Bath Echo - Issue 067 - 19/12/2023

ECHO

Tuesday 19th December 2023 - Monday 1st January 2024

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Issue No. 067

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Photo © Moles / Republic Media

Teen given life sentence for murder of Ben Moncrieff P3

MOLES CLOSES AFTER 45 YEARS

Popular club shuts due to continued rising costs - P3

Start (W3W): stand.never.brass Finish (W3W): basin.change.holly Distance: 1.6 miles Slopes: Some gentle, medium and steep slopes.

Missing out Cork Oak (4) and London Plane (5) would avoid the steepest slopes Steps or Stiles: Steps in The Dell in Royal Victoria Park. To avoid steps, miss out Incense Cedar (12) Terrain: Pavement & unpaved footpath in The Dell Wheel Friendly: Can be if you take a longer route round the back of The Dell to Incense Cedar (11) Transport/Parking: On street parking in Royal Victoria Park. Charlotte Street car park (min 4hrs).

Nearest bus stop - bthjgjw, Marlborough Buildings

Public Toilets: Charlotte Street car park, below Royal Parade Refreshments: Convenience store at start/end of the walk on St James Parade Rest Points: There are many benches along the route in Royal Victoria Park from the Cork Oak (4) through to the Cedar of Lebanon (21) Dog Friendly: Yes Features: Royal Victoria Park and, within it, the Botanical Gardens have many unusual and interesting trees.

Charity calls for “indispensable” bus routes to be reinstated P4

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DRINK & DRUG DRIVING CAMPAIGN UNDERWAY - P2 Inside: More top stories, opinions and what's on + our £20 crossword

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Enjoy a festive walk thanks to Bath Urban Treescape P8

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Map provided by Mapbox & OpenStreetMap

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Drink and drug driving campaign gets underway

In this issue...

Top Stories

Tuesday 19th December 2023 - Monday 1st January 2024

www.bathecho.co.uk

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Pictures from the Past

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Crossword

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Festive Walk

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What's On

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Community

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Health

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Education

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Business

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Politics

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Sports Fixtures

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

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

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

AVON & Somerset Police’s roads policing team will be conducting roadside checks and talking to motorists about the dangers of drink and drug driving as part of an annual campaign.

The Christmas operation, which will run throughout December, will also utilise community intelligence to target drivers potentially under the influence of drink or drugs.

For this reason, the police are urging the public to let them know if they suspect someone may be driving while intoxicated.

Information that police receive from the public is used with Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) and CCTV data to alert offic s to the whereabouts of potential offende s, enabling them to take swift action.

Drink and drug driving was a factor in a third of road traffi collisions in 2021, which involved the deaths of 12 people.

Inspector Rob Barker, Roads Policing Lead at Avon and Somerset Police said: “My message to the public this Christmas is this.

“If you know someone that regularly drinks or takes drugs and gets behind the wheel, then your action- or inaction – could make a real diffe ence to the wellbeing of other road users.

“Your report could prevent serious consequences by

helping us take a dangerous and irresponsible driver off the road before they can cause harm.

“During December, we’ll be actively targeting motorists who pose a risk to others by choosing to drink and drug drive, as well as carrying out proactive stop checks at key roadside locations both day and night.”

Police and Crime Commissioner Mark Shelford added: “It is shocking that despite the well-known risks, individuals continue to make the reckless choice to drink and drug drive, endangering the lives of others.

“As Police and Crime Commissioner; I urge everyone to choose responsibility over recklessness during the festive period and beyond.

“I support this proactive operation to tackle dangerous drivers as every journey should be a safe journey.”

Data from Crimestoppers UK suggests that the public is becoming more inclined to report drink and drug drivers.

Thenational charity, which allows people to report crime 100% anonymously, received more than 34,000 reports between January and September this year about people who regularly drive under the influence of drink and drugs – a 25 per cent increase on the previous year.

In several cases, this information has directly led to an arrest.

Mick Duthie, Director of

Drink and drug driving is being targeted | Photo © Avon & Somerset Police

Operations at Crimestoppers, said: “Tho e under the influence of drink or drugs are far more likely to cause a crash, sometimes with fatal consequences. Many of those drivers regret their behaviour, but by then it’s too late.

“You can help ‘put the brakes’ on regular drink and drug drivers by telling our charity what you know.

Being able to give information anonymously with no comeback is so worthwhile as it helps tackle these kinds of dangerous and criminal behaviours.

“Our charity is here for you 24/7, both online at Crimestoppers-uk. org and on the phone by calling 0800 555 111.

“If you know of someone

involved in drug or drink driving – maybe it’s a friend, neighbour, colleague or family member – it’s better to be safe than sorry. It can save lives and will help make our roads safer for everyone.”

Causing death by careless driving whilst under the influence of drink/drugs carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.

Reports of drink/drug drivers can be made online here or by calling 101.

Alternatively, reports can be made anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 and useful information is available on their website.

If someone is currently driving under the influence of drink or drugs, always call 999.

Newspaper publisher to take over second title THE publisher of the Bath Echo newspaper is set to take over a neighbouring title from January, we are pleased to announce.

The Week In, a weekly print newspaper which covers North East Somerset and East Bristol, will be produced alongside the Bath Echo from 1st January, following the decision by the owner, Stephen Rogers, to retire.

Talks have been ongoing for a number of months over the future of The Week In, and though it will no longer be published in print for the foreseeable future, the team behind the Bath Echo will begin to offer The Week In exclusively

online from 1st January.

Editor Becky Feather will be joining us to continue her work across the North East Somerset and East Bristol region.

The Week In was launched in 2008 and has grown to become a popular free publication, based out of offices in eynsham.

From 1st January 2024, The Week In will have a brand new website, along with an archive of all the stories currently available online, as well as back issues of the print edition.

Sebastian Hawker, editor of the Bath Echo, said: “We're incredibly pleased to be able to offer The Week In a new home, alongside

Affordable advertising for local businesses

the Bath Echo, here at our office in Bath.

“We're looking forward to working with Becky and sharing our resources between the two publications.

“We hope our readers in Bath will

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take the opportunity to find out more about what's happening in the wider region via The Week In, and support us in our expansion.”

Readers of The Week In will be able to access all the latest stories for the area via theweekin.co.uk, on social media and by signing up for daily and weekly emails.

The Bath Echo continues as a fortnightly newspaper, covering Bath and the surrounding area.

A new sales manager will also be joining the company in the new year, working across both the Bath Echo and The Week In titles. Advertising enquiries can be directed to Debbie Wylde via debbie@bathecho.co.uk.

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Mulberry Way, Combe Down, Bath BA2 5BU

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Issue 067

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Your City, Your News - Bath Echo

Nightclub Moles closes its doors after 45 years POPULAR Bath nightclub Moles, which is one of the bestknown grassroots music venues in the country, has closed its doors with immediate eff ct due to rising costs.

Thevenue has fil d for insolvency, stating that a rise in costs and overheads and the impact of the cost-of-living crisis have made it impossible to continue.

All future events have been cancelled, and Moles is now permanently closed.

Since opening its doors on George Street in 1978, Moles earned legendary status hosting and championing live music from acts on both a global and local scale.

Artists including Ed Sheeran, The Killers, Fat Boy Slim, Oasis, Blur, Radiohead, The Smiths and Idles all played at the 220-capacity venue during the early stages of their careers.

Announcing the news Tom Maddicott, co-owner of Moles, said “Making the decision to close Moles was horrendous, but the cost-of-living crisis has crippled us.

“Massively increased costs of stock, utilities and rent compounded by our customers also feeling the impact of the crisis has made it impossible to continue.

“It’s obviously an incredibly difficult decision to have to take, for our team, the staff, the local community, and the artists that over the years have created such an incredible history of music.

“But the reality is that live music at grassroots level is no longer economically viable and we will not be the only grassroots music venue forced to close. The e needs to be a major shake-up of the live industry with the big players supporting the grassroots where it all begins to secure that pipeline of talent.

Co-owner of Moles Tom Maddicott | Photo © Moles / Republic Media

“Football gets it with the Premier League investing millions in the grassroots game each year to bring through new players. The music industry needs to do the same before the entire grassroots sector collapses.”

Grassroots Music Venues are widely acknowledged as the ‘research and development’ department of the music industry. In 2022, the sector subsidised the development of new music by around £79 million and in 2023, that figure has risen to £115 million.

This year over 120 grassroots venues (15%) have closed, with a further 84 currently in crisis.

At least seven new arenas are currently planned in cities across

the UK. Charity Music Venue Trust has been campaigning for the wider live music industry to fi ancially support the grassroots music sector, proposing that every ticket sold at an arena and stadium should make a £1 contribution to its Pipeline Investment Fund, which was launched to help venues like Moles affo d to programme and develop the artists of the future.

Whilst artists Enter Shikari, promoters Cuffe & Taylor, venues Piece Hall and Swansea Arena, and ticketing companies Ticketmaster, Skiddle and Good Show have all pledged support in recent months, the wider industry has been “slow to take

action” and, in some cases, has “actively resisted” involvement.

Mark Davyd, CEO and Founder of Music Venue Trust, said “Today is a very sad day for our sector.

Grassroots Music Venues like Moles – one of the best loved and most effici tly run venues in the country for almost 45 years – have done everything they can to keep afl at, investing every penny they can into trying to fulfil their commitment to live music.

“Venues like these all over the country are going out of business, whilst helping nurture the artists that will go on to generate millions for the broader music industry.

“Put bluntly, they have been badly let down by those who profit from their effo ts. Unless it gets serious about its responsibilities to encourage, nurture and develop the grassroots live sector the music industry as a whole will face a catastrophic failure of artist development.

“In France all major live music events are required to pay 3.5% of each ticket sale into a fund to support grassroots artists and venues. We have today written to the government and to opposition parties to insist that, in the event that the music industry will not act voluntarily, a compulsory levy on every ticket sold for every live music event above 5,000 capacity that takes place in the UK must be introduced by legislation to prevent the devastation of the sector.”

Moles suffe ed a devastating fi e in March 2014, which saw the venue close for more than a year. Following a complete refurbishment, it reopened in November 2015.

A petition has been launched calling for the venue to be supported to reopen, which has already attracted over 3,500 signatures.

News in Brief New fi efig ter joins Bath's fi e station A new fi efighter has been welcomed at Bath’s fi e station after he graduated alongside his fellow recruits following the successful completion of an intensive 13-week course.

Firefighter Jacob Prescott will be joining his colleagues in Bath helping to keep the local community safe.

To mark the end of the recruits’ course, an offi al ceremony was held at Avon Fire & Rescue Service’s training centre at Severn Park, Avonmouth. A cohort of ten trainee fi efighters showcased their newly learned skills during the event, demonstrating the training they have acquired throughout their rigorous fi efighting course.

AF&RS Chief Fire Office Simon Shilton said: “I’m thrilled to be welcoming ten new fi efighters into our Service who are committed to making a diffe ence in their communities. I hope that each of you will enjoy long and happy careers as fi efighters.

Thank you for all your work so far.

“It’s great to see the future of Avon Fire and Rescue Service being secured with new talent and skills to deliver our services to the community.”

Guide Dogs appeals for volunteer puppy raisers Charity Guide Dogs has launched a local appeal for new volunteers to sign up as puppy raisers and join its team.

Volunteers will look after future guide dogs for the fi st year of their lives, socialising them and giving them a loving home. If you are interested in findi g out more, visit the Guide Dogs UK website (https://bit.ly/3uUwzaJ) or call the volunteering team on 0345 143 0191.

