Bath Echo - Issue 071 - 09/02/2024

ECHO

Friday 9th February - Thursday 22nd February 2024

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Issue No. 071

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Over 80 jobs at risk as police force looks to save money P2

RUH LOCKDOWN

Plans for five new Liveable Neighbourhood trials approved P4

Arrest after armed police descend on hospital - P3

Photo © St John's Foundation

CHARITY WELCOMES QUEEN - P2

Screening test introduced to identify heart problems in babies P10

Inside: Archive photos, our £20 crossword competition & lots more!

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St John’s Foundation welcomes Queen to Bath

In this issue...

Top Stories

Friday 9th February - Thursday 22nd February 2024

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Pictures from the Past

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Crossword

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Food & Drink

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What's On

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Health

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Community

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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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A SPECIAL celebration has been held at Bath Abbey, attended by Her Majesty The Queen, to mark Bath-based charity St John’s Foundation’s 850th anniversary.

The Queen began her visit to Bath on Thursday 1st February by meeting St John’s almshouse residents for tea and cake in the charity’s chapel, St Michael’s Within.

Her Majesty then made her way through the city centre to arrive at Bath Abbey where she was greeted in the courtyard by over 600 schoolchildren from five of the local schools that St John’s works with.

Within the Abbey, over 600 guests gathered for a Service of Celebration that paid tribute to the history and impactful legacy of St John’s Foundation over the last eight and a half centuries.

Attendees included many of the charity’s direct beneficiaries, including older adults residing in the charity’s almshouses and local school children supported by its initiatives.

Guests heard a performance of ‘A Million Dreams’ and ‘Sing’ from the Voices for Life choir.

The choir, which was made up

Her Majesty The Queen having tea and cake | Photo © St John's Foundation

of 90 year 4 pupils from the local schools that St John’s works with, was created specifically for the occasion.

Following an address which outlined St John’s future ambitions, CEO David Hobdey invited Her Majesty to unveil the charity’s commemorative 850th plaque.

The plaque will be laid within St John’s city centre courtyard, a place which has been the charity’s home for the last 850 years.

Her Majesty, as Duchess of Cornwall, became Patron of St John’s Foundation in 2009.

She last saw the work of St John’s Foundation during a visit in February 2022 to Roundhill Primary School.

Reflecting on the service, David Hobdey said: “It was an honour to have Her Majesty The Queen join us to celebrate our 850th anniversary.

“Her Majesty’s attendance made a very special day even more

poignant, and we are so grateful to her for taking the time to meet our residents and join our Service.

It’s an incredible achievement to reach 850 years and humbling to think of all the historic events and upheavals that St John’s has survived.

“We are thankful to everyone who attended to help us mark this occasion. St John’s Foundation’s mission is to keep driving forward to continue addressing the needs in our community and changing lives for good, for the next 850 years.”

Guests were invited to remain in the Abbey for a reception following the Service, where they heard from Executive Head of St Michael’s Church Junior School, Clare Greene, who spoke about the impact St John’s Foundation has had on local under-served pupils.

St John’s Foundation will be hosting several events later in the year to continue the 850th celebrations.

These will aim to involve as many people in the community as possible, especially the charity’s direct beneficiaries, and raise awareness of St John’s work in Bath and North East Somerset.

Over 80 jobs at risk as force looks to save money Becky Feather Reporter

AVON & Somerset Police have confirmed that around 86 police staff investigator (PSI) posts could be cut to save money.

PSIs help investigate and solve crimes, and staff at the Keynsham Police Centre in Ashmead Road are among those who would be affected.

An Avon & Somerset Police spokesperson said: “The extremely challenging national economic backdrop has had a significant impact on individuals, businesses and organisations across the country.

“We are not immune to those challenges, meaning our finances face immense pressure and we are having to make very difficult choices as a result.

“That situation is exacerbated by

long-standing funding inequality which sees Avon & Somerset receive approximately £53m less funding-per-head compared to the national average, but ultimately means work has been necessary to try to identify areas where savings can be made.

“There will be no reduction in the number of officers serving within Avon & Somerset Police. Police officer roles are protected due to Government’s national Uplift programme.

“A reduction in the number of police staff investigator (PSI) posts by approximately 86 full-time equivalent positions is planned as a cost-saving measure.

“We anticipate many of these reductions will be achieved through a natural turnover in staff, whether that be moving to other roles within the service or people choosing to leave

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The Keynsham Police Centre, where a number of PSIs are based

the organisation, and those subsequent vacancies not being fulfilled.

“A decision has already been made we will not seek to recruit any further PSIs for the next six months.

“Should further reductions in PSIs be required, then a formal consultation process with staff and Unison will be carried out.

“Such a decision is not made lightly and we’re committed to

providing clarity at the earliest possible opportunity to those staff who may be affected as we recognise uncertainty is unsettling.

“Any further change would mean a formal consultation and we have already told staff we will not be looking to start such a process before summer 2024, should it be necessary.”

The force has not confirmed how many PSIs there currently are.

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Issue 071

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Your City, Your News - Bath Echo

Hospital put into lockdown after verbal threats A MAN in his 40s has been detained under the Mental Health Act following an incident at the Royal United Hospital in Bath on Friday 2nd February which saw armed police deployed.

Staff at the hospital contacted Avon & Somerset Police at around 9.45am after receiving a telephone call from an unknown male who made verbal threats.

A police presence was already at the hospital for an unrelated matter, which liaised with security teams at the Combe Park site.

A second call making threats was then received at about 10.15am and further officers were also dispatched to attend the scene, including firearms officers, and a police helicopter.

Police also received a report of a man carrying an item, which there were concerns could have been a bladed weapon, in the vicinity of the hospital at approximately 10.35am.

The hospital decided to go into lockdown and police advised a

News in Brief Combe Down school library approved Plans for a new log cabin to house the library at Combe Down CofE Primary School have been approved by B&NES Council. The application involves removing two timber sheds which are currently used for storage within an external learning space, and the erection of a timber log cabin which will house the school library, as well as providing a space for children with special educational needs and to support the forest school programme.

The school says that by providing a dedicated library space, all years will benefit from a quiet learning space which can be used within or outside of formal lessons.

Armed police were deployed to the RUH after verbal threats were made | Photo © Bath Echo

nearby school to take a similar precautionary measure.

Both lockdowns were lifted in the early afternoon.

A man in his 40s was arrested that

afternoon, and he has since been detained under Section 136 of the Mental Health Act 1983.

Police later confirmed that following the report of the man

carrying the unknown item, they were “satisfied that it was not a bladed weapon but that the report to police was made with good faith.”

Proposal for student flats in office block Proposals to change the use of empty offices on the Lower Bristol Road into accommodation for 54 students have been submitted to B&NES Council.

Couple from Bath open charity shop with a difference Becky Feather Reporter

A COUPLE from Bath have opened a charity shop with a difference on Keynsham High Street.

The think different shop sells only new discounted clothes for men and women and children, both designer and high street brands.

They also sell accessories and shoes.

The shop is raising funds for the think different charity which supports young people with mental health issues.

It is proving popular, with some customers saying it reminds them

of TK Maxx for its great range of stock at bargain prices.

The chair of trustees is David Bullock and the other trustees are Nicky Whittle and Jan Burton.

The founder is David’s partner Caroline Hughes and they all help out in the shop which is the old Shoe Zone store that closed last summer.

David and Caroline are from Oldfield Park in Bath and Jan and Nicky are from Bristol. Each has experience in the family of mental health problems which has been devastating. They have come together as carers and have a clear vision to help as many people as they can.

The plan for the months ahead

is to take over the nearby former Buss’s greengrocers premises in the High Street and turn it into a luxury clothing shop with a café and beauty rooms. The charity will be opening a centre so vulnerable people can phone and talk. With a two to three-year NHS waiting list, the charity will pay for any counselling sessions, and for families who are struggling financially, the charity will take over the funding of counselling sessions already in place.

Gym membership will be paid for to improve young clients’ mental health as well as help with a deposit to help them in the future to secure a rental property.

The team say: “We are passionate

about how heartbreaking it is for so many people not coping with the pressures of life and how they are so loved and need to enjoy life and stay with us in our everchanging world.”

They add: “The charity would like to thank designer Tim Daddio for his ongoing work and the charity’s logo; Dulay store in Broadmead in Bristol for supplying equipment and advice; Robert Couser from London firm Couser Accountants for help and advice; and the Schreier Foundation in Watford and Albert Hunt Trust for donations as our shop would not have been possible without them.”

If you would like to make a

David Bullock and Nicky Whittle

donation, think different’s sort code is 20-68-15 and the account number is 53535827. You can also call 0776 220 5366 to make a donation.

