Bath Echo - Issue 088 - 04/10/2024

Useful Information In

Over £5 million allocated to extend LTN scheme

John Wimperis Local Democracy Reporter

BATH & North East Somerset Council has been handed the funding to install “liveable neighbourhoods” across the district, but costs have soared and the programme has been scaled back by almost a third.

The council had previously planned to spend £7.64 million on 15 liveable neighbourhoods, also called “low traffic neighbourhoods” or LTNs, in several areas across the district to make residential streets safer and more pleasant for cycling and walking.

However the number planned has been cut back due to “funding constraints” and the impact of inflation on construction costs. It is now expected to cost £9.45 million to bring in just 11 schemes – with the figure rising to £11.48 million once maintenance costs for the next 20 years are factored in.

The council has now been granted the funding to deliver the schemes by the West of England Combined Authority.

Councillor Rigby said:

“Implementing road schemes is costly and we do have to allow for inflationary measures. Based upon the work to date, our bid could only be an estimate.

Lane and the Avenues area, the Morris Lane and Bannerdown Road area, and the Egerton Road and Cotswold Road area.

said they supported the principles of liveable neighbourhoods but had “suffered” from the council’s handling of the schemes.

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Manda Rigby, Bath & North East Somerset Council’s cabinet member for highways, said:

“I welcome the investment and endorsement which was given by the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority for our liveable neighbourhoods scheme.

“Our aim is to create a choice of healthier, safer active travel routes for people to get around Bath and reduce the need for short car journeys.

“If we are successful, then liveable neighbourhoods would also support the council’s wider aims to tackle the climate emergency.”

Bath & North East Somerset Council itself has put £2.54 million into the project.

On Friday 20th September, the West of England Combined Authority’s committee agreed to give the local authority the rest of the £5.1 million from the government’s City Regional Sustainable Transport Settlement fund that had been earmarked for the project — along with an additional £1.81 million the council now estimates it needs for the schemes.

“Some schemes are more complex and may involve, for example, the development of paths and works on road junctions, so it is inaccurate to suggest each scheme will cost the same amount.

“We will now go back to communities to further consult on producing detailed designs with a budget which allows us to engage, develop and create healthier, safer active travel routes for everyone.”

The full list of the 11 schemes now funded (including four already in place) are:

• Church Street and Prior Park Road

• Whitchurch Village and Queen Charlton

• The Southlands area (Weston)

• New Sydney Place and Sydney Road

• The Lyme Road and Charmouth Road area

• Lower Lansdown and The Circus

• Temple Cloud

• The Pulteney Estate area

• The London Road and Snow Hill area

• Entry Hill

• The Chelsea Road area.

The four schemes that have been dropped amid rising costs are: the Mount Road area, the Oldfield

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The council said it hoped it could still progress ideas in these areas through future funding or other projects.

Councillor Rigby said: “Following Friday’s decision, I would like to reassure residents that we will continue our ongoing engagement with them and with ward councillors, so together we can prioritise the right interventions that will make streets more attractive and where there are issues we will work them through with communities to reach the right balance.”

The council said that the liveable neighbourhood programme aims to reduce the impacts associated with excessive traffic in residential areas, such as through traffic, congestion, and speeding, and to create environments where it is easier, safer, healthier, and more attractive to walk, wheel and cycle.

It stated that, currently, 42 percent of all journeys in Bath are under 3km and done in private vehicles.

But liveable neighbourhoods have been highly controversial in the city. Three Bath locals attended the West of England Combined Authority committee to speak in support of the programme — but a lengthy statement was also submitted from a group of Bathonians who

Three liveable neighbourhoods are already permanently in place on Church Road in Bath, on Queen Charlton Lane near Whitchurch, and — despite protests — on Southlands in Bath. A fourth liveable neighbourhood in place on a trial basis has seen Sydney Road closed to through traffic — and has been so controversial it has been debated in Parliament. The Sydney Road scheme has been welcomed by people on the road who said they had been “freed from the tyranny of the motorcar,” but people living nearby warned it had increased traffic onto neighbouring roads and now “near misses are happening the whole time because of the Sydney Road LTN”. The consultation on the trial closed on 3rd October.

Another trial liveable neighbourhood planned in the area around the city’s iconic Circus was blocked after locals, who warned it would push more traffic past children’s schools, sought an injunction.

The council did not contest the challenge but said it would bring its plans back in future.

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The current traffic restriction on Sydney Road in Bath

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Plans to build on Tufa Field get the green light

Becky Feather Reporter

CONTROVERSIAL council

plans to build 16 supported living units on a rare ecological site in the south of Bath have been approved.

Bath & North East Somerset Council’s planning committee voted in favour of the plans for the Tufa Field.

The site, behind 89 to 123 Englishcombe Lane, adjoins Stirtingale Farm, which is a Site of Nature Conservation Interest, and the designation extends to the land that will be built on.

The site contains Tufa flushes, a rare type of limestone spring, and is home to a variety of wildlife. It is also the natural drainage slope for the hill of Odd Down.

The principle of development was accepted in 2020 when permission was granted, subject to a legal agreement and compliance with a host of conditions, for 27 open-market homes. But the council changed course and announced plans for a “flagship” supported living development for people with autism and learning difficulties.

Planning committee chair Councillor Ian Halsall (Oldfield Park, Lib Dem) stressed as the meeting got under way last Wednesday, 25th September, that the committee is a regulatory body and approval was “not a given” just because the council was the applicant.

The council received 46 objections and five comments of support. Key concerns were the unsuitable location; harm to ecology and biodiversity; loss of trees; harm to the area’s appearance, character and heritage; increased flood risk; overlooking; highway safety issues; issues with the storage and collection of bins; crime and security; and that it will pave the way for more development.

A report said the council's conservation, landscape, archaeology, highways, ecology, arboriculture, drainage and flooding, sustainable construction, environmental health and contamination teams had all reviewed the plans and had no objections.

There will be 10 one-bed singlestorey homes, five two-bed houses (one single-storey and four two-storey) and one threebed single-storey home. They will be in two clusters separated by grassland habitat with a drainage water cascade feature and pond.

There will be a communal hub in the north-west of the site. The development will be surrounded by species-rich grassland and the central southern part will be protected as riparian grassland. The access will be a revised version of the existing one between 87 and 89 Englishcombe Lane and nine trees will be removed. A total of 126 new trees will be planted on the site. There will be parking for eight cars and six cycles.

Senior planning officer David MacFadyen explained that the land is bound by the rear gardens of Englishcombe Lane and Stirtingale Road and Stirtingale Farm; water enters from the farm above and watercourses meander down the centre of the site as the underground channel is blocked. Overland flow will be retained with a new drainage system designed to mitigate impacts and “futureproof” the site. He added that the site’s “unique qualities” will be retained.

The new road on the development must be lightweight to minimise ecological impact, so collection vehicles can’t drive on it. Instead, site staff will take bins to the kerbside at Englishcombe Lane which the officer admitted is “not ideal” but “some compromises” have to made.

Architect and planner

Christopher Pound, on behalf of Richard Cartwright at No 89 Englishcombe Lane, told the committee that bins placed near his client’s front door will be a “wholly unacceptable intrusion”. He described the loss of the nine trees as “very regrettable” and could be avoided with a redesign. Mr Pound also said the council has the chance to buy No 89. Committee member Councillor Toby Simon (Bathwick, Lib Dem) felt the mention of the sale of the property was an “inappropriate representation”.

But Mr Cartwright, who has put his semi-detached house on the market after being widowed, told

the Bath Echo after the meeting that he genuinely thought the council might want to buy it and suggested it could be the site office and then the manager’s home, or social housing.

Ward councillor Jess David (Moorlands, Lib Dem), who is also the council’s member advocate for green infrastructure and nature recovery, shared concerns that the site is unsuitable due to its value for nature and underlying geological and hydrological characteristics. She said the development will rely on a system of sustainable drainage features which must be inspected and maintained as frequently as every three months; these will not be adopted by Wessex Water and so must be “rigorously maintained”. She said there are also concerns about infiltrated water re-emerging downslope.

Councillor Steve Hedges (Odd Down, Lib Dem), representing Stirtingale Road residents, said he hoped ecology would be enhanced and it was not just “lip service”. He said that earlier in the week the field had been a “bog” after heavy rainfall.

Committee member Councillor Duncan Hounsell (Saltford, Lib Dem) proposed the scheme be permitted: “The principle of developing this site is established. The public benefits, social value, is absolutely immense.” He added: “I can’t think of any other proposal that I’ve encountered that’s had so much attention to detail and been so sensitive to the issues.”

Councillor Lucy Hodge (Lansdown, Lib Dem) seconded the motion, saying the scheme will fulfil an important need and thorough consideration had been given to the environmental impacts.

Councillor Tim Warren (Midsomer Norton Redfield, Conservative) had concerns including about 16 bins being outside the front door of No 89. He

abstained during the vote, as did Councillor Dr Eleanor Jackson (Westfield, Labour). Although she described the development as “worthy”, she voiced “disquiet” about drainage, the ecological impact, the refuse situation, and that the police security report had not been discussed.

During the consultation, a police officer responsible for crime prevention raised concerns, including about the “remote and secluded location”, lowlevel lighting on pathways and that a CCTV plan hadn’t been submitted.

After the meeting, Englishcombe Lane resident Frank Kenny said that historically it had proved too expensive for developers to build on the site. A £6 million budget has been mentioned for the council’s development, but locals believe £10 million is more realistic.

We'll hold the council to account, say campaigners

Campaigners say their focus now will be to scrutinise every detail as work gets under way on the development.

A post on the Tufa Field website says the council granted itself planning permission despite local people arguing for the authority to fulfil its commitment to action to combat the ecological emergency in the area.

The article says: “Instead, the unique nature of this site will be lost. So our focus now switches to holding the council and its developers to account to produce the ecological mitigation plans they have put forward.

“Every detailed plan will be scrutinised, every action undertaken during and after construction will be monitored, and every deviation will be followed up with the full force of available remedies. Expect the Health and Safety Executive and planning enforcement officers to be busy.”

