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Health centre condemns plans for new bus gate
Becky Feather Reporter
A HEALTH centre in Bath has hit out at plans for a bus gate on its doorstep, warning of the “severe impact” it would have on both staff and the practice’s 14,000 patients.
In November we reported that a public meeting, organised by the Green Party, had been held in response to the proposed bus gate on Camden Road as part of Bath & North East Somerset Council’s new London Road and Snow Hill area Liveable Neighbourhood plan.
People highlighted their fears that the proposed bus gate could simply shift traffic congestion and pollution to other nearby streets, disrupting quieter residential areas.
After the meeting Councillor Manda Rigby, cabinet member for highways at the Liberal Democrat-controlled council, told the Bath Echo that a formal, structured process to engage with residents was being planned and that council officers were doing detailed, technical work to determine potential measures to help reduce unnecessary, through-traffic journeys on residential roads in the area.
B&NES Council has yet to start formal consultation on the proposals but so far 500 people have lodged their objections to a bus gate on a petition that has been started on the change.org website (https://bit.ly/4fWjlfp).
A statement signed by Fairfield Park Health Centre was added this week, saying: “A Camden bus-gate? No. Absolutely not.
“Many of us locally are now aware of the council’s proposal to introduce a bus gate either side of Fairfield Park Health Centre. The design is emphasised by the council as being ‘community-led’. We hope this is actually true and not just a sound bite.
“Whilst we support the concept of Liveable Neighbourhoods, this idea is poorly thought-out and we completely oppose it. The Camden proposal does not compare equivalently with other Liveable Neighbourhoods around Bath.
“The consequences of strangling traffic around ill-equipped and very steep, cramped side-streets seem rather obvious, but we are particularly concerned about the impact this will have on staff and patients of Fairfield Park Health Centre.
“It is our grave concern that this proposal will severely impact access to and from the surgery.
The health centre cares for around 14,000 patients and has a staff base of around 50.
“It will affect staff access, the ability of patients to reach the surgery in a timely manner, taxis for elderly or infirm patients who require easy safe and close access to the surgery’s entrance, ambulances, couriers, sterile services, recycling, duty staff attempting to get to patients’ homes on emergency call-outs and many other scenarios.
“Tyning Lane is already a pinchpoint with ‘road rage’ outside the surgery a common occurrence. Frankley Buildings and Bennetts Lane rank amongst the steepest in Bath. We have made it clear that we do not want this proposal and will insist that it is the council’s responsibility if any patient or staff member is directly inconvenienced by this idea.
“We have also informed the council that we will involve them directly in any complaints from patients who have been directly and adversely affected by these proposals.
“Please support the cancelling of this ill-advised and potentially dangerous notion by signing the petition.”
Other comments on the petition include: “This will benefit a small group of people and be detrimental to a large group of people. My understanding of the arguments for a bus gate is that it will help to reduce traffic and speeding vehicles on Camden Road.
“First off, the traffic along Camden Road is only busy for a short period of time during the morning and evening peak hours. Outside of peak hours, the traffic is relatively quiet.
“Secondly, yes, there are speeding vehicles, and yes, there has been damage caused to other vehicles due to a stolen speeding vehicle, but this is very rare, especially during the day, which is when I guess the bus gate will apply.
“I don't like it, but no matter what, there will always be the odd idiot who speeds - a bus gate isn't going to fix that. What a bus gate along Camden will do, however, is inconvenience a lot of people: push traffic down smaller roads, push traffic onto an already congested London Road, interfere with deliveries to Camden residents, and stop residents who choose to use their car from being able to.”
Arrests after 16-year-old boy attacked near Bath
TWO men in their 20s were arrested at the weekend in connection with the assault of a teenager in a village near Bath.
Avon & Somerset Police had previously launched an appeal for witnesses and footage after a 16-year-old boy from Bath was assaulted by a group of people near Corston Post Office and village store at around 10.30pm on Friday 10th January. He was later located by officers on Broomhill Road in Brislington, Bristol, at around 12.30am and was taken to hospital with
injuries which were serious but not life-threatening.
He has since been discharged.
An investigation into the incident was launched and two men, aged 20 and 26, were arrested on Sunday evening, 12th January, on suspicion of kidnapping, false imprisonment and GBH wounding with intent.
Police are continuing to appeal for witnesses, footage and information relating to the incident and anyone who thinks they may be able to help their enquiries are encouraged to
call 101 and quote reference 5225008326. Alternatively, you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers 100 per
cent anonymously by calling 0800 555 111, or online at https:// crimestoppers-uk.org/giveinformation
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Corston Post Office in Corston village near Bath
Fairfield Park Health Centre in Bath
Views sought on latest designs for rugby stadium
John Wimperis Local Democracy Reporter
PEOPLE are being urged to have their say on updated plans for Bath Rugby’s new stadium while they can.
More than 3,600 people commented on the club’s plans to build an 18,000-seater stadium on the Recreation Ground in 2023.
But now Bath Rugby has made major changes to the plans which it says will help preserve the “unique character” of the central Bath location, and it is urging people to have their say on the plans once more.
The updated plans, submitted in December, have lowered the heights of the west and east stands, redesigned their facades, and introduced a curved roof in order to allow more views of the city and the surrounding hills.
The plans also introduce “enhanced landscaping” along the river and “re-engineered and enhanced seating” in the stadium itself.
Chief executive of Bath Rugby, Tarquin McDonald, said: “We’ve listened closely to the community and our stakeholders, as well as the numerous statutory consultees that are invited to comment on planning applications, and we are committed to delivering a
stadium that not only meets the needs of our fans but also respects the rich heritage of Bath.
“The amended submission showcases an exciting vision for the future, with significant public benefits that will positively contribute to the entire community.”
The plans to build a stadium on the Recreation Ground in Bath’s Georgian city centre have been hugely controversial.
The first plans were unveiled in July 2018 but the covenants around the site’s charitable status saw legal challenges. In 2022, the Supreme Court ruled that these
would not be a barrier to the plans for a stadium.
After the plans were submitted last year, the local branch of the Green Party warned it would “cause misery for residents across the city” and 313 people subjected objections to the plan. But an overwhelming 3,253 people lodged their support for the plans with the planning department. The club has warned that continuing with their current facilities may not be sustainable. It costs Bath Rugby about £1 million to assemble and disassemble the temporary stand
on the Recreation Ground, with floodlights having to be brought in for each game.
Mr McDonald told the Local Democracy Reporting Service in 2023 that establishing a permanent stadium on the site would secure the club’s longterm future.
He warned: “If we were not able to redevelop it, it calls into question our ability to stay here long term. That would be tragic for the city and the club.”
Public consultation is open again until Saturday 8th February.
You can have your say at https:// bit.ly/3DNCbrJ
GWR funding to help improve communities
GREAT Western Railway (GWR) has launched its 2025 Customer and Community Improvement Fund and is inviting applications, with a particular focus on projects that connect to the Railway 200 celebrations. As the rail industry reflects on the past 200 years and looks forward to the future, GWR is keen to sponsor projects which celebrate the railway, enhance local communities and address areas of social need.
GWR says it is committed to helping schools, colleges, councils, community and other not-for-profit organisations by aiding several initiatives. Schemes must show a link to the railway and offer a tangible benefit to customers and the community with an emphasis on inclusion and diversity, youth engagement, careers in rail and increasing rail travel.
GWR’s senior community impact manager, Emma Morris, said:
“Our Customer and Community Improvement Fund is a fantastic opportunity for us to invest locally in projects that have a positive impact for our customers and our communities, especially as we celebrate 200 years of the railway.
“We have had a broad range of bids that have been successful in the past; from small projects looking at the history and heritage of GWR stations, wayfinding schemes making it easier for people to navigate to and from the station, to outreach programmes focusing on careers in the railway encouraging inclusion and diversity.
“They might be about promoting rail travel, supporting economic and environmental goals or making the railway more accessible and integrated with
active travel.
“We are committed to improving the journeys of our passengers, as well as the economic prosperity and social footprint of the regions and communities we serve, and we look forward to receiving a variety of bids which will have positive local impact.”
There must be a link to the railway in every project and all bids must
address an area of social need. People can find out more on the GWR website at https://bit. ly/3WGt3Mr Schemes must be delivered and completed by the end of March 2026.
Emma Roberts, programme manager for Railway 200, said:
“This year’s bicentenary of the modern railway is a major national milestone for a British invention that changed the world.
“Through GWR’s anniversaryrelated fund, and a wide variety of activities and events throughout the year, we hope it will also have a positive impact on communities, offering opportunities for all.”
Applications must be submitted by the end of Friday 31st January.
Each proposal will be treated on its own merits, its connection to the railway and consideration of the benefit it would bring to the community.
Inspector throws out appeal for barn in field
An inspector appointed by the Secretary of State has backed South Gloucestershire Council’s refusal to grant planning permission for a barn in a field at St Catherine, near Bath. In January 2024 the council considered an application for a 20-metre by 10-metre barn for storage and an all-weather riding arena on land at Beeks Lane. The site lies off narrow Beeks Lane, within the Green Belt and Cotswolds National Landscape, and is part of a larger field for which there is a certificate of lawful development for keeping, grazing, exercising and schooling horses, and for two stables. The application said the barn was needed to store stable bedding, hay, other feedstock, tack, horse boxes, a tractor and associated cultivation and field maintenance implements. But the council decided that a building of such a size and scale in a largely open landscape would not preserve the openness of the Green Belt and would be inappropriate development. However, the council was happy to approve a 40-metre by 30-metre riding arena nearby, saying it would fall within the provision of appropriate facilities for outdoor sport and recreation. The only difference to the land would be a change in the surfacing and a fence. The applicant appealed against the barn decision, but the inspector has agreed that it would amount to inappropriate development in the Green Belt.
Long range forecast: (24th to 30th January)
Expected to stay mostly dry with chances of some rain later in the week. Turning colder towards the end of the month, with periods of windier and wetter weather.
Fundraising appeal launched after city centre charity shop burglary
A CHARITY with a shop in the centre of Bath has launched an appeal for financial donations after a burglary caused thousands of pounds worth of damage.
Thieves broke into the Bath Cats and Dogs Home’s shop on George Street in the early hours of 26th December, causing significant damage and stealing a donation box and raffle takings. The charity, which helps to transform the lives of neglected and abandoned pets, is appealing
for donations to offset the damage.
Jasmine Dyer, Retail Manager, said: “It’s incredibly sad that anyone felt they needed to steal from a charity at Christmas.
“But just like the film Bad Santa, they broke into the shop and took the presents. What’s worse, they caused some very expensive damage in the process.
“The shop relies on donations from the public and any money made helps us to rescue and rehabilitate dogs and cats in
need.
“It’s costing thousands to replace the window, which wipes out any profit.
“If anyone can afford to make a financial donation, that would be a huge help. And equally, if you’re decluttering post-Christmas, consider donating your items to us. We take stock donations at the shop and also at Bath Cats and Dogs Home itself at Claverton Down.”
You can donate on the charity’s website at www.bcdh.org.uk.
Solar panel plan for local care home
Becky Feather Reporter within Corston Conservation Area and the Green Belt.
THERE are plans to install solar panels on the roof of a care home near Bath, to improve its energy efficiency and reduce its carbon footprint.
The application seeking a Certificate of Lawfulness for the proposed development at St Teresa’s Nursing Home at Corston has been lodged with Bath & North East Somerset Council by Hybrid Energy Limited.
