 1 Bath Quays.

It has been claimed by some that businesses who moved into the development did not have to pay rent until the bridge was open. But Andy Smith, a letting agent

for No. 1 Bath Quays, said this was not the case.

He said: “If you look at any commercial development [...] then the tenants, whoever they may be, will get a rent free period.”

“They had only moved in a month or so before the bridge was open.”

Mr Smith added that the rent free period would depend on a number of factors including any uncompleted public realm works and lack of access to the building.

He added: “You could say the bridge was a part of the public realm, but it was not rent free because the bridge wasn’t open.”

Leader of the council Kevin Guy

said he was proud of what had been done at Bath Quays. He said: “We are looking forward to the New Year with more people moving in and the ongoing development of the site.”

Funding for the bridge was obtained from the West of England Combined Authority and City Cycle Ambition Grants, a government scheme to increase cycling infrastructure. An international competition was held in 2015 to come up with the design for the bridge, with Parisian architect Marc Miriam’s design chosen over almost 50 others.

The Guildhall in Bath | Photo © chrisdorney / Shutterstock.com

The new bridge which needs a name | Photo courtesy of B&NES Council

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Residents’ parking zones to be introduced despite opposition

SEVEN new residents’ parking zones will be introduced across Bath early next year, despite some areas strongly objecting to the proposals in recent consultations.

The aim of the zones is to tackle anti-social driving and commuter parking in residential streets, as well as improve people’s health and local environment as part of Bath and North East Somerset Council’s Liveable Neighbourhoods programme.

The zones also work towards the local authority’s policies which aim to reduce vehicle emissions and congestion and ensure “fair consideration and equitable street space” is given to those that would prefer to walk, wheel, scoot or cycle short trips.

The new zones will be introduced next year in the following areas:

• St John’s Road, St Michael’s Road and Hungerford Road area

• Chelsea Road and Foxcombe Road area

• Sion Hill and Summerhill Road area

• Entry Hill area

• Lyme Gardens and Charmouth Road area

• Walcot, Snow Hill and Claremont Road area

• Oldfield Park and Westmoreland area.

A proposed residents’ parking zone for the Beacon Hill area will not go ahead because of the high percentage of residents living in the zone who objected to the amended proposals during the formal TRO consultation.

Despite strong objection in two other areas, those proposed zones will still be going ahead.

Councillor Manda Rigby, cabinet member for Transport, said: “As part of making this decision we have listened to residents, many of whom find it challenging to park near their homes because of commuter parking.

“Currently, too many motorists

use these areas to ‘park and stride’, circling often narrow, residential streets to find free parking before heading into the city for the day.

“This is not something we can encourage if we are serious about tackling congestion, air pollution and our climate emergency.

Instead, we want to encourage people to use our local buses, the park and ride sites, or to walk, scoot or cycle short journeys.

“The seven zones, which were proposed by ward councillors on behalf of their communities, are part of the council’s wider Liveable Neighbourhoods programme.

“We have revised some of the zones with shopping streets to include more dual-use bays, ensuring a balance is struck between the needs of residents and local shops.

“Evidence shows that this type of controlled parking benefits local business by ensuring parking spaces are available for shoppers, and not blocked by vehicles parked for the whole day, often by commuters.

“You will start to see the zones going in from mid-January. Once they are up and running we will monitor their impact and would welcome feedback to help us address any minor issues.

“I recognise the zones may

have an impact on other areas and I want to remind people that they can request their own RPZs, via ward councillors, if there is a significant and lasting displacement of vehicles into neighbouring areas as a result of the new zones.”

Preparations to install five of the seven smaller zones will start in the New Year. This excludes the larger Walcot, Snow Hill and Claremont Road area and the Oldfield Park and Westmoreland area that will be installed later in the year as their size and complexity is better suited to installation during the summer months.

Letters will be sent to residents at least one month before the estimated operational dates, including information on the zone, how to apply for permits, and a programme of work that could involve temporary road closures in order to paint the road markings and install signage. People can view more information, at https://beta. bathnes.gov.uk/LNRPZ and residents are advised to visit the website page regularly to check for service updates at www. bathnes.gov.uk/LNRPZworks. The introduction of the zones follows consultations earlier this year. Residents were initially

Parking Zone Location: Support/partial support: Object :

St John’s Road, St Michael’s Road and Hungerford Road 56% 43%

Chelsea Road and Foxcombe Road 55% 45%

Sion Hill and Summerhill Road 72.5% 27.5%

Entry Hill 82% 18%

Lyme Gardens and Charmouth Road 64% 36% Walcot, Snow Hill and Claremont Road 30% 70%

Oldfield Park and Westmoreland 41% 58%

invited to share their views on the proposals during an informal public consultation in May 2022. There was further opportunity to comment on plans revised from that feedback during a formal consultation in October 2022.

After considering the submissions made, the revised plans included reductions in the size of some of the proposed zones, improvements to signage and road marking proposals, installing more dual-use bays to support local businesses, and additional tailored amends to ensure the proposals work as well as possible for everyone in the community.

Under the new RPZ policy, the annual permit cost can vary depending on your vehicle’s emissions but, as a guide, a permit for an average eight-yearold 1.6L petrol or diesel family car would normally cost in the range of £100 to £125 per year.

Permits for smaller, newer cars would typically be less. Residents can also purchase visitor permits regardless of whether they own a permit themselves.

To help manage the costs of permits, and to ensure that money is not wasted when permits are not required, permits can now be

purchased in durations of 1, 3, 6 and 12 months.

The proposed RPZs and single yellow lines will operate between 8am to 6pm, 7 days a week, not including bank holidays. Double yellow and disabled parking bays operate at all times unless a sign indicates otherwise.

Permits are limited to two permits per property. Properties with one off-street parking space are limited to one permit, and properties with two offstreet spaces are not eligible for permits.

Application for permits via MiPermit will open at least a month before each zone is due to start.

More information on eligibility, the cost of permits (according to vehicle emissions) and how to apply is available at www. bathnes.gov.uk/RPZpermits. Residents seeking further information, or information in another format such as easyread, Braille, or in another language, can email to LNPilots@ bathnes.gov.uk or call an advisor on 01225394025.

Those unable to access the internet can visit BathnesLibraries and Information and Advice Services for support.

Cleaning investment sees teams complete 25 ‘action weeks’

INCREASED street cleaning along with a boosted graffiti removal service thanks to a one-off investment by Bath & North East Somerset Council has helped to spruce up the area.

The council’s Clean and Green teams have visited every ward in the district, completing 25 ‘action weeks’ responding to requests from councillors and residents. The most common request was for the removal of weeds, because the local authority no longer uses chemical weedkiller. The teams have also been litter picking and since October, have been clearing leaves.

They work alongside the Clean and Green Response team, which handles all the requests on the council’s Report It page.

More than 675 requests were dealt with, resolving the majority while in the area and passing roughly 10% to other council teams to action.

More than 80% of the requests were about overhanging vegetation in the council’s parks and green spaces, but the team has also dealt with overhanging vegetation which was blocking the visibility of signs or road junctions.

They have also been busy cleaning road signs, particularly those in Peasedown St John, Clutton, Farmborough and Keynsham.

In addition, the Clean and Green team has been working with community volunteer groups, schools and local councillors to organise community action days to help tackle problem areas.

To date, 15 action events have taken place locally including at Temple Cloud, Weston, Whitchurch, Larkhall and partners have included Weston Wombles and Weston Resident Associations, Friends of Moorland Park, Keynsham Wombles, Farrans Construction and the University of Bath

Performance Rugby Squad.

Several local schools have also organised events including the Royal High, Paulton Junior School, Bathwick St Mary’s Church School, Chandag Junior School and St John’s Primary School in Oldfield Park.

Councillor Kevin Guy, leader of

the council, said: “The additional funding and the hard work of everyone involved is helping to make B&NES a better place to live, work and visit.

“We would like to say a big thank to all the organisations and volunteers who are helping to keep B&NES clean and green and

to growing number of regular volunteers who are organising and joining litter picks.

“So far this year we have collected more than 102 bags of litter and 45 bags of street weeds during community events, which is a remarkable achievement.”

Weed removal kits have also been lent to communities for residents to borrow. A group of volunteers from St Michael’s Church in Twerton has been making use of the weed removal equipment and is meeting on the first Tuesday of every month to litter pick and remove weeds along Twerton High Street. The Residents’ Association in Bathwick has also been holding a litter pick and weed removal session most Saturdays, whilst the Chew Magna No Place For Litter hub has been busy lending out weed removal equipment to volunteers who have been clearing weeds around the parish flower beds and outside the fire station.