Teen given life sentence for murder of Bath's Ben Moncrieff A TEENAGER from south London has been handed a life sentence for the murder of 18-year-old Ben Moncrieff in the centre of Bath earlier this year.

The 16-year-old, who can’t be legally named as he is a juvenile, stabbed Ben once during the early hours of Saturday 6th May. Tragically Ben died of his injuries at the scene in the Southgate area of the city, despite the effo ts of medics and passers-by trying to help.

The teenage offender was found guilty of murder after a trial in October and was remanded ahead of sentencing on Wednesday 6th December.

He was given a life sentence with a minimum 15 year term at Bristol Crown Court.

His Honour Judge Peter Blair KC said that given the devastating impact on Ben’s family and friends and the communities of Bath, no sentence could be considered long enough.

He stressed that the defendant had gone out with a knife, while Ben’s hands were empty.

Ben’s mother Sharon Hendry read an emotional personal statement to the court.

She said: “Ben fill d our home with his friends, laughter, and made our home a happy place, full of life.”

She described him getting ready and going for a rare night out with his girlfriend and then rushing to his side after getting the call that he had been stabbed.

Sharon said: “I did not have the chance to hold Ben and tell him how much I love him. I was too late, I couldn’t comfort Ben. A mum’s worst nightmare.

“Ben’s room stays just as he left it … I go into Ben’s room every day to think of the memories that I have.”

She described seeing Ben in the mortuary and the ongoing physical and mental impact of her loss, adding “I feel totally destroyed and now have a life

sentence without Ben.” Senior Investigating Office Mark Newbury said: “Ben was tragically in the wrong place at the wrong time. He was an innocent man trying to defend a friend when he was stabbed and killed.

“Thedefendant made a conscious decision to take a knife with him that day and attack a defenceless young man.

“It was a decision that has cost him his freedom, but more importantly one person’s life.

“The murder investigation that followed involved a large amount of police resources from across all directorates and we are pleased to have secured Ben’s loved ones the answers to the questions they so richly deserved. The courage his friends and family have shown ever since Ben’s death has been quite incredible and I want to personally thank them for the support they have shown us.

“Today may see the end of the court process, but their grief and pain remains raw.”

Ben was fatally stabbed in the city centre | Photo provided by Ben’s family

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Tuesday 19th December 2023 - Monday 1st January 2024

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Volunteers pack festive gifts for those in hospital this Christmas

Residents urged to support Bath Foodbank

A TEAM of volunteers came together on 25th and 26th November to prepare more than 1,300 gifts, goodies and activities for young people who are staying in mental health hospitals.

The packing day, at St Mary’s Catholic Church Hall on Julian Road, was organised by Bath-based charity Christmas For CAMHS, who have been organising gifts for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services units across the country for the past eight years.

The project was launched after charity trustee Dr Rosanna Bevan’s saw that young people in mental health units rarely receive donations, unlike their counterparts in hospital for physical ailments who often receive gifts.

Tho e taking part included volunteers from Goodgym Bath, students from the University of Bath and Bath Spa University, and residents who saw the appeal for help in the Bath Echo.

PEOPLE are being urged to do what they can to ensure no child goes hungry this Christmas by donating to Bath Foodbank.

With the cost of living taking a bite out of families’ Christmas budgets, foodbanks across the country are bracing for their worst winter yet.

More than 2,200 people are likely to need the support of Bath Foodbank between December and February, a third of which are expected to be children, according to the Genesis Trust.

This will mean around 1,100 food parcels need to be distributed, while, nationwide, 600,000 people are expected to use foodbanks during the winter months.

West of England Metro Mayor Dan Norris says he is hoping to ride a tide of festive goodwill and boost foodbanks’ stocks in the run-up to Christmas.

It comes as Bath Foodbank has revealed its Christmas shopping list to help feed the growing number of people in the city

People spent their weekend pulling together special boxes containing an individual gift for each young person to keep, as well as some small fi get toys, a gift for their ward, such as a board game or art equipment, a wellbeing advent calendar, decorations to make the wards feel festive and some activities to do together, such as colouring-in paper chains.

The gifts were made possible by kind donations from members of the public, who bought gifts from an Amazon WishList or made a fi ancial donation via JustGiving.

The charity has so far hit 20% of its fundraising target this year.

Volunteer packer Claire said: “I was grateful to have the opportunity to feel I was contributing towards making Christmas for those young people not with their families a little happier.

“I also thoroughly enjoyed meeting lots of new people whilst having fun getting the parcels together!”

Rosanna, a Bathonian who cofounded Christmas for CAMHS, added: “We are so grateful to our volunteer elves for all the time and effo t they put in this weekend to make young people feel thought about and special at a tricky time of year to be in hospital.

“We’re delighted that we will be able to reach every CAMHS unit across the country this year, thanks to the generous support of the public. We’re hoping to hit 100% of our fundraising target by Christmas Day!” Speaking last year, Alicia, deputy ward manager of a CAMHS ward, said: “It’s not the gift itself, necessarily, it’s that young people are being thought about, and that people who they’ve never met are sending them gifts to make them feel more joy at Christmas… to recognise that people are caring about them and thinking about them, and that’s really important.”

You can donate to fundraising appeal via JustGiving at https:// bit.ly/3NphfJF

struggling to make ends meet.

Christmas puddings, mince pies and chocolate boxes are just some of the festive treats people are being asked to donate, alongside other urgently needed items including tinned tomatoes.

Charities like Bath Foodbank need food supplies all year round, Mayor Norris added, saying that donations beyond Christmas, especially in January and February, when foodbanks typically receive fewer items, are crucial too.

Dan Norris said: “Thank you to everyone working so hard this Christmas at foodbanks up and down the West of England, and to all those donating food.

“Foodbanks are not the answer in the long term, but with the ongoing cost-of-living crisis, they need our support more than ever.

“Families up and down Bath and NE Somerset are grappling with ever rising costs – including keeping themselves and their loved ones warm. But hunger shouldn’t be part of this struggle.”

Charity calls for “indispensable” bus routes to be reinstated John Wimperis

Local Democracy Reporter

AGE UK has called for “indispensable” local bus routes which have been cut after losing local government support to be brought back.

The charity, which campaigns on issues such as poverty and loneliness among older people, called for West of England Metro Mayor Dan Norris to work with it on creating a bus service that worked for older people.

It warned: “The current system is at risk of further isolating vulnerable groups.”

In a letter to Mr Norris, the chief executives of the Bath and North East Somerset, North Somerset, Bristol, and South Gloucestershire branches of Age UK expressed their “collective concern” and called for “a more balanced approach to the provision of public transport within our region”.

Bus routes which are vital for communities but are not profit ble for bus companies to run have long been fi ancially supported by local authorities, with the arrangement in the West of England being that the constituent councils pay a transport levy to the Metro Mayor who uses it to pay for the routes.

After a funding row between the Metro Mayor and the councils over who should fund the buses, the combined authority announced at the start of the year that 42 buses would be cut across the West of England.

In rural North East Somerset (one of the hardest hit areas), many villages have been left without

buses. The Chew Valley was left with just one bus, the 672 into Bristol, until this was also cut.

The situation has left people in rural communities, and particularly the older generation, isolated.

Marion Harrington, 90, lives in Paulton and, after her bus into Midsomer Norton was cut, said: “We haven’t got the freedom we want.”

In their letter to Mr Norris, the Age UK bosses warned: “Supported bus routes are indispensable, providing reliable access to healthcare, social engagements, and essential services for our older residents and those facing the greatest inequalities in our communities.

“Th y extend beyond mere transport services, acting as lifelines that foster inclusivity and enable fuller participation in community life.”

The cuts came as the West of England received £57m of Bus Service Improvement Plan funding from the government, which was used to fund the birthday bus pass scheme and the WESTlink demand-responsive bus service.

In their letter, Age UK said: “The birthday bus pass scheme by the West of England Combined Authority, alongside the recent introduction of the WESTlink service, represents innovative steps toward boosting passenger numbers and enhancing connectivity in rural and remote areas. However, the initial challenges faced by the WESTlink service, particularly the reported unavailability of minibuses and accessibility of the app, highlight the essential role that supported bus routes and community

Age UK has called for bus routes across Bath and North East Somerset to be reinstated

transport play in our public transportation ecosystem.”

The letter added: “The birthday bus scheme, while catchy, may not adequately address the core transportation needs of many of our residents, especially when compared to the benefits derived from supported bus routes and community transport initiatives.

“The essence of public transportation is to provide reliable, accessible, and inclusive services to all, particularly those facing the greatest barriers.

“We urge the West of England Combined Authority to prioritise and re-allocate adequate funding to supported bus routes and community transport, alongside further exploration and refineme t of innovative schemes like the WESTlink service.

“A balanced, well-funded public transportation system comprising these elements is pivotal for fostering a vibrant, inclusive, and accessible community.”

Bath and North East Somerset Council, whom Mr Norris accused of being “deceptive” and “mean-spirited”, had called on Mr Norris to use some of the Bus Service Improvement Plan funding from the government to pay for the routes, but Mr Norris insisted it was the council’s responsibility to pay for the buses and he was only allowed to spend funding on “new and innovative schemes.”

The government has since indicated that some of the money can be used for supported buses.

At a West of England Combined Authority committee meeting in

October, Mr Norris set out a plan to spend £1.1m of the funding on supported services but vetoed a plan by council leaders to restore buses using £7m of leftover funding from the birthday bus scheme.

Sisters Margaret Dando, 80, and Janet Stevens, 88, live in Paulton, and were at a protest outside the meeting.

Ms Dando said she relied on the 82, which came to the estate she lives on, to visit her disabled son in Midsomer Norton and now she has to walk further to the next bus. Speaking before the weather got colder, she said: “We are lucky at the moment. Janet’s 88. We can just about manage to walk down to the bus stop at the moment. But it takes us about 1520 minutes to do so. We won’t be able to do that in the winter.”

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NHS action to cause signifi ant disruption

Vacant retail units being offe ed to independent businesses

Photo © RUH

RESIDENTS across the Bath area are being warned about significa t disruption in the NHS in the run-up to Christmas and in the New Year due to industrial action.

To help relieve pressure and support frontline teams working over the festive period, people are being asked to only visit hospital in the event of a genuine, life-threatening emergency.

Junior doctors at the Royal United Hospital in Bath will fi st walk out for three days between 7am on Wednesday 20th and 7am on Saturday 23rd December.

This will then be followed by a longer period of strike action, which is set to begin at 7am on Wednesday 3rd and run until 7am on Tuesday 9th January.

During these times, urgent and emergency services will be severely stretched, and the wait for care may be signifi antly longer than usual.

Many routine appointments and pre-planned appointments are also likely to be postponed, with aff cted patients being contacted directly.

Dr Jon Westbrook, Chief Medical Offic , said: “We are expecting the Christmas period to be very busy, during a time when our services will be impacted by industrial action.

“That’s why we are asking local people to help us by choosing the right place for their care needs before coming to hospital.

“Over Christmas, we will need to prioritise those in a more serious or life-threatening condition, which is why we’re asking people to only dial 999 in an emergency and use NHS 111 for non-lifethreatening care, as well as local pharmacies and GPs. “Anyone with an appointment should continue to attend as planned, unless contacted directly.”

NHS 111 will be open throughout the Christmas and New Year period, with people able to use both the telephone and online services to get rapid medical assistance at home, such as how to treat minor illnesses and where to go for further care.