The article adds that it has come to light that the Moorfield Sandpits stream will be “severely curtailed” since its main source is to be diverted as part of the work: “This has given great pleasure to many children over the years and will be sorely missed.”

People who use the M4 near Bath are being warned about a full weekend closure as part of ongoing work on the A432 Badminton Road Bridge. The M4 will be closed in both directions between junctions 18 (Bath) and 19 (Bristol) from 7pm on Friday 18th October to 6am on Monday 21st October while a trench is dug under the motorway. This will allow utilities to be diverted that are currently within the bridge before the structure is demolished next year. With 3,000 to 4,000 vehicles using this section of the M4 every hour over peak weekend periods, the closure is likely to cause substantial disruption.

If you are a current or former customer of Schmidt Bath Ltd, M&P Kitchens Ltd or LMSB Ltd (trading as “Schmidt Bath”), formerly of 1 Park Road, Bath, BA1 3EE and now at 18 Newbridge Road, Bath, BA1 3JX from 2020 to present, we would like to hear more about your experience. We would also like to hear from people who have received quotes for projects, as well as any suppliers to the companies named above. Please get in touch with us by emailing schmidt@ beaconinvestigations.co.uk

Long range forecast: (11th to 17th Oct)

Unsettled conditions expected, with longer spells of heavy and persistent rain. Strong winds are likely with temperatures remaining around average.

The land behind Englishcombe Lane, known as the Tufa Field

Council says Government's housing target is ‘unrealistic’

THE leader of Bath & North East Somerset Council has written to the Deputy Prime Minister, saying the recently announced housing target for the district is ‘unrealistic’.

Councillor Kevin Guy set out six key issues to enable housing reform as part of his letter to Angela Rayner, who is also the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government.

In July the Government set out new mandatory housing targets which would see a significant uplift in the housing numbers that the local authority needs to plan for.

Targets will increase from the current 717 houses per annum to 1,466 per annum.

The purpose of the increased target is to address historic shortfalls in housing delivery and meet housing needs.

Councillor Guy said: “Local authority housing targets and planning policy reform will not in themselves deliver the sustainable and affordable housing that we desperately need. There are six key issues we need to address.

“Firstly, we need to agree how

our unique situation will be taken into account in advance of rewriting our Local Plan.

“We are asking that government facilitates timely conversations between the local authority, appropriate government departments/agencies and UNESCO to discuss the relationship between World Heritage Site status and planning for sustainable growth in the city.

“We also need to consider a more flexible regional cross-boundary approach with our neighbouring authorities.

“We are also calling for more

funding for affordable homes –more than 70 per cent of B&NES’ assessed housing need in the city of Bath is for those who cannot afford market housing.

“We must invest in the necessary infrastructure such as transport, utilities, flood defences, health and educational facilities.

“We are also concerned about wider planning reforms, here in B&NES we currently have nearly 2,100 homes with planning permission that are stalled. Unlocking delivery of them would require radical reforms.

“Finally, we need to build

A36 near Bath set to temporarily reopen for three weeks

THE A36 Warminster Road at Limpley Stoke near Bath is to temporarily reopen to ease traffic during essential works on the A350 in Wiltshire.

The road will reopen to traffic on Friday 18th October, and stay open over the half-term break, before closing again on Monday 11th November.

Due to damage to the southern embankment of the route, there will be two-way traffic lights in place, though the road will be open to traffic.

In an update, National Highways said that since work started, full details of the situation and

ground conditions on the A36 have become clear.

The agency said: “When doing complex work like this, it’s only once we start that we know the full extent of what needs to be done.

“Removing the layers that make up the road surface and uncovering the ground below is a bit like removing the carpet in a house to check the floorboards.

“We’ve found that the ground make-up is not as we expected based on our surveys.

“We’re carrying out further surveys to learn more about the ground conditions under the road

to ensure we not only deliver the repairs safely, but they last long into the future. These surveys can only be carried out while the road is fully closed.”

Concerns over the increased traffic on local roads as people avoid the closure are set to be addressed, with National Highways working with Bath & North East Somerset Council and Wiltshire Council.

The northbound side of the road remains safe to use. Inspections will continue to ensure that it remains in sound condition until the next stage of works begin in November.

challenge of housing affordability dramatically curtails the area’s productivity and exacerbates labour shortages.

The council has already taken some steps to address the housing crisis, including collaborating with key anchor institutions to form a dedicated Housing Mission Delivery Board, chaired by the Chief Executive of Curo, the area’s largest Registered Provider.

capacity. Relatively modest investment in local and regional skills and capacity up front is a vital precondition to increasing housing supply.

“We know residents understand the need for more high-quality affordable housing but on a realistic scale. Proposals with crude targets, that potentially facilitate unplanned development, would be unforgivable.”

The council’s Economic Strategy, published earlier this year, sets an ambitious ten-year vision; recognising that the acute

Additionally, the council has established Aequus, its wholly owned housing development company, and B&NES Homes, its in-house Registered Provider, tasked to develop a range of housing solutions to meet local needs.

Councillor Guy added: “Over the last 13 years sound local planning policies have helped deliver nearly 10,000 new homes in B&NES and we want to ensure over the next ten years the right homes in the right places are built.

“We want to work with the government on becoming a trailblazer for new ideas and policy changes that will deliver high-quality, sustainable and affordable housing in our area.”

Fashion Museum Bath reveals Dress

TWO outfits have been chosen for the Fashion Museum Bath’s Dress of the Year 2023, joining the museum’s world-renowned collection.

The outfits are a silk, tulle and sequin gown by Simone Rocha and a vibrant, printed cotton menswear outfit by Bianca Saunders.

The pieces were chosen by Caroline Rush CBE, Chief Executive of the British Fashion Council, to celebrate exceptional British fashion talent.

Fashion Museum Bath holds one of the world’s greatest fashion collections.

Each year the collection is kept up to date with the addition of the Dress of the Year: a standout outfit selected by an industry expert to capture the mood and trends of the past year in fashion.

2023 marks 60 years of Dress of the Year, making this year’s selection especially significant.

Caroline Rush’s choice of Bianca Saunders and Simone Rocha for the 2023 Dress of the Year highlights the creative talent emerging from the UK.

As alumni of the British Fashion Council’s NEWGEN scheme, which celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2023, their designs showcase the diversity and strength of British fashion.

Bianca Saunders’ menswear look of a colourful belted coat, shirt and twisted seam trousers was

of the Year

specially commissioned for The Missing Thread: Untold Stories of Black British Fashion exhibition at Somerset House in 2023. Inspired by the work of Trinidadian textile artist Althea McNish (1924-2020), one of the first designers of AfricanCaribbean descent to receive international recognition, Saunders created the three-piece ensemble using her own screenprinted design featuring the natural scenes and plants found near her home in southeast London.

Simone Rocha’s delicate silk and tulle gown, embroidered with large green sequinned daisies, stunned on the runway as part of her Spring/Summer 2023 collection.

A reaction to ‘distress, digging deep, and digging the earth’, the collection was ‘very much harnessing a feeling’ and saw feminine ruffles juxtaposed with utility-style strapping and Rocha’s signature floral embroidery.

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Cracks on the pavement at Limpley Stoke | Photo © National Highways

The annual housing target for Bath and North East Somerset will nearly double

Photo © Fashion Museum Bath

Pictures from the Past

Building the Balustrade at Orange Grove

Kirsten Elliott Akeman Press

THE construction of the Empire Hotel in 1901 resulted in the creation of a new road from Newmarket Row to Orange Grove – Grand Parade.

By 1910, it was decided that the corner as the road swept round into Orange Grove needed to be improved, giving the chance to create an imposing entrance to what were then known as the Institution Gardens.

That same year, following the death of Edward VII, a collection was held for a

memorial to him, which, it was proposed, should be sited in the gardens – it was even suggested that they be called King Edward Gardens in the late king’s honour.

The proposed design, by Alfred Taylor, had the sweeping flight of steps with which we are familiar today. Sadly, councils being councils, there were soon dissenting voices, especially as the work involved the somewhat unpopular demolition of two houses – Nos 14 and 15, Orange Grove.

By the end of 1911, the idea of placing the Edward Memorial there had almost been abandoned. There were also objections to the Taylor’s design, largely because some councillors did not like steps. Finally it was

agreed there would just be a continuation of the balustrade along Grand Parade, and in place of the proposed entrance to the gardens there would be new terraces beside the new wall.

The gardens would continue to be accessed via the Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution (BRLSI) which stood on what everyone in Bath now calls Bog Island.

The work to create these terraces and finish the balustrade is what we can see happening in this photograph.

It is also worth noting that the gardens around the obelisk had railings, and the Empire Hotel roof, with its strange skyline, had all its decorations. Today, only the

COLUMN | Clare Moody, Labour Police and Crime Commissioner

AS your Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC), my role is to make sure the voices of all people across Avon and Somerset are heard, represented, and acted upon. I want to reflect on the important work we’re doing in Avon and Somerset to ensure everyone can be heard and represented in decisions affecting policing in their area. A key focus of our work is tackling racial disproportionality within the criminal justice system. A report highlighted areas where there need to be improvements.

I take the findings of this report very seriously, and I’m committed to working with the police, local communities, and partners to make meaningful changes.

You can read more about the Identifying Disproportionality Report on our website.

Have your say: Police and Crime Plan consultation Inclusion means making sure everyone’s voices are heard.

That’s why I’ve launched a consultation on the Police and Crime Plan 2024-2029. It is your opportunity to comment on the draft Plan and suggest how the

five priorities can be achieved. Additionally, I’m seeking your views on local police funding, particularly regarding how much extra, if any, you would be willing to contribute through your council tax. Your insights are vital to ensuring the Plan reflects what matters to you. We’re using several ways to make sure we hear from all corners of our community, including an online survey, a targeted postal survey for underrepresented groups, and focus groups aimed at those whose voices often go unheard.

Your input will help us action the Plan’s priorities in a way that works in your community.

Get involved:

Community panels

section built in a cottage-like style remains in its original condition.