The new zones will be introduced over the next few months

Cllr Jess David with volunteers from Friends of Moorland Park and Clean & Green team operatives | Photo courtesy of B&NES Council

Disabled people “excluded” from centre following closure

John Wimperis Local Democracy Reporter

DISABLED people in Bath have been excluded from the city centre since Milsom Street was closed to blue badge holders, one Bathonian who now struggles to get around their city has said.

Milsom Street has been closed to cars since 2020, with a temporary order in place to make the busy shopping street into a buses-only road from 10am to 6pm.

This means getting a taxi or parking on the street are no longer options for disabled people, although five additional disabled parking bays were added on Quiet Street and New Bond Street.

The order was extended last year. A decision on whether to make it permanent will be made next year.

One Bath local, who was left immobile after a disease and who preferred not to have their name published over fears of online abuse, said: “The change may not sound much to Bath and North East Somerset councillors and active travel campaigners, but it’s changed my life completely.

“I used to go into Bath most days. I’d meet a friend for coffee or lunch. I’d do some shopping or banking. Now I hardly ever leave my house.”

They explained: “Some of us with disabilities can’t walk very far. But for those who can walk just a little way, being able to park in

Milsom Street gives us access to lots of useful shops and services.”

Having to park further away means having to use a wheelchair to reach the street, which they said was challenging due to cafes’ outdoor seating and Bath’s uneven pavements.

They said: “Once, I could drive to Milsom Street and park. I could then walk short distances with two sticks or a walking frame and when I was done, even if I was very tired, I had a short distance to get back to the car and go home.

“Now I have to be wheeled back to Charlotte Street and I need to time my visit meticulously to coincide with when a carer can take me.”

They added: “Bath and North East Somerset has taken my independence and dignity away from me, just so cyclists and walkers can enjoy the city centre more.

“Able-bodied people have been prioritised over disabled residents.”

Manda Rigby, the council’s cabinet member for transport, said: “We always assess the impact on people with disabilities when we undertake schemes and we listen to residents, businesses, disability groups and Blue Badge holders to ensure we strike the right balance for everyone’s needs.

“We have good Blue Badge parking in the city which has been protected as part of our City Centre Security scheme, in fact people with Blue Badges

are no longer in competition for street parking places with other vehicles within this zone.

“But our spaces are shared, so at the same time as considering access we also have to listen to and consider our hospitality businesses, who benefit from outdoor seating areas.

“In Milsom Street we are currently reviewing the equalities impact assessment on the experimental traffic regulation order, which enabled the street to be closed, and a decision about whether

Views sought on £15 council tax increase to better fund policing

PEOPLE across the Bath area are being asked to have their say on whether they support an increase in their council tax to better fund local policing.

The Police and Crime Commissioner for Avon and Somerset, Mark Shelford, has launched a survey to ask residents if they agree or disagree with his proposal to increase the policing part of the council tax, known as the precept, by £15 a year for the average band D household.

Local policing is funded by a combination of the council tax precept, the Home Office and other grants, with the precept accounting for 41% of police funding.

The PCC is responsible for setting the amount of money residents contribute to local policing through the precept.

The Government determines the maximum amount by which PCCs can increase the precept each year.

For next year, the Government has told PCCs they can increase the precept by £15 for a band D household (equivalent to 6%).

The Government assume that PCCs will ask for the maximum allowed and use this assumption

in their budget setting. Even with the maximum precept increase, the funding will not be enough to meet projected costs.

As a result, Avon and Somerset Police will face a £3.2 million deficit in the year 2023/24 and £7.4 million deficit in 2024/25.

PCC Mark Shelford said: “Even if Avon and Somerset Police receive an extra £15 next year from local people in band D households, this will leave a significant deficit that will impact policing.

“£3.2million funds the equivalent of 80 police staff such as PCSOs, investigators and 999/101 call handlers; or the running costs of two thirds of Avon and Somerset Police’s entire fleet of 1,000 vehicles; or one third of our police estate such as police stations and buildings.

“The 7.4million deficit in 2024/25 would increase these numbers to 185 police staff; or more than the running costs of the entire Avon and Somerset Police fleet of 1,000 vehicles; or the running costs of two thirds of our police stations and buildings.”

Mr Shelford continued: “I know that times are tough for a lot of households and an increase in bills next year is a big ask from

local residents.

“Rising costs of living, fuel and inflation is impacting us all, including the cost of running the police service.

“However, in order to deliver on the priorities and the issues you told me were important to you when I was elected, I need to ask for this additional funding.

“Please do take five minutes to complete the survey and share your thoughts with me.”

The survey will run until 30th January 2023. The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner is also distributing 15,000 postal surveys to people across Avon and Somerset.

To complete the survey, visit: https://avonandsomerset-pcc. gov.uk/forms/ops/

this is made permanent will be made in the New Year.

“When it closed we carefully considered accessibility ensuring access to disabled spaces in Quiet Street and New Bond Street and we placed seating at regular intervals along the street for everyone’s benefit. However we know there is always more that can be done.

“The council is currently advertising for a specialist access officer to join our highways team and we will continue to work with

accessibility groups to make sure we are getting the right balance so everyone can enjoy our city and towns.”

The closure of Milsom Street to cars during daytime is one of several traffic orders put in place around the city centre in recent years.

An order restricting access down York Street for security reasons went to a public inquiry earlier this year, after a business owner on the street objected to the plans.

Fundraisers plunge into chilly waters

A BRAND new fundraising event by RUHX, the official charity of the Royal United Hospital in Bath, was held on Sunday 4th December, raising more than £2,000.

A team of brave fundraisers took to the chilly waters of West Country Water Park near Bristol for the Polar Plunge, in support of patients and staff at the RUH this Christmas.

From absolute beginners to seasoned outdoor swimmers, those taking part faced the 5.5 degree lake, either with a dip or a swim. A total of 22 people took part, raising over £2,000 so far.

All money raised will enable the RUHX charity to give every

patient the care they deserve, while supporting hospital staff to do what they do best and further innovation.

Ellie Wilkinson, Events and Community Officer, RUHX said: “The Polar Plunge is a really unique way to fundraise, experience the benefits of cold water and meet a fantastic community of people, all in the safe hands of the superb team at West Country Water Park.

“We’d like to a say a huge thank you to everyone who took part for doing something different this Christmas, and helping us to ensure the health, happiness and wellbeing for everyone in Bath and beyond.”

Milsom Street in the centre of Bath back in 2020 | Photo © Alena Veasey / Shutterstock.com

The precept could rise up to £30/year

Taking part in the Polar Plunge fundraiser | Photo courtesy of RUHX

Bath Spa named as one of the country's greenest universities

BATH Spa University has been named one of the greenest universities in the UK in the latest People and Planet University League Table.

The league table provides an independent ranking of UK universities by environmental and ethical performance, across 14 different categories, including sustainable policy and strategy, education for sustainable development, and staff and student engagement.

Bath Spa was ranked 18th, and third in the South West, out of 153 institutions, climbing 13 places since 2021.

The University was also awarded a special rosette for meeting its carbon emission reduction targets, at a time when the majority of the UK higher education sector has failed to do so, according to the findings.

Among its results, Bath Spa scored 100 per cent for its environmental auditing and management systems, 85 per cent for carbon management, and 78 per cent for carbon reduction.

First place in the South West was awarded to University of Exeter, followed by University of Bristol. The full league table can be found on the People and Planet website.

Julian Greaves, Sustainability Manager at Bath Spa University said: “We are delighted with these results.

“Our purpose is to make the world a better place, one student and staff member at a time, and this ranking is testament to that.

“We have made significant strides in many areas of the University’s sustainability credentials in recent years and look forward to building on our already positive progress.”

Region’s leaders promise to work together following damning report

Postans Local Democracy Reporter

A BUNCH of local politicians whose squabbling could risk losing millions of pounds for the region have promised to try to get along better after being ordered to in a damning auditors’ report.

The leaders of the West of England Combined Authority (WECA), headed by Labour metro mayor Dan Norris, approved an action plan to improve “strained relationships” following a series of high-profile bust-ups, namecalling and even a committee meeting boycott over the last 18 months.

It comes after finance watchdogs Grant Thornton found five “significant weaknesses” in the organisation’s value-for-money arrangements and made three statutory recommendations, which are the most serious that can be applied to a public body and must be addressed urgently. But even as the WECA committee, comprising Mr Norris and the leaders of the three councils that make up the combined authority – Bristol, South Gloucestershire and Bath & North East Somerset – agreed on the steps to stop fighting and “play nicely”, there was division over how the action plan came about.

It took two attempts for them to agree at all after their last meeting in November, where the measures should have been adopted, was abandoned after just six minutes because the three local authority heads were not happy with WECA’s response and demanded more details.

