Bath Echo - Issue 097 - 14/02/2025

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Issue No. 097

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Sydney Road traffic restrictions set to be made permanent - P3 Inside: Food & drink, archive photos, what's on listings, our £20 crossword & more!

A46 speed limits being reduced to improve safety - P2

Consultation event for 272-bed co-living development - P3

£700k to be spent addressing damp and mould in flats - P4

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A46 speed limits to be reduced to improve safety

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Pictures from the Past

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Crossword

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Community

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Education

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Health

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Business

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NATIONAL Highways has announced new speed restrictions will be introduced on the A46 near Bath as part of measures to improve safety.

The government agency, having worked with Avon & Somerset Police, Bath & North East Somerset Council and South Gloucestershire Council, has identified various safety issues on the A46 between Bath and junction 18 of the M4.

Collision data between 2017 and 2021 identified a total of 41 incidents, resulting in 79 casualties, two of which were fatalities.

Following further monitoring and surveys, National Highways is now taking action to reduce speed limits along a number of sections.

The speed reduction scheme, financed through the agency’s designated Safety and Congestion Fund, will see: • The speed limit reduced to 50mph south of M4 J18 to Pennsylvania Village • The speed limit reduced to 30mph through Pennsylvania Village • The speed limit reduced to 40mph south of Pennsylvania to Upper Swainswick, where it returns to 50mph.

A speed reduction order has been initiated and the installation of new signage will take place in the coming weeks, with resurfacing and road marking work taking place later in the year.

Sean Walsh, National Highways’ A46 Route Manager, said: “Safety is our first priority, and we

The A46 looking towards Pennsylvania | Photo © National Highways

constantly monitor the safety performance of all our roads, including the A46.

“Following a review of the collision data and working closely with our police and local authority partners, we have taken the decision to implement revised speed limits to reduce safety risks along the single lane section between Upper Swainswick and junction 18 of the M4.

“We’re always exploring ways to make our roads safer by using collision data, risk assessments and insights to better understand driver behaviour.

“The scheme is designed to improve safety for all road users and reduce the number of people harmed on the region’s roads.”

Chief Inspector Rob Cheeseman, of Avon & Somerset Police, said: “We welcome National Highways’ efforts to improve driver safety on the A46 and their use of data to identify the riskiest stretches of road in the area.

“Inappropriate and excess speed, and not abiding by speed

limits, is one of the ‘Fatal Five’ behaviours that most commonly contribute to fatal and serious injury collisions.

“In 2023 and 2024 combined, we attended 872 fatal and serious injury collisions on Avon and Somerset roads. Speed-related factors were identified in 436 of them, so 50%.

“The speed limits we put in place are therefore not optional; they are there to keep our roads safe for motorists and pedestrians alike. Even one life lost on our roads through excess speed is one life too many, and it is completely avoidable.

“We will continue to target road users who do not adhere to these necessary safety measures.”

The programme of work will start on Monday 24th February and a combination of temporary traffic lights and some overnight closures of the A46, on weeknights only, 8pm to 6am, will be required to complete the work by mid-March.

The A46 north of the Cold Ashton

roundabout will be closed overnight: • Thursday 6th March to Friday 7th March • Friday 7th March to Saturday 8th March The A46 south of the Cold Ashton roundabout will be closed overnight: • Wednesday 12th March to Thursday 13th March • Thursday 13th March to Friday 14th March • Friday 14th March to Saturday 15th March • Monday 17th March to Tuesday 18th March There will be two main diversion routes during the sign installation work: • When the A46 is closed north of Cold Ashton roundabout the diversion will be via the B4465, the A4174 and the A420 back to Cold Ashton.

• When the A46 is closed south of the Cold Ashton roundabout the diversion route will be via the A420, the A350 and the A4.

Both diversion routes can be travelled in either direction.

Some local roads, including Field Lane, Dunsdown Lane, Middledown Road, and Sands Hill, will have short diversions, for the removal and installation of signage.

Mr Walsh added: “To keep disruption to a minimum, we’re carrying out the work at night when traffic volumes are at their lowest.

“We thank people in advance for their patience and we advise people to plan ahead and allow extra time for their journeys.”

HMO plans for two family homes in Southdown TWO planning applications to create houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) in Southdown are being considered by Bath & North East Somerset Council.

There are plans to turn 90 Langdon Road from a four-bed family house to a six-bed HMO. The application says that parking would be provided for two cars.

One objector has written to the council to say that there are already several HMOs in the immediate area

They add: “A change of use to a HMO would not serve the local demand for housing in this area and would result in the loss of suitable family accommodation.

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“Approval of this application would maintain an undesirable precedent and should therefore be resisted.”

Another objector also highlights that there is already an HMO at No. 88 and that there is difficulty with parking in the road.

The planning reference is 25/00018/FUL. The deadline for comments is Wednesday 19th February.

There is also a current application to turn a three-bed family house in The Hollow into a three-bed

HMO. The application for No. 216 says the semi-detached house will be for “professional sharers” and that one parking space will be provided, along with space for two cycles.

The planning reference is 25/00356/FUL. The deadline for comments is Tuesday 18th February.

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Issue 097

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Your City, Your News - Bath Echo

Traffic restrictions set to be made permanent John Wimperis

Local Democracy Reporter

A CONTROVERSIAL liveable neighbourhood in Bath is set to be made permanent, despite three-quarters of people being against the plan.

Bath & North East Somerset Council installed bollards across Sydney Road in April 2024 on what was officially a trial basis as part of its scheme of liveable neighbourhoods, also called low traffic neighbourhoods or LTNs. It has been hugely controversial, with people on the street “freed from the tyranny of the motor vehicle” while neighbouring streets warn: “Their liveable neighbourhood has become our unliveable neighbourhood.”

Now council reports are recommending the scheme be made permanent “as soon as possible”.

The decision will be made as a “single member decision” by the council cabinet member for resources Mark Elliot (Lansdown, Liberal Democrat) on or after 15th February.

Councillor Elliott said: “This is a detailed and thorough analysis of a comprehensive trial and consultation which I will consider carefully.

“It is interesting to see from the feedback how people’s opinions have shifted over the course of the trial to be more positive, although a significant number are obviously still opposed.

The bollards on Sydney Road in Bath

“The consultation process allowed people to express a wide range of views. The trial is a result of years of campaigning by residents, and it’s important that I assess whether the reasons for objecting are supported by evidence.

“I also note that the Bath Walking, Wheeling and Cycling Links scheme aims to further improve connectivity for pedestrians and cyclists by proposing a safer route connecting Bathwick and the city centre than the current National Cycle Route 4, which currently follows the busy A36.”

While the scheme has officially only been in place on a trial basis, the council spent £306,300 installing new pavements, bollards, signage and road markings at the beginning of the trial.

Asked at the time whether the council knew how much it would cost to undo these if it was not

made permanent, it said it did not have a figure and said it would have to be included in future budgeting.

1,899 people responded to the consultation on the scheme, with 76% opposed to the scheme, and 24% in favour.

Of the 104 responses from people living on Sydney Road and New Sydney Place, 72% were in favour of the scheme; but the 684 respondents living on nearby roads within the trial area were 70% against.

83% of the 1,090 people who responded but live outside the trial area were opposed.

People against the scheme have raised more than £6,000 to fight the liveable neighbourhood through the courts if the decision is taken to make it permanent.

About 4,000 people had also signed a petition against the scheme on website 38 Degrees before it was disabled for

“inappropriate content”.

Closing Sydney Road to traffic means cars heading for the centre from Warminster Road must now follow Beckford Road around Sydney Gardens, often meaning a wait at the traffic lights

by Bathwick Street.

But council reports said the journey along the road only took five seconds longer than it had before the trial, although drivers had lost the ability to shave 40 seconds off their journey by going down Sydney Road.

But people living along Beckford Road told another story when several addressed the council in July 2024 to urge them to drop the scheme.

One person warned: “Near misses are happening the whole time because of the Sydney Road LTN.” People living on Sydney Road, however, had addressed the council in March and praised the scheme, with one person saying: “Sydney Road LN creates a small safe space to move around without fear of being run down by a rat runner from Bathampton trying to get to Waitrose before it closes.

“Other more appropriate and better built roads are available.”

The council said that, before the trial, 4,466 to 4,770 vehicles went down Sydney Road each day on average, with 75% being through traffic. Now traffic has been reduced by up to 90% on New Sydney Place and 70% on Sydney Road.

Consultation event for 272-bed development LOCAL residents are being invited to have their say on proposals for a new 272-bed co-living development on the Upper Bristol Road at an event on Thursday 20th February.

The consultation event will provide an opportunity for members of the public and stakeholders to view the plans and share their feedback on the proposed scheme.

The site, located at the corner of Windsor Bridge Road and Upper Bristol Road, has been largely vacant for over 20 years aside from modern employment units, and was originally developed as part of the wider Bath Gas Works.

Identified by Bath & North East

Somerset Council (B&NES) as a development opportunity, the site has been allocated for housing.

Redevelopment of the land will introduce a 272-unit coliving development aimed at providing a modern alternative to HMO and shared housing for younger adults.

The development will be promoted in partnership with VervLife, the UK’s largest manager of co-living accommodation. People are invited to visit the Army Reserve Centre Bath, Upper Bristol Road, Bath, BA1 3AE on Thursday 20th February from 1pm to 7pm to see the plans.

Along with the co-living units,

Image © Blue Coast Capital

the development would also feature a new public pocket park, six parking spaces and 301 cycle spaces.

It is expected to create around 130 construction roles and 46 operational jobs.

The development will also be coordinated with the potential

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remediation and redevelopment of the adjacent Midland Road waste depot site, which is owned by the council.

The proposal has been designed to be implemented independently, with the existing Midland Road access being utilised temporarily until the adjacent site is redeveloped.

The consultation event will provide an opportunity for the public to engage with the team behind the project and ask questions regarding the proposals. Feedback gathered during the consultation will be taken into account as the plans move forward.

For more information on the public consultation or the development itself, visit www. windsorbridgecoliving.co.uk

News in Brief Plans to shore up city centre shop approved Bath & North East Somerset Council has approved plans to sort out structural issues at a city centre shop. Listed building consent was sought to replace “overloaded and heavily decayed” timber beams and to carry out repair work at 20 Union Street, home to Dr Martens.

The shop has been temporarily propped up after “serious structural movement” was found.

In their assessment of the application, council planning officers said that although the footprint of the Grade II listed building now spans from Union Street to Union Passage, the rear was originally a separate building. They said: “The two have gradually been linked together internally, eventually resulting in the entire removal of any internal walls at ground floor level. This is likely to have contributed to the current structural issues.”

