Bath Echo - Issue 048 - 28/03/2023

Photo © Gorma Kuma / Shutterstock.com

BATH SAFE BUS SET TO LAUNCH

Initiative to improve safety for city's revellers - P2

John Wimperis Local Democracy Reporter

THE Ukrainian Ambassador has passed on his thanks to the people of Bath and North East Somerset as generators arrive in Ukraine.

Bath and North East Somerset has sent 14 generators to the city of Oleksandriya, with the most recent arriving at the city’s gen-

Speaking to a full session of Bath and North East Somerset Council on 16th March, where the council voted on setting up a friendship agreement with Oleksandriya, council leader Kevin Guy said he had been meeting with the Ukrainian Ambassador that day.

Mr Guy said: “He asked me personally to pass on his thanks and the thanks of his entire country to

the whole council and to the people of Bath and North East Somerset for what we are about to do this evening.”

“Since the summer last year, I have been having regular meetings with the Mayor of Oleksandriya to discuss how Bath and North East Somerset can help the region of Oleksandriya.

“And our meeting in December, we had to delay it by 24 hours because the Russians had shelled

the city and destroyed the local electrical supply and when I got in contact with him the next day, with his team, he said he had received 600 refugees that day. And the city of Oleksandriya in total has received over 30,000 refugees.”

“This is a city that is the same size as Bath.”

Mr Guy said that he had been told by the Mayor that the best thing ... Continued on page 3

19-year-old man arrested following Queen Square crash P3 Fashion Museum’s collection moved to temporary home P5 Fire service reminds locals to check smoke alarms regularly P11 Over 100 people sleep outside to raise money for Julian House P11 Hey Duggee The Live Theatre Show

Former Tory candidate “sorry” for comments on leader's sexuality P3 A family ticket is up for grabs! P3

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Bus initiative to help improve city centre safety

AN initiative aimed at reducing pressure on the emergency services and improving safety for night-time revellers is set to launch in Bath.

The Bath Safe Bus will provide first aid, psychological support and a safe place for anyone in the city centre on Friday and Saturday nights.

Safe Buses run successfully in dozens of cities and major towns in the UK, typically operating as a mobile welfare unit.

Bath’s Safe Bus will be staffed by a combination of medical specialists, volunteers, and security staff, helping anyone that may have become vulnerable on a night out, requiring first aid or needing some form of emotional support.

People will be able to go to the bus and ask for help if they’ve lost their friends, misplaced their phone, or just need somewhere safe to wait.

Bath Business Improvement District (BID) has developed the project and will launch on 31st March, with a Friday and Saturday night service, between 10.30pm and 4.30am.

Additional dates such as Bank Holidays, Party in the City, Freshers Week, Bath Rugby matches and other big events in the city will be added.

As well as keeping visitors safe, a 2017 study commissioned by the Portman Group found that areas with a Safe Space save up to £9.31 for every £1 invested through reduced admissions to A&E and by easing pressure on police and ambulance services.

In addition to reducing pressure on public services and making Bath city centre safer, the project will provide an opportunity for people to volunteer and give something back to the community.

The Bath Safe Bus project is part of a nationally funded programme, The Safer Streets Fund. Funding was granted by the Home Office in 2022 to be used across different initiatives in Bath, including projects and activities designed to make people feel safer in the city and reduce the incidence of Violence Against Women and Girls.

The partnership delivering the projects includes Bath and North East Somerset Council, Avon and Somerset Police, Youth Connect South West, Project 24 and the Bath BID.

Bath BID CEO Allison Herbert has welcomed the initiative. She said: “It has been a long process between having the idea and assembling the funding to make it happen, and we are delighted to see this partnership project come to fruition, supporting one of our key objectives, which is making Bath a welcoming city.”

Police Sergeant 4531 Jonathan Raisey, of the Bath City Centre Neighbourhood Team, added: “Bath Safe Bus is an excellent initiative and will help people using the night-time economy feel safe and have a place of safety should they need it.

“The resource will take a lot of pressure off of Police and Ambulance supporting vulnerable or intoxicated people

and will be a location where people will know they can access support when other drop-in services may not be available.”

Bath MP Wera Hobhouse said: “I am delighted and very proud to see the launch of Bath Safe Bus.

“It follows on from the community conversation I convened last summer exploring how we can work in partnership to tackle Violence Against Women and Girls locally.

“Bath Safe Bus is concrete proof of what we can achieve when we work together to take concrete action. My warmest thanks to all the organisations who made this happen. The launch of Bath Safe Bus is an important milestone on our journey to make our city safer.”

Councillor Dine Romero, cabinet member for Children, Young People and Communities, added:

“Bath has a thriving night-time economy enjoyed by residents, students and tourists and the bus will offer a safe space to anyone who may find themselves in a vulnerable position during a night out in the city centre.

“It will help to ensure people continue to enjoy themselves and get home safely at the end of their night out and, by offering first aid alongside emotional support, it will also help to ease the pressure on public services.”

The Bath Safe Bus project setup has been supported by Jo Cox-Brown and Adam Waugh of Night Time Economy Solutions, a national company offering creative solutions to help make towns and cities more vibrant, attractive and safe.

To find out more about becoming a volunteer for the service, email info@bathbid.co.uk.

Drivers being urged to turn off their engines

DRIVERS across Bath are being encouraged to turn off their engines when parked or waiting as part of a new antiidling campaign to reduce air pollution.

Running a vehicle’s engine while waiting contributes to nitrogen dioxide pollution and poor air quality.

This type of air pollution can trigger asthma attacks and worsen lung and heart conditions, with an estimated 36,000 deaths per year being linked to air pollution.

The Kick the Habit campaign raises awareness of the dangers of excessive idling and aims to reduce pollution in areas where the most vulnerable residents are at risk, such as schools, nurseries and healthcare settings.

Businesses, organisations and residents are being encouraged to make a pledge to ‘Kick the Habit’ by turning off their engines when parked and waiting.

Councillor Manda Rigby, Cabinet Member for Transport, said: “We know from public feedback that

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anti-idling of vehicle engines is an issue which causes concern and through the resources of the Kick the Habit Campaign we want to work with local communities and organisations to raise awareness and encourage drivers to turn off their engines when parked and waiting.

“Please get in touch with us on the anti_idling@bathnes.gov.uk address and sign up for some free marketing material to spread the message.” Any school, local business,

organisation, community or individual interested in making a pledge, downloading campaign material or finding out more can visit www.bathnes.gov.uk/ engineoff.

The Bath Safe Bus will operate on Friday and Saturday nights

Former Tory candidate “sorry” for comments on leader's sexuality

John Wimperis Local Democracy Reporter

A CONSERVATIVE candidate will no longer stand in the upcoming local elections after posting a comment about the sexuality of the leader of Bath and North East Somerset Council.

Mark Stricklin was slated as the Conservative candidate in the Newbridge ward in Bath but, on Saturday 18th March, Bath Conservative Association posted on Twitter: “After careful consideration, Mark Stricklin and we have agreed that he should not proceed with standing for us in May’s elections.

“Mark’s a hard-working, passionate supporter of Bath. His efforts to hold the Lib Dem council and its leader to account will no doubt continue.”

The move comes after Mr Stricklin posted a comment on the social media site nextdoor, which was later deleted, about the openly gay leader of the council Kevin Guy.

Mr Stricklin linked to a claim that the average gay marriage only lasted two and a half years, and used this to suggest that Mr Guy would not be interested in staying in Bath long and would look to move somewhere else to attempt to become a Liberal Democrat MP.

Mr Stricklin said: “I am sorry if my post upset anyone.”