The charity also sells items via eBay account thinkdi_63, where you can also purchase a voucher in multiples of £10 to help towards the cost of counselling sessions.

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

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EBRUARY is a busy month with the budget and Council Tax proposals on the cabinet agenda for the 8th with a final decision being made by Council on 20th February.

It’s been a very challenging budget process this year. Our focus has been on protecting front-line services. We also have been able to use income from our fantastic heritage assets such as the Roman Baths to help balance the books.

Investing for the future is central to our plans. We are proposing to invest in delivering a new Fashion Museum which will contribute to the economic prosperity of the area. We’re also putting forward a big investment in delivering much-needed new council homes. Our detailed budget proposals for 2024 to 2025

will be considered by cabinet on 8th February and Full Council on 20th February. You can also watch a video of our cabinet talking about the budget proposals.

Earlier in the month we held a special cabinet meeting to agree our new Economic Strategy and also the next stages for our Local Plan, which, when adopted, will form the basis for determining planning applications until 2042.

In many ways, our area is a real success story. We have a fine World Heritage City with a thriving city centre and market towns and access to wonderful nature alongside two Universities and many significant local businesses.

However, we need to generate more higher-wage jobs and tackle inequalities across our area. Our new Economic Strategy sets out

a new approach which prioritises meeting the needs of residents and businesses whilst reducing impacts on our natural resources and environment.

Alongside this, we also agreed the next steps for our Local Plan, which will see consultation on options for future development in our area. This includes new housing and supporting infrastructure, and office, industrial, research and development spaces - all the things our area needs to thrive and prosper in a sustainable way.

We will continue to champion sustainable transport and to support this aim we are currently progressing five new Liveable Neighbourhood trials in Bath - in the Lower Lansdown and Circus area, Sydney Road and Lyme Road (Newbridge). The trials would be installed for a minimum

of six months and a maximum of 18 months while residents’ views are sought. No permanent decisions are made until all the consultation feedback and the monitoring data is considered.

These decisions follow significant engagement with the community, including ward councillors and residents’ associations, since 2021.

The aim is to address excessive traffic in residential areas, and to create safer, healthier routes for those who choose to walk or cycle. Vehicle access to homes and businesses would be maintained under the schemes.

For more information please go to https://bit.ly/488yNRV Later in February, the 24th,

will see a national “Slava Ukraini” campaign two years on from the Russian invasion of Ukraine. As you know, here in Bath and North East Somerset local communities have been generous in welcoming many Ukrainian guests into our area.

We have also signed a Friendship Agreement with Oleksandriya in Ukraine and please watch out for other initiatives that will also be taking place to mark this anniversary including a concert at the Abbey.

Also on 24th February this year I will be meeting with Hong Kong British national visa holders, who are holding a Lunar New Year event, so I can personally welcome new arrivals into our area from Hong Kong.

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www.bathecho.co.uk

Plans for five new Liveable Neighbourhood trials approved CONTROVERSIAL plans to introduce three more Liveable Neighbourhoods in Bath have been given the go-ahead, with trials set to be introduced in coming months.

Three through-traffic restriction trials in the Lower Lansdown and Circus area, as well as trials in Sydney Road and Lyme Road in Newbridge have all been approved to be installed under Experimental Traffic Regulation Orders (ETROs).

The decisions to proceed with the proposals were taken by Councillor Manda Rigby, the Cabinet Member for Transport and Councillor David Wood, deputy council leader and Cabinet Member for Council Priorities & Delivery.

The decisions are subject to a five-day ‘call-in’ period. If the decision is not called in within that period, the council will start the process of installing the trials under Experimental Traffic Regulation Orders.

Three linked trials in the Lower Lansdown and Circus area are being introduced with the aim of addressing “excessive though traffic” on residential roads commonly used as shortcuts to and from the A46/M4. These include: • A through-traffic restriction on Catharine Place between its junction with Margaret’s Buildings and Rivers Street Mews.

• A through-traffic restriction on Winifred’s Lane (south of its junction with Somerset Lane), supplemented by a no-rightturn onto Sion Hill from the northern end of Cavendish Road.

• A no-entry for motorised vehicles into Gay Street from the George Street junction; and a left-turn only into George Street from this section of Gay Street to prevent southbound vehicles from travelling straight

on to Queen Square. Gay Street would remain two-way with access from the Circus or via the left-only turn into George Street.

In Sydney Road, a through-traffic restriction at its junction with New Sydney Place would be trialled to prevent motorists from using the street to avoid the busy A36/Bathwick Street junction.

Additionally, the scheme would feature the removal of the dedicated left-turn lane into Sydney Road from Warminster Road (southbound) to stop traffic from using the road.

A petition has been launched on 38Degrees in opposition to the trial on Sydney Road, and has already gained more than 3,500 signatures.

Finally, a formal one-way loop would be created from Newbridge Road along Charmouth Road, Lyme Road and Lyme Gardens (Newbridge), while access for cyclists would be maintained in both directions.

The aim is to relieve congestion at school times while encouraging more active travel to and from Newbridge School.

The trial interventions are part of Bath & North East Somerset Council’s ongoing Liveable Neighbourhood Programme.

The local authority says the aim is to address excessive traffic in residential areas, and to create safer, healthier routes for those that choose to walk or cycle.

Vehicle access to homes and businesses would be maintained under the schemes.

Experimental Traffic Regulation Orders are installed for a minimum of six months and a maximum of 18 months while residents’ views are sought.

The council has said it would also monitor any impacts on traffic, air quality and active travel.

No permanent decisions are made until all the consultation feedback and the monitoring

data has been considered.

Councillor Manda Rigby, Cabinet Member for Transport, said: “Since we announced the proposals in December, lots of residents have contacted us – with a very wide range of views.

“We’ve given very careful consideration to all the views put forward and I have decided to proceed with the ETROs in trials at Charmouth Road, Lyme Road and Lyme Gardens and the three ETROs in the Lower Lansdown and Circus area.

“Some of those not in favour of the plans have expressed concerns about traffic displacement, and this will be very closely monitored to see if in reality these concerns are justified and then either further mitigations will be put in place or the trial would not be made permanent.

“We are committed to delivering our Liveable Neighbourhood programme because we want to create more equitable streets where everyone is safe, regardless of whether they drive, walk or cycle. But we want to base our final decisions on evidence, and ETRO trials let us do this.

“We will not reach a final decision on whether to make them permanent until consultation feedback and all supporting evidence – such as traffic monitoring data – is considered.”

Councillor David Wood, deputy council leader and Cabinet Member for Council Priorities & Delivery, said: “I have considered carefully the comments we received on the Sydney Road proposal and have decided to proceed with this trial scheme which will be closely monitored.”

Councillor Joel Hirst, Cabinet project lead for Liveable Neighbourhoods and Residential Parking Zones, added: “We will continue to run a period of informal engagement until the trials are installed to ensure we adequately address concerns.”

Friday 9th February - Thursday 22nd February 2024

School football team to represent Somerset

From left to right, back row: Mr Keates, Eddie, Theo, Max, Evan & Louie; front row: Woody, Maya, Zachary, Felix & Max

WESTON All Saints Primary School football team emerged triumphant at the Somerset Larger Primary Schools U-11 County Finals.

The team of nine boys and one girl now head into the South West regional finals to represent Somerset.

Hosted at Strode College, all 12 schools present earned their place in the countywide contest by winning local tournaments. WASPS had beaten off stiff competition from 20 other schools in November to be the representative for Bath & North East Somerset.

In near freezing temperatures, WASPS began in free-flowing form, winning the first game 4-1.

Goals proved harder to find as the group stage progressed, however.

Their final position hinged on the last pool match, where a late winner secured a vital three points and a place in the final four.

A highly competitive 2-1 victory in the semi-final gave WASPS the opportunity to claim the title of best primary school team in Somerset and return home with another trophy.

In the final, the team set about dismantling a strong side from Selwood Academy with the same endeavour and team spirit that

has made them so competitive this year.

Another solid defensive display laid the foundation for a 2-0 victory and cries of delight greeted the final whistle.

“We know that we can play well as a team, but I was really shocked that we were able to win this competition,” said midfielder Theo Medlock, 10.

“Our teacher, Mr Keates, has inspired us to see what we can achieve together. We are all good friends and no one is greedy – we all work for each other.”

If the team were to triumph in further phases of the competition, the prospect of a national final played on the pitch at Wembley awaits. “That would be incredible, to walk out the tunnel and see the crowd,” said winger Max Garan, 11. “But we are just focusing on the next tournament for now.”

Voted Player of the Final, Maya Sandles, 10, was the sole female in the final four teams.

