Bath Echo - Issue 059 - 29/08/2023

In this issue...

Top Stories P2-5

Pictures from the Past P6

Crossword P7

What's On P9

Community P10

Health P12

Education P13

Business P14

Politics P15

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Conservation works to get underway at gallery

CONSERVATION works planned at the Victoria Art Gallery will see the Upper Gallery temporarily closed to visitors from Monday 4th September.

The gallery team will put the collection of artworks into storage before work begins to replace the glazing of the historic roof above the gallery.

At the same time, work will begin to create ‘The Studio’, a new creative learning space for schools and the local community.

Whilst work is ongoing, the Lower Gallery of the museum will remain open to the public for a programme of inspiring temporary exhibitions.

Works on the Upper Gallery roof will help protect the Grade II listed building and artworks for the future. Replacement of the existing glazing will form a substantial part of the work, alongside work on the existing blind system, to control the level of sunlight more effectively.

The Studio will host a much wider range of learning activities than is

Historic

currently possible in the Gallery, with a specially designed space that meets the requirements of Clore Learning Standards space for workshops, classes, and creative groups.

Ahead of opening, the gallery team will work with community and learning partners to develop a programme of activities to make best use of the new spaces.

Councillor Paul Roper, Cabinet Member for Economic & Cultural Sustainable Development, said:

“The Victoria Art Gallery is a cultural gem in the heart of Bath, and our upcoming work to the roof will help protect the Grade II listed building now and for generations to come.

“Combining this essential work with the creation of a new learning space will jointly mean the gallery continues to play an important part of our city’s rich cultural heritage.

“This administration is strongly committed to supporting a vibrant cultural offering across the whole of Bath and North East Somerset and the ongoing

success of the Victoria Art Gallery is key to these plans.”

Katharine Wall, Senior Curator at Victoria Art Gallery said of the new learning space: “The Studio will give us a fantastic new space for our local community to get hands on with and inspired by art.

“We’ll be working with schools and community groups to put together a programme of inspiring events, activities, and workshops to make the most of the new space, and we can’t wait to start using it.

“Until then our beautiful lower galleries will remain open, and we have a great programme of exhibitions coming up including the current exhibition with

internationally renowned textile artist Kaffe Fassett, and a stunning celebration of Surrealism in Britain and an exhibition of local painter Gail Mason, both opening in October.”

Work to remove the permanent collection of artwork form the upper gallery will start from 4th September, before the conservation work to the roof and creation of The Studio start in earnest and continue into the winter.

The two projects, conservation repairs and creation of the learning space, have been planned alongside each other to minimise the closure of the upper gallery and reduce the impact on visitors.

Throughout the works the lower galleries will be open as usual for the Kaffe Fassett and Candace Bahouth exhibition until October, and the upcoming When Dreams Confront Reality: Surrealism in Britain, from 13th October – 7th January, and Gail Mason: The Unseen Landscape, from 7th October – 7th January.

Cleveland Pools site set to fully reopen

THE historic Cleveland Pools lido site in Bath is set to fully reopen to the public for swimming from Sunday 10th September, it has been announced.

The opening follows a transformational 20-year campaign and restoration project to save the Georgian lido for future generations.

The significant project was made possible thanks to passionate volunteers and was supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund.

To celebrate the opening milestone being reached, and also to mark Heritage Open Days, swimming will be free on Sunday 10th September. Spaces will need to be booked in advance.

Tickets will be available to book on the Cleveland Pools website from 10am on Saturday 2nd September.

Tickets to swim will be available for three slots: 10am to 12 noon, 12 noon to 2pm and 2pm to 4pm. Please note, the water is not currently heated.

Information about opening hours, swimming timetables and entry costs for 11th September onwards will be published in the next few weeks.

Cleveland Pools in Bath first opened to the public in 1817. It held a significant place in the hearts of the people of Bath and the surrounding region for almost two centuries until it closed to the public in the 1980s.

The project to save the Pools began in 2004 with the formation of the Cleveland Pools Trust, a group of committed volunteers who came together with a vision to restore the pools to their former glory and reopen them to the community of Bath.

As the project developed, it

gained significant support from heritage organisations both in the city of Bath and at a national level.

This included a £6.5 million grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund along with support from Historic England, Bath & North East Somerset Council, the Public Sector Decarbonisation Fund, and WECA (West of England Combined Authority), as well as from individual donors, charitable trusts and foundations, and crowdfunding.

Paul Simons, Chair of the Cleveland Pools Trust, said: “This has been a marathon swim, often against the tide, but the sheer determination of the local community as represented by the trustees, an army of volunteers, well-wishers, along with supporters such as the Heritage Fund, National Lottery players and our dedicated small number of staff has seen the project through.

“The celebration last year marked the completion of the restoration works and now we can enter the

operational phase in partnership with Fusion.

“The pontoon will shortly be delivered to site via the river, and the commissioning of the water source heat pump, funded by Salix Finance and assisted by WECA, will be complete.”

Eilish McGuinness, Chief Executive of The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: “It’s fantastic that people can dive into Cleveland Pools this September for the first public swimming, which fittingly is taking place to celebrate Heritage Open Days.

“Volunteers from Bath’s community have tirelessly and passionately worked to return this beautiful and historic Georgian baths to its original glory and use.

“It’s a credit to them that we can all enjoy swimming here again over 200 years later and, with money raised by National Lottery players, we can ensure that heritage is valued, cared for and sustained for everyone, now and in the future.”

Councillor Kevin Guy, Leader of Bath & North East Somerset

Council, added: “Cleveland Pools is a huge asset for the city, and I am very pleased to see an opening date which means people can look forward to swimming in the Pools once again.

“Getting to this final stage is the culmination of many years of hard work by everyone involved thanks to the commitment of so many volunteers.”

Fusion Lifestyle will run the site on a day-to-day basis. CEO Anthony Cawley said: “Cleveland Pools is not just Britain’s oldest lido, it is also one of its most beautiful.

“Fusion Lifestyle already operates five lidos across the country, and we understand intrinsically the very special place these facilities hold in the hearts of the communities who use them. In the coming weeks we will be publishing our autumn and winter opening hours.”

The Cleveland Pools in Bath | Photo © Anthony Brown

Photo © John Wimperis

Consultation launched on transport “corridor”

RESIDENTS are being urged to have their say on proposals to create a transport “corridor” along the A4 between Bath and Bristol, which would see a new bus lane created on Newbridge Road.

A consultation has been launched asking residents to make ‘Big Choices’ and give their views on the early-stage plans, which aim to cut traffic and improve air quality along the busy road between the West of England’s two cities.

Those who live, work or travel along the route are being encouraged to have their say on the ideas to make changes to introduce cycling and walking routes along the stretch of the A4, while bearing in mind that there will be trade-offs and compromises, and that nothing is set in stone.

One project requiring consideration of the trade-offs involved are plans to transform

cycle and bus lanes all the way between West of England areas like Totterdown to those such as

along the bridge section of Osborne Road would be closed to traffic to reduce vehicles ratrunning and speed limits would also be reduced.

News in Brief Witness appeal after body found in river

An investigation has been launched after the body of a man was recovered from the River Avon near Green Park Road in Bath. Emergency services were called to a report of someone in the water at 8.45am on Tuesday 22nd August. Avon & Somerset Police say that while formal identification is yet to be completed, officers believe they have now traced the man’s next of kin. The death is currently being treated as unexplained, pending the results of a post-mortem examination. If you have any information which could help to establish the circumstances of the man’s death, call 101 and give the reference 5223202979.

Shopping centre welcomes

new cafés

the West of England Combined Authority to improve public transport across the region.

the current Bath Road in Brislington and Totterdown, with cycle and bus lanes and where hundreds of plants and trees could be planted, if the plans go ahead.

Other transport ideas locals are being asked for their views on include changes to the Keynsham bypass, new junctions, plus new

Saltford.

In Bath, a new bus lane is being proposed on Newbridge Road to reduce delays for buses.

The one-way bus lane, heading towards Bath city centre from Old Newbridge Hill to Hungerford Road, would see parking reduced to one side of the road.

The one-way access to the A4

Traffic lights at the Newbridge Park & Ride would also be upgraded to detect buses and let them through more quickly. Residents first gave their views on the ‘Bath to Bristol Corridor’ project in 2021 and this feedback has shaped the updated plans. Responses from residents showed some of their key priorities included more reliable bus services, greener spaces and cleaner air.