Mr Guy described the comment as “brazen.” He said: “I have got thick skin but its not uncommon for me to get homophobic abuse as leader. But that it’s a Tory candidate that’s saying it openly just shows how brazen they are.”

The comment also drew criticism from the former Conservative MP for Bath Ben Howlett, who is also openly gay.

Prior to the Conservative Association’s announcement, he said on Twitter: “As the first gay MP for Bath, I am disgusted to hear Mark Sticklin’s comments.

The [Bath Conservative Association] that I used to know would have stripped him of his candidature. Culture wars must end!”

He said that he had written to the association to request Mr

More generators arrive in Ukrainian city

Continued from page 1

... to do help the city was send generators. Mr Guy said: “If you just want to picture this, the children’s hospital was suffering intermittent power shortages. During deliveries of babies, the incubator ward was going out of power.”

A generator sent by Bath and North Somerset has now been installed in the children’s hospital.

mance.

“And those like me who have made friends in Ukraine over that last year can give further insight into the effects that this has had on ordinary people just trying to live their daily lives in a warzone.

Stricklin’s deselection, and said: “Bath is one of the most inclusive communities in the world, ten years on from equal marriage, his astonishing comments have no place in modern British discourse.”

Also commenting before the decision for Mr Stricklin not to stand, Bath’s current Liberal Democrat MP Wera Hobhouse said: “It is appalling that Bath Conservatives have chosen a person who acts in such a way to stand for them.

“Their party ran out of constructive ideas long ago. They have nothing but venom and untruths to contribute to our local discourse.”

Mr Stricklin said on Twitter that he had learnt from the experience.

Man arrested after city centre crash

AVON & Somerset Police have launched an investigation and arrested a 19-year-old man after a collision which saw a car fall into the basement area of a hotel in Bath.

The collision happened at around 4.45am on Sunday 19th March outside the Francis Hotel in Queen Square.

One of the occupants of the car, a Kia Picanto, was rescued by a crew from Avon Fire & Rescue

Service, while a second occupant had got out of the car by the time emergency services arrived.

A 19-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of driving while unfit through drink.

He was released on unconditional bail so further enquiries can take place.

Officers would like to speak to anyone who saw the collision, or who may have any dashcam or mobile phone footage which

Mr Guy added: “You as a council and the people of Bath and North East Somerset have been able to provide that warmth and care and I cannot thank you enough for that really generous act.” He added: “I am very very proud of the people of Bath and North East Somerset.” The council’s close relationship with Oleksandriya, which the council voted unanimously to go about formalising with a proper “friendship agreement,” is believed to put the council at the forefront of sending direct aid to a city in Ukraine.

Seconding the motion for the friendship agreement, Radstock councillor Chris Dando said: “Those of us who were lucky enough to attend the concert last month in the Abbey got a small taste of a year in the life of Ukraine.

“There rightly wasn’t a dry eye in that house through most of that amazing and moving perfor-

“This council and community of Bath and North East Somerset can be immensely proud of the work that we have done so far to support Ukraine, both through hosting refugees’ families — we have over 400 refugees in Bath and North East Somerset — and, as the leader has said, in the project to deliver valuable generators to the community of Oleksandriya.”

Keynsham South councillor Lisa O’Brien ran her own fundraiser last year to send generators to Ukraine, raising £9,000 which saw nine generators sent to Kherson, Mykolaiv, and Dnipro. She said that people in Ukraine had also asked her to pass on their thanks to Bath and North East Somerset for donating the money for the generators. She said: “I certainly won’t be forgetting them because I think their bravery is an example to the world. So I absolutely support this.”

Mr Dando added: “I am immensely honoured to second this proposal and be involved in this project. Slava Ukraini!”

may be relevant to their ongoing investigation.

If you can help, call 101 and give the call handler the reference number 5223063989.

Avon Fire & Rescue Service said it was called at 4.47am to the scene, where it rescued a casualty using a turntable ladder and line system. Crews later reattended as fuel was leaking from the vehicle. They made the vehicle safe and handed over to the police.

WIN! See Hey Duggee The Live Theatre Show at The Forum

Squirrels get ready! Everyone’s favourite big lovable dog Hey Duggee is touring for the first time ever and here’s your chance to see him!

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Hey Duggee The Live Theatre Show will be playing at The Forum, Bath from 20th to 22nd April 2023.

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The leader of B&NES Council, Kevin Guy, is openly gay

The scene on Queen Square | Photo courtesy of @NYWELSH on Twitter

Investment planned for city centre art gallery

John Wimperis Local Democracy Reporter

BATH & North East Somerset

Council has said it is “fully committed” to a well-loved city centre gallery and is planning a quarter-of-a-million-pound investment as it struggles with visitor numbers.

In the year before the Covid pandemic, almost 190,000 visited Bath’s Victoria Art Gallery on Bridge Street.

But the gallery only attracted 40,000 people in the 2021/22 year and visitor numbers are barely expected to exceed 70,000 for the foreseeable future.

Council leader Kevin Guy told the council cabinet on Thursday 9th March: “It is clear that there has been a change in visitor behaviour from the gallery’s current visitor base and figures are not yet where we would like them to be.

“The council continues to be fully committed to supporting and improving the Victoria Art Gallery to increase its appeal to visitors and residents.”

He said: “We have recently appointed a new senior curator and planned investment to the gallery includes £230,000 to fix the roof, £75,000 from external forms of funding to create new spaces and to encourage community and family and commercial activities, and the appointment of a new community engagement post explicitly to deliver programming to appeal to a wider cross section of the local community.”

Earlier in the week, the gallery’s struggle to attract visitors had

Controversial Milsom Street bus gate to be made permanent

been a key point of discussion at a council scrutiny panel, on Monday 6th March.

Councillor Grant Johnson raised the point that visitor numbers had previously been expected to rebound to a level of 130,00 visitors a year.

He said: “Now we are only estimating a return level of 71,000 which is a stark decline in visitor numbers compared to what was previously achieved and what we have anticipated in previous business plans”

Head of Heritage Services at the council Robert Campbell said:

“It did tend to appeal to an older audience and we haven’t seen those audiences return in as great a number, and we are not alone in that in the sector. What I would say is the [Heritage] Service are the council are 100% committed to the Victoria Art Gallery.”

Councillor Lisa O’Brien commented: “I would recommend that you look very closely at the type of art that is being brought in.

“It is predominantly art as in painting, rather than sculptures, rather than other forms of art, and I believe that possibly we could start to appeal to a younger set, a less niche set, if the exhibitions were less niche in their objectives.”

She said: “I was there at the Lautrec exhibition. It was fabulous. It was interesting. It was alive. You had every type of age person coming to see it. It was absolutely wonderful.

“It was just sad it was only able to open for just over a week before it had to close for Covid and lost us a lot of money.”

and Enjoy these Benefits

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* Free attendance to talks and learning events

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About u3a in Bath

There are 450,000 of us in the UK and 1,300 in Bath. We are in “u3a in Bath” and our members are all retired or semi-retired. We take part in a range of educational or recreational activities. See the complete list of over 100 interest groups on our website u3ainbath uk

Come and join us

You can join us by going to our website www.u3ainbath.uk and completing the online application form or you can download the application form from the website and send it to Membership Secretary, u3a in Bath, PO Box 4040, Bath BA1 0EJ

You can also join in person at one of our monthly talks at The Pavilion. Membership fee is only £15 per person per year.

RESTRICTIONS to all vehicles except buses on Milsom Street in Bath between 10am and 6pm each day are to be made permanent, following a decision made by B&NES Council.

An experimental traffic order to prioritise access for buses and restrict vehicles was introduced in 2021 to make the road a more pleasant environment for pedestrians and cyclists. This followed a temporary restriction that was brought in during 2020 as part of various measures across Bath to help with social distancing.