A small number of pharmacies will be open on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day for any people in need of an emergency prescription, urgent advice on medicine or a confide tial consultation for a minor health concern.

Opening times for all of the region’s pharmacies, including those staying open on the bank holidays, can be found online using the Find a Pharmacy tool at www.nhs.uk.

The new ‘Studio 22’ pop-up on New Bond Street | Photo courtesy of B&NES Council

A NUMBER of retail spaces within the Old Post Office building in the centre of Bath are being made available for local businesses to rent while work to redevelop the Fashion Museum continues.

Bath & North East Somerset Council has brought three retail units on the ground fl or of the building up to standard for independent traders to occupy, thanks to funding from the West of England Combined Authority.

A further unit has been redeveloped for use as a base for Milsom Quarter Regeneration and pop-up space.

The use of the various spaces comes ahead of the relocation of the Fashion Museum Bath and is part of the council’s Milsom Quarter Masterplan, a 20-year vision to transform the Milsom Quarter area of Bath into a fashion destination that will attract creative industries to the region.

Local independent businesses are invited to express an interest in renting the spaces and the council is especially encouraging occupiers with fashion and design at the core of their business who are local to the area.

The rental income generated will directly support the future redevelopment of the building.

Small local traders, designers, makers, artists and charities can hire 22c New Bond Street named ‘Studio 22’.

The space follows on from the council’s previous project at 15 New Bond St and can be used for weekend pop-ups, with council teams using the space on weekdays to offer residents and businesses easy access to key information.

The ‘Meanwhile Uses’ project has been funded by the West of England Combined Authority for delivery of the Milsom Quarter.

It builds on the success of the High Street Renewal Programme

which has brought events, art and street dressing and street furniture to the Milsom Quarter.

Councillor Paul Roper, cabinet member for Economic and Cultural Sustainable Development, said: “It’s excellent to see these spaces brought back to a standard where they can be used again, as we work to redevelop the Fashion Museum Bath.

“We are committed to reanimating this area of the city and want to provide an opportunity for independent businesses to expand the retail offe ing for residents and visitors.

“We particularly welcome interest from occupiers who align with our aims to make Milsom Quarter a fashion and design destination for the South West.”

Anyone wishing to enquire about hiring Studio 22 as a three-day pop-up space is invited to email HighStreet_Renewal@bathnes. gov.uk.

COLUMN | Councillor Kevin Guy, Leader of Bath & North East Somerset Council

I

N my last column of the year, I would like to thank everyone who has contributed to their community in 2023.

I am proud of our active and engaged communities, whether that is people volunteering, taking part in a public consultation, or simply being a good neighbour.

A big thank you also to council staff, who work hard to improve people’s lives, and to staff in our partner organisations.

Working with local communities is vital to achieving the council’s aims. We will continue to work with and listen to local people in 2024, for example through our Liveable Neighbourhoods programme.

In addition, I was especially pleased to learn Weston All Saints Primary School and Chew Stoke Church School have been

recognised for their School Travel Plans under a national scheme called Modeshift STARS. Well done to all involved.

As well as supporting sustainable transport, we want to help our local economy thrive. It was great walking through the city centre and seeing our fantastic Bath Christmas Market in full swing, as well as the new businesses that have opened recently.

We have brought three retail units on the ground fl or of the Old Post Offic building on New Bond Street up to standard for independent traders to occupy, with funding from the West of England Combined Authority.

The council will continue to do everything it can to ensure that our city and town centres fl urish in 2024.

Although this time of the year is

one for refl ction, I would like to update you on some important things that have been happening in the council.

Across Bath & North East Somerset we have hundreds of long-term empty properties where second homeowners currently avoid contributing to council tax and therefore council services. So, at a recent Council meeting I was extremely pleased to see a unanimous vote on proposals to change this. This means that from April 2025, second homeowners with longterm empty properties in our area will have to pay a 100 per cent council tax premium.

The council has taken this action following a new law which has given local authorities the ability to increase council tax by 100 per cent on homes which are

kept substantially furnished but are only occupied periodically with no one resident for council tax purposes.

I hope this decision will encourage much-needed properties back onto the market by discouraging second home ownership. For those who choose to own second homes, it means that they make a higher contribution to vital local services at a time when our budgets are under severe pressure, as with so many other councils.

Bath & North East Somerset Council has managed its fi ances very capably and cautiously, with well controlled spending and no high-risk investments.

Despite that, as with other councils, we face big challenges

due to reduced government funding and pressures on key services such as children’s services.

As I write, we are working up our budget proposals. I am confide t that we will be able to continue supporting the most vulnerable and delivering on our priorities.

While many are out enjoying this time of year, for others it is especially challenging. If you or anyone you know is concerned about someone they have seen sleeping rough, please use the StreetLink website or call 0300 500 0914 so that the person can be connected with local support.

If the person is under 18, please contact the police.

A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

P6

Tuesday 19th December 2023 - Monday 1st January 2024

www.bathecho.co.uk

Pictures from the Past Christmas Past IN the run-up to Christmas, we at Akeman Press Towers have dug into the archive to fi d some wintry pictures from years past.

First is a snowy scene of North Parade Bridge , with the buildings of North Parade to the left, Terrace Walk ahead and, to the right, the Abbey looming up into a menacing sky. But what date is the picture?

It could easily be as late as about 1930, for the tolls and gates were not removed until then. The toll-house, near where the men are standing, was, for a time, converted to an electricity substation, but at present its function is unknown – if indeed it now has one.

Just under 15 years ago, a gentleman called Geoff ey Hiscocks asked if we would be interested in seeing some of his Bath photographs, which he had been taking since he was a young man. Of course we said yes, and his excellent and

interesting views of Bath in the 1960s have often featured in our books. This is one of them, taken at an early stage in the terrible winter of 1962-3 when, as can be seen here, the river froze over. The snow began falling during the evening of Boxing Day and subsequent days brought blizzards.

The snow did not go until March and was followed by fl ods.

Move on just over 20 years and there was more heavy snow. This photograph taken from the Warminster road in 1984 shows Grosvenor Place in the middle, with St

Saviour’s church behind and a panorama of snowy hillsides forming the backdrop to this chilly scene.

Finally, we have a photograph of the Kennet & Avon Canal taken by Andrew Swift as he wandered with his camera through a snowy Sydney Gardens in 2013.

So will we be dreaming of a White Christmas in 2023? The Meteorological Offic suggests not. With an increasingly warming world, these scenes of a winter wonderland may become increasingly rare.

Above: A snowy North Parade Bridge

Below: Looking out from Warminster Road in 1984

Above: The frozen River Avon

Below: A snowy Sydney Gardens in 2013

Kirsten Elliott Akeman Press

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year Supporting businesses across Bath throughout 2023. Find out more about how we can support you in 2024!

Graphic Design • Branding • Websites • Social Media Management • Advertising & More Email studio@mediabath.co.uk or give us a call on 01225 585085 to get your next project started

MediaBath

Issue 067

P7

Your City, Your News - Bath Echo

Crossword

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

Complete our crossword for your chance to win £20!

Across 1 Without exception (2,1,3) 5 Crossword with no clues (8) 9 Good for you (10) 10 Chancel wear (4) 11 Geological faults (5) 12 Impressive array (7) 15 Vulnerable (3,2,1,4) 16 Free from bias (4) 18 Corporate big wheels (1,1,2) 20 Stage illuminators (10) 22 Country on Lake Tanganyika (7) 24 Edge of a precipice (5) 27 Angler's decoy (4) 28 Firm which makes Up! (10) 29 Arrogant, presumptuous people (8) 30 Overnight flight (3-3

Down 2 Hold on ... (3,6) 3 Good conductor, perhaps (7) 4 Diamond songwriter (4) 5 Flake (4) 6 Common currency in New York, for example (6,4) 7 Disappear slowly (4,3) 8 Insurgent (5) 13 Disregarded for promotion (6,4) 14 Largest of the Lesser Sunda Islands (5) 17 With great concentration (9) 19 Used TNT to blow up a scholar (7) 21 Floral wreath (7) 23 Wrongfully appropriate (5) 25 Looked up to in Switzerland (4) 26 Nicholas II was the last (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 1912, Bath Echo, PO Box 5395, Bath, BA1 0YA The winner will be the fi st randomly opened entry with the correct answers on 28/12/2023.

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Lucy Bartlett, Fiona Bell, Antonia Johnson, Joseph Lavington, Helen Schofield, Hugh Williamson with support from: Thank you to all those who have helped us from pilot to production:

Activities

ritage City of Bath chitects, Bath BID, ty of Bath hotel, est, Forest of uncil Public Health.

Bath attri the sign whic stat

h Lavington, Helen

pilot to production:

Tree Trail A: Botanical Bounty

3 and map form,Corylus where wecolurna share a selection of trees branchlets. First identified Fagus sylvatica around beautiful parkland.

We invite to follow our from fossil record and known ‘Aspleniifolia’ Royal Victoria Park,you near the shapesgate and colours of each tree as - the dawn redwood.

Royal Victoria Park trail and enjoysouthern of Botanical seeds, leaves and bark – and learn Botanical Garden their flowers, fruits, Garden

something about each one, while seeing

the city2 from a different perspective.

Activity A digital map is available at:

bathurbantreescape.com

Western Red Cedar

Thuja plicata Royal Victoria Park Great Dell

on as many e for each er to take a

Champion

Activity 1

Paper mulberry

Broussonetia papyrifera Royal Victoria Park Botanical Garden

A fine mature example of this now-popular street tree.

Turkish hazel generally grows as a single-stemmed tree.

Stand under the tree and look up into the intricate branch structure.

18

English Oak

Quercus robur Royal Victoria Park, on lawn North of duck pond Activity 3

11

Coast Redwood

Sequoia sempervirens Royal Victoria Park Great Dell

A native tree of Pacific NW and with its thick basal bark, the incense cedar is one of the most fire and drought tolerant plants in California.

This particiular tree is a Champion in the National Tree Register. The wood is soft, light and has a pleasant odour.

13

21

Crunch-leaf beech

Fagus sylvatica ‘Cristata’ Royal Victoria Park Botanical Garden

Some trees are dioecious, where male and female flowers occur on separate trees. This tree is from China and is a female tree. Its flowers look like little green balls - if pollinated they become orange ones. The silky fibres of the bark can be made into paper and cloth.

16

Ginkgo

Ginkgo biloba Royal Victoria Park Botanical Garden

22

A wonderful straight-grown example of the English Oak, probably the finest in Bath.

From its circumference about 4.3m - it may well be over 200 years old, and therefore here before Royal Victoria Park was laid out (1830).

19

Swamp cypress, Dawn Redwood

Taxodium distichum, Metasequoia glyptostroboides Royal Victoria Park, near duck pond Sequoia sempervirens, or coast redwood, is the sole living species of its genus. It is an evergreen, monoecious tree living 1,200–2,200 years or more. The giant redwood, specimens of which can be seen on the N Carriage Drive, is among the tallest, widest, and longest-lived

Aesculus indica Royal Victoria Park, Southern Carriage Drive

2

One of the finest specimen trees to be seen in our parks; this enormous beech has finely cut leaves, sometimes almost to wisps.

Many trees have odd forms that occur spontaneously, and are then spotted and carefully cultivated; this tree is a very different native beech variation. Each leaf looks like it’s been crunched.

A pair of trees. The righthand one is female; watch out in the autumn for its fruit, which are seriously stinky as the flesh rots. The nut inside is prized by the Chinese. The leaves are very primitive and have no veins.

ba

Indian Horse Chestnut

1

Calocedrus decurrens ‘Aureovariegata’ Royal Victoria Park Great Dell

Just behind the cedar, this tree comes from Chile. Note the characterful bark, with the scars where whorls of branches have fallen away.

