Bath Echo - Issue 051 - 09/05/2023

LIB DEMS INCREASE MAJORITY

Boost for Green Party as Conservatives lose out - P3

Reasons behind £20m funding bid failure revealed

up a new fashion collection archive at Locksbrook.

their own project.

A GOVERNMENT document has revealed the reasons why Bath’s bid for Levelling Up funding was turned down.

Bath & North East Somerset Council applied for £20m from the government scheme to help fund Bath Fashion Museum’s move to new premises and to set

But instead of £20m, the council received two and a half A4 pages of feedback from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing, and Communities explaining why the bid was turned down.

The Fashion Museum had to leave its home at the Assembly Rooms at the end of October, after the National Trust who own the building decided to use it for

The council announced a £37m project to turn the Old Post Office on New Bond Street into a new site for the museum but the future of the project was plunged into doubt after the government turned down the bid, leaving the project mostly unfunded and setting back the museum’s reopening by years.

Now the government’s feedback has been obtained by the Local

Need a new website?

With prices from £150, we’ll

Democracy Reporting Service through a freedom of information request.

The document reveals that the government considered the council’s plans “relatively strong” and in keeping with the aims of levelling up, but it was turned down as there was not enough data behind some parts of the plan.

Council leader Kevin Guy ...

Continued on page 2

John Wimperis Local Democracy Reporter

Volunteers being sought for RUH vaccine trials

Pictures from the Past

Top Stories Crossword P7

What's On

Useful Information

The Bath Echo newspaper is produced fortnightly. Thousands of copies are delivered and distributed across the Bath area via our dedicated pick-up points and at cafés, venues, waiting rooms and local libraries.

How to get in touch with us...

For news items and press releases: news@bathecho.co.uk

01225 585484

For sport and match reports: sport@bathecho.co.uk

01225 585484

Want to have a letter published? letters@bathecho.co.uk

Subscriptions/Distribution: production@bathecho.co.uk

01225 585484

Advertising & Marketing: advertise@bathecho.co.uk

01225 589789

Contact the editor: Sebastian Hawker editor@bathecho.co.uk

Published by Media Bath Limited Bath Echo, PO Box 5395, Bath, BA1 0YA Company Number: 09384496

Disclaimer

Please note, the views expressed in this newspaper are not necessarily the views of the editor, or publisher. No parts of this newspaper may be reproduced without prior written permission. Liability for advertising in this publication comes down to the individual advertiser, and not the publisher. © Media Bath Limited

ISSN 2632-7805

The Bath Echo is regulated by IMPRESS: The Independent Monitor for the Press CIC. We adhere to the Standards Code adopted by IMPRESS, and can only deal with complaints which relate to an alleged breach of the standards set out in this Code. You can find out more about the code on the IMPRESS website: www.impress.press/standards/.

If you believe we have breached this code, you can make a complaint to us regarding it. For more information, please visit: www.bathecho.co.uk/complaints/

The appeal came during World Immunisation Week, held annually to highlight the action needed to protect people from vaccine-preventable diseases.

The trials being held at the RUH will assist the development of vaccines, such as those against new Covid-19 variants.

Moderna, a pharmaceutical and biotechnology company that has been instrumental in developing Covid-19 vaccines, will carry out the trials in conjunction with the hospital.

Dr Kelly Spencer, Head of Research Operations at the RUH, said: “It’s fantastic that the RUH has been chosen as one of the research centres to be involved in this study.

“Vaccines are the most effective way to prevent infectious diseases, and are estimated to prevent up to three million deaths worldwide each year.

“The RUH has an impressive track record of supporting

world-leading research into the development of new vaccines and we have already conducted four COVID-19 vaccine trials, each involving around 100 participants. “We see first-hand the satisfaction that people who volunteer for trials get from knowing they are contributing to the discovery of what could be really vital treatments.

“So if you think you could help, or would like to find out more about the trials, please get in touch with us.”

The hospital aided studies into the development of the Jansen and Sanofi Covid-19 vaccines and played a critical role in the Comflucov study, which compared the side effects and immune responses of administering approved Covid-19 vaccines at the same time as the flu vaccine. This resulted in a national policy update allowing patients to receive both vaccinations simultaneously.

Former trial volunteer Hannah Durrant said: “I feel honoured to have been part of the Sanofi vaccine trial to further our

Residents are wanted to take part in the new Moderna trials

collective defence against COVID-19.

“The development of vaccines and the programme of immunisation has provided the only path out of the pandemic for all of us, and it has been incredibly rewarding to have been able to play a small part in that. The trial was superbly managed by the research team

at the RUH. The process was explained clearly from the outset and the staff demonstrated the highest levels of care, integrity and professionalism throughout.”

If you would be interested in taking part in future vaccine studies, email your name and contact number to ruh-tr. vaccinestudies@nhs.net.

According to figures obtained by Reach Data Unit, it cost the council almost £55,000 to put the bid together, bringing in various external consultants.

In total, councils across the country spent £23.4 million on bidding for Levelling Up funding.

Although Bath and North East Somerset Council’s bid was turned down, the government feedback stated: “This was a relatively strong bid, particularly the strategic case which made clear connections between government policy and the project, including through a detailed theory of change.

“However, the value for money and deliverability cases could have been stronger, for example by expanding on the range of data available.”

More Bath-specific data was needed, the feedback said. Decline in footfall and increasing vacancy rates in the city had been mentioned but not quantified.

The bid also did not mention the number of businesses and learners supported.

The government said this was “a notable statistical omission.”

The feedback stated: “It would have been useful to understand how well Bath Spa University’s fashion and design courses are attended now and what changes this project expects to achieve and how many businesses are expected to access the support hub.”

The government added that there was a risk in obtaining planning permission for the Grade II listed Old Post Office. There were

The Old Post Office, set to become the Fashion Museum | Photo © B&NES Council

also concerns over whether costs could go up between the purchase of the building and the planned date for construction to be completed in 2025.

Questions were also raised about the “more costly option” of moving the museum to the Old Post Office rather than to other cheaper locations which had been considered — but the council say it was the only suitable option.

The feedback also shows the government had doubts over the council’s ability to secure extra funding.

The Levelling Up Fund bid would have contributed £20m towards the £37m project — almost 60% — with the remaining funding coming from a loan from the West of England Combined Authority, selling off assets, and a £5m loan at Public Works Loan Board Rates.

The government warned: “All of which will be affected by the increasingly challenging economic climate.”

Support had also been offered “informally” by the Arts Council, Historic England, and the National Heritage Lottery Fund, but the government said this should have been more clearly evidenced. But the feedback was positive about how the bid set out the impacts the funding would have. It stated: “The work did a good job of answering questions around skills and education, showing how the planned and on-going work of the council, Bath Spa University and Bath College would provide the links between the Fashion Museum’s collection and skills, education and training, and employment and business support.

“The use of the Levelling Up White Paper’s missions and capitals made clear the connection between the project’s aspirations and the government’s. This was clearly demonstrated and highly detailed.”

The feedback added: “Assumptions and forecasts were well

outlined, and the applicant clearly articulated how the proposal would address the problems they outline.”

Council leader Kevin Guy said:

“We are committed to delivering the new Bath Fashion Museum and the Collection Centre. These will be fabulous assets for the community and will act as catalysts for regeneration and engagement.

“Grant funding is already in place to develop the full vision, business case and funding strategy. We also have an experienced delivery team in place and have already secured than an iconic new home for the Fashion Museum at the Old Post Office, right in the heart of Bath.

“The Levelling Up funding decision was a disappointment, however alternative funding options have been under consideration right from the start. The process of developing the bid, and this very positive feedback, will be invaluable for other funding applications.

“Ultimately, decisions relating to Levelling Up funding are in the hands of the Conservative government.

