Bath Echo - Issue 066 - 05/12/2023

ECHO

Tuesday 5th December - Monday 18th December 2023

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Issue No. 066

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£1M DRUG FACTORY DISCOVERED

Support being offered for rough sleepers across the Bath area P2

Frozen pipes warning issued as temperatures begin to drop P2

‘Sophisticated’ cannabis factory found in Bath - P3

PAIR JAILED FOR A367 CRASH - P3

Insects at city farm are climate change ‘early warning system’ P15

'Tis The Season! Explore some of the city's best food and drink - P8

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Tuesday 5th December - Monday 18th December 2023

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Support being offered for city's rough sleepers

In this issue...

Top Stories

P2-5

Pictures from the Past

P6

Crossword

P7

'Tis The Season - Feature

P8

What's On

P10-12

Community

P14

Health

P16

Education

P17

Business

P18

Politics

P19

Sports Fixtures

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PEOPLE who sleep rough or are at risk of becoming homeless this winter are being reminded about the help being offered by organisations across Bath and North East Somerset.

B&NES Council and Homeless Partnership agencies work together throughout the year to ensure anyone rough sleeping has an offer of accommodation in severe weather.

Cafes across the area have also signed up to help rough sleepers by providing warm spaces and a hot drink during the day.

The Genesis Lifeline Centre also offers daytime facilities, including Saturday mornings.

At Julian House’s Manvers Street Hostel in Bath, there is a takeaway food provision available for people who are rough sleeping on the streets.

This is available for breakfast from 7am to 10am, lunch from 1pm to 2pm and dinner from 7pm to 8pm.

Anyone concerned about someone they have seen sleeping rough can alert the partner services via the StreetLink website or by calling 0300 500 0914 so that the person can be connected with local support.

If the person is under 18, people need to contact the police.

Those wishing to donate or volunteer to help people who sleep rough are asked to contact Julian House or DHI to find out

Help is available to people sleeping rough or who are at risk of being homeless

what they need.

In Bath, Nationwide Building Society on Stall Street hosts a ‘Tap and Donate’ point for contactless donations. Julian House administers the fund to help equip people with the items they need when they are moving on from sleeping rough.

BillyChip is a platform that allows the public to directly donate to rough sleepers without the fear of their donation being misused.

The chips can be bought and redeemed in coffee shops and takeaways for food and drink.

People can look out for the BillyChip symbol in café windows.

Residents are being asked not to donate items that enable people to prolong living on the streets, including tents and bedding.

The most dangerous item given to people sleeping rough is a

camping gas stove which can be lethal if used inside tents.

Giving equipment can lead to a person becoming less likely to engage with services that could make long-lasting improvements to their lives.

Councillor Matt McCabe, cabinet member for Built Environment and Sustainable Development, said: “We work with our partners all year round to make sure no one needs to sleep outside in bad weather.

“If you’re at risk of homelessness or are already sleeping rough, please do come forward to find out about the overnight accommodation available and the warm places you can go to during the day. Anyone wishing to help people who are homeless are asked to contact the council, Julian House or DHI so that we can make sure your support

reaches those who need it.”

Helen Bedser, Chief Executive at Julian House, said: “Homelessness is a year-round issue, but now that it’s getting colder life on the streets becomes even harder.

“Our emergency shelter on Manvers Street offers people who are sleeping rough food and accommodation when they need it, while our supported housing properties are available for individuals to ‘move on’ to when they are ready to take their next steps towards independence.

“Julian House and DHI outreach workers are out on the streets every day, connecting to rough sleepers and helping them to navigate their options.”

Rosie Phillips, CEO at DHI, added: “There is no need for anyone facing homelessness to go hungry or to sleep rough.

Supported housing enables people to overcome the barriers they are facing and live a fuller, independent life and DHI offer access to all sorts of support for people with issues linked to harmful drug or alcohol use, poor housing or mental ill-health.

“However, for those who do fall through the cracks, and end up on the streets, Bath & North East Somerset Homelessness Partnership is working together to make sure everyone has an accommodation option at any time of the year.”

Frozen pipes warning as temperatures drop BATH-BASED Wessex Water is reminding residents across the city to reduce the risk of frozen pipes and unwanted leaks in their homes as temperatures start to drop.

Turning off the stop tap, normally found under the kitchen sink, in an airing cupboard or garage, shuts off a property’s water supply, minimising the damage if a pipe should freeze and burst.

As well as urging people to locate and test their stop tap, Wessex Water is recommending homeowners lag exposed pipes in lofts and other draughty areas before it turns even colder.

A spokesperson for the water and sewerage company said:

“Finding and testing your stop tap is a sensible first port of call.

It can be closed by turning it clockwise, and testing it regularly means it won’t seize up.

“Doing this now could take away some of the stress in an emergency, although it’s equally important to keep pipes warm with lagging to prevent them from freezing and bursting in the first place.

“The last thing anyone needs when temperatures drop is to be dealing with the consequences of a burst pipe, including being without water and heating.”

Wessex Water has repaired nearly 16,000 leaks in the last year alone.

Around 70% of these were on

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Lagging pipes can stop them from freezing | Photo © Wessex Water

its own pipework, with the remainder on homeowners’ private supply pipes.

The company said it had reduced

leakage on its network by 30% since 2000 and is on track to achieve a further 15% reduction by 2025.

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Issue 066

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Your City, Your News - Bath Echo

‘Sophisticated’ cannabis factory discovered A ‘SOPHISTICATED’ cannabis factory, believed to be worth around £1 million, has been discovered by police in Bath following a tip-off from a member of the public.

Officers were out searching for a missing person when they were approached by a member of the public who had witnessed people entering and exiting an abandoned property.

They attended the location and reported a strong smell of cannabis coming from within.

A drone was lifted over the address and showed significant signs of a possible cannabis factory.

Following the discovery, officers applied for a drug warrant which was carried out in the early hours of Thursday morning, 23rd November.

Once inside, more than 1,000 cannabis plants were discovered, along with a sophisticated set up for cultivation.

Inspector Ziyad Asfour said: “This was a great piece of proactive policing from our patrol team.

“We would like to thank the member of the public for approaching us with their concerns and this discovery has prevented further harm to the community of Bath by keeping drugs off the streets.

The discovery at the abandoned building | Image © Avon & Somerset Police

“It is not just a crime growing the cannabis and selling it but it is the other associated crimes linked with drugs.

“Anti-social behaviour, theft, assault, and many more are just a few incidents we see associated with drugs. We will carry out a full and thorough investigation in an effort to identify those people involved.”

Bath Commander CI Scott Hill added: “This is a clear example

of how we can work with our communities in Bath and the surrounding towns and villages to report suspicious behaviour.

“This allows us to develop intelligence which protects the public from harm and hold those who choose to commit crimes to account.

“We will be relentless in tackling drug supply within Bath and rely on the support of the public to achieve these aims.”

If you see anything suspicious or have any concerns about possible drug cultivation and dealing, get in touch with Avon & Somerset Police.

You can contact them via the 101 non-emergency line, by reporting online or by contacting your local Neighbourhood Policing Team.

If you have any information about the discovery and can help police with their investigation, call 101 and quote reference 5223286254.

Men jailed after causing fatal collision on A367

Daniel Leonard and Mark Howell | Images courtesy of Avon & Somerset Police

TWO men have been jailed for a combined total of 16 years after racing their cars on the A367 near Bath and causing a fatal collision.

The pair were racing side-by-side into a sharp bend on Dunkerton Hill at about 10.45am on Wednesday 3rd March 2021.

One of the vehicles collided headon with a VW Polo car coming in the opposite direction being driven by 64-year-old Heather Church.

Heather suffered significant head injuries and died at the scene.

At Bristol Crown Court on Friday 24th November, the two men were sentenced for an offence of causing death by dangerous driving.

Daniel Leonard, 29, of no fixed

address, was given a 15-year sentence, made up of 11 years in prison and an additional four years on licence, while 32-yearold Mark Howell, of Bloomfield in Bath, was sentenced to fiveand-a-half years in prison.

In addition, Leonard will be banned from driving for 10 years following his release from prison, and Howell will be banned for five years on release. Both will have to take an extended re-test.