Proposal to make housing estate safer B&NES Council is formally consulting on the introduction of a 20mph zone at the new Mulberry Park development at Combe Down. The estate was built by Curo on the former MoD Foxhill site. The council says a Traffic Regulation Order is required to introduce a 20mph zone encompassing the whole of the estate. 20mph signage is already in place on Mulberry Way at the entrance to the estate as part of highway adoption works but will need to be replaced.

Weather Forecast Fri 14th Sat 15th Sun 16th Mon 17th Tue 18th Wed 19th Thu 20th

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(21st to 27th February) Below average temperatures to start the week, with cloudy periods throughout. Increasing amounts of rain towards the end of February.

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£700k to be spent to address damp and mould in social flats Becky Feather Reporter

SHOCKING problems with damp and mould at social housing flats in the city centre have been highlighted in a new report.

LiveWest run Clarkson House in Great Stanhope Street, where there are 54 flats over five levels.

The housing association have submitted a planning application to Bath & North East Somerset Council to carry out major repairs at the 1980s block, which it is understood will cost in the region of £700,000.

Clarkson House is split into three sub-blocks – 5, 6 and 7. Last year LiveWest commissioned a specialist engineering and design company, McAndrew Martin Limited (MML), to carry out a roof condition and thermal review of the whole building.

MML were advised before their visit that there was no information available about the “type, location or service history” of the building’s three centralised ventilation systems, that the roof has asbestos tiles and that there is no insulation in the cavity walls.

They were also told that damp and mould cases account for a high volume of repairs, with more than 100 raised since November 2021.

The experts say in their report, which is dated last month: “During the visit, serious areas of concern were identified across the residential units and the circulation areas.”

They explain: “Based on the volume of damp and mould repairs since 2021, it is clear that adequate ventilation is not being provided within all properties and that internal humidity levels are above acceptable levels.

“The front elevation has timber,

single-glazed sliding sash windows which are contributing to the reduction in thermal performance and damp and mould troubles.

“There is currently no insulation within the cavities of the external walls, nor to the party walls where the stairwell adjoins the main building.

“With none in situ within the walls, it is likely none has been used within the mansard wall sections to the upper floors.

“Areas causing water ingress are at the junction where the stairwell and main building adjoin and where the flashings have lifted or are poorly fitted.”

The report adds: “Water ingress to Block 5 stairwell and communal areas can be seen from the thirdfloor ceiling areas, running down the walls of the stairwell and inner party wall, which has spread across three levels.”

The report adds: “Remedial/

Clarkson House in Great Stanhope Street

upgrade works across all building elements are necessary to ensure no further deterioration of the existing building fabric occurs.”

The planning application involves a full roof replacement including new lead flashing and lead guttering.

Also proposed are a thermal upgrade of existing external walls, and mechanical and

electrical services works to flats and circulation spaces.

The planning reference is 25/00401/FUL. The deadline for people to comment on the proposals is 13th March.

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Closure begins for amphibian migration on Charlcombe Lane THE annual closure of Charlcombe Lane in Bath has begun, helping with the migration of toads, frogs and newts as they head to their breeding lake.

The road closure, which will be in place until Sunday 23rd March, is only one of four road closures in the UK. It has played a vital role in helping to keep the local population of amphibians stable over the last 20 years.

Local volunteers with the Charlcombe Toad Rescue Group will be out on patrol every night for six weeks from dusk onwards to help common toads, common frogs and newts on their journey.

Collectively they will spend more than 600 hours in high visibility jackets, armed with torches and buckets walking slowly up and down the road.

Toads, frogs and newts are carefully picked up with latexfree, powder-free gloves, to avoid any chemicals from volunteer hands affecting them, and taken safely in buckets to drop off

points to help them on their way towards the lake.

Last year more than 50 volunteers helped 3,225 amphibians across a half-mile stretch of Charlcombe Lane during the migration season.

It was the second-best year for the number of amphibians recorded since the road closure started in 2003, and the busiest in 14 years.

2024 also saw the largest number of newts helped on record and it was the best for toads since 2013.

Before the closure of Charlcombe Lane the casualty rate was 62%, and in 2024 it was 6%.

Helen Hobbs, who has been managing Charlcombe Toad Rescue Group since 2003, said: “Closing Charlcombe Lane, with the support of the local community, has been a game changer for our amphibian population.

“It has meant that toads, frogs and newts have been able to buck national trends and stand a fighting chance of flourishing.

“With a changing climate it is becoming increasingly difficult

The closure will be in place until 23rd March

to predict the peak times for amphibian movements, which is why closing the road for six weeks really matters.

“Last year the busiest period was early February and in 2023 it was mid-March.”

Bath & North East Somerset Council has supported the patrol and road closure since 2003, however the Charlcombe Toad Rescue Group fundraises to pay for the advertising costs around the road closure, and

VolkerHighways sponsor the group with the provision of signage each year.

Charlie Cox, Project Manager for VolkerHighways, said: “We are proud to support such a worthy group, who are working to improve and save the lives of thousands of amphibians each year.

“The work the Charlcombe Toad Rescue Group does is hugely impressive, and we are delighted that we are able to contribute to

its successful work.”

Back in 2016 a team of scientists used data collected by toad patrols to explore what had been happening to the population of common toads across the UK. The research demonstrated that the common toad populations had declined by 68% in just 30 years.

There are currently more than 247 patrols across the UK helping amphibians during the migration season. All the data collected by patrollers is collated by conservation charity Froglife, and in 2024 over 162,000 amphibians were given a helping hand across A roads or quiet country lanes.

Sheila Gundry, Head of Operations, at Froglife, said: “At Charlcombe Lane there is still a healthy population, thanks to the hard work of the toad patrol who rescue toads, frogs and newts even on wet winter evenings.

“The temporary road closure makes a big difference too, as do the surrounding landowners who look after the breeding pond and foraging grounds.”

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

I

'D like to start by shining a spotlight on B&NES Council’s Children’s Social Care team, who work incredibly hard to help those children, young people and families who need extra support.

Congratulations on their excellent Ofsted report following a recent inspection into provision for care experienced young people.

The inspectors found that these young people are supported well into adulthood, and they praised the culture and warmth of the council, the stable leadership team and workforce, which mean

children benefit from enduring relationships with people who care for them and about them.

B&NES Council is making good progress on our commitment to provide the affordable homes that are so badly needed in our area. Construction is under way of 18 new affordable homes for social rent that will be owned directly by B&NES Council. These are located at the Argyle Works site in Lower Bristol Road, Bath, and in Keynsham.

The developments are part of the B&NES Homes programme, which uses existing council properties and surplus land to

deliver affordable homes for residents. Our B&NES Home programme currently comprises 66 units in operation.

B&NES Council and St William Homes (part of the Berkeley Group) will begin the redevelopment of the final phase of the former Bath Gasworks site, starting a new regeneration chapter. The council and St William have received an award of grant funding from Homes England for the initial remediation and enabling phase of works over the next 12-15 months and will shortly begin to prepare the site for

redevelopment.

2025 will be significant for councils, with the recent publication of a government White Paper on Devolution. We expect some changes to the way the West of England Combined Authority (or ‘WECA’) works and to its remit.

We do not expect a reorganisation of local government structures in our area, as B&NES is already a ‘unitary’ authority and a member of a combined authority.

We support North Somerset Council’s proposal to join WECA.

Our view is that councils and the communities they serve must be at the heart of decisionmaking. Tinkering with structures must not distract from the bigger problems we face, such as housing, health services, transport and the environment.

The council is proud to support LGBT+ History month, established by the LGBT+ education charity Schools Out. This year’s theme is Activism and Social Change, recognising the important role played by LGBT+ activists in progressing change.

Issue 097

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More meetings as concerns over Camden bus gate mount Becky Feather Reporter

THERE will be another public meeting next month as concerns mount about a proposed low traffic neighbourhood (LTN) area featuring a bus gate on Camden Road.

Bath & North East Somerset Council has still yet to start formal consultation on what is officially known as the London Road and Snow Hill Area Liveable Neighbourhood (LN) scheme.

However, a petition set up against the proposed bus gate already has more than 2,800 signatures.

According to the council’s website, it is seeking funding from the West of England Combined Authority to install the scheme

by March 2027 subject to further engagement, detailed designs and, if appropriate, experimental trials.

The scheme is one of 15 LNs either being planned or already implemented in B&NES by the Liberal Democrat administration.

Since 2018, Camden Residents’ Association have been campaigning for traffic calming and road safety measures to be explored by the council for the benefit of the whole community.

In a recent statement on their website, they said they have yet to take a formal position on the

proposed LN as the council’s designs are not yet completed, but that “to implement measures that benefit one set of streets to the detriment of others is not something that we can stand behind”.

The Liberal Democrat councillors for the Walcot ward, John Leach and Oli Henman, have been holding a series of meetings to gather information to feed back to the council on the proposed LN. Meanwhile after organising a public meeting last November about the proposed bus gate, the Green councillors in the neighbouring Lambridge ward have arranged a follow-up meeting at the New Oriel Hall on Wednesday 19th March at 6pm.

Councillors Joanna Wright and Saskia Heijltjes say they have again invited Councillor Manda Rigby, B&NES cabinet member for highways to the meeting, and hope she will be free to attend this time.

They said: “As ward councillors for Lambridge we are perplexed as to why the council has not included us or residents in this proposal, despite its huge impact on how people travel in the east of Bath.”

At the November meeting, which was attended by about 300 people, fears were raised that a bus gate could simply shift traffic

Where the bus gate would begin on Camden Road

congestion and pollution to other nearby streets, disrupting quieter residential areas.

After that meeting, Councillor Rigby 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.

The petition, set up on the change.org website, includes an objection from Fairfield Park Health Centre about a bus gate on its doorstep, warning of the “severe impact” it would have on both staff and the practice’s 14,000 patients.

As we reported last month, the health centre said that whilst supporting the concept of Liveable Neighbourhoods, this idea is “poorly thought-out”.

“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.”

Comments on the petition from other objectors include: “This bus gate will displace large amounts of traffic onto London Road, The Paragon and the central area which are all very

residential areas and already have more traffic congestion and air pollution that Camden Road.”

Another says: “Building a virtual wall between Fairfield Park and the city it belongs to, whilst forcing traffic in the area up unsuitable roads. And in bad weather dangerous ones.”

And one critic observes: “This is possibly the most badly designed proposal to alter a road system I have ever seen.

“No thought has been put into the knock-on effects for the wider area, and the alternative routes that traffic will be forced down are tight residential streets which will not take the increase in traffic.

