Bath Echo - Issue 113 - 26/09/2025

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Friday 26th September - Thursday 9th October 2025

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Issue No. 113

Minister blocks fire station listing Page 2

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Friday 26th September - Thursday 9th October 2025

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Minister blocks listing of historic fire station

In this issue...

Top Stories

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Pictures from the Past

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Crossword

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Food & Drink

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What's On

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Community

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Health

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Education

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Business

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Politics

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Sports & Fixtures

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Becky Feather Reporter

EFFORTS to save Bath’s Art Deco fire station from demolition have been blocked by the Heritage Minister.

Baroness Twycross did not take the advice of Historic England to give the 1930s station in Bathwick Street a Grade II listing.

The Twentieth Century Society, which has been leading efforts to save the fire station from demolition, says it has written to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) requesting a review of the ministerial decision.

Design work on Bath Fire Station began in 1937, led by architect Alfred J Taylor. He died the following year, and his architect daughter Molly Taylor took over the project and brought it to completion.

Avon Fire & Rescue Service is planning to knock it down and build a replacement modern and fully sustainable facility.

The plans are currently under consideration by Bath & North East Somerset Council, which is due to make a decision by 15th October.

In a letter to Historic England, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport says: “The Minister for Heritage, on behalf of the Secretary of State, has decided that Bath Fire Station does not possess the special historic or architectural interest to merit

The station on Bathwick Street

listing under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990.

“In reaching this decision, the Minister has noted that the building is not particularly innovative, and has alterations and replacements, including the appliance bay doors and the external Crittall windows, of which only two survive.

“The fixtures and fittings internally, while well-executed and consisting of good quality materials, are also fairly standard for interwar fire stations.

“While she acknowledges that there is some historical interest, particularly in relation to the female architect of the fire station, this is not sufficiently special to meet the high bar for listing.

“The Minister expresses her gratitude to Historic England for its thorough advice but has

reached a different conclusion based on her assessment of the evidence before her.”

In its response to the Minister’s announcement, The Twentieth Century Society (C20), the national charity which campaigns to protect Britain’s modern architectural and design heritage, said: “Designed by Molly Gerrard (Née Taylor) in 1938-39, the building is a very rare pre-war project by a female architect, and the only fire station known to have been designed by a female architect.

“The station went on to play a crucial role in protecting the city during the ‘Baedeker Blitz’ air raids of 1942, demonstrating a clear case for historic interest.

“The building sits within the UNESCO World Heritage Site and Bath Conservation Area, next to Greek Revival style Cleveland

Bridge (Grade II*).

“In a Stripped Classical style with Art Deco details and clad in Bath Stone, the list report concludes: ‘Overall, the composition is both progressive and traditional in its architectural form, and in its style and use of materials is sensitive to the context of Bath’s classical Georgian architecture.’

“The decision arrives just days after the similar rejection of Shoreditch Fire Station (196364), calling into question why the Minister is opting to reject the recommendations of their appointed experts, Historic England, and the National Amenity Societies. C20 Society has written to DCMS requesting a review of both cases.

“The sole criteria on which listing decisions should be made are architectural and historic interest.

Wider questions on social benefit and operations issues should be covered in subsequent listed building consent, and we’re concerned the latter may have unduly influenced the listing decisions in these cases.

“There are several examples of nationally listed historic fire stations that continue to be operational, with sensitive adaption and modernisation to suit the evolving needs of the Fire Brigade.

“Euston Fire Station in London is perhaps the best-known example; opened in 1902 and Grade II* listed in 1974, it has been in continuous use for 123 years.”

Appeal after woman is injured in dog attack A 50-YEAR-OLD was arrested after a dog attacked a woman and a child in the Fairfield Park area of Bath on Tuesday, 23rd September.

Avon & Somerset Police say they were called to the incident at Midsummer Buildings at around 6.30pm, with the woman, who’s in her mid-30s, and a three-yearold child, being taken to hospital.

The woman is believed to have received serious injuries.

The child was taken to the Royal United Hospital with injuries not thought to be serious.

Two dogs were seized by police,

with the owner arrested on suspicion of being in charge of a dangerously out-of-control dog.

The dog involved in the attack was a Cane Corso.

Speaking on Wednesday, 24th September, Bath and North East Somerset Inspector Stuart King said: “CCTV, house-to-house enquiries are being carried out.

“We appreciate an incident of this nature is alarming, and local officers will be carrying out assurance patrols, and we would encourage anyone with information and concerns to report them to us.

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“Any witnesses to the incident, or those with doorbell, dashcam and mobile phone footage, are asked to contact police on 101 quoting reference 5225268008.

“Alternatively, if you have

concerns about a dangerous dog, call the independent charity Crimestoppers 100 per cent anonymously on 0800 555111, fill out their online appeals form, or 999 in an emergency.”

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Issue 113

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Your City, Your News - Bath Echo

Bath firm fined after wall collapse kills employee A BATH-BASED building company has been fined more than £56,000 after an employee was crushed to death when a retaining wall collapsed onto him.

57-year-old Gary Anstey was working for H. Mealing & Sons Limited at Swainswick Primary School in March 2019 when the 1.8m high wall fell.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that the Batheaston building firm failed to properly plan and supervise the construction of the retaining wall at the school.

This led to it becoming unstable when a large load of aggregate was placed against the incomplete wall, which had not been supported.

HSE requires that any temporary structure must be designed and

Inset: Gary Anstey | Above: Work at the site | Photo © HSE

installed to withstand any loads placed against it and that it is used in accordance with its design.

This includes ensuring appropriately trained operatives are provided with a suitable written design and plan to install to ensure the structure remains stable.

In a victim personal statement, Gary’s wife, Anne Anstey, said: “Gary’s workplace should have been a safe place to work – he should have come home as he always did – and now he hasn’t been here to celebrate all the family milestones and that is something that we as a family have to live with.”

She added: “Gary was 57 years old when he died. He was always full of life and he had recently

become a grandad for the first time.

“He has missed Scarlett grow up into a funny, loving girl and missed out on the celebration of Scott and his wife buying their first house, all the children starting school and many other milestones in our lives.”

H. Mealing & Sons Limited of Northend, Batheaston, Bath pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.

The company was fined £56,775 and ordered to pay £44,000 in costs at Taunton Magistrates’ Court on 11th September 2025.

HSE inspector Ian Whittles said: “This was a horrific incident which had heartbreaking consequences.

“It happened because of a lack of planning and coordination, which is all too common in construction activity.

“With simple, clear procedures and appropriate training this incident would not have happened.”

News in Brief Local councillor is referred to police A Bath & North East Somerset councillor has been referred to the police, we can reveal.

It relates to a possible breach of Section 34 of the Localism Act 2011. Under this section, any allegation of non-disclosure of Disclosable Pecuniary Interests is a potential criminal offence and has to be reported to the police.

There is a protocol between the council and Avon & Somerset Police, which was agreed in 2019.

The purposes of this protocol are to assist the initial investigation and handling of criminal offences connected with the Localism Act 2011, to assist officers and staff in identifying and correctly categorising such offences, and to provide guidance as to their handling and initial investigation.

The Echo understands the referral was made by the council's monitoring officer on Wednesday 27th August.

This week, a spokesperson for Bath & North East Somerset Council said: “In line with the protocol, one councillor has been referred.”

16-year-old stabbed in leg during Snow Hill attack 11-week road closure AN appeal for witnesses and footage has been launched after two people were injured in a stabbing in the Snow Hill area of Bath on Wednesday evening, 24th September.

Ambulance crews called police at 11.16pm after a 16-year-old boy was found with a stab wound to his leg near the Esso Garage on the London Road.

Members of the public provided first aid at the scene before emergency services arrived.

The boy was taken to hospital, where he remains for treatment to injuries which are believed to be neither life-threatening nor life-changing.

A 20-year-old man also went to hospital and was discharged overnight following treatment to a small cut.

The Wiltshire & Bath Air Ambulance helicopter attended the scene and landed at Kensington Meadows. It later flew to Southmead Hospital in Bristol.

Initial police enquiries suggest the attack took place in a communal area of Snow Hill House flats.

Despite immediate police attendance and searches of the area, no suspects were located.

Two suspects are reported to

Church Lane in Batheaston will be closed to traffic while Wessex Water lays a new sewer system.

The traffic order starts from 6th October and will be for a maximum of six months but the road will only be restricted as and when traffic signs are in position, which is anticipated to be 11 weeks. Access will be maintained for residents.

A police officer guarding the scene

have made off through nearby gardens.

Both are described as wearing face coverings, one wore a hoody and one a blue coat.

The National Police Air Service (NPAS) helicopter, based in Almondsbury, was brought in to assist with the search for the suspects.

Bath Neighbourhood Inspector Stuart King KPM said: “On behalf of the injured and the emergency services, I would particularly like to thank the members of the public who gave first aid for their efforts.

“Residents will see officers carrying out further investigations and uniformed reassurance patrols today, but at this stage we don’t believe there is any risk to the wider public.

“If you do have any information

Weather Forecast

The police presence at the scene of the stabbing

or concerns, please either speak to officers or contact the neighbourhood team by calling 101.”