“They have created a deeply flawed funding process, which forces local authorities into competition for a narrow pot of funding and which has been criticised as using public funds for political purposes.”

While the museum does not have a home, its collection is being stored in a glove factory in Warminster at a cost of £150k a year. The council plans to rent out the Old Post Office on short-term lets to raise money for the Fashion Museum move.

RESEARCHERS at the Royal United Hospital are calling for volunteers to take part in a new series of trials to help develop vaccines against infectious diseases.

Liberal Democrats retain control of council for next 4 years

John Wimperis Local Democracy Reporter

THE Liberal Democrats have won 41 seats on Bath and North East Somerset Council following Thursday 4th May’s elections, increasing their majority and securing their coveted second term in office.

Winning a consecutive term running the council, which has tended to flip between the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats, was the ambition of council leader Kevin Guy, who said before the election: “Democracy delivers short term vision-ism, and you can’t make fundamental changes to people’s lives unless you are given the opportunity to have two, three terms.”

41 seats out of the total 59 on the council went to the Liberal Democrats, up from 36 before the election.

Meanwhile, the Conservatives went from 10 seats to three — a catastrophic result for the party

which ran the council with more than 10 times that number just four years ago.

In a final blow for the Tories, the leader of their group on the council Vic Pritchard lost his seat in the last ward to declare of the night. He had been one of two Conservatives representing the Chew Valley, but both seats were won by the Liberal Democrats. It is the second consecutive election in Bath and North East Somerset where the Conservative leader has been unseated, with then council leader Tim Warren losing his Mendip seat to Liberal Democrat David Wood in 2019.

Mr Wood held on to his seat, which includes Conservative MP for North East Somerset Jacob Rees-Mogg’s family home, with 75% of the vote, but Mr Warren did get back on the council, winning a seat in Midsomer Norton Redfield.

Despite their overwhelming victory, the Liberal Democrats did not hold all their seats, losing one in Radstock to Labour and one in Lambridge to the Greens

— where Mayor of Bath Rob Appleyard was unseated by “Bicycle Mayor” Saskia Heijtjes. With five councillors, and hopes to hold onto their two seats in Paulton where the poll has been postponed, Labour has achieved their hope of becoming the official opposition.

Labour group leader Robin Moss said: “We will be a constructive and where necessary critical

opposition. We don’t think the Conservatives have been much of an opposition over the last four years.” While three councillors is a result that has disappointed Conservatives, the Greens have welcomed being in the same situation. Joanna Wright, who had been the only Green on the council, said: “The Green Party are now a group on B&NES

council. We will continue to work hard for residents.”

Bath’s Liberal Democrat MP Wera Hobhouse said the election was a “stunning victory” and she was “immensely proud”. Across the district, nearly 96,000 votes were cast.

The Paulton election has been rescheduled due to the death of Green Party candidate Tim Morgan.

Candidates elected across the Bath and North East Somerset area

Bathavon North (2 seats)

Kevin Guy Sarah Warren

Chew Valley (2 seats)

Anna Victoria Box Dave Harding

High Littleton (1 seat)

Ann Margaret Morgan

Keynsham South (2 seats)

David William Biddleston Alan Hale

Lansdown (2 seats)

Mark William Elliott Lucy Jane Hodge

Midsomer Norton Redfield (2 seats)

Sarah Elizabeth Evans Tim Warren

Odd Down (2 seats)

Steve Hedges Joel Hirst

Peasedown (2 seats)

Gavin Heathcote Karen Walker

Saltford (2 seats)

Duncan Hounsell Alison Streatfeild-James

Twerton (2 seats)

Tim Ball Sarah Moore

Westmoreland (2 seats)

Colin Blackburn June Player

Bathavon South (2 seats)

Fiona Gourley Matt McCabe

Clutton & Farmborough 1 seat)

Sam Ross

Hal MacFie

Paul Roper

David Wood

Jess David

Ian Halsall

Keynsham East (2 seats)

Andy Wait

Kingsmead (2 seats)

George Oliver Tomlin

Mendip (1 seat)

Moorlands (1 seat)

Oldfield Park (1 seat)

Publow & Whitchurch (1 seat)

Paul May

Paul Crossley

Oli Henman

Ruth Malloy

Southdown (2 seats)

Dine Romero

Walcot (2 seats)

John Leach

Weston (2 seats)

Malcolm Treby

Bathwick (2 seats)

Manda Rigby Toby Simon

Combe Down (2 seats)

Bharat Pankhania Onkar Saini

Keynsham North (2 seats)

Alex Paul Beaumont George Leach

Lambridge (2 seats)

Saskia Heijltjes Joanna Wright

Midsomer Norton North (2 seats)

Michael Auton Shaun Hughes

Newbridge (2 seats)

Samantha Kelly Michelle O'Doherty

Paulton (2 seats)

*Election rescheduled due to death of candidate*

Radstock (2 seats)

Christopher Dando Lesley Ann Mansell

Timsbury (1 seat)

Shaun Stephenson-McGall

Westfield (2 seats)

Eleanor Jackson Robin Moss

Widcombe & Lyncombe (2 seats)

Alison Born Deborah Collins

Colour Key: Conservative Labour Liberal Democrat Independent

More detailed information can be found at www.bathecho.co.uk Green

Luxury care home opening soon

Providing residential, nursing and dementia care in beautiful surroundings, opening in Summer 2023.

Visit our show suite, we’d be delighted to answer any questions you may have and discuss care requirements, as well as provide an opportunity for you to have a chat with the friendly team over a cup of tea.

Show Suite open Monday to Saturday, 9am – 4pm

Frome Road, Odd Down, Bath, BA2 5RE 01225 562 071 | michelle.goreham@hallmarkcarehomes.co.uk

hallmarkcarehomes.co.uk/midfordmanor

Firefighters from four stations tackle blaze at Green Park Station

A FIRE in the early hours of Sunday 23rd April caused significant damage to part of the historic Green Park Station site in Bath.

Crews from four fire stations, including Bath, Hicks Gate, Kingswood, and Temple were called to the scene at 4.53am. The fire took hold of one of the wooden trader cabins, spreading into neighbouring units and up through part of the roof.

Avon Fire & Rescue Service said firefighters used two high-pressure hose reels, two jets, thermal imaging cameras, gas monitors and small tools to extinguish the blaze.

Four firefighters wore breathing apparatus for safety.

Wolf Wine’s “The Cabin” shop and “The Shrine”, a small bar situated next door, were both destroyed in the blaze.

In a post on Instagram, the company said: “There’s been a huge fire. The Shrine and Wolf Wine Cabin are gone. Everyone is safe. We’ll come up with a plan and rebuild, but for now we’ll be closed for the foreseeable.”

Two turntable ladders were used

to help put the fire out.

Part of the new roof, which had been undergoing refurbishment, has also been damaged. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

In a statement on their website, Ethical Property, which operates the Green Park Station site, said: “Sadly, in the early hours of Sunday 23rd April a fire broke out at Green Park Station, we would like to take this opportunity to thank Bath and Avon Fire and Rescue for their amazing work in containing this incident.

Taxi driver’s licence revoked after travelling with failed MOT

John Wimperis Local Democracy Reporter

A TAXI driver has had their licence to drive taxis revoked after driving more than 100 miles after failing an MOT. He drove his vehicle 110 miles with four major defects and one “do not drive until repaired” dangerous defect — and lied to Bath and North East Somerset Council’s licensing officers about the journey.

he had taken it back to get it fixed. Councillors revoked his taxi licence on notice, stating: “Whilst members acknowledged that the Licensee may have had personal and family issues during the relevant period, this is no excuse for neglecting the upkeep and essential repairs of his vehicle in order to ensure the safety of the travelling public.”

