Bath Echo - Issue 070 - 26/01/2024

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Friday 26th January - Thursday 8th February 2024

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Issue No. 070

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PROTEST HELD OVER SOUTHLANDS LTN

Seal of approval for new floodlit sports facilities at university P3

Teenager arrested after two men stabbed in the centre of Bath P3

Decision due on making restrictions permanent - P3 Photo © National Trust Images / James Beck

£17M PLAN FOR ASSEMBLY ROOMS REVEALED - P2 Inside: Archive photos, our £20 crossword competition & lots more!

BATH CRAFT FAIR WESTON VILLAGE

SATURDAY 10th FEBRUARY 12pm - 4pm

GIFTS, DECORATIONS, JEWELLERY, GREETINGS CARDS AND LOTS MORE

Future of popular Santa float at risk due to crowd concerns P4 Get the latest news for Bath 24/7 on our website www.bathecho.co.uk

WESTON FREE CHURCH HIGH STREET, BATH, BA1 4DB

FREE ENTRY! www.bathcraftfair.co.uk

P2

£17m plan for Bath’s Assembly Rooms revealed

In this issue...

Top Stories

Friday 26th January - Thursday 8th February 2024

www.bathecho.co.uk

P2-5

Pictures from the Past

P6

Crossword

P7

Food & Drink

P8

What's On

P9

Community

P10

Health

P12

Education

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Business

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Politics

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Sports Fixtures

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Becky Feather Reporter

THE National Trust has submitted a planning application to Bath & North East Somerset Council for a major refurbishment of Bath’s Assembly Rooms.

The trust says the £17m+ project reflects the changes needed to improve the historic building’s energy efficiency and lessen climate impact, as well as enabling access for everyone.

The building in Bennett Street, which housed the world-famous Fashion Museum until 2022, had been let to the council since 1937.

The National Trust enforced a break clause to take it back. The council is planning to create a new museum with a purposebuilt collections study centre at the old Post Office on New Bond Street but last year suffered a setback after its bid for £20m of Levelling Up funding from the government failed.

The proposed changes at the Assembly Rooms form part of the development of a planned new Georgian visitor experience, due to open in late 2026, ensuring that the Rooms continue to be an important community space and cultural venue within the city.

The Assembly Rooms in Bath | Photo © National Trust Images / James Beck

The National Trust says the project aims to achieve the highest standards of access within a heritage setting.

Proposals include a new staircase to replace the current post-war construction, along with a lift to all floors including offices and a Changing Places toilet.

Ambitious changes are also planned to reduce the building’s carbon footprint, including strategically placed air source heat pumps, solar panels and a

new electricity substation.

The National Trust says the proposals have been carefully considered to minimise any impact of modern technology on the historic building and setting.

The work will celebrate the significance of the building, with careful architectural design to showcase the historic importance of the building including recent discoveries such as the Cold Bath.

The charity’s general manager for Bath, Tom Boden, said today:

“This is a really exciting milestone for the project. It allows us to take a significant step towards developing an exciting and relevant future for Bath Assembly Rooms.

“While this application reflects physical changes to the building, the project team are also focused on the less tangible, researching the stories of the space in its Georgian heyday to share with future visitors and working with many community groups to explore how they’d like the rooms to function as a space within 21stcentury Bath.”

The charity estimates the cost of delivering this project to be in excess of £17m and says it will be looking for external support to realise this vision.

The project team will be hosting two events for people to drop in and ask questions about the planning application.

These will take place at the Assembly Rooms on Wednesday 31st January from 4pm to 7pm and on Saturday 3rd February from 10am to 1pm.

The full planning application can be viewed on Bath & North East Somerset Council’s planning website.

The planning reference is 23/04801/FUL and the deadline for comments is 15th February.

Serial romance fraudster jailed for second time A SERIAL fraudster from Marksbury who targeted a dozen women in romance fraud scams has been jailed again.

Sebastian Timmis stole more than £30,000 by convincing his victims to transfer him money.

The women he defrauded were living all over the country, including Bath, Bristol, Swindon, Nottingham, Warwickshire, Hertfordshire, Hampshire and Sussex.

The 32-year-old committed the offences between January and July 2022 while on prison licence for similar fraud offences he had been sentenced for the previous year.

He pleaded guilty at Taunton Crown Court to 12 counts of fraud by false representation.

PC Rory Everitt, the officer in the

case, said: “Timmis used dating apps and websites to establish the trust of his victims before claiming to them he needed money urgently.

“He’d pressurise his victims into transferring money to him, promising he would pay them back. He would make up timecritical scenarios, including having his wallet stolen, to win sympathy and would then not give the money back.

“The cash was used to fund gambling.”

The tactics used by Timmis are common with romance fraud – winning the victim’s trust before creating a fictional time-sensitive reason why they need money, valuables or gift cards to be bought for them.

Judge Paul Cook handed Timmis

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Sebastian Timmis | Photo courtesy of Avon & Somerset Police

a prison sentence of three years and two months at Taunton Crown Court last Thursday.

A 10-year serious crime prevention order prohibiting Timmis from accessing dating platforms was also granted.

The judge described Timmis as “cynical and manipulative” who emotionally and seriously betrayed his victims.

PC Everitt said: “These victims have shown great courage in reporting what happened to them. We commonly misspeak and say people ‘fall’ for scams and fraud, but this is not the case.

“These women were manipulated by a prolific and selfish fraudster who used their kind-heartedness to make them feel sorry for him, and profit to the tune of almost £32,000.

“He has received a significant prison sentence and we welcome the court’s actions to impose an order that should help prevent him from being able to defraud anyone else by similar means in the future upon release.”

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Issue 070

P3

Your City, Your News - Bath Echo

Protest held over contentious traffic restrictions John Wimperis

Local Democracy Reporter

PEOPLE on a Bath road have taken to the streets to call for traffic restrictions in their community to be scrapped.

Wooden planters were installed on Southlands in November 2022 as one of Bath & North East Somerset Council’s trial liveable neighbourhoods — also known as low traffic neighbourhoods, or LTNS — with the intention of preventing rat running and making it “safe and pleasant” for walkers and cyclists.

But locals say the road has never been a rat run and have urged the council to drop the scheme as it is set to make a decision on whether to make it permanent.

Marie John was among the Southlanders who took part in a protest at the weekend calling for the planters to go.

She said the main problem had always been people parking on the road for the nearby Royal United Hospital (RUH) and that the planters only had benefited one side of the street.

She said: “If I could pick my house up and move it along down there, I’d be happy. But on this side of the planters it’s made things worse.”

Anita Burford, who lives right by the planters, said she now had to

live with the glare of headlights coming in her bedroom window at night as cars turned around.

She said: “They say it’s a rat run, but we’ve lived here 60 years and it’s never been a rat run.”

Speaking about the protest at the weekend, Ms John said: “We had a lot of support on the high street, with a lot of people beeping their horns.”

Graham Pristo, who stood as a Conservative candidate for the area in the local elections in May and opposed the scheme, was also at the protest.

He said: “It really doesn’t do what the council wants it to do. There was not a problem with a lot of traffic going up and down the road.”

He added: “The government's Transport Secretary Mark Harper has stated that if the residents don’t want the LTNs, they shouldn’t proceed.”

A consultation by the council found that 57% of people on the street who responded to the survey are opposed to the scheme, while 40% are in support and 3% said they did not know.

But one local who supports the scheme, Guy Hodgson, said he did not think these figures or the protestors really represented the roughly 400 people who live on the street, and that he would estimate from conversations with people on the street that it was generally supported by 75% of

Locals calling for the planters to be removed | Photo courtesy of Marie John

people.