At the latest committee on Friday, 9th December, B&NES Council deputy leader Lib Dem Cllr Richard Samuel said the plan, committing leaders and senior officers to cooperate better, was only agreed after a flurry of emails “flying around” in the days before the meeting.

He said it had not been published beforehand, which should be standard practice to ensure openness and accountability of councillors’ decisions.

Cllr Samuel said: “This is not the way to do business.

“The idea that there are other discussions taking place or other paperwork that exists is not acceptable.”

Members did, however, approve the action plan unanimously, which includes “free and frank discussion” among leaders on regional priorities, committee members being involved earlier in decision-making, a new Weca senior management structure and a peer challenge.

Mr Norris told the meeting: “We are going to try to cooperate better. I recognise the importance of the report.

“The West of England Combined Authority is bringing in resources and I am proud that the twothirds of a billion pounds-plus secured in the last year for the benefit of local people shows the combined authority is working, but there is much work to do on delivery.

“We will never agree on everything. We are, after all, politicians with deeply held beliefs, but we have a shared ambition in getting the best for our amazing region.

“I have never believed in deals in

smoke-filled rooms or out of sight of the public.”

The West of England mayor said the value-for-money report on governance covered 1st April, 2020, to 31st March last year.

Mr Norris said: “That period is actually prior to me getting elected in May last year, so it covers a period significantly before I took over.”

Grant Thornton partner Jon Roberts replied that the audit could consider issues and evidence after that period, which was in the report, but that he was reassured by the improved action plan.

South Gloucestershire Council leader Conservative Cllr Toby Savage said the lack of collaboration among the politicians and top officers was the reason relationships were so strained and why auditors had found a “culture of distrust”.

Bristol City Council cabinet member Labour Cllr Kye Dudd said: “I welcome the progress made in developing a more meaningful action plan than was originally presented.

“It is vital we make progress in responding to the statutory recommendations and take these very seriously. It is a recognition that while processes and procedures need to be improved, so does our working culture, relationships and behaviours.

“You can get the best governance model in the world but it will only work if everybody commits to engaging with each other in good faith, with respect and in the spirit of finding solutions.

“‘Compromise’ should not be a dirty word when it comes to the combined authority.”

Firefighter training courses cancelled due to threat of strikes

John Wimperis Local Democracy Reporter

AVON Fire Authority has cancelled almost all firefighter training courses as they prepare for the threat of strikes, leaving at least 70 firefighters missing out on required training.

Firefighters have to complete requalification courses in their breathing apparatus every two years. Covid saw the start of a backlog of firefighters with expired breathing apparatus qualifications, which the fire authority had wanted to clear by the end of November.

But now Avon Fire Authority, which runs the fire brigade in North Somerset, Bath & North East Somerset, Bristol, and South Gloucestershire, have had to cancel almost planned training courses for the rest of the year and the number of firefighters with out of date training is set to rise.

Only a single course in trauma care is still being run as the

training team turns all their attention to preparing for potential strikes.

Members of the Fire Brigades Union are currently being balloted on whether to go on strike next year, after they voted to reject a 5% pay rise. If approved, the industrial action would happen in February 2023.

As a result, the fire authority is looking to recruit reserve staff.

Head of HR Karen Shiel said: “Our aim is to get around 80 firefighters, 30 control operators, 20 drivers, and 20 team leaders to provide the cover that is required over that period.”

Matt Crovetto, group manager for the learning and development team, said: “We have to ensure that candidates are capable and able of doing the role that they are asking to do.

“They will be provided a three-day initial skills course, continuous development days, a threeday breathing apparatus initial course, and a three-day initial road traffic collision course.”

But putting all other training on

hold to prepare for the strikes means that it will be even longer before firefighters with out of date breathing apparatus qualifications can requalify.

Mr Crovetto said: “Currently, due to the change in scope and work pressures placed upon the training and delivery team, we have had to cancel seven breathing apparatus courses which has affected between 70

and 84 [firefighters], depending on how many would have turned up on the day which we can’t accurately count. This has meant that, where we had planned to get rid of the backlog by the end of November, we will be looking at – at the end of this month […] – a projection of 41 members of staff out of date and by the 28th of February, that will extend to 68.”

He added that they were planning

to put on two extra breathing apparatus training sessions to get 20 of these firefighters requalified by the end of February. Five more training sessions are already planned long-term. A risk assessment is being carried out on an individual basis for each firefighter with out-of-date training.

The ballot on strike action will run until 30th January 2023.

Bath Spa University’s Newton Park Campus | Photo © Bath Spa University

Adam

Firefighters in breathing apparatus | Photo courtesy of Avon Fire & Rescue Service

Pictures from the Past: Bath, City of Views

Beechen Cliff

Kirsten Elliott Akeman Press

WITH a new year we begin a new series – Bath, City of Views. And if, as a New Year’s Resolution, you have decided to go in for more exercise, at the end of each article, you will find instructions on how to reach the same view point. Winter is the ideal time to admire views, with the trees leafless. We begin with the place where you can obtain perhaps the most famous of all Bath’s panoramas – Beechen Cliff.

Although there are many views like this in the Akeman Press Archive, this photograph, taken in the 1880s, is one of the best. It shows the quay busy with goods such as stone and fodder – the river was still being used for cargo. From left to right, the businesses facing the river were Nurse’s pennant stone masons, the old ironworks, the premises of H Tagliabue, marine store dealer, followed by the maltsters Chandler & Mawer –their malthouses can be seen at the back. Although the next property bears the name Stone Brothers – an apt name for they were quarry masters – the company had merged with Randall and Saunders. Also on the quay, but tucked away at the back, was J Bladwell, builders merchant with Walkers, fodder merchants, at the far end. There are two archways shown.

The one set back, next to the marine store, survived into the 1950s, and led to more malthouses, while the other was the entrance to Bladwell’s. Incredibly, the way through this arch has survived as the goods entrance to Carpenter House.

On the other side of Southgate Street we can see the Full Moon Inn, with beyond it what was then another stone yard. Stretching out beyond this, we can see the Southgate area.

Today, most of these buildings have disappeared, though only St James’s church was a victim of bombing. The rest were torn down in 1971 in favour of Owen Luder’s Southgate development. A well intentioned provision of the 1947 Town and Country Planning Act introduced the concept of a Grade III listing, offering a basic level of protection to old but not

notably important buildings. As Adam Fergusson noted in The Sack of Bath, in some cities – and Bath was one of them – it simply encouraged their demolition before they could be upgraded. The old houses in Southgate Street were removed in indecent haste. They included no less than eight pubs. The triangular pediment of one of these, the London Wine and Spirit Vaults, can just be seen above the rooftops.

There are several ways to reach viewpoints on Beechen Cliff, but perhaps the best is to climb up Holloway until you reach Magdalen Road. On your left, you will see a horse trough, with a footpath just past it. The path swings right before swinging around to the left, when the view will open up to your left. Follow the footpath to reach the various viewpoints.

Residents being urged to check their homes are gas safe

AS the winter begins, people across Bath are being urged to protect themselves and their loved ones by ensuring their homes are gas safe.

As temperatures drop, the number of gas-related incidents increases, making now a crucial time to get gas heating appliances checked by a Gas Safe registered engineer.

The Gas Safe Register is also

urging people to make sure everyone at home can spot the signs and symptoms of unsafe gas.

The latest inspection figures show that 1 in 3 homes has an unsafe gas appliance.

Left not serviced and unchecked year-on-year, gas appliances such as cookers, fires and boilers can cause carbon monoxide poisoning, as well as gas

leaks which, in some extreme circumstances, can lead to fires and explosions.

Most incidents of carbon monoxide poisoning happen in the winter months when people are more likely to be using their gas appliances, such as boilers and fires to keep warm.

Carbon monoxide is a highly poisonous gas that you can’t see, taste or smell. It can cause death

and serious long-term health problems, but it is preventable.

Recent research conducted on behalf of Gas Safe Register found two-fifths of homeowners admit to pushing safety actions such as fitting a carbon monoxide alarm and ensuring their boilers are safety checked to the bottom of their to-do lists.

To help people stay safe during the cold snap, the Gas Safe

Register has put together a list of gas safety steps. They include:

• Having all your gas appliances safety checked every year by a Gas Safe registered engineer.

• Only using a Gas Safe registered engineer to fit, fix and service your gas appliances. It’s illegal for someone to do this if they’re not on the Gas Safe Register.

• Fitting an audible carbon monoxide alarm.

Farm vehicle driver (7)

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Short dagger (8)

Predatory South American fish (7)

E.g. revolver (8)

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Back and forth (2,3,3)

Fruit drink (8)

Pocket tool, originally a quill cutter (8)

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Space between two objects (8)

Submerged half-way up the legs (4-4)

Incandescent (5-3)

Finely chopped (8)

(7)

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“Priceless” hospital volunteers thanked for continued contribution

Santa spreads festive magic during event

VOLUNTEERS at the Royal United Hospital have been thanked for their contributions after donating nearly 14,000 hours of their time in the last year.