The home at Corston Lane is
The scheme proposes the installation of photovoltaic panels arranged as rows of panel units along the roofs facing south and east. The application says the arrangement has been carefully considered to sit low within the landscape and to avoid any adverse impacts on the setting of the home and the openness of the Green Belt, as well as ensuring it remains well screened from public view.
The planning reference is 25/00064/CLPU.
Gallery’s Georgian exhibition to feature satirical artworks
THE Victoria Art Gallery will be giving visitors the opportunity to step back in time to the scandalous world of Georgian Bath at a new exhibition starting later this month.
Opening on 24th January, Mirror of Mirth will showcase over 200 of the gallery’s finest satirical artworks, featuring the humorous works of Thomas Rowlandson, John Nixon, and other artists of the era. This exhibition will expose the scandals, quirks, and lively social scene of the time with a playful yet revealing lens.
In the late 18th century, London’s craze for satire was at its peak, with Thomas Rowlandson leading the charge. His sharp eye and prolific pencil spared no one among the elite, and when the great and the good escaped to the elegant spa resort of Bath for the season, Rowlandson followed, inviting his friend John Nixon to join him.
A merchant and talented amateur artist, Nixon brought his own light-hearted take, and together they captured the quirks of Georgian life, from the wealthy aristocrats to the everyday figures in their shadow.
The comic artworks would have been displayed and sold in print shops around Bath, to the amusement of passersby. They
poked fun at the ‘nouveau riche’ who frequented Bath at the time, and even helped change public perceptions of the politics of the day.
Mirror of Mirth will include the satirical works from the Victoria Art Gallery collection, including Rowlandson’s celebrated Comforts of Bath series, a boisterous survey of the activities offered in the city. The
observational sketches of Nixon offer a gentler alternative to Rowlandson’s scathing send-ups. Exhibition Curator Jim Riseley said: “We’re thrilled to be showcasing the Victoria Art Gallery’s extensive collection of satirical art. Rowlandson and Nixon’s lively scenes – from dancing in the Pump Room to bathing in Bath’s thermal waters – give us a fascinating glimpse
into the social life of 18thcentury Bath, and remind us of the timeless power of humour to hold a mirror to society.”
To accompany the exhibition there will be a children’s trail, and free craft workshops for families in February half term and the Easter holidays.
Alongside the Mirror of Mirth exhibition, the gallery will host a display of work by contemporary
artist Perry Harris, a cartoonist and landscape artist who uses paint and digital colour to bring Bath to life.
He has worked in a variety of areas: a cartoonist for punk fanzines, stage scenery painter, architectural illustrator and art technician. He currently balances being a school caretaker with creating his own artwork. This selling exhibition will focus on cartoons and watercolours of Perry’s favourite Bath landscapes, including Primrose Hill, the Cotswold Way and Smallcombe Vale.
Perry said: “This exhibition brings together various aspects of my work: the cartoons of Bath are inspired by underground comics and skills learnt as an architectural illustrator.
“The more painterly watercolours are inspired by my love of nature and revisiting my earlier love of painting.”
Mirror of Mirth runs from 24th January to 21st April 2025. Tickets are available at victoriagal.org.uk. Perry Harris: Essence of Bath runs from 14th January to 13th April 2025, and is free to view in the small gallery by the Victoria Art Gallery shop.
The home is working to reduce its carbon footprint
Thomas Rowlandson, Comforts of Bath - The Artist, 1798 | Image courtesy of B&NES Council
PEOPLE in Bath are being encouraged to sign up for this year’s Race for Life in the city, taking place on Sunday 6th July.
The popular event for Cancer Research UK, which funds lifesaving research, is returning to hundreds of venues across the UK this spring and summer.
Anyone who joins in January can claim 50% off the entry fee as part of a special ‘early bird’ sale by using the code RACE25NY.
Every year around 37,300 people are diagnosed with cancer in the South West.
Money raised at Race for Life enables scientists to find new ways to prevent, diagnose and treat cancer – moving closer to a world where everyone can live longer, better lives free from the fear of the disease.
The Race for Life events take place at Royal Victoria Park and are open to all ages and abilities. People can choose from 5k or 10k events.
Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life, in partnership with headline sponsor Standard Life, part of Phoenix Group, raises millions of pounds every year across the UK to help beat cancer by funding crucial research.
Ruth Amies, Cancer Research UK’s spokesperson in the South West, said: “No matter how
cancer affects us, life is worth racing for.
“Sadly nearly one in two of us will get cancer in our lifetime but all of us can help beat it. We’re proud that Race for Life has already helped double survival rates in the UK.
“Every penny raised at Race for Life truly makes a difference and powers progress.
“We’d love for as many people as possible to join us at Race for Life Bath. There is an event for everyone and we mean everyone.
“Our events are strictly noncompetitive which means everyone can have a go - and love every minute. There’s no pressure to finish in a certain time, just give it what you can. Lace up and join in.
“January is the perfect time to commit to getting a little more
active. Whether people are living with cancer, taking part in honour or memory of a loved one with cancer, in it for the medals or just for the fun of fundraising, there is a place for everyone.”
Since it began in 1994, more than 10 million people have taken part in Race for Life, funding 30 years of hope and progress.
Andy Curran, Chief Executive of Standard Life, said: “We are incredibly proud to continue as headline sponsor for Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life, with the opportunity to encourage participation across the country.
“By working to raise funds for life-saving research, we can move towards a future where people live longer and healthier lives, free from the fear of cancer.”
To enter this year’s events in Bath, visit raceforlife.org.
Bid to remove hedge that’s blocking views
Becky Feather
A BATH resident has asked the council for permission to take down a Leylandii hedge which is blocking views over the city for him and his neighbours. The planning application is to remove the six-metre-long hedge in the gardens of 220 and 222 Bloomfield Road, which is also blocking the sunlight.
The owner of No 222 says the hedging was planted “many decades ago” and has been unkept for years.
In the application to Bath & North East Somerset Council, he
says: “The hedge is made of a few very mature non-native Leylandii which tower over both our and our neighbours’ garden.
“They are pretty much trees in size – some as much as four metres high. The hedge blocks views over the city and lots of sunlight into the garden. Because of the very thick trunks, it is not possible to prune them down.” The planning reference is 25/00035/HEDGE and consultation closes on 28th January.
The hedge is blocking sunlight from the properties
Planning committee members call for a review of HMO rules
Becky Feather Reporter
PLANNING committee members have called for a change to the rules governing houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) amid escalating concern about the impact on some areas of Bath, particularly with uncapped student numbers.
The Bath Echo regularly reports on controversial HMO applications – mainly in Odd Down, Twerton and Weston.
The issue was discussed in detail at December’s meeting of Bath & North East Somerset Council’s planning committee, when two HMO applications in Odd Down ward came before councillors. Prior to the meeting, committee chair Councillor Ian Halsall (Liberal Democrat, Oldfield Park) had invited a discussion, saying: “The ward members continually raise objection to the effectiveness of Policy H2 and the criteria set out in the supplementary planning documents on Houses in Multiple Occupation insofar as it affects Odd Down.
“Whilst the officer confirms that the proposal is policy compliant, the committee may wish to discuss this policy and its current ‘one size fits all’ approach, which applies across the whole district, rather than the overall impact such change of uses may have upon specific residential neighbourhoods.”
The first scheme discussed was Gray & Amor Properties Ltd’s application to change the use of 530 Wellsway, a terraced threebed family home, into a four-bed HMO. The plans also include removing a rear fence to create an off-road parking space, and installing a four-bay cycle rack. Council records show the conversion will result in five HMOs within a 100-metre radius – a 4.8% concentration. The threshold laid down by the council is 10%.
The second policy test is whether a home would end up being ‘sandwiched’ between two HMOs, which would not be the case.
Addressing the planning committee, the applicant’s agent said the property had been thoroughly refurbished and would be ready to let to four professionals from the new year.
He added: “Taking a slighter wide view of this, I think it is important to note that HMOs do fulfil a vital economic development housing role for the city. They provide accommodation for younger professionals starting out in full-time and fixed-term employment.
“So even though it is acknowledged that some members do have concerns about over-concentration and occupation by students and so forth, I think it would be wrong in this case for those concerns to be mediated through this planning application.
“I think if members do have
concern about the effectiveness of the current HMO SPD (supplementary planning document) a more effective way of addressing those concerns would be through the Local Plan policy route that is taking place now, and not through our client’s application.”
Odd Down’s Liberal Democrat councillors Steve Hedges and Joel Hirst have been highlighting concerns about the exponential growth of HMOs in the wider Odd Down area for some time.
Addressing the committee, Councillor Hedges said: “We object in principle to more HMOs being created in Odd Down ward. We feel strongly that the Odd Down ward needs to be protected for housing and family units.”
He said that widening out the 100-metre radius map in this instance by half as much again would include between 15 and 20 more HMOs.
He highlighted the “unsustainable” growth in student numbers: “The city of Bath is constrained because of the World Heritage Status, especially when you see all the land that is being built on specifically for student housing.
“When the student cap was lifted, the council policy was never updated to account for such large influxes of students.”
Regarding the proposed HMO at No. 530, he said Wellsway is a busy trunk road and parking is “really difficult” along that stretch.
Councillor Hedges said: “These are small family homes which we can ill afford to close. The more of these homes that are turned into HMOs the less facility we have for family units.”
Asking the committee to reject the scheme he said there is a bike rack but only one parking space allocated.
“If you get five students in a house at least three of them will have a car so where are the other two cars going to go?”
He acknowledged that he could not comment about the people who would be living in this property but highlighted that with a lot of other HMOs in Odd Down, it is the case that tenants are noisy and untidy.
Councillor Joel Hirst told the committee that the HMO register map shows a concentration in the south-west corner of the city and a deprivation map on the public health section of the council’s website “almost mirrors exactly” that area.
He said: “The HMO developments have been targeted at the low value housing areas, forcing out key workers and people, and so I think we need to reflect quite deeply about whether the 10% rule could be applied in a slightly more creative way, thinking about zoning some areas where you might want a lower percentage figure to protect lower value housing areas for key workers, and then having a higher value – maybe 12.5%, 15 % – in other parts of the city so you can then share the burden of the HMOs across the city; or whether you reflect on the point that Steve was making about whether the 100-metre radius is actually fit for purpose.”
Councillor Tim Warren (Conservative, Midsomer Norton Redfield) said he had sympathy with the Odd Down councillors but could not see any planning reason to refuse this particular application so moved a motion to permit it.
Councillor Lucy Hodge (Liberal Democrat, Lansdown), who is vice chair of the planning committee, said: “I am happy to second the officers’ recommendation, but I do really
landed by national policy. “As a council, we can react by trying to re-balance, but actually we have got to build more houses because if we do not provide more, in the private rental accommodation and social rented accommodation for families within the city, as well as young people within the city, we are not going to resolve this. There is always going to be that tension.”
However, she said that the issue could not be solved by the application before them and it should be approved.
Councillor Eleanor Jackson (Labour, Westfield) also called for a review to include HMOs in the Somer Valley, not just Bath. Councillor Fiona Gourley (Liberal Democrat, Bathavon) highlighted the loss to the city of council tax: “The more HMOs that are permitted, the less the city receives.”
The plans for 530 Wellsway were approved, with seven members in favour and three against.
The second application was to turn 51 Ambleside Road, a 1960s three-bed semi-detached house, into a five-bed HMO.
share the concerns raised by the ward councillors.