Following an evaluation of the scheme, a decision has now been taken to make the restriction permanent. Traffic other than

Our Monthly Talks

buses cannot use the road up to the junction with Quiet Street between 10am and 6pm.

Councillor Manda Rigby, cabinet member for Transport, said:

“We have been monitoring the temporary restriction since we introduced it in June 2020.

“We have spoken to and considered feedback from residents, businesses, bus operators and stakeholders, including Blue Badge holders, in order to weigh up views very carefully before making this decision.

“Without a doubt preventing vehicles other than buses along Milsom Street has made for a much more pleasant, less congested and much safer space.

“Feedback from the bus operators has been very positive and while it is not directly provable if the closure has had a direct impact, it is reassuring to see retail units are almost at full occupancy for the first time in two years.

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

Doors open at 9.45 a.m. for coffee. Admission is free for members but a donation of £2 for non-members.

Talks take place at:

The Pavilion, North Parade Road, Bath BA2 4EU

Upcoming Talks are:

6 April 2023

FUTURE DIRECTIONS IN ARCHITECTURE

by Chris Mackenzie RIBA

4 May 2023

DROPPING THE HABIT - A NUN’S STORY by Marion Dante

1 June 2023

THE HISTORY AND ARCHAEOLOGY OF THE NORTH SOMERSET COAL FIELDS

by Shane Gould

“However, this decision also affects people with disabilities and deliveries. Due to changes in various roads in the city centre, we commissioned an independent accessibility study and listened to concerns. “We have made several adjustments to assist people with limited mobility, as well as businesses and residents with their deliveries, which we believe balances the impact of the 10am6pm restriction while keeping the benefits that a congestion-free Milsom Street has enjoyed.”

All those who responded to the consultation on the experimental restriction will be

notified about the decision. It also explains that allowing Blue Badge holders as an exemption would re-introduce additional traffic in the street and that it would not be possible to monitor, or limit the exemption, to picking up or dropping off within the street itself, meaning the street could be again used as a through route, especially by taxis. Those with visual or balance disabilities find it easier and safer with the traffic reduced to just buses, and the council says it has had to balance the competing requirements of all disabilities.

Councillor Rigby added:

“Although it is no longer possible for vehicles to park or drop off/ pick up passengers in Milsom Street between 10am and 6pm, we have provided additional Blue Badge parking bays less than 50 metres away in Quiet Street and approximately 70 metres away in New Bond Street.

“Using John Street and Quiet Street as an alternative access, it is still possible for a vehicle displaying a Blue Badge to drop off or pick up within 30 metres of the bottom of Milsom Street.”

The decision report says buses can now get through the first cycle of the traffic signals in New Bond Street and that not having vehicles manoeuvring in and out of parking spaces means they can easily pull into the bus stop and are not obstructed.

Both of these factors reduce journey times and increase reliability of journey times.

The report also states that since the Experimental TRO came into effect in November 2021 there has been specific growth in food and beverage businesses in the street, most of which have explored options for outdoor seating.

One retailer, which has moved into premises in Milsom Street, was very positive about the access restriction and the new parklet outside their unit. The permanent access restriction also supports a programme of events and activities as part of the High Street Renewal Programme.

Milsom Street in Bath | Photo © Alena Veasey / Shutterstock.com

Fashion Museum’s collection moved to temporary home

THE Fashion Museum’s worldclass collection has found a temporary home at a luxury glovemaker in Warminster, ahead of a new museum being created in the Old Post Office in Bath.

The Fashion Museum closed its doors at the Assembly Rooms at the end of October last year and the curatorial team has spent the last few months packing up the collection and moving its 100,000 objects into a high-spec and secure storage facility at a site owned by Dents on the outskirts of Warminster.

Fashion Museum Manager

Rosemary Harden said: “We’re thrilled to have found a temporary home for the Fashion Museum collection at Dents Headquarters.

“It’s the ideal space for the collection while we wait to move into our new home at the Old Post Office, and a fantastic opportunity to forge closer links between the Museum and one of the UK’s leading heritage fashion brands.”

Deborah Moore, CEO of Dents, said: “Dents is delighted to welcome the Fashion Museum to Warminster. The move of the collection and the curatorial team into our headquarters has felt seamless, and it’s wonderful to build on our long-standing

relationship with this world-class collection as it works towards the creation of a brand-new museum in the centre of Bath.”

Kevin Guy, Leader of Bath & North East Somerset Council, added: “We’re pleased to be working with Dents to safely house the Fashion Museum’s collection of more than 100,000 objects, which range from gloves from the time of Shakespeare to fashions by today’s leading designers.

“When the Fashion Museum reopens in the Old Post Office, it will be more accessible, engage with a wider range of people, and tell a greater range of stories than ever before.”

The building provides the Fashion Museum with a large storage area that meets the high environmental and security standards required for the preservation of a museum collection as well as space for the curatorial team to work.

Established in 1777, Dents is one of the UK’s leading heritage fashion brands with a long tradition of making hand-crafted luxury leather gloves.

The firm has supplied handmade gloves to royalty, celebrities and the film industry including the late Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation glove, worn as part of the ceremony in 1953.

Dents was awarded a Royal Warrant in 2016 and its gloves have featured in the TV series Bridgerton and Mr Selfridge as well as Bond movies No Time to Die, Spectre and Skyfall. The Fashion Museum and Dents have a long-standing working relationship as both organisations are involved in the management of the Collection

of the Worshipful Company of Glovers of London, which has been on loan to the Fashion Museum since the mid-1980s.

The Collection comprises some 2,500 gloves including the Spence collection of historical gloves.

The Fashion Museum is expected to open at its new home in the Old Post Office in four to five years’ time.

The Museum is also partnering with Bath Spa University to create a Fashion Collection Archive in Locksbrook, to the west of the city centre.

Opening in the next three to five years, this will provide a home for the Museum’s extensive collection and will be accessible to the public through special events and study sessions.

Deborah Moore, CEO of Dents, with Rosemary Harden, Fashion Museum Manager | Photo © B&NES Council

Pictures from the Past: In the News

A picture can tell a story – but how true is the story?

in the doldrums.

It looks gloomy and there are ‘To Let’ signs up in what should be a prestigious position.

THIS series will feature pictures from the past which relate to what is the local news today.

We begin with a demonstration of how we all need to be wary of a photograph which purports to be evidence. Recently, particularly on social media, there has been much lamenting and beating of breasts about the state of Bath now, and how it isn’t what it was. Strangely, this echoes the views of Bathonians in 1708, when, so John Wood tells us, ‘the citizens in general were so uneasy at the sight of each new house that was begun that in the utmost despair they cried out: Oh Lord! Bath is undone – tis undone – tis undone.’

To prove how Bath is going downhill, despondent citizens keep posting photographs of apparently empty and neglected streets, especially Milsom Street. However, these three photos show that just because a picture tells a story, it doesn’t mean the story is true, or, at the very least, there may be another side to the story. The first is from 1933, and if you saw this, you might easily believe the city was then

However, a check in the Bath Directory suggests the properties did not stay empty for long.

Moreover, a closer look reveals that the blinds are down in some shops and the streets are wet. This looks very much look a wet early closing day.

Our second picture is very different. It’s from 1968 – the swinging sixties!

The sun is shining, there are parked cars and colourful floral displays – but where are the pedestrians and the traffic?

Was Bath in the doldrums then as well?

There’s a simple answer, thanks to the photographer, Colin Hamilton helpfully putting the date – 25th August – on the slide. It was a Sunday. Before shops could open on a Sunday, it was considered a good time for photographers to get out and take pictures without people getting in the way, which is what Colin did.