When Harry Veitch, the man who founded the Chelsea Flower Show, first saw one of these trees he exclaimed, “That would puzzle a monkey!”

20

A di

e tree and draw

Betula pendula Royal Victoria Park

he branches. to encircle this

Silver birch

17 Turkish Fern-leaved irregularly along the twigs.

Here is one of our Urban Treescape trails in digital Metasequoia has opposite Beech Hazel

Varigated Incense Cedar

6

Repeated alternate planting 8 along the carriage drive of two different oak species; there are over 400 species worldwide. The Turkey oak is deciduous, the holm oak is evergreen. These probably date from the early years of the Park in the early 19th century, getting on for 200 years ago.

Bath is a UNESCO World Heritage City with six attributes of Outstanding Universal Value, including the green setting of the city. There are many significant trees – in the parks and in the streets – which contribute indirectly to the World Heritage status and the wellbeing of the community.

Here and arou trail thei som the

rite down 20

12

14

15

The London Plane was the world’s first intercontinental hybrid, its parents being from SE Europe and North 19 America. Here they are planted to line the path; Planted, appropriately, for in places they have grown 20 the Queen’s Silver Jubilee wider than the metal by the Grenadier Guards handrail, and the trunk bulges up around it. The tree Association. Silver birches are short lived and fast is encountering resistance, growing. They can withstand so puts on extra growth as intense cold and drought protection. conditions so make good street planting. The beautiful 6 Buckeye bark has been used for Aesculus flava bandages in the past.

Allotments opposite Approach Golf Course

A young and healthy tree.

Walnuts are not native to Map provided by Mapbox & OpenStreetMap Britain, but have long been grown here - perhaps first by the Romans. As well as providing fruit, walnut timber is more valuable than any other grown in Britain.

.

7

9

50m

Treescape

21

London Plane

18

Juglans regia Approach Golf Course

Monkey Puzzle

Araucaria araucana Royal Victoria Park Great Dell

8

Common Walnut

Urban

4 Earth. of all organisms on The coast redwood has evergreen leaflets, somewhat like a yew tree, and small cones. There are three coast redwoods in the Dell. The first can be seen from above from the raised boardwalk.

The trunks of the other two can be seen on the path after the incense cedar.

13

17

3

Bath

21

This young tree may be a11rather tatty evergreen, but it has amazing bark. In southern Spain and Portugal 10 bark is carefully the cork 9 stripped from mature trees on a 9 year cycle to make bottle stoppers and much more.

14

Tr Bo

22

10

15

The Indian Bean Tree doesn’t come from India but from N America. Its showy summer flowers are followed by seed pods that look like skinny beans.

Try out these activity ideas for all ages on as many trees as you wish. A recommended tree for each activity is listed below. Please remember to take a notebook and pencil.

8

Public Toilets: Charlotte Street car park, below Royal Parade Refreshments: Convenience store at start/end of 6 the walk on18 St James Parade Rest Points: There are many benches along the route in Royal Victoria Park from the Cork Oak (4) through to the Cedar of Lebanon (21) 19 Dog Friendly: Yes Features: Royal Victoria Park and, within it, 20 the Botanical Gardens have many unusual and interesting trees.

7

It has grown out and layered Yellow 50m flowering horse its stems, so become a chestnut from N America Maponto provided

by Mapbox & OpenStreetMap grove of at least 17 trunks. grafted ‘common’ horse 22 Crush a little of the foliage chestnut halfway up the and you might detect a trunk. The buckeye is the 5 fruity, pineappley smell. The state tree of Ohio.

Great Dell was originally a stone quarry. In about 1840, 7 Turkey Oak and Holm Oak exhausted of building stone, it was incorporated into Quercus cerris, Quercus the Park and planted with ilex conifers, many of which Royal Victoria Park were newly arrived from the Americas.

Quercus suber Approach Golf Course

16

Look up into the branches of the tree and draw the spaces you can see.

Recommended for tree: 10

Cork Oak

Platanus × hispanica Approach Golf Course

1

17

20

5

2

16

Map provided by Mapbox & OpenStreetMap

Catalpa bignoniodes St James’s Square

1 2

50m

Indian Bean Tree

8

15

Start (W3W): stand.never.brass 10 12 9 Finish (W3W): basin.change.holly Distance: 1.6 miles 13 Slopes: Some gentle, medium and steep slopes.

Missing out Cork Oak (4) and London Plane (5)14 15 would avoid the steepest slopes Steps or Stiles: Steps in The Dell in Royal Victoria 16 Park. To avoid steps, miss out Incense Cedar (12) Terrain: Pavement &17 unpaved footpath in The Dell Wheel Friendly: Can be if you take a longer route round the back of The Dell to Incense Cedar (11) 18 Transport/Parking: On street parking in Royal Victoria Park. Charlotte Street car park (min 4hrs).

Nearest bus stop - bthjgjw, Marlborough Buildings 19

2

Feel the bark. Look up through the branches.

How many people do you need to encircle this tree’s trunk?

Recommended for tree: 14 6

13

11

Enormous specimen with wonderful green and orange tulip-shaped flowers in June, followed by stiff upright cone-shaped seedpods It is related to the magnolia and was on the planet before there were flying12insects.

Pollinated by beetles - so the petals have to be strong enough to take their weight.

Listen carefully under a tree. Write down 20 sounds you can hear.

Recommended for tree: 18

5

bathurbantreescape.com

Liriodendron tulipifera St James’s Square

7

3

14

4

3

4

10

aw

9

A digital map is available at:

Tulip Tree

Bathscape Landscape Partnership, the World Heritage City of Bath Advisory Group, Grant Associates Landscape Architects, Bath BID, Bath Festivals, St John’s Foundation, the APEX City of Bath hotel, Southside Family Project, Youth Connect South West, Forest of Imagination and Bath & North East Somerset Council Public Health.

1

11

12

.

3

5

2

Here is one of our Urban Treescape trails in digital and map form, where we share a selection of trees around beautiful parkland. We invite you to follow our trail and enjoy the shapes and colours of each tree their flowers, fruits, seeds, leaves and bark – and learn something about each one, while seeing the city from a different perspective.

1

Map and website designed by Joseph Lavington.

4

Public Toilets: Charlotte Street car park, below Royal Parade Refreshments: Convenience store at start/end of the walk on St James Parade Rest Points: There are many benches along the route in Royal Victoria Park from the Cork Oak (4) through to the Cedar of Lebanon (21) Dog Friendly: Yes Features: Royal Victoria Park and, within it, the Botanical Gardens have many unusual and interesting trees.

is

Start (W3W): stand.never.brass Finish (W3W): basin.change.holly Distance: 1.6 miles Slopes: Some gentle, medium and steep slopes.

Missing out Cork Oak (4) and London Plane (5) wouldWorld avoid the steepestCity slopes Bath is a UNESCO Heritage with six Steps or Stiles: Steps in The Dell in Royal Victoria attributes of Outstanding Universal Value, including Park. To avoid steps, miss out Incense Cedar (12) the green setting of the city. There arefootpath many in The Dell Terrain: Pavement & unpaved Wheel Friendly: Can be if you take a longer significant trees – in the parks and in the streets route – round the back of The Dell to Incense Cedar (11) which contribute indirectly to the World Heritage Transport/Parking: On street parking in Royal status and theVictoria wellbeing of the community.

Park. Charlotte Street car park (min 4hrs).

Nearest bus stop - bthjgjw, Marlborough Buildings

n

Tree Trail A: Botanical Bounty

on:

Treescape

Explore the area with this walking trail, kindly provided by Bath Urban Treescape

th D,

Festive Walk Urban

th.

Bath

P8

Start (W3W): stand.never.brass Public Toilets: Charlotte Street car park, below Finish (W3W): basin.change.holly Royal Parade Distance: 1.6 miles Refreshments: Convenience store at start/end of the walk on St James Parade Slopes: Some gentle, medium and steep slopes.

Rest Points: There are many benches along the Missing out Cork Oak (4) and London Plane (5) would avoid the steepest slopes route in Royal Victoria Park from the Cork Oak (4) 19th December 2023 - Monday 1st January 2024 Tuesday www.bathecho.co.uk Steps or Stiles: Steps in The Dell in Royal Victoria through to the Cedar of Lebanon (21) Park. To avoid steps, miss out Incense Cedar (12) Dog Friendly: Yes Terrain: Pavement & unpaved footpath in The Dell Features: Royal Victoria Park and, within it, Wheel Friendly: Can be if you take a longer route the Botanical Gardens have many unusual and round the back of The Dell to Incense Cedar (11) interesting trees.

Transport/Parking: On streetTreescape parking in Royal group is offering wo guided winter tree walks during the Bath Wellbeing Festival (24/1 - 18/2) The Urban Victoria Park. Charlotte Street car park (min 4hrs).

Nearest bus stop - bthjgjw, Marlborough Buildings

This horse chestnut is native to the Himalayas. Compared to our ‘common’ one, this has later flowers, and neater, smoother leaves that are unlikely to be affected by the leaf miner that tends to turn its leaves brown.

21

Blue Atlas Cedar, Cedar of Lebanon

Cedrus atlantica, Cedrus libani Royal Victoria Park, near obelisk

Tree Tra Botanic

Here are two of the three cedar species hardy in the UK. They can be difficult to tell apart but generally BathAtlas is a UNESCO cedars have upward pointing attributes of Out tips to their branches, and those of the cedar the of green setting Lebanon are flat. Cedar significant trees cones are like little barrels sitting on the tops which of the contribute branches. status and the w

Caucasian Here is one of ou Elm, Keaki Zelkova carpinifolia, and map form, w Zelkova serrata around beautiful Royal Avenue, east of Marlborough Lanetrail gatesand enjoy th their flowers, frui something about the city from a d 22

A digital map is a

bathurban

Two deciduous conifers, appropriately planted near water. Taxodium has a fluffy look, its branchlets growing

The huge Caucasian elm is growing by the gates. Its relative, the keaki, is amongst other trees on the opposite side of the road.

AUTHORISED DEALER

AUTHORISED DEALER

P10

What's On A Camerata Christmas

Tuesday 19th December 2023 - Monday 1st January 2024

www.bathecho.co.uk

Tuesday 19th December 2023 - Monday 1st January 2024 A Carolean Christmas

Dancing in a Winter Wonderland

The city as it might have been

The Forum 19th December, 7.30pm Strictly legends Janette Manrara & Aljaž Škorjanec are back with a festive song and dance extravaganza. Th y will be dancing all the way to a Winter Wonderland in a brand-new show.

BRLSI 19th December, 7.30pm Timothy Mowl will repeat his controversial and lavishly illustrated lecture on architectural schemes for Bath that were never realised, the subject of his recently published book.

St Michael’s Without 20th December, 7.30pm Following the success of Bath Recital’s 2022 A Carolean Christmas, The Carolean Consort join forces with Noctis Chamber Choir for a Christmas themed concert with seasonal Baroque music.

Santa's Cinema with Elf

Nuttery Tree Planting Day

Carols by Candlelight 2023

Christmas Cabaret

American Museum & Gardens 20th December, 12–4.30pm Come and see Santa at his cinema in the Stables and watch Elf, the movie! Arrive between 12–2pm to meet Santa and take some photos together. Then ettle down to watch the film t 2pm.