“As a committee, we could perhaps ask or consider that the SPD is revised through the Local Plan policy route and look at the 10% rule and the 100-metre rule, thinking about the loss of affordable accommodation for families in particular areas of Bath. I hope we can review that.”
Committee chair Councillor Halsall said it would require resources to look into that. He said that when the SPD had been introduced, in terms of his ward (Oldfield Park) “the horse had already bolted”.
He acknowledged that “perhaps there is a case for applying a different formula” in some wards.
Committee member Councillor Deborah Collins (Liberal Democrat, Widcombe & Lyncombe) said she lives in a ward with a lot of HMOs – “an area that is almost at saturation with the policy”.
She told councillors: “I do think we need to pause and think about this but I think we need to look at this in a very broad perspective.
The population within the city of Bath, as Councillor Hedges says, has increased dramatically and a significant proportion of that increase is due to students.
“It would be lovely if those students when they graduate can come and stay and work in our city but it’s really, really hard for young people and it’s really hard for families as well. I think as councillors, as a committee, we need to think about all our residents.”
She added: “There is a real pressure on universities to expand. An extra 20,000 or so students – with no requirement to the universities to consider the housing needs of the city into which they are bringing those extra students – is where we are
The applicant told the committee that ideally the accommodation will be let to key workers, such as NHS. There is no parking but there is storage provision for bicycles.
There had been 17 objections, highlighting that there are already six HMOs in this road and others close by.
It was also pointed out that the local student population has increased significantly, and their presence disrupts local families. There were also concerns that the HMO will increase on-street parking,
The planning report noted that the density of HMOs in a 100-metre area is 5.9% and there is no ‘sandwiching’ of a property within two HMOs.
The debate about HMOs continued, with Councillor Hirst saying: “Our current policy around HMOs is not fit for purpose. It’s not about de-valuing students.
“Students are enormously important in terms of our wider economy but it’s about having a balance of sustainable communities…we have reached that tipping point where residents kind of feel it’s reached an unacceptable level of the loss of family housing to HMOs.”
He said there were particular challenges around this location, including narrow roads, parking “chaos”, and gradients that are “challenging” for cycling.
Councillor Jackson observed that if the property did not become a HMO it could be turned into an Airbnb, adding: “They are a far greater problem I think for displacing Bath families.”
The plans were approved, again with seven votes in favour and three against.
An example bedroom in a HMO
Permission granted for National Trust property to become offices
Becky Feather Reporter
THE National Trust has been granted temporary planning permission to use one of its properties in Bath for offices in connection with the £17 million project to refurbish the Assembly Rooms.
The project aims to create a worldclass visitor experience that tells the social story of Georgian Bath in the actual building in Bennett Street that was the social heart of the city in the late 18th century.
The National Trust (NT) told Bath & North East Somerset Council that as a result of the proposed works, there were no other suitable NT buildings in Bath it could use for alternative office accommodation other than Fishponds Cottage on the Prior Park estate at Widcombe.
The cottage was also used during the NT’s award-winning Prior Park Dams project as a temporary site office for contractors. Before then it had been vacant since July 2017.
Bath facilities manager for the NT, David Barnes, explained: “Regrettably, despite our longterm plan to convert Fishponds Cottage back to residential use, not least to provide an additional income stream, we are still not
in a position to undertake this work at this juncture, due to a lack of sufficient resources through having to prioritise improvements to other buildings and existing visitor facilities on site post the delivery of the Prior Park Dams project.
“However, a situation has recently arisen regarding the impending capital works project to restore the Bath Assembly Rooms back to a visitor experience worthy of its historic significance, in that we will need to accommodate the operational and project teams while the capital works are carried throughout 2025 and 2026.
“These works will deliver
demonstrable and substantial conservation benefits to a major heritage asset in the city, as well as associated economic and social benefits.”
He said that rather than Fishponds Cottage remaining vacant again it would be “highly beneficial” to the fabric of the building and to the operations to be able to use the cottage for office use in the short term, with the long-term ambition still being to convert the cottage back to residential use “as soon as the opportunity arises”.
B&NES Council planners agreed and the temporary change of use runs until the end of December 2026.
Warning issued over winter fuel text scams
AVON & Somerset Police are warning people to be vigilant as fraudulent texts on winter fuel payments are being sent from criminals.
The texts encourage people to click on unsafe links to register for, or claim, fuel allowance.
However, clicking the link opens the door for fraudsters to steal personal and financial data. This can be used by the criminals to commit identity fraud – and take money.
Fraud Protect Officer Claire Bounds said: “Even clicking the link and not entering any information could result in malicious software being downloaded onto your device.
“We have seen a spate of these texts being circulated in our area and it’s important for people to understand the best course of action to take. We’re asking people to share this advice with
friends and family and especially elderly or vulnerable people who may be at risk.”
If you receive unsolicited content, you should:
• Stop! Think Fraud and don’t click on any links.
• Take your time to read any unexpected messages. There are often signs to indicate fraud, such as spelling and grammar errors or strange use of language.
• Forward the SPAM message to 7726 free of charge so your mobile phone provider can investigate.
• If you have become a victim and have lost money notify your bank immediately, by calling 159. Also report to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040. Action Fraud publishes an A-Z of scams and shares tips to avoid fraud, which can be found at www.actionfraud.police.uk
Pantomime audiences raise
more than £9,800
MORE than £9,800 was raised for charity by pantomime audiences at the Theatre Royal Bath over the festive season, it has been revealed.
The money was raised across 28 charity collections, which took place from 19th December to 4th January, after matinee and evening performances of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.
Olivia Birchenough, who starred as Snow White, and Kieran DuMont, who starred as Prof, made announcements from the stage on behalf of the charities involved before each of the fundraising collections made by the Theatre Royal’s Front of House team for 14 days during the panto run.
Olivia, well known as a children’s television presenter for Channel 5’s Milkshake!, said: “A big thank you to our kind pantomime audiences who gave so generously to raise this brilliant total which will benefit five wonderful charities.
“Great Western Air Ambulance, Developing Health and Independence, ReMind UK, Swallow and the Wonderfund help people in the community all year round.
“The money donated will make a difference to each of them and the support they provide in 2025.”
The Theatre Royal’s annual
Film showing being planned to mark Holocaust Memorial Day
A SPECIAL film will be shown at the Little Theatre cinema in Bath later this month as part of annual commemorations for Holocaust Memorial Day.
This year’s anniversary marks the 80th year since the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest Nazi concentration camp during World War II.
For the second year in a row, the Little Theatre and the B&NES Faith Foundation have teamed up to host the event.
Charities Week took place across eight days and 16 panto performances between 19th to 28th December, raising a total of £5,252.66 which will be divided equally between four charities: Great Western Air Ambulance, Developing Health and Independence, ReMind UK and Swallow.
In addition, collections took place from 29th December to 4th January, across 12 panto performances, raising a total of £4,588.09 for the Wonderfund.
Cast members Olivia Birchenough (Snow White), Jon Monie (Muddles), Nick Wilton (Dame Dilly Donut) and George Olney (Prince Frederick) were joined on stage by Charlotte Hutcheson and Haydn May from
Nathan Hartley, Director of the B&NES Faith Foundation, said: “The European Holocaust of the 1930s and 1940s is one of the most documented genocides in history.
“Over six million Jews were sent to extermination camps and gas chambers before and during the War. By 1945, 65% of Europe’s Jewish population has been wiped out – at least two out of every three Jews on the continent had been killed.
“As well as the Jewish community, other minority groups were also targeted and murdered by the Nazis, including members of the LGBT community, socialists, Jehovah’s Witnesses, disabled people, Slavs, Freemasons, Black Europeans, liberals and gypsies.”
This year, the Commandant’s Shadow will be shown at the cinema.
The true story that inspired the Oscar-winning ‘The Zone of Interest’, ‘The Commandant’s Shadow’ tells how, eight decades after Auschwitz, Hans Jurgen Höss and Anita Lasker Wallfisch – both survivors in very different ways – come face to face, together with their children, to explore how the Holocaust has impacted all their lives.
A spokesperson at the Little Theatre said: “It’s a historic moment, the first time the descendant of a major war criminal meets a survivor in such a private and intimate setting.
“Told through first-hand testimony, letters, personal and historical archive footage, this feature-length documentary is about a mother and daughter, a
father and son, and the shadow cast down the generations.
“Raising questions about love, guilt and forgiveness, it is also a story of hope, acceptance and compassion. This film is not to be missed!”
The Faith Foundation’s patron, Sarah Bevan, will say a few words before the film starts.
Sarah is the daughter of a Holocaust Survivor and is known for her work in raising awareness of the horrors of 1930s and 1940s Europe.
Councillor Karen Walker, the Chair of Bath & North East Somerset Council, will also be attending.
To book tickets for the screening visit www.picturehouses.com/ cinema/little-theatre-cinema
the Theatre Royal’s Front of House Team to celebrate the donations given by theatregoers.
The offices will be used during the refurbishment of the Assembly Rooms
Auschwitz-Birkenau was the largest Nazi concentration camp during WWII
THE floods which hit Bath in January 1925 were the worst the city had experienced for 24 years, with the river rising 12 feet above its normal level. This was the view from the Old Bridge looking along Broad Quay, with only the
tops of a few posts to indicate where the river should end and the quay begin.
Broad Quay was built in 1727 when the Avon Navigation opened.
Two centuries on, however, its heyday was long over, and, where once cargoes had been loaded and unloaded, there was plenty of room for a travelling fair to set up. Plenty of room – but not plenty of time to pack it away when the water started rising.
As the local press reported, ‘on the Broad Quay the swings and roundabouts rose like disconsolate spectres from the waste of waters’, while ‘the showmen’s caravans in Little Corm Street, whither they were hurriedly removed … only just escaped the inundation’.
A century on, the buildings along Broad Quay, as well as the Quay itself, are long gone.
COLUMN | Clare Moody, Labour Police and Crime Commissioner
FOLLOWING
my election in May 2024 and the General Election in July, there’s a lot to look back on over the last year, but the new year is a time for looking forward, to what can be achieved in the coming months. The opportunity to build on the foundations of the last year is truly exciting.
In the last months of 2024
I finalised my Police and Crime Plan, setting the five strategic priorities for Avon and Somerset Police for my term of office (you can read it at www.avonandsomersetpcc.gov.uk/police-and-crimeplan-2024-2029). This lays out the focus for the work of Avon and Somerset Police and for my office, including strengthening neighbourhood policing and tackling violence against women
and girls and knife crime.
Central to the start of 2025 for me is bringing this Plan to life, through developing an implementation plan.
An important part of creating the Plan was the public consultation, not least because being the bridge between the public and the police is central to my duties. This consultation was carried out through public meetings, focus groups and meetings with communities and specialists, as well as over 1,000 online submissions. Through these events I met with so many inspirational people that are quietly getting on with transforming other people’s lives. Some of the excitement of the coming year is that I will be able to continue to work with them and with new people
and organisations that provide support, change behaviours and generate opportunities for those around them.
The Plan sets the strategic priorities for policing and crime prevention, but I am also responsible for the wider governance of Avon and Somerset Police, to ensure they deliver an efficient and effective service to everyone in all parts of our area.
As with so many of our public services, policing suffered through cuts over recent years but, despite this, we still benefit from our biggest asset – the people who are dedicated to delivering our police service. Every day, officers and staff work to protect our communities and make people safer – they are often the first people our community members turn to in times of need,
Many of those across the river survive, however, allowing us to pinpoint the location and to realise how much this corner of the city has been transformed.