If you have any relevant information or footage, call 101 and give the reference 5225269262.

Alternatively, contact the independent charity Crimestoppers 100 per cent anonymously by calling 0800 555 111, or online at https:// cr imestoppers-uk.org/giveinformation

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A spokesperson for the South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT) said: “We were called at 11.03pm on Wednesday 24th September to an incident in Bath.

“We sent three double-crewed land ambulances, an air ambulance, one operation officer, a critical care car and the hazardous area response team to the scene.

“We conveyed two patients by land ambulances to Southmead Hospital.”

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Long range forecast:

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(3rd to 9th October) A return to drier conditions is on the way, with showers at times. Fine and drier weather is set to continue, though there may be morning fog for some.

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Friday 26th September - Thursday 9th October 2025

Stadium for Bath development approved despite objections Becky Feather Reporter

Additional reporting by

John Wimperis

Local Democracy Reporter

BATH & North East Somerset Council has given its backing to plans to build a stadium in the city centre.

Bath Rugby’s long-held ambition to build a permanent 18,000seat stadium on the Recreation Ground cleared a major hurdle after the council’s planning committee voted to back the plans at a meeting on Wednesday 17th September.

But planning permission has not yet been granted, as the council needs to wait for “specific authorisation” from the government.

The new stadium would replace the temporary stands which Bath Rugby currently uses at the Rec. The existing capacity of the stadium is 14,500, and the plans propose an increase of 3,500 to 18,000 spectators, including hospitality boxes.

The new stadium will be used for an increased number and wider range of rugby games, as well as for other events such as theatre and music events.

The scheme includes increased community use, a regenerated riverside, including the new Spring Gardens Walk, retaining mature trees as well as further landscaping and biodiversity measures, a riverside café/ restaurant, under the management of Bath Rugby, a club shop and a museum for non-matchday use.

To help manage the extra number of spectators on matchdays, a dedicated Park & Ride service run by First Bus is proposed at the University of Bath’s campus with buses running up and down Bathwick Hill.

The committee heard from Bath Rugby CEO Tarquin McDonald, who said: “This new stadium would support us in launching a professional women’s team - and would have enabled us to host Women’s Rugby World Cup matches this year. We have undertaken thousands of hours of consultation.

“We have evolved and refined the design over years, taking on board everyone’s feedback.”

He added that there were no objections to the scheme from any statutory consultees, including UNESCO World Heritage. The committee also heard statements

How the new stadium will look from above | Image © Bath Rugby / Stadium For Bath

from Bath Recreation Ltd the charity which owns the Recreation Ground - and Bath Rugby Foundation, which is a young people’s charity.

The leader of Bath BID (Business Improvement District) Allison Herbert spoke about the importance of Bath Rugby to the city’s economy.

But the planning committee also heard that the plans would cause

‘Bath Rugby is central to city’s economy’ “Bath Rugby is more than a rugby club. It is part of the beating heart of our city, central to our economy and part of our identity.”

That was what Allison Herbert, chief executive of Bath BID (Business Improvement District) told the planning committee, speaking on behalf of 650 businesses in the city centre.

She said: “The numbers from our footfall counters tell their own story.

On a recent matchday Saturday, footfall measured in the adjacent city centre increased by 16.4% compared to the same non-matchday Saturday a year previously.

“And that is the Bath Rugby effect. It brings people into the city when they might otherwise have stayed away. And it’s not a one-off. Match after match, season after season, Bath Rugby delivers a surge of footfall into our city centre, and local businesses feel it directly.

“Pubs, restaurants, cafés and shops thrive before and after games, and hotels see an uplift too, particularly when visiting teams bring travelling supporters. Crucially, these fans don’t just come for the match, they make a weekend of it, booking in advance, filling rooms and spending across the city.”

She said overnight visitors typically spend more than twice as much as day visitors “which creates a ripple effect far beyond the Rec, supporting jobs, sustaining businesses and strengthening Bath’s position as a destination with diverse appeal”.

Ms Herbert added: “But the impact of Bath Rugby cannot be measured in footfall and spending alone. On matchdays you can feel the pride, the energy, and the sense of community that the club inspires. The winners’ celebration this year was proof of that - the joy, the togetherness, the pride of place which are the gold dust of place management.”

She said a new stadium at the Rec “is not just about the pitch and the seats - it’s about ensuring that this positive force for our economy, for our businesses and for our city’s spirit continues to grow and thrive for decades to come.”

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increased noise and parking issues for neighbours, affect the historic character of the city, and mean its nearest neighbour’s window would now look out onto a blank wall.

Speaking for the Pulteney Estate Residents’ Association (PERA), Mark Reynolds told the meeting: “PERA is not opposed to an appropriate redevelopment of the rugby stadium. But it must

not be delivered at the expense of those residents who live closest to it.”

PERA employed professional planning; transport and noise consultants to suggest conditions based on local residents’ concerns.

Penny Moses was also among those addressing the committee.

She spoke on behalf of her neighbour Rosemary Carne who lives in a Grade I listed flat at the end of Johnstone Street, where the new North Stand will be very close to her home.

The statement said: “How would YOU like a three-storey-high wall built within eight metres of your two-storey-high house and garden, condemning you to no sunshine ever and a blank wall from your windows’ outlook, and more; an external staircase

to open gallery seating beside your previously private, sunny garden, providing a public viewing platform at three levels over not just your own but all your neighbours’ gardens and underneath the staircase, beside the garden wall, public toilets noise, smells, loss of privacy.”

She said the proposed elevation of the stadium near her home would use “cheap and shoddy materials” of a poor design that was inappropriate in the setting of Grade I listed buildings and in a conservation area.

She also highlighted concerns for the impact on her 220-year-old copper beech tree and that the construction work would harm her property which was built in the 1700s.

The statement added: “All this harm to shoehorn a massive development into a river frontage.

It’s the wrong development in the wrong place.”

She urged the committee: “Please refuse this application and demand a redesign to reduce the harmful impact of the North Stand.”

Ward councillor Manda Rigby (Bathwick, Liberal Democrat), also addressed the committee to say it could be “inappropriate development” and urged members to apply conditions to limit noise and transport issues if they were minded to approve the plans.

Her fellow Lib Dem ward councillor Toby Simon, who is on the committee, said the stadium would be “good for Bath” and proposed the council back the plans.

He said: “I see this as the only

Lost opportunity at Western Riverside The Friends of the Recreation Ground Bath have said that Bath Rugby had an opportunity 14 years ago to remain in the city by relocating to Western Riverside.

In a statement submitted during the consultation, the Friends said: “In 2011 a realistic and commercially achievable proposal was put forward for relocating to Bath Western Riverside – the gas holder site – with a ground share between Bath City Football Club and Bath Rugby.

“This as a location to accommodate a 20,000-capacity stadium was second to none, it had the footprint area for the stadium and commercial interests such as a hotel and student accommodation could be accommodated too. With the recent clearing of this central Bath site, the scope can only be seen too well.

“The site could accommodate the vertical scale of a stadium without impinging on the Outstanding Universal Values of Bath and the World Heritage Site. The site holds no flood risk, as opposed to the Recreation Ground, which is Flood Zone 3 with high risk of flooding and with its flood capacity protects other ‘at risk’ flood areas.

“Yet Bath Rugby declined to take this city centre opportunity. The opportunity which of course has now gone for ever.”

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The North Stand will be within eight metres of neighbouring properties

option to retain rugby in Bath. For me, cities are places for people and activities and watching professional sport is very much a 21st century activity and it needs to be provided for in a city which has always provided for leisure activities and has had them at its core.”

Councillor Eleanor Jackson (Westfield, Labour) added: “Georgian Bath was full of innovation and newness. So probably the Georgians today would be looking quite excitedly at these plans.”

But concerns were also raised about a host of issues throughout the meeting, from increased congestion and the impact on views, to the loss of some trees.

Councillor John Leach (Walcot, Liberal Democrat) said he could not support the plans, warning: “The accumulation of small harms is not outweighed by the possible benefits.”

Councillor Ian Halsall (Oldfield Park, Liberal Democrat) praised the collaboration of council officers and all the statutory consultees and said it was “amazing” that more than 5,000 representations had been

received from the public.

He added: “Yes, there is going to be some change to the skyline as you view from certain vantage points within the city. Everything I feel has been done to mitigate as much as possible the severe harm that could have been caused.”

He said you would still be able to see Bath Abbey from the Rec; it would be “partially obscured” but not “detrimentally” so.

Councillor Halsall also said there would be substantial improvements to the riverside: “I have always thought that was an appalling area and it really does need regeneration, and this stadium will enable that.”

Regarding the impact on homes in Johnstone Street, he said: “I don’t think in any way, shape or form, our officers would be recommending approval if it was felt that those end houses were going to lose all their light and their personal amenity.”

He added: “I feel sympathy for the people living there but I don’t feel that their amenity is going to be harmed to such detrimental extent that would we warrant refusing this application.”

Councillor Halsall described

Rec redevelopment vital to work of Bath Rugby Foundation Bath Rugby Foundation will be able to help many more young people in need at the redeveloped Rec, the charity’s chief executive told the planning meeting.