“Camden Road is not a residential street. It has always been a major road for local traffic as long as I have lived in the area, for over 25 years.

“Closing this off will have a massively detrimental effect on Fairfield Park, Larkhall, Walcot, and Camden.

“It serves no purpose and certainly does not create a liveable neighbourhood; in fact, it does the very opposite.

“It will turn small residential streets into a series of dangerous rat runs. LTNs can work very well in certain areas where the geography and infrastructure can support them. Bath – in general – is not one of those places.”

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Pictures from the Past The Retreat, Primrose Hill Kirsten Elliott Akeman Press

THIS week’s archive photo is of one of Bath’s most fondly remembered and sorely missed pubs.

The only way to get to the Retreat was by a footpath leading down from Summerhill Road to Primrose Hill, and it was about as close as you could get to a country pub without leaving the city. From the city centre, you could walk to it across High Common, from Weston you could walk across the fields, and the path that led to the Retreat was part of the Cotswold Way. When it first opened is unclear.

Sometime between 1846 and 1852, a plasterer and tiler called Thomas Vincent, who was living at Summerhill Cottage, Primrose Hill, opened his house as a pub called the Summerhill Tavern. After his death in 1861, his widow, Caroline, continued to run the pub, now known as the Sion Hill Tavern. She died in 1869 and the Sion Hill Tavern disappears from the records. By 1876, John Hardy, however, was running a pub at Primrose Hill called the Retreat, and, although we cannot be sure, it seems likely that this was the same as the one run by the Vincents.

By 1889, a Mr Markey was the landlord.

He provided customers with a ‘dancing saloon’, open every Wednesday with music on the piano by Mr Cooke.

By 1912, it had been taken over by George Drewe, who had even more ambitious plans. He offered ‘HOLIDAY APARTMENTS, with lovely scenery, at very long range from front rooms, with French windows opening on to verandah’, as well as a bowling saloon and ‘teas for local visitors’. He also renamed the pub once again, styling it ‘Ye Old Retreate Hostelry’, although that does not seem to have lasted very long.

After that, nothing much seems to have changed, and by the 1970s it had become a haven of peace amid a changing world.

In 1974, one of those who beat a path to its door wrote that, ‘it is concealed by trees and shrubs behind a high stone wall, to be reached only by those prepared to abandon their cars in Sion Hill and venture down a footpath which looks as if it leads

The Retreat at Primrose Hill, which is fondly remembered by many

nowhere. Landlord Richard Gawith has been there for 25 years. The pub has been in his family since the turn of the century.

And its charm is that not much appears to have happened to the place during that time.’

Time was running out for the Retreat, however. That same visitor reported that ‘the city’s public health inspectors are not happy with its facilities. So Courage’s are now looking into the cost of bringing the place up to their standards. It sounds as if they could be thinking of modernising it beyond recognition – or closing it. A brewery spokesman said, “our architects and surveyors are studying it to see what

is involved and we cannot say anything about the future of the Retreat until they have made their report.”’

In the event, Courage’s decided to get rid of it. Last orders were to be called 50 years ago, on 5th March 1975, the same day that the Retreat would be sold at auction. In the event, it failed to reach the reserve price and was withdrawn.

Sadly, Richard Gawith, who was due to retire to a bungalow at Newbridge the following day, also died on the day of the auction, and his widow had to move into her new home on her own.

The Retreat was later sold privately and became a private house, but that was not

quite the end of the story. Seventeen years later, in the summer of 1991, Geoffrey and Pauline Roper, who had bought the old Retreat, reopened it for one day for charity.

Evelyn Gawith, now 84, visited for one last time to meet many of the old regulars. For a few hours, it was possible to think that old times had returned and the Retreat would once again be one of Bath’s most cherished institutions. But it was not to be.

As darkness fell, last orders were called for the very last time, the lights were extinguished, and the doors were locked on the past. Two days later, having seen the brief renaissance of the pub she had lived in for so long, Mrs Gawith died.

COLUMN | Clare Moody, Labour Police and Crime Commissioner

A

S your Police and Crime Commissioner, my role is not only to represent the people of Bath and North East Somerset (B&NES) locally but also to ensure your voices are heard at a national level.

I am the bridge between residents and decision-makers, championing the issues that matter most to you. I use what I hear from people daily to shape what I do and the actions I take.

I’m guided by the determination to bring about changes that benefit the people I’ve been elected to represent.

I recently visited the Bath-based charity Julian House, who offer a safe haven and support for women escaping domestic abuse, as well as providing shelter for

homeless people and a path leading away from reoffending for those leaving prison. All of their work is delivered because of the impressive dedication of the professionals that work for them, and it was a pleasure to meet them and to learn from them and subsequently to work with them on finding a way to secure their services.

It is part of my role to share the key concerns that people across B&NES bring to my attention— issues affecting so many lives, including police visibility, crime reporting, community safety, and the underlying causes of crime, among others.

During January, I took part in a Home Office roundtable on tech-enabled violence against

women and girls (VAWG). This is something that people across all our areas are affected by.

Technology has introduced new challenges in tackling abuse, and harassment, but it also offers opportunities for prevention and support. With key stakeholders, including Ministers Jess Phillips and Alex Davies-Jones, we explored the complexities of the issues and the solutions that Government can deliver.

To be able to deliver the priorities you’ve told me are most important, I’m responsible for setting the amount of money you contribute to local police services through your Council Tax bill each year. This is known as the ‘Police Precept’. It accounts for 43% of the funding that Avon

and Somerset Police rely on, with the rest coming from central Government. I confirmed an increase of £14 more per year for the average Band D household at a meeting on 4 February.

I know the cost of living is a concern for many, and I did not take this decision lightly.

I must make sure our police service has the resources to continue tackling crime, keeping communities safe, and improving trust and confidence in policing.

The extra funding will support Avon and Somerset Police to keep delivering neighbourhood policing and other services, while progressing work on priority areas like tackling serious

violence and violence against women and girls and investing in ways to prevent crime and antisocial behaviour.

Through everything I do my focus remains clear: I will make sure the voices and experiences of the people who live in B&NES and across Avon and Somerset will influence and shape national conversations around policing and crime.

Together, we can drive meaningful changes that create safer communities for everyone.

You can read the five priorities the public told me are most important to them in my Police and Crime Plan on my website: https://bit.ly/4hT0naZ

Issue 097

P7

Your City, Your News - Bath Echo

Crossword

Congratulations to Deryck Shackleton for winning £20!

You can find the answers to last issue's crossword on page 20.

Complete our crossword for your chance to win £20!

Across 8 Shriek (11,4) 9 Tomorrow's child (6) 10 Floating organic life (8) 11 Exited unobtrusively (7,3) 13 Up and down sort of window (4) 14 Smoker's receptacle (7) 16 Escape (7) 19 This is one (4) 21 Heretics OK with changing American chain (3,7) 23 On the blink (8) 24 Exit (6) 26 Accommodation, but no dinner (3-3-9)

Down 1 Specimens (8) 2 Make indistinct (4) 3 Inflict (6) 4 No pests bothered family member (7) 5 Fight (2,6) 6 Factory outlet (10) 7 Scouting groups (6) 12 Stop barter arrangement just north of the M25 (7,3) 15 Immunity agent (8) 17 Arterial bulge (8) 18 Shooting stars (7) 20 Don't go (6) 22 Alas! (2,4) 25 Breath of wind (4)

Entering our competition - via email or post For your chance to win £20, submit your full name, postal address and answers by email to puzzles@bathecho.co.uk or via post to: Crossword Competition 1402, Bath Echo, PO Box 5395, Bath, BA1 0YA The winner will be the first randomly opened entry with the correct answers on 26/02/2025.

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www.bathecho.co.uk

Food & Drink

Friday 14th February - Thursday 27th February 2025

Melissa Blease

Food Writer

Sponsor this section! Get in touch with Rob Last via rob@mediabath.co.uk

Tasty Dates For Your Diary Taproom events at Electric Bear Co (Locksbrook Road) are packed with pop-up pizza pizazz this February! Jim’s Pizza dominates proceedings on Saturday 15th February, followed by Luda Crust on Friday 21st February and the Small Fire wood-fired pizza crew one week later (Friday 28th February). www.electricbearbrewing.com Celebrate the Chinese Year of the Snake at the Scallop Shell (Monmouth Street) on Thursday 20th February when head chef Jack Scarterfield combines the best of British seafood with a Taste of China at the restaurant’s next Little Scallop Supper Club.

Tickets for this event are selling fast; if you miss out, keep your social media streams on high

Review

alert for a second date (£55pp). https://bit.ly/4jNjEfH The winter season pop-up schedule at Picnic in the Park (Lark Place, off Upper Bristol Road) is well and truly under way! Next stop: South African/ Mediterranean fusion courtesy of Bush Trek BBQ on Friday 21st February (for more on the BTBBQ, see later in this column), followed by an array of sharing plates and an up-close-andpersonal encounter with modern magician Daniel Chard on Friday 28th February. https://bit.ly/3YmMI5a Prove that lunch definitely isn’t for wimps at the beautiful brasserie that is Clayton’s Kitchen (George Street) and dive into a

tantalisingly tasteful 2-course lunch for just £30 (3 courses, £35) every Wednesday - Friday from 12 noon-2.30pm. www.claytonskitchen.com Guys can’t cook? Oh yes they can!

And if they think they can’t, they need to get themselves down to Komedia (Westgate Street) at 10.45am on Monday 10th March and enrol for Bath Community Kitchen’s 6-week Guys Can Cook course, designed to give men a chance to learn new cookery skills in the company of others.

The course is free to join (funded

by B&NES Council). https://bit.ly/3WSpv9I If you’re looking for pub grub with a twist, consider peri peri chicken flattie, the Boerewoors

burger, braai rib eye steak - or what about the slow-cooked oxtail stew? That’s just a taste of the unique South African/ Mediterranean / Portuguese fusion menu served up by the inspired Bush Trek Barbecue folk at the Hop Pole (Lower Bristol Road) every weekend, 12-8pm. app.tableo.com/r/gJtKoDO Award-winning, UK-based boisterous burger specialists The Beefy Boys have opened the doors to their new Bath branch on the Milsom Street/ George Street crossroads. Prebook a table between now and Wednesday 5th March and earn 20% off your bill in return for your honest feedback during the Beefy Boy’s ‘soft launch’ period. www.thebeefyboys.com

Getting the Bath Restaurant Week (3-11 May) celebrations off to a flying start while raising funds for the fabulous Hospitality Action charity, teams from local Bath establishments will race each other holding trays of full glasses of water (no spilling!) on Monday 7th April. Winners will be judged on speed and the amount of liquid left in the glasses.