Mr Hodgson said: “A lot of people value the peace and quiet and safety.”

The council’s two other trial schemes on Church Road on the other side of Bath and Queen Charlton Lane near Whitchurch both received a much higher level of public support, with 75% of people living on Church Road backing the scheme and all but one of the people on Queen Charlton Lane supporting the measures there.

Mr Pristo said the other schemes were “a totally different ball game.”

Acknowledging the opposition to the Southlands scheme, a council statement said “several of the reasons for opposing the trial were not borne out in practice,” citing the council’s monitoring

Seal of approval for new floodlit sports facilities at university

reports which found traffic on Weston High Street had reduced by 3-4% after the scheme was enacted — a figure disputed by locals who say traffic has increased.

A decision on whether to make the scheme permanent will be made as a single member decision by council cabinet member for transport Manda Rigby.

Publishing the consultation report, Ms Rigby said: “The trials are the outcome of significant consultation with communities as part of our liveable neighbourhoods programme and I look forward to considering the outcomes presented in these reports before a decision is made on whether to make these trials permanent under formal traffic regulation orders.”

News in Brief Works planned at Grade II* listed church A planning application has been lodged with Bath & North East Somerset Council to carry out work at Grade II* listed St Thomas a Becket Church in Widcombe.

A report prepared by Bath firm Nash Partnership on behalf of the parochial church council says the proposals follow consultation with both the Diocese of Bath & Wells and the local authority regarding necessary works to the various church roofs as part of the general maintenance and upkeep of the building, and to replace a stolen lead roof.

The planning reference is 24/00147/FUL. The deadline for comments is 15th February.

Corrections New scheme revealed for Homebase site A story in our previous issue, “Build-to-rent housing scheme revealed for Homebase site” (Issue 069) did not explain that while permission for a retirement village at the former Homebase site was refused by Bath & North East Somerset Council, a later appeal by developers was successful and the decision was overturned. We're happy to clarify this for our readers and apologise for any confusion caused.

Two men stabbed in the centre of Bath

Becky Feather Reporter

CONTROVERSIAL plans for a floodlit all-weather turf pitch and multi-use games area at the University of Bath have been given the final seal of approval.

The application for new facilities on the eastern sports field at the Claverton Down campus was submitted to Bath & North East Somerset Council back in November 2022.

The site falls within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and two World Heritage Site designations.

The new state-of-the-art recyclable turf pitch and multiarea games (MUGA) area, which will provide a basketball and two netball courts, are planned next to the Sports Training Village.

The new development will replace two unlit grass pitches, one of which is unused as it is considered too small.

The proposal includes floodlighting to the new pitch, MUGA and existing training pitch in order to improve usability. It will give a capacity of around 78 hours a week, said to be a 50-fold increase on the current provision.

Among those who objected to the proposals were the National Trust, Avon Gardens Trust and

The site at Claverton Down | Photo © University of Bath

Cotswolds National Landscape Board, as well as Bathampton, Claverton and Bathford parish councils.

Sport England also objected as the proposal would result in a net reduction of two playing pitches.

Bathwick councillor Manda Rigby had asked for the application to be ‘called in’ to be determined

by B&NES Council’s planning committee as she felt it was too important and contentious to be left to a council officer.

Her objections included that it was inappropriate development and clashed with the council’s climate emergency programme.

Last summer the planning committee considered that, on balance, with the public benefits of the improved quantity and quality of sports provision, the principle of development would

be acceptable.

It was noted that the floodlighting had been designed to be as ecologically and landscapesensitive as possible.

The committee agreed that subject to conditions and a legal agreement to secure offsite biodiversity net gain (BNG), permission should be granted.

The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities was notified that the council was minded to grant planning permission, subject to the BNG agreement.

Secretary of State Michael Gove decided not to call in the application, saying he was content that it should be determined by the local planning authority.

The legal agreement was finally secured last week.

A large cordon was put up on Royal Avenue for forensic investigation

AN investigation is ongoing after two men sustained stab wounds in the centre of Bath on Sunday 14th January.

The incident happened in the Royal Avenue and Queen’s Parade area shortly after 9pm.

An 18-year-old man sustained injuries to his chest and leg was taken to Southmead Hospital.

A 20-year-old man who sustained injuries to his face and arm was taken to the Royal United Hospital where he was treated before being discharged.

The Wiltshire Air Ambulance attended the scene, landing on the Royal Crescent.

A 17-year-old boy was arrested

in connection with the incident, and has now been released on bail.

Detective Inspector Hannah Marsh said: “We’ve already identified a number of people we’re interested in speaking to about this incident but we’re also keen on hearing from anyone who witnessed it or who has information which could help us.

“Incidents such as this remain uncommon in Bath but we appreciate what happened will cause people alarm.”

If you can assist with the investigation, call 101 and give the call handler the reference number 5224011708

P4

Friday 26th January - Thursday 8th February 2024

www.bathecho.co.uk

Future of popular Santa float at risk Plans submitted to turn due to crowd concerns part of doctor’s surgery into four-bed HMO

Becky Feather Reporter

A POPULAR Santa float that tours Bath each December may not return this Christmas after the council highlighted crowd safety concerns to the organisers and told them they would need an events licence.

Santa’s Christmas Float has been running for four years.

Designed and built by Jerry Davis, it is sponsored by Able Scaffold Bath, and also toured parts of Bristol, South Gloucestershire and Wiltshire last month to raise £15,000 for chosen charity Suicide Prevention UK. But Mr Davis says he’s now been told by Bath & North East Somerset Council that the float is “dangerous” as it brings so many people out of their homes.

It would need to go through the council’s events planning to tour in the city again.

Mr Davis said: “This is definitely not what the Santa float was about, to make the council money.”

He said the float had been running without any problems, with no costs to anyone apart from the organisers and with all money raised going to charity.

He said: “We have come to the

The float is very popular each year Photo © Jerry Davis

decision that we will not be running the Santa float around the streets of Bath and lining the council’s pockets so Bath will be struck off the list.”

Responses on Facebook have been highly critical of the council including: “I don’t see why they need to be involved, thieves of joy, ignore them and carry on.”

Another person commented: “Stop being so stuffy B&NES, the Santa float is amazing; not only do you bring misery to drivers now you want to ruin Christmas, bah humbug.”

Another observed: “What about the danger navigating the streets of Bath when the pointless ever growing Christmas market is on.”

A petition to show the strength of feeling to keep the float in Bath has been started, with more than 500 signatures recorded so far.

Councillor Tim Ball, cabinet member for Neighbourhood Services at Bath & North East Somerset Council, said: “Our events team has recently spoken with the organisers of the Santa float, Able Scaffolding Bath, to offer to help them plan a successful event this Christmas should they wish to run one and to highlight correct licensing and road safety advice.

“This follows concerns that were raised by the police and our highways team about the event in December 2023.

“Any events which involve people being on foot in roads where vehicles are passing need appropriate licences and traffic management plans to keep everyone safe.

“We have spoken to both Able Scaffold Bath and Suicide Prevention about these requirements and encourage them to continue to work with us should they wish to run another event in the future.

“Event organisers can find information to help them plan events on our website at https:// beta.bathnes.gov.uk/plan-youroutdoor-event.”

St Michael’s Surgery at Walwyn Way in Twerton

Becky Feather Reporter

A DOCTOR’S surgery in Bath has revealed plans to turn part of the premises into a house of multiple occupation (HMO).