Lynne Fernquest said: “Bath is a beautiful and successful city. We are proud of our history, our culture, our thriving communities and of course our rugby.

“But behind that Georgian façade there’s another story playing out.

More than 10,000 children and young people in our region grow up in poverty. We are one of the most inequal areas in the UK, with the worst education attainment gap for 11 to 14-year-olds.”

She said too many young people are “written off” before they even finish school.

“For 22 years Bath Rugby Foundation has walked alongside those children, guiding them back into education, into training, into work and into lives filled with purpose and possibility,” she continued.

“Independent analysis shows that for every £1 invested in our alternative learning hub, Bath Rugby Foundation creates nearly £7 worth of social value. It also makes economic sense - £20,000 a year to support a young person at our hub compared to £120,000 in the youth offending system or if we continue to kick that can further down the road, a lifetime spent on benefits which the King’s Fund says costs the economy £1 million.

“Today we are holding all this together in rented rooms and temporary spaces. The Rec redevelopment would change everything.

It would give us a visible hub in the heart of Bath, sending every child the message: you belong here and you matter.

“At a redeveloped Rec, we could reach more children, reach them earlier, keep them with us for longer and multiply our impact for generations to come.”

The committee also heard from a young person whose life was changed by Bath Rugby Foundation and who has gone on to become a police officer.

Bath Rugby as “the beating heart of our city” and observed: “We are so, so lucky to have a professional champion rugby club right in the heart of our city.”

He added: “Bath is rugby, as it is the Roman Baths, as it is the Royal Crescent. It has been there years as a use, and I just think we should cement that use for good.”

All members of the planning committee other than Councillor Leach voted in favour of the proposals.

The council chamber looked overwhelmingly blue and black during the meeting as supporters dressed in Bath Rugby shirts watched proceedings. Among those in the chamber taking a keen interest was the former Bath Rugby player and England international Jeremy Guscott.

The scheme also has high-profile objectors including the filmmaker Ken Loach, who lives in Bath. Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service at a protest against the scheme earlier this month, he said: “Bath Recreation Ground was a gift to the people of Bath in 1956 and it should be an open green space forever.

“A mini-Wembley Stadium in the middle of these Georgian houses is a travesty.”

After Wednesday’s meeting, Tarquin McDonald told the Echo: “It’s a landmark decision for the city and for the club as well, and after years of work and refinement of our proposals, we brought an application that we believed had addressed all of the concerns, and you saw that there was no objection from any statutory consultee.

“The proposals are fantastic for rugby but more importantly for the city, for the community and for the city’s economy, so we are absolutely delighted – an historic milestone for club and city.”

Asked how much the development will cost, Mr McDonald said: “Obviously we manage our proposals very much so that they’re affordable.

“In terms of specifics, those aren’t numbers that we go into and publicly disclose.

“As a club and as a sport, having come through Covid we are in a strong place and we very much hope that we are in a position in the not-too-distant future where we can commence development and deliver these fantastic proposals that have been approved today.”

Bath Rugby plans to build the stadium in phases over three years, stand by stand, to allow Bath Rugby to continue to play at the Rec. As much of the construction of the stands' seating area as possible will be undertaken in the off season to limit impacts on overall capacity.

The council will now advise the Secretary of State that it would like to grant planning permission and will have to wait for specific authorisation before this can take effect.

The government has effectively reserved its right to call in the plans in which case a planning inspector would hold an inquiry into whether the scheme should be approved.

Campaigners urge stadium opponents to lobby government

The view from inside the proposed stadium | Image © Bath Rugby

OPPONENTS of the new stadium in the “green heart” of Bath are urging those concerned about the council’s support for the plans to write to the Secretary of State, Steve Reed.

Following last Wednesday’s meeting, the Save Our Rec group issued a press release, saying the planning committee’s decision would have a “negative impact on every aspect of the city’s heritage, environment and economy”.

Jay Risbridger, from the campaign, said: “It beggars belief that anyone thinks that plonking a stadium in the green heart of a heritage city will not wreck its heritage status and undermine tourism that are the foundations of the local economy.”

The press release said that support for a stadium by the Liberal Democrat-controlled council “is completely contra to its own planning, transport, and heritage aims for the city”.

It claimed the planning report was “flawed” and the decision had been pushed through at undue speed.

Green councillor for the Lambridge ward, Joanna Wright, is quoted as saying: “With this decision, the council has given financial preference to a foreign-owned business over the environmental, commercial and heritage interests of Bath as a whole.”

She urged people to write to Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government via the Action Network website. As we went to print this week, 26 letters had been submitted.

Also quoted is Phillip FawknerCorbett, from the Friends of Bath Recreation Ground, who said: “Bath has a unique setting that along with its buildings, is the lifeblood of the city’s heritage.

“Instead, today we heard from the members of B&NES planning committee, who voted nine to one to approve the stadium, that rugby is the beating heart of Bath.

This shameful attitude means this UNESCO World Heritage site will be lost to the demands of a privately-owned stadium.”

He added: “Promises have been made by successive councils to maintain the Recreation Ground in perpetuity as an open space for the people of Bath; these

promises have been continually broken.”

City-based film-maker Ken Loach is also quoted, saying: “The promises to preserve the Recreation Ground from development have been broken repeatedly by the council.

“The stadium demanded by Bath Rugby, owned by Bahamas resident millionaire Bruce Craig, will have an enormous impact on the local ecology and environment as well as the unique heritage setting of the city. It sets a very dangerous precedent for community green spaces being grabbed and developed for the benefit of the ultra-wealthy.”

Who is behind the plans?

The Rec is owned and operated by Bath Recreation Ltd. Its authority as landlord was clarified by a charity tribunal hearing in 2016.

As landlord it has the ability to lease the land to third parties as it considers appropriate.

The purpose of the charity is the provision of property in or near Bath for use as outdoor recreation facilities for the benefit of the public.

The charity's primary tenants, Bath Rugby and Bath Leisure Centre, provide income which enables the charity to invest in its charitable purpose.

The council report analysing the stadium plans said the applicant is Arena 1865 Limited, which is a UK registered company and together with Bath Rugby Limited and Bath Rugby Foundation, they comprise the ‘Stadium for Bath’ project group that will deliver the stadium project.

The planning officers’ report acknowledged that the enlarged footprint of the stadium will reduce the existing open area of the Recreation Ground, resulting in a loss of approximately 5,000 square metres of playing field.

It said the design of the stadium had been amended in response to comments and there were no objections to the final scheme for a new stadium from statutory consultees, which included ICOMOS (the International Council on Monuments and Sites), which works in close collaboration with UNESCO (the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) World Heritage Committee.

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Friday 26th September - Thursday 9th October 2025

Controversial Bathwick roadblock to become permanent Becky Feather Reporter

BATH & North East Somerset Council announced yesterday, Thursday 25th September, that the through-traffic restriction trial on Sydney Road in Bathwick will be made permanent – despite the majority of respondents objecting and after receiving a legal letter last week warning that the proposals are flawed.

It follows a formal Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) consultation that was held in July alongside a detailed review of the most recent traffic and air quality data.

The restriction, implemented in April 2024 under an Experimental Traffic Regulation Order (ETRO), consists of a row of bollards at the junction of Sydney Road and New Sydney Place.

It was introduced as part of the council’s Liveable Neighbourhoods (LN) programme that aims to reduce traffic in residential areas and create safer, quieter routes for walking and cycling.

Following six months of monitoring and community feedback, the council said it had decided to make a permanent TRO, replacing the ETRO, and that it will become operative on

1st October.

The council received 315 responses via the official public consultation and eight responses by email.

It also received 682 responses in a letter from United Sydney Unliveable Neighbourhoods Group (UNSUNG) against the proposals.

The council said 60% of respondents (190 out of 315) opposed the proposal, and 40% (124 out of 315) supported it.

In a statement yesterday, Councillor Joel Hirst, cabinet member for sustainable transport strategy, said: “I want to thank everyone who has taken part in the many consultations on this scheme.

“For anyone who wants to find the full consultation outcomes and monitoring data, you can find it on our website.”

Last Friday a lawyer for UNSUNG wrote to the council to say the proposals to make the LN scheme permanent are flawed.

In March a B&NES Council scrutiny panel upheld the decision taken the previous month by Councillor Mark Elliott, the Liberal Democrat cabinet member for resources, that the scheme could be made permanent.

UNSUNG claimed in the summer that due to a “botched” legal implementation of the trial, the

Seven candidates to stand in by-election

council was having to prepare a permanent Traffic TRO and repeat the consultation it did during the ETRO trial.

The campaigners said the council had published an inadequate ‘Statement of Reasons’ to justify the scheme.

The Bath Echo has seen a copy of the letter sent to the council last week on behalf of UNSUNG by Rhiannon Cambrook-Woods, of Carbon Law Partners.

She highlighted “errors” in the drafting of TRO 25-012 which she said prevent making permanent the works conducted under ETRO 23-031: “As a result, by law, the works implemented under 23-031 must be removed at the end of the statutory 18-month limit.”