There are more than 130 hospital volunteers in a wide variety of roles including welcoming and directing visitors, gardening, serving hot drinks to patients on the wards, providing breastfeeding support to new parents, and helping in the hospital’s Friends of the RUH shop and café.

In addition to this, there are people who give their time in the community to fundraise.

The RUH held a tea party on Monday 21st November to say thank you and pay tribute to the vital role that volunteers play.

Chief Nurse Toni Lynch said: “We simply couldn’t do what we do without our amazing volunteers. They touch every facet of hospital life, and every single one of them makes a phenomenal difference to our patients, their loved ones, and our teams.

“It’s humbling and inspiring to hear the stories of the people who support us. We are here for

our local community, and they are here for us too.

“I’m particularly proud of the relationship we’re building with Bath College, which has led to some of our younger volunteers choosing further education or careers in care.”

Christine and Stephen Brook, from Weston in Bath, have volunteered in the hospital’s eight-strong gardening team for more than ten years.

They look after many of the green spaces on the RUH site, including 20 courtyard gardens. Earlier this year the hospital was ranked as “outstanding” in the It’s Your Neighbourhood gardening award scheme, run by the Royal Horticultural Society.

Christine, 64, said: “We meet every Wednesday nearly all year round, and it’s so enjoyable to see the gardens evolve throughout the year.

“It’s a pleasure to realise what a difference the gardens make to so many staff and patients.

“For example, we meet pregnant ladies out on a walk to help their labour, and they always say it’s so much nicer than walking in the corridors.

“For patients and families going through a really difficult time, the gardens are like ‘green therapy’.”

Vivien Hynes, 69, from Bath, volunteers with her four-yearold whippet Daisy, via national charity Pets as Therapy. Together they visit two of the hospital’s wards for older people, plus the Children’s Ward.

Vivien said: “The thing I love the most about volunteering is seeing people’s faces light up when Daisy walks into the room.

“It’s not just the patients who benefit, it offers staff a real boost too.

“When people see Daisy they often tell you stories about their own pets and so it’s a great talking point and way to take people’s minds off being in hospital.

“I take great pleasure knowing that Daisy and I can provide great comfort to people, especially when they’re away from home in hospital.”

If you would be interested in volunteering at the RUH, you can find out more on the Friends of the RUH website, friendsoftheruh. org.uk, by calling 01225 824046 or emailing ruh-tr.volunteers@nhs. net.

Elves had set up a grotto at the event on Saturday 17th December, with twinkling lights and a throne, where Santa read a story, Oliver, The Littlest Elf, to the children.

Curo customer Katie Eames, who lives in Foxhill, was at the event with her daughter Ariya, aged four, and son Ethan, aged nine months.

She said: “It’s lovely that Curo put on this event. I kept it a secret from Ariya until this morning. When she found out we were seeing Santa she was so excited, she ran all the way here!”

“My favourite bit was seeing Santa,” said Ariya. “He was funny.”

At The Hub’s entrance, a snow machine greeted guests with yuletide cheer, while craft stalls from local makers meant families could grab some last-minute gifts.

Children were able to enjoy some Christmas crafts, including decorating wreaths and colouring in cards.

There was also festive facepainting and donkey rides in the snow-covered play area outside.

A Christmas raffle raised £244 for Bath City Farm, Curo’s Charity of the Year.

Michelle Sage, Curo’s Resident Engagement Co-ordinator, said:

“The Christmas Magic event was a lovely opportunity to bring joy to our younger residents and their families at the end of what has been a hard year for a lot of people.

“Our team of elves was made up of Curo colleagues volunteering their time. They all loved putting smiles on the children’s faces.

“The feedback from parents was really positive, with many saying how amazing it is that Curo put on events like this.”

Santa said: “I loved meeting all the boys and girls at The Hub and had a wonderful time bringing joy to residents this festive season.”

The event closed with the switching-on of Mulberry Park’s Christmas lights, with special guest star Charlie Ewels from the Bath Rugby team.

Guests were invited to watch the display from the Curo Sales Suite, with Santa’s elves providing festive treats and mulled wine for adults, as well as non-alcoholic drinks for children.

Curo is also making a charitable donation on Charlie’s behalf to the Bath Rugby Foundation, which works to empower vulnerable children and young people in Bath and the surrounding area to succeed.

Jodie Winter, Curo Sales Manager, said: “The Christmas light switchon was a wonderful finale to such a magical day; it was a special chance for the Mulberry Park neighbourhood to come together and share the holiday goodwill.”

MP calls on ministers to visit patients during NHS crisis

BATH’S Liberal Democrat MP

Wera Hobhouse has challenged government ministers to visit places suffering the most during the current NHS crisis and witness the ongoing issues at A&E departments.

During Parliament’s Christmas Adjournment Debate, the MP raised how earlier in the year she had led a debate on ambulance and emergency department waiting times after the Royal College of Emergency Medicine published a report.

She said that three years ago, an ambulance taking more than 50 minutes to reach a stroke patient

would have been a national scandal, but it has now “become the norm”.

Wera Hobhouse commended the work of the South Western Ambulance Service for its ongoing efforts through challenging times. She has called on the Government to urgently fund thousands of extra beds to stop handover delays in A&E so that ambulances can get back on the road as quickly as possible.

The MP said: “The public needs confidence that our precious NHS will be able to look after them this winter and in the future.

“Recently, I have heard one heartwrenching story after another of patients who have suffered during this Government made NHS crisis.

“This has to stop. The Government must urgently come forward with a long-term workforce plan to give assurances that the NHS will be able to look after us for many years to come.

“The Government’s years of neglect and negligence towards the NHS is starting to bite and it is rightly worrying many of my constituents. We need a plan and we need action and that has to happen immediately.”

Volunteers have been thanked for their continued hard work | Photo courtesy of the RUH

A VISIT from Santa to The Hub at Mulberry Park in Bath to spread some cheer saw more than 370 Curo residents enjoy a festive family fun day.

Curo residents Katie and Ariya Eames meeting Santa | Photo © Curo

Bath MP Wera Hobhouse

Panto stars show support for Cats and Dogs Home’s winter appeal

STARS from this year’s pantomime at the Theatre Royal met lurcher Pierre during a visit on stage ahead of a performance of Aladdin to highlight Bath Cats and Dogs Home’s Winter Appeal.

The pantomime cast, including Tom Lister, Jon Monie and Kaysha Nada, are backing the Bath animal charity which has launched an appeal to raise £20,000 to support injured or sick rescue animals across the area.

Funds from the appeal will provide the emergency medical and ongoing care often urgently needed when rescue animals arrive at the Home.

West End and Emmerdale star Tom Lister, who plays Abanazar, in the Theatre Royal’s pantomime Aladdin, said: “It’s a really challenging time for Bath Cats and Dogs Home who continue to provide amazing care for large numbers of animals in need at the coldest time of year.

“The Winter Appeal is raising crucial funds for dogs like Pierre and all the other animals the

charity has taken in. “Any contribution you can give will make a big difference and immediately benefit animals rescued and cared for at the Home.”

Pantomime favourite, Bath’s own Jon Monie, who stars as Wishee Washee, said: “I’m a huge fan of the incredible work that Bath Cats and Dogs Home do to support animals all year round.

“So far this year they have cared for 759 dogs and cats, many abandoned because of the costof-living crisis and the impact of the pandemic.

“Anyone who has contributed already is making wishes come true for the animals and staff at the Home. The Winter Appeal continues until mid-January so there’s still plenty of time to donate if you can.”

Bath Cats and Dogs Home has seen a huge rise in stray animals arriving from across Bath and North East Somerset and parts of Somerset and Wiltshire.

Animals who have been neglected, abandoned or

mistreated are frequently brought in by Dog Wardens or the RSPCA, but this winter the charity is also seeing an increase in rescue animals arriving with complex medical problems, making funds raised by the appeal more crucial than ever.

Michaela Taylor, Head Veterinarian at Bath Cats and Dogs Home, said: “It is always so moving seeing animals bounce back after surgery and treatment.

“Many more sick animals are arriving with us lately and we often have to operate quickly to give them the best chance of recovery.

“It is thanks to fundraising appeals like this that we have the equipment and supplies on hand to help the animals recover and get ready to find their forever homes.

“Thank you so much for supporting our appeal from all our fantastic rescue animals.”

If you are able to support the appeal and provide funds for urgent medical care for rescue animals, visit www.bcdh.org.uk.