She said: “It is cool to be there playing for my school, and now we get to do it for Somerset too.

I think anyone that likes to play sports should just go for it.”

Year 6 teacher and football coach Mr Keates said: “They are so deserving of this achievement – it has all been about their spirit and togetherness.”

reinstate their energy bill support scheme, which ended in April last year, to bring rising costs down for local traders. I worry that without financial support, we could see the diverse, independent shops that bring so much life to our city replaced by unremarkable large chain companies.

I also used my voice in Parliament to advocate for the many people of Bath who have been affected by HMRC’s atrocious management of the Loan Charge.

Ill-advised people who were simply acting in good faith have been hounded and intimidated, sometimes leaving their lives destroyed.

I called on the government to undertake an independent review

of the Loan Charge.

I urge anyone in our community affected by this colossal policy failure to get in touch with my office and I will do my best to support you.

The end of January marked Holocaust Memorial Day, an occasion very close to my heart. My mother's family were persecuted by the Nazi regime.

We must remember that the atrocities of the Holocaust first began by creating communities of division and hatred, and we must work to ensure that, as well as commemorating its victims, we prevent the same prejudice from rearing its head in today’s society. I will continue to stand up against intolerance and exclusion in all its forms.

COLUMN | Wera Hobhouse, Liberal Democrat MP for Bath

A

S we mark the beginning of February, I look back on the last month in which I met inspiring residents, supported local campaigns, and championed our city in Parliament.

I would first like to recognise the 850th anniversary of St. John’s Foundation which I celebrated last week alongside Her Majesty The Queen at the wonderful Bath Abbey.

I am glad that the inspirational work of St John’s has been appreciated by so many. For 850 years, the charity has been working tirelessly to reduce inequalities, ensuring that all children in our community have access to education.

St Gregory’s Catholic College has also been recognised for its exceptional contribution to educa-

tion within our community. The school was accredited by the British Council, achieving the International School Award for their work in language education and incorporating an international focus to their curriculum.

Another brilliant school initiative that deserves recognition is Bath Student Parliament which comprises representatives from 11 local secondary schools.

It is inspiring to see young people passionately engage with local and international political issues.

We have much to learn from their enthusiasm for collaboration and change.

After the closure of our beloved music venue Moles, I spent much of January considering ways we can keep our nightlife and hospitality industries alive and thriving

in Bath. I met with Walcot House to discuss challenges to the night-time economy following rising costs since the pandemic. I also celebrated the 90th anniversary of Bath Forum, where they presented their Impact Report.

Bringing local and international acts to the stage, the Forum is central to our city’s entertainment scene and night-time economy.

I have championed Bath’s wonderful hospitality industry many times in Parliament. This month was no exception. After meeting with Walcot House and Bath Forum, I illuminated the financial challenges hitting the sector in the House of Commons.

I slammed the government for letting Bath businesses down in a recent debate, calling for them to

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.

h a l l m a r kc a re h o m e s . c o. u k

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Friday 9th February - Thursday 22nd February 2024

www.bathecho.co.uk

Pictures from the Past

The metamorphosis of Bath

Southgate from 1969 to 2007 Kirsten Elliott Akeman Press

THE 1960s were not a good time for Bath’s historic buildings.

The grand showpieces were recognised as important, but many of what planners considered less important buildings were reduced to rubble, despite impassioned pleas by conservationists. Notable among these was John Betjeman, with his poem The Newest Bath Guide as well as the London developer’s voice in his ear in one of his films about the city.

But the book which finally stopped the rot was undoubtedly The Sack of Bath by Adam Fergusson, written in 1973. Perhaps the structure which had most infuriated him was the Southgate Centre, constructed in 1971.

There had been a report on plans for Southgate in 1969, and once again the old buildings were described as obsolete, which, according to the report meant ‘the area is not at present making its proper contribution to the functioning of the central area’.

It was exactly the sort of planning-speak that Betjeman had condemned, and the council had entered into partnership with a developer, just as he feared.

With indecent haste, the old buildings were torn down, their demise almost certainly hastened by news that more buildings were about to be added to the National Heritage List, including those that hitherto had been disregarded.

There was support for Bath having modern buildings but what possessed the developers and the council to turn to the Brutalist architect Owen Luder, we may never know.

His development at Portsmouth, the Tricorn, was once voted the United Kingdom’s most hated building. The Southgate Centre, while less aggressive, certainly sat unhappily in the streetscape, with its featureless slabs relieved by depressing brown insets.

Viewed from on high, in this case from the even uglier multi-storey car park, the strange structures on the roof became visible, which did nothing to improve its popularity, and corners like this one appeared very bleak, despite the planters.

Nevertheless, it did have many userfriendly features, such as canopies over shop fronts, which protected shoppers from the rain, as did the covered way

The bottom of Southgate Street

Looking out from the former Ham Gardens car park

How the Southgate Centre once looked

Demolition works underway at the site in 2007

through it.

For anyone with a small child in tow, it was a very safe and pollution-free environment.

Nevertheless, after much campaigning, in 2007 down it came.

At the time, Owen Luder said he could see that Bath had outgrown it, but he had doubts about the replacement. Well he might.

The artist Peter Coard, who with his

wife Ruth started the Bath Buildings Record, made a case for not replacing lost buildings with fake Georgian, saying it would come to be viewed in future years as ‘no more acceptable than Victorian historicism is today,’ but a Disneyesque fake Georgian is what we got in its place.

Unesco was not impressed, saying ‘It is regrettable that the new shopping centre was built using a “pastiche” architectural style ... but it is not a solution … to copy

or create more or less historic façades with several historic details which have never existed. It seems necessary to state that "pastiche architecture" does not constitute an appropriate mean of structural intervention.’

It is a plea that is still falling on deaf ears.

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COLUMN | Mark Shelford, Conservative Police and Crime Commissioner

I

am deeply saddened by the recent shocking and senseless deaths of two boys, aged only 15 and 16, in South Bristol.

The grief being felt by the families of those boys and the impact it will have on their loved ones, as well as the wider community, is unimaginable. This, along with the commencement of the trial of the boys accused of the tragic murder of Mikey Roynon, means that the importance of preventing knife crime and stopping young people from coming to harm must be at the forefront of all our minds. This is

an area of focus for our Violence Reduction Partnership, which provides education, mentoring, and employs a communitybased approach to prevent these tragic crimes.

Additionally, to encourage people to safely discard any knives and weapons they are carrying, Avon and Somerset Police have installed weapon surrender bins across Avon and Somerset and lifesaving bleed control kits designed to control bleeding after someone suffers a traumatic injury.

Many of you will be aware that Avon and Somerset Police

are featured in a three-part documentary series on Channel 4 that looks behind the scenes at how their Professional Standards Department investigates police misconduct cases.

I fully support Chief Constable Sarah Crew’s decision to invite the Channel 4 team into the Professional Standards Department and Counter Corruption Unit to follow the important work they do.

The challenges around trust and confidence in the police nationally have been welldocumented, and Avon and

Somerset Police are demonstrating that, to bring about longterm culture change, transparency and openness are vital.

While the documentaries are upsetting to watch, focusing on cases relating to mental health, race, and sexual misconduct, I see it as fundamental to bringing about a whole-system, sustainable change in policing culture and leadership. Police officers need to operate within a supportive and reflective practice culture where illegal actions are

rightly investigated.

Finally, in February, we have Safer Internet Day. I want to take this opportunity to remind you of the need for robust cybersecurity measures: Use strong and unique passwords for each online account you hold and exercise caution when clicking on links or providing personal information online.

If you stay vigilant, you can protect your information from falling into the wrong hands and can be part of creating a safer internet experience for everyone.

Issue 071

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Your City, Your News - Bath Echo

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Across

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2 Kind of party (9) 8 Wheel shaft (4) 9 Global promoter of peaceful nuclear energy (1,1,1,1) 10 Patella (7) 11 Woman's garment (6) 12 If you're in this, you're inside (4) 13 He wrote "Hell is other people" (6) 14 Go around and around (5) 15 Screen or religious image (4) 17 Ornamental coronet (5) 18 Repast for a late riser (6) 20 Brandy (6) 23 The German state (5) 24 Kerfuffle (4) 26 On the quiet (5) 27 Strives and makes an effort (6) 29 Crude cartel (1,1,1,1) 31 Agency promoting children's well-being (1,1,1,1,2) 32 Tyros (7) 33 GMT alias (4) 34 A great deal (4) 35 Sensitive to criticism (9)

1 Such as Marco Polo (8) 2 Inca descendant (8) 3 Finds pleasing (5) 4 1971 Sidney Poitier film (3,12) 5 Domestic pest (9) 6 Sealed for secrecy? (4) 7 Adolf's ally (6) 16 Cell occupant (3) 17 Unhorsed (6,3) 19 Black light (2,1) 21 Easily fooled (8) 22 Sicknesses (8) 25 Appears suddenly (4,2) 28 Fish dish (5) 30 Heavy wet snow (4)

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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 The uniquely characterful Budo (Argyle Street) are opening their kitchen for a workshop not to be missed! Join Chef Dave on the evening of Tuesday 13th February and learn to make the perfect Gyoza – a staple of Japanese cuisine – while sipping Kai-Brew rice lager, made in collaboration with Kettlesmith.