Interested parties: register your team today! Onlooker tickets are available on the BRW website. www.bathrestaurantweek.com Read Melissa's regular reviews at www.theprandialplayground.uk Follow Melissa on X Find her @ThePigGuide

Maaya

The moreish crispy lamb available at Maaya

43 St James's Parade, Bath BA1 1UQ 01225 481414 www.maayaofbath.co.uk Prateek Vanka - owner of the sparkly little South Indian/Asianfusion tapas/cocktail haven that is Maaya (St James's Parade) - is showing me Instagram reels filmed on a lively thoroughfare in downtown Mumbai.

“Look at this one!”, he says; “this is how the Mumbai street food vendors make Dahi Puri. Look at the speed; they make hundreds of them, in minutes!”

His enthusiasm is palpable, his excitement infectious; I want to be in that video, gobbling up those beautiful little flavour-bomb morsels, eagerly anticipating discovering yet more street food exotica in India’s second biggest city.

Okay, so I have to make do with being in Bath on a cold, drizzly midwinter night instead.

But it’s not too much of a stretch to say that I’m experiencing a taste (and vibe) of my bucket list on my own doorstep.

Vivid, colourful friezes decorate the walls, modern Bollywoodesque beats float on the cosy, spice-infused breeze and we’ve started our tour of Prateek’s lively, inspired menu with a

brace of soft/crispy Chicken Momos accompanied by little pots of sauce that either add heat or creamy calm, depending on your pallet’s fascination with fire.

We tried the alluringly aromatic, totally moreish crispy lamb too… and oh, the Glazed Gobi! The humble cauliflower, elevated to stellar heights with a beautifullybalanced Schezwan sauce (think, Chinese sweet and sour, with extra-added complexity.)

Now I’m not a fan of the small plate/tapas format - I often find the dishes too disparate, the random arrival times too stressful, the ‘made for sharing’ ethos lost in the confusion. But at Maaya, the format makes perfect sense: you could pick from the menu blindfold, and the origin story underpinning the overall theme (street food; nonconfusing fusion; authenticity) brings harmony and grace to proceedings.

A case in point: in a ‘traditional’ Indian restaurant, I probably would have opted for a plate of Sev/Dahi Puri - crispy little semolina shell baubles filled with mashed masala potatoes, chickpeas and fruity chutney in a tangy, spice- and herbinfused ‘water’, made to be eaten in one mouthful (an art I have yet to master) - as an opener.

But at Maaya, the Puris fitted in perfectly after our Gobi, as did the teasing textures of the softly spicy Samosa Chaat: little morsels of fried pastry here, little nuggets of spiced potato there, chickpeas nudging their way through the whole medley, drizzled and nudged with sweet and sour dressings, yoghurt and pomegranate jewels bring extraadded punch and prettiness to the party.

Elsewhere on the menu, the familiarity of dishes such as bhuna, Rogan Josh, and Butter Chicken hold broad appeal. But we took Prateek’s advice and tucked into a smoothly spicy Pav Bhaji: a mixed vegetable muddleup served with toasted, buttered bread rolls, pickled red onion and lemon wedges for sprinkling and spritzing at will. And after all that, Kulfi: India’s very own ice cream, so much creamier and delicate than our homegrown kids’ stuff.

I’ll be returning to Maaya to take a cocktail flight with my small plate selection; I’m not sure what to pair with, say, the Chicken Manchurian or the Paneer 65, but I’m sure Prateek will know.

I’m not sure when I’ll make it to Mumbai either, but for now, I have Maaya.

Reviewer: Melissa Blease

Puris, an Indian snack food, were a highlight

Glazed Gobi - cauliflower with Schezwan sauce

Samosa Chaat, with spiced potato and chickpeas

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DETAILS:

Issue 097

P11

Your City, Your News - Bath Echo

What's On

Friday 14th February - Thursday 27th February 2025

Love Your Farm Litter Pick

Myths and Memories

February Half-Term Fun

Make a Lunar Calendar

Bath City Farm 15th February, 9am-3pm Head along to Bath City Farm for a litter pick. Make sure to bring your own wellies, but all other equipment will be provided. Enjoy a 10% discount at the Roots to Work Café.

American Museum & Gardens 15th February – 22nd June One of the finest collections of Renaissance maps in the world. The first major display of the American Museum’s world-renowned map collection in over a decade.

Dyrham Park 15th – 23rd February Young explorers can get involved with activities through the parkland this half term. There will be winter spotter sheets as well as 'chatterbox' sheets to help create your very own unique adventure.

The Herschel Museum of Astronomy 15th – 23rd February Make your own illustrated lunar calendar to keep track of the full moon.

Learn the names of the full moons in different cultures and keep track of the supermoons and blue moons in 2025.

The Gruffalo

Fan-Tastic

Bath Bachfest

Wonderful Weaves

Victoria Art Gallery 18th – 21st February, 10.30am-2pm Visit the gallery for free family crafts this February half term holiday. Make and decorate a fan fit to attend a Georgian ball and find out about some of the language of fans.

Various Locations 19th – 22nd February The annual festival celebrating the music of Johann Sebastian Bach and his Baroque contemporaries. This edition is extra special as it coincides with the 275th anniversary of his death.

The Holburne Museum 19th February, 2-3.30pm A fun, simple weaving workshop inspired by the tapestry textiles of Diedrick Brackens. Enjoy lovely tactile materials and make a mini masterpiece to keep.

Angelica Sprocket's Pockets

A Major Murder

The Dunwells + Humm

Together We Stand

The Mission Theatre 20th – 21st February Angelica Sprocket lives next door. Her overcoat has pockets galore! And you'll never guess what's in them...Prepare to be surprised, thrilled and tickled pink by her never-ending pockets.

Roman Baths 21st February, 6.15pm Step back in time to 1897 and head to the Roman Baths for a thrilling evening of drama, suspense, and murder! You are invited to solve the mysterious death of Major Charles Davis.

Burdall’s Yard 22nd February, 7.30pm Leeds-based folk-rock outfit, The Dunwells, feature a pair of siblings – Joseph and David. Their support for the evening will be coming from local contemporary folk duo Humm.

Bath Abbey 24th February, 6.30pm A concert of Ukrainian music and visual art to mark the 3rd anniversary of the full-scale invasion in Ukraine. The concert is organised by the charitable association The Friends of Oleksandriya.

The Repair Shop Live

Engineers Making A Difference

Evening with Tuppence Middleton

Impromptu Shakespeare

Toppings & Company Booksellers 27th February, 7pm Actress and writer Tuppence, known for her roles in Downton Abbey and Sense8.

Her first book Scorpions is a moving and often darkly funny memoir charting the raw realities of living with OCD.

Rondo Theatre 27th February, 7.30pm Hold onto your doublets, ruffs and trunk hose. The Bard is back!

With story and verse improvised in the moment, enjoy a riotous new Shakespeare play every time.

Theatre Royal 17th – 23rd February Join Mouse on a daring adventure through the deep, dark wood in Tall Stories’ magical, musical adaptation of the classic picture book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler.

The Forum 25th February, 7.30pm The Repair Shop is stepping out of the barn and onto the stage for a live tour.

Join the experts as they share heartfelt anecdotes, cherished memories, and behind-the-scenes stories.

BRLSI 26th February, 6.30pm What do engineers do and why?

And what are the barriers stopping youngsters from exploring it as a career?

Join Dr Shini Somara in conversation with podcaster & presenter Jo Durrant.

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P12

Friday 14th February - Thursday 27th February 2025

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Sponsored by Howden Bath www.howdeninsurance.co.uk/bath

Community

St John’s Foundation charity appoints new CEO ST JOHN’S Foundation, which is Bath’s oldest charity, has announced the appointment of Catharine Brown as its new CEO. Ms Brown has been serving as Interim CEO since July 2024, and following a competitive selection process, the Board of Trustees unanimously decided to appoint her to lead the charity into its next chapter.

With a strong background in leadership, strategy, and impactdriven change, Catharine brings a fresh perspective and a deep commitment to ensuring St John’s continues to evolve and thrive.

Catharine said: “I am delighted to take on the role of CEO at such a pivotal moment for St John’s.

“This charity has a remarkable history of supporting the community in Bath and the local area, and I look forward to building on that legacy with fresh ideas, renewed energy and a clear vision for the future.

“Change brings opportunity, and I am excited to work with our team

and partners to ensure St John’s continues to grow, evolve and make a meaningful difference to the people we serve.”

Catharine’s career began in marketing leadership roles at Selfridges and Marks & Spencer, then becoming Global Marketing Director in The Economist group.

After relocating to Bath, she transitioned into the charity sector, holding senior roles in marketing, fundraising and leadership at national charities.

Catharine also founded a consultancy business, helping boards and leadership teams drive meaningful change.

Most recently, she was Chief Executive of Designability, a national charity dedicated to creating life-changing products for disabled people.

Sandy Forbes, Chair of St John’s, said: “On behalf of the trustees, I am delighted to welcome Catharine as our CEO. “Having recently taken on the role of Chair myself, I know how important it is to honour the incredible 850-year legacy of

PCC Clare Moody

keeping communities safe, and improving trust and confidence in policing.

“The additional funding raised will support Avon and Somerset Police in maintaining frontline services, progressing work on priority areas like tackling serious violence and violence against women and girls, and investing in initiatives to prevent crime and antisocial behaviour.”

Speaking after the meeting, the Chair of the Panel, Councillor Heather Shearer said: “The additional investment from the precept increase has to deliver real improvements in the service for all our communities.

“We recognise that it is vital for the police force to be financially supported and that it is a very difficult time for many residents who are currently struggling with rising bills and the cost of living.”

This year’s precept will generate an additional £8.5 million for Avon & Somerset Police.

Without the increase, the service would have faced a significant deficit, even after making the savings committed to in their £6.4 million savings plan over the next year.

Abi Brinkhurst Branch Advisor Howden Bath

Hello Bath Echo readers!

Catharine Brown | Photo © St John’s Foundation

this charity while ensuring we continue to evolve for the future.

“Starting our roles at a similar time gives us a fantastic opportunity to work closely together, bringing new energy and a shared commitment to making a lasting impact in our community. I look forward to collaborating with Catharine and the entire team to build on St John’s proud history and ensure we keep making a real difference in our community.”

St John’s is a local charity dedicated to fostering an agefriendly community through housing and outreach services, helping older adults live independently for longer.