However, on the right day, in the right weather, Milsom Street can be very busy, as this picture from the early 1900s shows. We can tell from the shadows that the sun was shining and it’s certainly brought out

the crowds, not to mention a variety of wheeled vehicles.

Though with so many horsedrawn carts and carriages it comes as no surprise that there were still crossing sweepers in Bath

at this time, including one at the bottom of Milsom Street.

This may explain the broom leant up against the wall near the corner of Quiet Street.

COLUMN | Mark Shelford, Conservative Police and Crime Commissioner

IWANT to discuss the latest assessment results from His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) PEEL inspection.

PEEL stands for Police Efficiency, Effectiveness and Legitimacy and the inspections assess and grade police forces.

As your PCC, the PEEL inspections are essential in assisting me in my statutory duty of scrutinising and holding the Chief Constable to account for delivering an efficient and effective police service for all our communities.

I’m delighted that Avon and Somerset Police has been graded outstanding for ‘engaging with and

treating the public fairly and respectfully.’ This is a well-deserved achievement and I would like to thank all the officers and staff from across the force and my office who contribute to this work.

I am concerned – as I’m sure local people will be – about the areas highlighted that still require improvement, including investigating crime; recording data about crime; responding to the public; and managing offenders.

I will scrutinise Chief Constable Sarah Crew and her response to the report and will work alongside her to ensure the policing service focuses on all the aspects they need to improve urgently. Through my office and as part of

my monthly Performance and Accountability Board meetings, we will facilitate transparency and public accountability on how Avon and Somerset Police address the areas for improvement identified in the report. My team and I will review the report in greater detail and discuss how we will focus our scrutiny and governance of the force in those areas in the future. Thank you to the HMICFRS inspection team for completing this vital work.

Moving on, I know that dog theft is a concern for the people of Avon and Somerset. To mark the recent National Dog Theft Awareness Day, my team spoke to Avon

and Somerset Police’s Animal Welfare Legislation Officer PC Natalie Cosgrove.

It was reassuring to hear that the number of dog thefts in the area is relatively low; the force recorded 16 cases in 2021 and only five in 2022. Although a reduction, this is still five cases too many and the impact this crime has on individuals and families cannot be underestimated.

PC Natalie Cosgrove reminded us that not only is microchipping a legal requirement, it also means your dog will be much easier to track down if stolen. I also urge dog owners to consider DNA

tracking to help identify their dog if it’s stolen and found by the police.

More information on DNA tracking can be found on the ‘DNA Protected’ website. I too have had my dog chipped and DNA tracked, and the latter caused great embarrassment as she decided to eat the sandwiches of those kindly taking her swabs for the DNA database!

If your dog has been stolen, you should immediately contact the police and report the crime as theft. This way, officers can ensure preventative work is carried out to keep our pets safe.

Kirsten Elliott Akeman Press

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ex 75 x 47 x 2400mm

WANEY EDGE

With uneven edges and bark on display, this rustic style of external cladding provides a natural look.

ex 150/200 x 22 x 4800mm

Waney Edge

£22.00

BULLNOSE TRIM

UC3 pressure treated trim to give a professional and complete finish.

ex 75 x 25 x 4200mm

UC3 Dbl Bullnose Trim

£7.00

What's On

Kathryn Roberts & Sean Lakeman

Chapel Arts Centre

29th March, 8pm

It's been five years since the last offering from the popular husband and wife duo Kathryn Roberts and Sean Lakeman and their latest album proves a ‘tour de force’ of musical and lyrical surprises.

Bach Motets

St. Swithin’s Church

1st April, 7.30pm

Paragon Singers present Bach’s motets. ‘Lobet den Herrn’, ‘Komm, Jesu komm’, ‘Singet dem Herrn’ and ‘Jesu, meine Freude’ come from Bach’s time as Music Director at the Thomaskirche in Leipzig.

Weave Your Own Easter Basket

No.1 Royal Crescent

1st – 16th April, 10am - 4pm

Learn how to weave with colourful ribbon and wool, and take home a beautiful basket ready to store all your Easter eggs in. Afterwards, why not take on the Conservator Challenge?

Matthew Green

Topping & Company Booksellers

7th April, 7.30pm

Dr Matthew Green is an historian, writer, and broadcaster with a doctorate from Oxford University. He joins us in the bookshop for Shadowlands which details his journey across Britain.

Escape To Wonderland

The Rondo Theatre

29th & 30th March, 7.30pm

Inspired by the words and stories of Lewis Carroll, WhimsiCo’s debut play combines poetry, music, and prose to explore grief, love, identity, and growing up when it is incredibly hard to do so.

Easter Egg Hunt

Dyrham Park

1st – 16th April, 10am-5pm

Make your way along the trail and find nature-inspired activities for the whole family. The price of the trail is £3 each and includes a trail map, pencil and a chocolate egg at the end.

I-SPY The Live Hunt

Mary Shelley's House of Frankenstein

1st – 30th April

House of Frankenstein's resident Scientist has hidden cryptic clues around the house which unlock the secret locations where he plans to source vital "body parts" to build his new "Creature".

Easter Lates

The Roman Baths

7th - 10th April, 5 - 7pm

Spend the evening with us as we open late over the Easter weekend. Discover amazing artefacts in the museum and soak up the atmosphere beside the torchlit Great Bath.

A good employer gets it.

Extraordinary!

Bath Abbey

30th March, 6.30pm

Tuesday 28th March - Monday 10th April 2023

Police Dog Hogan

Komedia

30th March, 7pm

Following successful performances in 2022, Voices for Life is back with a brand-new work. Join 200 local primary school children and the Voices for Life Children's Choir for this performance.

Easter Eggcitement

The American Museum

1st – 16th April

Hunt for the creative and colourful egg installations throughout the gardens and answer the simple quiz question at each egg station to complete the fun trail with a chocolate treat at the end.

The Selfish Giant

The Egg

4th - 6th April

Join us beneath the ferns for a joyous reimagining of Oscar Wilde’s classic fairy tale. A story of friendship and the meaning of home.

Tickets: £10

Easter Cider Festival

The Bath Cider House

7th – 10th April

Celebrate the Easter bank holiday with the latest and greatest Cider Festival. Showcasing dozens of incredible ciders from up and down the country as well as our very own. Free entry all weekend.

Join Police Dog Hogan at one of their ‘now-legendary’ live gigs at Komedia in Bath. The 7-piece outfit has been attracting rave reviews for more than ten years.

Make your own Planet Suncatcher

The Herschel Museum of Astronomy

1st – 16th April, 10am - 5pm

As spring finally emerges, ensure you make the most of the sunshine with a fabulous planet suncatcher to hang in your window and fill your room with colour.

Posting Letters to the Moon

Ustinov Studio

6th – 8th April

Lucy Fleming and Simon Williams return with their portrayal of life in the 1940s, with readings of letters between actress Celia Johnson and her explorer and writer husband Peter Fleming.

The Tiger Who Came To Tea

The Theatre Royal

9th & 10th April

A play adapted and directed by David Wood, based on the book by Judith Kerr. Direct from the West End, the Olivier Award nominated smash hit show, The Tiger Who Came to Tea returns on tour.

Our Charter supports organisations to become employers of choice, so they can achieve better productivity and growth, increase staff retention and recruit top talent.

Fire service reminder to check your smoke alarms regularly

AS part of the ongoing Fire Kills campaign, Avon Fire & Rescue Service is urging residents to test their smoke alarms regularly and make doing so part of their household routine.

This month, the fire service is encouraging residents across the Bath area to make fire safety a priority by ensuring they have enough smoke alarms in their homes and that they work.

Smoke alarms can give someone the few extra seconds they need to escape from a fire.