Residents are being urged to take part in the six-week consultation and help shape the latest proposals.

The plans are part of a wider £540 million programme from

The project is being delivered in close partnership with Bath and North East Somerset Council, and other partners.

To find out about a consultation event near you or to read more about the plans in your area you can visit www.haveyoursaywest.co.uk.

The consultation is open until 1st October 2023.

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Former pub landlord prosecuted following fire

THE former landlord of The Rising Sun pub on Grove Street in Bath has been prosecuted over safety failings following a serious fire last September.

Avon Fire & Rescue Service (AF&RS) has welcomed the outcome of a court case against Norman Butcher, who was prosecuted for failing to comply with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.

Mr Butcher, the Responsible Person of The Rising Sun Public House, was sentenced on Friday 18th August 2023 at Bristol Crown Court.

The prosecution was brought by the fire service following a significant fire at the premises on Grove Street on 21st September 2022.

On the night of the fire, 16 guests were staying overnight, and reported a fire alarm sounding for a few seconds at approximately 2am before falling silent.

At 2.48am, a passer-by called 999 to report a fire coming out of the roof of the property. Guests were evacuated, with one

of them sustaining a burn injury. Around forty firefighters worked through the night to bring the blaze under control.

A subsequent investigation by the AF&RS Business Fire Safety Team identified three breaches of the regulations, including failure to ensure that appropriate procedures to be followed were in place in the event of a fire, failure to ensure that fire safety precautions were properly maintained and making false entries in the premises fire safety logbook.

Mr Butcher appeared at Bristol Magistrates Court on 2nd June 2023 where he pleaded guilty to two of the three charges against him and at a subsequent hearing at Bristol Crown Court on 3rd July

2023, he entered a guilty plea for all three charges.

In summing up the sentencing at Bristol Crown Court on 18 August 2023, His Honourable Judge Patrick said: “There are several tragedies in this case – it is only by the grace of God that a more serious tragedy did not occur.

“You [Mr Butcher] played fast and loose with people’s safety. You were aware in July 2022 of the need to address the fire safety deficiencies and you didn’t. The fire was serious.

“After the fire, you falsified documents making this case even more serious.”

Mr Butcher was sentenced to nine months imprisonment, suspended for 15 months, and 150 hours of unpaid work for each charge, the sentences to run concurrently.

AF&RS Business Fire Safety Team Leader, Robert White, said: “We are satisfied with the outcome of this case and believe the sentence passed down today reflects the severity of the charges.

“Responsible people who provide

sleeping accommodation have a duty to ensure that there are adequate procedures in place to safely evacuate their premises in the event of fire and that those procedures are implemented.

“We would like to remind all businesses that they need to take their fire safety duties imposed on them by the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 seriously to protect the lives of people in our community.

“Avon Fire and Rescue Service have a dedicated Business Fire Safety Team who will always provide advice to businesses, however when serious failings are found, and persons are put at risk of death or serious injury we have a duty to prosecute those who fail to carry out their responsibilities.”

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 applies to all non-domestic premises in England and Wales. A responsible person must carry out a fire safety risk assessment and implement and maintain a fire management plan.

Two new independent businesses have been welcomed at SouthGate Bath, helping to grow its food and drink offering. Family-owned Chandos Deli and independent café Koffee Time have recently opened at the popular shopping centre. Chandos Deli opened its seventh store in the South West between the recent arrival Ludo Sports Bar & Kitchen and the main entrance to Bath Spa railway station. Independent barista specialists Koffee Time opened its first-ever café, serving speciality coffee and delicious cakes and pastries. It is located between Giraffe and Tivoli Cinema.

Guy Henderson, centre director at SouthGate Bath, said: “Chandos Deli and Koffee Time are both fantastic independent outlets that enhance our daytime dining offering. We’re very proud to be able to support local artisan businesses like these and it’s great to see they have already proved very popular with visitors.”

A36 closed after plane hits pylon near Bath

Motorists were urged to avoid the A36 near Bath on Wednesday 23rd August after an electricity pylon was hit by a light aircraft. Emergency services were called to the junction of the A36 and A366 Farleigh Road, where power cables fell at around 2.10pm. The road was closed for a number of hours while the scene was made safe. The pilot, and sole occupant, of the plane was not believed to have suffered any significant injuries.

The fallen power cables caused a fire in a field off Farleigh Road, which saw crews from Dorset and Wiltshire Fire & Rescue and Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Service attend.

The Air Accident Investigation Board is now investigating the incident. A small number of properties were left without power. The Wiltshire Air Ambulance landed at the scene shortly after the collision.

The proposals would see the creation of a dedicated bus lane along the A4 Newbridge Road

Photo © Milo Bishop

Changes to Oldfield Park RPZ to be trialled for six months

CHANGES to the new Residents’ Parking Zone (RPZ) in Oldfield Park and Westmoreland which launches today, 29th August, will be trialled for six months, B&NES Council has said.

More short-stay visitor parking is to be included in the RPZ, following requests from ward councillors, local businesses and residents.

The changes to the previously published scheme will be trialled, with people invited to give feedback before a decision is made on whether to keep them permanently.

Bath & North East Somerset Council says it has written to residents and community groups to let them know about the alterations.

Councillor Manda Rigby, cabinet member for Transport said: “We have worked closely with local people to ensure parking in the area is allocated fairly and proportionately.

“We need to prioritise residents but also ensure visitors can continue to support local businesses and organisations in the area.

“After the formal consultation closed and the Traffic Regulation Order was sealed, we received requests from the community, including the area’s ward councillors, for more provision for visitors.

“We have listened carefully to feedback on the balance of provision and we have decided to introduce more short-stay visitor parking bays through an Experimental Traffic Regulation

Order.

“The changes to this scheme will be made on a trial basis, from launch, and we are really keen to hear people’s feedback once the RPZ is up and running.”

The trial will introduce around 60 extra short-stay visitor bays near popular amenities, with maximum stays of up to 2 or 3 hours. Many of these bays can also be used by resident permit holders to park for unlimited periods.

A detailed map, further information and a public consultation survey will be available for six months from the launch of the RPZ.

Details of the ETRO have been published at www.bathnes.gov. uk/oldfieldETRO.

The RPZ will come into force on 29th August, and the council has urged residents to check their eligibility and apply for resident parking permits.

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

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

Permits for smaller, newer cars are typically less.

Permits are available in durations of 1, 3, 6 and 12 months.

Permits are limited to two

Cyclist considers action after hitting pothole

permits per property. Properties with one off-street parking space are limited to one permit, and properties with two off-street spaces are not eligible for permits. Residents can purchase visitor permits regardless of whether they hold a permit themselves. Permits are also available for tradespeople and care professionals to service the community and short-stay visitor bays are available near shops and local amenities.

Blue badge holders can park in any permit holder bay for as long as they require across Bath and North East Somerset. Dedicated disabled bays are also provided. Six new zones have already been installed in Bath this year, with the aim of tackling anti-social driving and commuter parking in residential streets and improving people’s health and local environment.

The zones also support wider council policies that aim to reduce vehicle emissions and congestion and ensure fair consideration and equitable street space is given to those that would prefer to walk, wheel, scoot or cycle short trips. More information on the trial and how to have your say on the introduction of additional short-stay visitor bays is available at www.bathnes.gov.uk/ oldfieldETRO.

The consultation survey will be available from 29th August. If you need further information, or information in another format such as easy-read, Braille, or in another language, email LNPilots@bathnes.gov.uk or call an advisor on 01225 394025.

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John Wimperis Local Democracy Reporter

A MAN who was badly injured after hitting a pothole in Bath on his bicycle says the council have been “obstructive” and refused him support.

William Bullock, 27, was left with facial deformities and suspected post-traumatic stress disorder after the accident in 2021. But he said that when he approached Bath and North East Somerset Council’s social care team for support, they were “obstructive” and denied liability.

Two years on, Mr Bullock still deals with flashbacks, daily pain, and has trouble eating. He is now considering taking the local authority to court.

He had been cycling down Moorfields Road in Bath on 20th April 2021 when he hit a deep pothole as he moved to avoid the door zone of a parked car. He said: “My wheel struck the pothole and I got knocked out and, the next thing I know, I was in an ambulance.”

The impact saw him fracture both cheeks and eye sockets and his nose in places. He lost six teeth and had to have plates in his jaw for three months.