“Cushman and Wakefield, the appointed agents of our landlord Sainsburys, have advised that we need to temporarily close Green Park Station to ensure that further structural assessments can be carried out.

“Sadly, this temporary closure affects the majority of our traders. However, Green Park Brasserie can still be accessed from the Green Park Road, Hacketts can be accessed via the Foyer at Green Park Station and MUW Shed are continuing with their lessons using an alternative entrance on James Street West.”

As is typical for taxi driver hearings, Bath and North East Somerset Council’s licensing subcommittee heard the taxi driver’s case in a private session, but minutes of the meeting in March have since been published.

The taxi driver — who has not been named — told the committee he took full responsibility, apologised, and was prepared to accept any punishment. He added that he had no intention to harm anyone, and had family and personal problems at the time of the issues. He said that after his car had failed the MOT

The committee also noted that all four of his tyres only had a tread of 2mm — just above the legal minimum of 1.6mm — in May 2022. But he then drove a further 2,701 miles on those tyres, only replacing them after his car failed its MOT in September 2022.

The taxi driver stated that he had not fully checked the paperwork and had only been using the vehicle for his personal use during this time, but was told by councillors that the car still posed a danger to the public.

By the time it was brought in for its MOT in September, the ply or cords were exposed on one tyre, and another had a cut deep enough to reach them.

The driver had received no complaints from the public.

The fire took hold in the early hours of Sunday 23rd April

Pictures from the Past: In the News

Three Coronations

Kirsten Elliott Akeman Press

THE coronation was the obvious choice for this week’s news item – but here we look at three from the past.

The first is from 70 years ago, when we can see Milsom Street decorated for the last coronation in 1953. There were similar

decorations all over Bath and, given how dingy the city was by this time, the brightly coloured banners and symbols must have been a welcome distraction.

In 1902, Edward VII had, like Charles, waited a long time to come to the throne. His coronation was further delayed when, just before the appointed date in June, he fell dangerously ill with peritonitis. But in August, it went ahead. Like the

present King’s, it was also a reduced celebration, but this was due to his health.

Here was see the decorations on the Guildhall, with Edward’s and Alexandra’s initials boldly illuminated.

Finally, we go to the Bath Pageant of 1909 for a representation of the coronation of the first man to be crowned King of All England – Edgar.

It took place in the Saxon church of Bath

COLUMN | Mark Shelford, Conservative Police and Crime Commissioner

Ihope everyone had a lovely bank holiday weekend and enjoyed time with family and friends.

The Coronation of King Charles III marked a momentous occasion for the UK, and it was certainly a day to remember.

On the topic of the Coronation, I want to highlight ‘The Big Help Out’, which started yesterday and runs throughout the summer. This fantastic new initiative offers individuals the opportunity to volunteer for good causes in their community.

Having recently recruited 19 volunteers for our four independent scrutiny and assurance panels, I understand the impact volunteering has on our community.

Thousands of organisations nationwide are involved and, if you’re interested in taking part, visit thebighelpout.org.uk for more information.

While the bank holidays are a chance for us to celebrate and come together, I urge those who are out and about to stay safe and vigilant. If, for any reason, you do not feel comfortable while you

are in a public space, I recommend using the StreetSafe service.

StreetSafe is a free online tool that anyone can use to anonymously tell the police about places where you have felt unsafe. This might be as a result of environmental issues such as streetlighting or abandoned buildings or because of anti-social behaviour such as being followed or verbally abused.

The information that you provide will be used alongside evidence already gathered by the police

Abbey on 11 May 973, although he had been king since 959.

The plaque on the present church has recently been restored in time for the latest coronation, and we should remember that much of the present service dates from that in 973.

However, whether it looked quite like the imaginings of the pageant designers, as seen here, is, perhaps , open to doubt.

force to inform policing activity and local authority safety activities within your community.

Finally, another service I’d like to mention is Stop Scams UK’s 159 hotline. This service helps customers report suspected fraud. 159 is the memorable short-code phone service that connects most UK banking customers safely and securely with their bank when they receive an unexpected or suspicious call about a financial matter.

Criminal fraudsters destroy lives. 159 breaks the scam ‘journey’ at the critical moment when you are at the most risk of being manipulated into making a payment.

It works in the same way as 101 for the police or 111 for the NHS –it’s a number you can trust to get through to your bank every time. Most UK banks and telephone companies use the service, visit Stop Scams UK’s website to find out more.

You can find the answers to last issue's crossword on page 16. Congratulations to Beryl Maddison for winning £20!

Crossword Competition!

For your chance to win £20, submit your full name, postal address and answers by email to puzzles@bathecho.co.uk and we'll enter you into our draw.

The winner will be the first randomly opened entry with the correct answers on 18/05/2023. Please note: We will not accept crossword entries to our postal address. The winner will be notified by the email address they use to enter this competition.

Recruitment campaign continues to help find more foster carers

BATH & North East Somerset Council is urging residents to consider becoming foster carers or supported lodgings providers as part of their ongoing Transform a Child’s Life campaign.

The two-year campaign aims to ensure that more children and young people in the area are looked after until they reach the age of 25.

The council is responsible for finding more than 100 placements for children and young people every year, but this number has increased by approximately 40% in the last eight years, meaning that around 50 children and young people currently need new families or supported accommodation.

Foster care placements are available for children up to the age of 18, while supported lodging placements are for young adults between the ages of 16 and 25, helping them towards living independently.

The local authority supports placements for a variety of children and young adults, including those with complex needs requiring short breaks, unaccompanied asylum-seeking children, and siblings.

Linda, a family link carer and foster carer in B&NES for almost

40 years, has spoken about the positive impact that foster caring has had on her life.

She said: “The amount of support we provide varies from child to child – for some it might just be an after-school pick-up and tea once a week, for others it could be two or three nights a week.

“We have a social worker who knows us well and we’ll sit down with her to talk about who might be suitable for us.

“We’ve had Family Link children on overnight stays here and foster children at the same time, as well as our own three children. Our own children and now our grandchildren all get on well with the children that we have cared for.”

Toni Mayo, B&NES Council’s Family Placement Team Manager, said: “We are so grateful to everyone who has opened up their home to a child or young person in need in B&NES.

“We know it is a big decision to make, but we also know the impact it has on the young people

Green light for new Japanese-style bar

and the rewards it brings to the carers.

“We have amazing carers working with us but, sadly, we always need more as the numbers of young people requiring support increase every year.

“We have a range of options available to people who are thinking about it, so I would encourage people to visit our website to find out more or contact our teams to talk it through.

“Please help us to transform the lives of these children and young people.”

The council offers a range of options to individuals who are interested in fostering, and encourages those who are interested to visit their website or contact their teams to discuss the process further.

The council supports placements for babies and young children, teenagers and young adults, children with complex needs requiring short breaks, unaccompanied asylum-seeking children, same-day crisis placements, siblings, short-term and longer-term placements.

To learn more about the council’s fostering service or to get involved, visit https://fostering. bathnes.gov.uk/ or call 01225 394949.

John Wimperis Local Democracy Reporter

A NEW Japanese-style bar and restaurant is opening in the centre of Bath, just a stone’s throw from Pulteney Bridge.

Eleanor Lieper who owns the Grapes pub on Westgate Street is now expanding into another shop in the city, with plans to run it as an izakaya, a type of Japanese bar. Budo Ba first opened as a popup upstairs at the Grapes but now will get its own premises at 3 Argyle Street. But the pub landlady’s plans faced opposition from another landlady — the owner of the rented flat upstairs.

Speaking at a licensing hearing on 20th April, flat owner Suzanne Evans told members of Bath and North East Somerset Council’s licensing subcommittee: “I really do think it will be problematic for any tenant I have in that flat.”