The court heard how Leonard was driving an orange Ford Focus ST, while Howell was driving a BMW M5. Both vehicles overtook a bus before racing side-by-side into the bend.

A forensic collision investigator estimated Leonard was driving at 79mph in the moments before

he struck the VW Polo, causing it to rotate and propel backwards into hedging. The legal limit was 50pmh.

The engine and gearbox of the Ford were detached from the vehicle due to the impact of the collision.

The BMW did not stop at the scene, but officers stopped the car the same evening in Downside Road, near Bristol Airport, and arrested Howell.

In court, Judge Patrick said no sentence could “right the wrong” in this case, describing the aftermath of the collision as “a horror scene”.

Following the hearing, the family of Heather Church said in a statement: “As a family we have been utterly devastated by the

loss of Heather.

“We would like to thank the members of the public who attended the collision to offer help, as well as our deepest thanks to all the emergency services personnel who attended and did their best at the scene, as well as to those who have investigated this incident which has resulted in these convictions.”

Collision investigator Dai Nicholas said: “We carried out a significant investigation into this collision, gathering and examining all available camera footage, speaking to eyewitnesses and carrying out detailed forensic enquiries.

“Witnesses we spoke to described the actions of Leonard and Howell as completely reckless and their decision to race has cost an innocent person their life.

“Our thoughts are very much with the family of Heather Church and we hope the fact those who caused the collision have been brought to justice will bring them some comfort.

“We’d like to publicly thank all the people who came forward to provide statements and evidence in this case, which has helped us achieve justice for Heather’s family.

“The defendants’ decision to drive in such a dangerous and selfish manner is hard to fathom. I hope this tragic case will discourage others from ignoring the road safety measures in place to keep us all safe; a failure to do so can have catastrophic consequences, as it has done in this case.”

News in Brief Metro Bank collecting donations for charity Bath’s Metro Bank branch has launched an appeal for donations to support local charity Julian House with their Christmas Community Campaign this winter. Julian House supports vulnerable and at-risk individuals across the area.

These include adults and young people experiencing homelessness, escaping domestic abuse, adults with learning difficulties and people who need support after leaving prison.

Residents and businesses are being invited to donate pre-loved clothes and books as well as new socks and underwear at Metro Bank’s Stall Street store.

The bank’s manager, Steve Gilchrist, said: “As a community bank our colleagues and customers want to support those most in need this Christmas through this fantastic local charity.

“We would encourage everyone to give a little this Christmas and I want to thank everyone in advance for their generous support.”

Donations are welcomed at the store, located at 18-19 Stall St, Bath BA1 1QB. The branch is open Monday – Saturday 8.30am – 6pm, and Sunday 11am – 5pm.

Find out more about upcoming gas works Residents are being invited to hear more about plans by Wales & West Utilities to upgrade gas pipes in Limpley Stoke as part of a £250,000 project. The work, which will start on 2nd January, is essential to keep the gas flowing safely to heat and power local homes and businesses.

It will involve upgrading over 1,200 metres of pipes in the Crowe Hill area and, barring any engineering difficulties, is due to finish in May. Members of the community have been invited to the drop-in session which will take place between 9.30am – 5.30pm on Wednesday 6th December at Limpley Stoke Hotel, Woods Hill, Limpley Stoke, BA2 7FZ. Visitors will be able to view plans and direct any questions to members of the project team.

Wales & West Utilities has liaised with Wiltshire Council, B&NES Council and Highways England to plan the work and it has been agreed that traffic management, including road closures, will be in place throughout. Closures will be clearly signposted, and motorists are advised to allow extra travelling time.

Wales & West Utilities' Simon Lee is managing this gas pipe upgrade work. He said: “We’d like to see members of the local community at our drop-in event so that we can share plans of the work.

“While most of the gas network is underground and out of sight, it plays a central role in the daily lives of people across Limpley Stoke. Whether it’s heating your home, making the family dinner or having a hot bath, we understand how important it is for your gas supply to be safe.”

Issue 066

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Permission sought for demolition of Councillors launch brutalist church in Batheaston campaign to improve 101 response times

John Wimperis

Local Democracy Reporter

A BRUTALIST Catholic church in a village just outside Bath could soon be demolished to make way for housing.

The church of the Good Shepherd in Batheaston closed during the Covid-19 pandemic and, with declining numbers attending mass, was judged not to be viable to reopen.

Now the Diocese of Clifton hopes to redevelop the site as housing, with worshippers to attend St Mary’s in Bath instead or watch live-streamed mass services.

The diocese has submitted a planning application to Bath and North East Somerset Council to demolish the church and build a four-bed home, two threebed homes, and a wheelchairadaptable two-bedroom home on the site.

A rare example of 1960s brutalism in the Bath area, the church was the work of Bath architect Martin Fisher, who was also behind the design of St Peter and Paul’s in Combe Down.

Taking Stock, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales’ project to carry out architectural and historical assessments of their churches,

The church of the Good Shepherd in Batheaston | Image © Google Street View

states on their website: “While the exterior has a somewhat forbidding character, the interior is well-lit by large expanses of glass with an effective coloured glass scheme over the sanctuary.”

A heritage assessment submitted with the application stated: “The building’s aesthetic value is perhaps one of the most difficult to assess, being largely reliant upon an individual’s

own reaction towards it; the building being an unashamedly contemporary building within a traditional 18th and 19th century domestic context.”

It argued that demolishing the church and building four terraced homes that “more closely align to the character and appearance of the area” would be a benefit and help protect and enhance the area’s “architectural character.”

COUNCILLORS in a village near Bath have launched a new campaign calling on Avon & Somerset Police to improve their 101 response times.

Peasedown St John’s independent councillors, Gavin Heathcote and Karen Walker, say the current service ‘isn’t good enough’ as people wanting to report nonemergency incidents sometimes have to wait significant amounts of time for their calls to be answered.

The pair were recently invited to Portishead to meet staff and call handlers at Avon & Somerset Police’s Command and Control Room.

The centre has around 200 operators responding to more than 2,600 calls every day, with 999 emergency incidents and 101 inquiries for the whole county being directed there.

Cllr Gavin Heathcote said: “We’re working closely with the police to see what can be done to speed up response times to 101 calls.

“Just recently I needed to report an incident in Peasedown St John, only to be faced with a 1-hour wait for somebody to even pick up the ‘phone.

“This simply isn’t good enough

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Cllr Karen Walker and Cllr Gavin Heathcote meet with Becky Tapper

– members of the public expect a much swifter response from the local police, even to nonemergency inquiries.”

Gavin and Karen met with Becky Tipper, Head of Command and Control at Avon & Somerset Police, where they were able to share concerns about the force’s response times.

Cllr Karen Walker added: “Thanks to Becky and her team for allowing us to visit the control centre. We were able to meet some of the operators and hear some of the calls coming into the police incident room from the public.

“We’ll be working closely with Avon & Somerset Police over the coming months to address issues raised with us by our residents.”

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Tuesday 5th December - Monday 18th December 2023

www.bathecho.co.uk

Pictures from the Past Bath at Work Women in the Workforce Kirsten Elliott Akeman Press

THE concept of a woman’s place being in the home is a comparatively recent one, dating perhaps from the mid 19th century.

From the Middle Ages, there were many business women – the Wife of Bath was one, and most ale-houses were run by women. Georgian Bath was full of commercial ventures run by women, particularly shops and lodging houses.

Most market stalls were staffed by women, as this print from the early 19th century

shows. They are seen with their panniers near the Guildhall, wearing aprons and distinctive black bonnets. Across the street, one market woman, armed with a staff, is leading a packhorse – one of its panniers seems to be empty but the other has goods in it, so perhaps she is looking for a spot to sell those too.

At the start of the Industrial Revolution, women and children were employed in factories as cheap labour, but during the 19th century succeeding Factory Acts placed limits on the employment of women and children and extended safety regulations. By 1900, there were industries which presented a pleasant

Above: Market sellers outside the Guildhall in Bath | Below: Staff at the Twerton Aircraft Flight Works

working environment for women, and one was the very industry which has provided this series with much of its material – the production of commercial photographs and postcards. We believe this to be the studio of the Lewis Brothers of Seymour Street, who were the official photographers for the Bath pageant.