£200,000 donation for two local charities

DOROTHY House Hospice Care and RUHX are set to receive £200,000 thanks to a year of fundraising undertaken by The Helen Straker Charity.

The Helen Straker Charity holds several fundraising events every year, in memory of Gordon Straker’s late wife Helen, who had a 13 year struggle with cancer and finally lost her fight in 2013.

All proceeds from the events are shared between RUHX, formally known as the Forever Friends Appeal, and Dorothy House Hospice Care.

Helen had been determined to do as much as possible to give everyone access to the best possible cancer care and outstanding end of life care, which she herself received at Dorothy House.

The aims of the Trustees of The Helen Straker Charity are to keep Helen’s wishes alive, and raise funds for the building of the new cancer centre at the RUH and to support the Dorothy House Hospice at Winsley.

Events during 2022 included an alternative Ascot Ladies Day race day at Bath Racecourse, a Golf Day at Manor House Golf Club, Castle Combe, a ball for 250 guests at The Pavilion in Bath, and ‘The Tractor Boys Lunch’, held at the Hilton in Bath, with guest speaker Mike Tindall.

The events, attended by generous

supporters, raised in excess of £200,000.

On 13th December, representatives from Dorothy House and RUHX were presented with cheques for £100,000 each, at a presentation event at The Bear Hotel in Devizes.

Since its formation in 2002, The Helen Straker Charity has raised more than £900,000.

Clare Way, Community and Events Fundraiser at Dorothy House Hospice Care said: ‘’We are always incredibly grateful for the amazing support we receive from The Helen Straker Charity, but this year we were totally blown away by the amount raised!

“Thank you so much to everyone involved in putting these events together, and to everyone who attended and donated. These funds will help us continue to provide compassionate palliative and end of life care to patients and their families across our community.”

Jan Witt, Legacies and Tribute Manager, RUHX said: “We are extremely proud of the phenomenal amount The Helen Straker Charity has raised this year, a huge thank you to everyone involved. We’re so grateful for their committed and continued support of our charity, and the funds raised will go towards enhancing cancer services at the RUH.”

Queen Square junction improvement works set to resume

WORKS to improve a junction in the centre of Bath that were paused to help ease traffic over the festive period are set to resume in the first week of January.

The continued improvements to the junction between Queen Square and Gay Street are expected to take two weeks to complete, depending on the weather.

Signs have been in place at the junction notifying residents and motorists that work would resume in the new year.

The junction will remain open during the works under temporary three-way traffic signals.

No overnight works or closures are necessary, and all work will be carried out between 7am7pm.

The Queen Square junction was temporarily opened in November in preparation for higher volumes of traffic coming into the city for the Bath Christmas Market.

The final stage of works will see improved crossing facilities, a widened footway and the

reinstatement of traditional pennant stone paving, replacing a temporary footway surface that was installed to allow the junction to reopen fully to pedestrians over the Christmas period.

So far new traffic and low-level cycle signals have been installed, replacing older signals which had reached the end of their lifespan.

The new signals use LEDs, making them more visible for pedestrians and motorists, use less energy and also include a pedestrian crossing countdown timer, which shows how much

time is left to safely cross. The low-level cycle signals are separate from the vehicle signals and turn green before to allow cyclists to set off earlier.

Councillor Manda Rigby, cabinet member for Transport said: “We were pleased to have the new traffic signals operational in time for the Bath Christmas Market and the large number of visitors this brought to our city.

“Now we can finish the works and motorists, cyclists and pedestrians can benefit from a safer junction.”

Tom Lister, Jon Monie and Kaysha Nada with Casey Brown and lurcher Pierre | Photo © Theatre Royal Bath

Receiving the cheques from The Helen Straker Charity | Photo © Dorothy House

Charity to benefit from exclusive support

The charity, which has been established for nearly five years, provided vital crisis support to families during the Covid-19 lockdown, which has since evolved into two affordable food pantries which benefit around 600 people each week.

In addition to this, its city centre building, Oasis Church Bath, is home to groups and projects run by other organisations such as Bath Mind and Focus Counselling.

Oasis Hub leader Jo Dolby said: “As a small and fairly new charity, this support from Community Matters is a real game changer for us. The funding we receive will not only benefit the projects we run directly at Oasis such as our food pantries and warm space project, but also all those we host and support. In the charity sector all of us are facing unprecedented challenges due to

the cost-of-living crisis, so news like this is amazing and will help so many people just when they need it most.”

While Oasis Hub Bath is also home to an inclusive church community, Oasis Church Bath, all funding received from Community Matters will be restricted to community work projects, and will not fund church-related activity.

Community Matters opened in May 2021 and donates all its profits to a chosen local charity, which changes each year.

Last year’s beneficiaries were Boys in Mind, which received over £40,000 from the proceeds of charity shop sales.

Michelle Braithwaite, Manager at Community Matters, said: “Oasis Hub Bath was selected from a draw comprising six shortlisted charities – all of whom are working hard at what they do.

“We are looking forward to working with them in the coming months and we know how much this means to them in supporting their wide range of projects.”

Emergency cost-of-living crisis support being offered to residents

PEOPLE in Bath who are struggling financially due to the ongoing cost-of-living crisis are being reminded about the support and advice available to them in the New Year.

Bath & North East Somerset Council’s Welfare Support Scheme remains open for applications from people who can’t afford the basics, including food and energy costs.

The Welfare Support Team is available during office hours except on bank holidays and the weekend. Details of opening hours, eligibility criteria and how to apply can be found at https://bathecho.uk/3PYW3uf Support available includes access to local foodbanks, retail vouchers for essentials, help with debt and certain household bills and items such as white goods, essential clothing and furniture. Residents can also get help from:

• The Community Wellbeing Hub

– a single point of contact to help people find the right services and support. Open Monday to Friday 9am until 5pm. Call 0300 247 0050, email bathnes.thehub@ hcrgcaregroup.com or text 07870 868368.

• Citizens Advice B&NES –Call 0808 278 7897 or visit www.citizensadvicebanes.org.uk

• Access to Community Mental Health – a daytime phone line service run by Bath Mind helping people access the right support for them. Open 365 days a year.

• Breathing Space – a mental health support evening service run by Bath Mind. Open 365 days a year.

The Household Support Fund, which the local authority opened on 1st December for one-off grants of up to £300 from a share

of £400,000 allocated by the Government, has now closed to new applications as it has reached capacity.

More than 1,560 applications were received, with more than 600 grants already approved and more than 920 remaining applications being reviewed in the order they were received.

Last month the council’s Children’s Services department distributed more than 180 Christmas hampers containing food and gifts to families who are most in need.

These contained donations from The Salvation Army, the One Church, The Entertainer and many more organisations and individuals.

Councillor Richard Samuel, Deputy Leader and cabinet member for Resources, said: “Don’t forget that there is still help available ... for anyone who

is struggling with the cost of living or their wellbeing.

“We and our partners can put you in touch with the services you need.

“We were inundated with applications to our Household Support Fund this month and have unfortunately already exhausted the funding that was made available to us by the Government, which is a sad indictment of how challenging covering basic costs have become for many people. However, please don’t hesitate to get in touch if you need help or advice.

“I’d also like to thank our partners and other local organisations and residents for their kind donations to the Christmas hampers.

“We know families are very grateful for the support at this challenging time – one resident said that the hamper would transform her Christmas.”

Nearly 50 organisations to keep people warm this winter

John Wimperis Local Democracy Reporter

AS temperatures drop and energy bills rise, people in Bath and North East Somerset finding it hard to heat their homes are welcome to spend some of their day at a ‘warm space.’

Almost 50 organisations across the district, ranging from churches to libraries to sports clubs and more, have pledged to welcome anybody needing somewhere warm.

You can go to a warm space for any reason, and warm spaces have agreed not to tell anyone that you needed to access one. They have also agreed to treat everyone equally and ensure spaces are safe, as well as warm. While all warm spaces have signed up to a Bath and North East Somerset Council’s charter committing them to these values, they are not run or moderated by the council.

You can find a list of warm spaces in the Bath area below.