Beyond the charity’s work with older adults, St John’s supports those who have reached a point of crisis in their lives, and is also working to create communities where children can grow up happy, healthy, and welleducated.

Policing part of council Reusable bag being tax to increase by £14 trialled across B&NES PEOPLE in Bath will pay around £14 per year more towards the policing part of council tax, it has been announced.

Avon & Somerset Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Clare Moody has confirmed the increase for council tax for 2025/26, known as the precept, which equates to around £14 for the average Band D household.

The PCC’s proposal was supported by the Police and Crime Panel on Tuesday 4th February.

The approved increase works out at around £1.16 per month.

The decision follows a public consultation where 3,146 residents across the region shared their views. The majority supported a precept increase of £10 or more (52%).

Each year, the PCC sets the police precept, the portion of council tax that funds local police services.

This funding makes up 43% of Avon & Somerset Police’s overall budget, with the remainder coming from central government grants.

PCC Clare Moody said: “I am grateful to the Police and Crime Panel for their careful consideration of this year’s precept proposal and to everyone who shared their views during the consultation.

“I know the cost of living is a concern for many, and I did not take this decision lightly. It is my responsibility to ensure our police service has the resources to continue tackling crime,

Insurance Expert

HUNDREDS of households across Bath and North East Somerset will receive a new reusable red bag to trial a simpler way to sort plastics and metal for recycling.

Residents chosen to take part in the 12-week trial will have the bags delivered to their homes in the week beginning 24th February and can begin to use it to recycle household plastic bottles, pots, tubs and trays, and metal packaging such as tins, cans, foil, and aerosols.

The aim is to make it easier for residents to sort materials and store containers, which in turn will help streets stay cleaner.

Bags take up less space than boxes and will benefit households with limited storage space.

The trial areas have been chosen to reflect the diverse types of properties and housing density within Bath and North East Somerset.

In Bath, the roads selected for the trial are Coxley Drive in Larkhall, Vernham Grove in Odd Down, Lymore Gardens in Southdown and Lansdown Crescent at Lansdown.

Reusable recycling bags are already used successfully in other areas including Bristol, Somerset and Devon.

Councillor Tim Ball, cabinet member for neighbourhood services, said: “It’s due to the fantastic commitment of our residents that we recycle more than 60% of our household waste and send just 3% to landfill, but

Image © B&NES Council

we appreciate that sorting it can be time consuming.

“The red bag trial aims to make it easier for residents and collection crews to sort the plastics and metals, as well as reduce litter and spillage on collection day as the bags are sealable.

“Other local authorities have found bags to be a good solution for recycling storage and collection as they are cheaper and take up less space than boxes.

“Well-sorted recycling can also be sold for more money, which helps to cover collection costs and fund vital local services.”

The trial will run until 23rd May. Residents taking part will be asked to fill in an online or paper survey to give their feedback.

During the trial, the council will also monitor the quality of recycling from trial roads, levels of litter before and during the trial, assess the ease of use and storage and gather feedback from collection crews.

The results will be presented to the council’s cabinet in the summer, together with a recommendation report.

Abi Brinkhurst here, Branch Advisor at Howden Bath; your friendly, local high street insurance broker.

We love being a part of the Bath community and in this new regular column will be bringing you advice and insights into the insurance market.

We’ll also let you know about what’s on in branch, from our fundraising efforts to our community boot exchange!

Are you self-employed or own a business in Bath? We can help!

We launched our commercial team in November 2023, with expert advisors Indya and Tilly boasting an impressive 15 years’ in the industry between them.

Commercial insurance is vital to ensure your business and your livelihood are protected.

But we often find that businesses are exposed to risks in ways people didn’t realise.

Being incorrectly insured, your business could be just one claim away from disaster!

That’s why we recommend talking to an insurance expert, rather than relying on comparison websites.

A specialist broker can review your current policy, identify any gaps and find cover that’s tailormade to you and your business. That will ensure you’re covered for any ‘what if’ scenarios, safeguarding you, your business, and your livelihood.

If you’re not sure how your current policy stacks up, why not stop by our George Street branch or give us a call?

Our team will be happy to take a look, free of charge. And while you’re there, pick up a free Rugby Battle Board, to keep track of match results for the entire 2025 Guinness Six Nations Championship!

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Issue 097

P13 13

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Electrical safety checks set to get under way in Twerton ELECTRICAL safety inspections are set to get under way at properties in the Twerton area of Bath next week.

The checks, on behalf of National Grid Electricity Distribution (NGED), will see domestic and small business customers receive visits to ensure that service termination points inside properties are working as they should.

The service termination point, also known as a cut-out, is the indoor location where the main incoming electricity service cable and fuse is situated, in most cases close to the electricity meter.

Inspectors will visually inspect equipment and record basic details. No disassembly work will be carried out, and customers’ power supplies will not be interrupted while inspections occur.

Richard Brady, NGED’s Policy Engineer heading the inspection programme, said: “Inspectors will visually examine cut-outs to check they are working as they should, taking photos and notes for our records.

“In the unlikely event of a defective cut-out being found, NGED engineers will be sent to carry out repairs at no cost to the customer.

Bar’s 24-hour darts marathon raises £2,000

Photo © National Grid Electricity Distribution (NGED)

“Visits will also be an opportunity to confirm what types of lowcarbon technologies (LCT) are connected to our network, for example electric vehicle chargers and solar panels, to help our planning for future load growth on the network, and enable LCT items to be connected quicker in the future as we will have records of the cut-out asset on site and its condition.

“The UK is recognised internationally as having one of the most resilient and safe energy systems and this inspection programme underlines our commitment to the highest safety standards.

“These are important safety visits but we understand they could be inconvenient for customers and apologise in advance if this is the

case.”

Inspectors will be clearly identifiable as working for NGED and will be able to present ID and authorisation to enter properties.

Customers will have the option of taking their own photographs of their cut-out and meter and sending them to NGED who will decide if a follow-up visit is needed.

NGED is aiming to complete 400,000 inspections of cut-outs in homes and small businesses across the South West, South Wales and the Midlands every year in a rolling programme over the next 20 years.

It has an Ofgem licence obligation to carry out asset inspections to ensure cut-outs at low voltage metered properties are operating safely.

Sam Burge, Daniel Tanner, Adam Taylor and George Reed

A BAR in the centre of Bath has hit the bullseye for charity.

The Hideout at Lilliput Court raised more than £2,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support after completing a 24-hour darts marathon.

General manager George Reed and mixologists Daniel Tanner and Sam Burge played non-stop for a full day and night.

The Three Horseshoes in Bradford on Avon hosted the match.

The money raised will help

Macmillan Cancer Support provide essential medical, emotional, and financial support to people living with cancer.

George said: "The support was unreal, and we’re so glad we did it - 24 hours is no joke!

“Huge thanks to everyone who got involved, donated, or just came down for a pint and a bit of banter.

“A big shoutout as well to the Three Horseshoes for hosting the match.”

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P14

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Education

Friday 14th February - Thursday 27th February 2025

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New use revealed for former Lansdown school building Becky Feather Reporter

THE academy at Lansdown that closed last year as it was only 10% full is to temporarily house pupils at risk of permanent exclusion, the Bath Echo can reveal.

The £4 million Abbot Alphege Academy (AAA) at Beckford Drive opened in 2017 and closed a few months ago when the Department for Education agreed to an amalgamation with Weston All Saints Church of England Primary School (WASPS).

AAA, a CofE school in The Partnership Trust, opened through the free school route in response to a new estate of around 300 houses at the former Ensleigh Ministry of Defence site at Lansdown.

With room for up to 210 children, it was built on the former Royal High School playing field site next to the MoD. However, projected numbers did not materialise, due to falling birth rates blamed on the costof-living crisis, and high interest rates.

The Hospital Education Reintegration Service (HERS) for children in Years 1 to 11 is based on the top floor of AAA and is provided by The Mendip School, which is also a member of The Partnership Trust.

Last December we reported that the AAA building would be moving into the control of Bath & North East Somerset Council which had committed to HERS remaining in the building for the remainder of the current academic year.

No information was forthcoming from the council at the time about what would become of the building.

The Bath Echo has since learned that the AAA site will be used for alternative provision (AP).

Alternative provision supports pupils who cannot attend mainstream education settings for health, emotional or behavioural reasons.

Last week Councillor Paul May, the council’s cabinet member for children’s services, confirmed to us: “We have written to residents to update them on plans to temporarily move the AP to Abbot Alphege Academy as part

Proposals to improve pedestrian safety

New road humps will be introduced in Bathampton

PEOPLE are invited to have their say on proposals which have been drawn up to improve pedestrian safety in Bathampton.

Bath & North East Somerset Council is planning to introduce speed reduction measures in the High Street and Mill Lane to create safer pedestrian links to and from the village primary school.

The plan is to replace the existing raised table speed hump outside St Nicholas Church in Mill Lane, and construct two new raised humps, one either side of the canal bridge.

One of the new speed humps will be in the High Street just east of the junction with Dark Lane, and the other in Mill Lane just west of

the junction with Church Close/ Tyning Road.

A new section of footway, the widening of an existing narrow footway and road narrowings are also proposed.

Councillor Sarah Warren (Liberal Democrat, Bathavon North) has welcomed the project. She said: “I am fully supportive of the proposal to replace and add speed bumps, as part of scheme developed with the parish council and with residents over many years, aimed at improving safety for pedestrians on the canal bridge and when accessing the school.”

The closing date for comments is Friday 28th February.

Find out more on the council’s website at https://bit.ly/4hRqdfr

Abbot Alphege Academy at Beckford Drive in Bath

of our wider plans to redevelop the former site of Culverhay School.

“Moving the AP from the Culverhay site will allow the demolition of existing buildings, which in turn will enable the construction of two new AP

and special free schools by the Department of Education.

“Importantly, this move will provide a more modern educational environment, both internally and externally, for our children and young people in the short term.

“It will also assist with delivering our ambition for Culverhay to future-proof education placements for our most vulnerable children and young people, which will, in turn, reduce costs for the local area and residents.”

Architecture module introduced for sixth form students at Kingswood A SCHOOL in Bath has introduced a new architecture module for its Year 12 students, thanks to a partnership with architect Katy Morrison.

The module at Kingswood School will give students a practical, hands-on look at working within the architecture profession.

A former Kingswood student and current parent, Katy Morrison is an experienced architect and the founder of Bath-based Morrison Studios, a RIBA Chartered Practice that designs sustainable homes.

The practice focuses on minimising environmental impact through carbonconscious design and the use of natural, locally sourced materials.