She said the TRO draft which had been subject to statutory consultation introduced “minor signage changes” to Sydney Road; however, by not mentioning the previous works conducted under 23-031, no permanence was given to those works, which expire imminently at the end of the 18-month trial’s period.

She also said the restrictive nature of the 25-012 drafting meant that consultation with public transport providers was omitted as the additional works did not impact on a bus route.

“Therefore, if B&NES are to seek to make the ETRO works

The restriction at Sydney Place in Bath

permanent, the TRO would need to be substantially amended to include the previous works, and subject to a new round of consultation, not only with the public, but with all affected statutory bodies.

“However, as the ETRO will have lapsed and must be removed by the time such renewed consultation can occur, this option is moot.”

Secondly, the solicitor said that no decision on the permanence of the TRO could occur prior to the Lyncombe and Widcombe by-election on 9th October.

“Despite B&NES claims that the decision to make the ETRO permanent was not key, it is clear from current and previous consultations that the ETRO did affect more than one ward, and that this stance was both

incorrect and unlawful.

“UNSUNG’s recent group objection attracted a significant number of Lyncombe and Widcombe residents adversely affected by the ETRO, so the future of the LTN [low traffic neighbourhood] is a consideration in the by-election which should prevent any decisions being taken in the purdah period.”

In response to the letter Councillor Hirst told the Echo earlier this week: “The council is considering the letter and in the interim will continue to follow the normal processes with respect to Traffic Regulation Orders."

The announcement by the council came just before we went to print. There will be reaction and more analysis on our website.

Forest of Imagination festival returns to Bath this week

The by-election will be held on Thursday 9th October

Becky Feather Reporter

SEVEN candidates will be standing in the by-election for the vacant seat in the Widcombe & Lyncombe ward of Bath.

One of the ward’s two seats became vacant earlier this month.

Deborah Collins, who had represented the area for the Liberal Democrats since the May 2023 local elections, announced her resignation following a cancer diagnosis.

The other ward councillor is Liberal Democrat Alison Born.

The candidates who will be contesting the seat on Thursday 9th October are:

• Madeline Blackburn (Independent) • Stuart Bridge (Liberal Democrat) • Matt Corner (Conservative Party) • Neil Howard (Green Party) • Casey Nolan (Independent for B&NES) • Aaron Scott (Reform UK) • Helen Torrance (Labour Party) The current composition of the council is 39 Liberal Democrats, seven Labour councillors, four Independents, three Green Party members, three members of the Independents for B&NES group and two Conservative councillors, plus the vacancy.

Photo © Stewart Turkington / www.stphotos.co.uk

Becky Feather Reporter

THE Forest of Imagination festival returns to Bath this week.

The free festival sees the former Entry Hill Golf Course again transformed into a free immersive landscape of art, nature and community.

Themed ‘Imagining the Future of the Forgotten Land’, the festival includes interactive and creative installations, sensory trails, outdoor performances and hands-on workshops for all ages – each one inviting

collective ecological imagination in response to the climate and nature emergencies.

Running from Tuesday 23rd September until Sunday 5th October, the festival is a group effort being led by Bathbased landscape architects, Grant Associates, House of Imagination, Bath Spa University and architects Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios, along with many other local communities, businesses and individuals that help to make it happen.

Easily accessible by walking or cycling for local residents, visitors can wander through a landscape of creative installations on each

of the old golf course’s ‘greens’.

The annual event was conceived in 2012 by Andrew Grant, founder of landscape architects Grant Associates and Dr Penny Hay, Professor of Imagination at Bath Spa University.

Other partners involved in this year’s Forest of Imagination include Bath & North East Somerset Council, Bathscape, The Egg Theatre, Bath Preservation Trust, Bath Community Kitchen, Avon Wildlife Trust, local schools, residents’ associations and volunteers.

You can find out more about this year's festival by visiting https:// www.forestofimagination.org

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Crime & Court

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Teen admits his role in masked gang Bath man is banned attack at Radstock home from keeping dogs A 14-YEAR-OLD who was part of a balaclava-clad group that beat up a boy last December has appeared before a youth court in Bath to admit causing actual bodily harm.

He was 13 at the time he committed the assault, magistrates heard on Thursday 11th September.

His parents were also in court for the hearing at which a video taken on a mobile phone of the attack was shown on a large screen, as well as doorbell footage of the group arriving and leaving the house in Radstock where it took place.

The court was told that the victim was taken to the Royal United Hospital in Bath following the attack, as he was suffering from blurred vision.

He had received threats of violence via social media app Snapchat prior to the attack due to him talking to the ex-girlfriend of one of the members of the group.

Magistrates heard that the 14-year-old before them, who is from the Frome area, was not the main perpetrator of the attack on 23rd December but had been susceptible to peer pressure and negative influence.

He admitted: “I feel really bad for the kid, I wish I never done it.”

The court heard that he has been abiding by an informal acceptable behaviour contract after his concerned mother took him to the police, and he has been working with the Youth Justice Service team.

Magistrates sentenced him to a referral order for 10 months.

Such an order is a way of dealing with young people aged between 10 and 17 who have appeared in court for the first time and pleaded guilty to the offence.

It aims to prevent re-offending by making sure the young person is made aware of the impact and

Barnes is not allowed to keep dogs for the next eight years Bath Magistrates’ Court

consequences of their criminal activity.

It gives the young person a second chance of a non-criminal future, provided the Youth Offender Panel agrees that they have kept to the terms of their contract.

Magistrates also ordered that £200 compensation be paid to the victim.

Two other children have already been sentenced by the youth court in Bath for their roles in the attack.

On 28th August a boy aged 15, who lives near Peasedown St John, admitted causing actual bodily harm and a further assault by beating on the same victim on 12th February 2025 in Radstock.

Magistrates made a 12-month referral order for the more recent assault and ordered compensation of £300 be paid to the victim.

The 15-year-old received a concurrent 12-month referral order for the assault on 23rd December. A £26 surcharge was also imposed. Revenue from surcharges funds victim services through the Victim and Witness General Fund.

A boy from Peasedown St John who was 13 at the time of the

Why do we ‘name and shame’ in our stories?

Since the introduction of our Crime & Court section in July, we've been contacted by concerned members of the public, defendants and guilty parties regarding the inclusion of their names, ages, and partial addresses.

We are proud to be able to provide court coverage of cases at Bath Magistrates' Court, something that many local newspapers are unable to do due to restricted time for their reporters. Reporting court cases acts as a deterrent against crime.

Printing a defendant’s age and address stops anyone with the same name from being defamed.

We do not have access to police or CPS files regarding cases, so everything reported is based on what the prosecution and defence say during a court hearing.

HM Courts & Tribunals Service encourages and facilitates media access to courts and tribunals. We have the right to attend and report on proceedings held in open court, unless a statutory restriction applies, or a court order prevents this.

Our stories are governed by the regulator IMPRESS, the Independent Monitor for the Press.

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attack on 23rd December also pleaded guilty to assault causing actual bodily harm when he appeared in court on 28th August.

Now 14, he received a six-month referral order and magistrates ordered £75 compensation to the victim.

Two other boys aged 16, one from Radstock and one from Peasedown St John, also appeared at the youth court in Bath last Thursday charged in connection with the attack.

Both are accused of assault causing actual bodily harm. They have pleaded not guilty and will go on trial on 16th February 2026.

The public are not allowed inside youth courts, but journalists with UK press cards are allowed to cover cases, with the magistrates’ permission. Although reporting restrictions prevent the youths being named or giving other information that might identify them, The Youth Court Bench Book, published by the Judicial College, states: “Fair and accurate reports of proceedings, even where individuals are not identified, should be encouraged where appropriate as they can help promote public confidence.”

A 22-YEAR-OLD man has been banned from keeping dogs for eight years.

Alan Barnes admitted at Bath Magistrates’ Court that he had been in charge of a Neapolitan Mastiff which was dangerously out of control in Twerton.

The court was shown footage from police bodycam of the incident on 11th April at Shaws Way. The dog, called Chaos, lunged at a police officer and made biting movements.

Prosecutor Sadie Waits told the magistrates that the officer did not think Barnes was in control of the dog and feared he would be bitten and badly injured due to the dog’s size and strength.

Miss Waits asked the court to consider compensation for the distress caused to the officer and the £4,290 fees of keeping Chaos in police kennels since the incident.

She also told the court that Barnes had a previous conviction for owning a prohibited dog.

Representing Barnes at the hearing on Thursday 4th September, solicitor Lisa Rowley said there had been a family argument and Barnes’ mother had thrown some of his belongings out of the window.

Barnes, who was with Chaos and

his partner outside the property, called the police as he wanted to go back inside and get items without further aggravation from his mother.

Miss Rowley said Chaos had lunged at the police officer for whatever reason, but Barnes immediately took control, pulled the dog back and apologised.

She said Barnes, formerly of Naish House in Shaws Way but now living at Laxton Way in Peasedown St John, had experienced no issues with Chaos, who was obedient and good around children.

She said Barnes’ new home is securely gated and he was ready to have Chaos back and would walk him on a lead and harness.