While the majority of homes across the country now have an alarm fitted, most people are not aware that the average alarm has a lifespan of just ten years and then needs replacing.

Ben Thompson, Group Manager for Protection and Prevention, said: “Smoke alarms can offer vital protection for you and your loved ones, but most people simply fit and forget – they don’t know if it might be coming to the end of its lifespan or not working at all.

“For most of us, there is nothing more important than keeping our loved ones safe and secure.

“So, if your alarm is getting past

its best or you’re missing an alarm, fit new ones and test them at least once a month.”

Avon Fire & Rescue has offered top tips on smoke alarms, including:

• Install at least one smoke alarm on every level of your home.

• Consider fitting additional alarms in other rooms, particularly those with electrical appliances (e.g., heaters) and near sleeping areas.

• Test your smoke alarm by pushing the button at least

Over 100 people sleep outside to raise money for Julian House

once a month.

• Change the batteries in your smoke alarm every year.

• Replace your smoke alarms every ten years.

Ben added: “We also urge you to check in on your loved ones, especially those less able, to make sure they have enough smoke alarms and that they are in the right places too.”

For advice specific to you and your home, you can complete a home fire safety check. Further information can be found at www.avonfire.gov.uk.

Funding for local coronation events

COMMUNITY groups in the village of Peasedown St John will be able to apply for funding to organise events to celebrate the coronation of HM King Charles III in May.

The Peasedown Community Trust, which oversees several local projects, is making funding available for community organisers to apply for.

Trust Chairman, Gavin

Heathcote, said: “The coronation of a British Monarch is a rare occasion. This is the first such event in 70 years.

“The Peasedown Community Trust is allocating £500 for community groups to apply for.”

Cllr Karen Walker added: “We’re particularly keen to hear from smaller community groups who may struggle to secure funding from elsewhere. Are

you organising a street party or coordinating something big for the Bank Holiday weekend in May? If so, we’d love to hear from you!”

For more details, and to make an application for funding, email the Peasedown Community Trust at peasedowncommunitytrust@ gmail.com.

Applications must be received via email by 5pm on 3rd April 2023.

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

AFTER a cold winter, the daffodils are out, and spring is in the air. And over the coming weeks, as the days grow longer, it’s time to get excited and start hopping up and down - for Easter beckons!

For those of us with a sweet tooth, it's one of the best times of the year as delicious chocolate eggs make their annual appearancein all good Bath and North East Somerset shops!

But where was this tradition ‘hatched’? Who started it? Well, the West of England, of course!

Yes, we live in the place where the hollow chocolate egg was invented. And this year, there’s an eggs-tra reason to celebrate - for

it was exactly 150 years ago this happened.

Some history. In 1873, the inventive and famous West of England chocolate manufacturers, Fry's, with factories first in Bristol and then at Somerdale, Keynsham, hit upon the idea of making chocolate by mixing cocoa fat with cocoa powder and sugar. This made a super-smooth paste which could be poured into egg-shaped moulds, producing the hollow chocolate egg we know and love today.

People couldn’t get enough of these new egg-shaped treats, and it wasn’t long before they were selling worldwide. I love when the brilliance of our region’s busi-

nesses shines, and a great West of England idea goes global - now as well as back in 1873. Let’s keep that tradition going!

In acknowledging our local chocolate manufacturing history in the 18th and 19th centuries, we also need to recognise its ugly side, for we know sugar and cocoa grown on Caribbean plantations exploited people of African descent forced into slave labour. This matters, and it’s important to say so.

While Quakers in the UK, like the Fry family, helped lead the anti-slavery movement, not every Quaker held this view - particularly those in the US. Despite the closure of the Fry's

MORE than 100 people helped to raise money and awareness for local charity Julian House earlier this month by sleeping outside for the night at Alice Park.

Families, friends and colleagues ditched their beds and spent a night under the stars to raise funds for Bath-based Julian House.

The charity supports over 1,600 people in over 40 projects across the South West who are facing homelessness, are refugees, escaping domestic abuse and more.

Temperatures dropped to 0 degrees as people bedded down for the night, with just sleeping bags, roll mats and cardboard to keep warm.

The event was supported by Alina Homecare, Metro Bank, Altus Consulting, SECCL, and Bristol-based Financial Lines Team of Howden Insurance Brokers Limited.

While enjoying a well-deserved bacon sandwich one participant said “It was a night of poor sleep

but very worthwhile to raise money for Julian House to do invaluable work”

Event Organiser Matt Redmore said: “We are delighted that the Bath community has once again come out to support this event and give up their bed for the night. We understand how hard people are finding it with the current economic situation so asking people for sponsorship hasn’t always been easy for some people!

“Obviously sleeping out for one night does not come close to the realities of homelessness. “It does however give people the chance to empathise with those who are forced to sleep rough every night, as well as start a conversation about homelessness, and those that took part certainly did just that. “Sponsorship is currently around £16,000 which is great and we’re expecting even more to come in. “Without events like these and the help of our supporters, we really could not provide our essential life-saving services.”

factory just over a decade ago, the West of England is today home to independent chocolate makers of all sizes - using creative talent and ethical practices including Fairtrade chocolate. The commitment from these companies to learn from the past actions - good and bad - of their predecessors is positive, and significant.

And it’s this commitment to working towards a better future that I want to celebrate. That’s why I’m “egging on” residents to donate their spare or unwanted eggs to good causes – like foodbanks, or homeless shelters. I’ve

been out promoting Fairtrade Fortnight – encouraging Bathonians to get involved. It’s also why I want residents to get behind the fantastic shops and attractions we have locally this Easter – and beyond - to get them back on their feet after a tricky few years. So let’s celebrate something great from our region - after all chocolate Easter eggs have brought a lot of pleasure to a lot of people! This really puts us on the map. Celebrate the 150th birthday of the chocolate egg we all know and love, and together let’s build a sweeter and better city - and region - for all.

Smoke alarms can give someone the extra time they need to escape from a fire

A family sleep out in Alice Park | Photo © Julian House

Rise in norovirus cases leads to warning from health leaders

THERE has been an increase in the number of norovirus cases being reported across Bath and North East Somerset, which is putting extra pressure on an already-busy health and care system.

Hospitals and care homes across the region, as well as many other local health and care settings, have reported the bug spreading among staff and patients. Cases of norovirus, which passes very easily from person to person, and causes symptoms such as sickness, diarrhoea and dehydration, have been rising across the country, with data suggesting the current number is more than twice as high as it was this time last year.

Connie Timmins, Lead Nurse for Infection Prevention and Control, Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire Integrated Care Board, said: “The best way to stop the spread of norovirus is to stay at home and away from others until at least 48 hours after symptoms have passed.

“Even if a person is no longer

being sick or running to the loo, the virus may still be present in their system, which means it can still be passed on.

“Staying at home, as well as avoiding health and care settings, including hospitals, GP practices, pharmacies and care homes, will protect others, especially those who are vulnerable, from falling ill.”

Washing hands regularly with soap and water can kill any lingering norovirus germs, as can disinfecting toilets, kitchen surfaces and door handles.

Antibacterial hand sanitiser should only be used as a supplement to soap and water, as the gel on its own is ineffective against the virus.

People with norovirus are being advised to rest, drink plenty of fluids and follow the guidance on how to get better listed on the NHS website, as most people will recover in a couple of days.

Those with prolonged or worsening symptoms should not seek help in-person, but instead use the NHS 111 online tool, which can suggest help

RUH's cardiology team recognised for level of patient care

and advice specific to a person’s current condition. Visiting hospitals and other health and care settings while feeling poorly with norovirus can add significant pressure to hardworking front-line teams.