You can enjoy special archive photos of Bath every week in our popular newsletter. Sign up for your copy at: www.bathecho.co.uk/subscribe
offering support during moments of vulnerability and crisis. Examples of their impressive impact include delivering lifesaving first aid to a victim of knife crime, designing a fraud prevention tool to protect the most vulnerable from organised criminality and delivering justice for a survivor of sexual assault across a four-year process.
Policing is also fortunate to benefit from a committed group of volunteers, including Special Constables and Police Staff Volunteers. In addition, there are volunteers who directly support the work of my office, who help to scrutinise Avon and Somerset Police, making a real and tangible difference to the standards of policing the public receives.
If you’d like to become involved during 2025, you can find out more on my website at www. avonandsomerset-pcc. gov.uk/get-involved/ volunteering-opportunities I am committed to working alongside these dedicated staff and officers, holding them to account when needed, to make sure the public receive the police service they need. Please feel free to reach out to me and my office with any questions, concerns, or suggestions you may have at www.avonandsomersetpcc.gov.uk I hope you had a restful and enjoyable break with your family or friends this Christmas time, and I wish you a very happy and healthy new year for 2025.
Broad Quay during flooding in 1925
Congratulations to Rosamond Davies for winning £20! You can find the answers to last issue's crossword on page 20.
1 Something to watch, or the people who make it watchable (2,3)
4 Details (9)
10 Hew (4)
11 Courtesy (10)
12 Limber ones (8)
13 Closer (6)
15 Anglo-Saxon (3,7)
17 "Daily Planet" employee (4)
19 Snare (4)
21 Forces into service (10)
24 Short vacation (3,3)
27 Irish political party (4,4)
28 Doing minor adjustments near the kitchen, usually (6,4)
29 Surrounded by (4)
30 What she sells on the seashore (9)
31 Female donkey (5) Across
2 Automotive (9)
3 See what's out there (7)
5 Conceals in the hand (5)
6 Claim a dance partner (3,2)
7 Star's letters (3,4)
8 Indian class (5)
9 Leapt (6)
14 Inquires (4)
16 Watch (4)
18 Sustenance (9)
20 Business incentives (7)
22 Bollywood business (6)
23 Men fail miserably to arouse passion (7)
25 Similar (5)
26 Musical form (5)
27 Ruin (5)
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:
The winner will be the first randomly opened entry with the correct answers on 29/01/2025. 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
Celebrate Burns Night with Johnnie Walker whisky at The Huntsman (Terrace Walk) on Thursday 23rd January, and feast on a 3-course menu inspired by classic Scottish dishes including that all-important haggis in traditional and vegetarian format all paired with a toast (or three!) to the Bard. Space is very limited, so early booking is essential (£45pp).
https://bit.ly/4gWiPQ8
The iconic, historic Hop Pole Inn (Limpley Stoke) has been saved by its local community and reopens under the curatorship of new tenants Charlie Rawlings and Hannah Randall on Saturday 25th January. Expect a super-convivial atmosphere, exceptional food wrought from seasonal, locally sourced produce and the kind
Sponsor this section! Get in touch with Rob Last via rob@mediabath.co.uk
of warm welcome that only a properly good country pub can offer.
www.hoppoleinn.uk
Yuzu by Dan Moon will be popping up at Bath Soft Cheese HQ (Park Farm, Kelston) on the evening of Thursday 30th January to showcase a sumptuous, seasonal 5-course menu using spectacular locally sourced ingredients and cleverly integrating Bath Soft Cheese into each course - now that’s what we call the ultimate cheese dream! (£80pp).
https://bit.ly/47aQWj8
Legendary Larkhall French brasserie/gourmet food specialists Ma Cuisine have ooh-la-la’d into a brand new initiative focusing on authentic
French gourmet meals delivered to doorsteps across the UK (www.bistrochef.co.uk). But that’s not the end of the story for MC’s former HQ at 3-4 St Saviours Road! Check out The Village Cafe and Bar: a gloriously convivial, terrifically tasteful neighbourhood watering hole currently open Monday - Saturday 8.45am-5pm but with big plans for all manner of exciting developments in the pipeline.
https://bit.ly/4gOGcek
Picnic in the Park (Lark Place, off Upper Bristol Road) have unveiled a tasty schedule of pop-up events that guarantee Friday foodie fabulosity from early February through to the end of March. On the menu: a truly super supper courtesy of
Recipe: Whole Roasted Spicy Cauliflower
the fabulous Janifa’s Kitchen, the return of the South African/ Portuguese Bush Trek BBQ, another invite to join Our Table (curated/hosted by MasterChef Professionals finalist Kasae Fraser and her partner Vincent Gatay), Shaun Thompson’s Balkan Feast, authentic Mexican cuisine courtesy of Dalia Cocina, a wine tasting and much, much more.
https://bit.ly/3YmMI5a
Join English philosopher, journalist and prolific author Julian Baggini at Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution (Queen Square) on Tuesday 4th February when he’ll be discussing his new book How the World Eats: how we can use philosophical tools to identify the key principles that should
govern a food system fit for the 21st century and beyond. Food for thought indeed!
https://bit.ly/4fYiPh3
Celebrity superchef James Martin is bringing his new live show to The Forum (St James Parade) on Thursday 4th March. James’ previous tour featured him performing surgery’ on a Barbie doll to create a Baked Alaskayou have been warned! https://bit.ly/3DUefDi
Melissa regularly reviews restaurants across Bath and the surrounding area. You can find out more at www.theprandialplayground.uk
Follow Melissa on X Find her @ThePigGuide
This healthy, delicious, super-pretty vegan centrepiece packs a big flavour punch and puts a whole new, exotic spin on the humble cauliflower.
Ingredients (serves 4)
• 1 large cauliflower, tough outer leaves removed
• 1 tsp cumin
• ½ tsp ground coriander
• 1 large garlic clove, peeled and roughly chopped
• ½ large red chilli, roughly chopped
• The zest and juice of 1 unwaxed lemon
• 1 handful fresh parsley, leaves and stalks roughly chopped
• 1 handful fresh coriander, leaves and stalks roughly chopped
• ½ tsp cayenne pepper
• 150ml extra virgin olive oil
To serve
• 3 spring onions, thinly sliced
• 3 tbsp pomegranate seeds
• 1 tbsp sumac
• 1 handful of fresh coriander leaves, finely chopped
• 1 handful of fresh parsley leaves, finely chopped
• 3 tbsp tahini or thick yoghurt
Method
• Steam or boil the whole cauliflower for around 10 minutes or until just tender. Set aside to drain in a colander for around 15 minutes, and preheat the oven to 180c/gas mark 4.
• Take a roasting tin in which the cauliflower will fit snuggly and line with baking paper. Place the whole cauliflower stalk-side down in the middle of the tin, drizzle with around 130ml of the olive oil and season well. Cover loosely with kitchen foil and roast for 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, blend the cumin, coriander powder, garlic, chilli and half the lemon juice together in a blender or food processor to make a rough paste. Add the fresh herbs, cayenne pepper and remaining 120ml of olive oil and blend again until nearly smooth.
• Take the cauliflower from the oven, remove the foil and spoon the herby sauce over and around the top, coating it completely. Cover with foil again and return to the oven for a further 30 minutes until the cauliflower is tender when tested with the point of a knife.
• Remove the foil and roast for a further 10–15 minutes until the edges of the cauliflower are golden. Transfer to a warm serving dish, drizzle with tahini or thick yoghurt and serve sprinkled with the pomegranate seeds, sumac, chopped spring onions, fresh parsley, fresh coriander and lemon zest.
Melissa Blease Food Writer
What's On
Martin Harley
Chapel Arts Centre
17th January, 8pm
Martin Harley has been making music and touring the world for over two decades. He'll be exploring roots, blues and slide guitar in a style The Guardian referred to as “Spellbinding”.
Democracy Under Attack
BRLSI
21st January, 7.30pm
Democracy – one of our most cherished cultural concepts, synonymous with freedom, the right of representation and expression – is under attack from multiple sources.
RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch
Various Locations
24th – 26th January
Big Garden Birdwatch is the world’s largest garden wildlife survey. Spend an hour watching the birds in your patch and record the birds that land. You can submit your results online or by post.
Ghost Stories
Theatre Royal
28th January – 1st February
The long-running West End hit returns to the Theatre Royal. Ghost Stories mixes the very best of theatre with the buzz of a thrill-ride, delivering something truly unique.
Helios
Bath Assembly Rooms
18th, 19th & 30th Jan – 23rd February
Helios is a brand-new 7-metre diameter sculpture by artist Luke Jerram and will launch to the public in Bath. Helios, Ancient Greek for the sun, follows Luke’s previous celestial sculptures.
Jerusalem
The Mission Theatre
21st – 25th January
Next Stage’s acclaimed 2012 production of Jez Butterworth’s award-winning smash hit is back for the venue’s 20th Birthday week. Enjoy this vision of life in “England’s green and pleasant land”.
Diedrick Brackens: Woven Stories
The Holburne Museum
24th January – 26th May
Born in Texas in 1989, Bracken's handcrafted works employ techniques from West African weaving, quilting from the American South and European tapestrymaking.
Stardust: A Musical Journey 2025
Bath Abbey
29th January, 7pm
Back for 2025, join 200 children from schools across Bath and North East Somerset and the Voices for Life Bath Children’s Choir on their musical journey through space.
Friday 17th January - Thursday 30th January 2025
Wassail! with Kilter Theatre
Bath City Farm
19th January, 11am
Wrap up warm, bring a pot and a wooden spoon, and join locals as they take up the rituals of drumming, shouting and hurling slices of toast into the branches.
‘Phenomenal Women’
The Gainsborough Bath Spa 23rd January, 5.45pm
The first guest speaker for 2025 is Eleanor Mills. Her mission is to change the narrative around older women in culture to something more positive and fit for purpose.
Burns Night Celebration
The Pump Room
25th January, 7pm
A magical night of poetry, music, and revelry - with a traditional four-course supper, including the iconic haggis as its crowning jewel. Celebrate Robert Burns in one of the UK's most iconic venues.
Sherlock Holmes: The Last Act
30th – 31st January
Ustinov Studio, 7.30pm
The year is 1916. Drawn from two years of Sussex retirement for the funeral of his friend, Dr Watson, Holmes returns to Baker Street to resolve ‘the last act’ of his epic career.
An Audience with Monty Don
The Forum
21st January, 7.30pm
Join BBC Gardeners' World presenter and gardening writer, Monty Don, as he shares his passion for gardens and the unique role they play in human inspiration and wellbeing.
Jazz at the Vaults
St James’ Wine Vaults 23rd January, 8.30pm
For sheer improvisational fireworks, quirky humour and genre-defying invention he’s your man. Gilard Atzmon's jazz style has been described as bebop/hard bop.
Lunar New Year Planetarium Show
Bath Central Library
25th January, 10.30am-4pm
Immerse yourself in the beauty of the night sky as visitors explore the legends and traditions of this festival, and discover what stars and planets you can see in the sky tonight.
ReBalance Bath Festival
Various Locations
30th January – 16th February
Chase away the cold dark days of midwinter with a feelgood break in Bath. The ReBalance Bath Festival is returning for a third year. There will be plenty of events each inspired by wellness.