This is a workshop not to be missed! (£40pp; booking essential) https://bit.ly/4bmb4R7 Grab a pal who loves pizza and get yourself along to Flourish (Saltford) on Friday 16th

February for Palentine's Pizza Night: the perfect opportunity to catch up over cool cocktails and meet your mate over some melty mozzarella. 2/3-courses plus a cocktail for £22/£25 – live music from cool balladeer Sam Eason comes as standard. https://bit.ly/3SlU9Fi Supper Clubs are back on the menu at Always Sunday Town+House (Thomas Street/ London Road).

If you've left it too late to book for the fabulous French-inspired 8-course feast on Thursday 15th February, the Viva La France

theme returns on Thursday 2nd March (4-courses/£28.50pp) https://bit.ly/3UuxHwo 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!” (£60pp) themoorfields.com/whats-on

Celebrate and explore the nuanced profiles of Glenmorangie single malt whiskies - each dram representing a chapter in a story of tradition and meticulous artistry – at The Hideout's first Whisky Tasting of 2024 on Thursday 22nd February.

Expect an unforgettable sipping and savouring experience as guests are guided through a journey from the smoothness of The Original to the warming embrace of The Lasanta in the characterful surroundings of The Hideout's Lilliput Court HQ – cheers! (£25pp) https://bit.ly/49glsbi

Indulge your senses at the Royal Crescent Hotel's exquisite Italian Wine Dinner on Thursday 29th February.

Following a sumptuous canapés reception, a meticulouslycrafted 4-course menu will be perfectly accompanied by a fascinating selection of Brunello di Montalcino wines of Capanna, who will be hosting what promises to be an enchanting gastronomic experience. https://bit.ly/49mtZZX Melissa regularly reviews restaurants. Read more at: www.theprandialplayground.uk

Recipe: Baked Prawn and Red Pepper Risotto Risotto has a ritual-laden reputation that can be rather off-putting to the domestic cook.

But as is the case with most classic dishes, there's a shortcut to success that doesn't detract from a superb end result – and in this instance, oven-baked risotto is the way forward.

Ingredients (serves 4) • 2 tbsp butter • 2 tbsp olive oil • 2 shallots, peeled and finely-chopped • 1 large red pepper, deseeded and sliced • 2 garlic cloves, peeled and finely-sliced • ½ tsp dried chilli flakes • 150g arborio risotto rice • 125ml dry white wine • 600ml hot fish, chicken or vegetable stock • 300g raw king prawns, defrosted if frozen • 150g frozen garden peas • The zest and juice of 1 lemon

Method • Preheat the oven to 180c/gas mark 4 and put a shallow 1.5l ovenproof dish on the middle shelf to warm up.

• Melt the butter with the olive oil in a large, non-stick frying pan over a medium heat.

• Add the shallots and red pepper and sauté for 4-5 minutes or until soft, adding the garlic and dried chilli flakes for the last minute or so.

• Add the rice and stir well to thoroughly combine all the ingredients before adding the wine and allowing the mixture to bubble briefly until the wine has reduced and the alcohol evaporated.

• Transfer the mixture to the oven-warmed dish and cover with the hot stock.

• Stir well and bake uncovered in the oven for 20-25 minutes until the stock has almost been completely absorbed by the rice, which should be just about al dente at this stage.

• Remove the dish from the oven and add the prawns, peas and lemon zest. Season with salt and white pepper, stir well and bake for another 5 minutes until the prawns have turned pink and the peas have heated through.

• Allow the risotto to settle for 3-5 minutes before serving in warm bowls.

Issue 071

P9 9

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What's On Stargazing Tour

Friday 9th February - Thursday 22nd February 2024 Family Fun: Puzzle Purses

Bath Craft Fair

Dyrham Park 9th – 18th February Join us to seek out and find things in nature around the 270-acre site. Young explorers can take a nature spotter sheet to track down and tick off a selection of objects that can be found on site.

No.1 Royal Crescent 10th – 18th February Make and decorate a Puzzle Purse.

These popular 18th century Valentine’s gifts are a perfect way to show someone some love! Drop-in activity, no booking required. Free with Museum entry.

Weston Free Church (Moravian) 10th February, 12 - 4pm Come along to our first craft fair of 2024.

Featuring over 20 stalls, in both the hall and church, selling cards, decorations, jewellery, accessories, books and more, perfect for Valentine's Day!

Valentine's at Prior Park

Sleuth

Dark Skies Appreciation

Prior Park Gardens 10th – 18th February The National Trust will be decorating the Palladian Bridge for those looking to take a romantic walk. The arches will be adorned with foliage to create a picture opportunity - perfect for a stroll.

Theatre Royal 12th – 17th February A young man arrives at the impressive home of a famous mystery writer, only to be unwittingly drawn into a tangled web of intrigue and gamesmanship, where nothing is quite as it seems...

The Herschel Museum of Astronomy 14th February, 6.30pm - 8.30pm Visit the Herschel Museum of Astronomy to stargaze with the Bath Astronomers from the very garden William Herschel discovered the Planet Uranus on the 13th March 1781.

Carrie The Musical

Bath Bachfest

Bath Opera – Handel's Semele

Alice in Wonderland

The Rondo Theatre 14th – 17th February When the onslaught from her fellow classmates and her religious fanatic mother becomes unbearable, Carrie White searches for an escape from her social exile.

Various Locations 15th – 17th February Celebrating the music of Johann Sebastian Bach and his contemporaries, this midwinter festival offers music lovers respite from the darkest days and is guaranteed to raise spirits.

The Roper Theatre 15th – 17th February Like 'The Messiah'? You will love Semele! Nine glorious choruses enhance the story of Jupiter taking the mortal Princess Semele to be his mistress. It does not end well...or does it?

The Mission Theatre 15th & 16th February Will Alice find her way out of Wonderland and make it home to her cat, Dinah? Filled with Folksy's touch of live music, bold characters, puppetry, and audience interaction.

An Evening with Lorraine Kelly

Fruit Tree Grafting Workshop

Puccini Madama Butterfly

The Book of Secrets with Xinran

The Forum 21st February, 7.30pm This award-winning Opera returns in a new production with exquisite sets including a spectacular Japanese garden and fabulous costumes including antique wedding kimonos from Japan.

Mr B's Emporium 22nd February, 6.30pm Mr B's Emporium is honoured to welcome internationally acclaimed journalist, writer and activist, Xinran, to discuss her extraordinary new book, The Book of Secrets.

Bath Abbey 9th – 16th February Would you like to spot planets and stars from the top of one of Bath's historic buildings? Join Bath Abbey and Bath Astronomers for live stargazing at the top of Bath Abbey's tower.

Lunar New Year The MEAA 10th February, 11am – 4pm The Museum of East Asian Art will be running a fun-filled day for all the family at the Bath Assembly Rooms. Learn about the history and customs of this festival and take part in activities.

February Half Term Fun

St Swithin’s Church Bath City Farm 17th February, 7.30pm 17th February, 10am - 12pm Inspired by her deep love for the Orkney Matt McCabe will be coming to the farm Islands and its people, with echoes of in order to run this fantastic hands-on Maeve Binchy, The Island Swimmer is workshop for those wanting to learn the captivating debut novel from the how to graft fruit trees. presenter, journalist and author. cost 11:10 £30 per person.

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Friday 9th February - Thursday 22nd February 2024

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Health Screening test introduced to identify heart problems in babies

Two charities benefit from market donations

A NEW screening test has been introduced at the Royal United Hospital which can help to identify newborns with heart defects.

Newborn Pulse Oximetry Screening, which measures a baby’s blood oxygen levels, is currently being rolled out to babies born at the RUH’s Bath Birthing Centre and, thanks to a donation of equipment from the charity Tiny Tickers, will be extended to Frome and Chippenham birth centres and babies born at home later this year.

The screening is not a mandatory requirement for hospitals in the UK, but has been found to help identify babies who have critical congenital heart disease before they become unwell, as well as spotting those with breathing problems such as pneumonia.