Monthly Talks are usually held on the first Thursday in the month (except August) 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.

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7 September 2023

BRISTOL PORT: PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE

by John Chaplin

5 October 2023

ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE IN THE POST-COVID ERA

by Graham Cope

2 November 2023 WHAT DIPLOMATS DO AND IS IT WORTH DOING?

By Francis Cornish DMG LVO FRSA

He is still in daily pain from his injuries and has been referred for a PTSD and eating disorder diagnosis. He said: “I live with these flashbacks all the time.”

Mr Bullock used to cycle regularly, travelling by bicycle from his home in Bath to Radstock for boxing. He said: “I was as fit as anyone. Now I can’t eat.”

Mr Bullock wants the council to provide him with a bus pass and social care, but he said: “The people in charge of social care have been nothing but obstructive.”

He first reached out to the council’s social care team days after the incident. He said: “Because I had massive trauma, I was ringing them asking for help. And straight away it was

legal, legal, legal … There was no help offered whatsoever.”

He said: “People should not be treated this way.”

He said he wanted to feel supported by his local council, but said: “Instead, it just feels like me against them and it’s not right. Those are people that are providing a service to me.”

Mr Bullock told the Local Democracy Reporting Service he wanted to put a message out, stating: “I’d like people to know how they’d get treated if they did have an accident in a pothole.” He said: “In a pothole incident, the amount of evidence they would need is unbelievable … It’s not right when someone nearly dies.”

He said the council had claimed that the pothole in question was 3cm deep, meaning it was under the 4cm threshold to require council action.

But Mr Bullock said that measuring the pothole showed it was clearly closer to 5cm.

He added that the council must have known the state of the roads was dire, as there were potholes all across the area. He said: “It was preventable.”

The road was later resurfaced in 2022.

Mr Bullock said he was now considering legal action in order to get the support he needs from the council, but feared taking the stand would be traumatic. He said: “It’s going to destroy me even more.”

The council’s cabinet member for highways, Manda Rigby, said: “I am very sorry to hear Mr Bullock has suffered an injury and hope he makes a full recovery soon.

“All incidents of this type are taken seriously and logged. However, this is an ongoing legal matter and so we are unable to comment. Maintaining the highway network in a good condition is a priority for Bath & North East Somerset Council and in 2023/24, we invested £2m funding in addition to the grant received from the West of England Combined Authority (WECA) for maintenance. Our highways team routinely inspect Moorfields Road twice a year to identify any safety defects. We carry out repairs on any defects where our intervention levels are met.

“Members of the public can alert us to any potholes by filling in the form on our website (https:// beta.bathnes.gov.uk/reportroad-damage-or-obstructions).”

The pothole that William Bullock hit | Inset: The injuries sustained in the crash | Photos courtesy of William Bullock

Pictures from the Past Bath at Work

Tourism now and then

Kirsten Elliott Akeman Press

TOURISM probably ties with stone quarrying for Bath’s oldest industry, going back, as it does, to Roman times. However, there has been something of a furore, nationally and locally, over Bath’s current attractions for tourists.

Gillian Bridge, writing in the Daily Mail last week, decried what had happened to Bath, declaring that her ‘once genteel’ Bath had been ruined by anti-social yobs, aided by the Lib Dems. ‘For hundreds of years, the West Country spa city of Bath has been a byword for elegance and sophistication,’ she lamented, adding that it was so no longer. In particular, she complained

about the street people and hen parties. Perhaps she should have opened a history book before writing this ill-informed nonsense.

In its Georgian heyday, Bath attracted a great variety of people – not all of them elegant and sophisticated. The city was notorious for crowds of beggars, who followed the wealthy visitors, hoping to elicit money from them.

While artists such as Malton or Nattes portrayed grand architecture with the occasional fashionably dressed passersby, the truth was often very different. For a start, the city was a series of building sites. As you headed for your lodgings, serenaded by the less than tuneful City Waits, who then demanded money for their services, you would pass scenes like

this one showing the Royal Crescent in the process of construction.

Tobias Smollett complained about the work bitterly, as did Fanny Burney, who said the dust was intolerable.

A visit to the baths was hardly genteel either. The Cross Bath, shielded from prying eyes by a high wall, was noted as a place of dalliance.

As cynical observers noted, its success in curing fertility was due more to the presence of ladies enjoying themselves without the presence of their husbands than to any medical reason. The King’s Bath, on the other hand, was open to the view of passers-by, who were exhorted by the council not to throw things at the bathers. Many venues were far more crowded than we see today, from public

breakfasts in the pleasure gardens to balls in the Assembly Rooms.

Even shopping in Milsom Street meant fighting your way through crowds, dodging swells driving their fancy curricles or sedan chairmen running to get their passengers to their destination as quickly as possible, while avoiding dogs dashing around. And there was a dark side to Bath’s social life. While there were no hen parties, it was notorious for a different kind of woman –prostitutes. Many thronged the streets, from celebrated courtesans to the girls known as the Nymphs of Avon Street. And it is in Avon Street we conclude our tour of not so genteel Bath, with this cartoon, based on an actual pub. For once we catch a glimpse of the girls, while wealthy gentlemen enjoy a bit of grunge.

COLUMN | Mark Shelford, Conservative Police and Crime Commissioner

LAST week (21st August), an operation aimed at reducing fatal and serious injury road traffic collisions (RTCs) was launched in Avon and Somerset.

Known as Operation Tonic, the operation uses an intelligence-driven strategy to identify and apprehend drivers under the influence of drink or drugs, with the objective of taking offenders off the road before they can cause harm.

Road safety is a key area of focus in my Police and Crime Plan and I’m very supportive of this operation to tackle drink and drug

driving.

It is shocking that individuals still think it is acceptable to get behind the wheel when under the influence of drink and/or drugs.

We all know what the risks are if you choose to drive while under the influence; not only are you putting your own life at risk but also endangering others.

This operation, as well as the wider work of the Roads Policing Unit, will make the roads of Bath safer for everyone.

In other news, partner organisations from Avon and Somerset’s Sexual Violence Therapies Alliance were recently awarded over

£1.1 million from the Ministry of Justice (MoJ).

The successful bid was put together by SARSAS (lead provider), The Green House and Kinergy, along with SafeLink (as previous recipients of this Government funding). This is the largest grant awarded by the MoJ from the Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Fund to date.

The organisations in the Alliance provide support to victims and survivors of sexual violence. The vital work they do supports my priority to tackle Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) and of course, supporting victims of

crime. The unique nature of the Alliance means local therapeutic services can use their col lective resources to offer scalable support for victims and survivors across Bath and the wider region.

Finally, this month’s Performance and Accountability Board (PAB) takes place on Wednesday 30th August at 11:30am. Once again, I will be putting my police and crime questions to the Chief Constable. The monthly meeting, which is streamed live for local people to join, is an opportuni-

ty for me to address concerns that matter most to our communities and hold the Chief Constable to account for delivering policing that is efficient, effective and legitimate. I look forward to hearing the Chief Constable’s response to questions relating to personal robbery and illegal e-scooters, and I encourage you to tune in to understand the police’s approach to tackling these issues. Watch live from the Avon and Somerset Office for the Police and Crime Commissioner Facebook page.

Above: The Royal Crescent being built | Below: Crowds in Milsom Street

Above: The King's and Queen's Baths | Below: The darker side to Bath's social life

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

2

4

6

8

to:

Crossword Competition 2908, Bath Echo, PO Box 5395, Bath, BA1 0YA

The winner will be the first randomly opened entry with the correct answers on 07/09/2023. The winner will be notified using the details they provide when entering the competition.

What's On

Museum Late Opening

No.1 Royal Crescent

31st August, 6 – 9pm

On Thursday 31st August there will be a special late opening at No.1 Royal Crescent. Wander around the twilit museum and take in the story of the house from a fresh perspective.

Marque in the Park

Alice Park

3rd September, 11am - 5pm

A family car show hosted at Alice Park. There will be music from DJ Mike Ashley and DJ Tony "Mr Soul" StClair throughout the day as part of Alice Park's Rare Soul Weekends.

Robyn Hitchcock

Rondo Theatre

7th September, 8pm

With a career now spanning six decades, Robyn Hitchcock remains a truly oneof-a-kind artist – surrealist rock ’n’ roller, iconic troubadour, guitarist, poet, painter, performer.