Together with Oliver East, Kingswood’s Design, Technology & Engineering Enrichment Coordinator, they created the new module, which is now part of the Year 12 curriculum.

It’s designed to prepare students for their upcoming Non-Examinable Assessment coursework later in the year.

Over the span of three weeks, students were given the task of redesigning part of the school campus – the activity hut, a site currently under a planning application.

Students had to visit the site and carry out site analysis, including sun path, orientation, topography and historical development.

Materials had to be selected to minimise environmental impact, and their buildings had to be designed to reduce overheating and solar gain.

Sketch concept ideas were then drawn up in detail using 3D computer modelling software which linked to the schools Virtual Reality (VR) headsets.

The process allowed the students to gain a deeper understanding of how architectural projects come together.

At the end of the project, students showcased their buildings to a panel of judges and their peers using a VR headset connected to their 3D computer model.

This allowed the judges to immerse themselves into the 3D virtual buildings, demonstrating how the designs would work in the real world.

Katy said: “The results were impressive with unique designs ranging from car garages, to climbing centres and community cafés. Some were beautifully contextual with natural local stone, biodiverse roofs blending seamlessly into the landscape, whereas others were bold and striking with open-air pools, modernist glazing with parametric roofs.

“It was clear to see a natural flair for design from the students and witness the enthusiasm growing as the project developed.”

While the project doesn’t count

towards students’ A-level grades, it offers valuable insight into the world of architecture.

James Castrique, Kingswood’s Head of Design, Technology & Engineering, said: “This module is all about broadening students’ horizons and introducing them to a career they might not have considered otherwise.

“Next year, I’m also planning to create a similar project for Year 8 to give even more students a chance to dive into architecture.”

Reflecting on the success of the module, Mr Castrique added: “This project has allowed our A-level Design, Technology & Engineering students to gain an invaluable insight into the career of architecture. They have been able to undertake industry level processes over a short-term project and gain direct feedback from a professional architect.

“As an ex-Kingswood student, Katy has provided an approachable professional platform for the students to ask their questions and explore a potential career.”

Pupil Abigail said: “I really enjoyed the architecture module because it let me be creative and learn how to design a building.

“Bringing my ideas to life, from sketches to detailed plans, felt amazing. I liked how every choice, like materials and layout, affected how the building looked and worked.”

Issue 097

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Your City, Your News - Bath Echo

Health Team GB Olympian starts new role at Royal United Hospital AN Olympian who represented Team GB in Paris in 2024 has become a resident doctor at the Royal United Hospital in Bath.

25-year-old Kerenza Bryson has temporarily put down her fencing sword and picked up her stethoscope to begin her new role at the RUH, after representing Great Britain in the women’s modern pentathlon.

She’ll be a familiar face to athletics fans, many of whom will have seen her compete in Paris in the modern pentathlon’s five different disciplines – running, shooting, swimming, horse riding and fencing.

Kerenza said: “Completing my medical degree at Plymouth University while also training for the Olympics has been challenging to say the least!

“I would get up at 5.30am to train before getting into hospital for 8.30am for placement, followed by training again at 6pm, then eat dinner around 7.30pm, with time for one final training session finishing at 10pm. Then sleep.

Then repeat!

“It was an extremely difficult balance to get right at the time, so I was so pleased to both graduate from medical school and achieve

an Olympic qualification spot just weeks apart.

“For the year running into the Olympic Games, I chose to be a full-time athlete and focus fully on sport, deferring starting work as a doctor for a year, which was one of the best decisions I made.

“I am very lucky that the RUH team were so supportive of my ambitions in Paris.

“It’s early days working here in Bath, but everyone here has been so supportive and accommodating, which has really helped with the transition from life as a full-time athlete to being a full-time resident doctor.”

Kerenza is also an Army Reservist with 165 Port and Maritime Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps.

She added: “Long-term, I would love to join the Regular Army as a doctor.

“The Reserves have been really supportive of both my medical and sporting goals, and I have loved the work with them so far.

If I could one day combine my military and medical careers, that would be amazing.”

Kerenza, who grew up in Devon, began her Olympic journey at the age of just 11, when she joined the Pentathlon Academy at

Kerenza Bryson, who represented Team GB | Photo © RUH

Plymouth College.

She said: “As a child, I had so much energy, so ended up trying all of the different sports clubs and after-school activities that I could possibly find. I somehow qualified for, and competed at, the National Championships when I was aged 11, where I surprised myself and everyone else with my performance, given my lack of experience and preparation at the time.

“I was talent spotted from there and the rest is history.”

In the lead-up to the Paris

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Olympics, Kerenza won gold at the World Cup in Turkey, secured a bronze medal at the World Cup in Egypt and won another gold at the European Championship in Hungary, securing the title of European Champion.

Kerenza said: “Going into the Games I was in a really good place, mentally and physically, but I put a lot of pressure on myself to get a medal given the successes I had had in the 1218 months prior. Nothing is quite like the atmosphere of the Olympics and nothing can quite prepare you for competing at the biggest competition of your life in front of 20,000 people and hundreds of cameras.

“I held it together in my semifinals, crossing the line in first place and setting a new Olympic record, but after a slightly overwhelming start in the final, I was fighting from the back to get into medal position until the end.

“Ending my first Games with a ninth place finish was not what I had hoped for, but I made the final and learned a lot in the process, not just about sport, but about everything else that is important to me. The experience was incredible. Being with the

rest of Team GB in the Olympic Village was wonderful, it really felt like being part of one big community, and something really special. I couldn’t believe I was rubbing shoulders with such amazing athletes, some of whom I had looked up to for years.

“The Olympics is like nothing else and if I could win an Olympic medal, it would be the realisation of a dream that I’ve had since I was a child.

“Whilst I am disappointed not to have got a medal this time around, I am very proud to say that I am now an Olympian, and was lucky enough to have so many of my friends and family there to support me.

“With a feeling of unfinished business, I am now set on giving Los Angeles 2028 my best shot and seeing if that could be my chance of a medal second time around. For now though, I have switched focus to my medical career for some time, so will be working though the new challenges that I am presented with.”

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Friday 14th February - Thursday 27th February 2025

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Business Debate planned over divesting from arms companies John Wimperis

Local Democracy Reporter

AVON Pension Fund will meet on Friday 28th March to debate divesting from aerospace and arms companies which supply Israel.

The body which runs the Local Government Pension Scheme in the West of England promised in December that it would look at divesting money which campaigners have warned is invested in companies profiting from breaches of international law in Palestine.

Protesters presented it with eight petitions at its meeting on 13th December, and Bristol City Council has since also passed a motion calling on the fund to divest from all arms companies.

Now the pension committee has said it will meet to review these investments, following “significant work” on the issue, on 28th March.

Chair of the Avon Pension Fund Committee councillor Paul Crossley (B&NES: Southdown, Liberal Democrat) said: “The petitioners approached the issue from various angles, showing

concern for people affected by conflict. We need to gather further legal and financial advice to help us develop the available investment options.

“The committee are keen to understand our members’ views on these important investment choices. In the March committee meeting we’ll publicly consider the legal, financial and other implications of our options around remaining invested in, or divesting from, aerospace and defence companies.”

The £6 billion fund said it currently has £18 million — 0.3% of its total assets — invested in such companies, which it said primarily supply NATO partners and the UK government.

At the meeting in December, Dr Eldin Fahmy told the committee: “Avon Pension Fund is funnelling taxpayers’ money into companies aiding or profiting from very serious breaches of international law.”

He added: “This is not just a political choice. It is a matter of good governance for the fund.”

Councillor Crossley said at that meeting that the process the committee had to follow would

A Palestinian flag flies at a protest outside Keynsham Civic Centre | Photo © John Wimperis

take time, but said: “We will be expediting that process as quickly as possible.”

He added: “From my own personal point of view, I have visited Palestine twice and have seen many of the issues that people have raised here.”

Avon Pension Fund runs the Local Government Pension Scheme for 140,000 members who work, or worked, for over 450 organisations in the West of England.

The fund is administered by Bath & North East Somerset Council, with representatives sitting on the committee from the three other local authorities of the former county of Avon: Bristol City Council, North Somerset Council, and South Gloucestershire Council.

Part of the reason the fund invests in arms companies, is that rather than having directly purchased shares in arms companies, the Avon Pension Fund’s investments

are part of a passive equity pool, a financial product splitting money across thousands of companies.

The Avon Pension Fund has made major efforts to be green and chose the pool to invest in because it is aligned with the 2015 Paris agreement on reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

The 28th March meeting of the Avon Pension Fund committee is currently scheduled to be held at 10am in the council chamber in Bath Guildhall.

Council invites community bids for historic pub in Freshford COMMUNITY groups are being invited to bid for The Inn at Freshford near Bath, which is listed as an Asset of Community Value.

Bath & North East Somerset Council was notified by the current owner of the property on 7th February of their intention to sell.

An interim moratorium period has now started, and the community has until 21st March 2025 to express an interest in buying the pub.

The Inn at Freshford was listed as an Asset of Community Value (ACV) by the local authority in December 2020, following a nomination by Freshford Parish Council.

ACVs are defined in the Localism Act 2011 to enable communities the right to identify and nominate land or buildings that are important to them and if sold, have a chance to make a bid to

buy on the open market.

If a valid bid from a community interest group is received, then the full moratorium period will be triggered and will run until 7th August 2025.

This will the enable the community to raise money and bid to buy the asset. However, the owner is not required to accept the bid and sell to the community.

If no sale to a community interest group is agreed during the applicable moratorium period, then the owner will be free to sell the property on the open market during a protected period expiring on 7th August 2026.

Requests for bids can be made to Bath & North East Somerset Council by emailing connecting_ communities@bathnes.g ov. uk or by writing to Connecting Communities, Bath & North East Somerset Council, Lewis House, Manvers Street, Bath BA1 1JG by 21st March 2025.

The Inn at Freshford | Photo © 1000 Words / Shutterstock.com

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Vanguard Self Storage facility in Bath opens its doors A NEW self-storage site on the Lower Bristol Road in Bath has officially opened, offering state-of-the-art facilities to the public.

Vanguard Self Storage is located on the site of the former Regency Laundry.

After acquiring the land three years ago, the facility has been meticulously designed and constructed.

The premises boast 45,000 square feet of storage space across four floors. The exterior, crafted with Bath stone and bronze cladding, pays homage to the city’s historic character.

At the heart of the facility is a restored Vampire T11 aircraft, suspended prominently in the atrium.

The facility boasts several key features, including: • A 75kWp rooftop solar array to

offset energy consumption • Electric vehicle charging bay • Use of efficient air source heat pumps for heating • Re-naturalisation of the site’s existing waterway.