The test is carried out using a pulse oximeter, a special machine that is used routinely throughout the world to measure the amount of oxygen in the blood.

TWO charities that provide vital medical and healthcare in and around the Bath area have received a total of £3,000 in donations from a Bath Christmas Market stallholder.

DSC Event Catering Ltd, a longstanding caterer at the market, has made a donation of £1,500 each to the Bath hospital charity RUHX and the Great Western Air Ambulance Charity (GWAAC).

The good causes were picked at random from the pool of charities which attended Bath Christmas Market 2023.

Philippa Walker, supporter engagement coordinator at GWAAC, said: “Great Western Air Ambulance Charity attended 101 critically ill or injured people who needed the urgent response of our specialist crew in Bath and North East Somerset in 2023, an increase from 94 missions in 2022. Receiving no day-to-day government funding, we are only able to continue to be there because of the support of our community.

Nurse Andrea Mayes with baby George, mum Lauren and dad Max | Photo © RUH

A small probe is wrapped around the baby’s hand and foot and connected to a small, handheld machine that measures the baby’s oxygen levels by shining a light through the skin.

Chris Tate, Consultant Paediatrician, said: “This screening is quick and painless and has been found to be really successful in identifying babies born with heart defects.

“By identifying heart problems at such an early stage babies can get the care and treatment they need.

“I would like to thank Tiny Tickers who have generously donated more monitors to us, which means we can now roll out the testing to the local community.”

On average, approximately 4,500 babies are born each year at the RUH and in the Frome and Chippenham birth centres.

“We are therefore so grateful to DSC Caterers for this generous donation and Bath Christmas Market for making a space for local charities like ours. With each mission costing £2,000, this gift will go directly towards getting our crew, with their expert skills and equipment, to a patient fast – ultimately, giving someone in our shared community the best chance of survival.”

RUHX supports Bath’s NHS trust and local community partners to help people in Bath & North East Somerset and the surrounding areas live healthier and happier lives, including by funding innovative new healthcare technologies or tackling health inequalities.

Ruby Guymer-Parker, community and volunteer officer at RUHX, said: “We would like to say a huge thank you to Bath Christmas Market for organising this generous donation which will help to make our place healthier, happier and stronger for the future.”

Centre of excellence for dementia planned after review Becky Feather Reporter

THERE are plans to develop Cleeve Court in Twerton into a centre of excellence for dementia care following a review of three council-run community resource centres in Bath and North East Somerset.

There was a recent consultation with residents, families, staff and the wider community about the future of the community resource centres (CRCs) at Cleeve Court, Charlton House in Keynsham and Combe Lea in Midsomer Norton.

A new report recommends developing the service at Cleeve Court, which currently has 45 registered care beds, to support people with complex dementia in a residential setting, including those with early onset dementia, and to not seek nursing registration from the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

As a specialist dementia home, Cleeve Court would be able to accommodate more complex dementia needs than a nonspecialist facility which would reduce the need for transfers to nursing care.

The review also recommends providing a new residential special school and children’s home at Charlton House which is registered to provide 30 adult nursing care beds over two

separate floors but currently has just 10 residents.

In October 2022 Charlton House received a rating of ‘inadequate’ from the CQC which has since been revised to ‘requires improvement’ following significant changes to the operational running of the home.

The cost of delivering nursing care is said to be significantly higher for the council, compared to the independent market and there is sufficient capacity in the residential and nursing home market coupled with the commissioning plans for further nursing care.

Under the proposals, Charlton House would close on 31st March.

The building would, following works, become a new residential special school with 16 places for children aged from 11 to 16, with an attached children’s home with two four-bed units.

At Combe Lea, which currently provides 30 registered care beds, there are plans to enable younger people with more complex needs to remain closer to home.

Concerns were expressed through the recent consultation regarding younger and older people living together at the centre in Midsomer Norton.

However, the council says there is significant research that demonstrates inter-generational activities can provide a range of benefits for both older adults

The proposals would see Charlton House in Keynsham turned into a residential special school

in care homes and younger generations; bringing together different age groups can combat loneliness, improve physical and cognitive health, and increase empathy and understanding.

Councillors have been asked to back a proposal to offer community groups and charitable organisations use of the day centre spaces at the community resource centres at a reduced rental rate which would reinstate the original purpose of the CRCs where, pre-Covid, all the community space was used by a wide of voluntary and community groups.

The report, which went before a scrutiny meeting of councillors on Monday 5th February and

then to the cabinet for approval on Thursday 8th February, says the council was successful in securing £4m through the Government-led Safety Valve Project which would allow it to provide local places for the highest need children and young people that are currently placed residentially out of the area.

An additional £1m is also being allocated through the High Needs Grant allocation.

In total, the council says it received 45 submissions on the care review proposals. More than half (53%) of responses were positive, nearly a third (31%) disagreed and 16% were unsure.

Cllr Alison Born, cabinet member for adult services, said: “I would

like to thank everyone who took part in the consultation – we have listened to all comments and concerns – and I want to reassure residents and families particularly at Charlton House that if these changes go ahead, we will continue to work with them to ensure the move to their new home is fully supported.

“At the heart of both the review and these proposals is our aim to improve services for the most vulnerable and ensure we are focusing on areas of highest and most complex need.”

Extra Care schemes and sheltered housing provision currently provided at CRC sites in partnership with housing providers would not be affected.

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Issue 071

P11

Your City, Your News - Bath Echo

Community

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

Charity on the lookout for residents Battery suspected as to join swimming challenge cause of bin lorry fire CHARITY Diabetes UK is on the lookout for people across the Bath area to take part in a sponsored swimming challenge, helping to raise vital funds.

The Swim22 challenge runs between 22nd March and 22nd June and involves swimming a total of 22 miles – the same width as the English Channel.

Participants can take on the challenge at their own pace, in their local pool or the open water, accumulating the miles across the course of the 12 weeks.

All funds raised will go towards Diabetes UK’s work, funding life-saving research and helping people living with diabetes to get the care and support they need.

Actor and Diabetes UK supporter Annette Badland, whose credits include EastEnders, Doctor Who, Midsomer Murders and awardwinning comedy Ted Lasso, is encouraging people to take part in the challenge after completing it twice herself.

Annette said: “Diabetes UK’s Swim22 challenge is a fantastic way to find a fitter, more

confident you. I know first-hand that swimming 22 miles over 12 weeks is no mean feat – but the sense of accomplishment you get at the end of the challenge is unmatchable.

“You’ll feel a boost in your mood after every swim and knowing your fundraising efforts are going towards supporting people affected by diabetes makes all those more challenging swims so worthwhile.”

Phaedra Perry, Head of Diabetes UK – south west and south central, added: “Whether you haven’t swum in a while or you’re a seasoned swimmer, our team will be on hand to offer swimming tips and fundraising advice along the way.

“By taking on Swim22, you’ll not only be swimming towards a healthier you. The money you raise will help fund our vital work, including the development of life-changing treatments and supporting people to live well with diabetes.

“So, please, sign up to Swim22 and make a splash for Diabetes UK.” In addition to the standard 22mile distance, there are two other challenges to choose from.

Participants can do ‘The Half’, covering 11 miles – half the distance to France and still an impressive feat.

More experienced swimmers may wish to take on ‘The Double’ – swimming 44 miles, the equivalent of swimming to France and back again.

There are rewards on offer for challengers, including a Swim22 swimming cap, three unique distance medals, to a limitededition towel for anyone who raises more than £350.

To register for Swim22, visit swim22.diabetes.org.uk.

There is no registration fee and no minimum sponsorship.

The fire in the bin lorry | Photo © B&NES Council

Becky Feather Reporter

A FIRE in a bin lorry in Bath is being blamed on a battery that had been thrown away in somebody’s rubbish.

Bath & North East Somerset Council said the collection truck caught fire on Friday 26th January, while emptying bins from homes in the city and the fire service suspected the cause was a discarded battery.

The council asks residents to put batteries in a clear bag in their green box with their weekly recycling.

In a post of social media, the local

authority said: “Help us keep our crews safe and protect the local environment.”

In June 2022, a large fire at South Gloucestershire Council’s recycling centre in Mangotsfield was caused by a battery or electrical item in the nonrecyclable waste area.

Lithium-ion batteries or liion batteries are lightweight, rechargeable batteries found in many electrical devices, from mobility scooters to e-cigarettes and are used safely by millions of people every day.

However, they can present a risk when over-charged, shortcircuited, submerged in water, or damaged.

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Education

Friday 9th February - Thursday 22nd February 2024

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“Disappointment” after Bath College downgraded by Ofsted Becky Feather Reporter

BATH College has been told it needs to make improvements following an Ofsted inspection.