DETAILS:
Sponsored by Howden Bath
www.howdeninsurance.co.uk/bath
Fire service praises generosity over Christmas toy appeal
RESIDENTS across the region have been thanked for their generosity towards Avon Fire & Rescue Service’s annual Christmas toy collection, which supported families in need.
Firefighters and staff from Bath, Avonmouth, Southmead, Weston-super-Mare, and the Business Fire Safety Team at Patchway fire station collected new and nearly new toys and delivered them to local charities.
The gifts were distributed to less fortunate families, making the festive season brighter for many.
The initiative was supported by considerable generosity from the public, local businesses, and anonymous donors.
At Bath’s fire station, staff were amazed by an anonymous donation of £7,000 worth of toys,
Curo
which were distributed through local food banks and community centres.
At Avonmouth fire station, they donated their collected toys to the Salvation Army in Pill.
The Business Fire Safety Team at Patchway delivered donations to St Chad's Church for the North Bristol and South Gloucestershire Foodbank, thanks to contributions from businesses such as Prospero Teaching, Asda, and Marks & Spencer. A notable £500 donation of toys came from Joe Sims, host of BBC Radio Bristol’s breakfast show.
Southmead fire station worked with the Greenway Centre to ensure toys reached families in need before Christmas.
Weston-super-Mare fire station,
with the support of Winscombe Fire Station, collected toys for Weston-super-Mare Foodbank, benefiting families not only during Christmas but throughout 2025.
Paul Johnson, a firefighter from Bath’s fire station, said: “We are incredibly grateful for the kindness and generosity of our community. These donations make a real difference to families in need, and we are honoured to help facilitate that.”
Stephen Reading, from the Business Fire Safety Team, added: “The support from local businesses and individuals has been truly humbling.
“We’ve heard first-hand how these gifts are already helping families, and it’s a privilege to be part of this effort.”
St John's announces new Chair of Trustees
ST JOHN’S Foundation, which is Bath’s oldest charity, has announced Sandra Forbes as its new Chair of Trustees.
Sandra is a distinguished banking and corporate lawyer with a proven track record in senior leadership positions.
As St John’s Foundation concludes celebrations of its 850th year,
Sandra will bring a new perspective that will help guide the charity into the future and through the second half of its current strategy. Alongside almshouse provision and supporting children and families, the strategy has a key focus on narrowing the academic attainment gap at the end of Key Stage 2.
Governors.
Having lived in Bath for over 25 years, she has developed a profound understanding of the challenges facing communities and the inequalities that persist across the region.
She said: “I feel privileged to become Chair of a charity with such a long and rich history, yet one that remains firmly focused on supporting its community both now and into the future.
“As we celebrate our 850th anniversary, we aim to build on the successes of the past five years and expand our vital support to all of St John’s beneficiaries across the region.
The charity’s ‘Best Start in Life’ initiative works closely with local primary schools, early years settings, and partners to provide targeted support that ensures every child under 12 has the opportunity to grow up healthy, happy, and well-educated.
Ms Forbes brings an impressive track record, including 18 years as a partner at the national law firm Burges Salmon LLP.
Over the past decade, she has held senior leadership roles as Group General Counsel and Company Secretary at National Express Group plc (now Mobico Group PLC) and Rotork plc.
Sandra currently serves as a Board Director at Bath’s Holburne Museum and previously dedicated eight years as a Governor at the University of the West of England, where she also served as Deputy Chair of
“I look forward to playing my part in this next stage of the journey and contributing to its continued success.”
The charity supports older adults in the community with almshouse accommodation and outreach services and is working to foster an age-friendly community, in collaboration with organisations such as Age UK.
Another key strand of work is to support individuals and families that have reached a point of crisis through the organisation’s Crisis Programme.
Catharine Brown, Interim CEO at St John’s Foundation, said:
“We are delighted to welcome Sandra as the charity’s new Chair of Trustees.
“She brings not only a wealth of professional experience but also a forward-thinking perspective. This will be invaluable to the charity as we push forward with our important work.”
staff raise £6k for cancer charity supporting youngsters
STAFF at the Bath-based housing association Curo have raised more than £6,000 for a cancer charity thanks to various activities.
Curo colleagues fundraised for Young Lives vs Cancer, which supports young people and their families who are navigating the challenges of cancer.
Each year, there is a vote for a charity to dedicate efforts towards, with last year’s activities ranging from sponsored head shaves and spooky bake sales, to walking challenges and a live music event.
Charlotte Rutherford, the Fundraising Engagement Manager at Young Lives vs Cancer, said: “Everyone at Curo has been so friendly, communicative and eager to get involved. The warmth and responsiveness of everyone I’ve spoken to has made this partnership truly amazing.”
The money raised will fund a
variety of services, including:
• 100 nights at ‘Home from Home’ accommodation, providing families with a comfortable place to stay during treatment.
• 260 hours of one-onone support worker time, delivering essential face-toface assistance.
The money will also be used for financial hardship grants for travel expenses, food and toiletries.
On 20th December, Chloe McGowran, Emily Witt, and Madeleine Webb from Curo visited one of Young Lives vs Cancer’s Home from Home properties in Cotham, Bristol. During the visit, the team saw how the accommodation is a welcoming sanctuary for families to stay in during difficult times. They also heard how the charity provided support to the family of Esme, a three-year-old girl who
was diagnosed with cancer. Victor da Cunha, Curo’s Chief Executive, said: “Young Lives
vs Cancer is a charity that has touched the lives of so many people, including many of us at
Dorothy House set to hold zip-line fundraiser at Royal Crescent
DOROTHY House Hospice
Care will be hosting a hairraising fundraising challenge at the end of February, giving residents the chance to raise vital income for their local endof-life charity.
Located in front of the Royal Crescent, the Bath City Zipline will be held from 28th February to 2nd March, offering a unique weekend of community fundraising.
The event will also feature a special retail pop-up shop, preloved clothing and Dorothy House’s own brand Ubiety beauty and home fragrances, along with stands highlighting the services that the charity provides.
Visitors will get the opportunity to meet staff and volunteers who care for patients and their families and who support the work of the hospice.
The fundraiser comes at a time when costs are increasing significantly for the Winsleybased charity, which provides specialist care to over 3,000 people every year.
The National Insurance changes announced in the recent budget are expected to cost Dorothy House an additional £422,000 per year, which the recent government announcement of
a one-off cash injection has not completely addressed.
Wayne de Leeuw, Chief Executive of Dorothy House Hospice Care, said: “With an aging population causing ever-increasing demand for end-of-life care our ambition remains to ensure we are there for everyone who needs us.
“The additional National Insurance cost of this scale just adds to the perfect storm facing hospices at a time when we already desperately needed more support.”
With national hospice sector finances worse than they have
been for 20 years, end-of-life services being cut and only 20% of Dorothy House’s total costs coming from the NHS, it is vital that the community understands what the hospice offers and how best to support it.
The plight of the hospice was recently featured on BBC Question Time.
Registration for the Bath City Zipline is £35 and participants are required to raise £150 in support of Dorothy House Hospice Care. To register for the challenge, visit the charity’s website at https:// bit.ly/4adThew
JUMBLE SALE
Saturday 25th January
2 to 4 pm at FRESHFORD VILLAGE HALL
(Freshford Ln, Bath BA2 7UR)
Entrance £1 - Cash only
Cash needed for all purchases.
Advertise your business in our new directory! This cost-effective option is the perfect way to reach thousands of potential customers across Bath. Get in touch with us to book your space. Email rob@mediabath.co.uk or call 01225 585484 (Prices start at just £16+VAT per
Recruitment campaign at village library
A RECRUITMENT campaign has been launched at a village’s community library as part of efforts to sign up more volunteers for 2025.
The library in Peasedown St John near Bath, which has seen a huge growth in users over the last 12 months, is part of B&NES Council’s network of community services.
Councillor Karen Walker is the Operations Manager at the library.
She said: “For a small community library with just 700 books we’re definitely punching above our weight!
“Over 200 people used our services last month. Not only is reading enjoyable, but it’s also good for our mental health too. It reduces stress, is therapeutic and keeps our brains active.”
The library is looking for new volunteer librarians who will help with sorting books, collecting books from visitors, and generally offering help to those who use the services.
Full training will be given and people only need to commit as little as two hours per month.
Peasedown Community Library is located next to Peasedown St John Primary School on Bath Road (BA2 8DH).
It is part of the Peasedown Community Trust, which runs several projects in the village. Trust Chairman, Councillor Gavin Heathcote, added: “Peasedown Library is part of the Libraries West consortium, which means that if you take a book out from us you can return it to any library across the South West of England, and vice versa.
“Volunteering with us means you’re part of a huge network of people across the country helping to provide a valuable service to those in our communities.”
For more information about volunteering and to sign up, email Councillor Walker at peasedownlibrary@hotmail.com
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The special fundraising event will be held at the Royal Crescent
Cllr Karen Walker (right) at the library
Services remain busy as public urged to make right choices
LOCAL residents are still being urged to choose the right healthcare option for their condition as the NHS manages extreme pressure in the region.
Since the start of the new year, health and care services, including the region’s three large hospitals, one of them the Royal United Hospital in Bath, GP practices and ambulance crews, have seen a dramatic rise in demand. Rising numbers of flu cases are also continuing to cause problems.
Coming off the back of a particularly busy Christmas period, this start to 2025 has prompted renewed calls for people to do whatever they can to support the NHS.
The most impactful action any person can take is to choose the healthcare option most appropriate to their condition which, for most people suffering from minor illness and injury, is to simply rest at home and use healthcare products available from shops and pharmacies.
People can also help by supporting relatives and loved ones who are well enough to leave hospital on their journey home or to their place of care.
Gill May, Chief Nurse at Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire Integrated Care Board, said: “The first two weeks of any new year are always a very difficult time for the NHS, and the beginning of 2025 is no exception.
“Our teams on the frontline put in a stellar shift over the busy festive period, missing out on time with family and friends in order to provide care to others, and we now all need to get behind them and show our support in whatever way we can.
“Choosing right, by practising self-care, visiting a pharmacy or using NHS 111 online, not only allows our teams to focus on caring for those most in need, but also helps the individual to get any help needed much quicker.
“This is a challenging time for everyone involved in health and care, but I can honestly say that the support we get from our local communities really does help and really does make an enormous difference, especially now, which is when we need it most.”
NHS 111 online is a quick and easy way to get instant health and care advice, with the digital tool able to provide information that
is specific to each and every user. Where appropriate, NHS 111 online can also refer people to in-person services, such as GP practices, minor injuries units and urgent treatment centres. Help and support can also be found at any one of the dozens of pharmacies located across Bath and North East Somerset, with the team at each site able to
Free tools and support being offered to help residents stop smoking
PEOPLE in Bath who smoke are being offered free tools and support to help them quit as part of the new ‘Never Give Up Giving Up’ initiative.
The campaign, which is being led by Bath & North East Somerset Council in partnership with HCRG Care Group, aims to encourage smokers to cut out cigarettes using vape starter kits, support from the local Stop Smoking Service or a free supportive app, allowing people to choose the best option for them.
To sign up for a free vape starter kit through the Swap to Stop offer, email hcrg.swaptostopbanes@ nhs.net.
Starter kits are available for smokers aged 18+ who do not currently vape and who live, work or are registered with a GP in Bath and North East Somerset. Swapping to nicotine vaping is substantially less harmful than smoking and is one of the most effective tools for quitting smoking. For expert advice on stopping smoking from the local stop smoking service, including advice on all stop smoking aids available including nicotine-free medicines, call the Community Wellbeing Hub on freephone 0300 2470050.