Bath

• Age UK Bath & North East Somerset, St Michaels Day Community Centre, 1-2 St Michaels Street, Bath, BA1 1SG

• Bath Abbey, Bath, BA1 1LT

• Bath Central Library, 19 – 23 The Podium, Bath, BA1 5AN

• Bath Sports and Leisure Centre, North Parade Road, Bath, BA2 4ET

• Bathford enterprise for all BEFA ltd, 54 Bathford Hill, Bathford, Bath, BA1 7SN

• BEMSCA (Bath Ethnic Minority Senior Citizens Association), Fairfield House, 2 Kelston Road (Off Partis Way), Bath, BA1 3QJ

• Cafe at the Centre/Manvers Street Baptist Church, Manvers Street, Bath, BA1 1JW

• Cosy Wednesdays at The University of Bath, The Cabin, Dartmouth Avenue Building Dartmouth Avenue, Oldfield Park, Bath, BA2 1AS

• Little Lost Robot in partnership

with Bath Spa University, 107 High Street, Twerton, Bath, BA21DB

• Love Weston Community Cafe, Weston Free Church (Moravian), High Street Weston, Bath, BA1 4DB

• New Oriel Hall, Brookleaze Buildings, Larkhall, Bath, BA1 6RA

• New Testament Church of God (NTCG) Bath, Weston Methodist Church, Newbridge Hill, Bath, BA1 3EA

• Percy Community Centre, New King Street, Bath, BA1 2BN

• Southdown Methodist Church Centre, The Hollow, Bath, BA2 1NJ

• St Andrew’s Community Church, Hawthorn Grove, Foxhill, Bath, BA2 5QA

• St Barnabas Church, Mount View, Southdown, Bath, BA2 1NW

• St Luke’s Church Centre, Wellsway, Bath, BA2 2BD

• St Matts Church, St Matthews, Widcombe Hill, Bath, BA2 6AA

• St Michael and All Angels Church, Twerton, The Lighthouse Centre, High Street, Twerton, Bath, BA2 1DQ

• St. Michael’s Without, Broad St., Bath, BA1 5LP

• The Salvation Army (Bath Citadel), Green Park Road, Bath, BA2 2UL

• Weston Welcome Cafe and Food Club, Weston Hub, Penn Hill Road, Weston, Bath, BA1 4EH

• Youth Connect South West, Southside Youth Hub, Kelston View, Whiteway, Bath, BA2 1NR

• 3 Cafe Kitchen, 180 Frome Road, Bath, BA2 5RF.

You can see the area's warm spaces on a map, and find out their opening times and the services they offer, in the warm spaces directory on the council’s website at https://bit. ly/3C3UQvC

If you have a warm space to offer, you can sign the B&NES Warm Spaces Charter and register as a warm place at https://bit. ly/3WIh0vi

You can’t register a private

house as a warm space but you can donate to the Community Contribution Fund and help support other warm spaces with their costs.

So far, 14 warm spaces have received funding and grants will be given to more warm spaces and community projects if more money is donated.

Richard Samuel, the council’s cabinet member for resources, said: “We appreciate that with the increasing costs of living, it will be impossible for many people to spare any money to help others.

“However, we know that some residents will be looking for a good cause to donate to this Christmas – perhaps instead of sending cards – and so we would be grateful if you would consider the Community Contribution Fund.

“Every penny will go directly towards helping people in your local community to keep warm this winter.”

You can donate to the fund by visiting https://bit.ly/3I6E96T.

Support is available across the Bath and North East Somerset area

CHARITY Oasis Hub Bath has been chosen for exclusive funding for 2023 by the not-forprofit Community Matters shop on Chelsea Road.

Oasis Hub Leader Jo Dolby and Michelle Braithwaite from Community Matters

Call for resignations after “special measures” CQC report

John Wimperis Local Democracy Reporter

THE Conservative opposition on Bath and North East Somerset Council has called for the resignations of the council leader and members responsible for social services, after a damning report into a council-run care home.

People living in Keynsham’s Charlton House care home suffered “avoidable harm” with instances of unexplained bruising, one resident not eating for days, and another being left sat in urine overnight, according to the report by the Care Quality Commission. The care home was placed in special measures.

Leader of the Conservative group on the council, Vic Pritchard, said: “My heart goes out to all the residents of Charlton House and their families, who must be desperately upset to hear how their loved ones have been treated.

“The findings of this harrowing CQC report are extremely distressing. It is simply unacceptable that such poor levels of care are being administered at Charlton House, and I hope big improvements are made as a matter of urgency.”

The care home has been run by the council since 2020, when previous operator Sirona handed it and two other care homes back to the council after a monthslong industrial dispute with staff.

Mr Pritchard said: “If the Liberal Democrat administration still intends to bring social care services back in-house at a time when we are experiencing raging inflation, a cost-of-living crisis and the difficulties of hospital

discharges, we need immediate reassurance that the horrors we have found at Charlton House are not replicated elsewhere.

“To make matters worse, inspectors who visited Charlton House earlier this year asked for improvements to be made.

Not only have these failed to materialise, but the service has deteriorated.

“Charlton House is owned by the council. The leader of the council and cabinet member for adult services, therefore, are directly responsible for ensuring the residents are properly cared for. On this, they have failed catastrophically and must resign immediately.”

Alison Born, who shares the role of cabinet member for adult services and council house building, said: “It was clear from the start that these previously contracted out services were struggling and required investment.

“The council has responded by increasing management and leadership capacity, investing in staff training, increasing pay and upgrading the estate to raise standards.

“However, this work has been taking place against the backdrop of the pandemic and Brexit, both of which have had a huge impact on the number of staff available to work in social care.

“While we have taken measures to improve recruitment such as our local “Proud to Care” campaign, innovative work with the RUH and through the creation of a specialist social care recruitment post, we remain more reliant on the use of agency staff than we would choose.

“As part of the post pandemic recovery of the local health and

care system, we had repurposed some beds at Charlton House as Discharge to Assess (DtoA) beds to help improve the flow of patients from the RUH and had to use agency staff to maintain that capacity.

“These DtoA beds placed additional pressure on the service at Charlton House as it was managing more turnover and more complexity of needs.

“More capacity was put in to support the additional work but the team was also struggling to recruit to permanent leadership posts in the service.”

She added: “It is worth noting that the safeguarding alerts that prompted the CQC inspection of Charlton House came from our own staff within the service who recognised that there were some problems with care and who rightly raised the alerts.

“We are working with the CQC to address the issues identified and have regrettably had to close

some of the beds at Charlton House — including the DtoA beds — to bring bed numbers down to match our permanent staffing capacity.

“We have raised concerns about some of the agency staff provided with their employers and will re-open beds at Charlton House only as recruitment allows.

“This has been a difficult time for staff at Charlton House and for the adult social care team. They have worked throughout the pandemic and are currently redoubling their efforts to improve the quality of care at Charlton House, to ensure that all the residents are provided with good care at all times.

“The team have a robust improvement plan and the learning is being applied across our provider services which will all benefit from the new systems and protocols.

“I am very grateful for the team’s commitment and dedication

to partnership working across the health and care system and to improving the quality of the services provided.”

Leader of the council, Kevin Guy, said: “Councillor Born and the adult social care team are doing a great job in the toughest of financial times. The fact that these issues were raised internally by the council’s own checks and balances proves the system works and these concerns are being addressed.

“Unlike the Tories, we Liberal Democrats do not sweep problems under the carpet; we deal with them openly. Next May, local voters have a clear choice when it comes to adult social care.”

He added: “My simple message is do not trust the Tories with our care system.”

The CQC will inspect the care home again after six months to see if it has demonstrated improvement.

More local pharmacies to provide prescription medicines

MEDICINE available via prescription for a range of common health conditions is being made available from a growing number of pharmacies across Bath and North East Somerset.

The new initiative means residents no longer need to visit their GP in order to get the medication they need to feel better.

More than 80 pharmacies across the region are now able to give out medicine for five common health conditions that would have previously needed a prescription from a GP.

The conditions covered by the new initiative are sore throats, female urine infections, impetigo and dermatitis, both of which are common skin infections, and conjunctivitis.

People with other conditions not

included in the list can still seek help from a pharmacy, where they may be recommended an over-the-counter product or, if necessary, signposted to an alternative service.

Although many pharmacies are already signed up for the initiative, it is hoped even more will come on board in the new year.

Helen Wilkinson, Community Pharmacy Clinical Lead, Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire Integrated Care Board, said: “This new way of providing people with the medicine they need is a very exciting for the local health and care system, as patients with some common health conditions no longer need a prescription issued by their GP.

“Instead, people just need to visit one of the participating

pharmacies, discuss their symptoms with the pharmacist, who can then advise and provide the medication that would have once only been available following a consultation inpractice or over-the-phone with a GP.

“Primary care is exceptionally busy at the moment, and our doctors and nurses are seeing more patients than ever before, so this new system should not only relieve some of that pressure but also help people with relatively simple-to-treat conditions get the advice and medicine they need sooner.”

Demand has risen in recent weeks, with the increase partly driven by growing concern among parents of young children regarding Strep A infections.

All GP practices in the region are now offering patients

more appointments outside of traditional working hours, such as in the evenings and at

weekends, as well as more types of appointments, including those over the phone and by video call.

Inspectors found that residents had suffered "avoidable harm" at the council-run care home

A number of common illnesses can now be dealt with by local pharmacies

University chemists join two projects to help clean up rivers

CHEMISTS at the University of Bath are set to join two major research projects aimed at improving water quality in rivers across the country.