Work on the new balustrade and wall did not progress very fast. In October 1913 the unsightly hoarding which can be seen surrounding the site of the two demolished houses was still in situ, to the disgust of some councillors and residents alike. Eventually, in 1933, the BRLSI building was demolished, finally opening the door to the construction of Alfred Taylor’s entrance to the gardens from Grand Parade. And in June that year, the King Edward VII Memorial was moved from the top of Milsom Street to the position for which it was originally intended.

My team runs various panels, such as our Independent Scrutiny Panels, where members of the public review police practices to make sure they are fair and transparent. These panels are a vital way for people to get directly involved in holding the police to account. I encourage you to find out about their work.

Inclusion isn’t something we focus on for one week of the year - it’s a guiding principle that informs everything we do. I am proud of the progress we’re making, but there is always more work to do. Together, we can build a police service that is truly reflective of the people it serves.

For more information on how to take part in the consultation, please visit my website: www. avonandsomerset-pcc.gov.uk/ about/police-crime-plan24-29/

Orange Grove during work in 1913

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

8 Hold (8)

9 "Little Brown Jug" chorus openers (2,2,2)

10 Corpse (4)

11 Strength (5)

12 Capital of the Maldives (4)

13 Waterfalls (8)

16 Source (6)

18 Take to the cleaners (4)

20 Sudden convulsion (5)

21 Showing unwelcome interest (4)

22 Fastener with hooks and loops (6)

23 In a stringent way (8)

26 Addict (4)

28 Ruinous damage (5)

30 Repudiate (4)

31 Tendency to become angry quickly (6)

32 Maritime (8)

1 Pyramid-like temple (6)

2 Covetousness (4)

3 Charted (6)

4 If you're in this, you're in the loop (4)

5 City at junction of White and Blue Niles (8)

6 Sudden impulse (4)

7 Culinary heaters which don't sound like it? (8)

14 Sarcastic doubter of sincerity and merit (5)

15 Thin, narrow strips (5)

17 Hidden (5)

19 Large and noisy parties (5-3)

20 Comforting (8)

24 What Nature abhors (6) 25

(4)

Entering our competition - via email or post

For your chance to win £20, submit your full name, postal address and answers by email to puzzles@bathecho.co.uk or via post to:

Crossword Competition 0410, Bath Echo, PO Box 5395, Bath, BA1 0YA

The winner will be the first randomly opened entry with the correct answers on 16/10/2024. They will be notified using the details they provide when entering the competition. Winners will be given the option of receiving a High Street shopping voucher or be provided the £20 via a BACS transfer.

Food & Drink

Tasty Dates For Your Diary

The secret is out! Upstairs at the Green Park Brasserie (Green Park Station, Green Park Road) is officially open for business: step beyond the plush red velvet curtain from 5-11pm every Friday - Saturday night and discover a loft bar and kitchen with a sophisticated speakeasy vibe and yet more of that mellow merrymaking appeal that GPB excels at. Psst! Upstairs is also available for private hire. www.bathpizzaco.com

Experience unparalleled taste sensations at Lucknam Park Hotel and Spa (Colerne, less than 30 minutes drive northeast of Bath) on Thursday 17th October when the worlds of Michelinstarred Executive Chef Hywel Jones and the masterminds behind Salcombe Gin come together as one to present a gin and food-pairing extravaganza, including a 4-course feast and

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

cocktails served with each course (£120pp).

https://bit.ly/4dnzp8F

Thursday night is Pie Night at the Pulteney Arms (Daniel Street): take your pick from a selection of three perfect, hand-crafted pies (always including a veggie option) and a drink for just £15. www.thepulteneyarms.co.uk

Enjoy a sumptuous 7-course feast specifically designed to excite your tastebuds with fabulous fusion flavours that celebrate the flavours of a British autumn when Yuzu by Dan Moon hosts another unmissable foodie event at Cassia Bath (Sovereign Point, Midland Road) on Friday 18th/ Saturday 19th October (£80pp). www.yuzubydanmoon.co.uk

Shopping at the Refillable Shop (Cleveland Place East, London Road) is a wonderful experience

Recipe: Proper Cottage Pie

on multiple levels. And now, fish fans can pre-order fresh, sustainable, seasonal fish and seafood directly from the RF's expert fishmonger-partner Harts, who specialise in sourcing day boat fish directly from the fish market. Order by noon on Tuesdays for collection on Thursday. www.refillable.shop

Steak and Malbec Night at Newton Farm Shop (Newton St Loe) is back on Friday 18th October: your choice of Newton Farm steak, triple-cooked chips, sides, sauces, dessert and half a bottle of Malbec for just £55pp. https://bit.ly/3TS61AK

Expect lashings of German bier, gourmet grub, oompah bands, karaoke, games, axe throwing (yes, really!) and lots of Lederhosen-clad revellers when the Oktoberfest 'experience'

lands in Royal Victoria Park on Friday 18th/Saturday 19th October (tickets from £15pp). www.bathoktoberfest.com

Take your pick from a set menu that puts 4 authentic, tasty Mediterranean dishes (including vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options) in the spotlight for just £15.99 per person every Tuesday - Saturday from noon-2.30pm/ Tuesday - Thursday 5.30pm8.30pm at magical mezze hotspot Pomegranate (Walcot Street). www.pomegranatebath.co.uk

Lock yourself into the Lock Keeper (Keynsham Road, just a 10-minute drive/short train ride from Bath) on a Tuesday evening and your efforts will be richly rewarded by a bespoke Steak and Wine supper: choose your cut, pick your sauce, select a side... and discover the perfect recommended wine match to

accompany your meaty feast. www.lockkeeperbristol.co.uk

Indulge in an exquisite 5-star Argentinian Wine Dinner at the Royal Crescent Hotel on Thursday 24th October: an “Autumn gastronomic delight” beginning with a canapé reception before moving on to a meticulously crafted 4-course menu perfectly matched with a fascinating selection of Zuccardi Wines presented in collaboration with Zuccardi's exclusive UK agent Hatch Mansfield, who will be hosting the event (£165pp). https://bit.ly/4d7OcUU

Melissa regularly reviews restaurants across Bath. www.theprandialplayground.uk

Follow Melissa on X Find her @ThePigGuide

Replacing the minced beef with slow-cooked beef shin in this British comfort food classic puts a grown-up spin on a familiar dish and elevates it to stellar heights.

• 800g beef shin, cubed

• 2 large onions, peeled and chopped

• 4 large carrots, peeled and chopped

• 2 sticks of celery, sliced

• 1 tbsp tomato puree

• 1 tbsp dried thyme

• 4 tbsp Worcestershire Sauce

• 600ml beef stock

• 2 tbsp cornflour

• Approx. 200ml red wine (optional, but highly recommended)

• Vegetable oil, for frying

• Approx. 1.5g potatoes peeled, boiled, mashed and seasoned to taste

Method Ingredients (serves 4-6)

• Pre-heat the oven to 150c/Gas Mark 4. Heat a splash of oil in an ovenproof casserole dish over a high heat and brown the cubed beef all over (you may need to do this in several batches.) Set the browned beef to one side.

• Add the sliced onions, carrots and celery to the same pan and sauté until thoroughly softened, adding a little bit more oil if necessary. Add the tomato puree and the thyme and stir well before adding the red wine (if using) and allowing to bubble down for a few minutes until reduced.

• Introduce the beef back to the pan and pour in just enough stock to cover. Mix the cornflour with 3 tbsp cold water and stir it in. Bring to the boil and simmer briefly before covering with a lid and braising in the oven for 3-4 hours, stirring occasionally and adding more water if necessary, until the meat is velvety soft.

• Tip the cooked meat mixture into a container and allow to cool completely before storing in the fridge, preferably overnight.

• On the day of serving, take the casserole from the fridge. Remove and discard any visible fat that may have risen to the surface, allow to come to room temperature, spoon into an ovenproof dish and top with the mashed potato.

• Cook in a pre-heated oven at 180C fan/gas mark 6 for 30-40 minutes until the mash is crisp and golden on top and the gravy is bubbling around the edges. Serve with a heap of buttered greens.

Melissa Blease Food Writer

Review Manja Manja

8

“Eat, eat!” - said in English, it's a brusque command that doesn't particularly inspire eager anticipation for the grub plonked in front of you. Say it in Italian, though – “mangia, mangia!” – and you're transported to a neighbourhood brasserie in Naples, where real food is a joyful celebration of good taste and the people making and serving that food are as excited about it as you are. But while that authentic Italian experience isn't exactly on our doorstep in Bath, George Street pretty much is.

Manja Manja – a family-run business bought to us by the team behind the highly-acclaimed Circus restaurant on Brock Street – opened on the site formerly occupied by the classic Italian trattoria Martini a handful of months ago. Refurbishing, reimagining and re-establishing a Bath restaurant institution with some 30+ years of history behind it couldn't have been an easy task. But already, Manja Manja has made a very positive impact on Bath's contemporary restaurant scene. Past the impressive mahogany bar dominated by chalk board wine lists that offer an enticing

indication of Manja Manja's impressive array of characterful wines, a series of dining areas from intimate to party appeal to all moods and occasions, decorated throughout with warming shades of terracotta, apricot, orange and peach: the colours of a soft Italian sunset.

The main dining area was lively and buzzing with merrymakers on the evening we visited, immediately lifting our spirits on a cold, drizzly evening – and our spirits were set to soar even higher.

Menus here offer a tantalising array of beautifully-conceived combinations of seasonal flavours and perfect partnerships, all designed to be shared. Guided by our friendly, knowledgeable waiter Ryan (who suggested wonderful wine matches for our selection too), we grazed on a platter of Iford Manor charcuterie including the most outstanding bresaola I've ever encountered with our opening glass of fizz. Next stop: creamy/sweet/crispy creamy salt cod croquettes, briny sardines wrapped around a breadcrumb/pine nut stuffing and scattered with plump, marinated golden raisins, and a pizzetta (yup, a mini pizza) topped with plump morsels of crayfish, soft confit tomatoes and just the right amount of garlic,

chilli and lemon to bring a nudge of tastebud exhilaration to every bite.

Those small plates weren't that small at all; we could have stopped right there and been pleasantly replete – but I'm glad we didn't.