However, it was the two world wars which gave women their greatest opportunity to show what they could do. In World War I, they took over many engineering jobs hitherto undertaken only by men.

At Twerton Aircraft Flight Works, they stitched the fabric from which planes were made, and applied dope varnish to the

wings. This was highly dangerous, as the fumes were toxic and women frequently collapsed at their work. They were taken out into the fresh air, and once fully recovered, they went back to work.

After the war, many women lost their jobs, but twenty years later World War II brought them back into employment. One group evacuated to Bath went on to be one of the city’s biggest post-war employers – it was, of course, the Ministry of Defence (Admiralty). Here we see a mixed office of Admiralty staff with men and women working together in what appears to be a schoolroom – possibly at Kingswood.

Perhaps a Bath Echo reader may know.

Above: The studio of the Lewis Brothers | Below: An office of Admiralty staff , possibly in a classroom

COLUMN | Mark Shelford, Conservative Police and Crime Commissioner

I

would like to start by bringing your attention to the Police Funding Survey which is now live online.

I encourage every Bath resident to give their views on my proposal to increase the policing part of the council tax, known as the precept, by £10 a year (that’s the equivalent of 83 pence per month) for the average band D household.

Local policing is funded by a combination of people’s council tax (the precept), Home Office funding, and other grants. The precept makes up 41% of police funding and I, as your PCC, am responsible for setting the amount of money residents contribute to local policing through the precept.

You can access the link to the precept survey on the OPCC website.

My office has this week launched a new volunteer recruitment campaign looking for members of the public from all backgrounds and walks of life to visit people in one of three custody centres we have in Avon and Somerset based in Keynsham, Patchway and Bridgwater.

These volunteer roles are called Independent Custody Visitors and they perform a vital role in ensuring people who are detained in custody following arrest are aware of their rights and are receiving what they are entitled to.

If you can spare two hours per month at a time to suit you to partner with another custody

volunteer and undertake a visit please apply before 18 January.

No experience is necessary, just a commitment to seeing fair, efficient and effective policing in our communities.

Visit our website and go to the ‘Get Involved’ section.

Last week I publicly announced that I have convened a national E Scooter Safety Advisory Group in response to the growing concerns raised to me about both public hire and privately owned e scooters.

While there is no doubt that they offer a convenient and environmentally sustainable option to get from ‘A to B’ – there needs to be effective legislation in place to deal with safety issues.

It is also not widely known that

privately owned e scooters cannot be ridden on public highways and pathways.

Avon and Somerset Police can, and do, seize and destroy private e scooters. Anyone thinking of buying one of these for Christmas should think again.

This is my last column before Christmas and as the ever popular annual Bath Christmas Market is in full swing I encourage everyone to have a safe and enjoyable time over the festive season.

It is a time of year when we need to be mindful of online cyber crime.

This form of crime is widely underreported and accounts for over 51% of all crimes – please be

careful when shopping online for presents and remember, if something seems too good to be true it probably is. If you or anyone you know has been a victim of online crime please report it – this can easily be done online through the Avon and Somerset Police website.

I would like to wish everyone a safe and happy Christmas and acknowledge the hard work done by many over the season when many of us take time off to spend with family and friends.

Our police family and all Blue Light services colleagues work tirelessly every day year-round to keep our communities safe.

See you in 2024!

Issue 066

P7

Your City, Your News - Bath Echo

Crossword

Congratulations to Martin Rust for winning £20!

You can find the answers to last issue's crossword on page 16.

Complete our crossword for your chance to win £20!

Across 1 Pulled a face (8) 6 Deeply felt (6) 9 Business combination (6) 10 Rain gently (8) 11 Orts (9) 12 Hangs around (5) 14 Undiluted (6) 16 Units of sound intensity (8) 18 Weird things (8) 20 Charge with a crime (6) 21 Expect (5) 23 Stopped (6,3) 26 Fighting axe (8) 27 Scheduled (6) 28 Public address (6) 29 Rule out in advance (8)

Down 2 Returned to office (2-7) 3 Power (5) 4 Murderous painter of "The Supper at Emmaus" (10) 5 Craved (7) 6 Calvary inscription (1,1,1,1) 7 Retired (4,2,3) 8 Team race (5) 13 Providing grounds for a lawsuit (10) 15 Bring into being (9) 17 Midlands cathedral city (9) 19 Conceited and snobbish (5-2) 22 Shout with joy (5) 24 Whimsically funny (5) 25 Sprint (4)

Entering our competition - via email or post For your chance to win £20, submit your full name, postal address and answers by email to puzzles@bathecho.co.uk or via post to: Crossword Competition 0512, Bath Echo, PO Box 5395, Bath, BA1 0YA The winner will be the first randomly opened entry with the correct answers on 14/12/2023.

The winner will be notified using the details they provide when entering the competition.

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P8

Tuesday 5th December - Monday 18th December 2023

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'Tis The Season

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What's On

Tuesday 5th December - Monday 18th December 2023 The Spirit of Christmas

Ravneet Gill

Tide Lines

A Christmas Carol

Topping & Company Booksellers 5th December, 7.30pm Join Ravneet as she cooks some of the simple pleasures that made her fall in love with baking in the first place. In Baking for Pleasure (her third book), there are brownies, tray bakes and more.

Komedia 6th December, 7.30pm A four-piece band from Scotland heavily influenced by the traditional music of the West Highlands and Islands, but whose highly eclectic sound is driven by acoustic and electric guitars.

The Mission Theatre 8th & 9th December A fun retelling of the classic Dickensian story, suitable for families with children from 4 years old. All the characters are there, from the grumpy Mr Scrooge, loveable Bob Cratchet to Tiny Tim!

St Mary the Virgin Church 9th December, 7.30pm – 9.30pm A festive programme combining timeless carols, traditional songs and contemporary works by British and American composers. With a focus on peace, hope and winter's beauty.

Santa at Bath City Farm

Bath Christmas Craft Fair

Weihnachtsfeierabend

Mary Berry

Bath City Farm 9th December, 4.30pm British comic actor Stewart Wright is excited to bring the Father of Christmas to life in Bath for the first time. They will do their best to deliver your children’s Christmas wishes on Christmas Eve.

Weston Free Church 9th December, 12-4pm Shop small this Christmas with over 20 stalls to help you find the perfect gift.

We’ll also have festive refreshments and a children’s make your own Christmas card craft activity.

BRLSI 11th December, 7.30pm A German celebration of Christmas, including our favourite German Weihnachtslieder, a short quiz on the themes of the German year 2023 and Christmas in Germany plus carols.

The Forum 12th December, 7.30pm Join the inimitable Dame Mary Berry for these exclusive live events as she divulges tales and tips from a rich, six-decade long career in cookery. An evening that promises heart-warming anecdotes.

Winter Wonderband

Museum late: Candlelit Christmas

City of Bath Brass Band Christmas

Carols in the Circus

Chapel Arts Centre 13th December, 8pm This line-up includes Saul Rose, Beth Porter, Jennifer Crook and Maclaine Colston. Melodeon, Cello, Harp and Hammered Dulcimer form the core for a wintery selection of traditional folk.

No.1 Royal Crescent 14th December, 6-8pm Experience the magical atmosphere of Christmas at No.1 Royal Crescent after-hours! Enjoy after-hours access to the museum’s immersive Christmas experience.

St Michael’s Without 15th December, 7.30pm A family concert with musical arrangements of traditional Christmas songs and tunes, carols from across the ages and modern interpretations from musicals.

The Circus 15th December, 7pm Everyone is invited to enjoy the musical magic of the Circus. Join in the carols with the Salvation Army providing the music. Nicole Medin will sing two selected carols as the guest soloist.

Handel's Messiah: Bath Abbey

Farmer Christmas

Bath Soft Cheese Christmas Market

Top of the Tree

Bath Abbey 16th December, 7pm Handel’s glorious masterpiece sung by acclaimed Abbey choirs of Girls and Lay Clerks. Accompanied by the ‘superb’ virtuosic specialist players, Rejouissance.