College leaders have spoken of their disappointment and highlighted the “significant pressure” that the four-day inspection placed on staff.

The previous two Ofsted reports – published in 2018 and 2013 – had rated the further education college as Good.

But in the report published on Monday 29th January, following the visit by a team of 12 inspectors last October, the college has dropped a grade.

At the time of the inspection, around 2,000 students aged 16 to 18, 2,000 adult learners, and 630 apprentices were studying at the college, which has two main sites; in the city centre and the Somer Valley campus in Radstock.

Principal Jayne Davis said: “We’re naturally disappointed that the Ofsted judgement is not the Good grade we were expecting, and we are working on the issues raised in the report.

“While we are pleased that inspectors recognised the strength of our education programmes for young people, our subcontracting partnerships, the quality of our work with high needs students and the positive behaviour and attitudes of our students, there is progress to be

Bath College's campus in Bath is located on Avon Street | Photo © Bath College

made elsewhere.

“The college is therefore addressing those areas identified as requiring improvement.”

Those categories are quality of education; leadership and management; adult learning programmes; apprenticeships; and students’ personal development.

The Ofsted report acknowledges that leaders and managers have started to take appropriate actions to improve the curriculum planning and monitoring of progress for apprenticeships, but

that these improvements are new and have yet to have an impact.

The inspectors also noted that leaders have recognised previous weaknesses in highneeds provision and managers have taken action to make improvements that are now having a positive impact.

The college’s chair of governors Andy Salmon said: “While we recognise that there are legitimate challenges within the report and would want an Ofsted re-inspection as soon as possible to demonstrate our progress in

those areas, it is also important to say that the inspection and appeals process, as has been highlighted in recent months, does not allow for a nuanced and balanced view of an institution.

“It also places significant pressure on the many staff involved and we would like to take this opportunity to thank those staff and other partners who supported the college in the inspection and for all they do for the local area and region’s young people, adults, apprentices, distance learners, community

learners and high needs learners.

“Our focus now is on addressing the challenges swiftly and build on the strengths.”

Current and planned actions by the college to address challenges identified by Ofsted include: • Programmes to provide specific support to staff in areas where skills support has been identified, including a new process where a team of experts will be meeting with all areas which need additional help regularly to ensure that the provision is supported, challenged and improves at pace. development • Additional support for staff, including a new mentor programme.

• New software to enable a consistent approach to monitoring progress reviews in all apprenticeship programmes.

• Restructuring of the business development team under new leadership to create more opportunities for a diverse range of work-related activities for students and learners and greater employer input into curriculum design.

• Revised teaching and learning strategy.

• A new structure for student services.

• New ways of working virtually and more innovatively with microbusiness to ensure they have a full part in developing the curriculum.

Green light for teaching St Gregory’s wins International block at Oldfield School School Award again

Oldfield School in Bath | Image © Google Street View / Google 2024

OLDFIELD School at Newbridge in Bath has been granted planning permission for an extension that will significantly improve teaching facilities.

Bath & North East Somerset Council planners have approved a new two-storey teaching block at the secondary academy on Kelston Road.

The 1,243-pupil school falls within the Green Belt. The new building will be on scrub and grassland at the rear of the dance studio and science block.

There will be two classrooms for design and technology including a food technology kitchen/ classroom and science labs.

The school says at present it does

not have suitable classroom facilities to accommodate all design technology, food technology and science lessons.

The result of the overcrowding and shortfall issue is that, for example, science lessons are taught in classrooms where there is no access to equipment and infrastructure, such as Bunsen burners.

Food technology teaching also has very specific equipment needs, such as food preparation and cooking facilities, which are not transferrable between classrooms. There has been concern that these shortcomings could harm pupil attainment and Ofsted ratings.

ST GREGORY’S Catholic College in Bath has once again been awarded the British Council’s prestigious International School Award in recognition of its repeated success to bring the world into the classroom via links around the globe.

The secondary school in Combe Hay Lane first won the award in 2014.

Scott McDonald, chief executive of the British Council, said: “The school has earned this prestigious award through its inspirational international work and links with schools abroad.

“The International School Award is a chance for schools to be recognised for their important work in bringing the world into their classrooms. This is especially commendable when schools have been deeply affected by the global pandemic.”

Internationalism is embedded throughout St Gregory’s, providing opportunities for students to prepare themselves as global citizens, and to become more aware of social, economic and political issues that affect

people worldwide.

The school has well established educational partnerships across many European countries, as well as partner schools further afield in countries such as China, India and Japan.

Each year St Gregory’s hosts many visiting students and teachers from schools around the world, offering insights into the English education system and the cultural richness of Bath.

In addition to hosting international guests, St Gregory’s also participates in the British Council’s Mandarin Excellence Programme. This intensive language and cultural programme allows students to gain fluency in Mandarin, a key global language.

The programme is a popular language pathway for Year 7 students, who can visit China at the end of Year 9.

Headteacher Melissa George said she was honoured to collect the award at a special ceremony at the Houses of Parliament in January.

She said: “St Gregory’s have now

held this prestigious award since 2014, recognising the outstanding international dimension of our curriculum, a remarkable achievement.

“We are delighted to have strong relationships and global partnerships with schools around the world and we are always seeking ways to provide our students with opportunities and experiences to look outwards and learn about other languages, people and cultures.

“We were thrilled to be joined at the ceremony by Wera Hobhouse, our local MP, to help celebrate the award.

“Study visits abroad, coupled with language placements and overseas adventures, provide St Gregory’s students with lifechanging experiences which they will remember as highlights of their time at school.

“This award is testimony to the team, who have all worked so hard to develop these partnerships and opportunities for our young people, creating a lasting legacy of internationalism at our school.”

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Business

Complaints from neighbours over noise coming from Lovehoney

Lovehoney is based on Locksbrook Road in Bath | Image © Google Street View / Google 2024

Becky Feather Reporter

BATH-BASED sex toy company Lovehoney has put in a retrospective planning application for four external heat pumps.

It follows complaints to Bath & North East Somerset Council from people living near the Locksbrook Road warehouse

about the noise of the units.

They are understood to operate intermittently for typically a couple of hours at any time between 4am and 9pm.

A noise impact assessment prepared by consultants says that some form of acoustic enclosure will be required for plant noise emissions to be reduced to an acceptable level.

The report says a 16-decibel reduction is needed.

In its application for retrospective permission, Lovehoney says the new heating and cooling system was installed last year.

It replaced a temporary gas boiler and electric chiller and aims to reduce both the firm’s energy consumption and carbon footprint.

The planning application reference is 24/00055/FUL and the deadline for comments is 29th February.

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Bottles and Boxes www.abbeyales.co.uk

Businesses urged to apply for funding to tackle theft “epidemic” BUSINESSES across the West of England are being urged to take advantage of funding to tackle shoplifting, after recorded cases soared by more than a third in the past year.

For the first time since records started, there were more than 400,000 cases reported to police in England and Wales, according to the ONS. Metro Mayor Dan Norris said the figures are “no surprise” as he once again urged stores to apply for grants from the West of England Combined Authority (WECA) to help fight back.

“Safer Shops West” allows independent shops to receive £2,000 towards the costs of security measures such as CCTV, screens, body cams and handheld radios.

Mr Norris said: “These figures will sadly be of surprise to no one – especially those shopworkers on the frontline of a shoplifting epidemic in the West of England, and across the country.

“This level of out-of-control crime is unsustainable and risks some communities losing local stores.

Launching Safer Shops West Photo © WECA

“For the shops that stay open, they will be forced to put up prices to make up for the lost goods – making this frightening cost-of-living crisis even worse for all.

“I urge shops to get in touch with my Mayoral Combined Authority, and join the crime fightback.”

The Mayor is also campaigning for tougher action from ministers to tackle shoplifting and protect shopworkers, including restoring the number of Police Community Support Officers to 2010 levels, and introducing a standalone offence of assaulting a shopworker.

The region saw a 41% increase in shoplifting in 2023.

Jobs and economy boost for Bath and North East Somerset Becky Feather Reporter

HIGHER wages, increased productivity, greener businesses and more affordable housing were at the heart of a report put before B&NES Council’s cabinet on Thursday 1st February.

It set out a new approach to economic development which prioritises the needs of residents and businesses as well as reducing impacts on the environment.

It will span the decade from 2024 to 2034 and see a 10-point plan which includes increasing takeup locally of the Real Living Wage and delivering Bath’s Fashion Museum and wider Milsom Quarter Masterplan as a flagship for sustainable development.

The strategy is called Building a Fair, Green, Creative and Connected Bath with North East Somerset Economy.