Ms Lieper applied for a licence from the council that would allow Budo Ba to show films and sell hot food and alcoholic drink until 11pm most days of the week, but until 1am Friday and Saturday “to meet customer expectation.”

Ms Evans asked that the izakaya be allowed to stay open past

11pm only a few times per year because she was concerned about noise disturbing her tenant in the flat upstairs.

She said: “If you want people to live in the city centre, it has to be made tolerant for them.”

Licensing agent for Ms Lieper, Terrill Wolyn proposed a condition that new patrons would not be admitted to the bar after 11.30pm to keep noise down.

She added that they were not applying for a licence to show films in order to become a cinema, but in order to play black and white Japanese silent films “to add to the ambience of the restaurant.”

Ms Lieper said: “This is a familyrun business. It takes everything we have at the Grapes to get it together.”

Ms Evans said she was not opposed to the place opening and only wanted a “reasonable compromise.”

She added: “There’s no antipathy between us. […] I’m happy it’s somebody like her.”

The council granted the licence, allowing Budo Ba to open until 1am on Fridays and Saturdays as requested. Speaking after the decision, Ms Lieper said: “We will absolutely remain friends.”

Budo Ba plans to open on 17th May.

What's On

Guys and Dolls Theatre Royal

9th - 13th May

Frank Loesser's celebrated musical comedy about rolling the dice and falling in love under the bright lights of Broadway is considered by many to be the perfect musical comedy.

The Bath Festival

Various Locations

12th – 21st May

The Bath Festival returns to the city, this year focusing on the theme of 'Opening Up' in its annual celebration of music and books. Find the programme at https://bit.ly/3AMSBMf

Wellbeing Coffee Morning

Holburne Museum

17th May, 10.30am – 12.30pm

Come for coffee, cake and creativity –a free and friendly event to celebrate Mental Health Awareness Week. Make something beautiful and find out about the wellbeing programme.

Plant Sale

Bath City Farm

20th May, 10am - 2pm

There will be various fruit and veg plants and plants for pollinators.

Live acoustic music by Lloyd Edwards and Gavin Osborn, another seed swap, and seeds for purchase.

Sparkfest Various Locations

9th May -12th June

Packed full of theatre, dance and music in venues across the city, SparkFest offers ample opportunity to experience the thrill of live performance from students, alumni, partners at Bath Spa Uni.

Spring Foraging Workshop

Newton Farm

14th May, 10.30am-12.30pm

Explore nature's larder this Spring with professional local forager/food producer, Chris Westgate of Heavenly Hedgerows. Chris will guide you on a rewarding forage around the estate.

Painting Conservation

No. 1 Royal Crescent

18th May, 6.30pm-7.30pm

Join Helen Malone for a one-hour talk and tour around No1 Royal Crescent looking at some of our collection and learning about the process of conserving paintings.

Newbridge Arts Trail

Various Locations

20th - 21st May, 10.30am - 5pm

Now celebrating its twelfth year, the trail, which features 29 artists, provides an opportunity to meet them, talk about their work and see how much original art is created in the local area.

Waiting for Godot

The Mission Theatre

9th - 13th May, 7.30pm

This year sees the play’s 70th birthday and the Playing Up Theatre Company will be celebrating their 20th anniversary by returning to this masterpiece of tragicomedy for the second time.

Living With Intelligent Machines

BRLSI

16th May, 7.30pm

This talk will examine the steps that took us to the present form of AI, what we can expect from it, and how we can manage our relation with it, including its legal regulation.

Glass Town

The Egg

18th - 23rd May

Meet the magnificent (and precocious) Bronte siblings and their wuthering flights of fantasy, in their magical lands where bloody duels are fought and love affairs last a lifetime.

Children's Air Ambulance Day

Bath Racecourse

20th May, 11am - 4pm

The Children's Air Ambulance are welcoming everyone to go along and celebrate their 10 year anniversary at the Family Fun Day. Filled with stalls, activities, music and entertainment.

The Mary Wallopers Komedia

11th May, 7.30pm

The Mary Wallopers – brothers Charles and Andrew Hendy and their friend Sean McKenna – started as a threepiece Irish ballad group traveling the length and breadth of the country

Chris Wood

Chapel Arts Centre

17th May, 8pm

A self-taught musician, composer and song writer, Chris is a lifelong autodidact whose independent streak shines through everything he does. His writing has been praised for its surgical clarity.

Boyzlife: Old School Part Two

The Forum

19th May, 7.30pm

Boyzlife is the supergroup formed by long time pals Keith Duffy and Brian McFadden, previously members of boybands Boyzone and Westlife, respectively.

Charles Foster: Cry of the Wild Topping & Company Booksellers

22nd May, 7.30pm

Charles Foster is a New York Times bestselling author whose work has been longlisted for the Baillie Gifford Prize, shortlisted for the Wainwright Prize for nature writing

SUPPORTING THOSE IN CRISIS

We directly support those who are experiencing challenges within their home environment, financial security, health, education, or employability.

Applications are made through one of our referrers, such as a charity or housing association. A full list of referrers, as well as our eligibility criteria, and details of how to apply, can be found on our website.

Through our Foundation Fund, St John's provides financial support for families and individuals who are experiencing crisis situations.

Community

DHI hosts “love your liver” day with free health checks

BATH charity Developing Health & Independence (DHI) recently hosted a “love your liver” day to promote early liver health awareness.

The event, which took place on 18th April at The Beehive, DHI’s Adult Treatment Centre, offered free liver tests and health MOTs using a fibroscanner. The fibroscanner, which was bought with donations from corporate sponsor Marlin Communications, was used to do the liver checks and DHI and NHS staff were on hand to offer advice and further steps.

As health services are under strain, the drop-in event aimed to reach people who might not usually access treatment services, providing them with the chance to get their liver checked and learn more about the support available to them. Self-help advice and options were also offered.

According to experts, the number of adults treated for alcohol misuse in England has risen by ten per cent, driven by increased drinking during lockdown. Furthermore, many individuals struggling with drug or alcohol

use are not receiving treatment, and demand for support services has increased significantly in recent years.

Aside from promoting liver health, the event also showcased

The Beehive Treatment Centre’s range of support options, including a gardening club, art therapy sessions, and a breakfast club, among others. The centre caters to a variety of needs, providing vital support to the community.

Adult Treatment service manager

Thea Pflaum said: “It was a really successful day with many people dropping into the Beehive.

“As well as getting their liver

Curo gives out over £10k to local projects

CURO, the housing association and house-builder, provided a total of £10,010 through twentytwo Communities Grants to support local projects and events over the past year. The grants have helped to fund a range of projects, from children’s football teams and short breaks for children with disabilities to a Jubilee tea party and a memorial garden.

children from disadvantaged backgrounds not feeling part of the team because of the cost of a kit.”

Another project that was supported with a grant was Action for Children, which provided activities such as swimming and bowling for 11 young Curo residents with disabilities during school holidays.

checked they were able to access a range of other therapies during their visit to us. It also gave us an opportunity to showcase everything on offer in our treatment centre.

“We are hoping people will come back and join us again as we have a lot going on.”

Rosie Phillips, CEO, said: “This early intervention is an important part of the work we do. Many of the people who chose to drop into the event would probably not normally access this kind of health check. It is vitally important to ensure we provide practical support and advice to the people who are in most need.”

One of the projects that benefited from a Communities Grant was Stratton United, a youth football team based in Radstock.

The team was able to purchase essential items, such as new playing kits and rain jackets for players, with the £500 grant they received.

Volunteer coach Simon said:

“We’re massively grateful to Curo’s Communities Grants and their support of local grassroots youth football.

“After a straightforward application process, we were awarded £500 towards the cost of new playing kits and rain jackets for players.