Newton Farm 16th & 21st December, 11am – 1pm Farmer Christmas will be visiting again this year as we count down to the big day! Come and meet him in our Corner Barn, surrounded by fairy lights. Enjoy live music from Connor McLeod.

Park Farm 17th December, 10am – 4pm A food and craft market, as well as other festive experiences including toasting marshmallows, Christmas crafts, a seasonal menu in the Café, mulled wine, a chance to meet the animals, and more.

Victoria Art Gallery 17th December, 11am-3pm Come and join us for a free festive activity! Design a surreal decoration fit for the top of the tree. Enjoy the gallery’s special Christmas tree on display in the foyer. No need to book, just drop in.

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Tuesday 5th December - Monday 18th December 2023

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What's On

Tuesday 5th December - Monday 18th December 2023

Festive Storytelling

Make Macramé Decorations

Steeple Rocks Christmas Concert

John Law's Re-Creations

American Museum & Gardens 9th December, 10am – 1pm Create your own macramé Christmas decorations with an expert crafter from Knots & Stalks. This will introduce you to macramé and teach you how to make your own tree decorations.

American Museum & Gardens 16th December, 2.30pm – 4.30pm A rock choir from Wiltshire, performing pop, rock and a little gospel, with a medley of songs to get your feet tapping.

Join us in the Stables for an afternoon performance with high energy.

American Museum & Gardens 17th December, 2.30pm – 4.30pm An afternoon performance featuring the best in local jazz. The idea is really simple: choose some of the best known and most interesting tunes in all genres and give every tune a different twist.

American Museum & Gardens 18th December Enhance your visit with fun Christmasthemed storytelling for little ones at 11am, 12pm, 2pm and 3pm.

No booking required.

Family tickets available from £24.

Gravest Fears: Two Ghost Stories

Rock The Tots: Christmas!

The Greatest Magician

The Stolen Winter Light

The Rondo Theatre 6th & 7th December, 8pm Two tales by M R James. In The Stalls of Barchester Cathedral, a cleric falls prey to a curse. In An Episode of Cathedral History ill-advised restorations lead to the discovery of an ancient tomb.

The Rondo Theatre 8th December, 11am Gigs for little ones… and their grownups! Steph and Craig are back to give you and your little ones some Christmas Cheer! Packed full of wonderful, familiar Christmas tunes, all played live.

The Rondo Theatre 8th & 9th December A Christmas magic show, presented by the magician most famous for jamming the BBC switchboard after he correctly predicted the lottery results! A show that will leave you dizzy in disbelief.

The Rondo Theatre 13th – 24th December The critically acclaimed Greedy Pig Theatre Company invite you to join them for a bewitching and hilarious festive tale. Featuring enchanting live music and humour for all ages.

Midnight Mole

Sleeping Beauty

A Christmas Carol

The Turn of the Screw

The Egg 7th December – 7th January A heart-warming, moon-dancing adventure from the creative team behind Snow Mouse - with a nod to Chekhov’s The Cherry Orchard - full of puppetry and music.

Theatre Royal 7th December – 7th January The family pantomime promises a laugh-a-minute extravaganza with stunning sets, top musical hits, fantastic costumes and exciting special effects to keep audiences entertained!

Theatre Royal 11th & 18th December Guy Masterson, Olivier Award winner and West End and Broadway director (The Shark Is Broken) returns to Bath with his acclaimed sell-out performance of Dickens' festive favourite.

Ustinov Studio 1st - 23rd December Benjamin Britten’s The Turn of the Screw, based on Henry James’s famous novella, is a pillar of twentieth century opera and regarded as one of the most dramatic in the repertoire.

Advertising Feature

Issue 066

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Local charity supporting vulnerable people against the odds this Christmas Long-standing local charity Julian House has been providing shelter and support for people in need in Bath and across the South West for thirty-five years.

In the last year, demand for its services has been higher than ever whilst funding has remained stagnant.

The latest government ‘snapshot’ figures show that there has been a 24% increase in people sleeping rough in the South West, from 334 in 2021 to 413 in a single night in 2022.

With the cost of living and the housing crisis escalating in 2023, Julian House has seen this number growing further, putting additional pressure on the vital services they provide in the city.

In Bath, Julian House leads daily outreach to the homeless community, helping rough sleepers to understand their options to help them get off the street; provides emergency accommodation for those who need it; a homeless day centre; and supported housing for individuals who are preparing to move into their own home.

Demand for the charity's services has increased significantly, whilst funding remains stagnant

Their team also provide supported housing for individuals who are rebuilding their lives after serving a prison sentence, and for people living with autism; refuges for women, men and children escaping domestic abuse; a refugee resettlement service; and a support service for travelling communities, as

well as employment and skills training for people trying to get back into work through their Bike Workshop on Corn Street.

Their support is vital for people like James, whose life fell apart when he lost his mother. He became homeless and spent three years on the streets, sleeping in a tent when he could, for extra

shelter from the elements.

Then he heard about Julian House: the charity was able to offer him a pod in its emergency shelter on Manvers Street. James says, “I arrived that evening and I’ve never looked back. It’s not overstating it to say that the support and care that Julian House has given me saved my

life.”

However, Julian House’s lifesaving projects are threatened by ever-decreasing public service budgets.

The Chancellor’s Autumn Statement in November provided no uplift to public service funding, leaving many charities to run services at a loss in order to cover budget shortfalls.

Julian House Chief Executive Helen Bedser says, “This year has been one of our hardest on record. We’ve had to make difficult decisions to ensure our doors can stay open and we can continue to help vulnerable people in Bath and across the South West. Most of our services are non-statutory, meaning that local and national government are not required by law to provide them. That’s why Julian House’s work is vital: we are there for people when they have no other options.”

If you are concerned about a vulnerable or rough sleeper in Bath this Christmas, please report it at thestreetlink.org.uk and the Julian House outreach team will respond.

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Community

Share your news with us Email: news@bathecho.co.uk

Trees planted as tribute to King Charles III and Queen Elizabeth II

Temporary changes to waste collections

A CEREMONY has been held in Bath’s Royal Victoria Park to plant two English Oak trees, commemorating the Coronation of King Charles III and honouring Queen Elizabeth II. The ceremony on 15th November saw the trees planted next to each other so that at maturity, their crowns would visually join to symbolise unity.

The location of the trees is also in keeping with the original layout of the heritage 57-acre park, which was opened by Princess Victoria in 1830.

The tree planting was carried out

by Bath & North East Somerset Council and attended by HM Lord-Lieutenant Mr Mohammed Saddiq, the Chair of Council, Councillor Sarah Moore, the Mayor of Bath, Councillor Dine Romero and council Leader, Councillor Kevin Guy. Children from Widcombe Junior School also attended the event in recognition of their tree planting initiatives.

In 2022, the school was one of the

PEOPLE across Bath and North East Somerset are being reminded about temporary changes to waste and recycling collection dates over the Christmas and New Year period.

Residents have been sent leaflets in the post advising them of their revised collection dates and key recycling service information.

Changes will affect collections that would normally be scheduled from Monday 25th December to Friday 12th January.

A calendar with the revised dates is also available to download from the council's website.

Garden waste collections will pause over the winter period and restart from 15th January. Garden waste can instead be taken to local recycling centres during opening hours.

Real Christmas trees are once again being collected by Dorothy House for a donation to their charity. Visit the website www. just-helping.org.uk/register-tree to book a collection.

Alternatively, trees can be taken to the council’s recycling centres

Planting the King’s Tree Photo courtesy of B&NES Council

70 schools selected nationally to plant a Celebration Tree as part of the Queen’s Green Canopy programme.

Following the planting, gatherers marked the occasion with a rendition of the National Anthem, led by members of the City of Bath Brass Band.

The Lord-Lieutenant, who planted the tree in tribute to His Majesty King Charles III, said: “It has been a very special occasion indeed and a lasting memorial to important moments in our history.”

The Mayor of Bath, Councillor Dine Romero, said: “It is a

privilege to plant this tree as a lasting memorial to Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II to honour her life-time service to our country, the tree is a further addition to the country wide canopy started in her Platinum Jubilee, and is in recognition of the King’s longstanding commitment to the environment.”