Bath City Farm 20th December, 10am–3pm Get out in the fresh air and help plant and stake 25 nut trees on the Farm to increase food production. Donated by the Forest of Avon Trust there will be a mixture of trees.

The Pump Room 21st & 22nd December Bath Bach Choir will delight audiences with seasonal favourites and extra musical treats. This ear the choir will celebrate the 400th anniversary of the deaths of two masters of English music.

Komedia 22nd December, 8.30pm Prepare to witness aerial displays, feats of human grace and the daring antics of scantily clad showgirls. Hear songs from the sultriest of sirens and be entertained by the comedy and cabaret maestros.

The English Wind Consort

Merry Crisp-mas

Candlelight: Vivaldi's Four Seasons

Christmas Silent Disco Walk

Church of Our Lady and St Alphege 22nd December, 7.30pm A Christmas themed programme of music for the season of Advent and Christmas. With music by well known and the more obscure composers of the 16th and 17th Century.

Bath Cider House 22nd December, 12-5pm Bottomless cider and crisps! Bath Cider House are offe ing a very special deal this year: Unlimited crisps to go with your bottomless cider (beer for those non-scrumpers).

The Guildhall 23rd December, 8.30pm Candlelight concerts bring the magic of a live, multi-sensory musical experience to awe-inspiring locations like never seen before in Bath. Get your tickets now to discover the music of Vivaldi.

11a York Street 23rd December, 3-4pm Join Mojo Moves on a Festive Silent Disco walk. Cheryl Sprinkler is a master of (made up) storytelling so be sure to listen out for the hot gossip surrounding some of the most famous pop legends.

Mince Pie Specials

New Year's Eve Party

NYE Black Tie

New Year's Eve Ball

Avon Valley Railway 31st December & 1st January Join us after Christmas for a festive trip onboard one of our heritage trains and enjoy a mince pie served onboard as you travel the line.

Normal fares apply.

Widcombe Social Club 31st December, 8pm Celebrate the New Year in style. Music from the 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s and 21st Century. Free glass of bubbly on arrival and the usual warm and welcoming atmosphere you'd expect.

Bath Abbey 19th December, 7.30pm Bath Camerata welcomes John Rutter to Bath as the conductor of its Christmas Concert! Join us in the beautiful surroundings of Bath Abbey for an uplifting celebration of music.

The Royal Oak 31st December, 7pm Come and drink, have a dance and a jolly good time. We have the fantastic JT playing a massive mix of party tunes.

Expect everything from Wilson Pickett to Frankie goes to Hollywood.

The Roman Baths & Pump Room 31st December, 7pm Immerse yourself in the elegance of the Roman Baths, with a canapé reception lit by fli kering torchlight. Then o upstairs in the Pump Room, for an indulgent four-course menu with wine.

A Wonderfully Wicked Family Panto!

MARTIN DODD for UK PRODUCTIONS in association with THEATRE ROYAL BATH proudly presents

BATH’S FAVOURITE IS BACK!

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Jon Nick Neil Monie McDermott Wilton from HOLLYOAKS

Sarah Jane Buckley as FAIRY SNOWFALL

Maisie Sellwood as PRINCESS ROSE

Pantomime Sponsors

7 December ’23 to 7 January ’24 01225 448844 | theatreroyal.org.uk

P12

Tuesday 19th December 2023 - Monday 1st January 2024

www.bathecho.co.uk

Have Your Say...

A message from the Editor As we finish putting together this issue of the newspaper, our fi al one for 2023, I'd just like to take the opportunity to thank you for your support over the past year.

Whether you're one of our loyal readers, or an advertiser with us, we wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

2024 sees us start a new chapter in our business as we take over neighbouring publication The Week In, and introduce some new people to our team.

It's an exciting time for us, and we're looking forward to

Opinions & Letters ‘Keep your cool’ at Christmas

WHSmith, Bath

as possible and deserve respect.

Talking to our members who work in retail, I know that verbal abuse cuts deep. Many will go home after a shift upset about an unpleasant incident that took place at work that day and worried that it will happen to them again. That is why Usdaw, the shopworkers’ trade union, is asking customers to ‘Keep your Cool’, so that everyone can have a happier Christmas.

Sebastian Hawker Editor, Bath Echo

Dear Editor, The run-up to Christmas is always a really busy time for retail workers, as shoppers can be stressed and things can boil over. The timing of Christmas this year means that we anticipate especially busy stores the week before, culminating in what the retail industry has branded ‘Super Saturday’ on 23 December.

I want to gently ask your readers to remember that shopworkers are people too. Th y will be working really hard to make your shopping experience as enjoyable

played a part in showing how much of a generous spirited, warm-hearted community Peasedown St John is.

Whether that's to a neighbour in need, or a friend down the road, thank you!

The last 12 months have shown just how strong we are as a community when we work together. When we’re united, we can achieve so much more!

We’d like to thank all of those organisations and individuals who have gone above and beyond to serve and support others.

We are hoping that next year will be a much more positive year for us all. Many of our community services have continued to provide opportunities for local people to meet others, such as the village library, the Swallow Cafe at the Hive Community Centre, local sports clubs and faith groups. Plus, the Peasedown Community Trust has been able to provide funding to community groups, individuals and families that have been hit the hardest as the cost of living has increased over the last year.

Peasedown residents will have recently received our Christmas newsletter through your door, which gives an overview of some of the issues we've been pushing forward on their behalf.

If you've not received it yet, it'll be dropping through your letter box over the next few days.

Wishing you the very best this Christmas time.

Dear Editor, Whatever happened to simple “civic pride"?

Whenever I go into WH Smith in Union Street, I feel I have left Bath, with its beautiful Georgian buildings and smart boutique shops and entered a rubbish tip, with dust and detritus all over the stairs and the fl ors.

And I find this is a permanent state of affai s on questioning the staff. I've been told that, quite simply, no cleaners are employed at all by this shop. Can they not affo d a cleaner?

How is that from a company who made a profit last year of £143m, from a turnover of £1.8 billion?

Together with their arrangement with the Post Offic sharing space with them, I would have thought the cost of a cleaner would not be too onerous. I do think this is a poor look for Bath, visitors will not be impressed by such a major store showing not the slightest pride in their appearance.

What's happened to people to think this simply doesn't matter?

continuing to provide the city's top stories, what's on and more for you in the future.

Early next year you'll be treated to a brand new Bath Echo website, and we'll be having a little brand refresh at the same time. Don't worry though, as our content won't be changing too much just getting better.

We hope you have an enjoyable festive season with loved ones and friends, and we'll see you in 2024. Enjoy yourselves!

Paddy Lillis Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers (Usdaw)

Christmas wishes Dear Editor, We’d like to take this opportunity to wish your readers, and in particular those living in Peasedown St John, a Happy Christmas and a peaceful New Year.

2023 has been another challenging year for us all.

Thecost-of-living crisis has meant that we've all had to tighten our belts and watch what we spend.

It's been encouraging to see how we, as a community, have pulled together to support those in need.

Thank you to everyone who has

Cllr Gavin Heathcote and Cllr Karen Walker Independent Councillors, Peasedown St John

Tony Jones Bath Find us on Facebook Just search “Bath Echo”

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Festive Delights

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P18

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Community

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

Bath City Farm scheme awarded £330k of National Lottery funding

Photo courtesy of Bath City Farm

A SUPPORT programme at Bath City Farm is set to receive a £333,000 boost over the next three years thanks to an award from the National Lottery Community Fund.

Roots to Work began as a pilot programme in July 2022 and quickly grew in popularity, reaching out to people who had been socially isolated by the pandemic, have barriers to employment, or those at the beginning of their careers or wanting a career change.

The scheme offe s a placement opportunity for adults over 18 years old who are long-term unemployed, have a mental health concern or a learning disability.

The programme aims to develop people’s skills and confidence in catering, hospitality, retail, ground maintenance, wildlife conservation or horticulture.

Trainees work alongside staff once a week for up to 6 months in either the cafe, community

kitchen, farm gardens or grounds.

During the placement, trainees gain real on the job experience, learn new skills and earn AQA Awards to prove their abilities.

A cafe trainee said: “I began a café work placement in 2023, this is the best thing I have done this year. It has opened up so many other opportunities for me outside of the Farm both socially and personally.

“I now have a job and the confidence to apply for more.

I have felt out of my depth beginning new things outside of the Farm, but have the support from staff at the Farm who encourage me and care.

“It’s quite stressful going through changes and dealing with diffe ent people, but now I am really thankful of having those experiences that taught me how best to adjust, respect boundaries and manage expectations of being in a workplace.”

The new funding from the National Lottery Community

Fund, which distributes money raised by National Lottery players for good causes and is the largest community funder in the UK, will see the project fully funded for three years.

It also gives Bath City Farm the capacity to expand what is offe ed to trainees.

The Roots to Work programme has been able to extend the amount of one-to-one support each trainee receives to ensure their needs are being met, and a suitable onward progression is secured.

Next year the programme will be teaching a City and Guilds in Conservation and plans to encourage students to use their skills to have a positive impact on nature during their career journey.

During the fi st 9 months pilot period, Bath City Farm saw 54 people through the Roots to Work programme. 24% of those successfully gained employment, 33% progressed onto a volunteering role, 15% went on to education and 28% continued on the programme until a suitable progression was found.

Since then, a total of 81 trainees have entered the programme with several new enquiries each week.

Amy, a Roots to Work Coordinator, said: “Here at The Farm we really value our volunteers and trainees, this grant has enabled us to dedicate more time to each person to support them correctly and enable us to help find them meaningful onwards steps.

“We are very grateful to be able to offer uch a bespoke service.”

Electrical safety warning issued to locals

You should check older Christmas lights to ensure they are still safe to use

RESIDENTS are being urged to take extra caution when using electrical devices in the run-up to Christmas, as part of the Electrical Fire Safety Week campaign.

With Christmas rapidly approaching, many people have got their Christmas decorations down from the loft, out from the shed or even headed out to the shops to buy new ones.

Whilst decorating is traditional, it’s important to make sure last year’s decorations have stood the test of time and remain safe to use.

Avon Fire & Rescue Service’s Prevention Manager Nikki Rice said: “We love a bit of recycling, but it’s important to make sure that saving money doesn’t cost you your safety.

“That’s why we’re calling for you to #CheckYourDecs for damage.”

Avon Fire & Rescue has issued the following advice: • Check your Christmas lights and electrical decorations

for damage by inspecting the lights, plug, and connections.

If there is damage, don’t plug them in and dispose of them.

• If you need to use an extension cable, use the shortest one that you can for the purpose and avoid trailing cable across the fl or.

• Avoid using multiway adapters and opt for an extension cable instead.

• Do not plug extension leads into one another. Instead, purchase a longer extension cable for your needs.

• When using an extension lead, make sure it is fully extended or unravelled. This will reduce the risk of it overheating.

• Do not exceed the limit for your extension lead – check it here.

Nikki added: “It’s also important to make sure that your lights are being turned off when you go out or go to bed. Make it part of your nighttime routine to go around and turn off all unnecessary switches.”

Festive toy donation appeal gets underway

Rugby stars switch on Christmas lights at Mulberry Park

STAFF at Bath’s fi e station are once again collecting new toys for families in need across the local area this Christmas.

With many people findi g the festive period difficult, fi efighters from Avon Fire & Rescue wanted to make a diffe ence for families in the Bath community.

The toy collection scheme, which is entering its fourth year of running, has seen over one hundred toys donated by members of the public and fi e service staff.