St Michael’s Surgery at Walwyn Way in Twerton has applied to Bath & North East Somerset Council to convert the two-storey wing previously occupied by a dental practice into a four-bed HMO. The GP practice says that none of the services currently available at the practice will be lost as a result

of the conversion.

Layout alterations are proposed on both the ground and first floor to partition the HMO from the surgery.

Windows will be replaced, with the side ones being obscured tilt ones to minimise the overlooking impact on neighbours.

The HMO would be accessed from Walwyn Close on the western side. The existing entrance to the surgery on the east side would be retained.

The plans also include fencing to partition the rear courtyard.

The planning reference is 24/00064/FUL and the deadline for comments is 2nd February.

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P6

Friday 26th January - Thursday 8th February 2024

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Pictures from the Past

The metamorphosis of Bath

The story of Southgate Street before 1970 Kirsten Elliott Akeman Press

THE southern end of town, especially Southgate Street and the quays, had always been a lively place – busy, noisy, and, though faintly disreputable at times, still pleasing.

Jane Austen captured its character perfectly in Persuasion. ‘When Lady Russell ... was entering Bath on a wet afternoon, and driving through the long course of streets from the Old Bridge to Camden

Place, amidst the dash of other carriages, the heavy rumble of carts and drays, the bawling of newspapermen, muffin-men and milkmen, and the ceaseless clink of pattens, she made no complaint.’

This postcard from the early 1900s shows it had changed little in the century since Jane wrote that description.

But change was already on the way. The arrival of rail and motorised transport left Bath’s quays quieter but the streets even busier. However, if these changes hitherto were gradual, in April 1942, two nights of bombing raids on Bath wrought much

more devastating change. Surprisingly, although the streets around Southgate Street were all but destroyed, they missed most of the street itself.

After the war, to anyone who did not know the area well, in Southgate Street itself, business appeared to go on much as usual.

Shops were thriving and the cinema was popular, but plans were already being made to rebuild at least part of the area, for behind the businesses there were still ruins, especially on the east side. Despite the apparent prosperity of the street, all was not well. The drainage system was old and

Southgate Street in the early 1900s

Southgate Street Dairy during the war

Businesses prospering on Southgate Street

Flooding in the street in 1968

in poor condition. Readers who remember Bath in the 1960s will recall that, in hot summers, the smell at the lower end of town could be terrible. But worst of all was the flooding. The Akeman Press Archive holds many photographs of flooding reaching well up the street, including this one from 1968. In the next article, we will look at the plans for Southgate, starting with the postwar Abercrombie Plan.

Sign up to the Bath Echo Weekly email newsletter to receive all of Kirsten's articles: www.bathecho.co.uk/subscribe

COLUMN | Mark Shelford, Conservative Police and Crime Commissioner

I

would like to start by reminding everyone to take care on the roads when out and about this winter – particularly when we are faced with changing and often challenging weather conditions such as we have seen with the recent storms.

I advise everyone to take care and be vigilant about all aspects of road safety.

Sadly, we have had some extremely tragic road traffic incidents in the area recently including a serious collision at Burnett Hill, Keynsham on Sunday 21st January. I urge

anyone who witnessed this incident at around 3.30pm to please call 101 and give log number 541.

There are the ‘fatal five’ factors that dramatically increase a motorist’s likelihood of being involved in a fatal or serious injury collision, these are excess speed, drink/drug driving, careless driving, using a mobile phone at the wheel and not wearing a seatbelt.

Nationally each year, drivers who speed or travel too fast for the road conditions contribute to more than 10,000 collisions, resulting in 345 deaths and

3,388 serious injuries (source: Department for Transport).

It’s Neighbourhood Policing Week (22nd – 28th January) and I would like to acknowledge the important work that local police teams do in our communities. Avon and Somerset Neighbourhood Police Teams play an important role in maintaining strong relationships and engaging with residents, businesses and community organisations while providing reassurance and intelligence about hyper local issues.

I would like thank Councillor Andrew Waites for working with my office to arrange and host a

public meeting this week in Keynsham to discuss local crime issues affecting the area. These types of meetings are important in engaging with issues which affect communities, Keynsham is a busy town serving a large area and business crime affecting retail shops and anti-social behaviour have been consistent issues and ones which I am monitoring to ensure a robust and effective police response to tackling crime.

Finally, a reminder that this is the last chance to have your

say on my proposal to increase the policing part of your council tax (known as ‘the precept’). Local policing is funded by a combination of people’s council tax (the precept), Home Office funding, and other grants.

The precept makes up 41% of police funding.

You can have your say up to the deadline of 29th January. Visit the OPCC website to access the survey online. I am proposing to increase the precept by £10 per year for an average Band D household.

Issue 070

P7

Your City, Your News - Bath Echo

Crossword

Congratulations to Patricia Philp for winning £20!

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

Complete our crossword for your chance to win £20!

Across 1 Thinly (8) 5 Puny person (6) 10 Fan (9) 11 Cubist's first name (5) 12 All ears (9) 13 Collection for public display (4) 16 Molar (7) 18 "The Naked Gun" star Leslie --- (7) 20 Tilling tool (3) 21 Escapee (7) 22 Well-being (7) 23 Auction (4) 25 Early years (9) 29 Poem about rural life (5) 30 Like stormy weather (9) 31 Die after seeing this town? (6) 32 Unexpected question (4,4)

Down 1 Band of cloth (4) 2 Frog (9) 3 Noticed a wise one, or a North American bird of prey (7,3) 4 It used to be spoken in Rome (5) 6 Elvis swivelled his (4) 7 It's got things to do (2-3) 8 Articulates (10) 9 Hot off the press (5-3) 14 Belligerence (10) 15 His athlete exercised in the best condition (10) 17 Pulsating (8) 19 Never-ending TV series (4,5) 24 Hoard (3,2) 26 Stretchy clothing material (5) 27 Balm ingredient (4) 28 Web page language (1,1,1,1)

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 2601, Bath Echo, PO Box 5395, Bath, BA1 0YA The winner will be the first randomly opened entry with the correct answers on 07/02/2024.

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

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P8

Friday 26th January - Thursday 8th February 2024

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Food & Drink

Melissa Blease Sponsor our new Food & Drink section! Get in touch via advertise@bathecho.co.uk

Food Writer

Tasty Dates For Your Diary Valentine's Day menus are trending across Bath right now, with our brightest and best independents fuellin' the lurve in fine style. But how's this for a truly original love-in?

Treat you and your special someone to a 5-course culinary adventure like no other at superchef Dan Moon's Yuzu popup dinner at the Pasta Laboratory (Richmond Place) on Friday 16th / Saturday 17th February, which Dan promises is set to be “an experience of exquisite flavours and innovative dishes with a touch of culinary magic”.

Swoonsome! yuzubydanmoon.co.uk/events Sticking with the unique lovedup love-in theme, Flourish

(Glenavon Farm, Saltford) have teamed up with FilmBath to bring us Valentine's Dinner at the Drive In (Wednesday 14th February).

Bring your date, pick up your 2-course meal and a drink on arrival, then sit back and enjoy the classic rom-com Dirty Dancing from the comfort of your car. Tickets cost £40pp. https://bit.ly/4930JYi ...but those without a V-Day date haven't been overlooked at The Gaff (Milsom Place/Broad Street). Following on from their very special Valentine's Day Tasting Menu on The Big Day itself (£85pp; optional wine flight for an additional £55), their Valentine's Day Alternative (Thursday 15th February) brings single diners together on one big

sociable table to enjoy a fabulous 5-course Tasting Menu feast for just £45pp. Not feeling the V-Day love? Tuck into a 3-course lunch or supper at The Gaff for just £30 every Wednesday/Thursday throughout February. thegaffrestaurant.co.uk/bath Lovely, lively Bandook Kitchen (Milsom Place) is launching a brand new menu in February, with flavoursome dishes such as Keralan chicken 65, Batata Vada Pav, Pangalorean Prawn Gassi and many more exciting new editions to the menu nestling in amongst their tried and tested classics. Go forth and investigate at your earliest opportunity! www.bandookkitchen.com Supper Clubs at Castle Farm

(Midford) are nothing if not unique! Cocktails, candlelight, characterful surroundings and memorable 5/6-course menus, all of which combine to create an unforgettable foodie experience.