UK Proms in the Park Tour

Bath Racecourse

9th September, 7pm

This unmissable experience will feature all the classics from the ‘Last Night of the Proms’ along with favourite scores from the movies by Hans Zimmer and more.

2:22 - A Ghost Story

The Theatre Royal

1st – 9th September

The stage phenomenon that has taken the West End by storm now comes to Bath. It’s a brilliantly funny and adrenaline-filled night where secrets emerge and ghosts may or may not appear.

Jeffrey Lewis & The Voltage

Komedia

3rd September, 7pm

The mind-spinning indie-rock/folk/art of Jeffrey Lewis & The Voltage developed when songwriter and comic book artist Jeffrey Lewis began recording homemade cassettes in New York City in 1998.

The Jane Austen Festival

Various Locations

8th – 17th September

This year's festival features a busier event programme than ever, with plenty of new immersive Regency-themed experiences including the Meryton Assembly Ball.

Heritage Open Day

Prior Park

9th September, 10am - 5pm

Prior Park Landscape Garden will be open for free on 9th September as part of this year's Heritage Open Days. If you've not visited Prior Park before, then this is the perfect opportunity.

Tuesday 29th August - Monday 11th September 2023

Circus Vegas

Royal Victoria Park

1st – 3rd September

An amalgamation of brilliant Circus acts from around the globe, music and youthful energy, incorporating fantastic EXTREME® performers from all over the world.

Kaffe Fassett Talk

Guildhall, Bath

3rd September, 2 – 3pm

Kaffe will be highlighting work from his latest projects and collaborations in this inspiring lecture that includes his patchwork, fabric, needlepoint, mosaics, painting and knitting designs.

Bathscape Walking Festival 2023

Various Locations

9th – 24th September

Celebrate the unique landscape. There are more than 75 walks and events to choose from, most of them free. The walks are of varying lengths and include wheel friendly walks and sensory walks.

Flower Farm Visit & Workshop

Newton Farm Shop

9th September 10am – 2pm

Celebrating National Flower Farmer’s Big Weekend, join flower farmer Sarah Wilson on a tour of her beautiful flower farm where you will be able to pick flowers of your choice.

Flower Arranging Workshop

Bath City Farm

2nd September, 10.30am – 1pm

Guided by the knowledgeable and experienced staff, you will learn how to work with flowers and decorative plants to create your own posy or table centrepiece to take home.

Beginning

The Mission Theatre

6th – 9th September, 7.30pm

At the end of Laura's house-warming party, all the guests have left – except Danny. Both have been drinking, both have a past, and they have been looking at each other all night...one more drink?

The Selvedge Make Do Fair

American Museum & Gardens

9th September, 10am – 5pm

The team behind the textile magazine Selvedge brings a curated collection of thirty merchants and makers to the Stables at the American Museum & Gardens.

Historic Burial Ground Open Day

1 Greendown Place, Combe Down

10th September

Bath's historic Jewish Cemetery is hidden behind a high wall and provides a fascinating insight into the lives of the community from 18th to 20th centuries. It is open to visitors three times a year.

Last chance to sign up for Wag Walk fundraiser

BATH Cats and Dogs Home is inviting dog lovers and walkers to take part in their thirteenth annual Wag Walk event on Sunday 3rd September.

The Wag Walk is Bath’s biggest sponsored dog walk, with almost 90 dogs taking part last year.

It aims to raise £8,000 for the care of unwanted cats and dogs at the animal rescue centre.

The event is supported by TV vet, Dr James Greenwood who will be attending the event along with his rescue Labrador, Dolly.

Dr Greenwood said: “I am excited to be supporting the Wag Walk event in aid of Bath Cats and Dogs Home this September along with my dog, Dolly.

“I have nothing but praise for the incredible animal welfare work provided by the Home as they do a wonderful job of rescuing and caring for cats and dogs, but also rehabilitate their health and behaviour to get them ready to be safely rehomed.

“Join me on the Wag Walk if you can and let’s help to raise funds to care for vulnerable rescue pets who need all the support we can give.”

Anyone who signs up for Wag Walk will be entered into a Prize Draw to win a copy of Dr James Greenwood’s new book called ‘For The Love of Animals.’

Places are up for grabs now for Wag Walk and you can register here before midnight on Thursday 31st August.

There are also prizes for top Wag Walk fundraisers, including a copy of Dr James Greenwood’s book ‘For The Love of Animals’ and the winner will have their book signed by Dr Greenwood at the event.

Other prizes include a Top Fundraiser lead cover and bonus items for the winner’s goody bags.

Registration costs £15 per dog and £5 for additional dogs or walkers without a dog.

All doggie entrants will receive a personalised sponsorship form and every pound raised will help provide care for vulnerable rescue animals in need.

Starting from the rescue centre in Claverton Down, there are two walking routes across the countryside, including the National Trust Bath Skyline. There is a choice of a 2-mile flat route staying close to the Home or a 5-mile route with more challenging terrain.

All dogs who take part will receive a dog-friendly goody bag and a ‘Wag Walk’ doggie bandana to wear on the walk and take home as a memento of the day.

The walk finishes back in the

event field at Bath Cats and Dogs Home, where dogs and their owners can meet likeminded friends and collect their goody bags.

Some refreshment stalls will be available including Cafe2U plus other stalls such as South West Dog Skills.

Rachel Jones, CEO at Bath Cats and Dogs Home said: “We love seeing so many of our rescue dogs return for the Wag Walk each year as well as many other local dogs and their owners having fun in the Bath countryside while raising money for the animals in our care.

“Every animal deserves a healthy, happy life and every step of our rescue, rehabilitation and rehoming process relies on donations from our wonderful community so any sponsorship you’re able to raise is much appreciated. Please join us at Wag Walk for a fun day out for all.”

Richard Corp who adopted,

Have Your Say

Odey, a Jack Russell Cross from Bath Cats and Dogs Home two years ago said: “I am a big supporter of the rescue centre, they do wonderful work looking after animals in need and I was impressed with their knowledge and professionalism during Odey’s adoption in August 2021.

“The Wag Walk is a brilliant event, last year Odey and I walked with my wife, Suzanne, and this year our son’s family are joining us with their dog Tova.

“What’s most important is that the funds raised from the event are for an excellent cause, to provide care for rescue pets at the Home, so please dig deep if you can.”

Bath Cats and Dogs Home rescues, rehabilitates and rehomes cats and dogs who are unwanted, neglected, or mistreated, taking in animals from Bath and North-East Somerset and parts of Somerset and Wiltshire. The charity needs to raise £2.1 million every year to continue its animal welfare work, both at the Home and in the local community. You can register your dogs, family and friends by 31st August to take part in Wag Walk at https://www. bathcatsanddogshome.org.uk/ events/wag-walk

Consultation begins on plans to ban cold calling

A GOVERNMENT plan to ban cold calls with the launch of an eight-week consultation has been welcomed by Avon and Somerset’s PCC Mark Shelford. The consultation covers proposals to ban cold calls offering any financial products, in a bid to clamp down on fraudsters seeking to trick people into buying investments. Once in force, residents receiving cold calls offering these types

of products will know that it is a scam, and fewer people will become victims.

The consultation paper explores how best to design and implement this ban to prevent scam calls from reaching the public, while allowing legitimate and beneficial communications from businesses to continue.

Fraudulent investment schemes represent a significant threat with victims losing £750 million

between 2022-23 according to data from the City of London Police.

In addition to the national consultation, a specialist team that provides support to victims of fraud, known as the National Economic Crime Victim Care Unit, has been rolled out to all 43 police forces across England and Wales since the Fraud Strategy was announced. Last year, its teams supported

COLUMN | Wera Hobhouse, Liberal Democrat MP for Bath

AS a great believer in the transformative power of sports, I was elated to watch the Lionesses climb their way to the Women's World Cup final. This poignant moment serves as an important reminder of the critical importance of equal access to sports for all children. The England squad’s courage and determination on the world stage underscored the importance of ensuring every child can participate in sports, build confidence, foster teamwork, and develop leadership skills. In the wake of

this historic accomplishment, I urge everyone to take action.

Encourage the young girls in our city to dive in and strive for their goals, just like our Lionesses.

However, this is not the only triumph we are celebrating. I extend heartfelt congratulations to all students across our city who have recently received A-level, T-level, and BTEC results. Despite the challenges of the pandemic, the lost learning days amounting to 28 million, and a lack of Government investment, you have displayed remarkable resilience.