Councillor Sarah Moore said: “These trees will eventually join as a united tribute to His Majesty King Charles III and Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and will leave a lasting legacy honouring their lives and service to our country.

“Trees improve our environment in many ways, including providing cleaner air, reducing pollution, and supporting our wildlife. These new trees will bring all these benefits for future generations.

“I’m delighted that Widcombe Junior School joined in with the tree planting to represent the future custodians of our green spaces across Bath and North East Somerset.”

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or put out for collection on garden waste collection days from 15th January to 9th February.

Collections must be booked in advance on the council website and trees that have not been booked for collection and left out at the front edge of the property will not be collected.

When recycling Christmas trees, either at recycling centres or by pre-booked collections, all decorations must be removed and the tree should be cut in half, to less than 1.2m tall.

On average the council collects 24% more rubbish and recycling over Christmas week than at any other time of year.

Residents are being urged to recycle as much as possible and to avoid creating waste in the first place by using sustainable alternatives.

The council’s recycling centres will be closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day.

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2024 Walk of Life charity fundraiser date revealed THE RUHX charity’s flagship fundraising event, the Walk of Life, is set to return on Saturday 11th May 2024, it has been announced.

The walk, which was featured on BBC One’s ‘The One Show’, started in 2005 and since then has raised over £750,000 for the RUH. Individuals, families and businesses from across Bath and the surrounding area are once again being asked to go the extra mile for their local hospital.

The Walk of Life is a walk for everyone, offering a 10-mile and marathon 26.2mile option along the Kennet & Avon canal.

The route takes a scenic journey down the canal towpath, from Wiltshire to Bath.

The marathon starts in Bishops Cannings, near Devizes and is joined by the 10-mile walk at Bradford on Avon, with everyone coming to finish together at The Holburne Museum.

Ellie Wilkinson, Events & Community Officer, RUHX said: “The Walk of Life is a celebration for loved ones, and those who cared for them.

“Whoever you walk for, you’ll be supporting your local hospital to do more for our patients, their families, and our amazing NHS staff.

“Since the walk began, the funds raised have had a life changing and life saving impact at the RUH. “Walkers and their donors have helped fund CT Scanners, incubators for NICU, the build of the Dyson Cancer Centre (due to open next Spring), cutting edge medical research, NHS staff wellbeing projects and much more. But we need your help to continue making care extra

Taking on the Walk of Life fundraiser Photo © Walk of Life / RUHX

extraordinary for every patient and to support our hospital staff do what they do best. Will you step up to the challenge?”

The Walk of Life was started in 2005 by Vanessa Kyte, who passed away on 15th November 2007, seven years after being diagnosed with breast cancer, which developed into secondary lung cancer and brain tumours.

Her passion for fundraising sparked her and her sister Nicola to begin the Walk of Life with the charity, and it has grown ever since into the celebration that it is today, with thousands of walkers stepping out for the cause.

Nicola was surprised by Angela Rippon on BBC’s The One Show at last year’s event, for her extraordinary contributions to the hospital and the local community.

Adult tickets cost £20 and child tickets are available for £8.

You can register for your Walk of Life place at www.ruhx.org.uk/events/walkof-life/

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Your City, Your News - Bath Echo

Insects at city farm are climate change ‘early warning system’ WILDLIFE surveys at Bath City Farm over the last eight years have recorded species that a generation ago would have been rare in the area, ecologists have said.

The species, which are now common occurrences in Somerset, would have been rarities sixty miles south on the English coastline.

1,250 species have now been recorded at the 37-acre farm on a north-facing slope between Twerton and Southdown in the west of Bath.

30 of the species found on the grasslands and in the woods on the site are recent arrivals to the area, as warmer weather sees new species moving northwards.

Ecologist and Trustee, Mike Williams, who has led the wildlife recording, said: “Insects are important indicator species that help ecologists understand the realities of a changing climate on our natural world.

“Spiders are a classic example as due to their short lifespan and mobility they react to changes in weather.

“Three years ago, the elegant Wasp Spider was recorded on the Farm for the first time ever and is now increasingly common in the area.

“In the early 1990s I only ever saw the Wasp Spider on the south

coast of England, in Dorset.

“This was at the extreme north of their range because it was too cold for them. I would never have imagined then that one day they would be found as far north as Bath as we live with the realities of climate change.”

Butterflies at the farm were severely impacted by the dry spring and wet summer with fewer numbers recorded this year.

The Red Admiral has bucked the trend because fewer cold snaps and frosts have seen these summer migrants overwintering in the UK and breeding in the springtime which has led to greater numbers.

The Jersey Tiger Moth, which was only ever found on the Channel Islands, has become an increasing sight across the South of England, including at Bath City Farm.

Other recent new arrivals include the Hornet and Lesser Hornet Hoverfly, two harmless species that closely resemble Hornets, the Ivy Bee, which is now a common sight on Ivy flowers in the autumn, and the small green Ivy Spider, which was filmed on the site in 2022 for BBC’s

A Red Admiral butterfly and wasp spider | Photos © Bath City Farm

Autumnwatch series.

A lack of frosts can have a devastating impact on plants, such as the Yellow Rattle, as it’s so fundamental to their lifecycle.

With warmer temperatures, this plant can struggle to germinate having a knock-on effect on pollinators and herbivorous insects, which in turn provide

food for birds and bats.

Mike continued: “Our wildlife surveys have shown that climate change isn’t something that will happen in the distant future.

“It is having a clear impact on species across the UK, including impacting the wildlife that calls the Farm home. Most of the crickets you hear calling in the

meadows have only been in Bath for the past 20 years or so – these are Roesel’s Bush-cricket and Long-winged Conehead.

“The former is very loud and very numerous. I tell people on my nature walks around the Farm that they are listening to the sound of climate change when we hear them.”

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Tuesday 5th December - Monday 18th December 2023

Health Have your say on proposed changes to care provision TIME is running out for people to have their say on plans to “reshape” care for people being looked after in three homes operated by Bath & North East Somerset Council.

A consultation, which closes on 18th December, has been launched with residents, families, staff and the wider community invited to give their views on the care proposals.

The local authority announced plans which would see Cleeve Court Residential Home in Bath becoming a centre of excellence for dementia care including nursing care.

The plans would also enable younger people with complex needs to live closer to home with an enhanced offer for them at Combe Lea, in Midsomer Norton.

Eleven places at Charlton House Nursing Home, in Keynsham, would also be moved to Cleeve Court or other provision.

Charlton House Nursing Home currently has 11 out of 30 beds occupied. It would be retained for other community provision to meet the current and future needs of residents.

The premises remain suitable for

community and care uses, and discussions are underway with partners on how the building could be used in the future.

Proposals also include the opportunity for community groups and charitable organisations’ use of day centre spaces at the community resource centres at a reduced rental rate if the organisations offer services that are accessible to the care home residents and the community.

Extra Care schemes and sheltered housing provision currently provided at Community Resource Centre (CRC) sites in partnership with housing providers will not be affected by the proposals.

Councillor Alison Born, cabinet member for Adult Services, said: “We have reviewed the three homes where we provide registered care for up to 105 people and we are now asking people for their comments on our proposals which will bring about improvements to the care we provide but also changes for those who receive that care.

“I am very aware that we are consulting on people’s homes so residents, their families and staff

The proposals would see people moved out of Charlton House Nursing Home

must have their say on any plans we make.

“We must also bear in mind that providing care is very costly and like every council there are huge pressures on our budgets. The decisions we take will always be in the best interests of the people we care for now and into the future.”

All three Community Resource Centres came back under the council’s control three years ago.

Overall the CRC provision includes Charlton House,

registered to provide 30 nursing care beds over two separate floors, Combe Lea which provides 30 registered care beds and Cleeve Court which provides 45 registered care beds.

Rising costs including agency cost pressures could see the service face a potential £1 million overspend in the next financial year.

Following a CQC inspection in October 2022, a number of concerns were identified at Charlton House and to help

address them, 15 nursing care beds were temporarily withdrawn.

Progress has been made since this time and the CQC has rated the service as ‘requires improvement’.

A report on the proposal which went before Councillor Born says there is ample alternative provision of general nursing care home services for adults in B&NES but there are shortfalls in complex needs services.