Staff at the fi e station said: “We’re excited to be working with our local community to once again collect toys for local families this Christmas.

“We recognise it’s been a difficult year for many, including the eff cts of the current Cost of Living Crisis, and we’re determined to do what we can do to support our local community.

A SPECIAL event at Mulberry Park saw the community come together to watch Bath Rugby stars turn on the development’s festive lights.

Miles Reid and Tom Dunn flip ed the switch to illuminate the twinkling Christmas lights at the Curo site in Combe Down.

Families, friends and neighbours gathered around the tree to enjoy mince pies and pizza provided

by The Hub, Mulberry Park’s café and community space.

A snow machine dusted the neighbourhood, transforming it into a winter wonderland.

Following the event, Curo will be giving a special donation to the Bath Rugby Community Foundation. The foundation empowers vulnerable children and young people in Bath and the surrounding area to achieve success.

Jodie Winter, Curo Sales Manager,

“We hope that we can make a diffe ence to those children and families that need it most this Christmas.

“As we did last year, we’ll be asking colleagues and members of the community to donate new toys which we will organise, wrap and label before distributing.”

You can donate a toy at any time to Bath, Weston-super-Mare, Bedminster or Southmead fi e stations and they’ll be distributed to local families.

Miles Reid and Tom Dunn, Curo Head of Construction, Paul Fackrell and Sales Manager, Jodie Winter | Photo © Curo

said: “The Christmas light switch-on marks the start of this special season and is a beautiful moment for the Mulberry Park community. We were thrilled to be joined by Miles and Tom, who helped bring a real sense of

togetherness and holiday spirit.

“Curo is delighted to continue to support the Bath Rugby Community Foundation, which will join us in making a positive impact on the lives of vulnerable people in our community.”

Issue 067

P19

Your City, Your News - Bath Echo

Health AI used to help spot people at risk of emergency admission GP PRACTICES across the South West will soon utilise Artifi ial Intelligence (AI) to help them offer earlier support to people at risk of hospital admission.

The “Brave AI” system, which helps staff to identify vulnerable patients who may otherwise go under the radar, will be rolled out to 30 areas over the next few months.

This follows a successful pilot in care homes in Somerset which reduced resident falls by 35%, attendances to Emergency Departments by 60%, and ambulance call-outs by 8.7%.

By using an algorithm to look for patterns in registered patients’ records, the technology assesses an individual’s risk of unplanned hospital admission in the next year. Integrated neighbourhood teams of nurses, pharmacists, therapists, health coaches, social prescribers and doctors then use the information to reach out to

those in need.

Th y can then offer to put in place personalised support, such as setting up remote health monitors, offe ing apps to selfreport wellbeing, or linking up with voluntary groups or classes to avoid loneliness.

The scheme identifies people who could otherwise have gone unnoticed, such as those without a major diagnosed condition or those who rarely contact their GP. NHS England South West medical director Dr Kheelna Bavalia said: “No one likes going to hospital unexpectedly so it’s much better for everyone if we can make good plans in advance and respond quickly to changes, before emergencies happen.

“Working together as a ‘team of teams’ of health and care professionals is key to helping us support people to stay well at home for longer and ensuring our system is as effici t and eff ctive as possible, particularly in winter

when demand is high.

“It will allow our healthcare professionals to start conversations early so that people can be directly involved in discussions about their care and help healthcare professionals understand what’s important to them.”

NHS national director for transformation, Dr Vin Diwakar, said: “NHS teams around the country are constantly identifying new, innovative digital solutions to help improve patient care, and this expansion of the Brave AI system right across the South West is a signifi ant step forward in providing vital support for those most at risk of hospital admission.

“The e measures not only keep some of the most vulnerable patients out of hospital but encourage conversations with patients who might not otherwise contact their GP, spotting health conditions that might otherwise

Giant flo ers installed at RUH in bid to spread festive cheer

The fl wers in the Children’s Ward garden | Photo © RUH

A BRIGHT art installation has been created in the Children’s Ward garden at the Royal United Hospital to help spread festive cheer among some of the younger patients.

The eye-catching display, which will be in place over Christmas and the New Year, features several giant illuminated lilies and Victoria amazonica fl wer sculptures.

More illuminated fl wers have been installed in the central courtyard, adjacent to the hospital’s Atrium.

Th y have been donated by Jig and Lindsey Cochrane at Fromebased artists studio Jigantics, working alongside the RUH’s inhouse art and design team, Art at

the Heart.

Lindsey proposed the display after visiting the RUH with her son and being impressed with the artwork on show in the garden areas and around the hospital corridors.

Mary McDonagh, Senior Ward Sister, said: “The fl wers look fantastic and are a really welcome addition to the Children’s Ward garden.

“It really helps to brighten up the garden at this time of year and I know that our patients will love the fl wers.

“I’d like to thank Jigantics for the stunning display and for the early Christmas present to our young patients.”

Lindsey said: “The Jigantics team

is thrilled to be able to share the fl wers with everyone at the RUH this winter. Flowers have always been symbols of thought, be it love, empathy, celebration or appreciation, a shared unspoken language.

“Th ough the giant illuminated blooms we aim to make interventions in familiar places that change the viewer’s perspective and experience of that space, whilst igniting feelings of awe, joy, warmth and unity between them. Ultimately creating windows of shared and memorable happiness.

“We are grateful to all those working in the RUH and wish all the patients well and a happy Christmas.”

The system will be used to ensure nobody goes under the radar

go unnoticed and boosting our ability to intervene early when conditions are easier to treat.”

“The latest figures show that hospitals are already under considerable pressure, with 1,200 more patients in hospital than the same time last year and the

re-emergence of winter viruses, so it is vital that we maximise the use of these kinds of tools to cut admissions where we can, while the public play their part by getting their jabs if eligible and using 111 for any non-emergency conditions.”

First non-invasive prostate cancer treatment performed TWO prostate cancer patients have been successfully treated at the Royal United Hospital in Bath thanks to an innovative high-intensity focused ultrasound procedure.

It is the fi st time the HIFU therapy for prostate cancer has been carried out in the region.

RUH Consultant Urologist Lucy Simmons, mentored by worldleading expert Professor Hashim Ahmed of Imperial College, teamed up with pioneering cancer charity Prost8 and The UK Ultrasound Foundation to bring the treatment into the RUH Trust.

The new HIFU unit at the RUH, with equipment funded by Prost8 and the UK Focused Ultrasound Foundation, integrates advanced image-guided capabilities and ultrasound energy to precisely target the prostate without any incisions or radiation, therefore sparing nearby healthy structures.

The partnership highlights the dedication of both organisations to advancing prostate cancer care and reshaping the treatment landscape and options available to men with prostate cancer throughout the UK. RUH Consultant Urologist Lucy Simmons said: “I’m proud to introduce High Intensity Focussed Ultrasound treatment for prostate cancer to the RUH. “The addition of HIFU therapy to our treatment options

Photo © RUH

complements our robotic program and other available treatments.

“Receiving a diagnosis of prostate cancer can be a challenging time for men and their loved ones.

The e are many options for treatment available and not all are suitable for everyone.

“It’s important to note that HIFU will be the right route for some men, but not all.

“Men with newly diagnosed prostate cancer in the region who feel they may be eligible for and interested in pursuing HIFU treatment should speak to their treating clinician and discuss referral for eligibility assessment to Bath.”

Cara Charles-Barks, RUH Chief Executive, said: “Bringing HIFU to the RUH is a brilliant addition to our prostate cancer care delivery, which will benefit some of the people we care for with less invasive procedures and faster recovery times.”

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Education

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State of student housing leaving residents feeling “depressed" John Wimperis

Local Democracy Reporter

THE “DEPLORABLE” state of student housing in Bath is leaving almost half of the city’s students feeling anxious or depressed, leaders have warned the local council.

Students make up a third of the city’s population, but many renting shared houses in the city are living in “simply unacceptable” conditions, representatives of Bath’s two universities warned councillors at a full meeting of Bath and North East Somerset Council on Thursday 30th November.

Bath Spa Students’ Union President, Jas Raymond-Barker, told councillors that over twothirds of students were living in houses where mould has become a “persistent” problem, often due to “poor ventilation, leaks, and inadequate maintenance.”

A third of students reported that

their surroundings were making health conditions worse.

She said: “Students brave the elements in poorly insulated dwellings, facing cold winters and sweltering summers. The e issues do not only aff ct the physical health of students but also their mental health.

“56% of students have reported being miserable and 46% of them reported feeling depressed or anxious due to their housing conditions. This creates an environment that is far from conducive to learning.”

Community office at Bath University Students’ Union, Hanna Hajzer, slammed the condition of student housing as “deplorable.” She said: “The unresponsiveness of landlords to the grievances of their tenants is deeply troubling.

“The lack of accountability leaves students feeling powerless and neglected as their legitimate concerns about living conditions fall on deaf ears.

Mould is one of the main issues being faced in properties across the city

“Th y often feel as if they have no say or leverage when it comes to their own housing situation, a service they are paying an exorbitant amount of money for.

“Th y deserve a higher standard of care from those who profit

from providing essential housing services to our students.”

Both universities provide services to help students with issues with their landlords, but Ms RaymondBarker warned they often went unused as students do not think

they will achieve anything.

Council leader Kevin Guy asked Ms Raymond-Barker and Ms Hajzer to meet with the council’s cabinet member for housing. He said: “The issues you have raised are very serious.”

Primary schools recognised for encouraging sustainable travel

MP calls for more work to reduce absences

EFFORTS by pupils and staff to encourage cycling, walking and other forms of sustainable travel at schools across the Bath area have been recognised.

Weston All Saints Primary School recently achieved accreditation for their School Travel Plan (STP) which aims to reduce car use and encourage more active, safer and sustainable ways to travel.

Bath & North East Somerset Council uses Modeshift STARS to help schools create their travel plans, achieving an accreditation for each level they reach starting with an Approved (Green) plan and progressing to good, very good, excellent and outstanding.

Weston All Saints Primary School achieved the fi st level, Approved (Green), with a plan that includes implementing a 5 to 10-minute walking zone and taking part in Brake’s Road Safety Week.

Year 6 pupils took part in Bikeability Level 2 cycle training in preparation for transition to secondary school, while other pupils have completed pedestrian skills training and scooter training.

Mr Chris Treble, deputy head at Weston All Saints Primary School, said: “We are really proud to have our commitment to encouraging healthy, sustainable and safe travel within our school community recognised.

“Children and staff have shown great enthusiasm for the workshops and activities that have been offe ed, and we look forward to working with Modeshift STARS and Bath & North East Somerset Council as

BATH MP Wera Hobhouse is calling on the government to put robust measures in place to keep children in school, following an increase in pupil absences in recent years.

The call comes after Ofsted released its Annual Report for 2022/23 at the end of November, which revealed the continued drop in attendance.

His Majesty’s Chief Inspector, Amanda Spielman, wrote that the eff cts of the pandemic were casting a shadow over education and children’s social care. The e continue to be gaps in children’s learning and issues with pupil attendance.

Mrs Hobhouse raised her concerns about the figures from Ofsted’s report, which reveal that school absences in the South West were higher in the last academic year in comparison to national figures.

The overall absence rate in statefunded primary and secondary schools in the autumn term of 2022 was 7.8%, with 24.9% of pupils persistently absent.

The e numbers were higher than the national figures of 7.4%.

Amanda Spielman stated that the number of absences from schools in the South West was of signifi ant concern.

She noted that following the pandemic, schools and children’s services were overstretched and struggling to get children back to school.