Coming up in February, two celebrations of French Cinema Season inspired by Tran Anh Hung's tres gastronomique French historical drama The Taste of Things (17th and 24th February, £58pp), with the indulgent Bistronomie! lunch (£45pp) on 24th February interpreting the dishes cooked in the film itself. Ooh la la! https://bit.ly/3S89nxJ Those legendary Steak Nights are back at the Marlborough Tavern!

Enjoy a juicy hanger steak, fries, sauce and a glass of house wine

for £19.50 every Tuesday evening – or, let's do lunch instead? Tuck into the £10 lunch special at the MT every Monday-Friday, 12noon-4pm. www.marlborough-tavern.com MasterChef Champion of Champions Ping Coombes is returning to The Moorfields (Third Avenue) to host two very special Supper Clubs on Wednesday 21st and Thursday 22nd February. Ping will be presenting four delicious dishes inspired by her Malaysian heritage in a casual, sociable dinner party style environment; as Ping herself says, “arrive as strangers, leave as friends!”

Tickets cost £60pp. themoorfields.com/whats-on

Recipe: Butternut Squash and Coconut Laksa

Allergy warning: peanuts

Fragrant, soul-soothing, and luxuriously comforting: the perfect dish for warming you up on a chilly February evening, ready to serve in no more than 30 minutes.

Ingredients (serves 4) • 800ml chicken or vegetable stock • 400g butternut squash • 2 cloves of garlic, peeled • 5cm nub of fresh ginger, peeled and grated • 1 fresh red chilli • 1 tsp ground turmeric • 1 bunch spring onions • 1 tbsp peanut butter • A generous bunch of fresh coriander • 1 tbsp sesame oil • 1 tbsp dark soy sauce • 1 tbsp fish sauce (omit if vegetarian) • 300g medium rice noodles (dried, not fresh) • 1 x 400g tin of light coconut milk • The juice of 1 large lime • To serve: crushed roasted peanuts (optional)

Method • Tear the stalks from the coriander, finely chop the leaves and reserve in separate piles.

• Peel the squash and grate using either the grater attachment of a food processor or a box grater.

• Bring the stock to boiling point in a large pan. Add the grated butternut squash and allow to simmer while you get on with making the spice paste.

• If you used a food processor to grate the vegetables, swap the grater attachment for the blender attachment and blitz the garlic, ginger, chilli, peanut butter, spring onions, turmeric, coriander stalks, sesame oil, soy sauce and fish sauce until you have a smooth paste.

• If making the paste by hand, chop all the dry ingredients finely and blend with the wet ingredients using a pestle and mortar or a sturdy bowl and the end of a rolling pin.

• Add the spice paste to the stock pan with the coconut milk.

• Stir well and allow to simmer for 3 minutes before adding the noodles and simmering again until the noodles have cooked.

• Add half of the lime juice and stir again before serving in large, warmed bowls drizzled with splashes of sesame oil and soy sauce, the chopped coriander leaves, the remaining lime juice and a smattering of crushed roasted peanuts.

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What's On Burns Whisky Tasting

Friday 26th January - Thursday 8th February 2024 Crafts, Costumes and Shop Sale

VONJ

The Holburne Museum 26th January - 21st April One of the art world’s best kept secrets, we present the work of Gillian Lowndes to a wider audience. Lowndes (19362010) was one of the most daring and original artists of the post-war period.

No.1 Royal Crescent 27th & 28th January The museum may be closed for cleaning this month, but the gallery and gift shop will be open for one weekend only.

There'll be free “do-it-yourself” family craft sessions in the gallery.

Burdall’s Yard 27th January, 7.30pm VONJ is a self-taught musician born in Kenya. Song writing is his passion. He has endeavoured in a variety of musical projects working as an independent artist, producer & session player.

Movement & Meditation Workshop

Metamorphoses

All’s Well That Ends Well

Natural World

Bath Abbey 29th Jan, 5th & 12th Feb, 6.45-7.45pm Join Bath Abbey for movement and guided meditation that engages with Christian spirituality. The sessions will help you connect with God in body, mind and soul in a sacred setting.

Ustinov Studio 29th January – 10th February One of the undoubted highlights of the theatrical year in 2022, Kim Brandstrup’s Minotaur returns fresh from the coup of featuring at the Edinburgh International Festival, in a new double bill.

The Rondo Theatre 1st – 3rd February, 2pm & 8pm A tangled love story of deceit, ambition, and orchestrated happy endings for some. Bath Spa Productions presents this abridged version of Shakespeare’s classic.

Hidden Gallery 1st February – 6th March This stunning new collection is replete with original, hand-signed prints and limited-edition sculptures by some of the most significant names in modern and contemporary art.

Blue Beard

Pollinator Garden Workshop

Phoebe Troup

Nelson & The Slave Trade

Theatre Royal 2nd – 10th February Blue Beard the Magician makes hearts flutter and pupils dilate. With a wink, a stroke and a flick, things just seem to vanish. Cards, coins, scarves... and women. Puff! Gone. Without a trace.

Bath City Farm 3rd February, 11am-3pm Join Jude, the Bath City Farm Community Grower and Conservation Coordinator in Kelston Copse at the farm to help create a new Woodland Pollinator garden.

Chapel Arts Centre 3rd February, 8pm Phoebe Troup is a British-American songwriter and producer exploring the crossover between folk, rock and electronic music. The 5-piece band bring lyric-driven songs to life.

BRLSI 5th January, 7:30pm In recent times Admiral Lord Nelson has been accused of being pro-slavery.

This talk investigates those allegations, including how West Indian planters influenced debates on the abolition.

Scratch

West Wilts Dance Festival

Red Side Story

Adam Rowe

The Egg 6th February, 7pm Scratch has taken students from Bath Theatre Academy; given them the tools from a team of theatre makers; and let their imaginations loose… Expect an eclectic mix of short pieces.

The Forum 6th – 8th February West Wiltshire Schools Sports Partnership Dance Festival is back again at The Forum! This year’s theme is ‘Lights, Camera, Action!’, with 48 performances from local schools.

The Mission Theatre 7th February, 7pm Mr B’s Emporium brings contemporary author Jasper Fforde to The Mission Theatre to talk about his dystopian novel Red Side Story. This event will be an hour long, with a signing at the end.

Komedia 8th February, 8pm Adam Rowe is hitting the road with his brand new stand-up tour.

A hilarious insight into the mind and body of one of the fastest rising comedians on the planet.

Independent Spirit of Bath 26th January, 6.30pm Independent Spirits of Bath's annual Burns night tasting is a slightly smaller one this year at the shop, for exciting reasons coming up in the next few months.

Gillian Lowndes: Radical Clay

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

Come and join us You can join us by going to our website www.u3ainbath.uk and completing the online application form or you can download the application form from the website and send it to Membership Secretary, u3a in Bath, PO Box 4040, Bath BA1 0EJ. You can also join in person at one of our monthly talks at The Pavilion.