It says that the Charlton House building, which is relatively new and is of high quality, is suitable for several accommodation uses which are being explored with partners.

To take part in the consultation, which ends at 5pm on Monday 18th December, visit https://bit. ly/3N2IXvw. If you require urgent support, a printed survey, information in another format including audio, braille, large print, Easy-Read or in another language, contact the CRC Consultation team by emailing CRC_Consultation@ bathnes.gov.uk, or by calling Council Connect on 01225 39 40 41.

Pregnant and vulnerable people urged to get Covid-19 vaccination

Staff from the RUH meet King Charles III

PREGNANT women who are eligible for the latest Covid-19 booster jab are being urged to get it booked without delay, if they have not already done so.

Those most at risk of becoming seriously ill with Covid-19, such as people aged over 65, only have until Friday 15th December to receive the current autumn topup dose.

After this date, vulnerable people will have to wait until the next round of booster vaccinations, which is likely to be in the spring.

Health leaders particularly want to see pregnant women come forward for the jab, as local data suggests most mums-to-be are yet to get protected.

Gill May, Chief Nurse, Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire Integrated Care Board, said: “Like other respiratory illnesses, Covid-19 is at its most prevalent during the cold winter months, when we spend more time indoors and there is less natural ventilation.

“Getting protected against Covid-19 ahead of the social Christmas season is a must for any person deemed to be vulnerable to this nasty, and potentially lifethreatening, virus.

“Among those who we really want to see stay safe over the coming weeks are the pregnant women

TWO staff members from the Royal United Hospital were among those who recently had the opportunity to meet King Charles III at a reception held at Buckingham Palace.

Mark Doblas, Lead Clinical Practice Facilitator for International Nursing, and Sarang Thacker, a midwife, were among 400 nurses and midwives to join the King as he celebrated his 75th birthday, along with the 75th birthday of the NHS. The event celebrated the contribution of international nurses and midwives working in the NHS over the decades.

Mark said: “It was surreal to get the invitation and I got more and more excited leading up to the event. I came to this country five years ago and have worked in the RUH ever since. Shaking hands with The King fulfilled a childhood dream and will be forever stored in my memory.

“I can’t believe I have been given this opportunity. It is a recognition for the hard work we do to support our new nurses and midwives and the NHS and I couldn’t be any prouder to represent the RUH at

Time is running out for people to get their autumn top-up dose

in our communities, as we know that Covid-19 not only adversely affects the mother, but also poses a risk to the unborn baby.

“Any person who is eligible for this latest booster vaccine should come forward before the cutoff date, as it is only through vaccination that we can limit the spread of Covid-19, while also keeping our most vulnerable protected.”

The Covid-19 booster jab is designed to provide vulnerable people, including those with weakened immune systems, care home residents and frontline health and care staff, with a layer of added immunity.

Getting vaccinated is a simple procedure which, unlike at the beginning of the large-scale

rollouts, takes place inside most local community pharmacies.

Vaccination appointments can be arranged quickly and easily either online at www.nhs.uk or by calling 119. Some people may also have been invited to come for their booster by jab by staff at their registered GP practice.

Across the local region, more than three-quarters (78.1 per cent) of people aged 65 and over have had the latest booster, while around 93 per cent of care home residents have also been protected.

Since the Covid-19 vaccine was first given out in December 2020, more than 2 million individual vaccinations have taken place across Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire.

Buckingham Palace.

“I had the chance to wish The King a happy birthday and tell him I am from the Philippines and now live in Bath. Now, I have another dream, which is to live to see the 100th year of the NHS and perhaps another Filipino Chief Nurse.”

Sarang said: “It was wonderful to see The King acknowledging the care and contribution that colleagues bring to the NHS and the country as a whole.

“He seemed so very kind and patient. Shaking so many hands, while looking genuinely interested. He thanked so many people for what we do.”

Toni Lynch, RUH Chief Nurse, added: “I’m so pleased that Mark and Sarang were given this incredible opportunity. The NHS has always been somewhere where patients have benefited from the expertise, commitment and compassion of staff from around the world.

“Our international nurses and midwives play a vital role and make such a difference to our staff and patients. We are so grateful for the enormous contribution they make across the RUH every day.”

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Education

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MP calls for improved funding for schools

Student racing team launches sponsorship appeal for 2024

BATH’S Liberal Democrat MP Wera Hobhouse has called for the Government to provide greater funding for schools to help with the ongoing staffing problems affecting the sector.

During Business Questions on 9th November, Ms Hobhouse asked the Leader of the House, Penny Mordaunt, to commit to providing more funding.

It comes after the MP met with teachers from Twerton Infant School and Nursery, and Oldfield Park Infant School over the summer.

They discussed their continued struggles with staff shortages and widespread recruitment difficulties.

In her question to the Leader of the House, Ms Hobhouse spoke of the considerable underfunding and increasingly unmanageable workloads that teachers across the country face.

The MP said that teacher vacancies in the South West had rocketed in recent years, rising by 175% since 2017.

TEAM Bath Racing Electric, the University of Bath’s student racing team, recently met with sponsors in their first dedicated sponsorship event ahead of 2024.

Team members held the networking event in the University’s School of Management, where they met with several different companies, including AB Dynamics, Babcock, Cadence, Lineat, Mewburn Ellis, Rotork, Vector and Zuken.

This allowed them to talk with their existing sponsors and discuss potential partnerships with other companies.

The 2023 car was on display at the event, where company representatives enjoyed a drinks reception and a presentation by core members Alexandra Sharankova, Alexandre About and James Wainwright.

This included details on previous successes, current designs and future plans to give sponsors an insight into the inner workings of the team.

The Mayor of Bath, Dine Romero, also attended the event and spoke

She then asked Penny Mordaunt for a debate in government time to address the issues of underfunding.

In response, the Leader of the House acknowledged the difficulties of recruitment and retention in certain areas of the country.

She also praised local authority campaigns that are working to attract teachers into areas of the country where there are issues with recruitment.

Wera Hobhouse commented: “The government have failed to heed the recommendations of their former Education Recovery Commissioner, committing only a fraction of the £15 billion needed for catch-up funding for children following the pandemic.

“The challenges with underfunding and staff shortages are only making the education recovery from the pandemic even harder. It is imperative that the government stop sitting on their hands and get pupils the high quality education they deserve.”

The recent sponsorship event Photo © University of Bath

to the team afterwards, sharing her ideas on how the team could fundraise and get involved in the local community.

Sponsorship is integral to the team’s performance as it provides funding for them to buy and manufacture components for the car, as well as arrange travel to competitions in both the UK and throughout Europe.

This year money is also being raised through a crowdfunding campaign.

In 2024, the team will compete at the Silverstone circuit in Northamptonshire, as well as in international Formula Student events across Europe.

Team Bath Racing Electric

(TBRe) is based out of the University’s Faculty of Engineering and Design and has grown considerably since it started in 2015, from fewer than 10 members to almost 100.

The team is made up of around 50 core members, with a further 50 involved in other aspects of the operation.

Participants are typically Mechanical and Electrical Engineering students, assisted by a variety of students from other degree programmes.

Formula Student is Europe’s most established international engineering competition, in which students design, build and race their own Formula-style car.

Many of the students who take part go on to careers in the automotive and motorsport industries, including at Formula 1 teams and top-tier car manufacturers.

University of Bath Formula Student teams have been among the UK’s top performers over several years, with TBRe finishing third in the ‘Electric Vehicle’ category in Portugal last year.

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You’ll gain new skills and have access to careers education, information, advice, guidance and mentorship from employers. You’ll be taught two days a week in Bath.

Scan here to find out more or visit www.bathspa.ac.uk/fwd To take part in FWD you must be 19+ and live in or near Bath and North East Somerset, North Somerset, Bristol or South Gloucestershire

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L&C Mortgages moves to Newark Works development BATH-BASED L&C Mortgages, the UK’s largest fee-free broker, has moved to a new tailor-made headquarters at the Newark Works development.

The relocation to Bath Quays marks a new chapter for the company. It has moved from Beazer House, its base for over 20 years, where more than 450 staff members are employed.