Sarah Merritt, Deputy Chief Nurse, Royal United Hospitals

Bath NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Across the NHS, levels of winter viruses remain high for this time of year. “At the RUH, we are seeing a much higher than usual rate of norovirus infection, and this is having a significant impact on our bed availability as we manage

our clinical areas to reduce the spread of infection and keep the people we care for safe.

“Our community can support us by not coming to the hospital if they are experiencing symptoms of norovirus and waiting 48 hours after symptoms have cleared before attending hospital.”

Youngsters learn about NHS jobs

THE Cardiology team at the Royal United Hospital has been recognised for providing some of the highest standards of care.

The British Society of Echocardiography recently awarded full departmental accreditation after a rigorous application and inspection process.

To gain the nationally recognised benchmark of quality, the RUH had to demonstrate high standards in several areas. These included evidence that the department’s equipment and processes ensure safe and effective patient care.

The assessors were also impressed with the culture and ethos of the team and praised the training offered to staff.

Dr Dan Augustine, Consultant

Cardiologist at the RUH, said:

“This accreditation means our patients can be confident that they will receive the highest quality of care from our team.

“It is testament to the team’s dedication to ensuring our patients consistently receive the best possible experience.

“I’m so proud of everyone involved for their hard work in reaching this high standard for the people we care for.”

Recent feedback on the service also highlights the high standard of care provided by the team, with one patient describing the service as ‘first class’ and another remarking on the ‘kindness, respect and professionalism’ with which they were treated.

THE Royal United Hospital recently hosted a careers fair, helping school leavers from across the local area find out more about the varied opportunities available in the NHS.

The event, which took place during national Careers Week, gave pupils from Year 10 and above the opportunity to meet staff to find out more about working at the RUH and the wide range of careers on offer.

Teams across the hospital were represented at the fair, including maternity, therapies, pathology, estates, nursing, audiology and medical physics.

Hugh McKinney, RUH Learning and Development Lead, said: “There are so many career opportunities in the NHS and events like the careers fair are the

perfect way for young people to find out more about working in healthcare and the opportunities for school leavers here at the RUH.

“The RUH is the biggest employer in the local area and we are committed to continuing to build strong links with our community and offer job opportunities to local people.

“We want to recruit the very best staff and support them throughout their career and help them to flourish.

“We recently opened a new Career Zone in our Atrium to showcase the wide range of opportunities at our hospital and the fantastic benefits of working for the NHS.

“So please do drop in anytime to find out how you could become part of the great team of staff we

Will Hamlin joined the RUH straight from school when he took up the role of a healthcare assistant (HCA).

He said: “I wanted to become a healthcare assistant at the RUH as I heard that the HCA induction programme is really good, and it was. I was new to healthcare and I learnt all the skills I needed to do this job.

“The induction team helped ease me into this role and they gave me the encouragement I needed as I was learning lots of new skills.

“Since working here I’ve realised that there are many roles in the hospital and opportunities for me, including the option of applying to do a nursing apprenticeship to become a registered nurse, so I’m going to spend some time in this role and see where it takes me.”

The Adult Speech and Language Therapy team | Photo © RUH have here at the RUH.”

Washing hands regularly with soap and water can kill norovirus germs

The Cardiology team at the Royal United Hospital | Photo © RUH

Students to build artificial heart as part of global contest

A TEAM of students from the University of Bath have begun creating a working artificial heart as part of a worldwide ‘Heart Hackathon’ competition. Team Bath Heart (TBH) is working to design, prototype and test a fully working artificial heart in the contest, the final of which takes place in Texas in October.

The 30-strong student-led team, made up of students studying electrical, mechanical and robotics engineering, will compete against seven other teams from countries including Australia, Egypt, Sweden and the USA in the Heart Hackathon, as the UK’s sole representatives. Artificial hearts are already used in medicine to treat patients with certain cardiovascular diseases, usually while waiting for a donor heart to be found, or to help their heart recover.

The Heart Hackathon competition aims to nurture the next generation of medical and cardiovascular innovators. Student-led teams have been tasked with designing, prototyping and evaluating their own Total Artificial Heart

before their efforts are judged by international experts.

As a Total Artificial Heart, the device will be able to do the whole job of a native heart –going beyond the capability of a Ventricular Assist Device, which only augments the function of one chamber of the heart.

Fleur Upton, the team’s Project Manager, said they are gaining real-world problem-solving experience, while helping to find solutions to advanced heart failure.

She explained: “I gained experience of project managing technical teams while on my placement and Team Bath Heart allows me to apply that in a reallife situation, and in a setting that could make an impact on healthcare and patients in the future.

“Everyone on the team has the same end goal – to create lifesaving technology.”

Team member Francisco Nabais added: “We are lucky to have a lot of really interesting student teams here at Bath, but in our case the fact our work could potentially help seriously ill people is very

appealing.”

The artificial heart the Bath team is designing is comprised of a range of cutting-edge medical-grade materials, robotics technologies and features including automatic flow rate adjustment to respond just as a real heart does.

Dr Katharine Fraser, a Senior Lecturer in Mechanical Engineering and the team’s academic supervisor, said: “It’s inspiring to see the work the team is doing and the approach they’re taking.

“My own research is in the field of artificial heart and vascular technologies, and while they have existed for a few years now it’s

wonderful to see how the team is approaching the same problems we researchers are investigating. “Medical engineering and technologies like these have massive industrial potential, so as well as gaining great problemsolving and management experience in entering the competition, the team are also building really relevant skills for their future careers.”

The students are hoping to build on the success of other engineering teams at the University of Bath, which build and compete in competition series for motorsports, motorcycle racing, air and marine

drone racing, and in rockets.

Fleur added: “There’s a strong history of successful student engineering teams at Bath, and we want to make sure the team is sustainable and keeps entering this competition year in, year out. “We are aiming to build new relationships with sponsors and companies locally and beyond who can help us financially or with in-kind support such as materials, software licences or expertise that we can learn from and apply in our artificial heart.” Interested parties, companies or prospective sponsors can contact Team Bath Heart at TeamBathHeart@bath.ac.uk.

The student-led Team Bath Heart group | Photo © University of Bath

Business Bath-based Shakeup Cosmetics brand signs deal with Boots

A BATH-BASED men’s cosmetics brand is set to expand its high-street presence to more than 350 stores after signing a deal with Boots.

Shakeup Cosmetics was founded by twin brothers Jake Xu and Shane Carnell-Xu, after they suffered from Rosacea and struggled to find cosmetic products designed specifically for men’s skin.

The twin duo believe that the pursuit of beauty is no longer exclusive to women but a component of a more modern lifestyle.

They say that it’s also become the embodiment of self-care and directly affects the self-esteem and mental wellbeing of today’s modern man.

Shakeup Cosmetics has secured a multi-store listing which will see them launch their range of products in over 170 Boots stores nationwide.

Having already launched on the UK’s high street with Superdrug last year, this latest deal will take Shakeup’s physical retail touchpoints to over 350 in the UK

alone.

Jake Xu said: “We are incredibly proud of this huge milestone for our brand. We launched Shakeup merely a few weeks before the pandemic started. However, with our team’s hard work, resilience and agility to adapt, not only did we survive through these extremely challenging years, we actually thrived.

“We can’t wait to see our products in more physical stores nationwide. Against a sea of black & white, grey & blue, we hope to bring a spot of colour (with our gorgeous brand green) as well as the much-needed innovation and excitement to the men’s aisles.”

The brand made its debut in November 2019, by partnering with Harvey Nichols to launch their cosmetic collection.

Since then, the brand has grown rapidly, with revenue increasing by 300%. They’ve also expanded their international distribution to China and Australia. Shakeup’s PeTA-certified products are all formulated and made in the UK, cruelty-free and vegan.