In response to the report, the Bath MP has requested the government drastically improve issues of school attendance,

Staff a d pupils from Weston All Saints Primary School | Photo © B&NES Council

we continue this journey.”

Chew Stoke Church School has achieved Outstanding (Platinum) Accreditation for the last two years for its School Travel Plan initiatives and was the STARS Local Authority and South West Primary School of the Region 2021/22 and 2022/23.

Pupils recently won the STARS Regional Primary School of the Year 2023/24 and in March next year they will travel to London to represent the South West at the National STARS School Travel Awards.

This will be the third time Chew Stoke have been to London for the Awards and they are already busy preparing a presentation to deliver to all the fi alists, charities and organisations who work alongside Modeshift STARS. Th y will also write a case study to share the details of their School Travel Plan to date.

Vicki Hennessy, deputy head at Chew Stoke Church School said, “We at Chew Stoke Church School are committed to raising

the profile and teaching about the importance of safe, sustainable and active travel.

“We have been working hard since 2019 to educate and encourage our children and families to travel to school using an increasing number of green modes of transport.

“We are proud to be advocates in our local area in regards to road safety and pride ourselves on working alongside a range of organisations including our parish council to change habits for a happier and healthier future.”

Councillor Sarah Warren, deputy leader and cabinet member for Climate Emergency and Sustainable Travel said: “Congratulations to staff and pupils at both schools. Modeshift STARS is a wonderful scheme that recognises schools that have demonstrated excellence in supporting sustainable and active travel in order to improve the health and well-being of children and young people.”

especially within the South West region.

Mrs Hobhouse recently met with St John’s Foundation in Bath, one of the UK’s oldest charities, who aim to reduce inequalities in children’s education and attainment both inside the classroom and beyond.

St John’s recognises that access to education is integral to reducing inequality and provides programmes which support children with their school attendance.

Wera Hobhouse commented: “When children don’t attend school, they risk falling far behind their peers. It comes as no surprise that good attendance at school sets children up for success in the future.

“We must support our children to reach their full potential and encourage them to return to school after being absent, especially in the wake of the challenges left by the pandemic.

“Figures of school absences in the South West are especially worrying. Our children cannot be left behind. The inspirational work by St John’s Foundation is vital to ensure that all children can access education, but they cannot do it alone. We urgently need the government’s support in getting children back to school.”

In a statement, a spokesperson said: “St John’s Foundation is acutely aware of the impact that regular attendance has on the educational outcomes of children which is why many of our programmes work to address this pressing concern.”

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Employers urged to offer t ansport for late-night workers John Wimperis

Local Democracy Reporter

EMPLOYERS in Bath and the surrounding area could be encouraged to provide free transport for staff who finish work late at night.

At a full meeting of Bath and North East Somerset Council on 30th November, councillors voted unanimously to back Unite the Union’s “get me home safely” campaign, resolving to use their licensing powers where possible for “encouraging venues to provide free transport home for night shift employees.”

Tabling it as a motion from the Labour opposition on the council, Radstock councillor and Unite member Lesley Mansell said: “Research shows that women feel particularly vulnerable travelling to and from work, waiting at bus stops in the dark or walking home at night, or parking in an isolated spot.”

She added: “The night time economy is often linked to violence — not a safe place to be.

And here, we have got less public transport.”

The motion also saw the council resolve to lobby the area’s MPs for government action on taxi standards, and for the council to campaign against cuts to public transport and support off-peak and nighttime services and bus

Concerns were raised regarding the safety of late-night workers

franchising.

Midsomer Norton North councillor Shaun Hughes, who owns nightclub Fat Sams in the town, said: “I think it’s right that employers should take their responsibility seriously and ensure that staff can get to and from work safely, but it’s also important that this council put in place the right measures and safety environments for people to travel.”

He said that a council working group, convened after the murder of Sarah Everard in London in 2021, had identifi d the need for more street lighting, CCTV, and marshalls but added: “After two years, not a lot seems to have changed.

“So although I will be supporting

this motion, I think we need to broaden the scope of what we are doing here.”

Mr Hughes added that staff at Fat Sams were escorted to their vehicles by security after work and that, with no buses available, their wages refl cted that they needed to drive.

But councillors added that the issue aff cted more people than just those in the night time economy.

As the council meeting stretched past 9pm, Clutton and Farmborough councillor Sam Ross said: “I couldn’t park in the centre; I have had to park at the park and ride which ended 10 minutes ago, even though it’s on an extended today.

“Which means I’m going to have

Recognition for Bath Christmas Market’s “best dressed” chalets

Celebrating the best dressed chalets at the Christmas Market | Photo courtesy of B&NES Council

TRADERS at Bath’s Christmas Market have been praised for their “fantastic” efforts to make their chalets as festive as possible, with four businesses receiving awards.

Judges, the Chair of Bath & North East Somerset, Councillor Sarah Moore, and the Mayor of Bath, Councillor Dine Romero, toured the market, which featured 200 traders and 36 community groups offe ing gifts, crafts and food and drink.

The an ual awards went to:

• Mayor of Bath, Best Dressed Chalet: Bath Carnival in Orange Grove • Chair of Bath & North East Somerset, Best Dressed Chalet: Felt So Good, in Kingston Parade • Mayor and Chair Runner Up: Pollyfield , in Kingston Parade • Mayor and Chair Highly Commended: The Sparkorium, in Milsom Street The popular 18-day market, which closed on Sunday 10th December, attracted thousands

of visitors each day.

Councillor Sarah Moore, Chair of Bath & North East Somerset Council, said: “It was fantastic to wander around all the chalets and see the huge effo ts traders go to, to dress their chalets.

“Our council team works closely with all stallholders to make sure the market is a great event at this special time of year and so it wasn’t an easy task picking out just four winners when there are so many great chalets to choose from.”

to get the X39 which will drop me quite a distance from — and a walk up to — the park and ride, and I have also had to park in a very dark area.”

She added: “In addition, the local bus that takes about an hour and a half to get back to mine finishes at half past nine, so there is an issue even for people in this chamber to get to and from.”

Odd Down councillor Steve Hedges added that he had been getting up at 3.30am to drive a family member to their job at a Bath supermarket, where they start shift at 4.15am.

He said: “Th y wouldn’t even think of paying for them to get a taxi to work.”

But he added “there is no way on this planet” he would let them walk across the city at that time in the winter.

Ms Mansell said: “It aff cts a lot of us, and it aff cts a lot of us in diffe ent ways.” She added that similar motions had been passed at many councils including Somerset, Plymouth, Manchester, North Tyneside, Rhondda Cynon Taff, Glasgow, and Edinburgh.

Ms Mansell was the Labour candidate for West of England Metro Mayor in 2017, coming second to Conservative Tim Bowles.

Since 2021, the Metro Mayor has been Labour’s Dan Norris, with whom the Liberal Democrat-run

council has been involved in a funding row over who should pay for publicly-supported bus services.

An amendment from the Liberal Democrat group on the council, accepted by Labour councillors, added a specific reference to the West of England Metro Mayor into the wording of the motion.

Leader of the Labour opposition on the council, Robin Moss, said: “Please be assured that the Labour group — if this is passed — will be lobbying the mayor just as forcefully as other members of this chamber.”

Deputy council leader Sarah Warren said: “Safe, affo dable public transport running until late at night to all destinations is essential to our district’s vital evening workforce.

“I call yet again upon our West of England Metro Mayor to rethink his plans for expenditure of the £57m of government allocation for buses.

“He recently over-ruled proposals jointly put forward by councillor Guy, the leader of South Gloucestershire, and the Bristol Mayor, and is frittering the funds away on giant photos of himself and his dog, additional services for already-well-served city routes, and the failing WESTlink.”

The Metro Mayor has previously described the council as “deceptive” in the now longrunning bus funding row.

Wine merchant set to expand with takeover A POPULAR wine merchant in Bath is set to acquire Croatian Fine Wines Ltd at the end of 2023, it has been announced.

The move is part of multi-awardwinning Novel Wines’ expansion strategy, as it grows its wholesale operation and looks to supply its wine and spirits range to a national audience.

Founder Ben Franks FRSA, who is due to step down from his role as Novel Wines’ CEO at the end of the year, said: “We have worked with Croatian Fine Wines for many years and it is very exciting to bring the business under the Novel Wines banner.

“The move will increase our Croatian range dramatically and help to service a growing demand for Mediterranean wines in the UK market.

“It is great to ‘go out with a bang’ and leave Novel Wines in a very strong position for its future.”

Gary Shaw, the new Managing Director at Novel Wines, added: “We are focused on growing our exclusive selection of truly unique wines to offer something diffe ent in a very competitive market. Acquiring Croatian Fine Wines will help us retain and

build on our reputation as one of the country’s most interesting wine merchants, with Croatia offe ing wines you can’t find anywhere else.”

The acquisition will see a variety of wines from Istria, Slavonia, Dalmatia and the Croatian islands being added to the range.

Mark Roberts, director of Croatian Fine Wines and an investor in Novel Wines, commented: “The time is right to bring these businesses together and grow both operations.

Croatian Fine Wines has a loyal retail following, especially amongst holidaymakers who have visited the country, and an exciting range of wine, while Novel Wines has an unrivalled reputation for its central and southern European wines and a growing wholesale network. It is a great new chapter in our partnership.”

Issue 067

Politics

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Plans to double council tax on second homes approved John Wimperis

Local Democracy Reporter

PLANS to double council tax on second homes and empty homes in Bath and North East Somerset have been unanimously approved by councillors, along with key changes to council tax support.

People who own a home in the area kept substantially furnished, occupied periodically, and with no one resident for council tax purposes are liable to be hit by the 100% council tax premium when it takes eff ct in April 2025.

The e are 858 such homes in the area expected to be liable — unless their owners either sell up, rent them out, or move in permanently before then.

This would rake in an estimated £1.84m more in council tax in a year. After the sections of council tax which go to the police force, fi e service, and parish councils, this would leave £1.48m as extra income for Bath and North East Somerset Council.

At a full meeting of the council on 30th November, council cabinet member for resources Mark Elliott said: “The shortage of housing puts pressure on prices and means that ordinary local people are priced out of the housing market altogether.

“This change will encourage properties back on the market by discouraging second home ownership.

“For those who choose to own second homes still, it would mean that they make a higher contribution to vital local services at a time when those services are under severe pressure.”

Councillors voted unanimously in favour of the change, although three councillors who own

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Your City, Your News - Bath Echo

second homes in the council area themselves had to leave the chamber for the debate.

Seconding the motion, Bathavon South councillor Matt McCabe said: “Councils across the South West have been calling for this for years so very happy that the government has fi ally moved to allow us to levy this on second homes.”

Thepower to levy the extra tax was given to councils in the LevellingUp and Regeneration Act 2023, which became law in October.

It also allows councils to charge a 100% council tax premium on homes left empty for over a year.

Currently, empty residential properties in Bath and North East Somerset only pay the 100% council tax premium once they have been unoccupied for two years, with an even higher premium for homes empty longer than fi e years.

At the meeting, councillors unanimously approved charging the premium once a property was empty for a year.

162 empty properties currently pay the 100% premium. Once this change comes into eff ct, 340 properties which have been empty for between one and two years will need to start paying the premium.

This would bring in an estimated £670,000 more in council tax, of which approximately £540,000 would go to Bath & North East Somerset Council.

Tim Warren, leader of the Conservative group on the council, said he “totally agreed” on getting empty homes back into use but asked what would be done about probate.