The research is being funded by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) and Defra.

Currently, most UK rivers fail to have good ecological status, with only 14% of waterways in England, less than half in Wales, 50% in Scotland and less than a third in Northern Ireland meeting the healthy threshold.

Professor Barbara KasprzykHordern, from the University’s Water Innovation and Research Centre and the Centre for Sustainable and Circular Technologies (CSCT), is leading the research team for two projects that will investigate the impact of chemicals on freshwater microbes, and the effects of livestock manure entering the waterways on river quality and the freshwater ecosystem.

The University of Bath is involved in two of only five projects, each worth over £1.5 million, funded by NERC and Defra as part of

the £8.4 million Understanding changes in quality of UK Freshwaters programme.

Led by the UK Centre of Ecology & Hydrology, and also including collaborators at the University of Oxford and the Environment Agency, Pathways of Chemicals Into Freshwaters and their ecological Impacts (PACIFIC) will use mass spectrometry techniques to identify traces of manufactured chemicals in rivers across the Thames and Bristol Avon catchment areas.

The research aims to understand how these chemical pollutants impact the structure and function of bacteria and fungal microbe communities that naturally live in waterways, monitoring the effects on their ability to process nutrients and the activity of chemical stress and resistance genes.

They aim to develop models to predict the scale of chemical pollutant threats to river ecosystems, and determine exposure thresholds.

The second project, Quantifying the impacts of livestock farming practices on UK rivers

(QUANTUM), which is being led by the University of Bristol, including research partners at the University of Exeter and Lancaster University, will monitor the levels of pollution from livestock farming in 52 regions across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Manure from farm animals contaminates water by affecting turbidity (reducing light penetration), nutrient and oxygen levels, and can contain agrichemicals such as antibiotics and anti-parasitic treatments, as well as hormones and pathogens.

The researchers aim to monitor the composition of livestock manure that ends up in rivers, understand how freshwater biology is affected by it, and how different livestock practices and waste management approaches can minimise the ecological impact.

Professor Kasprzyk-Hordern said: “We are really excited to be involved in two of five major projects funded by the NERC investigating how pollution impacts UK rivers. Freshwater ecosystems are under severe

stress from a cocktail of pollutants, including industrial chemicals, microplastics, pharmaceuticals and livestock farming practices. This can impact the stability of the aquatic food chain, make water unfit for bathing, and means water must be treated

more intensively to make sure it’s suitable for drinking.

“I’m looking forward to working with our collaborators to create better tools to monitor and measure pollution, and better understand how water pollution affects our wider environment.”

Scientists will look at the effect livestock manure has on waterways

Consultation launched on charging more HGVs

A CONSULTATION has been launched on proposals to change Bath’s Clean Air Zone so that Euro VI HGVs over 12 tonnes that enter the area will be charged.

People have until Tuesday 7th February 2023 to comment on plans to introduce the additional charge, together with associated local exemptions.

The proposal, if agreed, would see the Clean Air Zone Charging Order varied to introduce a £50 charge for Class N3 Euro VI diesel HGVs which enter the charging scheme area.

This is lower than the existing charge of £100 for non-compliant Class N3 Euro V diesel HGVs and below, in recognition of the need to strike a balance between encouraging further improvements in the HGV fleet and operators sending older, higher polluting HGVs into the city.

This would be a local charge, sitting outside the national Clean Air Zone Framework, to support the council’s aims of going further to reduce vehicular demand on road space, protect road

infrastructure and conserve the Bath World Heritage Site setting, and respond to the climate and ecological emergencies. HGVs weighing under 12 tonnes would be unaffected by the variation.

Considerable fleet improvements have already been made by owners and operators of heavier HGVs in response to the Clean Air Zone and in recognition of this, and with a view to protecting local small and medium-sized businesses and their supply chains, the proposed charging mechanism would be supported by time-limited local exemptions, based on feedback from the consultation.

There would also be a period of soft enforcement to help embed the change. These exemptions would complement the existing exemptions for hybrid, electric and alternatively fuelled vehicles.

Councillor Manda Rigby, cabinet member for Transport, said: ”We want to hear people’s views on this proposal to charge Class N3 Euro 6 diesel Heavy Goods Vehicles by varying the Clean Air Zone’s Charging Order.

“The Clean Air Zone, which we

introduced in March 2021, is part of a package of measures to improve Bath’s air quality and it is making a difference. We are now widening the scope of improvements across the city of Bath to include work on protecting our road infrastructure, historic bridges and conserving our World Heritage Site setting by reducing the levels of vehicular congestion and traffic.

“We are intending to use the legal mechanism of the Clean Air Zone Charging Order to

enable us to introduce a charge of £50 for N3 Euro 6 diesel HGVs which travel into and through the city, however, we are aware that varying the Order will have an impact on owners and operators of HGVs and business and would look to work with them on a package of support.”

Charges would apply 24 hours a day, every day of the year. Any HGV operators based within designated postal codes would be exempt from charges for a period of two years.

HAWKER HAMILTON

News in Brief

People being urged to locate water stop tap

People in Bath are being reminded to locate their stop tap as temperatures drop, just in case a sudden leak requires them to turn off their water supply. Every year, local water and sewerage company Wessex Water helps hundreds of customers whose homes have been flooded internally, often during cold weather when a frozen pipe bursts. Turning off the stop tap shuts off a property’s water supply, minimising the damage if the worst should happen.

The stop tap is normally found under the kitchen sink, in an airing cupboard or an adjoining garage. It can be closed by turning it clockwise, and testing it regularly means it won’t seize up.

A Wessex Water spokesperson said: “We’ve visited more than 300 properties with internal flooding in the last year alone, and customers who call us often aren’t sure where their stop tap is or how it works. A simple check now could avoid a lot of that stress.”

Lagging pipes can also help prevent them from freezing.

More HGVs will be eligible for a clean air zone charge under the proposals

Public Notices

Councillors brand voter ID law change “undemocratic”

A CHANGE in the law that means voters will need to show photo ID at polling stations has been branded “thinly veiled voter suppression” by the Liberal Democrats.

The new requirements will apply to the local elections taking place in Bath and North East Somerset in May 2023.

Residents will be asked to show their identification documents to poll clerks to obtain ballots at polling stations.

The Liberal Democrats have warned that the law change risks disenfranchising many people who don’t have a photo ID.

Lansdown councillor Mark Elliott commented: “These new rules are completely unnecessary and create a new barrier to residents exercising their democratic right to vote. The Government’s claim that it is combating voter fraud is baseless. In 2019 there was just one conviction for in-person voter fraud in the entire country.

“Clearly the intention is to reduce turnout amongst voters who are less likely to have one of the approved forms of ID.

“Coincidentally, these are voters who are less likely to vote Conservative. This is a fundamentally illiberal policy imposed by an unethical government.”

The Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities has yet to publish the full list of acceptable forms of identification, however, driving licences, passports and bus passes will be included. Postal voting arrangements will not be affected.

An estimated 3.5 million voters across the country, including 2,700 in Bath and North East Somerset, have no photo ID, however, these residents will be able to apply to the Council for a ‘Voter Authority Certificate’ to

prove their identity.

The Local Government Association has called for voter ID requirements to be delayed, due to concerns that there is insufficient time to implement changes ahead of the May 2023 elections.

Bathwick Councillor Manda Rigby said: “Councils face a huge challenge to communicate the changes, train staff, review polling stations and process potentially thousands of ID applications over the coming months.

“On top of all this, electoral staff may be at risk of abuse from being forced to act as ‘bouncers at the ballot box’.

“Clearly, local authorities must act in accordance with legislation, but this is all an enormous waste of money and resources when we’re facing spiralling costs and rising demand for services.

“I support the call for implementation to be delayed, but even better would be for the government to see sense and repeal this unnecessary and undemocratic law.”

The Liberal Democrat party characterise the new

requirements as “nothing more than the Conservative Government’s thinly veiled attempt to suppress the votes of people across the UK”.

Bath MP Wera Hobhouse added: “This whole policy is ‘solving’ a completely non-existent issue.

The only outcome will be putting more barriers in front of already marginalised groups as they try to exercise their democratic rights.

“For the Conservatives to put a tremendous amount of energy into this during a cost-of-living crisis, and then pile more pressure onto local authority budgets through the implementation of this policy, is infuriating.

“It shows their policy agenda does not match up with the priorities of local people and the massive challenges we collectively face.

“I know my colleagues on the Council will work diligently to make sure everyone is informed of what they need to have their say come election day.

“These Trumpian measures have no place in British democracy, and we will fight to make sure everyone can have their voice heard.”