“This meant the team could look smart, without having to ask parents for money and risk

Nina Rice, Senior Corporate Partnership Manager at Action for Children, said: “These trips and activities give our children with disabilities new skills and experiences to help them thrive, encourage independence and fulfil their potential.”

The Invent It! Bath Young Inventor of the Year Award 2023 also benefited from funding. The project aims to teach children about local inventors and help them design their own inventions.

Other projects that received funding from Curo included a memorial garden at Phoenix House in Bath, which is now a peaceful place for residents to relax, and a tea party in Odd Down to celebrate the Queen’s Jubilee last June.

Pub in the Park campaign to help support Bath Foodbank

POPULAR music and food festival Pub in the Park has announced a partnership with Bath Foodbank, aimed at raising funds to help the charity support the local community. Against the backdrop of the current cost-of-living crisis, Pub in the Park is seeking to make a difference by supporting the vulnerable members of society who are struggling to put food on

their tables.

This year, Pub in the Park will launch a donate-a-dish scheme, which will feature on every restaurant menu at the event. The dish will be priced at £3 and will serve as a way to donate to the local foodbank. It’s not a physical meal but a means of paying it forward and contributing to the welfare of those in need.

The initiative is not only aimed

at raising funds but also at raising awareness about the vital work that food banks do for the community. Pub in the Park’s scheme will help the charity in its mission to tackle hunger and poverty in the area. The initiative is part of the organisation’s efforts to become more involved in the community and to support those who need it most.

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

ITwas fantastic to see Bath secondary students alongside over 100 young people from 60plus schools from right across the West of England at my Schools Summit.

It was held under the wings of Alpha Foxcroft – the last Concorde to fly over at Aerospace Bristol - and I could tell as I walked in this was going to be a supersonic event!

It was a simply brilliant day! Students from across Bath took part in interesting and inspiring sessions and workshops to get them thinking about what this amazing city, and our West of England region, might look like in the future, and how we can all work together

to make that a reality.

The climate crisis was obviously the big topic of conversation.

This is the issue young people really care about; they’ll be most impacted by the changing weather, and will be making some very difficult decisions in the future.

That’s why it was brilliant checking out a session for students to learn about cutting their energy use via a giant Monopoly-style board! This was organised by Bristol Energy Network, who with financial support from my Mayoral Combined Authority are constructing England’s largest onshore wind turbine – a big thanks go to them for hosting that particularly eye-opening (and

eye-catching) session.

Another favourite was Atkins’ workshop where I saw inquisitive young people putting a LEGO model of a city under the shocks and stresses of changing weather patterns while learning about the skills needed to become engineers and planners. Plus, other big West of England employersAirbus, Deloitte, First and others - ran sessions on the future of big regional issues like transport and sport.

Meanwhile at the ‘marketplace’, students could learn how they can help me in my efforts to make the West the bee and pollinator capital of the whole country (one packet of seeds at a time), meet

Tom Kerridge, Michelin-star chef and Founder of Pub in the Park, said: “We’re all about food here at Pub in the Park and we want to do everything we can to support families who are struggling to put food on the table. Giving back to the local communities in each town that we visit is so important to us, and an essential part of the festival this year and beyond.”

Miranda Martin, MD at Pub in the

Park said: “It is more important now than ever to spotlight charities supporting our local communities and combating the current cost of living crisis. “Food has always been at the heart of what we do, and during these challenging times we hope that we can use our network to raise awareness, much-needed funds, and give back to the local community.”

a robot dog (interesting but will never replace my fantastic Cocker Spaniel Angel) and learn about routes to becoming apprentices.

And it was really fun to play a ‘Dragon’ when a dozen students pitched great policy ideas to me in a live Dragon’s Den-style event.

And - this is the important bit - the ideas of the young people were all noted down. Why? So as to directly influence the future of West of England Mayoral Combined Authority policy. That really matters - the ideas students came up with could, genuinely, change the West of England for

the better. They will really help me get on with making our region an even better place to live, study, and thrive.

Because young people are the true change-makers and system-shakers. If this Summit showed me anything it was that their imagination truly has no limits.

That’s why it’s so, so important their voices are heard in this critical decade for the West of England, and that my Mayoral Combined Authority listens – and we will. In any case, I know they’ll be making sure to hold me to my promises!

The Beehive Treatment Centre also offers a popular gardening club | Photo © DHI

Hospital teams recognised for innovative improvements

THE Royal United Hospital has celebrated the introduction of innovative projects to enhance the experience of patients during its annual Patient Experience Awards.

The awards ceremony was held during Experience of Care Week, which is a national initiative to celebrate work taking place across health and social care to improve patient experience. The awards recognise teams and individuals who go above and beyond to ensure that patients receive high-quality care and feel welcome.

This year’s top award was won by the Emergency Department Paediatric Team, which was nominated by Sarah Potter, Senior Sister and Joint Lead for the Children’s Emergency Department, for developing a dedicated children’s emergency department to provide urgent care to the hospital’s youngest patients. The project has resulted in a separate area being created within the hospital’s main Emergency Department, which has been specially designed and decorated to make it less intimidating for young patients. The new children’s area features wall-mounted play equipment for little ones and a Teen Room with a games console. These improvements were supported

by the recruitment of additional children’s nurses and increased training for all Emergency Department staff.

Feedback from parents and carers has been overwhelmingly positive, with one parent calling the new children’s area “calm and friendly,” while another praised it as “amazing…so child-friendly.”

One parent commended the staff, stating that “their professionalism and care was nothing but outstanding.”

Sarah said: “It feels amazing to be recognised as the whole team has worked really hard to make a difference, putting patient experience first.

“We know the environment we provide care in is really important, and younger patients have different needs to teens.

“We’re so pleased we’ve been able to transform our space in a way that provides a better experience for young people at every age, and we’re already talking about how we can make further improvements for the people we care for.”

Other award winners were:

• The Palliative Care team –Nominated by Leah Moyle, Palliative Support Worker, for its project to provide butterfly memory boxers and knitted hearts to the families of patients nearing end of life.

• The Holistic Integrated Care of

Ovarian Cancer (HICO) team –Nominated by Jonathan Frost, Consultant Gynaecological Oncologist, and Laura Davies, Engagement Lead (HICO), for improving health outcomes for older patients with ovarian cancer.

• The Critical Care team –Nominated by Margi Jenkins, Critical Care Matron, and Ian Kerslake, Clinical Lead for Intensive Care, for the

Figures reveal ongoing issue accessing an NHS dentist in Bath

THE latest figures have revealed that less than half of children in the South West have seen an NHS dentist in the past year, with just over a third of adults seeing one in the past two years. The figures show a decline since 2018 when 60.5% of children and 51% of adults had seen an NHS dentist.

The NHS advises that children under 18 should see a dentist at least once a year.

These findings are part of a research study conducted by the House of Commons Library and commissioned by the Liberal Democrats.

The study also revealed an increase in the number of patients per dentist, rising from 2,002 patients per dentist to 2,192 since 2016, a 9.5% increase.

A poll commissioned by the Liberal Democrats last year showed that one in five people who could not secure an NHS dental appointment in the past year had resorted to DIY dentistry.

As of 24th April, NHS Patient Charges for Dentistry in England increased by 8.5%.

Polling conducted by YouGov

on behalf of the British Dental Association revealed that one in four adults in England have already postponed or avoided necessary dental care due to the cost.

This recent increase means that NHS bridges, crowns or dentures now cost £306.80 in England, compared to £203.00 in Wales.

In response to the findings, the Liberal Democrats are calling for a dental healthcare rescue plan that would include spending the estimated £400 million of funding for NHS dental services that went unspent this year to increase the number of appointments.