It has been produced in close partnership with the local Future Ambition Board (FAB), which brings together key organisations, as well as Western Gateway, which is the UK’s first pan-regional partnership, and the West of England Combined Authority (WECA).

Cllr Paul Roper, B&NES cabinet member for economic

and cultural sustainable development, said: “In many ways, Bath and North East Somerset’s economy is a success story.

“We have two universities, the Royal United Hospital, thriving market towns, significant businesses, and outstanding heritage and nature sites. Our residents are highly qualified, and unemployment is low.

“However, economic growth in our area over the last 10 years has been sluggish. Because our wages are lower than average, many residents struggle with rising housing costs.

“Growing inequalities in health, employment, and education are creating a two-tier economy; to break this cycle, we need to pursue a sustainable, inclusive model of growth, particularly in the face of the climate and ecological emergencies.”

The new economic strategy has been developed in conjunction with key institutions and businesses, including the city’s two universities.

The University of Bath, which is a FAB member, has welcomed the new approach, saying: “As a major anchor institution, the University of Bath plays a key role in the economic, cultural and environmental well-being of B&NES, contributing £380m per annum to the economy and

supporting 5,950 jobs locally.

“The activities of our students, research and innovation activities contribute to B&NES’ wider ambitions for health, decarbonisation of transport and the built environment.”

Bath Spa University, which is also a FAB member, said: “As The Sunday Times University of the Year for Social Inclusion 2023/24, with a commitment to unlocking opportunities for all our 13,000 students, we embody the local, regional and national strategic leadership through partnership working that underpins this economic strategy.

“As one of only five universities with ‘gold mark’ status as a social enterprise, Bath Spa University is fully engaged with the strategy’s aims, including business growth, innovation and opportunity.”

Housing association Curo, which is also on the Future Ambition Board, said it is proud to be a partner supporting B&NES to deliver the new 10-year economic strategy: “As the largest housing association in B&NES, with more than 10,000 homes and an annual turnover of £150m, we understand the major challenges around housing supply and rent levels.

“The very high ratio of house prices compared to incomes impacts residents and employers; we believe that truly affordable

The Guildhall in Bath

housing needs to be a key part of the solution.”

The economic strategy also reflects work already under way, including promoting opportunities for green and innovative businesses at Bath Quays and the Somer Valley Enterprise Zone (SVEZ) at Old Mills, a 13.5-hectare greenfield area on the north-western edge of Midsomer Norton.

Alongside the report on the economic strategy, the cabinet also received reports on the SVEZ. The council’s vision is for it to become the ‘go-to’ place for new and existing businesses in the Somer Valley area.

Commitments include creating good quality jobs for residents

that will reduce commuting, improving active travel, ensuring public transport is available and tackling the climate and nature emergency by exceeding current biodiversity net gain requirements which make sure that habitat for wildlife is in a better state than it was before development.

The council says the scheme protects Midsomer Norton High Street, minimises the flow of HGVs on local roads, protects air quality and does not allow any drive-thru food outlets that would add litter to the roads.

Cllr Roper added: “Three decades ago, the Somer Valley was almost self-sufficient in terms of quality local employment, but most of those jobs have been lost.

“The work we have done on the Somer Valley Enterprise Zone is a statement of our intent in ensuring that the council uses its powers and influence to create and safeguard high quality local employment.

“We will ensure we have the land that we need to deliver the scheme and attract new employers, creating employment in a sustainable way whilst protecting and meeting our environmental commitments.

“It is expected that we will deliver in the region of 1,300 jobs which will be transformational for the local community.”

Issue 071

P15

Your City, Your News - Bath Echo

Politics

Public Notices

Cost to build new homes “totally out of whack” John Wimperis

Local Democracy Reporter

THE cost of building council houses in Bath has been slammed as “totally out of whack” as it could cost £3.2m to build on land the local authority owns with a company it also owns.

Eight affordable energy-efficient apartments for social rent could be completed in summer 2025 on the site of a former highways depot on the Lower Bristol Road as part of Bath & North East Somerset Council’s £12m B&NES Homes house building programme.

Aequus, a construction company wholly owned by the council, is delivering the “Argyle Works” project at cost.

However, the cost of the works was questioned when Aequus directors were quizzed by the council’s corporate scrutiny panel on 16th January.

Independent councillor Colin Blackburn told directors: “Cost price of £3.2m seems — from what I have been advised by other

Council houses planned for Argyle Works | Image © B&NES Council

surveyors — totally out of whack.”

Managing director of Aequus Tim Richens said that the costs had been tendered and it was just a “pass through” of those costs, which he said had also been looked at by the council itself.

He added: “It is the case some of these sites are quite challenging.

Some of these sites need a lot of work to get to the point where they are developable, so all of

Councillor launches campaign to be MP A COUNCILLOR from the village of Peasedown St John near Bath has announced his intention to stand for parliament in the next General Election.

Gavin Heathcote, who represents Peasedown as an independent councillor, has been involved in some of his local community’s biggest projects in the past few years.

As well as being a councillor, he runs a local charity, organises the Peasedown Party in the Park festival and has been instrumental in a campaign to plant over 500 trees in public and open spaces.

Gavin will stand as an independent candidate in the new Frome and East Somerset Parliamentary Constituency.

He said: “Party politics has let us down for far too long!

Whilst politicians in the major parties squabble over the next newspaper headline, it’s the hardworking people in towns and villages up and down the country that lose out.

“Whilst those of us who work hard and pay our taxes struggle to make ends meet, we have a political establishment that has no idea how those of us in the ‘real world’ struggle to put food on the table and ensure the household bills are paid.”

Gavin has said he wants to do

more to support the middle earners, those that are ‘just about managing’.

He wants to see reforms to the tax system that support those ‘in the middle’ and much more help for small businesses who are being priced out by large companies.

He added: “I’ll be announcing my five key policy areas later in the spring, all of which will focus on the common everyday issues that we all face.”

With the date of the next UK General Election currently unknown, what is certain is that it will be fought under radically new parliamentary boundaries.

Locally, the towns and villages of Midsomer Norton, Radstock, Westfield and Peasedown St John will join with Frome, Coleford and Holcombe to form the new ‘Frome and East Somerset’ Constituency.

Running Gavin’s election campaign for parliament will be B&NES council’s former Deputy Leader Nathan Hartley.

Nathan said: “We’ve developed a winning formula for winning elections in Peasedown that’s worked every time for the last 20 years.

“The challenge though is to see if we can replicate the success of Peasedown’s Independent movement across a much wider geographical area. We certainly have a mountain to climb!”

those costs have to be factored in into some of these sites.”

But Mr Blackburn insisted: “Argyle Works is not a challenging site. It is a flat level site, full access off Lower Bristol Road.” He added that there were flats nearby the council could buy for £1m less than that.

The B&NES Home programme sees the council turn sites and buildings it owns into new

council housing.

The first homes in the scheme opened at 117 Newbridge Hill, a Victorian villa formerly council offices, in January 2023.

Questions were raised at the time about the council’s decision to sell the vacant building to Aequus for £308,000 — nearly £500,000 less than market value — to carry out the works. It was then bought back for £2.16m, a figure determined by a red book valuation.

Profits the company make should come back to the council through an annual £1m dividend it receives as sole shareholder.

But, speaking at the corporate scrutiny panel’s next meeting on 23rd January, chair Robin Moss said: “We are being told we are getting £1m from Aequus, but that £1m has to pay for interest on money that we’ve given to Aequus — so smoke and mirrors to a degree.”

The panel is requesting the council’s property services to come back before them on 12th March to ensure the council is getting value for money.

No plans to increase levy funding for buses John Wimperis

Local Democracy Reporter

COUNCIL funding to pay for buses in the West of England is set to be frozen again this year, as Metro Mayor Dan Norris says that he loses sleep over bus cuts.

The three councils which make up the West of England Combined Authority (WECA) — Bristol City Council, Bath & North East Somerset Council, and South Gloucestershire Council — have said there will again be no increase in the money they pay this year.

But Mr Norris, who heads WECA, has called for them to do so.

He told a scrutiny panel on Monday 22nd January: “I want to ask all councils if they can put that levy up to reflect the need and I would like them to do that.”

A previous freezing of the “transport levy,” which Bristol City Council, Bath & North East Somerset Council, and South Gloucestershire Council pay to the West of England Combined Authority (WECA) for public transport-related spending, coincided with extreme 40% inflation in the bus sector and led to severe bus cuts across the region.

A paper before the WECA committee, which met at Bristol’s MShed on Friday 26th January, said that an increase was “not necessarily required” to maintain the “core spending power” but

warned that this meant more money would be needed in future years.

About a third of the levy is spent on “supported bus services” — buses which are not profitable for bus companies to run on a commercial basis but which councils agree pay for because they are needed by communities.