Super-tender pork cheeks on a spicy tomato ragu, with velvety herb polenta and mellow roast garlic. A whole globe of creamy burrata melting into a bed of earthy puy lentils, the depthcharge flavour sensations uplifted by a lively preserved lemon salsa. A neat slab of deeply

flavoursome beef shin, pork and porcini mushroom lasagne layered with a luxuriously indulgent truffle béchamel. See why I'm glad we didn't give in to 'pleasantly replete'? And you shouldn't either.

Manja Manja specialises in food you need to take your time over, food you won't forget in a hurry, food you don't need to be told to eat, eat, because you won't want to do anything but exactly that. The Naples brasserie experience is, today, right on our doorstep.

Reviewer: Melissa Blease

A pizetta with crayfish and soft confit tomatoes

Beef shin, pork and porcini mushroom lasagne

Shine On - Luxmuralis

Bath Abbey

4th – 26th October

The stunning stained-glass windows of Bath Abbey will be brought to life in ways never seen before, using dynamic light projections and original musical compositions to highlight the designs.

Evie Wyld for The Echoes

Topping & Company Booksellers

7th October, 6.30pm

From the bestselling author of The Bass Rock comes a new novel about the weight of the past and the promise of the future set between rural Australia and London.

The Sticky Dance

The Egg

11th – 13th October

An interactive, engaging and colourful performance installation for children and their families. Dancers shimmy through the audience weaving a tapestry of sticky tape in this tactile performance.

Churchill: A Life in Cartoons

BRLSI

14th October, 7.30pm

Churchill was a figure cartoonists loved to ridicule, boost or lampoon. To mark the 150th anniversary of his birth, this talk presents Churchill’s career through a series of political cartoons.

What's On Halloween American

Autumn Fayre and Apple Day

Bath City Farm

5th October, 10am – 2pm

Celebrate the changing of the season at Bath City Farm. Enjoy craft stalls, live music, treats from the cafe, have a go at juicing apples and bring your own apples to be juiced.

Dracula

Theatre Royal 8th – 12th October

Adapted by Nick Lane, this theatrical treatment of Bram Stoker’s adventure blends Victorian Gothic with the contemporary, showcasing Blackeyed Theatre’s trademark performance style.

Bath Camerata

St Mary’s Church

12th October, 7.30pm

To mark the centenary of the death of Sir Charles Villiers Stanford, the awardwinning chamber choir Bath Camerata will be holding a concert that will feature some of his rarely performed pieces.

Our Little Hour

Ustinov Studio

15th – 19th October, 7.30pm

The story of Walter Tull, grandson of a Barbadian slave, orphaned at eight years old, who rose to prominence against all odds, combining a power-packed drama with hauntingly original music.

No.1 Creators Club: Clay Busts

No. 1 Royal Crescent

5th October, 10am

Led by local artists, these engaging sessions will introduce you to different ways to make art. Learn to create your own ceramic bust reminiscent of a Georgian lady or gentleman.

The Beckford Stakes Raceday

Bath Racecourse

10th October, 11.25am

Switch up a Thursday with a friendly welcome and some sporting action. Attendees are invited to Bath for an all-around entertaining atmosphere to share with loved ones

Wachet Auf

St Michael’s Without 12th October, 7.30pm

Lucis continue their 10th anniversary celebrations with a performance of Bach's cantata Wachet Auf. Francis Faux will conduct the choir, soloists and members of the Lochrian Ensemble.

Fern Brady The Forum

16th October, 8pm

Scotland’s queen of comedy Fern Brady is back on tour with a brand new showI Gave You Milk to Drink. What happens when you get everything you want and it’s not enough?

Frenchy: Embrace The Chaos

Komedia

6th October, 7.30pm

Life is chaos. Comedy is chaos. At least the way Frenchy does it… The Australian rapscallion Frenchy is back with a brand-new stand-up show in which he embraces all the chaos of life, on stage.

Kimono Chronicles

The MEAA

10th October, 6pm

Discover the captivating story of the kimono, exploring its origins and historical evolution, cultural significance, and lasting impact on contemporary fashion and design.

119th Annual Open Exhibition

Victoria Art Gallery

13th October – 11th January

Browse and buy from a huge variety of artworks by some the region’s top artistic talent. The Bath Society of Artists Annual Open Exhibition has long been a highlight of Bath’s cultural calendar

Chicago: Teen Edition

Rondo Theatre

16th – 19th October

The team behind the award-nominated SIX: Teen Edition brings another legendary Broadway musical to the Rondo in an adaptation for teen performers and family audiences.

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Email: news@bathecho.co.uk

£40k of community funding sees new equipment installed in park

£40,000 HAS been invested in improving a play park at Whiteway Green in Bath, thanks to an allocation of community funding by Bath & North East Somerset Council.

Swings, toddler play equipment and new flooring have been installed, enhancing the park for younger children. It complements the existing MultiUse Games Area (MUGA) which can be used by people of all ages.

The funding from the 15th round of the Bath Community

Infrastructure Levy (CIL) was granted following a proposal submitted by ward councillors for Twerton, Councillor Sarah Moore and Councillor Tim Ball.

Councillor Kevin Guy, leader of B&NES Council, said: “This is a significant upgrade for Whiteway Green play park which will enable more children to get outside and have fun with friends and family.

“It’s great that we can allocate funds secured from developments to have a positive and lasting impact on our community.

“I look forward to seeing the park enjoyed for many years to come.”

The Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) is a planning charge, introduced by the Planning Act 2008 as a tool for local authorities in England and Wales to help deliver infrastructure to support the development of their area. From the overall Community Infrastructure Levy that is collected, Bath receives 15% of the receipts, which are allocated to the Neighbourhood Portion of CIL for Bath.

Crowdfunding campaign to buy disused land along River Avon

A REWILDING charity has launched a crowdfunding campaign to raise £50,000 to buy 70 acres of disused land along the River Avon near Bath.

The land, located next to Warleigh Wood in Claverton, presents a rare opportunity for habitat protection and restoration, including the potential creation of wet woodland. The land, which is surrounded by other conservation projects, has been left to nature for several years.

However, invasive species are beginning to take hold, threatening the biodiversity of the site.

The charity Protect Earth is aiming to purchase the land and restore it to its full ecological potential, creating a diverse array of habitats that could include wet woodland, ponds, grassland, and improved public access. This land, directly connected to the ancient Warleigh Wood, offers a chance to expand the woodland across more of its historical range. By purchasing it, the charity says it will not only protect the existing landscape but also restore a variety of rare and valuable habitats that support struggling wildlife and help fight climate change.

Wet woodland will play a significant part of the project, creating a habitat ideal for species such as beavers, otters, water voles, and many species of endangered birds, including willow warblers and yellowhammers.

The habitat will support a wide range of other wildlife, including amphibians like the great crested newt, while also acting as a natural flood defence and carbon sink.

Steve, the ecologist at Protect Earth, said: “While the land is already showing promise for wildlife, we believe it can do so much more with the right care and restoration.

“If we can secure the funds to purchase this site, we’ll be able to protect and enhance it for the benefit of local wildlife, the community, and the environment.”

The restoration efforts will be supported by local volunteers, including those from the Bath area, as well as nearby rewilding and agroforestry projects.

Partnerships with groups like the Avon Wildlife Trust, Woodland Trust, and Avon Needs Trees will help ensure the success of the project. Protect Earth has secured support from philanthropic donors and government grants for much of the cost, but needs at least an additional £50,000 to complete the purchase. All donations will go directly to purchasing the land and restoring its habitats.

If the crowdfunding is successful and permissions are granted, the first trees could be planted this winter, and work on removing invasive species would begin in the spring. In the event that the purchase doesn’t go through, funds will be held for future land acquisitions only.

To support the crowdfunding campaign, visit https://bit.ly/4enPPPS

Babies gifted books to mark library centenary

BABIES that were registered in Bath and North East Somerset in July have been given a special copy of the 1926 book Winnie the Pooh to celebrate the centenary of local lending libraries.

Bath & North East Somerset Council has given the books to nearly 300 babies as part of its 100-year celebrations to encourage a love of reading from birth.

The babies were also invited to a series of special events in the council’s three main lending libraries, offering Baby Bounce and Rhyme, craft activities and a chance for families to make new friends.

The first event at Bath Central Library took place on Thursday 19th September, with later events taking place at Keynsham and Midsomer Norton libraries.

Councillor Tim Ball, cabinet member for neighbourhood services, said: “A child’s earliest years are crucial to their development and life chances, so we wanted to give the gift of loving and reading books to our

youngest members to mark the libraries’ centenary year.

“Some families may not be aware of the breadth of services that are on offer at our fantastic libraries.

“Of course, the libraries offer books in all formats, but they are also a safe and welcoming space where people can find information and advice from local partners as well as take part in creative events and use our sensory spaces.

“Not only does our Libraries team do a fantastic job, but so does our Registration Services team who strive to make the special moment of registering your baby’s birth an enjoyable experience.

“Congratulations to all the families on their new additions!”

The first public lending library in the area opened in Bath in 1924 and the council is running a programme of events throughout the year to celebrate the centenary, which includes a series of events at the libraries, special displays, competitions and limited-edition library membership cards.

Retrofitting your Home: Reduce Heat Losses What to do about Insulation, Heating & Ventilation A free talk @ Widcombe Social Club. Wed. 16th October - 7pm

Chris Kille, MD of Bath based BPM Contracting Services (listed on the Retrofit West website), will take you through the following:

• Main Considerations of Domestic Retrofit

• Insulation, Heating and Ventilation

• Examples of work done on Listed Buildings, Victorian Terraces and 1960’s/1970’s Homes

• Benefits of Retrofit

Please book: widcombe-association.whitefuse.net/pages/3-events Questions Contact: ggwidcombe@gmail.com

Funded by West of England Combined Authority and Retrofit West

Councillor Sarah Moore, Councillor Kevin Guy and Councillor Tim Ball at the park | Photo © B&NES Council

Photo © Protect Earth

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Prior Park College cuts Catholic links and becomes Christian

PRIOR Park College in Bath

is set to become a Christian school, ending a relationship with the Catholic Church that has been in place since the college’s formation in 1830.