Flight Centre reopens store following pandemic closure

Wessex Water praised for customer service

ONE of the world’s largest travel companies, Flight Centre, has reopened its store in Bath after it was closed due to the pandemic.

A grand opening event was held at the store, situated on Union Passage, on Monday 27th February.

The Mayor of the City of Bath, Councillor Rob Appleyard, cut the red ribbon to officially declare the site back open for business.

The store in Bath is managed by Monique Thomas, who has worked for Flight Centre for 18

years.

Monique started as a Travel Consultant in 2005, working her way up to manager, where prepandemic where she managed three stores in the South West. She has now been given a newly refurbished store to look after in Bath and will be working alongside four full-time members of staff.

James Boyle, Flight Centre UK’s Head of Marketing, said: “We are delighted about the reopening of our store in Bath, as it is an important location to serve our

customers in the South-West.

“This is a significant moment for Flight Centre as we continue our journey to reopen a series of stores across the UK. This store in Bath is the first of three that we will reopen this year.

“This store was the last one to be refurbished before the pandemic and offers a fantastic space to welcome customers.

“Just like Monique and her staff here today, Flight Centre’s people are its number one asset. I would like to wish Monique and her team the very best for the future.”

WATER and sewerage company

Wessex Water has retained its national Customer Service Excellence (CSE) quality mark certificate. Independently assessed, the CSE standard recognises organisations across the UK that have a ‘truly customer-focused culture’.

Wessex Water is currently the only CSE-accredited water company in the UK, with assessors noting its strong performance in feedback surveys and quick response to challenges faced by customers amid the cost-ofliving crisis. The report said: “Wessex Water continues to show its commitment to excellent customer services and continuous improvement and a culture of always wanting to do the right thing.

“Quality and continuous

improvement are of the highest importance to Wessex Water and the organisational culture is one of being totally customer focused. “The approach is embedded throughout the teams – an attitude of viewing challenges and learning points as an opportunity prevails.”

The recognition comes shortly after Wessex Water was rated the top water and sewerage company in the latest UK Customer Service Index (UKCSI), a national benchmark of customer satisfaction covering 13 sectors and 281 organisations.

Both assessments recognised the firm’s commitment to helping people, including more than 55,000 customers across the region who were struggling financially through a range of affordability schemes and payment plans.

Founders Jake Xu and Shane Carnell-Xu | Inset: Products in Boots | Photos © Shakeup Cosmetics

The reopening of the Flight Centre store in Bath | Photo © Flight Centre

Wessex Water is currently the UK's only CSE-accredited water company

Drop-in service offered for help with voter ID

PEOPLE without an accepted form of photo ID needed to vote in the upcoming local elections are now able to visit council offices to get help applying for a Voter Authority Certificate. Changes in national legislation mean that for the first time, voters will need to show photographic ID when they vote in person at the polling station.

It is a new requirement introduced by the UK Government’s Elections Act, which comes into effect from 4th May 2023. Voters will also need to be on the electoral register.

A passport, photocard driving licence, Blue Badge, Older Person’s Bus Pass (including Diamond Travelcard) or a Disabled Person’s Bus Pass are some of the documents that will be accepted as proof of identity when voters go to the polling station to vote in the local elections.

The full list of accepted photo ID can be found on the Electoral Commission’s website (https:// www.electoralcommission.org. uk/i-am-a/voter/voter-id) or by calling 0800 328 0280. Out-of-date photo ID can still be used providing that the name is the same as on the electoral register and the photo is recognisably you.

Voters who don’t have an accepted form of photo ID can apply for a free Voter Authority Certificate online or by completing a paper form. They can also apply for the certificate in person at the

following council offices:

• The Guildhall in Bath

• Bath Housing, Welfare and Advice Service on Manvers Street

• Keynsham Information and Advice Service

• Midsomer Norton Information and Advice Service

To apply for the certificate, residents will need to provide a passport-style photo, full name, date of birth, the address at which they are registered to vote and their National Insurance number. Staff will be able to take a photograph to accompany their application.

The deadline to apply for a certificate for the May election is 5pm, Tuesday 25th April.

Mandy Bishop, chief operating officer of Bath & North East

Somerset Council, said: “Photo ID is a new requirement introduced by the UK Government’s Elections Act, which comes into effect from 4 May 2023.

“Anyone who wants to vote will need to make sure they are on the electoral register and that that they have an accepted form of photo ID.

“We would encourage everyone to pass on this information, so that people are aware of the changes and can make sure they have everything they need to vote ahead of the 25 April deadline.

“Residents who don’t have any accepted photo ID and would like help applying for a free Voter Authority Certificate can call into one of our information services and staff will help them by completing the form online and

taking a photo to go with it.”

Age UK BANES is also offering older people one-to-one support with applying online for voter ID. To find out more, call their Information and Advice team on 01225 466 135 or email them on digital@ageukbanes.co.uk.

You can check if you are on the electoral register by calling 01225 477333 or emailing elections@ bathnes.gov.uk.

The deadline to register to vote for the May elections is Monday 17th April. Residents can apply for a Voter Authority Certificate at the same time as registering to vote.

The requirement to show photo ID only applies to people voting in person at a polling station. If you vote by post, you will not need to provide photo ID.

Public Notices

NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR GRANT OF PREMISES LICENCE UNDER THE LICENSING ACT 2003

Tzvetilena Dimitrova applied to Bath & North East Somerset Council on 21 March 2023 for a licence to use the premises at Refillable, 2 - 3 Cleveland Place East, BA1 5DJ for the sale by retail of alcohol.

Notification of the application made to the Licensing Authority is available on a register at www.bathnes.gov.uk/ licensing-register.

Representations should be made in writing to:

Bath & North East Somerset Council Licensing Services Lewis House Manvers Street Bath BA1 1JG

or by email to licensing@bathnes.gov.uk

by Friday 21st April 2023.

Representations made will be disclosed in an open meeting should a hearing be necessary.

It is an offence knowingly or recklessly to make a false statement in connection with an application and is subject to a fine of any amount on summary conviction for the offence.

Dated 28.03.22

City's MP calls for misogyny to be made a hate crime

THE MP for Bath, Wera Hobhouse, has called for misogyny to be made a hate crime during a debate to mark International Women’s Day.

During the debate, on 9th March, Mrs Hobhouse also said that disrespect and violence against women and girls is endemic across society.

She has called for a powerful signal to be sent and to start treating violence against women and girls with the severity it warrants.

The Bath MP said the signal should be relayed through misogyny becoming a hate crime during an intervention in the debate.

In Mrs Hobhouse’s speech, she went through statistics that show the endemic nature of misogyny. Half of British women have been sexually harassed at work or at their place of study.

Women are 27 times more likely to face online abuse than men.

Nearly a quarter of women have experienced sexual assault or been victims of attempted sexual assault since they were 16, and

one in 14 women have experienced rape or attempted rape. She then made the point that behind these statistics there are women, that these are lives and every story is a story of trauma and hurt.

Ms Hobhouse pointed out her own work in trying to create a culture change that would start the process of stamping out the acceptance of misogyny.

Her Bill to address sexual harassment in the workplace has passed through the Commons and will reach its Second Reading in the Lords later this month.

The MP also described the need for the police to reform their attitudes towards women and sexual offences committed against them.

She used Sarah Everard’s murderer and former police officer, Wayne Couzens to highlight this. Couzens exposed himself to women just four days before Sarah’s murder. His victims have argued that, if their reports had been taken seriously by the police, Sarah may still be alive.

The first report of Operation Soteria Bluestone found that some serving officers do not think that sexual offences should be a priority for policing.

It quoted one officer who believed that cases of rape and sexual offences were “pink and fluffy”. That officer openly admitted to avoiding such cases in favour of burglary and robbery.