They also want to reform the NHS dental contract, create more resources for mobile dental units to visit schools, community centres, and care homes, and remove VAT on children’s toothbrushes and toothpaste.

Wera Hobhouse, the Liberal Democrat MP for Bath, commented: “Hiking up charges

for NHS dental appointments at a time when people are struggling to pay the bills shows just how out of touch this Conservative government is.

“It is heartbreaking that people are being left waiting in pain for months or even years for the dental care they need.

“Many are being forced to shell out thousands of pounds on private dental care, while some are even turning to DIY dentistry in desperation.

“This Conservative government has been asleep at the wheel for years and allowed this dental crisis to get worse.

“We need to see action now to make sure everyone can see a dentist on the NHS when they need to.

“That must start with investing the cash earmarked for NHS dentistry that has scandalously gone unspent, and reforming the broken system that has driven dentists away from offering NHS appointments.”

development of the Critical Care Follow-Up clinic, which identifies any ongoing needs or concerns that patients may have following their stay in the unit and provides them with access to support services.

RUH Chief Nurse Toni Lynch said: “We want patients at the RUH to feel safe, understood, cared for and welcome, we are continuously looking at ways to improve their experience.

“Across the Trust, we encourage a culture of continuous improvement in everything we do and these awards demonstrate just some of the projects and improvements that have been introduced to benefit our patients.

“A huge congratulations to the award winners and everyone who was nominated for introducing such positive improvements for the people we care for.”

Activities help get patients out of bed

PATIENTS at the RUH can now participate in a variety of activities to help them get out of bed, stay active, and recover more quickly.

The initiative aims to promote mental and physical wellbeing, which can have a significant impact on patient outcomes.

Reconditioning Games is a national project that encourages healthcare facilities to participate in various activities to promote patient mobility, prevent weakness and reduce the risk of falls.

Patients can participate in seated dancing, crafts, and balloon volleyball, among other activities. By encouraging patients to be more mobile, healthcare professionals hope to reduce recovery times from illness or surgery.

The initiative also involves a reward system for participating organisations, with bronze, silver, and gold awards available based on the number of people involved in the activities and their success.

Gemma Spicer, Quality Improvement Lead for Falls Prevention at the RUH, said: “We know that getting patients moving

and keeping them mentally stimulated really can make a difference to their recovery time.

“We always work hard to get our patients up and about, but the Reconditioning Games project is great fun to be part of and a number of our wards have already received gold awards for the great work they have been doing.

“We’ve seen first-hand the difference this has made to patients being discharged.

“Some have been able to leave us and get home sooner than expected, without needing to spend time in a local community hospital.”

The wards also have activity trolleys packed with games, puzzles, crafts and activity books which patients are encouraged to work on together.

Tammy Zalek, Midford ward Ward Manager, said: “We encourage our patients to sit outside of their bed at least once a day, starting with lunchtime.

“This has many positive outcomes, such as regular movement and activity, encourages better nutritional intake and promotes social interaction between patients.”

Members of the Emergency Department Paediatric Team receiving the award | Photo © RUH

Low-cost observatory set up for students at Bath university

A NEWLY established low-cost observatory located on the University of Bath’s campus is proving to be a gamechanging experimental tool for undergraduates studying events in space.

The facility, which was built and equipped for less than £35,000, features a roll-off roof, two highquality, computer-controlled telescopes, solar panels, and can accommodate two people at a time.

The timber cabin was designed to give astrophysics students hands-on experience observing objects in the night sky. Students use their time in the observatory to gather data that ties into specific science projects or modules on their courses.

The four authors of the Bath Physics Observatory (BPO) paper, all academics in the Department of Physics at the University of Bath who lecture on astrophysics, are coordinator Dr Peter Sloan, Dr Vicky Scowcroft, Dr Steve Davies, and Dr Gary Mathlin.

Those involved in the construction project are urging all universities offering courses in astrophysics to consider investing in a similar structure as a way to bring the subject to life for students who would otherwise learn about stars and deep space almost entirely from lectures and textbooks.

Dr Sloan said: “We now have over 125 students enrolled on astrophysics programmes, what was missing was the facility – an observatory – to perform handson observational astrophysics.

“For some of our students, there’s a disconnect between what they learn in lecture theatres and what is happening above them in the sky.

“The observatory gives them a chance to see where their data –star-light – comes from. They still do hard science with the data they capture in the observatory, but a project becomes a lot more real and exciting when calculations come directly from what is observed and photographed through a telescope.”

Before construction of the observatory, students gathered data in a lot less comfort.

“We’d set up a collapsible camping table for students to make their observational measurements. By the time they’d finished their night’s work, they had ice on their jackets,” said Dr Scowcroft.

An important objective in providing an observatory was to make star-gazing less elitist.

Dr Scowcroft said: “Some of our students have grown up with expensive telescopes in their homes, so they have an obvious advantage when they get to university.

“We want to make the experience of observing the stars democratic and accessible to all.”

Dr Davies added: “We have shown that with the advent of moderate-cost, high-quality, ‘back-garden’ astronomy, and standard computers powerful enough to produce original research, it’s possible to build a small observatory capable of actual astrophysical research for

Special visit for Combe Down schoolchildren

PUPILS at Combe Down Primary School have been given the chance to learn about bus driving as part of their education thanks to a visit from one of the children’s parents. The special visit was organised by teachers Mr O’Neill and Mr Harris, and saw Elvis Amamut, a First Bus driver, bring a bus to the school grounds.

The children’s term topic was Space and Transport, and the visit provided an exciting and practical way to learn about the bus driving profession.

Dressed in his work uniform, Elvis arrived at the school with a bright purple bus, inviting the class on board.

Each child had the opportunity to sit in the driver’s seat and ring the stop bells while Elvis talked about his job and shared insights into a day in the life of a bus driver.

Elvis also took the time to guide the class on a tour of the engine bay at the back of the

Finding out about the engine

bus, providing further learning opportunities about engines.

Jane Gascoigne and Jo Bird, CoHeadteachers of Combe Down Primary School said: “We are proud to continue making sure our curriculum is engaging, relatable and captures the attention of children of all ages.

“Our youngest children were absolutely enthralled by the recent bus driver visit and spoke about it with their loved ones for days afterwards.

“It is moments like this that create lasting memories and learning opportunities for our children.”

The new observatory | Photo © Department of Physics, University of Bath a modest budget.”

Dr Mathlin said: “Around 35 universities in the UK have their own observatories but many others don’t – we’d highly encourage all places that teach astrophysics to set one up.”

Fred Caudwell, a fourth-year physics student at Bath who focuses on astrophysics, said: “A lot of astrophysics at university is about sitting in lectures and solving problems that you’ve been given by your tutors – the observatory is what brings the subject to life.”

He added that he could not have

undertaken his Master’s degree research project on variable stars, a type of star that fluctuates in brightness, without use of the observatory. “I needed to use a telescope to get the necessary measurements for my project but large telescopes in dedicated facilities are extremely expensive and in high demand, so students generally do not have access to them. So the campus observatory was a necessity for me,” he said. Lucy Sparkes, who has completed the second year of her undergraduate degree in Physics

with Astrophysics and is now on a year-long industrial placement, said: “As well as being fun, using the observatory equipment last year gave me a more practical understanding of how astronomy is done. It was good to be able to set up the telescope during the day, take calibration images at night and then use these images of variable stars and analyse the data I’d captured using Python (a computer programming language).

“All of this has given me a much better idea of how the whole astrophysics process works.”

Norland College winner at Whatuni Student Choice Awards

BATH-BASED Norland College, a specialist training provider for early years practitioners, has been recognised at the Whatuni Student Choice Awards. The awards, which celebrate the best universities in the UK, are the country’s leading student-led university awards and this year generated 35,000 verified student reviews from over 240 higher education institutions.