Miss Rowley explained to the court that Barnes had a previous conviction for owning an XL Bully, which is a banned breed.

She told the court it is difficult to ascertain if a dog is an XL Bully, but police had believed his dog was and it had been taken away.

Magistrates did not make a destruction order for Chaos, but Barnes was disqualified from having custody of a dog for eight years.

He was fined £80, ordered to pay £300 compensation and court costs of £85.

£260 of items stolen from John Lewis A SOMERSET woman who stole items worth £260 from John Lewis at Cribbs Causeway has been ordered by Bath magistrates to pay the company compensation.

Jane Cooper, prosecuting, told the court that Kandy Robinson had been caught on CCTV in June shoplifting items in the store including clothes and fragrance.

She was identified by police from the number plate of the vehicle she left in and a postal requisition telling her to attend court in August was sent, but when she did not appear, a warrant was issued for her arrest.

The warrant was carried out on the morning of Thursday 11th

She was ordered to pay compensation

September, and Robinson, of Caxton Drive in Highbridge, appeared at Bath Magistrates’ Court that afternoon to admit shoplifting.

Representing Robinson, duty solicitor Sam Stevens said that the police had known where she lived because they had her car registration details so it “takes

some head-scratching” to work out why they had sent the postal requisition to an address she does not live at.

He said Robinson had a “very poor recollection” of that day, having recently lost her mother.

The 50-year-old was ordered to pay compensation to John Lewis for the items she stole but the magistrates did not make any separate order, acknowledging the requisition had not been dealt with in the right way and that Robinson had spent a day in custody.

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Issue 113

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Man took illegal drugs ‘to ease gout pain’

Teen admits hitting boys with a hammer

Magistrates heard there has been no further offending

Young had been using the drugs to ease the symptoms of his health problems

A MAN from Southdown in Bath has been convicted of being in possession of illegal drugs.

William Young, of Lytton Gardens, admitted two charges when he appeared before Bath magistrates on Thursday 11th September.

The 42-year-old admitted being in possession of 192.55 grams of cannabis and cannabis resin (Class B), along with 2.42 grams of Psilocin (magic mushrooms), which is a Class A drug.

Police found the drugs at his home on 6th March. Young told them he was using them to selfmedicate.

Probation officer Deborah Silver told the court that she’d had a “very open and honest conversation” with Young, who

told her he had been taking the drugs to ease the symptoms of chronic gout and other health problems.

She said she had suggested online alternatives to him, so that he was not left without anything for the pain.

The magistrates ordered the forfeiture and destruction of the drugs. They said it was a “huge quantity” of cannabis and fined him £1,126, along with a £450 surcharge and £85 prosecution costs. There was no separate penalty for possession of the small amount of Psilocin.

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A TEENAGER from Peasedown St John hit two boys with a hammer in an unprovoked attack after taking drugs and alcohol, a youth court in Bath heard.

Sixteen at the time of the offence and now 17, he appeared before magistrates on Thursday 11th September to admit two charges of wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm.

One of the victims had been 16 at the time, the other 15. The attacks happened at a party on 25th June last year at Gullock Tyning in Midsomer Norton.

Reporting restrictions prevent the Echo from naming the defendant or victims, or giving information that might identify them.

The court saw photos of the injuries the two victims received from the hammer blows, as well as the weapon used.

The 15-year-old had blood pouring down his face after

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a blow to the head caused a deep laceration which needed stitching. The 16-year-old lost a tooth, another was chipped, and he also suffered a cut to his chin.

The court heard that the perpetrator expressed his apologies and told police: “I did not know what I was doing and why.”

The magistrates heard from the Youth Justice Service that the teenager has been responding well to a voluntary curfew which had been set at 8pm for the first year, and has been extended to 10pm, with an 11pm deadline on Saturdays.

He is said to be making progress, has been reducing his substance misuse and there has been no further offending.

A full pre-sentence report was ordered by magistrates who adjourned the case until 6th November. The teenager was granted unconditional bail.

Court in Brief Woman admits assault A 25-year-old woman has admitted carrying out an assault in Bath in February. Hannah Sandover, of Newbridge Road, appeared before magistrates on Thursday 11th September. She pleaded guilty to an assault by beating of a woman in Southgate Street on 14th February 2025. The court heard the victim suffered “low-level injuries”. Magistrates adjourned the case until 5th November for a pre-sentence report to be prepared, with a focus on Sandover’s mental health. Yasmin Harwood, 24, of Julian House in Manvers Street, is accused of assaulting the same woman and had also been due in court. However, she did not attend, and magistrates issued a warrant without bail.

Trial over breath test A woman from Odd Down has denied a charge of failing to provide a specimen of breath for analysis when suspected of having driven. On Thursday 11th September, Pagan Taylor, of Ridge Green Close, pleaded not guilty to the alleged offence.

It is said to have taken place on 23rd August at the custody centre in Keynsham. A trial date was set for 2nd February 2026.

The 38-year-old was granted unconditional bail.

P10

Pictures from the Past

Above: The Royal Crescent around 1910

Friday 26th September - Thursday 9th October 2025

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Royal Crescent

Below: The view in the mid-1950s

Kirsten Elliott Akeman Press

IT’S tempting to assume that Bath’s most iconic views have changed little over the years.

These two archive photographs of the Royal Crescent, however, show how different it once looked.

The first dates from around 1910 and shows the field in front of the Crescent enclosed by a fence – not so much to keep people out as to keep the sheep and cattle that grazed there in.

The most striking difference from today’s view, however, is the church spire rising above the rooftops. This was St Andrew’s, which stood on the wide expanse of grass behind the Crescent.

It was consecrated in 1873 and the 67-metre spire was added five years later. After being gutted by fire in the bombing raids of April 1942, it was originally intended to restore it, but in 1949 the decision was taken to demolish it. The second photograph, taken by the late Bruce Crofts in the mid-1950s, shows another wartime development. In 1943, as part of the Dig for Victory campaign, the council voted to establish 50 allotments in front of the Crescent.

The number eventually rose to 72 and they survived until 1957 when the allotment holders were offered alternative sites and the field in front of the Crescent was restored – at a cost of £200.

COLUMN | Clare Moody, Labour Police and Crime Commissioner

E

VERYONE should be able to go out with friends, enjoy themselves, and feel safe.

That’s why spiking is such a serious crime - it takes away people’s sense of safety and can cause lasting harm. Whether it’s adding something to a drink, putting in extra shots to someone’s drink, or any other method, spiking is illegal, dangerous, and will not be tolerated. Spiking can leave people feeling frightened,

vulnerable, and unsure of where to turn. I want to be clear: if this has happened to you, it is not your fault. The blame lies entirely with the perpetrator. If you or someone you know has been affected, please report it to the police. If you’d prefer to stay anonymous, you can share what you know with Crimestoppers.

Across Avon and Somerset, many venues now have staff trained through Business Improvement

District partnerships to recognise the signs of spiking and to step in with support.

If you see someone on a night out who you think has been made vulnerable through spiking, please reach staff at the venue or the police. Where spiking is linked to sexual assault, specialist services are here to help.

Here are two local services that I support who can give you specialist support:

• The Bridge can provide immediate, fully confidential support after rape or sexual assault within the last seven days.

• SARSAS runs a helpline and support services for anyone affected.

Avon and Somerset Police are carrying out targeted operations, gathering intelligence, working with venues, and

increasing patrols to deter and catch offenders.

Spiking Intensification Week is about raising awareness, supporting victims, and making clear that this crime will not go unchecked. This is why neighbourhood policing is one of my priorities because safety matters everywhere – at home, at work, and when enjoying a night out.

Issue 113

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Your City, Your News - Bath Echo

Crossword

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Complete our crossword for your chance to win £20!

Across

Down

1 Command to a horse (7) 5 Clothing decoration (5) 10 Prediction (8) 11 Crush tablet where Harold really fought (6) 13 Portmanteau (4) 14 Newcomers from abroad (10) 15 Bluff King Hal's regnal no. (4) 17 Anglo-Saxon (3,7) 19 Artificial sparkler (10) 20 Bottom of ship's hull (4) 21 Bullfighting devotee (10) 22 Go for a dip (4) 26 Scattered rubbish (6) 27 They're often set in heavy fonts (8) 28 Prepares for publication (5) 29 Hewed (7)

2 Admired ones (5) 3 World-beating writer who was also a WW2 fighter pilot (4) 4 Accruing (12) 6 Driver's furious fit (4,4) 7 Type of care (9) 8 Crude cartel (1,1,1,1) 9 Discoverer of Uranus (8) 12 Absolutely vital (4-3-5) 15 Mathematical quantity (8) 16 Welcomed to the fold (9) 18 Best line means keep Mum, when rearranged (2,6) 23 Squander (5) 24 Necessary thing (4) 25 Address starter (1,1,1,1)

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They will be notified using the details they provide when entering the competition. Winners will be given the option of receiving a High Street shopping voucher or be provided the £20 via a BACS transfer.