Research shows that people are three times more likely to quit for
good if they get support.
Becky Reynolds, Director of Public Health and Prevention for Bath & North East Somerset Council, said: “Making multiple attempts to quit smoking is very common. The key is not to give up – the more you try, the closer you are to quitting for good.
“Never Give Up Giving Up offers a range of support options to smokers looking to quit smoking in 2025 so they can choose which option works best for them.”
The council’s public health team and HCRG colleagues will also be visiting various locations throughout the year to bring Never Give Up Giving Up to the community.
share information on medicines, give advice on how to care for minor conditions and dispense emergency prescriptions.
In addition, pharmacists can prescribe medicine for up to seven common conditions, meaning people no longer have to speak to a GP to get a prescription. The seven conditions
pharmacists can prescribe for are sinusitis, sore throats, earache, infected insect bites, impetigo, which is a contagious skin infection, shingles and urinary tract infections in women.
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Record number of missions for charity
THE Wiltshire and Bath Air Ambulance Charity has revealed it undertook a record number of missions to the city in 2024, helping save the lives of people in the local community. Overall missions hit an all-time high of 1,343, which represents a 15% increase on the previous year.
Bath was the second-most visited area, behind Swindon, with 117 missions in the city.
The air ambulance charity also transported 109 patients to the Royal United Hospital at Combe Park.
Chief executive David Philpott said: “In late 2024 we rebranded to Wiltshire and Bath Air Ambulance Charity to better represent our operational area.
“Our latest annual statistics highlight this, with over 100 incidents in the city alone for the first time, equating to around nine per cent of our 2024 missions.
“It’s also sad to report that demand for our medical expertise rose significantly across Wiltshire and Bath during the last 12 months. None of this vital work would be possible without the incredible generosity of the public and local businesses, and we are extremely grateful for their ongoing commitment and support.”
Wiltshire and Bath Air Ambulance Charity’s dedicated
aircrew, consisting of pilots, critical care paramedics and doctors, undertook, on average, four missions each day in 2024.
The charity’s helicopter was used for 619 (46%) of the missions, with the remaining 724 incidents attended by critical care cars.
A total of 341 patients were transferred to local hospitals (up from 292 in 2023), the majority to the Royal United Hospital, Bath (109), Southmead Hospital, Bristol (82) and Great Western Hospital, Swindon (72).
The largest number of call-outs were to cardiac emergencies –326, which equates to around a quarter of all missions.
There were 190 road traffic collisions attended, plus 287 medical emergencies, 72 sporting incidents and 58 assaults.
A total of 187 incidents involved children, while 32% of all missions (428) took place at night.
RUH seeks permission for energyefficiency improvement plans Increased choice on hospitals welcomed
PROPOSALS to install air source heat pumps on the roof of the Energy Centre at the Royal United Hospital have been submitted to Bath & North East Somerset Council.
Last year the hospital at Combe Park in Bath received a £21.6 million government grant from the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme to enable it to reduce carbon emissions over which it has direct control by 19% initially, and 25% by 2030. The grant will be used to partially de-steam the site by replacing old and inefficient boiler heating systems with more sustainable and energy-efficient equipment. This will improve the air quality around the hospital for patients and visitors, staff and the local community.
Veolia is working on behalf of the hospital trust to deliver a range of measures aimed at providing energy-efficiency and cost reductions across the site.
These include the air source heat pumps (ASHPs) and a water source heat pump; new pipe connections to distribute the lower temperature hot water; a new high voltage connection to supply the pumps and roof solar panels.
The current planning application specifically deals with the ASHPs, with the other measures expected to be covered under permitted development rights or further applications.
The redevelopment includes four ASHPs and the removal of a steam boiler. The Energy Centre currently has three boilers, and some steam will still be required for sterile services so the plans
keep the remaining two boilers in operation.
The existing combined heat and power (CHP) system will be retained in the short term, with the intention to remove it later.
The ASHPs project includes noise mitigation measures.
The planning reference is 24/04758/FUL.
The deadline for comments is 23rd January.
PLANS by the Government to give NHS patients the right to choose where they receive treatment from a ‘shortlist’ of local hospitals have been welcomed locally.
The new ‘Elective Care Plan’ will give residents the option of using NHS hospitals in their area, or a provider in “the independent sector paid for by the NHS”.
The Executive Director of Bath Clinic in Combe Down, Kogie Naidoo, has described the development as “a game-changer for NHS patients”.
Previously, whilst the NHS Constitution committed to offering patients choice over their care, many GPs automatically referred patients to the nearest NHS hospital.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting has committed to offering patients a choice of five hospitals at the point of referral.
He said: “Then they can decide what the most important factors are: do they want to go a bit further away and be seen a bit faster, or would they like to wait because it’s local and more convenient, or would they like to go to the hospital with the best reputation for treating their condition.”
Kogie Naidoo said: “This step will give hope to so many families
who are worried about long waits when they need vital treatment.
“Very often there are NHS appointments going spare at local private hospitals, and patients don’t realise or aren’t told they have the right to see the waiting times and results data at all local hospitals, and then to make an informed choice about where to have their operation.
“Bath Clinic has an outstanding reputation locally for patient experience and clinical results, with a team of the county’s leading consultants practising here, and we stand ready to assist in giving NHS patients in Somerset as many options as possible.”
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The hospital is working to improve its energy-efficiency
Royal High School Bath, GDST: New Year, New Term, New Head, New Beginnings
IT has been over a week since Ms HeidiJayne Boyes took the lead as Head of Royal High School Bath, and the school community is already energised by her leadership.
Having formally assumed the role on 1 January 2025, Ms Boyes, who previously led Wakefield Girls’ High School, brings a wealth of experience in girls’ education and a passion for fostering an environment where students thrive academically and personally.
Reflecting on her first week, Ms Boyes shared her excitement: “I am thrilled to finally be here at Royal High. The welcome I’ve received has been extraordinary, and I am truly energised by the warmth, ambition, and kindness of the students and staff. I am excited to learn about the unique traditions of the school and its rich history, while also working with everyone to help the school evolve to meet the challenges of the 21st century.”
Ms Boyes’ philosophy as a Head is centred on empowering students to reach their full potential, both academically and in life. She emphasises the importance of creating an inspiring, supportive environment that fosters independence, confidence, and curiosity. In her words, “Education is changing rapidly, and as educators, we must ensure that students are equipped not just for the world today, but for the future. This means embracing new technologies like AI, while also addressing the mental health challenges and skills gaps that students face in the wake of the pandemic.”
Royal High’s ethos of “girls first” deeply resonates with Ms Boyes. She believes that a girls-only environment provides a unique space where young women can build the confidence to achieve without limits. “I believe in the transformative power of single-sex education," she says. “In a girls' school, we create an environment that nurtures sisterhood, warmth, and academic rigor, empowering young women to become the architects of their own futures.”
Throughout her first week, Ms Boyes has been making it a priority to connect with students and staff at both the prep and senior school, embracing the opportunity to understand their values, traditions, and what excites them about their school.
“I am excited to hear from students and learn what they value most about their Royal High experience,” she added. “The energy here is infectious, and it’s clear to me that the school has a strong foundation, both in its academic excellence and the sense of community it fosters.”
The school community is excited about Ms Boyes’ leadership. As Isabelle, a Year 10 student, said: “We’re all so excited to have Ms Boyes as our new Head.
“She’s moved her office so she’s right in the middle of the school and we can go and see her anytime.”
Ms Boyes herself echoed this sentiment in her speech at the first Senior School assembly of the term: “I am really thrilled to be here...I am excited to hear from you and see how the school works, learn about your traditions and quirks, and what you
value as well as looking to the future to consider how we can continue to evolve.”
With Ms Boyes at the forefront, Royal High School Bath is poised for an exciting new chapter, one that balances tradition with forward-thinking approaches and prepares its students for the future with confidence, creativity, and resilience.
Royal High School Bath is an independent
day and boarding school for girls aged 3 to 18 years located in the city of Bath, South West England. Royal High School Bath is a school designed for girls. Where every girl matters, every voice is heard, and every girl is empowered to explore and to try anything. We are experts in allgirls’ education and proud to be part of the Girls’ Day School Trust, the UK’s leading network of independent girls’ schools.
Heidi-Jayne Boyes has taken the lead as Head of Royal High School Bath
Children’s Services praised for support given to
YOUNG people in the care of Bath & North East Somerset are supported well into adulthood, an Ofsted report has said.
The local authority has welcomed the findings of a recent inspection of its Children’s Services’ provision for care experienced young people.
Inspectors said the culture and warmth given are a strength and that a stable leadership team and workforce mean that young people benefit from enduring relationships with people who care for them and about them. They said trusting relationships with their social workers and personal advisers helped young people to make progress and to have positive experiences. Young people are encouraged by their personal advisers to fulfil their ambitions through study or work.
Mandy Bishop, Bath & North East Somerset Council’s chief operating officer, said: “I am very pleased that inspectors acknowledged our commitment to getting services right for care experienced young people.
youngsters
“They also acknowledged we are self-aware and know that there is always more to do which reflects our continuous ambitions for our young people.
“Our Children’s Social Care team should be very proud of the outcome of this inspection which shines a light on the council’s purpose of Improving People’s Lives.”
Inspectors noted that the local authority has committed corporate and political investment and prioritised care experienced young people across
the service.
The council continues to value the involvement of young people in shaping its services.
Corporate leaders and elected members have made leaving care a protected characteristic, and signed up to the Care Leaver Covenant.
The inspection report says personal advisers are warm and driven to make sure care experienced young people are helped to navigate their way through complex emotional trauma. Young people said that they feel supported and that senior leaders listen to them.
Care experienced young people with additional vulnerabilities receive early support to stop their situations escalating. Care experienced young people who are former unaccompanied asylum-seeking children are exceptionally well supported with their mental health and diverse needs.
Bath nursery retains Good Ofsted rating
OLDFIELD Road Nursery in Bath has retained its Good Ofsted rating following a recent inspection.
The nursery is run by Midford Road Nursery Limited and there are 122 children on the roll.
The two inspectors who visited last month have this week published their report.
and work closely with parents and external professionals to get children the help they need.
The nursery, which was first registered in 2017, is rated as Good in all categories – quality of education, children’s behaviour and attitudes, their personal development and leadership and management. The report says children at the nursery are safe and secure; they are very confident to explore and make independent choices in their play, knowing that staff are close by for support when needed.
Staff focus on preparing children for their next stage of their learning so they can be independent and ready for the move to school. They know the children very well and quickly identify any gaps in learning
MONDAY 7TH - THURSDAY 10TH APRIL
The report adds that staff give children a wide range of opportunities to explore and learn about their local community: “They visit the local elderly care home for intergenerational learning experiences, go on train journeys and visit local parks.
Children learn to be safe outside the nursery environment.”
The children are said to display “excellent behaviour and positive attitudes to their learning”.
Parents say their children are happy and love attending the nursery.
The report also highlights: “The provider has a strong focus on supporting staff well-being. They identify there have been many changes to the team recently and work hard to ensure all staff feel valued and receive the support they need to fulfil their roles.
“Staff say that they love working at the nursery and that the provider is very approachable.”
www.kesbath.com/box-offi
The Guildhall in Bath
West of England region's visitor economy worth more than £2bn
NEW research has revealed that the visitor economy in the West of England is worth £2.46 billion and supports around 46,000 jobs.