Norland College collected the coveted Small or Specialist award during a ceremony last week.

The award recognises Norland College’s work in providing specialist education to its students.

With some students preferring more tailored and individualised institutions to help them achieve their career goals or enhance their passion for a subject, Norland College’s win at the Whatuni Student Choice Awards (WUSCA) awards shows that smaller can mean better.

The award was presented at a glamorous black-tie ceremony hosted by comedian, actor, and writer Ellie Taylor.

Simon Emmett, CEO at IDP Connect, said: “The Whatuni awards celebrate creativity, resilience and innovation within higher education. Norland College has shown this in leaps and bounds, securing the esteemed Small or Specialist award at this year’s Whatuni Student Choice Awards.

“With the continuing cost-ofliving challenges, we’re proud to focus on all the good universities do and celebrate their successes.

“Congratulations go to the winners, alongside a huge ‘well done’ to all our shortlisted institutions and the sector as a whole. This year’s scores are significantly higher than previous years, highlighting the excellent work done across the sector. I hope the awards highlight the quality of education and students’

experiences across our wide and varied sector. Each of our winners and finalists has gone above and beyond to positively impact students’ university experiences. These awards showcase the quality of higher education in the UK and its creativity, resilience and innovation.”

Camilla King, Director of Client Partnerships at IDP Connect, added: “It was fantastic to have Ellie Taylor host this year’s awards ceremony and help us celebrate everything great about our higher education institutions nationwide.

“We know that no one is better placed to judge universities than their students. Therefore, we will continue to ensure that the student voice is always heard when it comes to students making their university choices.

“After a challenging couple of years, it’s important to recognise the universities going above and beyond to support students.”

Oliver Bonas set to open in SouthGate

New gastro pub and hotel launches

FASHION and homeware retailer Oliver Bonas is set to open its first store in the centre of Bath this summer, it has been announced. The new store will be located in the SouthGate Bath shopping centre near OFFICE and FatFace on St Lawrence Street and will span across two floors. The retailer will offer shoppers a range of fashion and homeware items, in addition to a variety of accessories such as bags and jewellery.

Guy Henderson, centre director

at SouthGate Bath, said: “It’s always exciting to be able to announce the arrival of new brands, especially one as well known and loved as Oliver Bonas. “I’m sure that they will be a big hit with our shoppers, and we look forward to welcoming customers when they open their doors in the coming months.”

Oliver Bonas will be joining several other luxury brands at the SouthGate centre, including the fashion retailer Zara, which is also set to open in the former River Island store later this year.

A HISTORIC building on Milsom Street has reopened as a new bar, restaurant and luxury hotel called The Milsom. The Grade II listed building, formerly a bank and the Loch Fyne restaurant, has undergone a top-to-toe refurbishment in order to offer guests a country retreat in the heart of the city. The Milsom features nine luxurious hotel rooms and a grand restaurant.

With a mix of original features and contemporary design elements, the venue offers a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere.

The restaurant features a traditional bar front that has been relocated into a more prominent location, becoming the centrepiece of the room.

To celebrate the soft launch of The Milsom, the restaurant is offering a 50% discount on all main meals until 17th May.

To take advantage of the offer, guests are encouraged to visit www.themilsombath.com and sign up for the mailing list.

The Milsom promises to be a “home-from-home”, where guests can relax and unwind while enjoying some of the best of Bath’s hospitality.

The venue will offer a nod to its previous life with mirrored timber panelling, mosaic effect flooring and hints of brass.

Kellaway Bath Same Service New Look

An artist’s impression of the new bar | Image © The Milsom

Oliver Bonas is set to open in the centre of Bath

Refurbishment works get underway at the Guildhall

John Wimperis Local Democracy Reporter

WORK to refurbish a historic building in the centre of Bath is now underway.

The Guildhall has long been at the heart of Bath’s history, with the current Georgian building replacing earlier guildhalls on the site.

It is the seat of local government in Bath and North East Somerset, as well as being a popular wedding venue.

Now its entrance lobby is being substantially refurbished with a new reception desk, repainted walls and a “lockdown” security system. A planning application submitted by Bath and North East Somerset Council itself in February was approved on 18th April, and by 20th April, the new “white faux stone” front desk was being installed to the left of the entrance. The current “unattractive”

reception desk which faces the door will be removed and replaced with a digital display.

The orange walls of the entrance lobby will also be repainted in “a palette of stone colours,” which the council say will better reflect the character of the building. Hidden electric bolts will also be installed within the double doors around the room, which will be able to be activated to “lock down” the building.

The doors are not original and are believed to have been installed

Tory group says sharing of post by far-right politician was “error”

John Wimperis Local Democracy Reporter

CONSERVATIVES in Bath have insisted that retweeting a farright politician from their Twitter account was an “error.”

A post by Paul Golding, leader of the far-right political party Britain First, was visible on the Twitter account of the Bath Conservative Association on Tuesday 25th April, but was deleted the same day. The tweet consisted of a painting of the Battle of Waterloo stamped with the Britain First logo and the words: “Share if you agree that British history should be taught in our schools.”

A spokesperson for the Conservative group on Bath and North East Somerset Council declined to comment but stated: “We do not associate ourselves with extremist groups on any side of the political spectrum.”

An administrator of the Twitter account said: “The tweet was about the teaching of British history, was retweeted in error and as soon as the source was pointed out it was removed.”

Mr Golding’s Twitter account, as well as that of Britain First, had been suspended from the

Time running out to claim energy support

RESIDENTS who use prepayment meters for their energy bills are being urged to check for their energy bill support vouchers before the 30th June deadline.

The call from West of England Metro Mayor Dan Norris comes as figures were released revealing that millions of pounds of government support remain unclaimed.

New figures show that 341,000 vouchers nationwide totalling more than £22 million have yet to be cashed, with Mayor Norris warning that this could mean “thousands in the West of England missing out on the support they are fully entitled to.”

Households have 90 days to spend their vouchers and if any expire, replacements can be requested until 30th June.

after the 1972 fire at the Guildhall. In the design and access statement submitted with the planning application, the council said: “Being an important iconic building in Bath, the possibility of a serious security breach is to be considered.”

Approving the plans, the council’s planning officers said: “The proposals would be an acceptable alteration/addition to the listed building that would preserve its significance as a designated heritage asset.”

The £400 Energy Bill Support Scheme was a universal discount paid to households in £66 and £67 instalments until 31st March. While most households in the region pay their bills by direct debit and received their payments as credit, customers with prepayment meters received their support by voucher.

Those on prepayment meters in Bath should have received six vouchers with a combined value of £400 via text, email or post. The vouchers had to be taken to a Post Office to be credited to their meter.

The Metro Mayor has urged residents who have not received their vouchers or have not cashed them in, to contact their energy supplier as soon as possible.

The Mayor said: “It is vital that Bath and NE Somerset prepayment households access the support they need to keep their energy bills down.

“I urge residents yet to cash in on vital savings of up to £400 on their bills to please, please contact their supplier and ask for a new voucher today.

“They will be valid for another 90 days.”

Factory plan revealed for site next to former Entry Hill golf course

John Wimperis Local Democracy Reporter

social media site in 2017 but, in addition to being allowed to return to Twitter, his account now bears a blue tick, meaning it will be promoted above other tweets on the website. Blue ticks on the website previously denoted verified notable accounts, but can now be purchased for just under £10 a month.

Mr Golding, who was a British National Party (BNP) councillor on Sevenoaks District Council for two years and is currently the leader of Britain First, attempted to join the Conservative Party in 2019 “to help solidify Boris Johnson’s control on the leadership, so we can achieve Brexit and hopefully cut immigration and confront radical Islam.”