The change has been introduced as part of efforts to expand the opportunities offered to students.

The school says the decision has been under consideration for three years, and long predates the introduction of VAT on fees.

However, the pressure that a tax on education could bring on schools like Prior Park saw it complete the process.

Ben Horan, Headmaster of Prior Park College since 2019, said: “We have seen an increasing number of families who appreciate the faith values underpinning our school’s educational offering.

“However, many have expressed frustration over the restrictive nature of being a Catholic school and the limited educational choices and outcomes that come with that.

“This prompted a lengthy reevaluation over the course of three years of how well our College reflects the students we have today.

“As a result, we have reimagined what the future needs to look like for our College to remain relevant and attractive to those families choosing a private school education.”

Mr Horan continued: “Families today, and young people in

general, take a view of faith which is open-minded, inclusive, and accepting of a wide range of differences.

“This is reflected in the fact that fewer than one in five (18%) of our current students are of the Catholic faith.”

The student population of Prior Park College has become increasingly diverse in recent years, with people from different backgrounds and sexual orientations now represented across both the student and teaching body. However, the school’s

engagement with, and public support for, social movements and celebrations such as Pride have been criticised by some for being contrary to the teachings of the Catholic Church.

Mr Horan added: “The relationship with the Catholic Diocese remains important to us, but as society has changed, so have the pressures put upon schools to better reflect the needs and ambitions of those they serve.

“It was a decision that had become an obvious one to make. It enables us to create an

environment where our students have the very best opportunities to thrive. By removing the constraints that come from being a Catholic school, such as no longer having to compel all our students to study Religious Education to GCSE Level, we can ensure that Prior Park College remains competitive at a time when the private school sector faces unprecedented challenges.”

Prior Park College is a boarding and day school with around 600 students.

It was originally founded as a Catholic school in 1830, shortly

after Catholic emancipation. The number of Catholic students at the school has steadily declined for several years.

Prior Park has often led the sector in embracing change.

David Catlow, Chair of Trustees, explained: “Prior Park was one of the earliest Catholic schools in the UK to become co-educational, more than 40 years ago.

“We were one of the first Catholic schools to be owned and governed outside monastic or diocesan control, and we were one of the first traditional boarding schools to confidently move into the day sector.

“This move towards a new way of embracing faith is very much in line with our position as a market leader, ensuring our competitiveness over the coming years.”

Ben Horan concluded: “Several other Catholic private schools have already contacted us to talk about how we have gone about making this change and to ask for our guidance and support.

“Our sector is crying out for help and a change from the current model, which makes very few allowances for the pressures faced by private schools and the need for them to be competitive and thrive.”

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First ‘Architect in Residence’ appointed thanks to donation

A RENOWNED architect has been appointed as Architect in Residence to develop guidance for design excellence in Bath.

Bob Allies, who is also co-founder of the architectural practice Allies and Morrison, will be part of an 18-month pilot scheme which is a collaboration between the University of Bath and Bath & North East Somerset Council. The scheme also includes research and teaching commitments as a Professor of Architecture at the university. A donation to fund the position has been provided by the Medlock Charitable Trust.

The Trust is led by David Medlock D.L., a businessman, entrepreneur, philanthropist and a former High Sheriff of Somerset, who holds the honorary Degree of Doctor of Engineering from the University of Bath and was a Pro-Chancellor at the University for 11 years.

Mr Medlock said: “The city and the University mean a great deal to me. I’m proud to support this initiative, which will protect the Outstanding Universal Values

of this double-inscribed World Heritage Site.”

The Architect in Residence will hold a Medlock Fellowship and work with key stakeholders, including B&NES Council, UNESCO and the International Council on Monuments and Sites UK, to produce guidance for design excellence in Bath.

Another major part of the role will be outreach activities related to the city, including helping to develop national and international partnerships for both the university and B&NES Council.

Mr Allies has worked on many major developments and has a keen interest in how settlements of any scale can evolve by building on their historic form and identity.

He said: “This is such a far-sighted initiative, putting architecture and urbanism at the top of the agenda through the appointment of an Architect in Residence.

“The council’s commitment to achieve the highest quality of design not just in the World Heritage Site and its setting but

in the wider region of North East Somerset is really significant, and I’m delighted to have been appointed as the first person to take up the role.

“I hope together we can make a difference, and I would like to think that this might, in the long term, provide a template for other towns and cities throughout the country.”

Professor Marion Harney, from the University of Bath’s Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering and chair of the Bath World Heritage Site Advisory Board, said: “It is fantastic to be able to launch the scheme and I am truly excited to see Bob Allies appointed to the role.

“Bath is a wonderful, beautiful place and I believe that the Architect in Residence will have the opportunity to make a major contribution to Bath for years to come, and protect the Outstanding Universal Values of this unique city.

“We should aspire for excellence in design, which is so much more than functional, low maintenance and inoffensive, which is what

could happen in the absence of good design guidance.

“I would like to thank both David Medlock for his very generous donation, as well as Professor Barry Gilbertson, the previous chair of the advisory board, and all those colleagues here and at B&NES who have worked to make this possible.”

Councillor Kevin Guy, leader of Bath & North East Somerset Council, added: “I want to welcome Bob Allies to Bath and North East Somerset and to this innovative new role.

“The UNESCO World Heritage status we enjoy is the highest possible heritage accolade that

the city can achieve.

“Bob joins others, including Professor Marion Harney who was recently appointed as the new chair of the World Heritage Advisory Board and Enhancement Fund, to work with the council, the university and other key stakeholders to help balance the needs of a UNESCO World Heritage City with the needs of our residents, businesses and visitors into the future.”

The Architect in Residence will not be involved in the local authority’s planning process to avoid any potential conflicts of interest.

If the initial pilot scheme is successful, then it could be extended.

The partnership between the university and local authority follows the recent announcement of a Civic Agreement between the two organisations as well as fellow anchor institutions Bath Spa University and Royal United Hospitals Bath, to work together on improving the wellbeing of the B&NES region.

Photo © Prior Park College

A view of Bath from Alexandra Park

Locals urged to get free flu vaccine as uptake numbers fall

RESIDENTS across the Bath area are being urged to have a flu jab after the latest data revealed a drop in the uptake of the potentially life-saving vaccination.

UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) data shows that over the past two winters at least 18,000 deaths were associated with flu, despite last winter being a relatively mild flu season. While pandemic restrictions and social behaviours saw flu levels fall dramatically for a few years, the latest figures are a stark reminder that flu is a deadly virus, particularly for older people and other groups at greatest risk.

Of real concern is the drop in the flu vaccine uptake rates last winter across all eligibility groups in the South West and England compared with the previous year. While uptake in older people in the South West last year remained high (81% uptake), four in 10 (46.5%) of people with long-term health conditions, just under four in 10 (37.1%) pregnant women and just over half (51.4%) of twoand-three-year-olds received the vaccine.

Evidence shows the significant impact from last year’s flu vaccine with a 30% reduction in the number of those aged 65 and over being hospitalised and a 74% reduction in those between two and 17 years of age.

In the same two-year winter period, the estimated number of deaths associated with COVID-19 was just over 19,500.

To help reduce the impact of winter viruses on those most at risk, as well as ease NHS winter pressures, the UKHSA – with Department for Health and Social Care and NHS England – is set to

launch a scaled-up Get Winter Strong campaign on 7th October. The campaign will urge those eligible to get their flu and COVID-19 vaccination when invited, ahead of winter, targeting those at greatest risk and for the first time will encourage pregnant women to also get their RSV and whooping cough vaccination.

Last year saw a sudden increase in the number of people having to be hospitalised, due to a flu peak in the week leading up to Christmas and then again at the end of January.

Pregnant women and older people aged 75-79 are also eligible for a RSV vaccination for the first time this year, with the maternal vaccine providing strong protection for newborns in their first few months, when they are most at risk of severe illness from RSV.

The schools programme also began in early September, with those aged four up to the age of 16 (school year 11) being offered a nasal spray vaccine, or an injection if this is unsuitable.

It is important for young people to take up the vaccine as it protects the child themselves and helps stop the spread to vulnerable people around them, including babies, grandparents, and people with weak immune systems.

Professor Dominic Mellon, Deputy Regional Director of Health Protection at UKHSA South West said: “As winter approaches we see many dangerous viruses circulating in our communities including flu, which can tragically kill thousands of people every year. Getting vaccinated ahead of winter is by far your best defence.

“If you’re pregnant or have certain

long-term health conditions you are at greater risk of getting seriously ill.

“Older people and young infants with flu are also much more likely to get hospitalised.

“So if you or your child are offered the flu, COVID-19 or RSV vaccines, don’t delay in getting them. Please speak to your nurse or doctor if you have any concerns.”

Millions of eligible people in England can now book their flu and COVID-19 vaccines through the NHS, with appointments starting on 3rd October.

For their RSV jab, pregnant women and older adults should speak to their maternity service or GP practice to arrange, as the NHS rolls out additional protection for those most at risk ahead of winter.

Dr Kheelna Bavalia, South West Medical Director, said:

“Vaccinations are our best defence against flu and COVID-19. With NHS bookings now open for these life-saving vaccinations, I would strongly encourage anyone eligible to book your jabs as soon as possible. You can do this quickly and easily through the NHS App, by visiting the NHS website, or by calling 119. This is the best way to protect yourself and those around you this winter.”

Steve Russell, NHS National Director for Vaccinations and Screening, said: “Data showing there were almost 20,000 deaths associated to flu over the past two winters is a shocking reminder that this is a seriously dangerous virus, and I urge those who are eligible to book their vaccine appointment as soon as they can as it is our best way of protecting those who are vulnerable as winter approaches. Thanks to

the hard work of our NHS staff, life-saving flu, COVID-19 and RSV vaccines are being rolled out across the country in places that are as convenient as possible for people who need them.

“Flu and COVID-19 jab appointments are now available to book via the NHS website, the NHS App, or by calling 119 for free – making it as easy as possible for people to get vaccinated.”

Every year the World Health Organization recommends which strains should be included in the flu vaccine, with the UKHSA contributing to this work. Vaccines are then developed to help fight off the types of flu viruses expected to be circulating in the coming season.