EE Limited hereby give notice in accordance with the above of the submission to Bath & North East Somerset Council of an application for their determination of whether their prior approval is required for the siting and appearance of the permitted development comprising the installation of;- a 20m high slimline telecommunications monopole, incorporating shrouded antennas, 2 No. 0.3m DIA transmission dishes, 4 No. ground based equipment cabinets and, ancillary equipment and underground cabling at land south of Bradford Road A563, Bathford, Bath, BA1 7QD, NGR: E 378615 N 167015.

The application is submitted to: Planning Services, Bath & North East Somerset Council, Lewis House, Manvers Street, Bath, BA1 1JG

The Council have 56 days from application receipt to consider whether prior approval is required for the siting and appearance of the proposed development, and to grant or refuse such approval and communicate its decision in writing to the applicant.

The application will be made available for public inspection at the Council’s offices during normal office hours.

Any person who wishes to make representations about the siting and appearance of the proposed development may do so, in writing to the Council at the above address.

Energy advice service receives £50,000 WECA funding boost

A VITAL helpline which offers residents across the West of England advice on how to stay warm will keep running over the winter thanks to a cash injection by Metro Mayor Dan Norris.

The Centre for Sustainable Energy (CSE) is experiencing a 4-fold demand for support as more people struggle with their energy bills, and feared they would no longer be able to afford to run their freephone telephone service.

The centre had subsidised the service using its chartable reserves for the last five years but is no longer able to sustain this.

The team at the Centre for

Sustainable Energy supports residents with energy saving advice as well as help to insulate and improve cold draughty homes, support for people in debt to their gas or electricity supplier and distribute emergency payments, including to locals on pre-payment meters, to help people keep the heating on.

The £50,000 cash injection from Metro Mayor Dan Norris will support their dedicated telephone advice service, which is completely free for anyone to call up, so the group can continue to help thousands keep warm at home and reduce their bills.

On a visit to the Centre for Sustainable Energy, Metro Mayor

Dan Norris said: “Everyone knows that energy bills have really rocketed and as Winter starts to bite this is really hitting home. There’s a real cost of living crisis this winter.

“That’s why organisations like the Centre for Sustainable Energy have seen demand for advice around energy significantly increase.

“I was shocked when I heard their services were under threat so I’m pleased a £50,000 cash injection from my West of England Combined Authority means locals in need of a helping hand can get top advice and support on managing their bills and keeping warm through these

tough winter months.”

Centre For Sustainable Energy Director of Household Energy Services added: “We are facing our toughest winter ever, so

this crisis support funding from the West of England Combined Authority comes at a vital time for us. This will enable us to keep our phone lines open.”

Notice to Landowners & Agricultural Tenants in accordance with Part 16 Class A of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) (Amendment) (No. 2) Order 2015 (As Amended)

Residents will be affected by the law change for the local elections in May

Mayor Dan Norris at the Centre for Sustainable Energy | Photo © Freia Turland

In Other News...

Success for Herschel Museum thanks to funding campaign

A RECENT fundraising campaign by The Herschel Museum of Astronomy has proved successful, enabling the purchase of Caroline Herschel’s own handwritten manuscript draft of her memoir.

Funding from the National Heritage Memorial Fund (NHMF), ACE/V&A Purchase Grant Fund and the Friends of National Libraries was used to acquire the document, facilitated via Christie’s Private Sales.

The 57-page manuscript represents Caroline’s life in her own words and is an important addition to the Herschel Museum’s collection, not least because her many scientific achievements were historically overshadowed by those of her brother, William Herschel (17381822).

The Manuscript Memoir gives a unique and personal insight into the life and formative years of one of Britain’s most prominent astronomers and pioneering women in science.

Much of Caroline’s personal correspondence and writing is still held by the Herschel family, so the acquisition provides a rare opportunity for public access. The majority of objects currently on display at the museum are on loan, and it only owns one artefact directly connected with Caroline.

Acquiring more objects directly relating to the Herschel siblings is a key priority for the Museum’s team and Bath Preservation Trust, which owns and runs the site at New King Street. £50,000 from the ACE/V&A

Purchase Grant Fund, along with a £33,000 grant from NHMF, combined with £20,000 from Friends of the National Libraries and the proceeds of a public appeal, covered the funds needed to complete the purchase from Christie’s Private Sales.

Izzy Wall, Assistant Curator and the member of staff who has researched the manuscript, explained: “The manuscript was written around 1836 when she was 86, and consists of handwritten text in English by Caroline (1750-1848), with occasional passages or words in German.

“The chapters contained in this draft cover the years 1755-75, a crucial period of Caroline’s life, from her childhood in Hanover to early years in Bath.

“The manuscript provides a valuable insight into the Herschels’ life in Bath, Caroline’s education and her struggles when she arrived in England.

“It also gives us an understanding of their professional lives as

musicians in Bath, at a time when William’s interest in astronomy, and his telescope-building endeavours were increasing.”

The Memoir Manuscript consists of two chapters of Caroline Herschel’s draft recollections, which form the content for The Memoir and Correspondence of Caroline Herschel, published in 1876.

Although the edited text of this draft was published, much of the colourful material Caroline wrote was removed and remains unpublished.

Along with providing details about her own life, Caroline chronicles her brother William’s first experiences and experiments in making telescopes, something he would later become a world leader in.

Claire Dixon, Director of Museums for Bath Preservation Trust explained what will now happen with the document.

She said: “By securing this object and putting it on display in Caroline and William’s former

home, visitors will be able to directly engage with Caroline’s story, literally through her own words.

“The manuscript will now be used as source material to inform a more authentic interpretation of the house and to inspire new content for our activity programmes and workshops, which focus on local schools, families and community groups.

“The acquisition of this Memoir Manuscript will fundamentally enhance our ability to tell the story of Caroline Herschel and her globally significant role in science.”

Falls in Keynsham cycle lane “dramatically reduced”

John Wimperis Local Democracy Reporter

THE number of people falling in Keynsham’s cycle lane has ‘dramatically reduced’ since it was painted red, councillors have been told, but some say falls are still happening.

An unusually high number of people tripped and fell on the high street cycle lane when it opened in the spring.

One person who tripped on the day it opened said: “There is some kind of optical illusion. There is a pale coloured kerb and a pale coloured line that look exactly the same.”

The cycle lane was painted red in August after 46 reports of people falling in the cycle lane.

On Monday 5th December, Bath and North East Somerset Council’s housing and regeneration director Simon Martin told councillors: “We had a number of unfortunate accidents and incidents postscheme opening. The number of those has dramatically reduced, despite some of the social media claims that are going on.

“Actually when we evidence the actual reports of accidents

and relate those through into insurance claims, the numbers have dramatically reduced and we have only experienced one or two since making the cycle lane red.”

But Keynsham East councillor Hal McFie disputed this. He said: “I think people are still falling. It may be that they are not

damaging themselves as much as they did but they are still falling and the method of recording has not been well coordinated.”

This was reiterated by councillor Sally Davis who said: “I had a letter from a resident – and I don’t represent the Keynsham area –about someone who fell at the beginning of November. […] She

ended up taken to A&E at RUH for resulting injuries to her face.”

Ms Davis said that the individual had reported the fall through Council Connect but had not heard anything back.

Mr Martin said that however people reported issues with the cycle path to the council, they were keeping track of all reported

incidents in the same place. The day after this meeting, another report of a fall was submitted. A person who suffers with arthritis and fibromyalgia and had also mistaken the kerb for a painted line.

They said: “As I stepped over the curb, I was expecting a flat surface which wasn’t there.

“I rolled my left ankle, fell, and landed on my right knee, wrist, and shoulder in the road stopping traffic.

“Thankfully several people kindly helped me up.

“I was in severe pain and knew I would be in trouble when the swelling and bruising set in.

“Unfortunately, due to my conditions, recovery will be slow, it is also going to stop me driving to take and collect my special needs boy from school.”

Councillors and officers will meet in January to review the number of accidents and whether more work is needed.

This newspaper is produced using paper from sustainably-managed forests.

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: 7 Cobbler, 8 Inertia, 10 Reprisal, 11 Refuse, 12 Make do, 13 Newly-wed, 14 Concentration, 17 Hay fever, 20 Rarely, 22 Smelly, 23 Unbutton, 24 Undergo, 25 Scatter.

Down: 1 Topeka, 2 Aberdeen, 3 Seashore, 4 Andrew, 5 Crafty, 6 Einstein, 9 Planetarium, 14 Charming, 15 Aerobics, 16 Irritate, 18 Fillet, 19 Voyage, 21 Loosen.

The red-painted cycle lane on Keynsham High Street | Photo © John Wimperis

The special manuscript | Photo © BPT

Caroline Herschel | Image © RAS