Will McCullagh, Managing Director of Vanguard Self Storage, said: “We take pride in providing high-quality self-storage services to the residents and businesses of Bath.

“By blending history with a focus on sustainability and the future, we have created a vibrant and welcoming environment for our customers, ensuring a positive experience for all.”

Designed by Bath firm Designscape Architects to meet the needs of both business and personal customers across the city, the storage solutions include individually alarmed and electronically locked storage

The exterior of the site | Photo © Vanguard Self Storage

units, 24/7 CCTV monitoring, a highly sensitive aspirating fire

detection system, two 3.5-tonne Kone lifts for easy access to units

across all the facility’s floors, and a dedicated lounge.

Five-bed HMO approved near Odd Down ‘accident blackspot’ Becky Feather Reporter

PERMISSION has been granted for a property at Odd Down to be converted into a five-bed house in multiple occupation (HMO) despite concerns which include the impact on parking in an area described as an “accident blackspot”.

Bath & North East Somerset Council last week approved the application from 18-25 Properties for 1 Frome Road, which is an end-of-terrace house near the Rush Hill roundabout.

Lib Dem councillors Joel Hirst and Steve Hedges had raised their objections about more HMOs being created in their ward.

Last month we reported on a B&NES planning committee debate during which members called for a change to the rules governing HMOs amid escalating concern about the impact on some areas of Bath, including Odd Down.

In relation to the application

The property is near the Rush Hill roundabout

for 1 Frome Road, Councillors Hirst and Hedges said: “We feel strongly that Odd Down ward needs to be protected for housing for family units. The city of Bath is incrementally pricing families out of areas like Odd Down.

“This is being driven by a number of factors including unsustainable growth in student numbers at the universities without growth in purpose build student housing on campus to meet this demand.

“The city of Bath is limited in its

ability to grow because of World Heritage status. If we want a sustainable city where a range of people from a range of economic backgrounds can afford to live in Bath, we need to protect key areas for potential key worker properties. Odd Down is one such area.”

The councillors were “especially concerned” about this application, saying: “There is already a very high density of HMOs across the road in the

Clarks estate (at least 17 or the 100 properties) in addition to three in the Bloomfield Rise area.

“The access to this premises is very sensitive, right by the Rush Hill roundabout – there is insufficient parking for cars in this area without a house with five potential residents looking for spaces.

“Already spill-over parking occurs in the Clarks estate which has been so problematic that additional double yellow lines have been installed.

“Already there have been several occasions of accidents involving either the fence near the roundabout or the bollards outside this property. This is a bit of an accident blackspot.”

The councillors said they wanted the application to be heard at the planning committee, rather than the decision be delegated to planning officers.

However, vice chair Councillor Lucy Hodge (Lib Dem, Lansdown) said that noting the concerns and the “regrettable loss of another family home in

this area of Odd Down”, the officer has found this application to be policy compliant and highways have not identified any concerns.

She said it would be unlikely that the planning committee would come to a different decision.

Planning committee chair Councillor Ian Halsall (Lib Dem, Oldfield Park) agreed, saying: “The council’s HMO policies were debated at the December 2024 planning committee.

“Whilst the concerns of ward councillors is acknowledged, the proposal is manifestly in compliance with policy and the committee would be unlikely to reach an alternative view.”

Highways officers did not raise any concerns and planning officers said the conversion of 1 Frome Road is policy compliant.

Based on council data, it would not result in ‘sandwiching’ between other HMO-certified properties nor mean that more than 10% of homes in a 100-metre radius are HMOs. Records show six HMOs out of 96 residential properties, which equals 6.25%.

role of the grandparents.

Consequently, grandparents lack the automatic right to apply to the court to spend time with their grandchildren and must seek permission from the court to apply, which further underscores their lesser legal status when compared to that of parents.

Bendall and Davey advocate for a more relational approach, stressing the importance of recognising and preserving bonds that span multiple generations.

They therefore propose mediation as a valuable tool in resolving intra-familial conflicts, offering a less adversarial, more collaborative avenue with the goal to uphold the best interests of the children involved.

This question of what is in the best interests of the children in a

separation is crucial for parents to keep at the forefront of their minds. Child-inclusive mediation can enable the children to have a voice. Anecdotally, children who meet with mediators in this way and have the opportunity to speak in a confidential setting and decide what message their parents receive report how helpful this has been for them.

For me, it is a huge privilege to meet children in this way and hear their voice. Children love their parents and don’t want to hurt them, they also want their parents to make the adult decisions but want their voice to be heard.

Please do get in touch to find out more about family mediation and child-inclusive mediation and how it can help your family.

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01225 337599 www.stoneking.co.uk Upper Borough Court, 3 Upper Borough Walls, Bath BA1 1RG

The relationship between grandparents and grandchildren – how family mediation can help Grandparents play a significant role in children’s lives.

Many even provide regular care to their grandchildren, as evidenced by an Age Concern 2017 study, which reported that 40% of grandparents over the age of 50 provided care for their grandchildren.

However, sometimes, when children’s parents separate, they lose the close relationship they previously had with their grandparents, leaving the children to potentially feel lost and confused. Whilst family mediation is often used by

parents post separation to decide amicably how they will coparent and how the children will maintain a relationship with them both, it is increasingly being used to discuss arrangements with the wider family, i.e. grandparents.

In their study, The ‘grandparent’ problem: Encouraging a more relational approach towards child arrangements via mediation, authors C. Bendall and S. Davey examined the obstacles faced by grandparents with regard to maintaining relationships with their grandchildren, particularly after family disputes or parental separation. Bendall and Davey highlight in their study that current legal frameworks in England and Wales often prioritise the nuclear family model, thereby marginalising the

P18

www.bathecho.co.uk

Friday 14th February - Thursday 27th February 2025

Politics Council consultation on assessing co-living applications RESIDENTS are being invited to have their say on a consultation over how planning applications for co-living schemes across Bath and North East Somerset are assessed.

The adopted B&NES Local Plan does not currently include a policy specifically relating to coliving schemes.

A consultation on a Co-Living Position statement sets out the local authority’s interim position on this type of development.

Co-living is a relatively new model of housing with no standard policy definition. The developments are purpose-built residential schemes that include private studio bedspaces with access to shared communal facilities.

They may be new build, or conversions of existing buildings but they generally feature flexible tenancies, with a focus on communal areas to facilitate engagement and a sense of community and rent that includes all bills and access to services and in many cases, a concierge or management service.

Plans for a 77-bed co-living development on Wells Road in Bath was controversially approved last August, with the plans described as “sailing close to the wind”.

Funding allocated to tackle ‘encampments’

A view of the approved co-living development coming down Wells Road | Image © Kosy Living

The position statement clarifies how the council will assess planning applications for coliving proposals with regards to the following topics: • Amenity standard • Occupancy • Sustainable construction • Affordable housing contribution • Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) liability Councillor Matt McCabe, cabinet member for built environment and sustainable development, said: “We have seen co-living schemes emerge as a relatively new model of housing that can be attractive to young professionals.

“However, in planning terms

there is no standard policy definition. If accepted, this position statement will outline how each co-living planning application will be assessed by the council, so I encourage everyone to let us have their comments.”

People can respond to the consultation using the online webform on the council’s website at https://bit.ly/3WWgjRX The deadline to submit comments is 4th March, 2025.

The local authority has said comments will be reviewed and any relevant amendments will be made before a final position statement is published in March / April 2025.

The underground section of Manvers Street car park in Bath

MORE funding has been allocated to step up security at the council’s underground car park at Manvers Street in the centre of Bath.

The project includes secure fencing, and shutters and controlled gates at the pedestrian and vehicular access points.

Bath & North East Somerset Council says there have been “unauthorised encampments” and anti-social behaviour in the lower level of the car park, which is opposite the police station.

There has been substance misuse, harassment of car park customers, “human defecation” and the burning of cardboard,

mattresses and tents.

This is said to pose a “significant” risk to public safety. £50,000 was initially allocated for the work but a more recent request for an extra £15,000 has been approved.

A report said the improvement work at the car park will encourage vulnerable adults to engage with “appropriate support” provided by both the council and local organisations, such as Julian House.

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200-year waiting list for four-bed social homes in B&NES John Wimperis

Local Democracy Reporter

FAMILIES on Bath & North East Somerset Council’s housing list hoping to get a four-bedroom home face a wait of 200 years, the council’s head of housing has warned.

As of the end of 2023, there were 4,923 families on the housing list, competing for the 500-600 social homes which become available each year.

Households classed as nonpriority could expect to be housed in just under four and a half years, as of 2024, but for families needing a home with four or more bedrooms, the wait is much much longer.

Speaking at a council scrutiny panel discussing its housing plan on 22nd January, head of housing Graham Sabourn said: “If you take a simple average, … how many people are on the list and how often four-bed properties come up, you will be waiting around 200 years – quite a long time – so absolutely it is an issue.”

371 households in Bath and North East Somerset are currently waiting for a four-bedroom social home. But in the last three years, only 16 have become available.

There are 31 registered providers in Bath and North East Somerset, managing 11,935 social homes.

Over the last 10 years, 935 new social homes have been added to the housing stock and, in recent years, Bath & North East Somerset Council itself has started building homes again under its £12 million B&NES Homes programme.

But for decades, the area was dependent on housing associations to build social housing. All the while, the stock of four-bedroom council homes was depleted and not replenished by housing associations.

Mr Sabourn told the panel: “Historically four bed properties have been very attractive to right to buy so a disproportionate number of those large family homes were sold through the right to buy process, and the flipside is that four bed properties are very expensive to build.

“So therefore there is not that incentive for RPs [registered providers — also called housing associations to build four bed properties.”

Meanwhile, some four-bedroom social homes are now occupied by just one person, which Mr Sabourn said was “perfectly understandable” as they may have brought their family up

there and get on well with their neighbours.

He said the council could look at incentives to encourage them to move, such as financial incentives or other attractive properties and letting policies.

Meanwhile, Bath & North East Somerset Council is working with housing associations to build more four-bedroom social homes. The council mandates that a proportion of new social housing are fourbedroom homes, funded housing associations to convert their stock to larger homes, and has aided families needing extensions to their social homes.

The council is also building its first council homes for a generation, with a unique approach focusing on unused council assets.

Council leader Kevin Guy said in a statement: “This administration is working tirelessly to find and develop every possible brownfield site, no matter how small, so that we can provide multiple-use accommodation.”

Its first new council homes, completed in 2023, were seven one and two-bedroom flats at 117 Newbridge Hill, a Victorian villa near the RUH which had previously been council offices.