The figures from Visit West, the accredited Local Visitor Economy Partnership (LVEP), show a rise in inbound international visits, up by 21% to 957,000.
Visit West represents the tourism industry across Bath and North East Somerset, Bristol, South Gloucestershire and North Somerset.
The latest research outlines the region’s steady recovery since the pandemic and in the face of the cost-of-living crisis.
According to the research –which reports on the volume and value of the visitor economy in 2023 – domestic staying visits from UK tourists fell by 3% to 2.86 million, however, the number of domestic day visitors to the
region increased by 5%.
Domestic day visitors to the region spent 22% more than the previous year, and 10% more than in 2019, despite the number of day visitors being 15% lower than that record year.
Visit West’s strategy is to encourage people to stay longer in the region, maximising their stay while exploring what the area has to offer, with spend supporting high streets and small businesses in particular.
The research outlines the biggest beneficiaries of visitor spend being the retail sector (an estimated £409 million), food and drink businesses (£342 million) and accommodation (£200 million).
Visit West’s Managing Director Kathryn Davis said: “We are delighted that the industry continues to strengthen postCovid, and while we are nearly
Homecare and support the way it should be
into 2025, we can see from our own data that 2024 in general looks to have built on the 2023 recovery.
“Operating conditions for businesses remain incredibly challenging and we will continue to lobby for those working in the visitor economy, and continue to develop strong routes to market through our work with the travel trade, meeting and event organisers and through our consumer channels Visit Bath and Visit Bristol.
“We are looking forward to a strong 2025 with demand from Jane Austen 250, Women’s Rugby World Cup and VisitBritain’s national campaign Starring Great Britain celebrating film and TV locations.”
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New CEO announced at city centre law firm
LAW firm Stone King, which has offices in the centre of Bath, has announced the appointment of Vicky Brackett as its new CEO.
The appointment of Ms Brackett to the post follows a period of growth for the company.
Vicky has extensive experience in law firm management. Having built a commercial litigation practice, she went on to lead the Commercial Dispute Resolution team at Thomas Eggar and became a Managing Partner in 2012.
She led on the acquisition of Thomas Eggar by Irwin Mitchell, where, over an eight-year period, she held roles as Chief Executive of the Business Legal Services Division and, latterly, Group Chief Commercial Officer.
Prior to joining Thomas Eggar, Vicky was a commercial litigator at Freshfields for 10 years.
Her roles as a lawyer and leader have involved developing and delivering strategy and change across legal and business services teams, talent management, and client development and acquisition.
Vicky also founded a charity 18 years ago, which supports children and young adults with Down syndrome, and her role as Chair involves her in the strategic management of the charity.
Vicky said: “I am delighted to join Stone King, which is a firm with
We care Our commitment to supporting our team ensures you receive happy, well-trained carers who provide the care you want Whether you need immediate support or are exploring future options, we’re here to guide you on your care journey
a clear purpose and values which align with my own.
“I have been fortunate to have had great experience in my career both as a lawyer and a law firm leader which I have found inspiring and rewarding. Stone King is at a very exciting time in its development, with a proven track record for excellence and sector focus, and I am honoured to be given the opportunity to help lead and shape the future direction of the business.
“There is a breadth of talent across the business, clear ambition, and a desire to build responsibly and sustainably. I hope that my experience will add to the current leadership team and look forward to the next exciting steps in the firm’s story.”
Peter Woodhouse, a Stone King Partner who for the past six months has been filling the role of Interim CEO, said: “Vicky joins Stone King at a time of strategic evolution. Her extreme wealth of knowledge and experience across both the legal sector and the complex world of strategic business leadership will no doubt be illuminating and highly advantageous to the firm.
“I speak for my colleagues and I when I say we sincerely look forward to working with her.”
Stone King operates from offices in Bath, Birmingham, Cambridge, Leeds, London and Manchester.
GETPRO, which produces high-protein snacks, has been announced as the official title partner of the Bath Half Marathon.
The partnership, which will last for the next three years, will see the event become the GetPRO Bath Half until 2027.
With just weeks to go until the 2025 event on Sunday 16th March, thousands of participants are now stepping up their new year training plans to be ready.
Tom Hickton, Category Director Dairy at Danone, said: “Since our launch in the UK in September 2023, GetPRO’s ambition has been to support everyone as they progress on their fitness journey, which is why we’re so excited to become the Official Title Partner of the Bath Half.
“Whether you’re running the Bath Half or taking inspiration from the thousands of runners taking on the challenge, GetPRO emphasises the importance of the moments between active exercise.
“It’s not just about training; it’s about getting the right nutrition, building strength, and recovering well.
“With guidance from a team of experts, GetPRO will help guide participants of this year’s event
through build-up to race day, sharing their insights on how to maximise moments in between those all-important runs and celebrating the small victories along the journey, not just the big milestones.”
Hugh Brasher, CEO of London Marathon Events, said: “We are delighted to welcome GetPRO as the Official Title Partner of the Bath Half for the next three years. “GetPRO’s products and expertise
Work and office space being proposed
PLANS to alter an old car workshop in the city to create work and office spaces have been submitted to Bath & North East Somerset Council.
The proposed alterations include partial demolition of 20-21 Green Park Mews to remove an asbestos roof and to provide suitable insulation.
The application, lodged by InvestAcc Pension Trustees Ltd, also includes raising the internal ground floor level for flood resilience as required by the change of use to commercial, business and services that was approved by council planners last July.
At the time, we reported that plans to change the use of the former sales, servicing and MoT centre had been approved despite the council’s economic development team recommending refusal based on the loss of industrial stock.
what do I need
Last year, the much awaited first budget of the new Labour Government did not disappoint in bringing some dramatic changes.
will ensure that everyone training for the GetPRO Bath Half can benefit from boosted protein levels between exercise which will give them the best chance to be the best version of themselves on Event Day.”
The 2025 GetPRO Bath Half is completely sold out.
London Marathon Events (LME), the organisers of a range of world-leading mass participation events including the TCS London
Marathon, took over Running High, the organisers of the Bath Half, in February 2024.
In addition to becoming the official title partner of the Bath Half, GetPRO has also become the Official Yoghurt Partner of three more LME events for the next three years (2025 to 2027): the TCS London Marathon, Brighton Marathon and The Big Half, London’s community half marathon.
Chair sought for B&NES Future Ambition Board
Significant reforms were announced for inheritance tax. There will be a short period before these come into force but, in the meantime, here’s what you need to know.
The freeze on the thresholds below which no inheritance tax needs to be paid, known as nil rate bands, has been extended to April 2030. These nil rate bands stand at £325,000 for all individuals –which takes into account all asset types within the estate – and £175,000 for the residence nil rate band – which applies under certain conditions when passing a qualifying residence to direct descendants, if the estate is worth broadly £2m or less. As property prices continue to rise, this freeze has the effect of bringing more estates into the inheritance tax regime.
It had been suggested that Agricultural Property Relief (APR) and Business Property Relief (BPR) may be abolished completely, but the proposals have not gone that far. From April 2026, the rate of 100% relief will be restricted to the first £1m of combined APR and BPR assets, with any amount above this value being subject to relief at 50%. This means an effective rate of tax at 20% for those agricultural/ business assets over £1m.
The change of use application last year was accompanied by a marketing report showing there had been no real interest in the site for its current use.
Planning officers accepted there had been active and extended unsuccessful marketing and that there was “compelling evidence” to justify that continued industrial use was unviable.
As the site is in a sustainable location for a commercial, business or service use, they said it would help to mitigate the economic impact of the loss of industrial use.
There is no outside space or parking with the premises. There are several other commercial buildings at Green Park Mews, including offices which have recently been granted planning permission.
The planning reference is 24/04752/FUL. The deadline for comments is 30th January.
Owner Alan Hole’s family traded at 20-21 Green Park Mews as Midland Garage from the 1960s and in 2007 the business was sold to Newbridge Autos under a lease that expired at the end of 2022.
A NEW independent chair is being sought for the Future Ambition Board in B&NES, which aims to make the district a fair, green, creative and connected place.
The group brings together a variety of organisations, including the Royal United Hospital, Curo, the city’s two universities and Bath & North East Somerset Council, alongside local businesses. It has been working collaboratively since 2020 to deliver its One Shared Vision.
The Future Ambition Board is also leading efforts to deliver Bath and North East Somerset’s new Economic Strategy, with higher wages, boosted productivity, greener businesses and more affordable housing at its heart.
The partnership is seeking someone who can inspire, energise, stimulate and challenge partners so that it meets its full potential.
The role provides a unique opportunity to work in a creative and collaborative environment with organisations committed to improving the lives of people in the area.
More information about the role, including how to apply, can be found at https://bit.ly/3PAVur3
More information about the partnership can be found at www.futureambitionbath.com
The closing date for applications is Friday 31st January.
Shares not on a recognised stock exchange, such as those listed on AIM, currently benefit from 100% BPR and have become a popular inheritance tax saving investment tool. From April 2026, these shares will now only attract BPR at 50%.
The budget also proposed that any undrawn pension funds and death benefits will be included in a deceased’s estate for inheritance tax purposes from April 2027. These changes will affect many. For smaller estates, this could result in an inheritance tax charge where none was previously due. For larger estates, this could mean losing the residence nil rate band if pension funds take the total estate over £2m, as well as the additional tax charge on the pension funds themselves.
There are ways to mitigate the impact of these changes to inheritance tax through the use of wills and good lifetime estate planning.
If you have not reviewed your inheritance tax position or will for some time – we advise that now would be a good time to do this.
MP thanks residents who opened homes to Ukrainian families
THE MP for Bath, Wera Hobhouse, has thanked the city’s residents for their efforts to host Ukrainian families following Russia’s invasion in 2022.
The MP was joined by Luke Pollard, Minister for the Armed Forces, to show gratitude to the people who opened their homes to more than 350 guests. In 2023, Bath & North East Somerset Council entered into a Friendship Agreement with Oleksandriya City Council in Ukraine to provide medical support and to strengthen cultural and community ties between the cities.
MP Luke Pollard thanked Wera Hobhouse for her advocacy before thanking the people of Bath for opening their homes to Ukrainian families.
Approval to convert former cookery school
Mrs Hobhouse also pressed the Minister to ensure that the incoming US government were made aware of the enduring and deep solidarity that the British public felt towards the people of Ukraine. He said that the UK would continue its support for Ukraine to protect their sovereignty and freedom.
families, Bath never fails to show unwavering solidarity with Ukraine.
Mrs Hobhouse said: “I’m very proud that as a city, we have always stood by Ukraine. Whether it is through our Friendship Agreement with the city of Oleksandriya or by opening homes to Ukrainian
Twerton HMO refused as area ‘has too many’
Walk, which is a mid-terraced property, the planning application failed on both counts.
PLANS to turn a three-bedroom property in Twerton into a five-bed house in multiple occupation (HMO) have been refused by Bath & North East Somerset Council as there is already a high proportion of shared housing nearby. An application was submitted last October to convert No. 7 Rooksbridge Walk into a HMO. The council keeps a register of HMOs as it is acknowledged that although HMOs play a role in the local housing mix, a cumulative impact can lead to increased noise, waste and traffic, potentially disrupting the lives of people living nearby.
No residential property can therefore be ‘sandwiched’ between HMOs and no more than 10% of properties within a 100-metre radius should be in HMO use.