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Food & Drink

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Get in touch with Rob Last via rob@mediabath.co.uk

Melissa Blease

Food Writer

Tasty Dates For Your Diary Legendary Kitchen God Raymond Blanc OBE is visiting Bath courtesy of Toppings Books to introduce his wonderful new book Simply Raymond Kitchen Garden in conversation with… me! Come along and meet us both at St Swithin’s Church on Tuesday 7th October (early bird tickets £12, redeemable against the price of the book). http://bit.ly/3IplzJJ Sunday Roasts are back on the menu at the Rose and Crown (Larkhall) from Sunday 5th October, supplementing a terrific tapas menu served ThursdaySaturday and alternating guest chefs/pop-ups every other Wednesday. Next pop-up stop: chef Marc Russell/Nature’s Table tantalising ‘Somerset meets Asia’ feast on Wednesday 8th October. roseandcrownlarkhall.co.uk

Review

The Great Wine Co’s annual Portfolio Tasting pours into the sophisticated surroundings of the Guildhall Ballroom (High Street) on Thursday 9th October (£25pp; early booking essential). www.greatwine.co.uk Celebrate 12 glorious years of Clayton’s Kitchen (George Street) with a suitably celebratory dinner menu that offers multiple reasons to be cheerful: 2 courses for just £40 (3/£48) every WednesdayFriday. www.claytonskitchen.com Let’s all wish a very warm advance welcome to The Welly: craft beer and seasonal, locally-sourced grub courtesy of Somer Valley Brewing/Somer Valley Farms set to give the former Belushi’s (corner of Broad Street/Green Street) a whole new, exciting

lease of life. www.somervalleyfarms.com The Scallop Shell’s iconic Fisherman’s Lunch is now available on Sundays too! Dive into a choice of three main dishes (always including prime cod) served with chips, sauces and a mug of Yorkshire tea for just £15pp every Sunday-Friday 122.30pm (3pm on Sundays, regular menu also available). www.thescallopshell.co.uk Go out of your way to visit the Wells Food Festival on Sunday 12th October: an artisan market, gallons of English wine, the Food for Thought forum, a dedicated Children’s Zone and more, set against the backdrop of one of Somerset’s most beautiful historic cities. www.wellsfoodfestival.co.uk

Yuzu by Dan Moon will be popping up at the breathtakingly beautiful Bath Soft Cheese HQ (Park Farm, Kelston) on the evening of Friday 17th October to present his unique Tastes of Autumn feast celebrating the rich colours, flavours and textures of the season (£80pp). https://bit.ly/3KCoVtj Dust down the Lederhosen! Bath Oktoberfest returns to Royal Victoria Park from Friday 24th - Sunday 26th October bringing those prerequisite steins of German beer, Oompah bands,

gourmet German grub, axe throwing (yes really!) and more to the ultimate party in the park! www.bathoktoberfest.com They said they’d do it again - and they're doing it again! Fieldfayre Halloween Edition at the Old Crown (Kelston): a suitably spooky film night on Friday 31st October, live music on Saturday 1st November and the Long Table Lunch on Saturday 2nd November. Do NOT miss!. www.oldcrownkelston.com Melissa regularly reviews eateries across Bath. Find out more on her dedicated website at: www.theprandialplayground.uk Follow Melissa on X Find her @ThePigGuide

Green Park Brasserie

6 Green Park Station Bath BA1 1JB 01225 338565 www.greenparkbrasserie.com  @greenparkbraz Green Park Brasserie – the lively, multi-faceted restaurant, pizza emporium, bar, alfresco hotspot and live music zone (phew!) situated in a historic former railway station on the buzzing Green Park Road/James Street West intersection – opened its doors back in 1992, making this family-run, proudly independent business a veritable stalwart of the Bath merrymaking scene, as enduringly popular today as it became in its very first year.

A big part of the secret of GPB’s ‘secret of success’ is that the venture never rests on its laurels, regularly moving with the times while still retaining all the original charms that made it so popular from the get-go. Case in point: the Bath Pizza Co, which popped up on the terrace towards the rear of the handsome former

Roll out the barrel (or rather, the 500ml carafe) of easydrinking, distinctly upmarket white or rosé wine all day every day at the Marlborough Tavern (Marlborough Buildings). www.marlborough-tavern.com

The rump steak was a highlight at Green Park Brasserie

railway station site in 2016, plays a vibrant supporting role in the heterogeneous life of its longestablished big sister operation.

But how to make a good thing even better?

Around this time last year, BPC and GPB menus merged, resulting in a thoroughly tempting, tastefully dizzying array of plates in small or large format supplemented by, of

course, the pizzas that regularly scale the highest heights in the prestigious National Pizza Awards (the pizza world equivalent of the Oscars) and rated by Bath’s pizza perfectionists as the best of the city’s pizza pack. The harmonious selection puts the diner in charge of how much they want to eat, spend and/or discover, in the ‘choose your mood’ environment that Green Park Brasserie

established aeons ago. Seriously; what’s not to love?

We didn’t ‘do’ those pizzas this time around; having been there and done them on multiple occasions, I guarantee that they go beyond living up to their reputation. This time around we plundered the rest of the menu instead, sitting at a heated terrace table under the porte-cochere to the front of the building with predinner cocktails (a must-do here, especially during Happy Hour) to make the most of the chill-out experience on our groovy little urban oasis.

We started off so elegantly, grazing on oozy, melting, rosemary- and honey-baked feta served with a stack of sesame flatbreads, and a tumble of crispy, super-frangible calamari. But can you really dive into a triple-stack Somerset beefburger oozing with Monterey Jack, caramelised red onions, pickles, garlic mayo and more whilst still keeping up an ‘elegant’ facade? No, you can’t – so I didn’t. At least his massive

rump steak – pink, succulent, richly-flavoured top-notch beef in a perfectly-caramelised jacket – was elegant on the plate… before the juices dribbled down his chin. We dived into two bowls of fries too: the ‘Sexy’ variant topped with slow-cooked brisket, barbecue sauce and cheese (a standalone feast in themselves, chip fans) and the Truffle and Parmesan combo that turns an erstwhile prosaic side order into a luxuriously sophisticated treat.

Similarly, if you think fruit crumble could be called an erstwhile prosaic pudding, your preconceptions will be seriously challenged here.

Despite its ‘Bath institution’ status, Green Park Brasserie feels young for its age. This lively, welcoming, versatile business knows how to keep people happy in all the best possible ways, and proves that skilful adaptation and well-considered diversification are the cornerstones of that elusive, restaurant-world success.

Here’s to the next 30 years.

Issue 113

P13 13

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Recipe

Mushroom Pilaf

Mushrooms are at their bounteous best right now; make the most of them with this hearty, satisfying, flavour-packed, oven-baked, all-in-one (phew!) pilaf.

Ingredients (serves 4) • 30g dried porcini mushrooms • 1 tbsp soy sauce • 1 tsp yeast extract (ie, Marmite!)

• 1kg mixed fresh mushrooms, (ie. chestnut, shiitake, king oyster, oyster, field), roughly torn • 1 onion, peeled and chopped • 4 garlic cloves, peeled and grated/crushed • 2 tsp garam masala • 1 tsp cumin • 1 tsp dried red chilli flakes • 5 tbsp olive oil • 350g basmati rice, rinsed To serve: Freshly-chopped coriander

Method • Put the dried porcini and yeast extract into a large jug. Cover with 650ml boiling water and allow to infuse for 20 minutes.

• Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 200c/gas mark 6 and scatter the mixed fresh mushrooms across a large, deep-sided roasting tray. Sprinkle with the spices, season well and drizzle the olive oil across the top. Roast for 30-40 minutes (tossing halfway through) until the mushrooms are soft and golden.

• Add the rice, rehydrated porcini and their soaking stock to the roasting tray. Stir well, cover with foil and return to the oven for a further 25 minutes. Remove the tray from the oven and allow to stand (still covered) for a further 15 minutes before serving sprinkled with freshly-chopped coriander.

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What's On

Friday 26th September - Thursday 9th October 2025

Bath Children’s Literature Festival

Pumpkin Patch

Introduction to 3D Needle Felting

Batheaston Art Trail

Various Locations 26th September – 5th October The festival welcomes friends old and new to its fabulous 18th year of bringing the magic of books to life for their audiences. Over ten days they will be offering over 90 live events.

Avon Valley Adventure & Wildlife Park 27th September – 31st October Home to an authentic pumpkin patch, Avon Valley offer a wholesome autumnal excursion and a backdrop to some beautiful seasonal photos. The South West's biggest pumpkin event.

Victoria Art Gallery 27th September, 10.30am – 1.30pm As part of their celebration of The Lost Spells, they have an introduction to 3D needle felting. You will needlefelt a small hare. You will work with an experienced arts and craft teacher.

Various venues 27th & 28th September Over 50 artists, designers and makers are exhibiting in Batheaston’s 5th art trail - at studios, homes, Batheaston New Village Hall, St John the Baptist Church and Batheaston Scout Hall.

Wag Walk 2025

Around the Table

James May

Lost Mythos

Bath Cats & Dogs Home 28th September, 9am – 3pm Dogs and their owners are invited to walk either a 2-mile or 5-mile route along the National Trust Bath Skyline, all to raise money for the cats and dogs at the Home.