Membership fee is still only £15 per person per year.

Our Monthly Talks Monthly Talks are usually held on the first Thursday in the month (except August) and start at 10.30 a.m..

Doors open at 9.45 a.m. for coffee.

Admission is free for members but a donation of £2 for non-members.

Talks take place at: The Pavilion, North Parade Road, Bath BA2 4EU

Upcoming Talks are: 1 February 2024 THE HISTORY OF THE THEATRE ROYAL BATH

by Jane Tapley 7 March 2024 THE HISTORY AND RESTORATION OF THE KENNET AND AVON CANAL

by Graham Horn 4 April 2024 THE TITANIC DISASTER

by Paul Barnett

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Community

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

Contribution fund opens to support Firework display raises community organisations over £20k for charities ORGANISATIONS across Bath and North East Somerset are invited to apply for grants of up to £500 to support residents with the ongoing cost of living crisis.

The B&NES Community Contribution Fund offers locals the chance to pay into a good causes fund to help charity, community and voluntary groups to reduce inequalities in the area.

Residents have been donating to this year’s fund since April 2023 and the total currently stands at £8,724.32.

All monies raised will fund costof-living projects and are not used to supplement council services.

Applications for the grants can now be made by any charity, voluntary or community organisation that is not for profit, including parish councils and helps people with: • Access to food, including providing free or low-cost food, community meals, food vouchers, cooking equipment or food skills initiatives • Warm Spaces, where groups

are incurring additional costs through offering their space • Any other community initiatives that relate to helping with the cost of living challenge.

For Warm Spaces applications, organisations must have registered their Warm Space on the council’s directory and agreed to the Warm Spaces Charter.

The Warm Spaces Directory is coordinated by Bath & North East Somerset Council and currently lists 29 spaces across the district which welcome people struggling with the cost of living and energy costs.

Organisations can apply by completing an online form (https://bit.ly/47N1Da4).

The deadline is 16th February, 2024.

Applications will be assessed and final approval on awarding grants will be given by a panel of councillors.

Only one application per organisation will be accepted.

Residents wishing to donate to the Community Contribution Fund can do so on the council website.

Libraries across Bath and North

East Somerset are also offering a warm welcome to residents where they can access free WiFi, browse books and download eMagazines and eAudiobooks.

There is also information available on how to save energy at home and how to find advice on money matters, benefits, jobs, wellbeing services and food support.

Councillor Mark Elliott, cabinet member for Resources, said: “We are delighted that residents have continued to make voluntary donations to this good causes fund.

“We want to use it again this winter to support the vital services our local, not for profit organisations provide to the most vulnerable in our communities.

“Thank you to everyone who has made a donation to the fund this year. Anyone who feels they are able to donate can do so and be reassured that the money will support local people who need it.”

The fund was set up in 2021 to offer residents the chance to help local groups to reduce inequalities.

TWO charities have benefitted from a donation of £20,000 raised thanks to the success of the Rotary Club of Bath’s annual community firework display at the Rec last November.

The Armed Services welfare charity, SSAFA and The Glasshouse Academy, which helps young people develop confidence through sport, each received £10,000 at a special Rotary lunch earlier this month.

Attending the lunch were representatives from several other organisations who helped raise the funds by selling tickets, arranging public collections and setting up barriers and signs on The Rec. These included the University of Bath Students’ Union RAG team, the 93 Squadron (Bath) of Air Cadets, and members of the Rotary Club of Bathavon.

South-West Chairman of SSAFA, Tony Singer, said: “This tremendously generous donation will mean we can expand and reinforce our activities across BANES, supporting active and former service people and their

families with specialised help.”

Mark Cadbury, Chief Marketing Officer of Bath Recreation Ltd, said: “This kind donation will help ensure that the Glasshouse Academy’s education and physical activities for local school communities and young people will continue to be well focused and effective.”

The 2023 Rotary fireworks display was attended by 6,500 people and watched by many thousands more across the city.

Held at the Recreation Ground in early November each year, it is supported behind the scenes

by Bath Rugby, with further help provided voluntarily by events equipment company Powerline, and road specialists Volker Highways.

Rotary President, Allan Gait, said: “It is thanks to the generosity of our sponsors and supporters, and of course the good people and students of Bath who buy tickets, that we are able to make these donations. We can only hold the event thanks to the many volunteers who help us set things up on the day.”

Wedding showcase event set to be held at the Guildhall COUPLES who are looking to get married are being encouraged to ‘save the date’ for a unique showcase event at the Guildhall in Bath next month.

Bath & North East Somerset Council’s Registrations team will be opening the doors of The Guildhall on the High Street for a Wedding Showcase event on Sunday 18th February 2024, from 10.30am – 2.30pm.

People will be able to look around the entire Guildhall Registration suite including the register office room and beautiful ceremony rooms.

Registrars will be greeting visitors with a welcome drink and be on hand to answer any questions couples might have about their special day.

Local suppliers will be exhibiting on the day including photographers, florists and makeup artists as well as representatives from some of the 27 approved wedding ceremony venues in Bath and North East Somerset.

New for this year is the recently refurbished Abbey View Room. The room can host up to 23 guests and has a stunning view of the iconic Bath Abbey.

Available Monday to Sunday, prices for ceremonies include registrars and use of the ceremony room starts from £390.

The other registration rooms available for ceremonies at the Guildhall are The Alkmaar Room, The Jane Austen Room, which are all available throughout the week, and The Georgian Room which is available on Fridays and Saturdays.

Every Friday from 9am – 10am, all of the ceremony rooms will be open for the public to view, no booking required.

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Councillor Tim Ball, cabinet member for Neighbourhood Services, said: “This fantastic event is back again for another year giving couples the opportunity to visit The Guildhall which is a wonderful place in the heart of our city to get married.

“The showcase event gives couples the chance to speak with our team of registrars and gain invaluable advice to help them plan their special day and be able to speak to a range of local suppliers who are there to help create the perfect wedding day.

“This year they will also be able to look at the new beautifully refurbished Abbey View Room which is a fantastic addition to our Registration suite.”

The ceremony rooms at The Guildhall are suitable for parties of two to 118 guests, so there is something for almost everyone.

Prices for ceremonies including registrars and use of a ceremony room start from £390.

Contact the team for more information on the event via 01225 477234 or register_ office@bathnes.gov.uk.

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For that early morning cuppa.

For when ‘7 across’ has you stumped.

For peace. For quiet.

For when a custard cream tickles your fancy.

For a hand to hold when it all feels too much.

For when you fall in love, again.

For that fit of giggles after a serious chat.

For “namaste”.

For that homely feeling, even though you just moved in.

For every moment, we’re here.

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Friday 26th January - Thursday 8th February 2024

Health Strike action led to ambulances queuing outside hospitals

RUH showcases vital research work

John Wimperis

Local Democracy Reporter

STRIKES by junior doctors over the Christmas period led to patients waiting in ambulances outside hospitals in Bath, Swindon and Wiltshire.

At a meeting of the Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire Integrated Care Board (ICB), which oversees services in the area, chief executive Sue Harriman said that the strikes had come at one of the “busiest times” for NHS and care services.

However, services across the area had managed to work together to keep services running and flowing. But she said: “It didn’t mean there wasn’t pressure in key areas.”

One area of pressure was “ambulance holes,” where patients who are taken to hospital by ambulance have to wait in the vehicle outside because there is not the capacity inside.

Ms Harriman said: “The system

Ambulances queuing at the Royal United Hospital in Bath | Library image

does remain fragile but it is in a more stable position.”