Since last year’s bus cuts, there are many villages across North East Somerset and vulnerable communities in Bristol that have been left stranded.

Speaking at the scrutiny panel, Mr Norris said: “I take it very seriously. I’m acutely aware that if you’re a person or a community affected by a bus cut, it is a big deal.”

He added: “That’s the one thing I lose sleep about. I’m thinking of the person who’s in a very remote place who could lose their job or maybe can’t take up a job because there isn’t a bus service.”

Unlike other combined authorities, WECA has no powers to raise a tax precept and is therefore reliant on funding from the unitary authorities or central government.

WECA did receive — together with North Somerset Council — a major grant of £106m “bus service improvement plan” (BSIP) funding last year for “new and innovative services” which the councils called on him to use to maintain supported buses, triggering a long-running funding row.

NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR A GRANT OF PREMISES LICENCE UNDER THE LICENSING ACT 2003 Darwin (Bath Mill) Limited applied to Bath & North East Somerset Council on 24th January 2024 for a licence to use the premises at Bath Mill Lodge Retreat, Pennyquick, Newton St.Loe, Bath BA2 9JF for:• the sale by retail of alcohol (on and off premises) Monday to Saturday 10:00 – 00:00 - Sunday 11:00 – 23:30.

• provision of regulated entertainment, performance of live and recorded music (indoors only), - every day 12:00 – 00:00.

• the provision of late night refreshment (indoors and outdoors) - Monday to Saturday 23:00 - 00:00 Sunday 23:00 - 23.30 Non standard timings:• Sale of alcohol from 10:00 on New Year’s Eve until 00:00 on New Year’s Day. • Performance of Live and Recorded Music – From 20:00 until 00:00 on Bank Holidays. From 20:00 on New Year’s Eve until 02:00 on New Year’s Day. • Late Night Refreshment – From 23:00 on New Year’s Eve until 05:00 on New Year’s Day. From 23:00 until 00:00 New Year’s Day. Notification of the application made to the Licensing Authority is available on a register at www.bathnes.gov.uk/ licensing-register.

Representations should be made in writing to: Bath & North East Somerset Council Licensing Services Lewis House Manvers Street Bath BA1 1JG or by email to licensing@bathnes.gov.uk by 23rd February 2024 Representations made will be disclosed in an open meeting should a hearing be necessary.

It is an offence knowingly or recklessly to make a false statement in connection with an application and is subject to a fine of any amount on summary conviction for the offence.

Dated: 02/02/2024

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Friday 9th February - Thursday 22nd February 2024

In Other News

Sporting Fixtures

Warning over bus schemes benefiting the rich John Wimperis

Local Democracy Reporter

NEW bus schemes in the West of England are helping the rich and those who can “exploit the system,” local political leaders have been warned.

The West of England Combined Authority (WECA) received, together with North Somerset Council, a collective £106m of “bus service improvement plan” (BSIP) funding from the government to spend on finding ways to improve bus services in the region.

But the flagship birthday bus scheme and WESTlink are not working as intended, a task and finish group set up to look at the spending has warned.

At the same time, many communities are still with no bus service at all after “savage cuts” to buses across the region last year.

Publicly supported buses were cut after the councils that make up WECA did not increase their “transport levy” — which pays for the buses — in line with the high 40% inflation in the bus sector last year, arguing that Metro Mayor Dan Norris should instead use the BSIP funding to pay for the buses.

Mr Norris said he could not as the money was only for “new and innovative” bus schemes.

But now those schemes have come under fire. A paper from the BSIP task and finish group warned that the birthday bus scheme — which offers people a free bus pass in the month of their birthday — is benefiting the richest 10% of the

One of the WESTlink buses | Photo © John Wimperis

region significantly more than the poorest 10%, and a fares scheme targeted based on age, employment or socio-economic status may work better.

Bristol City councillor Ed Plowden, who authored the paper, also questioned whether increasing passenger numbers could be attributed to the scheme.

The paper also warned: “WESTlink appears to have been poorly planned and procured.”

Introduced in April 2023, WESTlink is a demandresponsive transport (DRT) scheme where minibuses are booked by app and follow flexible routes instead of set timetables.

“The scheme was intended to allow people in areas underserved by public transport to connect to bus route, but the size of the zones people can travel within has led some people to take much longer journeys.”

Mr Norris said: “I think we have

messed up on some of the zones.

I think the zones have been the wrong shape and size.”

He added that WESTlink were not always going to hospitals and train stations and said that needed to change. He said: “We are trying to deal with all those challenges, but it is quite difficult because the rules the government give us are quite strict.”

Mike Bird, a North Somerset councillor, said: “There’s one guy who goes eight miles up the A38 into Bristol every day because of the size of the zone on his own.

And I see 75% of buses going round with nobody on them.”

Bristol City councillor Geoff Gollop said councillors were “shocked” that the people benefiting from WESTlink may have been the people less in need of it, adding that the scheme was “not simply for those who are most IT aware and most able to think how to exploit the system.”

A review of all aspects is currently

underway, and the size of the zones people can travel within is set to shrink.

Mr Norris said it had not been intended to replace supported buses but it said “inevitable” when buses were cut.

He added: “Politicians of each unitary [authority, i.e. council] wanted it to be seen that way because they had to make cuts because they had frozen the levy.”

That was the rationale given

by Bath & North East Somerset Council leader Kevin Guy in February 2023, when explaining why the council was protecting supported bus services in Bath, which was not covered

by WESTlink, while North East Somerset, where WESTlink did launch, lost all almost all of its buses.

The issue was raised in parliament in December by North East Somerset’s MP Jacob Rees-Mogg, who urged the government to cut its funding to WECA over the bus cuts, adding: “It spends it extraordinarily badly on vanity schemes for the mayor.”

Speaking at the scrutiny panel, Mr Norris said WECA’s hands were slightly tied by the government in what they could spend the money on. He said: “If I had freedom to use that money, I would be doing different things.”

He added: “The government have asked for innovative and new and that’s what we are trying to do. So we need to keep innovating; we need to keep trying new stuff.

“But my view is that [WESTlink]’s got potential but that potential is not yet fulfilled by any means. It’s quite a way off where it needs to be.”

Seven homes being provided for refugee families A NATIONAL resettlement scheme will see Afghan and Ukrainian families fleeing conflict move into seven of 22 Government-funded properties in Bath and North East Somerset.

The properties will provide shortterm accommodation for families displaced by war but also provide a long-term legacy of more affordable housing in the area.

The council is working with Aequus Developments, the council’s wholly-owned development company, to add 22 new homes to local affordable housing stock after it secured £3.04m from the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and

Communities’ Local Authority Housing Fund.

Last March councillors at a Full Council meeting agreed on a Memorandum of Understanding with the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLHUC), to provide 22 units of accommodation in return for £3.04m of funding.

The money has been awarded on the condition that the properties will be used to provide homes for families fleeing conflict via the Ukrainian and Afghan resettlement and relocation schemes.

Once there is no further need to house these families, the homes will be permanently available for

other households on the council’s housing register.

The first seven properties have been acquired and work is under way to complete the purchase of the remaining 15 homes.

Families have now started moving into their new homes in locations close to amenities across the district.

Councillor Deborah Collins, Cabinet Project Lead for Leader and for Built Environment & Sustainable Development: said: “Many residents have been hosting families fleeing the conflict in Ukraine since 2022, so the availability of these properties means displaced families will have a home to call their own

which is great for them and at the same time host families will get their spare rooms back.

“It is also good in the long term because it has allowed the council to increase its housing stock which for many years to come, will be available to individuals and families on our waiting list once Ukrainians and Afghans, on approved resettlement schemes, either return home or move on to other accommodation of their choosing.”

Charles Gerrish, chair of Aequus, said: “Bath & North East Somerset Council has a strong record in supporting families fleeing conflict and has welcomed many Ukrainian guests.”

Crossword answers - Issue 070 (26/01/2024) Across: 1 Sparsely, 5 Shrimp, 10 Supporter, 11 Pablo, 12 Listening, 13 Expo, 16 Grinder, 18 Nielsen, 20 Hoe, 21 Runaway, 22 Welfare, 23 Sale, 25 Childhood, 29 Idyll, 30 Inclement, 31 Naples, 32 Fast ball.

Down: 1 Sash, 2 Amphibian, 3 Spotted owl, 4 Latin, 6 Hips, 7 In-box, 8 Pronounces, 9 Brand-new, 14 Aggression, 15 Healthiest, 17 Rhythmic, 19 Soap opera, 24 Lay up, 26 Lycra, 27 Aloe, 28 H T M L.

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