I cannot express how proud I am of your accomplishments, and I am eager to see what the future holds for each of you. This summer, I was honoured to engage with the fantastic St John Ambulance volunteers in Bath, learning about the essential first aid services they provide. Their unwavering commitment and dedication filled me with pride as I supported the Unit’s “Five Ways to Save a Life” campaign and Restart a Heart activities. It is paramount that we equip our community with these vital skills

We're pleased to be reintroducing our letters page in our next issue (out on 12th September 2023)

This will give residents like yourself the opportunity to have your say on what matters to you most, as well as the what's happening in your community.

You'll have the opportunity to comment on our stories, and share your feelings on things that may impact you, such as the proposed bus lane on Newbridge Road, potential closure of Bath Spa station's ticket office and plenty more.

How to get involved

To submit your letter, you can either email it to us via letters@bathecho.co.uk or pop it in the post to: Letters, Bath Echo, PO Box 5395, Bath, BA1 0YA

We will endeavour to publish your letter in the next issue after it's received, however this may not always be possible. Depending on the content, we may also publish your letter on our website. Please consider limiting your letter to around 400 words or less, or we may have to edit it if necessary.

more than 113,000 victims and its rollout to all police forces will ensure more people receive the help and support they need.

In Avon and Somerset, this support is in addition to the policing service’s dedicated fraud and cyber protect teams, who are committed to supporting victims of fraud and educating people and businesses to help them prevent becoming victims in the first place.

We require a name and address to be supplied with letters, however please indicate if you would like your submission to be published anonymously. Publication of letters does not mean we share the views of the writer, and submissions/content may not be shared without our written permission.

If you have any questions regarding the submission of a letter for publication, please email our editor via editor@bathecho.co.uk.

that could potentially make the difference between life and death.

Yet, amidst these in spiring stories, I cannot ignore the alarming impact that climate change is having this summer. Our planet has been ravaged by devastating wildfires, from Canada to Hawaii, Greece and beyond. Record-breaking temperatures serve as a reminder to us all that we cannot treat our net zero targets like a bus that we can miss and then catch anoth-

er. The climate crisis is here, and net zero policy must be at the forefront of our priorities, locally, nationally, and globally to prevent such catastrophic events in the future.

As your MP, I promise to continue advocating for causes that matter to our community. With the air full of celebratory spirit, let's keep on making Bath a shining example of what compassion, togetherness and forward-thinking look like.

Photo © Bath Cats & Dogs Home

Railway station without ticket office is a “taste of the future”

John Wimperis Local Democracy Reporter

THE “total shambles” of trying to run Bath’s railway station without a ticket office has been a “taste of the future”, staff have warned.

Staff had been selling tickets on the concourse at Bath Spa railway station for almost two weeks after the ticket office had to be temporarily shut due to plaster falling from the ceiling.

Great Western Railway is working on reopening the ticket office, but it is still under threat of permanent closure as part of plans to close ticket offices across the country.

The rail company has insisted that the current temporary measures at Bath are not a reflection of how ticket sales would work in the future.

As part of a day of action at stations nationwide, a small protest took place outside the station on 16th August against the plans to permanently close the ticket office.

Regional organiser of the RMT union, Brendan Kelly, said that ticket offices provide an important service for customers. He said: “They go through their journey and make sure they are not overpaying for their journey.” Councillors on Bath and North

East Somerset Council Joanna Wright and Onkar Saini also came to show their support.

Ms Wright pointed out that there was already no customer information office at the nearby bus station. She said: “We are in the middle of a climate crisis and we know that train and bus journeys are the best way forward, and we are not supporting anyone in that process.”

Mr Saini said: “I never see, personally, any empty ticket office. It’s really vital to keep this ticket office open.”

He added that it was particularly important for tourists in a destination city like Bath.

Robin White is an RMT activist who works at the station and has had to deal with the ticket office’s temporary closure. He said: “We have had a taste of what it’s going to be like without ticket offices.

“The public aren’t happy, the staff aren’t happy, nobody’s happy about it.”

Another person who works at the station said: “We have had six to eight people in the entrance hall at all times and we have been pretty much flat out at all times. And they are talking about putting us down to two.

“It’s not remotely workable.”

They said customers did not have wifi to book tickets on apps, had been unable to print off timetables for customers,

and “dozens and dozens of tourists” had wanted to book seat reservations.

One person said: “The amount of people who have travelled for free over the last 12 days because we have had machines go down, we have paid for the ticket office ten times over.

“It’s been a total shambles.”

Great Western Railway insisted that nobody had been allowed to travel for free and said this was not how ticket sales would work if

Solar Together West of England

the ticket office was permanently closed.

A spokesperson for the rail company said: “I myself was at Bath Spa station yesterday [16 August]. There were two colleagues assisting staff on the concourse with a steady stream of customers seeking assistance.

“At no point was there any substantial queues and the staff seem to cope quite satisfactory with customers. In addition to those colleagues there was

approximately three members of gateline staff.

“Also no-one has been allowed to travel for free and there was a steady stream of customers using the ticket vending machines which were all in working order.” A consultation on plans to close ticket offices and change the way tickets are sold is running until 1st September.

People can have their say at https://www.gwr.com/ haveyoursay

Protestors opposed to the ticket office closures outside Bath Spa railway station | Photo © John Wimperis

MP Wera Hobhouse meets St John Ambulance volunteers

BATH MP Wera Hobhouse recently met volunteers and cadets from St John Ambulance to discuss their lifesaving work in the local community.

Mrs Hobhouse was shown around the first aid and health response charity’s City of Bath Unit, and discussed the role of local volunteers in the community, the first aid services provided and advocacy opportunities to support the Unit, as it celebrates 135 years of service to the area. During her visit, volunteers gave an overview of the history of St John Ambulance’s activities in Bath, delivered a demonstration of a resuscitation scenario and discussed the Unit’s community operations to help strengthen and enhance community first aid resilience in the city.

The Bath MP was briefed on the Unit’s latest projects, including its “Five Ways to Save a Life” campaign delivered in schools and community centres to large public gatherings including Sydney Gardens, teaching the public first aid skills that could help save a life.

In October, volunteers will also be collaborating with the University of Bath to celebrate “Restart a Heart”, a campaign to raise awareness of cardiac arrests and help people acquire CPR skills.

Mrs Hobhouse learned about the unit’s youth programmes, St John Ambulance’s Badgers (5-10-yearolds) and Cadets (10-17-yearolds).

The Bath unit opened its cadet unit in January and is now working to open a new Badger unit in 2024.

The activities reflect the charity’s ambition for every young person to be first aid confident by the age

of 25.

St John Ambulance trains 250,000 people every year and volunteers provided over 477,000 hours of first aid cover in 2022 enabling thousands of events to happen safely.

Volunteers in Bath have played their part in enhancing community first-aid resilience by delivering training, supporting local events, and providing

Diabetes charity on the lookout for people to join cycling challenge

PEOPLE across Bath are being encouraged to join an upcoming cycling challenge that will raise vital funds for the Diabetes UK charity.

The UK Wide Cycle Ride runs throughout the 31 days of October and is an opportunity to boost your fitness while raising money for life-saving research. There are three virtual distances to pick from, or you can pick your own distance goal.

You have the entire month of October to reach your chosen goal, and the aim is to challenge yourself, at your own pace, and pedal towards a stronger, healthier you.

TV presenter Dominic Littlewood has been living with type 1 diabetes since he was 10 years old and is encouraging people to take part in the challenge this year. He said: “The great thing about the UK Wide Cycle Ride is not only can you raise money for a really important cause and support the work Diabetes UK does, but you can take part however suits you! Pick a distance that’s going to challenge you, but also feels achievable!”

Phaedra Perry, Head of Diabetes UK, south west and south central, said: “Cycling is a brilliant way to help you get fit and healthy, while

having fun and setting yourself a challenge.

“So this October, connect your Strava and complete a virtual distance between two UK cities, on the road, in the gym or in the comfort of your own home.”

The distances to choose from are:

• 150 miles: London to Nottingham or about 5 miles a day

• 300 miles: Exeter to Manchester or about 9.5 miles a day

• 500 miles: Edinburgh to Brighton or about 16 miles a day

• Or you can select your own miles and distance to cycle

Everyone taking part will get their

ambulance crews to support the NHS.