The new offices, created by Bath workplace design company Interaction, have been chosen for their ability to offer L&C and its employees everything that is required of the modern workplace and to accommodate flexible and hybrid working patterns.

The new workplace provides 4,864sq ft of adaptable office space for both focussed and collaborative working.

Interaction also designed the communal spaces at Newark Works including a centrepiece bar and entrance area to foster community between tenants,

creating a destination hub for Bath’s creative businesses.

Commenting on the move to Newark Works, Alan Young, CEO at L&C said: “As a major employer in Bath and the surrounding areas, it’s vital for us to retain our central position in the city.

“Newark Works is an exciting new development that fits the needs of our business as we continue in our drive to ensure that UK mortgage holders get the very best advice without having to pay a fee.

“Our colleagues enjoy the flexibility of hybrid working and we’re sure that Newark Works will give us the very best environment to ensure that continues.

“Working with Interaction has allowed us to develop a bespoke space and environment in which we’re sure our colleagues will thrive, as we drive for future growth as the key provider of mortgage and protection advice in the UK.” Interaction’s managing director

L&C Mortgages’ new Bath HQ designed by Interaction | Photo © L&C / Interaction

Dieter Wood said: “L&C are a great local success story so we were super excited to be asked to design their new headquarters

Green light for city centre cocktail bar Raincheck to open until 3am John Wimperis

Local Democracy Reporter

A COCKTAIL bar in the centre of Bath will be able to stay open until 3am throughout the week despite neighbours’ warnings it will contribute to “disruption”.

Raincheck opened on George Street in 2022, which was 18 years after the original bar on Monmouth Street closed, as a “stylish high-end cocktail bar”.

But a bid by the bar to get permission from Bath & North East Somerset Council to stay open later on Monday, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays was met with concern by neighbours.

Currently, the bar is only licensed until 3am from Thursday to Saturday, closing at 1am on other weeknights.

No change was proposed to the bar’s Sunday hours, when it closes at 12am, except to let it stay open until 3am on New Year’s Eve even if it falls on a Sunday, such as this year.

Simon Merriweather, who lives near the bar, submitted an objection to the application to the council’s licensing committee.

He said: “At some point it is necessary to say that there are enough hospitality premises operating into the early hours in such density and in close proximity to residents.

“I count 10 late night premises operating in George Street in the narrow stretch from Gay Street to just beyond Broad Street.”

Malcolm Balwin, chair of the Circus Area Residents

in Bath. It will provide them with the flexible workspace they need to support hybrid working while helping to nurture a sense

of community and greater collaboration.

“We wish them continued success in their fantastic new home.”

Clothing retailer Zara opens store in SouthGate

The new Zara store in SouthGate | Photo © SouthGate Bath

Permission was granted for the cocktail bar to stay open until 3am

Association, also submitted an objection, stating: “At the moment such residents, living particularly in apartments immediately neighbouring the Raincheck premises and other local community residents are at least able to ‘enjoy’ relatively quieter and not extended activity from this establishment during the earlier period of the week.”

Addressing the licensing committee as they met to make their decision, agent for Raincheck, Terrill Wolyn, said that the extension of hours was at the request of patrons who did not want to leave so early.

She said: “These are professional people who may not want to be part of the night time scene.”

She added that no objections to the application had been made

by the police or environmental protection, and there had never been any significant complaints about Raincheck.

Manager Ricky Simms added: “We try to create an environment where its very relaxed, not too loud.

“Everyone can still talk across the music. We don’t have a dancing area.”

Ms Wolyn added: “It’s not like a club.” She said that music would be stopped at 2am to allow the place to “wind down.”

Councillors granted the extension to the hours, stating: “Members were satisfied, on the evidence that they had heard and read, it would not add to the cumulative impact.”

Owner Andrew McGonigle said the decision was “good news.”

POPULAR clothing retailer Zara has opened a new store in the SouthGate Bath shopping centre, occupying several units on SouthGate Place.

The store, which is 32,000 square feet, will offer shoppers a range of products across womenswear, menswear and childrenswear.

The store features a dedicated beauty department and the latest technological innovations from Zara’s integrated online and physical store platform, providing shoppers with a “more seamless” shopping experience.

Guy Henderson, centre director at SouthGate Bath, said: “It’s been great to see how excited our customers have been about the arrival of Zara in the lead up to the opening, and I have no doubt the new store will be a hugely popular addition to our existing fashion retail offering.

“The store is launching at the perfect time ahead of Black Friday and the festive shopping

period, giving our visitors even more choice for Christmas gifts and seasonal fashion.”

Along with Zara, SouthGate Bath recently welcomed Oliver Bonas, Breitling and Tag Heuer as it focuses on expanding its range of luxury brands in the city centre.

Email Subscriptions We send out daily news update emails, as well as a weekly newsletter. Sign up today! Visit www.bathecho.co.uk/subscribe or scan the QR code below:

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Council leader issues funding warning over social care costs John Wimperis

Local Democracy Reporter

EVERY council in the UK faces going bankrupt unless the government takes action on the cost of social services, the leader of Bath & North East Somerset Council has warned.

Bath & North East Somerset Council is currently set to go over budget this year by £6.5m, mainly driven by children’s social services which is over budget by £4.6m.

The local authority also faces a £35m budget gap to make up across the next five years.

In addition to inflation and limited income streams, councillors blamed a drop in funding from the central government coupled with a rise in the number of unaccompanied asylum seeking-children in the council care system.

Council leader Kevin Guy told a cabinet meeting on Thursday 9th November: “It is a universal problem.”

He said: “If the funding situation, particularly for adults and children’s services, is not rectified

by this government or the next government, it is only a matter of time before all local authorities in the United Kingdom go bankrupt.”

Mark Elliott, the council’s cabinet member for resources, said he was “confident” that Bath and North East Somerset Council would not face bankruptcy.

He said the council was taking “urgent action” to stop it going over budget this year, including cutting vacancies, and nonessential training, conferences, travel, and subscriptions.

But he warned: “We are left with a position of very high cost rises, very little room to manoeuvre with regard to income raising and, after years and years of this pressure, not much room for new efficiencies to be made.”

He said that the council’s operating costs were about £300m and, with council taxpayers’ contribution making up about £113m, the council had to rely on income from parking, attractions such as the Roman Baths, and government grants for the rest of its spending.

He added that the main support grant from the government had

Councillor Kevin Guy, leader of Bath & North East Somerset Council

been £31m ten years ago but was now £800,000.

Paul May, the council cabinet member responsible for children’s services, said the government was allocating unaccompanied asylum seekingchildren to the council with “insufficient funding” to cover the cost to the council of looking after them.

He said: “Many are just below

the age of 18 when they enter the system, but if the Home Office doesn’t approve their asylum case, they remain in the care system and councils retain the statutory responsibility for their care up to the age of 25.”

He added that it was “quite right” for the government to share the responsibility for the young people among all local authorities but warned that it was

causing additional costs.

Mr May said: “Other local authorities are suffering from similar pressures and sadly the Conservative government does not offer the help we all need.

“These are vulnerable children and overspends add to budget pressures on the other services that Bath and North East Somerset Council provides across the council area.”

Search launched for new chair of housing company AEQUUS Group, Bath & North East Somerset Council’s wholly-owned housing company, is on the lookout for a new independent non-executive board chair.

The role is being advertised to secure a smooth transition when the current Chair, Charles Gerrish, steps down at the end of his term of office in May 2024 after eight years.

Aequus Group was set up in 2016 to develop, deliver, own and manage property for both the rental and homeowner market on behalf of the local authority.

It is made up of Aequus Group Holdings Ltd, the holding company; Aequus Developments Ltd, which manages private rental properties, and Aequus Construction Ltd, which develops housing.

Since 2016, Aequus has delivered 221 new homes in Bath and North East Somerset, alongside meeting its business plan performance to generate £1m per year of income that supports frontline services, with around 1,000 more homes planned for the future.

The new chair will provide strategic leadership and guidance to the Board of Directors and ensure that the company continues to achieve the council’s objectives to deliver homes that meet local housing need, including social housing, while supporting the council’s climate and ecological emergency objectives.

Applicants should be an experienced non-executive director, ideally with previous chairing experience, understanding of how to work with elected members, and with expertise and understanding of commercial aspects of the housing and development industry.