Meanwhile, work is currently

Only 16 four-bed social homes have become available in the past three years

underway to build a total of 18 new social rent flats at Argyle Works, a former council highways maintenance depot on the Lower Bristol Road in Bath, and at Danes Lane, some councilowned land opposite the Tesco in Keynsham previously used for informal parking.

Councillor Guy said: “After decades of underdevelopment in the national housing sector, Bath and North East Somerset Council is playing its part to tackle the affordable housing crisis.

“It was great to see how we are making the most of smaller sites such as these, both of which had been ignored historically because they posed challenges.”

He added: “We are making good progress on our commitment to provide the affordable homes that are so badly needed in our area.

Our B&NES Home programme

currently comprises 66 units in operation, with a further 48 units under construction or due to start construction within the next 12-18 months.”

The homes are being built by Aequus, the council’s wholly owned building company.

Company chair Sally Higham said: “Both when finished will be energy efficient and therefore more affordable to run for residents. I look forward to returning when they are completed.”

But with the B&NES Homes programme making use of small parcels of brownfield land, it has not yet led to more four-bedroom social housing being built.

Mr Sabourn told the scrutiny panel: “Where we will have an opportunity, we will do that. It is an absolute challenge.

“There is no silver bullet to this.”

Issue 097

P19

Your City, Your News - Bath Echo

Scheme defended as passengers can MP backs plans for try ‘very good bus services’ deposit return scheme

The government is working to introduce the scheme in 2027

Dan Norris relaunching the Birthday Bus initiative | Photo © WECA

Alex Seabrook

Local Democracy Reporter

METRO Mayor Dan Norris has defended his birthday bus pass scheme as new passengers can try the “very good bus services” in the region.

Despite the criticism of the scheme as a “gimmick”, thousands of people in Bath and North East Somerset, Bristol and South Gloucestershire have been travelling on the buses for free.

The birthday buses scheme gives a free pass to people living in the West of England region, which is valid for the month their birthday falls in.

The idea is to encourage more people to use public transport, by getting them in the habit and changing their travel behaviours.

The West of England Metro Mayor relaunched the scheme last October, feeding a cake that cost taxpayers £120 to his dog, Angel.

Councillors pressed him on how well the scheme is going, during a meeting of the overview and scrutiny committee on Monday

27th January.

Mr Norris said: “At the moment, the public are voting with their feet, and they’re using birthday buses. I think it’s something like 136,000 journeys were made the month before last.

“It’s on course to be more successful than it was last year.

It’s something that’s of interest to the rest of the country, and to the government because it’s a success, and it’s making a difference.

“Perhaps most importantly, it’s cost-effective. For every pound we spend on it, we get £1.20 extra benefit on top of that. So it actually helps our economy as well as helping people get around.

“I’m very proud of it because it helps the very poorest in our society. In our region, people on lower incomes tend to use buses as their means of transport.

“There’s been a huge uptake by the very poorest in our communities. If you think that they could save one-twelfth of their travel costs, by using their birthday bus pass, at a time of a really difficult cost-of-living

crisis, that is really important.”

People need an address in the West of England and a digital photo to apply online.

Critics previously questioned whether the £8 million to pay for the scheme might be better spent on restoring some of the many subsidised bus routes across the region which have been axed.

The mayor added: “The whole point of birthday buses is to break the taboo, people’s prejudices and prejudgements about what our bus services are like.

“Because actually, there are some very good bus services in our cities and wider region, despite the headlines where inevitably there are difficulties and challenges.

“Once people work that out, they think ‘hang on a minute, this is a better option than using my car’, in certain places and circumstances. But they won’t know that unless they try it.

“You can read about things and hear about things, but actually the opportunity to do something is what brings about behaviour change in the longer term. So it’s quite exciting.”

BATH MP Wera Hobhouse has backed efforts to introduce a deposit return scheme for plastic drinks containers, to encourage greater recycling of single-use bottles and cans.

During a debate in the House of Commons on 21st January, the Liberal Democrat MP welcomed the government’s initiative as a “positive step” towards a more sustainable future.

Around 31 billion single-use drink containers are bought each year in the UK. However, a significant amount of bottles and cans are not recycled, meaning they end up in landfill.

The government has said it will launch a scheme to encourage greater recycling in October 2027 by offering a financial incentive to individuals who return empty containers to collection points, such as at local supermarkets.

While Wera Hobhouse, who was acting as the Liberal Democrats' Environment spokesperson during the debate, said she largely embraced the scheme, she did raise concerns with its implementation.

Mrs Hobhouse said that the Environment Agency would struggle to meet its regulatory obligations and would need additional funding to ensure that the scheme was being carried out effectively.

The Circular Economy Minister

Business Directory Beauty

Chiropractic

Mary Creagh said that the Debt Management Office would oversee the Environment Agency’s regulatory costs and ensure funding was “proportionate”.

The Bath MP also urged the government to make sure the scheme was convenient for consumers and to ensure local businesses were supported to introduce collection points.

She went on to encourage the government to be more ambitious and introduce a deposit return scheme for food and drink bottles and containers, as the Liberal Democrats had proposed in their 2024 manifesto.

The MP said: “Introducing a deposit return scheme is a winwin-win. It will help us create a greener economy and reduce waste, all while putting money back into people’s pockets.

“It’s clear we need to move away from the throwaway culture we have become used to. While the government’s scheme is a positive step in the right direction, I’d like to see them go further to extend the scheme to food containers.

“We must get this right by making the scheme as convenient as possible for people, like commuters or busy parents on the go, to recycle. This means supporting local businesses to set up easily accessible collection points in their shops.”

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Friday 14th February - Thursday 27th February 2025

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Sport

Upcoming Fixtures

Saturday event announced ahead of Bath Half A SPECIAL event will be held on the Saturday before this year’s Bath Half Marathon, helping to kick off the city’s biggest sporting celebration.

Taking place on 15th March, the day before the sold-out half marathon, GetPRO Bath Miles presented by Bath College invites people of all ages and abilities to run a mile route in the grounds of Royal Victoria Park.

In addition, there will be junior races in two age categories for boys and girls.

Both boys and girls can enter under-11 and under-14 events, with the mile races beginning at 10.30am.

Families can take part in the Family Wave, which will round off the day, ensuring there is a way for everyone to be involved in 2025.

Participants in Sunday’s Bath Half looking for a final stretch of their legs are encouraged to sign up, with every participant who finishes to be given a souvenir medal.

The full timetable of start times at the GetPRO Bath Miles presented

The start of last year’s Bath Half | Photo © Bath Half / Running High Events

by Bath College is: • 10.30am – Under-11 Boys • 10.45am – Under-11 Girls • 11.00am – Under-14 Girls • 11.15am – Under-14 Boys • 11.30am – Family Wave The GetPRO Bath Miles presented

by Bath College and the GetPRO Bath Half are organised by London Marathon Events (LME), which took over Running High, the organisers of the Bath Half, in February 2024.

The GetPRO Bath Half is the largest sporting and community event in the city and the largest

charity fundraising event in south-west England, with more than £30 million raised for charity.

The GetPRO Bath Miles will be presented by Bath College, who will be on-site and hosting a number of family-friendly activities.

They will also be at the GetPRO Bath Half on Sunday, providing massages to those taking on the 13.1-mile distance.

Joanna Wales, Event Lead for the GetPRO Bath Miles presented by Bath College, said: “The GetPRO

Bath Miles presented by Bath College promises to show the very best of the city, representing the dynamic and inclusive nature that makes it such a natural spot to host a weekend of activity.

“The junior races will bring some exciting young talent to the Start Line and the Family Wave will give children the opportunity to run with their nearest and dearest.

Whether you are a family looking to run your first event together or are planning a stretch of the legs ahead of the GetPRO Bath Half on Sunday, this will set the mood for a great weekend celebrating the entire community.”

Sunday’s GetPRO Bath Half has been selected to host an official British Athletics trial race, with the best distance runners in the country racing for the prize of competing at the 2025 World Athletics Road Running Championships Half Marathon.

The 2025 GetPRO Bath Miles presented by Bath College on Saturday 15th March is free to enter, with entries open now.

You can register your place at https://bit.ly/4hwpYqy

Partnership to help improve health and fitness A NEW partnership has been launched between Bath City FC’s charity and leisure operator GLL to help improve health and fitness among underrepresented groups.

Bath City Football Club Foundation and GLL have teamed up to provide facilities and targeted sports sessions specifically designed for those facing a range of challenges, including poor mental health, disability and lack of financial resources.

The collaboration will see the charity receive free and

discounted space at Odd Down Sports Ground and other local GLL facilities so they can pilot a range of community-focused, place-based programmes.

The first of these was Step Forward, a free exercise group launched on 6th February. Each fortnightly session will be run by a qualified coach and participants can go at their own pace and set their own goals.

Mark Harrison, GLL’s Community Sports Manager for Bath and North East Somerset and Swindon, said: “We’re thrilled to partner with Bath City Football

values and this partnership is an exciting opportunity to make a real difference locally.”

Geoff Stevens, CEO of Bath City Football Club Foundation, said: “We’re looking forward to working with GLL and believe this partnership will help us establish need, secure longerterm funding, reach more people and improve local health and wellbeing.”

Club Foundation and help support their valuable work in the community. Tackling health inequality is one of GLL’s core

Follow on Bluesky @bathecho.bsky.social

Bath City FC Saturday 15th February – 3pm Bath City v St Albans City (Home) League Sunday 16th February – 2pm Bath Women v Stockwood Wanderers (Home) Junior Cup QF Saturday 22nd February – 3pm Bath City v Maidstone United (Away) League Sunday 23rd February – 2pm Bath Women v St Vallier (Away) League Tuesday 25th February – 7.45pm Bath City v Salisbury (Away) League

Bath Rugby Saturday 15th February – 3pm Bath Rugby v Bristol Bears (Away) Premiership Rugby Cup – R6

Get Involved Whether you'd like us to include your upcoming fixtures in the newspaper, or submit a match report for publishing, we'd love to hear from you. Please send fixtures lists for your team to sport@bathecho.co.uk and we'll add your next event 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. Send them to sport@bathecho.co.uk with the subject Match Report.

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Crossword answers - Issue 096 (31/01/2025) Across: 1 Sunroof, 5 Lattice, 9 Outlets, 10 Quoting, 11 Narrative, 12 Human, 13 Deluge, 15 Brochure, 17 Boycotts, 19 Ferris, 21 Torso, 23 Inception, 26 Anytime, 27 Napkins, 28 Diluted, 29 Channel.

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