Topping & Company Booksellers 29th September, 7pm Diana Henry returns to the bookshop to speak on Around the Table. This is an essay collection on places, people and food, handpicked from over two decades of her much-loved cookbooks.

The Forum 1st October, 7.30pm TV's James May will premiere a live theatre show, bringing to life the stories of the extraordinary explorers who traversed the deserts, scaled the mountains, and sailed into the unknown.

The Roman Baths 2nd October, 8.15pm-9.15pm You are invited to a mythical parish meeting to be held at The Roman Baths.

Three-piece Lost Mythos blend music, poetry, folklore and comedy in this special gathering by the Great Bath.

Bath Autumn Fayre

The Little Prince

Small Hotel

Dreams Of The Everyday

Milsom Street, Bath 3rd – 5th October The autumn edition of this popular event promises a weekend of outstanding local food, independent traders, and entertainment for all ages.

Visitors can browse over 100 stalls.

The Egg 3rd – 5th October Embark on a whimsical journey with the Little Prince as he wanders the universe in search of the true meaning of friendship. Enter a world of endless sunsets, where people are like flowers.

Theatre Royal Bath 3rd – 18th October The final production in the Ralph Fiennes / Theatre Royal Bath Season.

Ralph Fiennes plays Larry, an acclaimed TV celebrity whose life and career are rapidly unravelling.

The Holburne Museum 3rd October – 11th January Paintings by Winifred Nicholson & Andrew Cranston. Exploring the connections and contrasts in paintings

by Nicholson and Cranston, many of which share a delight in the ordinary.

Fungal Foray

Joe Wells: Daddy Autism

Posting Letters to the Moon

Bath Young Musician of the Year

Ustinov Studio 6th – 7th October A romantic, funny and touching portrait of life during WWII. Letters between Celia Johnson and her husband Peter Fleming are read by their daughter Lucy Fleming and her husband Simon.

The Guildhall 8th October, 7.30pm Five young musicians compete for the title of Bath Young Musician of the Year 2025. Once again, this group will promise an evening of outstanding performances.

The Milner Centre, University of Bath 4th October, 1 – 4pm Setting off from the Milner Centre for this foray and stroll along public footpaths to a nearby woodland. Along the way, you'll learn how to identify different fungi and about safe foraging.

Rondo Theatre 4th October, 7.30pm Joe and his wife are having a baby. He's autistic so statistically it's quite likely the baby will be too. In this new show, comedian Joe Wells explores fatherhood through the lens of neurodiversity.

For all your insurance needs We offer a wide range of products including: car, van, home, landlord insurance and much more.

Call into our Howden Bath branch today: 01225 788 044 7 George Street | Bath | BA1 2EH bath@howdeninsurance.co.uk howdeninsurance.co.uk/bath

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Issue 113

P15

Your City, Your News - Bath Echo

Auctioneum of Bath

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

Community

Council to work with Wessex Water over park’s popular duck pond

Parking restrictions proposed at cemetery

BATH & North East Somerset Council has said it will work with Wessex Water to help secure the future of the popular duck pond in Bath’s Royal Victoria Park.

Maintaining water levels in the pond has been a challenge for several years.

The Georgian-era spring mains that supplied it became degraded and the water was re-routed, since it posed a flooding risk to nearby properties.

The pond has recently begun to refill from rainwater after drying out in hot, dry conditions this summer.

The council is now exploring options with Wessex Water to identify a longer-term water source for the pond.

There will be an opportunity for engagement with the public over the coming months to consider all options in line with the council’s Greener Places Plan.

Councillor Oli Henman, cabinet project lead for climate change, said: “The Royal Victoria Park pond is a valued asset that has been popular with residents and visitors for many years.

“The council is committed to working with Wessex Water to bring the pond back to life and ensure a long-term water supply.

“Like many people I enjoy spending time in Royal Victoria

THERE are plans to introduce restrictions to crack down on commuters parking in Locksbrook Cemetery in Bath.

The gates to the cemetery are currently closed and locked to prevent motorists parking for long periods – sometimes all day – which has caused difficulties for access and has damaged graves and grass verges.

However, this prevents legitimate access to the cemetery for visitors.

Bath & North East Somerset Council says: “It is considered appropriate to introduce a ‘restricted zone’ from a point approximately 12 metres inside the cemetery gates to restrict parking beyond that point for all motorists other than authorised vehicles.

“It is proposed that these authorised vehicles would

Restrictions are in place to stop commuters using the site for parking

The dried-up duck pond in Royal Victoria Park in Bath

Park and have been saddened to see the challenging situation this year.

“We are at the beginning of the restoration process and plans are evolving based on expert advice, however we can state that the pond will not be left in its current condition.

“The council aims to create nature-rich areas across B&NES that communities connect with – so we’ll be asking for your feedback in the future on options to ensure a sustainable habitat for the pond that is better suited to future climate conditions.”

Paul Saynor, Water Production Director at Wessex Water, said: “While the pond’s water supply has never come from our network,

we appreciate its importance to residents and wildlife.

“We’re more than happy to offer our expertise and remain committed to continue supporting B&NES Council in finding a solution.”

Updates on the pond will be available on a dedicated Royal Victoria Park Pond webpage on the council website.

A rally was held on Sunday 21st September, highlighting concerns by local residents about the state of the pond, and the uncertain future for it. Councillor Henman attended.

Bath & North East Somerset Council has said it doesn't expect work on the restoration project to be finished until at least 2027.

consist of Blue Badge holders, patrons of pre-planned official uses of the cemetery, and council maintenance vehicles.

“There are a number of parking spaces on the cemetery forecourt which are also regularly abused, so it is considered appropriate to introduce limited waiting parking restrictions in these bays.

“This would increase the parking opportunities for visitors to the cemetery who are not holders of a Blue Badge.

“It is also proposed that a small area of limited waiting parking would be introduced just inside of the cemetery gates for the same purpose.

“Double yellow lines are also proposed to prevent parking in inappropriate locations before entering the proposed restricted zone.”

£90k project transforms Broad Street Firefighters tackle accidental house blaze Place into nature-friendly space

Fire crews at the scene of the fire in Weston

A FIRE in a kitchen in Bath this week was started accidentally, says Avon Fire & Rescue Service.

Firefighters from Kingswood and Temple fire stations were called on Monday, 22nd September at 3pm to reports of the fire on Weston Park in Upper Weston.

A spokesperson for the service said: “Upon arrival, crews found a small fire in the kitchen.

“They used fire extinguishers and

water jets to put out the fire. They then used a ventilation fan in the property and those adjoining to remove light smoke.

“Crews remained on the scene and used gas monitors and thermal imaging cameras to check for any additional hazards and to make the scene safe.

“Fortunately, there were no casualties. The cause of the fire was accidental.”

NEARLY £90,000 has been invested in transforming a city centre location to make it nature-friendly and an attractive space where residents and visitors can relax.

Broad Street Place has been enhanced by Bath & North East Somerset Council, with new street furniture, colourful public art and festoon lighting among the improvements.

The plans for the space were developed working closely with local businesses and residents and Bath BID, which has supported the project.

A variety of new plants and innovative ground surfacing, which better protects the roots of the mature trees and is water permeable, was installed alongside bird boxes and stonemasonry repairs to an existing raised planter.

The £89,800 project was funded by a combination of Neighbourhood Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL), B&NES capital maintenance and the West of England Combined Authority’s (WECA) Love Our High Streets programme.

The Broad Street Place scheme is part of the local authority’s

Broad Street Place in Bath | Photo © B&NES Council

Bath City Centre regeneration programme and its Milsom Quarter Masterplan.

Councillor Paul Roper, cabinet member for economic and cultural sustainable development, said: “It’s wonderful to see Broad Street Place transformed into a vibrant space for residents, families and visitors to find a calm and welcoming spot amid the hustle and bustle of the city.

“It’s also a great example of how we can reimagine our public spaces and support the vitality of our high streets by working together with residents and local businesses.”

Helen Godwin, the Mayor of the West of England, and leader of WECA, said: “Bath is rightly world-renowned for its history and beauty.

“Broad Street remains rooted in the city’s unique character, with new seating, art and greenery bringing the area even more to life today.

“With local and regional funding, together we are investing in places where people want to meet, spend time, and enjoy.”

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Issue 113

P17 17

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Christian climate activists arrested at Bath Abbey after protest Becky Feather Reporter

A CORDON was thrown around Bath Abbey after climate activists climbed on to the roof in a protest which saw four people arrested.

Christian Climate Action supporters hung a large banner from the tower of Bath Abbey on Saturday 13th September, to demand the Church of England take a stand against the “forces causing climate and ecological collapse”.

Among those taking action was a 70-year-old former parish priest.

It was part of a day of action in which around 20 Christian Climate Action supporters also took part in protests at cathedrals and abbeys in Canterbury, Durham, Westminster, Winchester and York.

An Avon & Somerset Police spokesperson said: “Four people arrested on suspicion of aggravated trespass at Bath Abbey at around 3.45pm on Saturday 13th September have been released under investigation.

“Officers arrested two men and two women, aged in their 50s, 60s and 70s, after a group gained access to the Abbey tower and refused to leave.