In the case of No.7 Rooksbridge
Council planners, in publishing their decision report on Thursday 9th January, said: “The site is within an area of high HMO concentration. The HMO density is 16.6% which exceeds the 10% allowance. Therefore, the proposals would not support a balanced community.”
The change of use of No. 7 would also result in people living at No. 6 having an HMO on either side as No. 5 is also a house in multiple occupation.
Although the proposed HMO at No. 7 met minimum space standards, and it was deemed it would not cause any transport problems, it would fail to be energy efficient as it did not have an EPC (energy performance certificate) level C, said council officers.
The council had received two objections in relation to the EPC rating and also the principle of the property becoming a HMO.
“I’m glad that the Minister for the Armed Forces recognises these strong ties, but the incoming US government raises fresh concerns about Ukraine’s security. I will keep pressing our government to make clear our support for the Ukrainian people in their fight to defeat such a brutal aggressor.”
A PROPOSAL to turn a vacant Bath cookery school into two apartments has been given the go-ahead.
The proposals are for the first and second floors at 6 Terrace Walk, above hairdressers Giuseppe’s of Bath.
The property is Grade II listed. The plans include internal storage for two bikes. In 2009, listed building consent and planning permission were granted to convert the offices into a cookery school.
The business ceased trading as it
was said to no longer be viable, and it had been marketed since May 2024 with only “limited” interest and no offers.
The application said agents advised there was “no realistic prospect” of finding a commercial occupier due to current and foreseeable future market conditions.
Bath Preservation Trust wrote in support of the conversion plans which were approved by Bath & North East Somerset Council planners.
Views being sought on future funding for Avon Fire & Rescue
RESIDENTS are being given the chance to have their say on future funding for Avon Fire & Rescue Service, along with the work it does in the community.
People can have their say on the progress of the Service Plan 20242028, as well as how much they would be prepared to pay for fire and rescue services.
The feedback will help the fire service assess its performance against the plan, manage risks effectively, ensure the service provides value for money, and make sure it is a great place to work.
The Service Plan outlines a commitment to improving community safety through fire prevention, risk reduction, and emergency response.
It includes initiatives to address emerging risks and looks at strategies to reduce the likelihood of incidents before they happen.
Chief Fire Officer Simon Shilton said: “As a service, our main aim is to make our communities safer and we do that by preventing fires through education, protecting you in your homes and your places of work, and by responding to fires. We are now one year into our four-year plan and what you think about our progress matters to us and that’s why it’s important that you take part in this survey, to make your voice heard.
“As with many public sector organisations, we are facing some real financial constraints, and we must be honest about the
challenges we face in maintaining our level of service.
“However, the safety of our communities remains our top priority, and we are committed to working with local people, partners, and staff to ensure that we make the best use of every pound we receive.”
The survey (available at https:// bit.ly/40c5n3q) gives the opportunity to have a say on how fire and rescue services are shaped over the next four years.
You can provide feedback on various aspects of the plan and how the service spends its money, including how they allocate resources, their emergency response strategies, and how they engage with the community.
Chair of Avon Fire Authority, Ben Nutland, added: “For Avon Fire & Rescue Service, community input is vital in shaping how it
works as an emergency service in the future.
“We urge anyone with thoughts on how to improve services or manage the financial challenges ahead to share their opinions.
“The authority’s role is to address the challenges facing the service, with the resources available, ensuring an effective and efficient service that meets the expectations of local people and businesses.
“We can only do that by listening to and hearing from you, and I would encourage everyone to find out more about the service’s priorities for tackling risk across the area and keeping you safer by sharing your views in this survey.”
The survey will close on 7th February 2025.
If you need the survey in another format, call 07977 467634 or email consultation@avonfire.gov.uk
Plans for new homes at former Bath gas works site moving forward
Application for new bridge over River Avon
A SCHEME to build hundreds of homes on the former gas works site to the east of Bath is taking a step forward thanks to an £18 million funding offer from Homes England.
Bath & North East Somerset Council submitted plans for 351 homes at the site in 2023.
A report before cabinet members sought approval to accept the £18,202,421 of funding, which will enable work to start on the land remediation and infrastructure of the Bath Western Riverside Phase 2 site to prepare it for development.
The local authority acquired the three large gas holders in the centre of the site, which is approximately 30% of the Bath Western Riverside Phase 2 land, using the West of England Combined Authority Land Acquisition Fund.
Works to remove the network of live gas pipes across the site were completed in October 2023, using Homes England Housing & Infrastructure Funding.
The single-member decision report before Councillors Matt McCabe, cabinet member for built environment, housing and sustainable development and Mark Elliott, cabinet member for resources, recommended
approval for the funding from an existing Homes England Housing and Infrastructure Funding (HIF) agreement.
The surrounding land on the site is owned by St William (Berkeley Homes).
A land swap between the two parties, which was completed recently, has provided the council with a plot of land to be developed.
Following the approval of the additional funding, the remediation and infrastructure work will be carried out by St William (Berkeley Homes).
•
The report also recommended that the Provisional Capital programme for Bath Western Riverside is increased to £44,192 million to incorporate the additional funding from Homes England and for the council’s Highways team to progress the adoption of the highway from the southern end of the Destructor Bridge, which will enable residential site access from Midland Road.
A PLANNING application for a new bridge over the River Avon between Keynsham and Hanham has been made.
It is part of the WaterSpace Connected project aimed at enhancing the river corridor between Bristol and Bath.
The bridge will cross the Avon near Durley Lane and be for pedestrians, cycle and horses.
It has been part of strategic thinking at both regional and local levels for a long time.
The river forms the border between South Gloucestershire and Bath & North East Somerset.
Both Bath & North East Somerset Council and South Gloucestershire Council are sharing jurisdiction over the project, with the planning application appearing on both local authorities' websites.
Buro Happold and Moxon Architects won the commission to design the bridge which will span 40 metres in length and be between about nine and 12 metres above ground at varying points.
Gloucestershire planning portal.
They include one from a Somerdale resident who says:
“The proposed bridge will provide well-needed access to the Bristol/Bath Path for green commuters (cyclists and pedestrians) as well as promoting healthy activities such as walking and cycling via access to the countryside for residents of both South Gloucestershire and Bath and North East Somerset.
“There should also be benefit to the economies of both areas, improving access to businesses on both sides of the river.
St William (Berkeley Homes) was granted planning consent in June 2024 for 611 new homes and a nursery on its plot.
Taylor Wimpey is contributing towards the cost as part of its development of the old Cadbury’s site at Somerdale for housing.
Some comments of support have already been posted on the South
“The proposed bridge takes the local environment and geography into consideration, providing a robust and submersible solution noting it is sited on a floodplain.
“It is also an architecturally pleasing design in keeping with the industrial heritage of the area.”
The land is situated on the former gas works site at Bath Western Riverside
AN innovative wooden-frame training chair designed by engineers at the University of Bath in collaboration with British Fencing has been hailed a gamechanger.
Wheelchair fencing Paralympic gold-medallists Dimitri Coutya and Piers Gilliver have praised the SwordSeat™, which aims to make wheelchair fencing affordable and accessible to many more clubs and participants.
The simple six-piece slot-together design which can be built using minimal tools for around £150 worth of plywood, was officially launched at the Team Bath Sports Training Village, home to the Wheelchair Fencing National Training Centre, on Wednesday 8th January.
Two-time Paris 2024 champion Coutya and Tokyo 2020 goldmedallist Gilliver, who both train at the venue, were among the guests treated to a demonstration of the SwordSeat in action.
Gilliver, recalling the challenges he faced with equipment and accessibility when he first started wheelchair fencing, said: “The SwordSeat is a fantastic innovation. Wheelchair fencing frames are quite hard to source and the whole set-up can cost between £8,000 and £15,000.
“Something like this, which can be made with a simple piece of plywood and produced so cheaply, means more clubs can be welcoming to wheelchair fencers.”
Coutya added: “The SwordSeat is a fantastic way to remove some of the barriers to the sport. Equipment becomes much less of a problem and everyone now has the option to try wheelchair fencing.”
Before the demonstration, guests learnt more about the work that had gone into the SwordSeat’s design and production from British Fencing Inclusion Officer
(Disability) Rick Rodgers, who initiated the project, and Dr Ed Elias, a Senior Lecturer in the University’s Department of Mechanical Engineering who created the SwordSeat with his Integrated Design Engineering student, Conor Roberts.
Dr Elias said: “We wanted to try and get the set-up costs down to as low as we could.
“We’ve made an Ikea-style slottogether piece of furniture which can be built with home DIY tools.
We’re really excited that it is going to open up wheelchair fencing to many more people.”
Only a handful of the UK’s 400+ fencing clubs currently have wheelchair fencing rigs, which cost more than £5,000 and need to have wheelchairs attached, totalling over £15,000. They are also bulky and require plenty of storage space.
By contrast, the SwordSeat’s six parts can be cut from a single
piece of 25mm plywood board and the only tools required are a jigsaw (or handsaw) and 6mm drill.
Once cut, the parts can be assembled in around one minute and strapped together with ratchet straps for vital rigidity, or taken apart and flat-packed for easy transport.
The seat also incorporates an alignment board that can be configured to accommodate any combination of right- or lefthanded competitors.
The DIY nature of the design means that changing some elements is possible, such as increasing the height of seat backs to help users with spinal injuries who may need additional support, and damaged parts can be easily replaced.
Expressions of interest in a SwordSeat can be made at https://bit.ly/3WaNYGP
Other guests at the launch event
included British Fencing CEO Georgina Usher, who made the opening and closing remarks; representatives of ParalympicsGB and UK Sport; Peter John Huggins of IWAS Wheelchair Fencing; and Harry Cootes and Charmaine Hooper of World Abilitysport.
Among the University of Bath representatives were Ghazwa Alwani-Starr (Chief Operating Officer), Cassie Wilson (Pro-ViceChancellor, Student Experience) and Stephen Baddeley (Director of Sport).
The University of Bath has been the training base for Britain’s high-performance wheelchair fencers since 2015, during which time Coutya, Gilliver and Oliver Lam-Watson have brought home 20 medals between them – three of them gold – from three Paralympic Games. Athletes on the programme have also won a host of World, European and Commonwealth titles.
Down: 1 Iguana, 2 Jacqueline, 3 Added, 4 El Salvador, 5 Emir, 6 Carpets, 7 Yogi, 8 Bad taste, 15 The Dead Sea, 16 On your feet, 17 Fifty-two, 20 Embassy, 23 Risers, 24 Kenya, 26 Roll, 27 Eyes.
Saturday 18th January – 3pm
Bath City v Enfield Town (Away) League
Sunday 19th January – 2pm
Bath Women v Pen Mill (Home) Junior Cup 2
Saturday 25th January – 3pm
Bath City v Chesham United (Home) League
Sunday 26th January – 2pm
Bath Women v Royal Wootton Bassett Town (Away) League
Bath City FC Bath Rugby
Saturday 18th January – 5.30pm Bath Rugby v Leinster Rugby (Away) Investec Champions Cup – R4
Sunday 26th January – 3pm Bath Rugby v Sale Sharks (Away) Gallagher Premiership – R11
Whether you'd like us to include your upcoming fixtures, or submit a match report for publishing, we would love to hear from you. Send fixtures lists for your team to sport@bathecho.co.uk and we'll add them to our sports calendar. If you have photographs that we can use, we'd also like to include them within these pages, on our website and social media. We're happy to host match reports from across Bath. Please send them directly to sport@bathecho.co.uk with the subject Match Report.
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