As the viruses can change every year, and protection from the vaccine reduces over time, it is important those eligible get a vaccine every year.

Twelve more emergency bleed kits installed across B&NES

TWELVE specialist kits that will help bystanders provide emergency first aid to somebody suffering from a lifethreatening injury are being installed across the Bath area. Thanks to a £2,500 contribution from local ward councillors, the bleed kits will provide tools to control catastrophic blood loss, until paramedics arrive. They contain equipment including trauma dressings and instructions on how to use them.

The scheme is a joint initiative between Avon and Somerset Police, HeartSafe and NHS England South West to place Emergency Bleed Kits in local communities.

The 12 kits, some of which have already been installed, will be located at:

• Community at 67, Keynsham

• Tesco High Street and Weston Hub, Weston

• Eastfield Avenue Community Centre, Upper Weston

• Southside Youth Centre, Rose Cottage and The Centurion, Twerton

• St Andrew's Community Church, Foxhill

• One Stop Shop, Bath

• Tesco Westgate Buildings, Bath

• Bath City Farm

• Oldfield Park Baptist Church, Westmoreland, Bath

The bleed kits have been supported by £2,500 funding from Bath & North East Somerset Council’s Ward Councillors Empowerment Fund, which enables ward councillors to contribute to local projects that directly benefit residents and address the concerns of the local area.

An additional kit at Ubley Parish will be funded separately by Councillor Anna Box.

Councillor Kevin Guy, leader of B&NES Council, said: “We hope these bleed kits will never be used, but it’s vital they are available in case of emergencies.

“They will equip people to save the lives of others if the worst

happens. Every second counts in instances of catastrophic bleeding and these kits could make the difference between life and death.” Any organisations that would be

interested in funding additional kits or have suggestions for other sites can email the council’s community engagement team at connecting_communities@ bathnes.gov.uk

Flu is a deadly virus, particularly for older people and groups at greater risk

Councillor Kevin Guy at Community at 67 in Keynsham | Photo © B&NES Council

Building society partners with Team Bath to support athletes

BATH Building Society has announced a new partnership with the Team Bath youth sports programme, helping to invest in athletes of the future.

The support of Bath Building Society, which is marking 120 years of service in 2024, will help around 600 young people from the ages of two to 18 get active in a host of sports every week at the Team Bath Sports Training Village (STV).

Team Bath has nearly 30,000 interactions with children in sport each year, with Team Bath Tribe providing a range of termtime activities including athletics, badminton, football, netball, swimming and trampolining. Sessions take place after school and on Saturday mornings, while sporting camps during school holidays also prove popular.

Bath Building Society is also supporting Team Bath Futures, the talent development programme which provides bespoke training programmes and support for emerging athletes in a wide range of sports. Futures is tailored to three different age groups – Next Gen, providing an all-round sporting foundation for children in School Years 5-7; Blue, providing an introduction to strength and conditioning training for School Years 7-9; and Gold, preparing athletes in School Years 10-13 for the transition into adult training and competition.

Bath Building Society has been an overall sponsor of Team Bath, the sporting arm of the University of Bath, since 2022.

The partnership is part of its plans to build stronger links with the community and grow membership of 16 to 35-yearolds, encouraging and helping them to save effectively and to get onto the mortgage ladder. Richard Ingle, Chief Executive at Bath Building Society, said: “We’re delighted to be able to put our support behind the Team Bath youth programme supporting young, local people

who might one day become our local athletes.

“Being able to help make a difference in the community is incredibly rewarding for our team and we love the connections it creates, inspiring the next generation of young athletes through the strong community programme benefiting from the enthusiasm, talent, and training at the Team Bath Sports Training Village.”

Team Bath have been helping children get active through the Tribe programme for the past two decades.

As well as the regular term-time and holiday sessions at the STV, Tribe also delivers outreach sessions in many of the primary and secondary schools in Bath and North East Somerset, offering visits and collaborative work with the local School Sports Partnership Team.

Tribe has also hosted and delivered the annual Key Stage One Festival for the past 20 years, two days of multi-sport and creative medal-making sessions at the STV which engages more than 400 children from local primary schools and introduces

them to different activities.

More than 2,000 pupils from year groups 1-13 from across the country also enjoy bespoke visits to the STV each year, taking part in multi-skill assessments, fundamental movement skills, sports-specific sessions, career guidance and athlete question and answer sessions.

Jess Clements, Sports Development Manager at the University of Bath, said: “Tribe is all about fostering a love of sport from a young age by making it accessible, fun and inspirational, then helping children progress into competitive sport if they so wish and develop their talent through Futures.

“A huge thank you to Bath Building Society for supporting this goal.”

A new term of after-school and Saturday activities is under way at the STV, with parents able to pay monthly by direct debit.

Half-term holiday camps, running from 28th October to 1st November inclusive, are also now available to book. Visit teambath. com/tribe to see the full timetable and how to book.

Futures has also resumed after the summer break and there is a free taster evening for potential new athletes on Friday 18th October.

Further details of what the programme offers and how to get involved can be found at teambath.com/Futures.

Curo holds workshop as part of efforts to tackle housing crisis

A WORKSHOP was recently held to set out ambitious aspirations to improve housing options for people across the Bath and North East Somerset area.

Organised by Curo, the Bathbased housing association and house builder, alongside B&NES Council, the workshop brought together more than 30 participants from across the housing sector.

Representatives from local planning authorities, regional authorities, registered providers, housebuilders and designers, including guest speaker, Wayne Hemingway MBE, founder of Red or Dead and Hemingway Design, came together for the session, which aimed to develop solutions for the ongoing housing crisis in the region.

Victor da Cunha, chief executive of Curo and chair of the B&NES Housing Mission Board, emphasised the urgent need for innovative and collaborative thinking. He said: “We are at a critical juncture in addressing the housing crisis in Bath and North East Somerset. We aren’t going to solve this crisis in one government term; it will take at

least 10 years.

“This workshop is a vital step towards harnessing the collective expertise and resources from right across industry and the local community to create innovative solutions that truly meet the needs of our communities.”

Councillor Matt McCabe, B&NES cabinet member for built environment, housing and sustainable development, said:

“If we are to tackle the housing crisis that our area faces – whether that is long waiting lists for social homes or the high cost of housing compared to local wages – we will have to work in partnership.

“So, it was great to see such a wide range of different organisations come together to kick off our new

Housing Delivery Mission Board.

“There’s a lot of work to be done – and we need to influence government policy too – but this was a great start.

“The council is committed to playing its part, whether that’s through the Local Plan or through delivery of new homes by our council-owned housing company, but it’s crucial that we get the foundations right if we are to deliver a sustainable economy and a fairer community.

“This will be a long-term plan and

I would like to thank everyone who took part. I look forward to our next steps in making sure we have the right homes in the right places.”

The workshop focused on developing a shared vision and strategic approaches to address the housing crisis, with participants actively discussing

organisational development and collaborative efforts.

Mr da Cunha added: “We all know that the current housing system is broken, and something must be done to solve the local housing crisis.

“I am really pleased to be involved in harnessing the ideas, both short and long term, that will help

build the quality, sustainable, affordable homes we need, both now and into the future.

“Today’s initial workshop has begun to build those, and I am excited to see how we can translate this momentum into real change for our region; change which local people will support and promote.”

Attendees at the recent housing workshop | Photo © Curo

Taking part in a Team Bath Tribe athletics camp | Photo © Team Bath

Popular garden centre celebrates its golden anniversary

Bath BID appoints new chair of the board

FIFTY years ago, two local families acquired derelict land at Prior Park Road at Widcombe and secured planning permission to create a garden centre.

The families - the Mannings and the Clarksons – still own the business that opened in autumn 1974 as The Fred Daw Garden Centre. Back then there were two members of staff under the direction of Fred Daw, the recently retired Director of Parks in Bath, who was known as ‘Mr Bath in Bloom’.

Leach was working at a garden centre in Thornbury when he heard about the opening in Bath. He recalls that the land purchased had been in two sections, part old market garden and part abandoned allotment, covered in brambles.

The business started with just a wooden chalet shop with one telephone on the counter. Now managing director, John is still actively involved in the business that he has helped grow.

After leaving university where he had studied horticulture, John

John still goes in most days, regularly seeing customers who have been visiting since the early days.

The centre now employs more than 30 staff and is a place to both shop and relax.

In addition to Bath’s greatest selection of plants and everything you need for gardening, it stocks a huge selection of gifts and has a pet and aquatic centre, a farm shop selling local produce, and the Secret Garden Café which serves breakfasts, light lunches and afternoon teas.

Trees planted around the two-and-a-half acres site all those years ago have matured to become a wonderful backdrop to what is now Prior Park Garden Centre.

Next week a new canopy at the centre is being dedicated to the late Gavin Cooper who had been garden manager for six years when he died unexpectedly in December 2022.

BATH BID has announced the appointment of Michael Musgrave, the General Manager of the Apex City of Bath, as its new chair of the board.

The appointment sees Michael bring a wealth of experience and a fresh perspective to the role, promising to drive forward the Business Improvement District’s (BID’s) mission to enhance the economic vitality of Bath.

Mr Musgrave has been an integral part of the Apex City of Bath team for over six years, where he has demonstrated exceptional leadership and a commitment to excellence.

His extensive background in hospitality management and his understanding of the local business landscape makes him an ideal candidate to lead the BID.

He said: “I am honoured to take on this new role and look forward to working closely with the BID

team, my colleagues on the Board and local businesses to continue making Bath a vibrant and thriving city.

“Together, we continue to focus on initiatives that support business growth, enhance the welcome of the city and foster a strong sense of community.”

The Bath BID has been instrumental in driving positive change in the city, from improving public spaces to supporting local events and marketing campaigns. Under Michael’s leadership, the BID aims to build on these successes and explore new opportunities for collaboration and innovation.

Allison Herbert, CEO of Bath BID, added: “We are thrilled to welcome Michael as our new chair. His vision and dedication will be invaluable as we continue to work towards our goals of making Bath a welcoming, smart, connected and successful city.”