Mr Elliott said: “Th y would be given special dispensation.”

Councillors also unanimously agreed to changes to council tax

support in a move to “improve fairness” of the system, which gives a discount on council tax to the lowest income households.

Mr Elliott said: “I want to be clear that this is not a cost-cutting exercise. The proposed change will not save the council money.

In fact modelling shows it might slightly increase the cost of the scheme to the council.”

The support scheme had previously counted the housing and childcare costs elements of universal credit as income, and offe ed less support as a result, instead of recognising that these payments were designed to meet specific costs and should not be used to pay council tax.

Under the approved changes, the bands of support will be changed so this money is no longer counted towards income.

The unfairness in the current system was raised by Bathwick councillor Toby Simon, who volunteers with Citizens Advice.

He told councillors: “If someone lived in private rented sector housing, they were getting less council tax reduction, despite having higher rents to pay than if they had been in social housing.

“And if they were getting the childcare element, it tended to wipe out their council tax reduction.”

Mr Elliott added: “I want to be clear that there will be people adversely aff cted as well as those positively aff cted by the change, but there will be more than twice as many people positively aff cted — 2,600 — as those adversely aff cted — just under 1,300.”

People on the lowest incomes will now receive a 100% council tax discount, meaning they do not need to pay anything at all, rather than the previous 90% discount.

Council recognised for ongoing work to achieve net zero

Tree planting is part of the strategy to achieve net zero by 2030

BATH & North East Somerset Council has been recognised by an international charity for its ongoing work towards achieving net zero by 2030.

Carbon disclosure platform CDP has awarded Bath & North East Somerset Council a grade B for its work on measuring, monitoring and managing the area’s impact on the environment, an improvement on the grade C achieved for the previous three years.

The report recognises cities for their achievements and commitment to leading the transition to a greener and more sustainable future and tracks local action and progress on climate change mitigation and adaptation risks, plans, actions and impact. It highlighted that Bath & North East Somerset Council understands the main local risks and impacts of climate change and noted that plans and actions were in place to reduce and or adapt to these eff cts.

The report also recognised

the local authority’s Green Infrastructure work, including the increase in tree planting across the district, supporting the West of England Nature Partnership ambition to double woodland across the region by 2050.

Councillor Sarah Warren, deputy leader and cabinet member for Climate Emergency and Sustainable Travel, said: “We are fully committed to achieving our net zero goals and proud to have improved our status this year.

“We are making great progress including introducing the Clear Air Zone and emission-based parking charges, adopting an energy-based net zero housing policy and cutting the council’s own emissions by 68% over the past 12 years by making our buildings more energy effici t.

“We are also working with residents to help make their homes more energy effici t and delivering Liveable Neighbourhoods to promote healthier communities and reduce car usage.”

As ever, I have been incredibly proud of my constituents, many of whom have won the Prime Minister’s Points of Light Award for outstanding voluntary work. Tom and Joanne Saunders have raised almost £600,000 to support families through cancer, establishing the ‘Ben Saunders Foundation’ in loving memory of their son Ben. Harmonie-Rose Allen also received the award for her incredible fundraising effo ts. She has raised more than £100,000 predominantly for the charity ‘Meningitis Now’, of which Harmonie-Rose is the youngest ambassador. I am very grateful to have such wonderful volunteers,

making a huge diffe ence, in our community.

I have also been working closely with the international community this month to secure the future and safety of our planet. As the Liberal Democrat spokesperson for Energy and Climate Change, I was invited to attend the annual United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) in Dubai as part of the offi al parliamentary delegation. I spent the weekend meeting with leaders from across the globe and discussing the ways we can shape a sustainable future for our planet.

I wish you all a very merry Christmas and the best of luck going into the new year.

COLUMN | Wera Hobhouse, Liberal Democrat MP for Bath

A

LTHOUGH Christmas is fast approaching, I have been very busy in Bath and beyond, meeting inspiring residents, supporting local businesses, and collaborating with the international community.

I started this month by getting into the Christmas spirit and visiting our city’s world-famous Christmas Market. I got a taste of all the festive favourites on offer provided by hundreds of our local businesses and listened to some cheerful carolers. I was very proud that the Bath Christmas Market was named one of the best in Europe last year. It is a staple of our community and I look forward to visiting it each year. I was also delighted to meet Mollie-George, from Widcombe

Junior School, at the market, who designed my Christmas card for this year. She came up with a stunning design and is a testament to the young talent we have to offer in ath.

Our city is not short of talent to celebrate, and I was very pleased to visit two of our successful local businesses to honour Small Business Saturday this year. I visited Canned Wine who sell sustainable and accessible high quality wines from Europe, as well as the Abbey Deli who make delicious home-baked goods from local produce.

It was a pleasure to celebrate these businesses this Small Business Saturday. I encourage us all to shop more locally this Christmas and support our brilliant

small businesses. In the House of Commons, I also called for greater support from the government for local businesses.

It is especially important that we support Bath-based businesses in the wake of the recent closure of our iconic grassroots music venue, Moles.

Moles has given so many emerging artists and household names their fi st chance on stage and it is devastating to see it forced to shut its doors. After surviving the pandemic, the music venue had no choice but to close following the pressures of the cost-of-living crisis. This is why I called for a much needed parliamentary debate to support small and grassroots music venues across the UK.

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www.bathecho.co.uk

Tuesday 19th December 2023 - Monday 1st January 2024

In Other News...

Sporting Fixtures

New target for reducing injuries and deaths John Wimperis

Local Democracy Reporter

BATH & North East Somerset Council has set a target to eliminate deaths and serious injuries on roads in the area, amid warnings that people feel afraid to cycle in the city.

Tabled as a motion at a meeting of the full council on 30th November by the Green group, councillors unanimously voted to adopt the “vision zero” approach and set a target of reducing the number of deaths and serious injuries on council-maintained roads to zero by 2030.

Addressing the meeting as a member of the public in support of the motion, Bath resident Lucy Taylor said: “I have cycled in Bath since 1982 and now feel more frightened for my safety and the safety of other vulnerable road users.”

She said that the segregated cycle lane along the Upper Bristol Road had been a “hugely positive addition” but warned that the car doors often blocked the section next to the parking bays, or were opened into oncoming cyclists.

Student Callum Claffe ty added: “Due to the risk experienced on roads, many students and young people are reluctant to take long journeys by bike and foot.”

The Green group said that 15 people had been killed on the roads in Bath and North East Somerset between 2017 and 2022.

Saskia Heijtjes, one of the two Green councillors for Lambridge, said: “The e vehicle collisions are

Work is underway to reduce injuries and deaths on roads in the area

avoidable and preventable. The e are proven measures to reduce or eliminate road crashes.”

The “vision zero” approach began in Sweden and has been introduced at a host of other councils, including recently in Bristol.

The motion proposed using road design, enforcement of speed limits, “school streets,” liveable neighbourhoods, and a network of walking and cycling routes as a method to reduce collisions.

However, some councillors feared it would not help the area avoid tragedies.

Bathavon south councillor Matt McCabe warned that the 2030 target was “hopelessly optimistic”.

He added: “The front page of the Chronicle today has the result of the tragic death of somebody who was killed in my ward and every time we see someone who has been killed in your ward it is distressing. And obviously our thoughts have to go out to the

families of everyone locally who has been killed.”

Mr McCabe said: “My problem is, in this motion, I don’t see anything that would have prevented that death, so to pick words like ‘zero,’ I think is unrealistic.”

But he added that he would support the motion despite his reservations, adding: “I do concur that, at my age, the most dangerous thing I do is cycle into Bath.”

Midsomer Norton North councillor Shaun Hughes added: “We are already implementing liveable neighbourhoods and other road improvement schemes although with some mixed results.

“The schemes don’t always work the way we hope — as we have seen in Keynsham.”

A cycle lane installed on the town’s high street in March 2022 has inadvertently led to more injuries, as an “optical illusion”

in the white painted lines and kerbs on each side of the lane has caused people to trip and fall.

Westfield councillor Dr Eleanor Jackson, who said she had recently seen a young girl almost knocked down by a reversing vehicle, said it was right to be “aspirational”.

She said: “If we aim towards it, let’s hope we will get somewhere near it and some lives are saved.”

Manda Rigby, the council’s cabinet member for transport, commended the motion but added that she was already on record stating the number of road deaths should be zero.

She added: “As a council we are not complacent. We can always do more but I would hate for people to think that we are not already doing a lot in the road safety arena.”

She added that the council had made changes to some roads to make them safer, and introduced more 20mph zones; and that in the recent “road safety week,” speed watch groups had been out in the area, new signs had been put up warning of the number of road deaths, and safety offic s had been to meetings and schools.

She added: “The number of serious road collisions on our highways has actually reduced by 46% over the last decade.

However, vulnerable road users like cyclists and pedestrians are disproportionately aff cted.”

Councillors voted unanimously in support of the motion, which will see the council administration requested to report back on progress in six months.

Partnership with local radio station to continue A PARTNERSHIP between local station Radio Bath and the Peasedown St John Party in the Park festival is set to continue for another year.

The partnership, which was formed two years ago to ‘put on a show like no other’ for the late HM The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, will carry on into 2024.

Party in the Park Festival Managers Cllr Karen Walker and Cllr Gavin Heathcote said: “We’re thrilled to have teamed up with Radio Bath for another year.

“As well as broadcasting top quality shows, and playing

the best music, they are also committed to providing a voice to our many local communities, and in particular under-represented and under-served individuals across the area. Th y’re extremely fortunate to have a highly skilled team of professionals working behind the scenes, which we’re looking forward to working with in preparation for next year’s 15th anniversary festival in Peasedown.”

Radio Bath will be running and coordinating all the stage entertainment on the day of the festival. Theteam will be ensuring

that the 7-and-a-half-hour event is packed with live music and entertainment.

Loraine Morgan-Brinkhurst MBE, one of the station’s founders and directors, has decades of experience organising local events.

She added: “We’re looking forward to working with the Party in the Park team to organise the live music aspect of next year’s festival. Peasedown’s summer festival is one of the longest-running in the district.

With crowds of up to 3,000 people attending each year, it’s a wonderful event and does a fantastic job at bringing the community together.

“Radio Bath will be there on the day, broadcasting live and ensuring festival goers are kept on their feet with the very best local bands for over 7 hours!”

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Crossword answers - Issue 066 (05/12/23) Across: 1 Grimaced, 6 Inward, 9 Merger, 10 Sprinkle, 11 Leftovers, 12 Stays, 14 Strong, 16 Decibels, 18 Oddities, 20 Indict, 21 Await, 23 Turned off, 26 Tomahawk, 27 Booked, 28 Speech, 29 Preclude.

Down: 2 Re-elected, 3 Might, 4 Caravaggio, 5 Desired, 6 I N R I, 7 Went to bed, 8 Relay, 13 Actionable, 15 Originate, 17 Lichfield, 19 tuck-up, 22 Whoop, 24 Droll, 25 Dash.

Bath Rugby Saturday 23rd Dec - 3.05pm Bath Rugby v Harlequins (Home) Gallagher Premiership – Round 9 Sunday 31st Dec – 3pm Bath Rugby v Leicester Tigers (Away) Gallagher Premiership – Round 10

Bath City FC Saturday 23rd December – 3pm Bath City v Welling United (Home) Vanarama National League South Tuesday 26th December – 3pm Bath City v Chippenham Town (Away) Vanarama National League South Monday 1st January – 3pm Bath City v Chippenham Town (Home) Vanarama National League South

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