They must also have a good understanding of the geographical, political and social environment within which Aequus operates and understand how local authorities work.

More information about the role and how to apply can be found here or by contacting Sioned Hughes at Altair Ltd on 07788 7791381 or email sioned.hughes@altairltd.co.uk.

Councillor Deborah Collins, cabinet project lead for Leader and for Built Environment & Sustainable Development, said: “Through Aequus the council is delivering more affordable, sustainable homes for residents in Bath and North East Somerset whilst generating returns that support our priorities.

“The company is instrumental in providing the homes that our communities need and so it’s vital that it is chaired by someone who can continue to provide the effective leadership we have received from Charles Gerrish over the past eight years.

“With Charles preparing to step down next May, we are now planning ahead to ensure continuity and I am sure this opportunity will attract many high-quality applicants.

“I’d like to thank Charles for his contribution since 2016 which has shaped so positively the company’s achievements to date.”

Charles Gerrish, the current chair, said: “Aequus is a successful and growing local authority housing company and my successor will play a key role in steering the group through a period of growth to support the future housing delivery needs of our local authority partners.”

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Fire service's emergency response “inadequate” Adam Postans

Local Democracy Reporter

AVON Fire & Rescue Service (AF&RS) is “inadequate” at responding to emergencies, the worst possible rating, a damning report has found.

His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) has “serious concerns” about how the organisation keeps people safe and secure from fire and other risks.

AF&RS’s mobilisation system, which records information and dispatches firefighters and fire engines to incidents, “isn’t reliable and crashes during 999 calls, which results in the public receiving a slower response to emergencies”, inspectors found.

The report by HMICFRS inspector Wendy Williams, published on Wednesday 22nd November, says the service does not have an effective system to gather and record relevant and up-to-date risk information, including details of tower blocks, to help protect firefighters, the public and property during an emergency.

Ms Williams raised concerns about the way the service prevents fires and other risks after finding that residents at greater risk from fire were not prioritised for home safety visits, which were decided instead on location and convenience.

She was also concerned about AF&RS’s culture and said staff in some teams demonstrated “unacceptable behaviours, such as using sexist or inappropriate language and disguising this as banter”.

“And, worryingly, some staff don’t have the confidence to report these issues,” the inspector’s report added.

Government watchdog HMICFRS assessed how well AF&RS performed in 11 areas and rated it as inadequate in four – understanding fire and risk, preventing fire and risk, responding to fires and emergencies, and promoting values and culture.

Five others “require improvement” – the second lowest of five gradings – and two were judged to be adequate, with none “good” or “outstanding”.

As a result, the inspectorate has placed the service in an enhanced

level of monitoring to help it address “causes of concern”.

Chief Fire Officer Simon Shilton has apologised and says steps are already being taken to make improvements.

He said: “There can be no denying that His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services’ inspection report into the service makes for uncomfortable reading.

“That said, as a service we welcome the challenge and support to ensure we are the best service we can be, however, I’m sorry if local people feel let down.

“I accept these are the Inspectorate’s findings, and I want to reassure our local communities we have already put plans in place to address some of the concerns raised.

“It is disappointing, despite the hard work undertaken by our staff to deliver the best possible service to our communities, it’s clear the pace of change has not been sufficient against the challenging financial and political backdrop we’ve faced this past year. There is more to be done to tackle and improve on the areas highlighted going forward, particularly in relation to our provision of risk critical information and in creating a more inclusive culture.

“However, I feel strongly that the findings do not represent who we are as a service.”

AF&RS said it had already addressed concerns over the reliability of its mobilising system software, which is used by about 80 per cent of UK fire and rescue services.

It said the organisation continued to meet its response standards and that the inspectorate’s report acknowledged it had effective arrangements for dealing with multi-agency incidents.

Avon Fire Authority chair Cllr Brenda Massey said: “On behalf of the fire authority, it is regrettable that these are the Inspectorate’s findings, despite how much work staff have put into making continual improvements across the service since the last inspection.

“It’s important our local communities know and have confidence the service will respond to them in an emergency.

“However, the Inspectorate has highlighted areas for improvement and the authority and I will continue to work

Bath Rugby Saturday 9th December – 3.15pm Bath Rugby v Ulster Rugby (Home) Investec Champions Cup – R1 Saturday 16th December – 8pm Bath Rugby v Cardiff Rugby (Away) Investec Champions Cup – R2

Bath Rugby Ladies Chief Fire Officer Simon Shilton | Photo © Avon Fire & Rescue Service

with the chief fire officer and the service to ensure pace of positive change, working together to ensure the necessary improvements and progress are made and reported on.”

CFO Shilton said cultural challenges were also being addressed, including leadership training and an external review into the handling of past staff complaints, grievances and discipline cases.

He said: “We recognise there is more work to do and, while we may not be able to fix the past, we are focused on improving current staff experiences and ensuring a supportive and inclusive organisation where our staff can thrive – and one where we maintain the public’s confidence in us as a service.

“As an organisation, we are truly committed to continuous improvement and to be there for you, our local communities, as and when you need us most.

“We have made, and continue to make, significant changes – implementing initiatives, systems and support mechanisms to make our communities safer and make our service stronger.”

AF&RS has drawn up an action plan based on the report’s recommendations.

The report said the organisation had “no response strategy” to fires and other emergencies.

On the mobilisation system, the report said: “We were concerned to hear about a particular ambulance service request for an emergency response to a serious road traffic collision.

“While the fire control operator was recording the information to dispatch resources, the system crashed. This resulted in the fire control operator having to use a different console and restart the whole process as other operators were busy taking other calls.

“These concerns have placed unnecessary stress on fire control

staff. We were told that multiple health and safety ‘near miss’ forms were completed to report this issue as it has adversely affected staff welfare, but these have been overlooked or ignored.

“At the time of our inspection, the service told us that the mobilisation system had crashed or frozen on 20 occasions in the past 12 months.

“But members of staff told us this has happened many more times and some staff have stopped reporting the problem.

“Worryingly, at the time we discovered these problems, they hadn’t been appropriately escalated and prioritised and weren’t on the service’s corporate risk register.

“The service has limited plans in place to address them.”

It said not all incident commanders had been assessed regularly and properly, “so the service can’t assure the public that it can safely, assertively and effectively manage all the incidents it could face”.

The report said firefighters could not always access risk information, including for highrisk, high-rise buildings.

“Concerningly, we were told by firefighters that on one occasion when they were reviewing the risk information on their way to an incident, a completely different building was displayed that had no relevance to the incident they were attending.

“We were also told of an occasion when firefighters attended a fire on a ship. The risk information record said it had two floors and a slated roof, which was clearly inaccurate.

“Concerningly, some operational staff told us it was more of a risk to use the risk information during their response.”

The inspection took place in June and July, and the service will be reinspected next month to review progress.

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Crossword answers - Issue 065 (21/11/23) Across: 8 Athlete, 9 Logical, 10 Wriggled, 11 Engine, 12 Reactor, 13 Usually, 14 Hide, 17 Cleft, 19 Span, 23 Screens, 24 The Ritz, 25 Stumps, 26 Globular, 27 Unarmed, 28 Transit.

Down: 1 Tamworth, 2 Thailand, 3 Reigate, 4 Referral, 5 Somerset, 6 Diagrams, 7 Magnolia, 15 Inciting, 16 Evermore, 17 Canister, 18 Fatality, 20 Painless, 21 Nazareth, 22 Serbian.

Sunday 10th December 1ST XV v Reading Abbey (Away) Sunday 17th December 1ST XV v Beckenham (Home) Sunday 17th December 2ND XV v Gordano (Away) Sunday 17th December 3RD XV v Avonmouth (Away)

Bath City FC Wednesday 6th Dec – 7.45pm Bath City v Yeovil Town (H) Vanarama National League South Saturday 9th Dec – 3pm Bath City v Boreham Wood (H) FA Trophy 3rd Round Saturday 16th Dec – 3pm Bath City v Dover Athletic (A) Vanarama National League South

Get Involved Please send fixtures lists for your team to sport@bathecho.co.uk and we'll add your next event to our sports calendar.

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