Wera Hobhouse commented:

“It was a pleasure to meet with St John Ambulance volunteers and cadets to learn more about the array of first aid services they provide in Bath and to see first-hand the dedication and commitment of its volunteers.

“St John plays a vital role in supporting the NHS and local

communities.

“We have all seen them ready to provide first aid at local events across Bath and I am delighted to support the Unit’s “Five Ways to Save a Life campaign” and Restart a Heart activities to equip the public with vital first aid skills that could help save a life.

“I congratulate the City of Bath Unit on its 135-year anniversary and encourage people right across Bath to get involved with St John’s work to help save lives.”

Ruth Foreman, Unit Manager, said: “We were delighted to welcome Wera Hobhouse MP to our City of Bath Unit.

“The Unit is extremely grateful to Wera for supporting our “Five Ways To Save A Life’ campaign and for her recognition of the contribution of our volunteers to the community as we celebrate 135 years of service to the City of Bath.

“St John is known for its presence at events and providing first aid courses, but we offer so much more. Visits such as this give valuable publicity to encourage people to get involved.

“We are actively recruiting for First Aiders and Youth Leaders who are an integral part of the life of the community, and we encourage people of all ages to help us save lives.”

Surgeon set to take on Deca-Ironman

own fundraising profile page. From there, it will be possible to connect your Strava or log your rides manually.

You will be able to join a Facebook group where event ambassadors and challengers discuss their progress and share tips.

There are fundraising incentives, too, with anyone raising £35 or more receiving a medal.

Diabetes UK-branded cycling jerseys and caps will go to anyone raising £150 and £300 respectively.

To register for the UK Wide Cycle Ride, visit cycle.diabetes.org.uk. There is no registration fee and no minimum sponsorship.

A HEAD and neck surgeon at the Royal United Hospital in Bath is set to take part in a DecaIronman in Mexico to help raise funds for AI software to benefit radiotherapy patients.

Stuart Gillett, who is already the current UK record holder for 3x and 5x Ironman distance triathlon, will take on the challenge which features a 24mile swim, 1120-mile cycle and 262-mile run.

Stuart is raising money in conjunction with the RUHX charity to buy computer radiotherapy AI software for the new RUH Dyson cancer centre. The software will provide cuttingedge radiotherapy planning to benefit many patients being

treated for cancer by freeing up the valuable time of Consultant Oncologists to concentrate on patient-facing care.

Stuart said: “The RUH is a fantastic place to work, the people are absolutely fantastic. “At present I’m trying to get up at 4am to fit in my training before work so that it doesn’t affect my work or family life, with the objective of raising £10,000 towards this new AI software that will save our Consultant Oncologists a large amount of time allowing them to spend more time with the patients.”

You can donate to Stuart's fundraiser via https://www. justgiving.com/page/stuartgillett-thedecadoctor

MP Wera Hobhouse with some of the St John Ambulance volunteers

The fundraiser will be taking place throughout October

Stuart Gillett will be taking on the event next month | Photo © Stuart Gillett

Interested in sponsoring this section? Get in touch: advertise@bathecho.co.uk

University launches new partnership with Bath City FC

A NEW partnership has been launched between Bath Spa University and Bath City Football Club which will see it become sponsors of Twerton Park. Although the stadium will keep the name Twerton Park, the official title of the club’s ground will become ‘Twerton Park sponsored by Bath Spa University.’

The sponsorship is part of an ambitious ongoing partnership between the university and football club, which includes work and volunteering opportunities for students and staff, community engagement programmes, curriculum development and student experience initiatives. Bath Spa University will also co-sponsor Bath City Women’s teams for the 2023/24 season.

Jerry Gill, Bath City FC Manager said: “To have a partnership with Bath Spa University is wonderful for our football club as it’s the nearest, most local University to the ground.

“The relationship is not just about playing football, it is about embracing the local community of which Bath Spa plays a big part. “The Club has been here since 1932 and will remain to be known as Twerton Park, but it’s also important for Bath Spa University’s name to be recognised.

“To have such a strong partnership with our sponsors such as Bath Spa is vitally important because it helps us grow as a club, on and off the pitch.

“We’re not fortunate enough to

be a football club where we’ve got huge benefactors, so we must find ways to generate interest and finances to remain here as a football club.”

Jerry added: “Bath is a very sporty city and in recent years we have seen a growth in interest of people supporting their local club, I’ve seen the crowds increase and the attendance has gone up.

“Everyone is welcome at the stadium; students, staff, fans and by joining forces with Bath Spa University, hopefully Bath City FC can go from strength to strength.”

Hannah Whiting, Business Development Manager at Bath Spa University said: “We’re delighted to be launching this partnership with Bath City Football Club.

“It joins a long list of community and cultural partnerships we hold at Bath Spa, which we just hope will continue to grow as we embed ourselves even more in the local community.

“Not only will we have opportunities for our students to be able to come in and work within the Club environment, but we also want local people to find ways to study at and work with the University.

“It’s not just about football. A football club is so much more than that, it’s a business, and it’s an important community asset.

It’s a time when everyone comes together on match day, to meet each other, to interact and that’s so, so important.

“We hope our students and our staff will also be coming down so

that they can all mix together and have a really great time.

“One of the other big benefits for our students is offering work experience opportunities, which is also something that really supports Bath City which is mainly run by volunteers.

“Our students will offer support and those extra pairs of hands, both on Match days and beyond.

The partnership is also important for bringing an added dimension to our curriculum and there’s a wide range of different subjects that are going to be involved.

“We’re really excited and we hope that we will be able to support the football club as it moves its next chapter in its history.”

Peter Headington, Bath City FC Director added: “We are absolutely thrilled to partner with Bath Spa University, which is

Village school chosen for £18.6m decarbonisation scheme

A PRIMARY school in a village near Bath has been selected to take part in an £18.6 million decarbonisation project, led by the Department for Education.

Peasedown St John Primary School is one of seven schools in the country taking part in the pilot, which will see them benefit from new low-carbon heating solutions, as well as improvements to the buildings fabric to make the school more thermal efficient. The works at the primary school, estimated to cost around £3.4 million, have been procured through national Fusion21 frameworks. Energy bills and carbon emissions in the public and higher education sectors show

that schools and universities represent 36% of total UK public sector building emissions. Works to reduce carbon emissions to make schools selected as part of the pilot significantly more energy efficient has now got underway. Where necessary, the schools’ building fabric will be improved with upgrades ranging from new electrics, roofs and ceilings to new doors and windows amid a government drive to make educational buildings greener. Contractors were appointed via Fusion21’s Decarbonisation and Heating & Renewables frameworks, which ensure housing, local authority, education, blue light and health sectors maximise social value in

contracts.

Oliver Mooney, Head of Category at Fusion21 said: “It is fantastic to have been involved in such an important Department for Education project and to support the schools who used our framework to appoint the contractors for these transformational, multi-millionpound improvement works which will vastly improve the buildings, bring huge energy savings and carbon emission reductions and ensure pupils, teachers and parents are playing an important role in decarbonisation and Net Zero ambitions”.

The pilot will provide an opportunity to learn more about alternative greener heating solutions and to use the findings to consider how this can be scaled up to accelerate decarbonisation in the future.

sponsoring our home at Twerton Park and are also co-sponsors of our women’s football teams.

“Together we will be seeking to improve the student experience with opportunities for work experience, volunteering, playing football and much more.

“We want Bath Spa students to feel welcome at Bath City and to become part of our community while they study in the city.”

Tom Gardner, Project Manager (Academic Planning) said: “An experiential element to our courses is vital for our students to build their confidence and apply their creativity and curiosity. It’s really what we’re about and forms a fundamental pillar of our education strategy. I’m thrilled that we’re able to apply this in a context so close to the University.

“We are providing fun, dynamic,

and flexible opportunities to students that aren’t just formally integrated into their course.

“This partnership allows us to stand out as a university; it makes us shine a bit brighter.

“Our students will be applying their skills not just after they’ve studied, but whilst they’re studying, in a real-world scenario.

“This will enable a positive student experience regardless of whether someone is volunteering for one day or across the whole season. There is a real breadth of student opportunity here, which is exciting.”

Bath City FC, known as The Romans, was founded in 1889 and is owned by members of the local community through the Bath City Supporters Society. Twerton Park has a capacity of over 4,000.

Primary's temporary classrooms demolished

John Wimperis Local Democracy Reporter

TWO temporary classrooms from the 1960s have finally been demolished at a Bath primary school.