More than £20,000 granted to projects thanks to Bath Half

DONATIONS made by participants of this year’s Bath Half Marathon have meant more than £20,000 has been granted to projects across the local area.

Projects funded include providing £1,840 to help Bath City Football Club run summer play sessions and £1,728 to Nova Sports and Coaching to organise paddleboarding sessions for young people with physical and learning disabilities.

£2,000 was also given to the West of England Rural Network to provide direct support for older people who have become socially isolated and inactive.

Other funding includes £2,000 granted to the Southside Family Project to create play activities for children at after-school community hub groups in Foxhill, Twerton, Writhlington and Keynsham, and £1,904 to the charity SWALLOW to provide accessible and fun Zumba sessions for adults with learning disabilities in and around Westfield and Midsomer Norton. The donations were made by

those participants in the 2024 Bath Half who agreed to donate to the Bath Half Marathon Fund when they entered.

The 2025 Bath Half, which will be organised for the first time by London Marathon Events, takes place on Sunday 16th March.

Entries (priced at £55 per place) are available to buy now at www. bathhalf.co.uk

Jenny Johnson, founder and director of Nova Sports and Coaching, said: “We were so pleased to have received a Bath Half Marathon Community Fund grant. It’s so important to us as an organisation that we are able to offer experiences and opportunities that everyone can access and this grant enabled us to provide some fantastic paddleboarding sessions in the summer holidays for neurodiverse children and their siblings, as well as a swimming gala for young people with physical and learning disabilities.

“Without the grant, we know that many people would miss out.

Our activities are not only fun and engaging for participants,

but they also give vital respite to the parents, carers and families we work with.”

Denise Perrin, Project Manager for West of England Rural Network, said: “Small grants such as this one from the Bath Half Marathon Community Fund can make a big difference.

“At Rural Moves, our agents help older people in rural areas with mobility and mental health issues to improve their mobility, stability and core strength

through exercise.

“This grant from the Bath Half Community Fund helped set up a walking group for people who had lost confidence to walk very far and on their own, which has been a tremendous success.”

Joanna Wales, Event Lead of the Bath Half Marathon, said: “The Bath Half Marathon Community Fund has raised more than £570,000 in the past 20 years to support the vital work being done in our communities to inspire

people to become and remain active. The grants for this year showcase the breadth of projects and people who benefit from the fund across the region and we thank all those participants from our 2024 event who kindly donated and made these grants possible.” Find us on Facebook Just search “Bath Echo”

Becky Feather Reporter

Above: Managing Director John Leach | Below left: The site in 1974 | Below right: An autumnal display

Michael Musgrave | Photo courtesy of Bath BID

The start of the 2024 Bath Half Marathon | Photo © Bath Half / Running High Events

Politics

Concern that student housing is being prioritised

Becky Feather Reporter

PLANS for a seven-bed house in multiple occupation (HMO) in Twerton have sparked a catalogue of objections and highlighted concerns that students are being prioritised over families in the city.

A planning application for 53 Freeview Road has been submitted to Bath & North East Somerset Council by Rivers Birtwell, who specialise in accommodation for students and young professionals.

So far there have been more than 20 objections.

The plans for the semi-detached house, which currently has three bedrooms, include building a single-storey rear extension, external wall cladding and bike storage. The applicant says sound reduction measures could be installed to reduce any potential noise.

The application states that there is not a concentration of HMOs in the area and there would be no impact to neighbours or the community. If permitted, there would be a total of three HMOs within a 100-metre radius, which equates to 5.76% - within the 10% density threshold set by the council.

Freeview Road is next to Bath City Football Club’s ground, Twerton Park. One local resident said: “We moved to this road in 2016 because it was a family area and houses were perfect for this. It makes me sad that yet another house is being turned into a HMO and reducing the supply of family homes. This is not acceptable!

“On football days we get a surge of fans bringing their cars and park on Freeview and nearby roads. It’s acceptable because we

knew this could be an issue when we bought the house.”

They added: “The planning application is for seven rooms, which means possibly another seven cars on the road. The residents across the road have to street park and it has become increasingly difficult to do so. There are too many HMOs on this road, please leave them for families, nothing against private renters or students.

“Affordable housing is few and far between in Bath and this is the perfect road for young couples/ families trying to get on the property ladder.”

Another commented: “It’s clearly being adapted for student accommodation and there are already multiple student/HMO properties on this road (in fact owned by the same company). This prices families out of the area. In addition, it puts pressure on parking as potentially multiple, if not all occupants, could have a car, and parking is already difficult on this road. Residents are frequently resorting to parking on grass verges or mounted on pavements.”

One objector told the council:

“I live in this road and there are already new HMOs invading a family-based community. This

one would only be five houses away from another. This city is really failing young families from obtaining accommodation, even those brought up here. To use an old slogan very pertinent to this case - people before profits!”

Urging the council to reject the proposal, another resident said: “Just because Oldfield Park is now classed as ‘Student City’ driving out locals, please do not do the same for Twerton, it’s bad enough as it.

“The disregard for the upkeep of the gardens and houses become soulless. The council seem set on turning Bath into the next ‘University City’ and has total disregard for supporting the community.”

They added: “I have enjoyed my 20+ years living in this lovely, quiet street knowing my neighbours, and the thought of living in a soulless street surrounding by students just breaks my heart. Please do not let Twerton become the next Oldfield Park.”

Another critic of the plans observed: “The property is too small, even with a single-storey extension, for seven bedrooms.”

The deadline for comments is 8th October. The planning reference is 24/03294/FUL.

COLUMN | Wera Hobhouse, Liberal Democrat MP for Bath

THE past month saw Labour’s first real test as our government – and it’s safe to say they’ve made some errors. Critically, they made the decision to scrap the Winter Fuel Payment. As winter approaches and the nights draw in, I’m sure all of us are wrapping up a little tighter and looking forward to coming back to a warm home at the end of the day.

But the government’s decision means that thousands of pensioners in Bath may struggle with the cost of heating their homes this winter. That’s why I voted for scrapping the cut in Parliament and I will continue to stand against it on behalf of pensioners in our community, especially alongside my colleagues in B&NES Council who are also pressing the government

to support vulnerable elderly people.

Delegates at the Labour Party conference voted in favour of reversing the Winter Fuel Payments last month too.

While this may have illuminated some differing perspectives within the party, at our own Liberal Democrat conference, we were pleased to continue building on our robust policy platform following our election success. I enjoyed speaking to many industry experts and hosting panel discussions on a widerange of pressing issues for our community. On one panel, I led a discussion on the importance of improving women’s rights, following my work to criminalise upskirting and prevent sexual harassment in the workplace.

Our city’s spectacular Jane

Criticism of separate seven-bed HMO proposal

A planning application for a seven-bed house in multiple occupation less than a mile away at Long Hay Close in Twerton has also been submitted. The application for No. 22, which is currently a four-bed semi, has been submitted by 18-25 Properties. The plans show four bedrooms on the ground floor along with a kitchen/dining room; at first floor level two bathrooms and three bedrooms are shown. The proposal includes increasing off-street parking from one space to two and adding eight cycle spaces.

In a pre-application response, a council planning officer said the proposal would fall within the 10% threshold of HMOs within a 100-metre radius. Comments of objection so far include one who says the proposal to “cram” seven people into the house should be refused: “There will be potentially seven cars associated with the house with only two spaces, leading to road safety issues linked to the known issues of parking in the area. The parking situation in Twerton is being exacerbated by the number of HMOsprobably designed for students - in the area. And of course, hundreds more bedrooms and associated cars will be coming on stream shortly from the huge developments around the Dick Lovett site and many others nearby. There is no more parking room in Twerton and you are risking public order offences if you allow more HMOs like this.”

The planning reference is 24/03596/FUL. The deadline for comments is 16th October.

NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR VARIATION OF PREMISES LICENCE UNDER THE LICENSING ACT 2003

Opium Bars Ltd applied to Bath & North East Somerset Council on 30.09.2024 for a variation of the Premises Licence at Opium Bar, Spring Gardens Road, Bathwick, Bath BA2 6PJ. Variation as follows: Amend sale of alcohol times on Sundays from 17:00 – 23:00 to 10:30 – 22:30. Add Live Music and Recorded Music 10:00 – midnight Monday to Wednesday 10:00 – 02:00 Thursday to Saturday and 10:00 – 23:00 Sundays. Add Performance of Dance 10:00 – midnight Monday to Wednesday 10:00 – 02:00 Thursday to Saturday and 10:30 – 22:30 Sunday. Add Late Night Refreshment 10:00 –midnight Monday – Wednesday 10:00 – 02:00 Thursday to Saturday and 10:30 – 23:00 Sundays. Increase premises capacity to 70.

Notification of the application made to the Licensing Authority is available on a register at www.bathnes.gov.uk/licensingregister.

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 28th October 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: 01/10/2024

Austen Festival presented me with another opportunity to champion the vast contributions of women to our national identity. By highlighting the festival in Parliament, I drew the government’s attention to the importance of expanding and diversifying our national curriculum.

Currently only 2% of students study a female author at GCSE. Whilst in Bath we recognise the phenomenal achievement of female authors such as Jane Austen, it’s disappointing that, for many students across the country, there is a stark gender bias in the way literature is taught. As a former teacher, I’m keen to see more pride and less prejudice in the national curriculum.

Whether it’s expanding the curriculum to allow students to

engage with a broader range of voices or encouraging them to learn new skills for life beyond the classroom, there are plenty of exciting opportunities for children in Bath to explore.

I recently had the chance to join pupils at Weston All Saints Primary School as they developed vital skills that will serve them for life.

As part of Cycle to School Week, we got stuck in with a Bikeability cycle training session before going out onto the streets to put these skills to the test. I had so much fun pedalling along with the students and chatting about how great cycling is for both our health and the planet.

From encouraging more people to take up cycling to investing in

sustainable transport initiatives, Bath sets such an impressive example when it comes to sustainability. One area where this is particularly striking is our ability to combine historic heritage architecture with sustainable innovation. It was fascinating to see Bath Preservation Trust’s efforts to refurbish Beckford's Tower which will be run using sustainable energy sources, like solar panels and air-source heat pumps. The team have also importantly addressed the complex and disturbing legacy of William Beckford while restoring the tower and grounds. It is well worth a visit if you are keen to learn more about Bath’s history over the coming months.