His application was rejected, with Bexleyheath and Crayford Conservative Association stating: “While we welcome new members from a wide variety of backgrounds, we are vigilant against those seeking to join the party who do not share our aims.”

The national curriculum does state that pupils should study British history.

Although the Battle of Waterloo is not specified, it states that pupils in key stage three should study: “Ideas, political power, industry and empire: Britain, 1745-1901.”

A FACTORY could be built in Bath next to the closed golf course on Entry Hill.

Bath and North East Somerset Council was approached by a “local manufacturing company” — which has not been publicly identified — about buying the Entry Hill Depot site, a councilowned plot of land in a former stone quarry.

A council report stated: “The proposed purchaser is seeking initial consent for a 1,000 sqm factory at Entry Hill, with an additional 450 sqm warehouse space and a further 450 sqm dedicated to ancillary offices, toilets, canteen, and staff facilities.

“The new space will house an area of production, while the main research and corporate office facility will remain at their current site. Space permitting, the factory building will be designed with further expansion in mind.”

Cabinet member for resources

Richard Samuel approved a plan, in a decision on 13th April, to give council officers the authority to sell or lease the site to the company without wider marketing of the site.

The manufacturer currently employs about 150 people in Bath and is looking to expand.

It is believed that the new factory

would lead to the creation of 15 new jobs. Without a site in Bath for the factory, the council report warned that these jobs could instead be lost to Devizes. The council believes the new jobs could add £1.4 million to the local economy, and if the sale to the company went ahead without conditions and without putting it on the open market, the council could get the money for the site more quickly. But the report warned that an unconditional sale would mean the intended use and economic benefit could not be guaranteed, but said that the company was “fully committed” to the factory plan. The amount the depot is sold for will be decided by a “red book” valuation and the sale will be subject to overage conditions in

the case of the site being used for residential purposes instead. Some trees were cut down on the site on 14th April to combat ash dieback, something which fanned speculation on social media as it coincided with the decision to sell or lease the site being published.

Louise McFarland, the Conservative candidate for the local Widcombe and Lyncombe ward, who went to the site said: “It does seem like a strange coincidence that the two happen on the same day.”

But Chris Major, director of Place Management at the council, said: ”Programmed felling is ongoing at Entry Hill for trees infected with Ash Dieback Disease. “These works are being carried out in the interest of public safety and prioritised as a result of an affected tree falling last year.”

The new front desk being installed | Photo © John Wimperis

The council depot site on Entry Hill | Photo © John Wimperis

In Other News...

More than 50 people injured due to “optical illusion”

John Wimperis Local Democracy Reporter

59 PEOPLE have now been injured on Keynsham High Street, where an “optical illusion” cycle lane was installed last year.

Keynsham South councillor Alan Hale, who obtained the figures through a freedom of information request sent to Bath and North East Somerset Council, warned that someone could suffer fatal injuries on the road.

A new cycle lane was opened along the High Street in March last year after nine months of work, beginning an odd phenomenon of people falling in the high street.

One person who fell described the cycle lane as an “optical illusion” as there were kerbs and painted white lines which looked similar to each other. 21 people have pursued personal injury compensation claims against the council in relation to the road. Seven of these have been rejected but the rest remain open and under investigation.

The council stated that no insurance claims have currently been settled and no other payments have been made to anyone.

Mr Hale said he had been contacted about people falling “since day one” but had simply been told by council officers that they were “monitoring” the situation.

He said: “There can be no other local authority in the country that has created a development that has succeeded in seriously injuring 59 people at least and have done nothing to address the situation.

“We are elected to make our community safe, not to inflict significant injuries.

“To make it safe we need the administration and officers to take positive action, not sit on their hands.”

Some work has been done on the cycle lane with the hope of reducing the number of falls. The lane, which had been plain tarmac, was painted red in August in response to — at that time — 46 incidents of people falling.

Mr Hale said: “At my suggestion

they changed the colour of the tarmacadam of the lane but that did not achieve a cessation in injuries, and since then there has been no further action, save the monitoring.”

Mr Hale has called for the cycle lane to be removed in the interests of public health and safety. But Councillor Mark Roper, the council’s cabinet member for economic development, regeneration and growth, defended the council’s response

to the issues. He said: “The new Keynsham High Street cycle lane is built to the government’s current LTN120 standards, and when some early problems were identified with the double kerb down to the road surface, a series of mitigations were put in place which has had the effect of substantially reducing the number of reported incidents. However we have now commissioned a Stage 4 Road Safety Audit to suggest further

improvements and mitigations and prevent any further issues. This will report back early in the next administration.

“All reported falls are carefully examined, including by CCTV, to establish where and why they happen. We have worked with the town council and local councillors to make sure we record all incidents.

“The council takes this issue very seriously and is working hard to deliver further improvements.”

He added that between January and March there had been, on average, 2.3 recorded incidents per month.

He said: “We actively seek out details on incidents when we hear of them even if they have not been officially recorded.”

But he defended the works done to the High Street, saying: “The Keynsham High St regeneration programme has been a great success, reducing traffic and making it a much more pleasant environment for shoppers and visitors, and as a result we are seeing increased footfall from pre-pandemic levels and strong demand for retail space.”

Advice offered after increase in number of water rescues

AVON Fire & Rescue Service has issued a safety warning to locals as the weather warms up and people head to waterways to enjoy the sunshine.

The warning comes after the fire service carried out nine water rescues in the region since the beginning of the year. The alert coincided with the National Fire Chiefs Council’s (NFCC) “Be Water Aware” campaign, which ran from 24th to 30th April 2023.

The campaign aimed to educate people about the risks associated with accidental drowning at inland and coastal locations. Data reveals that in 2021, there were 277 deaths in the UK resulting from accidental drowning in such areas.

To avoid incidents, Avon Fire & Rescue is encouraging people to take extra precautions when around water and familiarise themselves with safety advice.

Ben Thompson, Temporary Group Manager for Prevention and Protection at AF&RS said: “Even on a warm day the temperature in open water can remain very cold, causing cold

water shock, a physical reaction which can make it difficult to control breathing, cause panic and make it difficult to swim.

“If you do find yourself in difficulty in the water, try not to panic and ‘Float To Live’.

“This means leaning back in the water, spreading your arms and

legs to stay afloat, controlling your breathing and when the effects of cold water shock have passed call out for help or swim to safety.

Ben added: “If someone is in trouble in water, call 999. At the coast ask for the coastguard. If you are inland, ask for the fire

service.

“It’s important people call for help rather than entering the water to attempt a rescue as this can often result in emergency services needing to find and rescue more people from the water.”

Dawn Whittaker, NFCC’s lead for drowning prevention said: “Most people would be shocked to hear the number of lives lost simply because people were spending time in and around water.

“These deaths are preventable, so we ask everyone to be water aware.

“NFCC works closely with fire services and partners to encourage people to be safe around water and to highlight the risk of accidental drowning.

“As the weather improves fire services across the country, along with our colleagues in HM Coastguard and RNLI, can be faced with huge numbers of calls to help people in trouble in water.

“By raising awareness now, we hope to keep people safe and reduce the number of injuries and fatalities in water as summer approaches.”

Top water safety tips

• Take care when walking or running near waterways and always keep children and pets back from the edge.

• Only swim where it’s safe and legal to do so.

• If you find yourself in difficulty in the water, float to live. Lean back, spread out your arms and legs and control your breathing.

• If you find someone else in difficulty in water, do not get into the water to help. Call 999 and offer help from a safe distance away from the edge such as tossing them a throw line or life ring.

• When calling 999, ask for the Coastguard when you’re at the coast and if you’re inland, ask for the fire service.

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

There have already been nine rescues this year | Photo © Avon Fire & Rescue