Newbridge Primary School had the timber frame Pratten classrooms since the 1960s, but they have been taken down as they are now “redundant” and “in want of repair.”

Local-based contractors Bath Demolition Ltd started work earlier this month to take down the blocks and the wooden walkway connecting them to the school.

The structures were no longer being used as classrooms and will not be replaced. Once demolished, the ground will be made level and covered with

grass.

Temporary classrooms first became a common fixture at British schools in the years after the Second World War, with Midsomer Norton-based manufacturers F. Pratten and Co. Ltd among those building them. Newbridge Primary School educates just over 400 4-11 yearolds and boasts a ‘Good’ Ofsted rating across all areas.

Peter Headington, Hannah Whiting, Jerry Gill and Tom Gardner | Photo © Niklas Aarre, Bath Spa University

Taking down one of the classrooms | Photo © Paul Ealey/Bath Demolition

Nearly 1,000 businesses awarded highest food hygiene rating

MORE than three food businesses were inspected every day last year, as part of ongoing efforts by Bath & North East Somerset Council’s food hygiene team to raise safety standards.

1,139 food hygiene inspections were carried out across the district in 2022.

All aspects of a food business are inspected, including how food is stored, prepared, produced and served.

Fridge and freezer temperatures are also checked, cleaning regimes verified, allergen controls monitored, and pest and waste control arrangements reviewed.

Inspectors also require proof of staff food hygiene training and written food safety procedures. Businesses are then given a food hygiene rating, if eligible.

Councillor Tim Ball, Cabinet member for Neighbourhood Services said: “When it comes to food safety prevention really is better than cure, so we carry out unannounced inspections to ensure food businesses are safe.

“Our Food Safety officers support food businesses, through education and advice, to comply with food safety laws and control risks. We will take enforcement action if necessary, but our priority is to work with businesses to raise standards.”

In Bath and North East Somerset, 982 businesses have been awarded the top level 5 hygiene rating.

Among them is LJ Hugs, a Cajan street food business which operates from a gazebo in the centre of Bath.

Its founder, Lewis Farquharson, said: “If you want people to buy from you, they have to trust you, and to trust you they need to see

Contemporary workspace welcomes new tenants

that you’re clean.”

When the company first began operating staff had completed their Food Safety and Hygiene Training Levels 1 and 2, but according to Lewis were “still getting to grips with how it should be run daily.”

One of the council’s Food Safety officers worked alongside the team pointing out areas which needed work.

Lewis added: “The Food Safety Officer came in and laid the foundation, she didn’t use our naivety or us being beginners against us. She worked with us to make it happen, so she was a major factor in us being successful in where we are today.”

Lawyers recognised with top family status

TWO lawyers from the Bathbased law firm Stone King have been recognised for their family and matrimonial work.

Caroline Fell and Rebecca Eels have taken the top two spots in Business Today’s Lawyer Awards list of the ‘top Family/ Matrimonial lawyers dominating Somerset’s legal scene’.

Caroline, the Head of the Family and Mediation Team at Stone King, is highlighted as having “made a significant name for herself in the complex world of divorce financial settlements”, particularly regarding high-networth individuals.

Partner Rebecca Eels is noted for her “wealth of mediation experience,” including divorce and children law cases, showcasing her ability to “effectively navigate cases to find mutually beneficial solutions.” The Lawyer Awards said: “These lawyers stand out due to their deep understanding of the law and commitment to their clients.

“They tirelessly work to ensure the rights of their clients are upheld, whether they are going

through a divorce, dealing with children’s law issues, or facing any other family or matrimonial legal challenges.”

Stone King’s Family and Mediation Team is based at Upper Borough Court, Upper Borough Walls in Bath.

Caroline said: “We are delighted with the recognition from the Lawyer Awards.

“The team works really hard to meet the needs of all our clients and this recognition helps us know we are getting it right.”

Cinema portfolio including Bath’s boutique Tivoli site put up for sale

A CONTEMPORARY workspace in the centre of Bath can now count local businesses

Canned Wines and Gradwell Communications among their tenants.

Trimbridge House, which offers state-of-the-art facilities, was created by real estate company Boultbee Brooks.

Canned Wines and Gradwell Communications have both chosen Trimbridge House on Trim Street as their new headquarters.

Canned Wines specialises in high-quality wines packaged in cans, and moved into the site last month. With a mission to revolutionise the wine industry

by making it more accessible and environmentally friendly, Canned Wines has been praised for its products and sustainable practices.

Gradwell Communications, a cloud communications telecoms provider that has operated in the city for over 20 years, has already settled into the building.

Zoe Wood, Asset Manager from Boultbee Brooks, said:

“We are thrilled to welcome Canned Wines and Gradwell Communications to Trimbridge House. We are excited for both companies to join our vibrant community and we are confident that they will continue to thrive in their new premises.”

A CINEMA portfolio which includes Tivoli in the centre of Bath has been put up for sale after the Empire Cinema Group went into administration.

Real estate advisor CBRE has been appointed to sell the portfolio of eight sites, which comprises two luxury boutique Tivoli cinemas, five multiplex cinemas and one classic standalone cinema. The assets are located across the UK in Bath, Cheltenham, Birmingham, Clydebank, High Wycombe, Ipswich, Sutton

and Sutton Coldfield and are available to purchase as either a single portfolio, individual sites, or a combination. In addition to the cinemas, the company’s head office in Leicester Square will be offered as part of the sale, which is on a peppercorn rent for the next three years.

Toby Hall, Senior Director, Operational Real Estate at CBRE said: “This is a rare opportunity to acquire profitable, operating cinemas in a market with renowned high barriers to entry.

“The sale can either act as a platform for parties to enter the sector or allow existing operators to complement their current estate by acquiring individual or multiple cinemas. We have received significant interest from a wide pool of prospective buyers as they look to capitalise on a recovering industry.”

Tivoli opened in the SouthGate shopping centre in 2018, offering a luxury café and bar, as well as four state-of-the-art screening studios.

The Tivoli cinema in Bath opened in 2018 | Photo © Lloyd Evans Photography

Trimbridge House in Bath | Photo © Boultbee Brooks

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Caroline Fell from Stone King

More bike storage hangars being installed across Bath

TWENTY new bike hangars are being installed on streets across the Bath area as part of a twoyear trial to provide secure onstreet cycle parking.

The cycle hangars will provide lockable and secure storage for 120 bikes for residents who don’t have access to private cycle parking, such as a shed or garage. They will be installed later in August, in a colour in keeping with the location, and maintained and operated by Falco on behalf of Bath & North East Somerset Council.

The hangars are part of a £193,000 two-year trial, which is funded by the government’s Transforming Cities Fund awarded by the West of England Combined Authority (WECA) and Bath Clean Air Zone revenue reserve.

Each hangar can store six bikes, with each space costing £42 a year to rent, during the trial period.

Councillor Sarah Warren, deputy leader and cabinet member for Climate Emergency and Sustainable Travel, said: “Our Journey to Net Zero policy aims to encourage a shift towards active travel methods such as cycling and discussions with residents

who took part in the Citizens’ Panel on Active Travel revealed that while bike lanes were needed, it was also important having safe and secure storage for cycles.

“If we can make it easier for residents to store a bike by providing secure cycle parking near their homes, we hope that more people will be encouraged to use a bike for short journeys around Bath.

“This will help to reduce traffic congestion and air pollution and improve public health.”

“I would like to thank the communities who took part in our consultation and came forward with locations.

“People will have another chance to request hangars in their area later in the year when the West of England Combined Authority will be consulting on sites for additional funded hangars.”

Hangars will be installed on The Street in Radstock, Carpenters Lane in Keynsham and at the following locations in Bath:

• Grove Street

• Railway Place

• Camden Road

• Portland Place

• Cleveland Place

• Henry Street

• Walcot Street

• Vane Street

• Lansdown Place West

• Park Place

• Upper Church Street

• South Parade

• Henrietta Mews

• Catharine Place

• Archway Street

• Pulteney Gardens

• Sydney Mews

• Grosvenor Place

The locations were prioritised in areas where there was shown to be the greatest demand through a recent consultation. Factors such as relative level of deprivation, whether a cycle is a mobility aid for disabled people or for carrying children, the likelihood a cycle could be stolen and feasibility were also considered, according to the local authority.