She said that the NHS had been aided through the strikes by non-NHS partners working with them, such as local authorities helping to make domiciliary care available.

She added that there had also been a “significant increase” in the use of virtual wards, where patients stay at home instead of in a hospital but are still monitored

by NHS staff.

More pharmacy capacity was also put on and, as it was when junior doctors were on strike, senior staff were still working but Ms Harriman warned that consultants could not do everything.

She said: “There’s a possibility that there will be future industrial action and the learning from over the Christmas period will be taken forward.”

Carry on as normal ahead of prescription ordering change

The POD system is being discontinued later this year

PEOPLE who use Prescription Ordering Direct to arrange their repeat medication are being told to carry on as normal after a decision was made to discontinue the system.

Prescription Ordering Direct (POD), which allows some patients to arrange their repeat medication by phone or email, will be discontinued in its current form later in the year, with the practices and care homes that use the system offering repeat prescribing instead.

The decision was made following a period of engagement, during which the Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire

Integrated Care Board (ICB) worked with local health and care providers, including colleagues in GP practices, care homes and pharmacies, to look at potential alternatives to the current POD model.

People who regularly use POD are advised to continue ordering their medicines in the usual way through the system, and not to order any more than is needed.

The ICB is now focusing on ensuring a smooth transition away from POD and is offering support to the 85 colleagues affected by the closure.

Dr Amanda Webb, Chief Medical Officer for Bath and North East

Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire Integrated Care Board, said: “We recognise that POD is a popular and well-valued function to a number of our patients, and the decision to close has not been taken lightly.

“When we look at our region as a whole, only 25 of our 88 GP practices are linked up with POD, which means patients at the other 63 surgeries do not have access, and order medicines either through their practice or via the NHS App. “This level of inequity is unsustainable, especially as all GP practices receive funding to provide repeat prescribing to their respective patients inhouse.

“Our thanks go out to our hardworking POD colleagues, all of whom have provided invaluable service over the last seven years, and we will be doing all we can over the next few weeks to provide support as and where is necessary.”

Prescription Ordering Direct was first introduced by the former Swindon Clinical Commissioning Group in 2017.

It was then expanded to include some practices in parts of Wiltshire and later in Bath and North East Somerset, ahead of the merger of the three CCGs.

Professor Ruth Endacott and some of the RUH’s research team | Photo © RUH

RESEARCHERS at the Royal United Hospital showcased their successes during a visit by the Director of Nursing and Midwifery at the National Institute for Health and Care Research.

During her visit, Professor Ruth Endacott met with members of the RUH’s research team, as well as with senior members of the nursing and midwifery team, to find out more about the work ongoing at the hospital.

The RUH runs a range of initiatives to support research across the organisation and to allow busy clinical staff to use the best evidence and research in their daily work.

These include a bi-monthly Research Network meeting, an annual research and development abstract competition and a research café to support those with research ideas.

Prof Endacott also got to see a vaccine clinical trial in action before meeting with research staff from across the RUH Trust to find out more about their successes and the future opportunities to support research studies.

Prof Endacott said: “I was delighted to visit the RUH and

find out more about the excellent research work being done there in a number of different disciplines.

“It gave me the chance to meet staff face to face and find out more about their successes as well as the challenges that researchers can face.

“Hospitals that carry out research have been found to provide better outcomes for patients and the RUH has a great reputation for its research studies.

“Quite simply, research changes people’s lives. Studies and trials continue to find vital new treatments that save lives in the UK and around the world.”

Dr Sharon Grieve, Research Engagement Lead at the RUH, said: “It was a real honour to have Ruth visit and a great opportunity for us to tell her more about the research work we do at the RUH. “The RUH is a very researchactive Trust and we’re really proud of the role we continue to play in identifying new, often lifesaving treatments and vaccines and in supporting our staff to undertake research.”

The National Institute for Health and Care Research is funded by the Department of Health and Social Care to improve the health of the nation through research.

Surgical team helps cut waiting times A SURGICAL team at the RUH has been recognised for helping to cut waiting times and ensuring patients can get back home more quickly following treatment.

More than 200 patients at the RUH have now had hand surgery in the hospital’s Trauma Assessment Unit (TAU) under local anaesthetic.

In January 2023, the TAU team launched same-day hand surgery for patients, operations that would otherwise need to be

carried out in main day surgery.

Operations take place under a local anaesthetic and can be used to treat conditions like carpal tunnel syndrome and skin lesions.

The team recently celebrated treating its 200th patient, exactly a year to the day that hand operations were launched.

Karen Driscoll, Deputy Divisional Director of Operations, said: “The feedback we have had from the people we care for has been so positive, which is fantastic.”

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Beechen Cliff School keeps its Good Youngsters encouraged Ofsted rating for boarding to join RSPB birdwatch Becky Feather Reporter

BEECHEN Cliff School at Alexandra Park has retained its Good Ofsted rating for boarding.

The school provides education for boys only from the age of 11 to 16 and has a mixed-gender sixth form.

Beechen Cliff School has a small boarding facility for up to 36 boys and there are currently 32 full-time boarders and six flexiboarders.

Social care inspectors last visited four years ago. In their latest report, published last week following an inspection held in December, they said: “Respect and fairness exemplify the culture in this boarding provision. Boarders feel listened to, valued, and like that they have a say in their care.

“They feel boundaries are reasonable and that there are opportunities for consultation and change. This creates an environment they enjoy staying

Beechen Cliff School in Bath | Image © Google Street View

in.”

House parents ensure the boarding house is welcoming and homely and they support boarders with their academic work or university applications during prep time and encourage them to develop local friendships and spend time in the local community.

The report says that being able to board supports vulnerable pupils with their emotional wellbeing and attendance.

The inspectors also highlighted: “Work to inform boarders and to guard against misogyny and harmful sexual behaviour has been embraced.

“Some boarders have taken a lead on aspects of this work, cascading their learning to younger year groups across the school. As a result of this work, awareness has increased, as has the reporting of incidents. The actions taken by leaders in response helps to build a safer and more enriching environment for all. Leaders invite external speakers into school, complementing the work teachers complete around topics such as knife crime.”

This school itself, which is part of the Midsomer Norton Schools Partnership, was rated as Good in an Ofsted report published in November.

CHILDREN are being encouraged to get outside to count and record the number of different birds visiting their playgrounds as part of a country-wide campaign.

West of England Metro Mayor Dan Norris is urging youngsters to take part in the Big Schools’ Birdwatch, led by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB).

Running until Monday 19th February, the campaign helps the charity find out which bird species are thriving and crucially, those that are declining too.

Studies show around half of the birds in the country are at risk of extinction or threatened, the Metro Mayor has warned.

Mr Norris said he wants more local children to be engaged with nature from an early age and take their enthusiasm through to adulthood.

He said: “This is a wonderful opportunity for the West’s youngsters to chart the West of England’s wildlife.

“It’s all about raising awareness with children in terms of the

Photo © WECA

animals they have in their own area. And it works – last year, I met many youngsters coming to me telling me what sort of things they spotted in their school grounds, their gardens or when they’ve generally been out and about. It really does show that seeing it first hand is the single best way to get our young people excited about nature.

“By getting out to watch our feathered friends in action, they can learn so much, not least thinking about how we can protect our precious planet, and the animals we share it with.

“I urge all Bath and NE Somerset students to get outside and turn their eyes to the skies.”

To register for Big Schools’ Birdwatch 2024, a free activity, visit rspb.org.uk/schoolswatch.

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£13m disease early warning system to open at University of Bath

Fees for HMO licences and formal improvement notices have increased

LANDLORDS across Bath and North East Somerset are set to face increased charges for renting out their properties, including meeting required standards and HMO fees.