Freeview Road in Bath

Council call to recognise legal ‘rights for nature’

John Wimperis Local Democracy Reporter

PROTESTORS dressed as animals and trees descended on Bath on Thursday 19th September to urge the local council to recognise the legal rights of nature.

The Green group of councillors brought a motion to a full meeting of Bath & North East Somerset Council, calling for the local authority to look into integrating the “rights of nature” into its decision-making.

People from groups such as Extinction Rebellion were among those who attended a rally outside the Guildhall in support of the motion, where people dressed as birds, bees, and trees.

Proposing the motion in the council meeting, Green group leader Joanna Wright (Lambridge, Green) said: “Rights of nature is not an abstract concept.

“In some parts of the world it already functions as a legal tool — the law recognises that nature deserves the same legal rights as people or corporations.”

In 2017, a river in New Zealand,

Te Awa Tupua, was recognised as a legal entity with its own rights after a long campaign by Maori people.

The Green group called for the council to resolve to write to the government about exploring similar ideas, and do what it could to protect nature under existing UK law.

Councillor Wright said: “The council could appoint a sewage officer to monitor pollution and sewage spills using the Environmental Protection Act to prosecute offenders and protect the River Avon.”

Just days after the meeting, Paul Powlesland of Lawyers for Nature, who was among those to attend the protest outside the Guildhall, filmed a “plume of raw sewage” being discharged into a group of swans on the River Avon in Bath.

Wessex Water said the brown discharge would “largely be rainwater”.

But in the council chamber, the Green motion was defeated, with just five votes in favour, 39 votes against and three abstentions.

Councillor Wright said she was “disappointed” with the outcome but said: “Hopefully, this motion

will ignite new conversations across local government and help elected officials realise their powers to use existing UK laws to ensure a resilient future for both people and nature.”

In the debate, Councillor Alison Streatfeild-James (Saltford, Liberal Democrat) warned that, as a practising lawyer, there was no legal framework for the rights of nature. She said she applied the “imagination and the motivation” of the motion but said: “Until there is an established legal framework which can support recognised rights, I would suggest that it would be entirely inappropriate for a council operating through taxpayers’ money to formally and unilaterally recognise that nature has rights and agree to enforce them and integrate those rights into its operations.”

Councillor Oli Henman (Walcot, Liberal Democrat) warned that the rights of nature would be “unenforceable”.

He said: “The Liberal Democrat group will not be supporting this motion. We are focusing on our ambitious targets to improve biodiversity in the ways that can already be measured and tracked.”

Bath & North East Somerset Council was one of the first councils to declare a climate emergency in 2019 and was the first city in the country after London to bring in a clean air zone.

It has a target of achieving net zero by 2030 — although more work is needed to hit this target. The council also declared an ecological emergency in 2020, and brought in requirements for new housing developments to deliver a net gain to biodiversity a year before the rules came in nationally. It was recently ranked joint first out of all local authorities for its action on biodiversity by Climate Scorecards UK.

COLUMN | Dan Norris, Labour MP & Mayor of the West of England

WHENit comes to making our public transport better, there’s nothing like real people power. Because the people reading this know what you need and what your community needs to get around better than anyone else. That’s why when I came up with the WESTlocal bus services, I wanted local people to be at the heart of it. WESTlocal is my scheme that lets communities get their hands on cash to design and run their very own, brand new, not-for-profit bus services. I am delighted that so many local communities and organisations took up my challenge and put together winning bids. Because of

their involvement, the routes are imaginative and designed with the needs of their communities in mind. They’ve benefited hundreds of local people already and I’m pleased to say there are now more of them.

Alongside the two existing routes, the new WESTlocals, eight in total, started operating on 1 September and are getting people around in Keynsham, Yate, Charfield, Chew Valley, Winford, Avonmouth, and to Stroud & Gloucestershire College, to name just a few places. Other WESTlocal routes are being extended because of the feedback that people have given. I have thoroughly enjoyed the stories that have come through

from the people involved. In The Dings, they’ve numbered their WESTlocal 61 in honour of 87-year-old Marilyn, who moved there in 1961 and has been a fierce campaigner for the new service. And the 99 Chew Valley service has been nicknamed the “Cat” because of the shape of its route. This wouldn’t have happened if there wasn’t a real sense of community ownership. How many other bus routes have got their own nickname!

People who use the WESTlocals have told me they really value the service, especially the great community spirit onboard. They’re getting people to work, to the shops, and connecting them

to the busier routes into our towns and cities.

There’s a big debate happening about the kind of public transport our country needs. And here in our region, we are taking this forward these conversations too. I am determined that whatever happens we create a public transport in the West of England that is more sustainable and represents value for money for local people. Because only by making buses more affordable, reliable, and frequent will we encourage people to leave the car at home and use other ways of getting around.

Planning Round-up

Charity’s office plans get the go-ahead

A charity has been granted planning permission to open offices in Newbridge. In 2022 The Liz and Jack Daniel Foundation won approval to demolish a block of three garages behind 80 Newbridge Hill and build two affordable studio lets specifically for key workers at the RUH. But construction costs were beyond expectations, so the charity re-applied to B&NES Council to turn the block into a charitable office. Liz Daniel, whose husband Jack passed away before her, spent much of her later life at the RUH, and used much of her income as a landlady to buy equipment for the hospital. The foundation continues her work following her death in 2020 by letting out her portfolio and using the net profit for charitable causes.

Archway work approved

The Royal High School at Lansdown has been granted listed building consent by B&NES Council to carry out repair and refurbishment work to its historic lower drive main archway, flanking walls and gates.

I don’t underestimate the scale of this challenge. There’s much more to do. The success of WESTlocal has shown that local communities want to get involved. So, I’m going to be working with the government to get the West of England more money for these kinds of projects. We’ve shown that there’s demand for them locally and I’m determined to aim even bigger next time. I’m doing everything I can to make sure the West of England has a bus system we can be proud of – one that’s better for passengers and better for the planet too.

Supporters with Sam Ross, Saskia Heijltjes & Joanna Wright, and Paul Powlesland | Photo © Anna Mounteney

Football coaching sessions help men lose weight

AMATEUR footballers in Bath are losing weight and improving their mental health thanks to weekly football and lifestyle coaching sessions.

The MAN v FAT Football Bath initiative helps overweight and obese men to get fit and adopt healthy lifestyle choices. It has helped local men lose 255 pounds of excess weight in the last year.

Sessions take place every Monday evening at Kingswood School Upper Sports Field and Pavilion, Lansdown Road and is run in partnership with Bath City Football Club Foundation. At MAN v FAT Football sessions, players are weighed, before battling it out on the pitch where the results from matches combine with a player’s individual weight loss throughout a week, to contribute to an overall league table.

The programme doesn’t just

focus on losing weight, with the men taking part also discovering its mental health benefits, while creating new friendships.

The club is looking for more players to join its squads; information about how to sign up can be found at: www. manvfatfootball.org/Bath

Chris Gannon at Bath City FC Foundation, who runs sessions at the club, said: “Getting to know the players and seeing the progress they are making both on and off the pitch is the best thing about coaching these players.

“Seeing their confidence grow in different aspects of their lives,

it could be being more social, taking up new hobbies or the way they play on the pitch.

“The friendship and support created in the teams is something a lot wouldn’t expect when they sign up. I think they would agree it helps their mental wellbeing as much as their physical.

“Now we have secured a quality, year-round facility I would like to see the league grow to six teams and have an increased presence in the MAN v FAT network.

“It would be great to send a team to the national tournament this coming year and to have an 11-a-side team form again.”

In addition to football sessions, MAN v FAT players also receive off-the-pitch support including healthy meal recipe ideas and tips on general fitness.

Players also get full access to MAN v FAT online gym, so they can train in their own time at home.

Bath Rugby extends Ludo Sports Bar partnership

A PARTNERSHIP between Bath Rugby and the Ludo Sports Bar & Kitchen in the SouthGate Bath centre has been extended for two years.

The extension will see Ludo continue as the rugby club’s Official Sports Bar.

They joined forces in 2023 and the relationship has gone from strength to strength.

The renewal means Ludo will continue to show every game live on both TNT Sports and Premier Sports.

Bath Rugby Season Ticket Holders and Club members receive a 20% discount on all food and beverages all day, every day.

James Wiltshire, partnerships manager at Bath Rugby, said:

“The incredible support from Ludo and Bath Rugby fans alongside a really strong season for the club means we can’t wait to see that continue to grow over the next couple of years.

“Offering supporters a premium place to come together and enjoy pre and post-match celebrations, with Ludo situated in SouthGate, the excitement of game day has extended from The Rec across the city.”

On signing the extended partnership with Bath Rugby, Ed Martin, chief executive officer of Regional Taverns, the operator of Ludo Sports Bar & Kitchen, said: “We’re proud to be the Official Sports Bar of Bath Rugby and are thrilled to continue our

partnership for two more years.

“The support we’ve received from Bath Rugby fans over the last year has been outstanding, and we’re really looking forward to continuing to welcome members and supporters of the Blue, Black and White to our beautiful venue to watch every Bath Rugby game

on our screens this season, and next!”

The partnership will continue to create an environment where players, members, season ticket holders and supporters can come together to cheer on their team.

Staff will also wear the colours of Bath Rugby on matchdays.

Saturday 5th October – 3pm Bath City v Chesham United (Away) League

Saturday 12th October – 3pm

Bath City v Aldershot (Away) FA Cup 4Q

Tuesday 15th October – 7.45pm Bath City v Larkhall Athletic (Home) SPC1 Bath City FC

Rugby

5th October – 3.05pm

Rugby v Bristol Bears (Home)

Premiership R3

Saturday 12th October – 3.05pm Bath Rugby v Gloucester Rugby (Away)

Premiership R4

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MAN v FAT Football in Bath | Photo © Man v Fat / Photerior Ltd 2024

Photo © Bath Rugby / Ludo Sports Bar & Kitchen