The hangers can be reconfigured by removing one of the stands to allow additional storage space for non-standard bikes used by people with a disability. Non-standard bike spaces have not been requested by residents so far, however users are being

Surveys at “tufa field” site set to continue for months

John Wimperis Local Democracy Reporter

WORK will continue for months to come at Bath’s “tufa field,” the council has said.

The nature reserve on Englishcombe Lane is ecologically and geologically significant due to its tufa blushes, a rare type of limestone spring, and is the location of controversial plans by Bath and North East Somerset Council to build a supported housing development. Contractors are currently at the field to carry out surveys ahead of a planning application being submitted by the council, and more surveys on the nature reserve could continue until the winter.

Councillor Deborah Collins, the council’s cabinet project lead for leader, built environment and sustainable development, said: “A comprehensive range of site surveys are currently being carried out by contractors to prepare for the council’s planning application for a small-scale supported housing scheme for residents with learning difficulties. These surveys are under the supervision of an independent ecologist and will continue into the winter months.”

Nearby neighbour, Simon Banks, said he was surprised to see the contractors arrive in August as the council had previously told local people that the surveys would begin in November.

Mr Banks runs tufafield.com, a website which campaigns to protect the nature reserve and contains photos, information, blogs, and live cameras. Currently, those live cameras show fencing stacked on

the site and the occasional contractor walking across the field. Last week, Mr Banks found himself calling an ambulance after a contractor’s forklift truck tipped over with the driver inside on the track to the field.

Mr Banks said that he appreciated that the council were engaging with the community, but added: “There is still a considerable trust-building exercise to do to convince the community along here that there’s genuine intent to evaluate the site properly.”

Bath and North East Somerset Council’s original plans to build 37 homes on the site were scaled back and replaced with plans for 16 homes which would only cover part of the site after opposition from the local community.

Ms Collins said: “The Englishcombe Supported Housing Scheme will provide high-quality accommodation for vulnerable residents who will be able to live as independently as possible within the district close to family and friends –and will work sympathetically with the existing site ecology.

“The council is committed to continuing engagement with the community and if anyone wishes to know more they can email the team at englishcombe_ supportedhousing@bathnes.gov.uk.”

encouraged to request this in future phases of the scheme. The cycle hangars are already being trialled in Great Stanhope Street, New King Street and Sydney Buildings. Residents can find out more about the new hangars or rent a space for their bike at www.rentals.falco.co.uk.

The West of England Combined Authority has been granted funding from the government’s Active Travel Fund for cycle hangars across the area.

A survey on proposed sites will be launched later this summer and could include up to 20 more cycle hangars being installed across the district.

A cycle hangar in Great Stanhope Street

Photo courtesy of tufafield.com

In Other News...

Visit Britain’s CEO heads to Roman Baths during trip to region

Special concert to be held at Bath Abbey to celebrate man’s life

THE CEO of Visit Britain was hosted by Visit West earlier this month for a whistlestop introduction to projects that will have an impact on the region’s visitor economy. Building on its success of being one of the first accredited Local Visitor Economy Partnerships, Visit West welcomed Patricia Yates on Monday 14th August. As the national tourism agency, VisitBritain / VisitEngland supports England’s tourism industry, drives inbound visitor spend, and provides expert advice to industry and to Government, and is one of Visit West’s most important strategic partnerships. The visit was an opportunity to showcase the ambition for the West of England to be one of the most important UK regions for both leisure and business visitors. Visit West Managing Director, Kathryn Davis said: “With hundreds of millions of pounds being invested in new venues, transport infrastructure, new experiences and place

improvements in the coming years, it is imperative that key strategic partners know the ambition of the destinations and businesses to sustainably grow our visitor economy and experience.

“The benefits of these investments ensure that local people have access to world-class facilities, as well as the being the catalyst for visits from friends and family, those coming for day trips and holidays, as well as business event delegates.

“Our strong relationship with the team at VisitBritain and VisitEngland is critical to this future success, as they provide the gateway to help reach a global audience, amplifying our destination messages and supporting the development of routes to market with the travel trade – a significant part of our work which is often invisible to local audiences.”

VisitBritain/VisitEngland CEO

Patricia Yates said: “It has been fantastic visiting Bristol and Bath

with Visit West, who organised a cracking programme, and extremely valuable to hear about the exciting and ambitious plans for growth and see first-hand the scale of development.

“It has also been wonderful to visit and businesses, venues and attractions and experience the region’s outstanding tourism offer and welcome.

“We look forward to continuing to work closely with Visit West, one of VisitEngland’s first Local Visitor Economy Partnerships, seeing the great activity it is delivering with businesses and stakeholders to attract domestic and overseas visitors, boosting the visitor economy.”

With visits to the Roman Baths, Brunel’s SS Great Britain, Brabazon Hangers and Bristol Zoo Project, VisitBritain’s CEO was able to hear first-hand more of the ambition and development in the region, as well as hearing more about developments in North Somerset and central Bristol.

A SPECIAL concert is set to take place at Bath Abbey this November to celebrate the life of Kieron Jones, who passed away last month after a battle with bowel cancer.

The concert on Friday 3rd November, called “My Son – My Brother”, will mark the life of Kieron, who was the middle son of Bath’s music man, Grenville Jones. Kieron passed away on 11th July, just two days before his 47th birthday. He lived in Dulwich in London with his wife Marianna, son Artur, 14, and Melodie, aged 9. Kieron was diagnosed with bowel cancer three years ago and passed away at St Christopher’s Hospice in Sydenham. The concert will support cancer charities. Grenville explained: “All the ticket income and a retiring collection will go to charity and the concert will feature both words and music to celebrate the life and talents of

my special son.”

Kieron was born in Farmborough and became head boy at Beechen Cliff School. He studied at Swansea University and followed a career in drama and music. In his later years, he worked with many senior schools across Denmark with his hugely popular ‘Shakespeare Works’ workshops. The concert on 3rd November will feature music from many of the groups linked to the family, including the Worship Group from St Phillip and St James’ led by Kieron’s brother, Daniel Jones. Special guests include classical pianist Nurry Lee, violinist Lizz Lipscombe and a celebration choir of 150 voices comprising singers from both Grenville and Laurie Jones’ mixed-voice choirs. The much-travelled City of Bath Male Choir, founded by Grenville 15 years ago, will also perform. Tickets are priced at £18 and are available to purchase from gac.ticketlight.co.uk.

Free call blockers being offered to help protect residents

A NATIONAL rollout of free call-blocking units to help protect people from falling victim to phone scams has been welcomed by Avon & Somerset’s PCC Mark Shelford. Led by the National Trading Standards (NTS) Scams Team and in partnership with trueCall Secure+, the rollout aims to prevent the public, especially vulnerable individuals, from

receiving phone calls from fraudsters looking to obtain personal or financial information.

A call blocker is a unit that filters out unwanted scams and nuisance phone calls from a landline phone.

In previous call block projects run by the NTS Scams Team, the units have blocked 91% of scam and nuisance calls.

The unit plugs into an existing

landline phone and phone line, and can work alongside broadband and lifeline pendant devices that are already installed, Those interested can learn more about callblocking units and how they work at https://bit.ly/3P5I1ab

PCC Mark Shelford said: “It’s great

Crossword answers - Issue 058 (15/08/23)

to see that NTS Scams Team have received funding to rollout call blockers, a key tool to help prevent people from falling victim to scammers and rogue traders.

“Heartless fraudsters have no qualms targeting those most vulnerable in our communities so it is more important than ever that we take steps to help protect

Across: 1 Ragtag, 5 Perilous, 9 Hour-long, 10 Mugabe, 11 Webs, 12 Sprinkling, 13 Stewardess, 17 Acre, 18 Duly, 19 Hockey team, 20 Spectators, 24 Cats, 26 Strips, 27 Exploits, 28 Profiles, 29 Yelled.

Down: 2 Abode, 3 Turns away, 4 Gloss, 5 Pager, 6 Reminisce, 7 Legal, 8 Urban area, 14 Trumpeter, 15 Rehearsal, 16 Etc, 17 Art school, 21 Cliff, 22 Ovens, 23 Soppy, 25 Title.

people. If you or a loved one is interested in a free call blocker, please do visit the Friends Against Scams website to find out more.”

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ISSN 2632-7805

© Media Bath Limited 2023

Kieron Jones, who passed away last month | Photo courtesy of Grenville Music

Kathryn Davis with Patricia Yates and Robert Campbell | Photo © Visit West