In December 2023, Bath & North East Somerset Council increased the fee for the service of a formal Improvement Notice from £250 to £400.

It was part of an update to the local authority’s Housing Services Charging Policy, which charges fees to recover the reasonable costs of providing a range of enforcement, licensing, housing register and homelessness services. The fee is charged when the council’s Housing Services team issues an Improvement

Notice to address health and safety hazards in houses or flats.

These could be property defects, such as absent or defective fire precautions, inadequate heating and insulation, or severe damp and mould.

Councillor Matt McCabe, cabinet member for Built Environment and Sustainable Development, said: “The majority of landlords run their properties responsibly, but the standard of rented homes across B&NES is inconsistent.

“Our Housing Services Team work hard to ensure that landlords act responsibly and renters have a safe and secure home.

“We follow government guidance on setting the fees at a level that ensures the council recovers

reasonable costs including the cost of taking enforcement action if necessary and for any staff time and expenses incurred.”

Other charges that have been increased include the fee for an HMO licence, which has risen from £795 to £995, and certain fees charged to Registered Providers for the marketing and delivery of affordable homes.

A previous council-run scheme introduced five years ago to ensure HMOs across the city are safe and managed correctly ended last year. Landlords had been required to register for an additional licence, which saw properties inspected by council officers and improvements made where needed.

Bath Building Society announces charity of the year for 2024 STAFF at Bath Building Society have chosen Mentoring Plus, which supports young people across the local area, as their charity of the year for 2024.

Workers were asked to nominate a charity close to their heart, that they believe does great work in the community and would benefit from the annual partnership.

Staff and members of the society voted for a shortlist of three charities, with Mentoring Plus chosen as the winner.

Bath Building Society will be raising awareness of the charity throughout the year.

Mentoring Plus helps youngsters who are facing challenges including family breakdown, bereavement, isolation, experience of domestic violence or experience of being in or leaving care.

Becki, the Community Manager at Mentoring Plus, said: “We are delighted that Bath Building Society employees and Members have chosen us as their charity

Kevin Gray, CEO of Bath Building Society | Photo © Bath Building Society

of the year and look forward to working with them to help us raise much needed funds.

“We couldn’t continue to work with as many children and young people as we do across Bath and NES without the support of brilliant local businesses like Bath Building Society who invest in local charities and communities.”

Kevin Gray, Chief Executive of

Bath Building Society, said: “We can’t wait to get started with Mentoring Plus, what a great way to help young people when they may be struggling at school or with life in general.

“We hope to raise awareness of the children’s mentoring services they work tirelessly to provide, giving every child the opportunity to reach their full potential.”

Professor Barbara Kasprzyk-Hordern | Photo © University of Bath

Becky Feather Reporter

A NEW £13 million Centre of Excellence in water-based health monitoring is to be established at the University of Bath following a major funding award.

The Centre of Excellence in Water-Based Early-Warning Systems for Health Protection, WBE@Bath, will develop a public health surveillance system to detect outbreaks of diseases by testing water systems for traces of pathogens or other biomarkers at a community level.

This could help prevent future pandemics from spreading by detecting them early, and will provide better understanding of chronic, non-communicable diseases such as diabetes.

An £8.4m investment has been announced by Research England, part of UK Research and Innovation.

The full cost of the project will total £13m, with contributions from the University of Bath and partners including Wessex Water, the UK Health Security Agency, Arup, the Environment Agency, the London Data Company, AWS, Waters and the Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Trust and Bath & North East Somerset Council.

As well as an ‘Urban Living Lab’, the centre will host state-ofthe-art analytical capabilities including a digital water-sensing platform, training base and testing infrastructure designed to provide low-cost and realtime community-wide profiling of population health and the environment.

Five prize fellow positions and a doctoral training partnership will also be created through the project, increasing the skills and expertise base while diversifying talent.

Professor Barbara Kasprzyk-

Hordern, a co-director of Bath’s Water Innovation Research Centre and a member of the University’s Institute for Sustainability, will lead the centre.

She said: “We’re delighted to have received this funding to expand the work of WBE@Bath as well as our capability to train and bring new talent into the sector.

“Covid-19 demonstrated how the successful management of disease outbreaks is critically dependent on real-time, costeffective and comprehensive surveillance systems enabling testing of whole communities, irrespective of location.

“Our previous research has shown the transformative potential of using wastewaterbased epidemiology to carry out this testing in locations such as water recycling centres.

“These techniques could give us a crucial tool in detecting future epidemics before they happen.

“We will build a unique, fullscale urban living lab that will enable testing of new approaches and tools aimed at better understanding of how diseases spread, the risk of exposure to hazardous chemicals and how to develop more effective interventions and management strategies.”

The project’s partner universities are Newcastle, Cardiff, Exeter, Glasgow, Stellenbosch (South Africa) and Lagos (Nigeria), and the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology.

The funding is part of a £156m investment by Research England’s Expanding Excellence in England (E3) Fund, which will support 18 universities across England to expand their small, but outstanding research units.

Earlier this month, a new Centre of Doctoral Training designed to improve the health of the UK’s rivers and lakes, also to be led

by Prof Kasprzyk-Hordern, was announced.

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Children seeking asylum to be looked after by council again John Wimperis

Local Democracy Reporter

BATH & North East Somerset Council is expecting its suspension of looking after more unaccompanied children who came to the UK to seek asylum will end this month.

The council has not accepted any of the children into its care system since September, when it wrote to the government to request a pause due to “significant financial pressure”.

Now a council officer has said that it expects to start taking the children into its care again this month.

Children who arrive in the UK as asylum seekers without a parent or caregiver are put into the care of local authorities, with the responsibility shared across the country to avoid overwhelming social services in the council areas where most arrivals take place such as Kent.

Known as the national transfer scheme, it has been mandatory for all councils since 2022.

Questioning the council’s stance at a council scrutiny panel

The local authority hasn't accepted any new children into the system since September

on 15th January, Lambridge councillor Joanna Wright said: “A lot of residents think we are a very wealthy city and, if we can’t accept child asylum seekers, then where else in the rest of the country can accept them?”

Council cabinet member for children’s services Paul May said: “We have been taking our share. Other local authorities in the South West, when we were looking, weren’t actually taking their share and it was adversely

affecting our budgets really quite badly — to the tune of £2.4m.

So it was something we had to address.”

Under the national transfer scheme, the amount of unaccompanied children assigned to a council is not meant to be more than 0.1% of its child population.

But the council’s director of children’s services and education Mary Kearney-Knowles said that Bath and North East Somerset

had accepted more than this.

She told councillors: “Our chief executive wrote to the Home Office to request could we pause referrals through the end of March because we had exceeded our 0.1% and a range of other local authorities across the South West had not.

“They did for a period but it is likely referrals will continue in January because we are below our 0.1% now in terms of the quota.”

In the 2022 to 2023 financial year, the council accepted 32 of the children into its care.

Explaining the reasons for the suspension when it was first mentioned to councillors in November, Mr May said: “We should care for them, that is not the issue. But if their case is not dealt with by the Home Office by the time they get to 18, they then come into our requirements around 18-25s and there is no funding actually given for that so it is a real cost issue.”

Although the council they are assigned to will be their corporate parent responsible for their care, many of the children will actually be placed in a different local authority area where they may have already been located before being referred to a council or where they may have family or friends.

The last unaccompanied child accepted by Bath & North East Somerset Council in September was placed in a town in another local authority to be close to a family member, although Bath and North East Somerset Council remains responsible for their care.