The new Metropolitan Police Commissioner has said that they are investigating 1,000 sexual and domestic abuse claims involving 100 of its officers. Mrs Hobhouse said this shows there are not just a few bad apples in the police but a “rotten culture of misogyny”.

The MP commented: “Making misogyny a hate crime is not gesture politics. It would send a powerful signal, a signal that all crimes against women and girls will be investigated properly and not just brushed away.

“Jess Phillips makes the most powerful speech during this debate every year. She makes every Member in the Chamber sit in silence for many minutes, reflect-

ing on the terrible stories that we hear each year of women who suffer domestic abuse and violence.

“The list of women killed by men in the last year does not seem to get any shorter each time she reads it out. There has to be change and that change should start with misogyny becoming a hate crime.

“Avon and Somerset police have shown great leadership in this area with their dedicated and

well-resourced team which tackles violence against women.

“They have tripled the charge rate for rape cases. A step in the right direction but other forces need to follow their lead.

“We still hear too many stories of vile behaviour in police forces nationwide.

“It is clear that these are not a few rotten apples but rotten cultures of misogyny. Reforming policing is a huge part of tackling this systemic problem.”

People will need to arrange a Voter Authority Certificate if they don't have the correct ID

Bath MP Wera Hobhouse

In Other News...

Housing association Curo plants 900 trees across its estates

BATH-BASED housing association Curo is celebrating the end of a successful treeplanting season, which has seen 900 trees being planted across the area.

The tree-planting season runs between November and March, when trees are dormant. The success rate of trees planted during this time greatly increases. Curo replaces every tree they fell, though not always in the same place or with the same species.

Senior Arboriculturalist Joe Robson explained that he follows the principle of ‘right tree, right place’ when drawing up treeplanting plans. He said: “Trees are vital for our communities as they enhance the environment, storing carbon to combat climate change, while providing habitats for insects, animals and birds.

“They act as a natural air filter, trapping pollution in their leaves and bark. Plus, being around nature has proven mental health benefits for people, reducing stress and promoting wellbeing. “Tree planting is one of the best

parts of my job,” says Joe. “I work with volunteer groups, charities, community groups, contractors and colleagues to plant trees across the Curo estate.”

Curo plant a variety of tree species, both native and nonnative.

Joe continued: “I build species diversity into planting plans. Not only does this make sites look interesting, it also helps to protect our trees from pests and diseases.

“My favourite species is the Lombardy cherry (Prunus Amanogawa). It has a pinkish white blossom and grows in a tall, narrow shape, which is rare for cherry trees.”

Curo have worked with local councillors and community groups to plant orchards on two sites during this planting season.

Joe added: “It’s great to see volunteers grab a spade and help to improve their local areas.

“People always leave with a smile on their faces, looking forward to enjoying some free fruit in the coming summers!”

Local charity More Trees for B&NES (MTFB) have worked

with Curo during the planting season.

The charity collects seeds from trees in the B&NES area, grows them in nurseries until they’re big enough to be planted and then donates them to people who plant them on land across the

Businesses being supported to ensure they are cyber safe

A NEW campaign to help sole traders, micro businesses and small organisations stay safe when they’re online is being supported by Police & Crime Commissioner Mark Shelford. In 2022, around four in ten businesses identified a cyber attack and, in the same year, 81% of businesses that reported an email or social media hack were small or medium businesses.

The average annual cost of a cyber attack for micro and small businesses was £3,080. The financial impact does not include the serious reputational damage and disruption that organisations also face in the wake of an attack.

PCC Mark Shelford is supporting the National Cyber Security Centre’s (NCSC) latest Cyber Aware campaign, which aims to help sole traders and small organisations protect themselves from the vast majority of cyber threats, by taking two free, simple steps.

By completing the NCSC’s Cyber Action Plan, small businesses and organisations will receive

a tailored list of actions to help protect them online

Using the NCSC’s new Check Your Cyber Security service, small businesses and organisations will be able to:

• Check their internet-connected computers and systems for vulnerabilities to ransomware

• Receive advice on how to mitigate any cyber risks

• Tell them if their web browser is up to date.

Locally, businesses in Avon and Somerset can join the South West Cyber Resilience Centre (SWCRC).

The organisation provides free guidance and support including information on basic security and how to implement it plus a monthly update on the latest threats to avoid.

SWCRC can also provide inexpensive services including website and systems testing using a network of ethical hackers.

PCC Mark Shelford, national lead for Economic and Cyber Crime, said: “Small businesses are the backbone of the UK but cyber

criminals continue to view them as targets.

“Each year, millions of small businesses and organisations fall victim to unscrupulous cyber criminals through hacking, ransomware and other cyber threats.

“The cyber threat is growing at a time when businesses and ordinary working people are already facing a significant cost of living pressures.

“It is imperative that we raise awareness of both the NCSC’s and SWCRC’s free tools and guidance to help small businesses and sole traders become cyber resilient.

“I urge anyone who is a sole trader or has a small business to look at the available services to protect yourselves from the vast majority of cyber threats.”

If you are part of a community group, school, business or parent group that would benefit from a talk on fraud prevention or cyber-crime, email the teams at fraudprotect@avonandsomerset. police.uk or cyberprotect@ avonandsomerset.police.uk.

Crossword answers - Issue 047 (14/03/23)

Across: 9 Ghost town, 10 Hallo, 11 Easel, 12 Beginning, 13 Demister, 14 Safest, 15 Eddy, 16 Worse, 18

5 Orang-utan, 27 Ether, 29 Keels, 30 Sweet talk.

district.

Sandra Tuck, Community Tree Nursery Coordinator at MTFB, said: “The tree-planting projects have produced a great result on Curo sites this year.”

Joe concluded: “We’ve loved working with MTFB.

“It’s fantastic to be involved with such a proactive, forwardthinking and unique charity.”

If you’d like to suggest an area of Curo land that would benefit from future tree planting, contact Curo via estates@curo-group. co.uk.

Roman Baths revealed as 27th most-visited attraction in UK

FIGURES have revealed that the historic Roman Baths & Pump Room was the 27th most-visited attraction in the UK in 2022, up from 51st the previous year. The data, from the Association for Leading Visitor Attractions (ALVA), shows that the Roman Baths was the second mostvisited attraction in the South West, after Stonehenge. The historic attraction welcomed 851,854 visitors in 2022, compared to 351,655 in 2021.

Councillor Kevin Guy, Leader of Bath & North East Somerset Council, said: “These figures represent a welcome recovery for the Roman Baths and demonstrate the significance of Bath within the UK tourism industry.

“To be 27th in a list of such amazing visitor attractions is a tremendous achievement and I am delighted that so many people chose Bath and the Roman Baths as the place to create special

memories with their friends and families. Last year’s visitor figures were below the pre-pandemic figures. In large part this is due to the absence of certain key international markets, notably China and the Far East, but I am confident that they will start to return this year and we will see a continuing healthy recovery.

“I would like to thank the team in Heritage Services for the skill with which they’ve managed the Service through the pandemic and into what is clearly an established recovery.”

The ALVA report shows that visitor numbers to the top UK attractions in 2022 were down by 23% on pre-pandemic figures.

Down: 1 Ogle, 2 Consumed, 3 Stylish, 4 Sombrero, 5 Snag, 6 Chin-wag, 7 Alpine, 8 Songstress, 13 Dreadlocks, 17 Silenced, 19 Overheat, 20 Disgust, 21 Deserts, 23 Trader, 26 Tusk, 28 Rake.

Joe Robson, Curo’s Senior Arboriculturalist, plants fruit trees at Ballance Street with a resident | Photo © Curo