Midford Castle owner prosecuted by planning team

The Guildhall in Bath

THE owner of Midford Castle in Bath has been fined after being prosecuted

by Bath & North East Somerset Council’s planning enforcement team.

Sixty-two-year-old Kenneth Scott Adams pleaded guilty to two offences under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990.

He was convicted after the council’s planning enforcement team began an investigation into Mr Adams after it was noted during the preparation of a planning enforcement appeal at the same site, unauthorised work had taken place to the Listed Coach House, Chapel, and Greenhouse at Midford Castle.

The Coach House, Chapel, and Greenhouse at Midford Castle are Grade II* Listed Buildings dating from circa 1810 and fall within the Cotswolds National Landscape Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the Green Belt.

Listed buildings are considered nationally significant and granted protection

within the planning system.

It is an offence, under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990, to undertake work that affects the character of a listed building of special architectural or historic interest without consent.

Adams executed or caused to be executed unauthorised works for the alteration or extension of a listed building, namely The Coach House and Greenhouse at Midford Castle, in a manner which affected its character as a building of special architectural or historic interest.

In addition, Adams executed or caused to be executed unauthorised works for the demolition of a listed building, namely The Chapel at Midford Castle, or for its alteration in a manner which affected its character as a building of special architectural or historic interest.

He must now pay fines totalling £5,333 and costs of £4933.25. He was also ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £2000.

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Friday 26th January - Thursday 8th February 2024

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Overdue police visits to sex offenders on the rise Adam Postans

Local Democracy Reporter

OVERDUE police visits to sex offenders in Avon & Somerset have increased by a quarter despite government inspectors telling the force to take action to improve timings.

Chief Constable Sarah Crew says the constabulary is the “victim of its own success” in catching rapists, putting more of them on the register.

A report by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMIC) last March gave the organisation a rating of “requires improvement” on managing offenders and suspects.

It found the force had 217 overdue visits to registered sex offenders, with the longest delay being eight months.

The report said: “The constabulary should reduce the time taken to conduct visits and risk assessments on registered sex offenders.”

It said that while inspectors did not find any backlog in highrisk cases, the fact the force was behind in its risk assessments meant it “may not have been aware of any developments in those low to medium-risk cases which might escalate the registered sex offender into a higher risk category”.

The report added: “We found 151 overdue assessments, with the oldest again being eight months overdue.

“The constabulary must ensure that visits and risk assessments are carried out in a timely manner.”

At the time, Avon & Somerset Police & Crime Commissioner

The number of overdue visits has risen by 56 to 273

(PCC) Mark Shelford, who has a legal duty to respond to the inspections, said the size of the team managing sex or violent offenders would be increased, while other offender managers would be trained to ensure there was a “greater pool or resource available to respond to this demand in a flexible way”.

But the number of overdue visits has actually risen by 56 to 273, it was revealed at a meeting of the PCC performance & accountability board.

Deputy Chief Constable Jon Reilly said: “Avon & Somerset Police is in quite a unique position compared to regional forces in that we have full prisons and full ‘approved premises’ where people on licence are housed, and that undoubtedly has an impact on the number of sex offenders we are managing in this force area.

“In addition, both nationally and locally there is an increase in the number of registered sex offenders which increases the challenges for constabularies to meet in terms of those visits.

“In the last 11 months alone we’ve seen 100 additional

registered sex offenders that we’re managing, and that has led to some tough choices we’ve had to make around resourcing.

“In terms of outstanding visits, the current figure is 273, so in proportionate terms there’s a slight increase in where we were when the HMIC came, out of the 1,500 offenders we manage.

“Within that number, 15 per cent are high risk, 67 per cent medium risk and 18 per cent low risk.”

DCC Reilly said the visits for medium and high-risk offenders were unannounced so that officers were more likely to find evidence that required police action.

He said: “In November we undertook nearly 500 visits.

Of those, 340 [offenders] were in, and of those we took police action in 100 cases. Clearly that nature means that there is always the chance someone will not be in. The outstanding visits now are not the outstanding visits when HMIC were here.

“This is a rolling process. Higher risk cases are very routinely scrutinised by our senior leadership team to make sure we are getting on top of those as

quickly as possible.

“But nonetheless there is a gap there that we need to close quite quickly and we have taken some steps immediately.”

He said this included an expansion of the offender management team and a review of how many officers should conduct a visit, in line with officer safety.

“Most importantly we have now clearly modelled our current and predicted demand over the next 12 months to ensure that we can reduce those visits to absolutely the right level they need to be,” DCC Reilly said.

He said there were now 148 overdue risk assessments, so about the same as the 151 during the inspection.

DCC Reilly said some sergeants were being trained to undertake this work to reduce the delays.

He added: “So yes, there is still a backlog, we are very clear about what they are and we have a very robust plan to manage them down in the next 12 months in an appropriate way.

“I am confident we will see changes moving forward.”

Conservative PCC Mr Shelford asked: “Why are the numbers of sex offenders increasing?”

Chief Constable Crew replied at the meeting on Wednesday, 17th January: “We are victims of our own success. Our Operation Bluestone is charging more rapists, frankly, and we are going to see that increase.”

She said the force was detecting more online child abuse, with those offenders joining the register.

Chief Constable Crew said: “This will be an area that will grow and grow for police forces and partners.”

Monthly carer cafés set to launch in Bath Becky Feather Reporter

THE Carers’ Centre is launching new carer cafés in Bath and Keynsham, offering residents the chance to come together with their loved ones and others.

The charity is dedicated to supporting the thousands of people caring for their loved

ones in Bath and the surrounding areas.

The two-hour informal cafés offer a warm and welcoming space where people can attend alone or with their loved ones, chat with others over a cuppa and enjoy a variety of informal games.

There will be free activities to help carers take some time for themselves and to meet others in a similar situation.

The Bath Carer Café (Plus One)

will be held at the Glasshouse Academy Pavilion in Bradford Road, Combe Down, at 10.30am on Wednesday 21st February and Wednesday 13th March.

Register your interest at https://bit.ly/48LLWkU. The Keynsham Carer Café (Plus One) will be at Keynsham Cricket Club on Wellsway at 10.30am on Thursday 22nd February and Thursday 28th March.

To register your interest visit

There will be free activities to enjoy

https://bit.ly/48GdLv5.

The Carers’ Centre is based at The Woodlands on the Lower Bristol Road, Bath.

Share your sports news with thousands of people across Bath! Email sport@bathecho.co.uk

Crossword answers - Issue 069 (12/01/2024) Across: 1 Risks, 4 TV cameras, 9 Bipolar, 10 Estuary, 11 Cross over, 12 E Coli, 13 Altered, 15 Rampart, 17 Dynamic, 19 Swollen, 21 Teach, 23 Scooped up, 25 Outworn, 26 Stimuli, 27 Turnberry, 28 Titus.

Down: 1 Rebecca, 2 Supporting actor, 3 Silks, 4 Thrived, 5 Clearer, 6 Mitre, 7 Reasonable doubt, 8 Stylist, 14 R P M, 16 Mao, 17 Detroit, 18 Costner, 19 Stops by, 20 Nappies, 22 H-bomb, 24 Paint.

Bath Rugby Saturday 27th January – 3.05pm Bath Rugby v Bristol Bears (Away) Gallagher Premiership Round 12

Bath Rugby Ladies Sunday 28th January 1ST XV v London Irish (Away) Sunday 4th February 1ST XV v Richmond (Away)

Bath City FC Saturday 3rd February – 3pm Bath City v Eastbourne Borough (H) Vanarama National League South

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