“Abbey staff had to cancel scheduled tours and called police

just before 12.30pm.

“As the incident was at height, the fire and rescue and ambulance services were also called in, and nearby roads closed.

“The individuals ignored a formal direction to leave and subsequently officers gained access and escorted them out.”

Christian Climate Action said that at around 12.30pm four supporters on a regular tour of the tower climbed onto the roof, dropped a banner reading ‘DON’T CRUCIFY CREATION’ and then refused to come down.

“Police and the fire service attended the scene and after around four hours made four arrests.”

The day of action followed the publication of the document ‘Stop Crucifying Creation’, which had been sent to Church of England clergy in the last fortnight.

A spokesperson for Christian Climate Action said: “We challenge the church (and we include ourselves) to find the courage to speak up for those impacted by climate breakdown, to stand up to the government and the fossil fuel corporations who are hastening climate and ecological collapse and to join and support civil disobedience where necessary. In short, to be as radical as Jesus was when faced with an unjust system.

“Of course, we must also put our

The banner in place on Bath Abbey | Photo © Jamie Bellinger

own house in order – installing solar panels, rewilding church land and so on, but that cannot be the beginning and end of our responsibility. We must speak and act prophetically and unapologetically, refusing to be silenced whatever the consequences, as we bear witness to the truth about the destruction of our God-given and beautiful planet.”

In a statement, the Bishop of Bath and Wells, Michael Beasley, said:

“While we cannot condone the actions Christian Climate Action have taken in order to share their message, which has put them at risk and added pressure on our already overstretched emergency services, we do nonetheless have sympathy for the message they have shared, ‘Don’t crucify creation’, and recognise the seriousness of the climate crisis.

“All Anglicans are called, in line with the fifth mark of mission, to strive to safeguard the integrity of

creation, and sustain and renew the life of the earth. As a diocese, Bath and Wells is committed to Net Zero by 2030 and churches across the diocese, including Bath Abbey, are doing a great deal in order to reach that goal.”

Bishop Michael also stated that he has always been willing to meet with Christian Climate Action to share what the diocese is already doing and to hear their thoughts as to other steps they think should be taken.

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Health Residents being offered free support Praise for region's new to quit smoking this October orthopaedic centre

Free support, vape starter kits and the Smoke Free app are being offered to residents

RESIDENTS across Bath and North East Somerset are being urged to quit smoking this October, with help and support on offer.

B&NES Council is offering free premium features of the Smoke Free app, free vape starter kits and free friendly support from the local stop smoking service.

Stoptober is the Department of Health and Social Care’s annual mass-participation stop smoking campaign, based on evidence that if a smoker makes it to 28 days smoke-free, they are five times more likely to quit for good.

Donna, who works as a cleaner at the Royal United Hospital in Bath, stopped smoking 18 months ago with the help of the Swap to Stop scheme which offers a free vape starter kit to smokers aged 18 and over who want to try vaping to quit.

Donna said: “I started smoking 50 years ago when I was 14 and had given up before but always fallen off the wagon.

“I’ve been smoke-free for 18 months and now I don’t get out

of breath when I’m walking, I no longer smell like an ashtray, and I also have a lot more money in my bank. I am altogether healthier, and I am proud of what I have achieved.

“I signed up to the Swap to Stop programme to help me quit. The benefit of Swap to Stop is that you can take as long as you need and it’s easier because you still get the nicotine hit without all the other elements.

“My advice is to take it one day at a time and buy yourself a treat with the money you have saved – you’ve earned it.”

Becky Reynolds, Director of Public Health and Prevention, said: “While smoking rates have declined in recent years, more than five million people in England still smoke and it remains the single biggest cause of preventable ill health and death.

“Even if you’ve tried quitting before, Stoptober is the perfect time to try again. There’s no need to go it alone.

“It’s much easier to stop smoking

when you get the right support and there’s lots of options for you to choose from.”

Smokers who are ready to quit now or are thinking about it have many different ways of getting support: • Download the Smoke Free app which offers 24/7 support, motivation and exclusive content to help every step of the way. Bath & North East Somerset Council has partnered with Smoke Free to offer residents full access to the app for free in time for Stoptober.

• Email eh.swaptostopbanes@ nhs.net to sign up to Swap to Stop and receive a free vape starter kit • Talk to the local stop smoking team by calling freephone 0300 247 0050 or by emailing EH.banes@nhs.net for free advice and support at no cost.

This service is provided by the council’s partner, Everyone Health.

• Talk to the GP about the support they offer.

A NEW facility near Bath that will see thousands of NHS patients in the region receive life-changing surgery has been officially opened.

Sulis Hospital and the BSW Hospitals Group recently celebrated the opening of the Sulis Orthopaedic Centre (SOC), based in Peasedown St John.

It is a state-of-the-art surgical centre that delivers planned, ring-fenced, year-round orthopaedic operations, such as hip and knee replacements, to NHS patients from Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire.

The initiative will mean that patients receiving care at the three NHS hospitals that make up BSW Hospitals Group – Great Western Hospital in Swindon, the Royal United Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Bath and Salisbury Foundation Trust – will be able to choose to have their operation at the SOC, providing they are considered suitable during their pre-operative assessment.

They will remain under the care of their consultant team from their acute hospital, who work in close partnership with the theatre and recovery teams at Sulis.

Preand post-operative treatment continues to be provided at patients’ local NHS Trust hospital, meaning patients only need to travel for the operation itself.

Simon Milner, Hospital Director at Sulis Hospital, said: “Building on Sulis Hospital’s unique status as the first fully operational hospital wholly owned by an NHS Trust, with the profits reinvested back into the NHS, the new Sulis Orthopaedic Centre represents the next step in expanding specialist care for patients.

“Exemplary care is underpinned

Photo © RUH / Sulis Hospital

by leading surgeons and anaesthetists with the full operational and clinical support of Sulis, demonstrating how effective and proactive teams across hospital sites can benefit patients.

“We look forward to hosting the service and working with our NHS partners for many years to come.”

Cara Charles-Barks, Chief Executive of the BSW Hospitals Group, said: “The Sulis Orthopaedic Centre is so much more than bricks and mortar; it’s the result of a close collaboration between Sulis Hospital and the three acute NHS hospitals in BSW Hospitals Group.

“It’s also a symbol of what we can achieve when we work together to bring to life our vision of the outstanding care we want for our patients.”

“We know that long waits for surgery can have a profound impact on people’s lives. That’s why this centre is so important.

It will help safeguard our services and ensure that we can continue to provide timely, high-quality care for years to come.”

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Locals encouraged to confirm their organ donation decision PEOPLE in Bath are being encouraged to register their decision to be an organ donor after new figures revealed thousands of people have died while waiting for a transplant.

The figures by NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) show that more than 12,000 people in the UK have died or been removed from the transplant waiting list over the past 10 years before receiving the lifesaving organs they desperately needed, including 53 from Somerset.

4,900 people died while actively waiting for a lifesaving transplant, and a further 7,700 were removed from the active list after being deemed too sick to receive one, with many dying soon after.

Earlier this year, NHSBT revealed

the transplant waiting list had reached its highest level ever recorded with 8,000 people actively waiting for a lifesaving transplant – including 92 people in Somerset.

Alison Ryan, Chair of the RUH Organ & Tissue Donation Committee, said: “Confirming your decision to donate on the NHS Organ Donor Register makes it clear to your family that you want to be an organ donor, leaving them certain of your decision at what is a difficult and emotional time.

“We need more people in our local community to confirm their decision on the register today to save more lives now and in the future.

“More than 44,000 people in Bath

and North East Somerset have already declared their decision through the NHS Organ Donor Register, which is the best way for their family to know what they want.

“Nine out of 10 families will support organ donation if their loved one had confirmed their decision on the NHS Organ Donor Register.

“My late husband was given an additional 18 years of life because of the generosity of an organ donation so I know firsthand the real difference it makes and the deep feelings of gratitude and respect for the donor which lives in the recipients’ families forever.”

In addition to its work with organ donation, the RUH works

in partnership with NHS Blood and Transplant, Tissue and Eye Services as a key donation site, aiming to offer the option of tissue donation to bereaved families as part of normal end of life practice.

One tissue donor can potentially help up to 50 individuals with the gifts of healing, sight and relief of pain.

Joanne Pattemore, Specialist Nurse for Organ Donation from NHS Blood and Transplant, based at the Royal United Hospital, said: “I would urge everyone who supports organ donation to register their decision and make it clear that it’s what you want should the worst happen.

“It only takes two minutes to register but it could save the lives

of people who so desperately need a transplant. Please sign up.

It’s the best thing you’ll do today.”

Anthony Clarkson, Director of Organ Donation and Transplantation at NHS Blood and Transplant, said: “Someone will die today waiting for an organ transplant. You are more likely to need a transplant than you ever are to be a donor - and most of us would accept an organ if we needed one – but far fewer of us have made the decision to donate. By confirming your decision on the NHS Organ Donor Register, you could save or transform up to nine lives.”

Since its creation in 1994, thousands of lives have been saved thanks to people agreeing to donate their organs after death.

Issue 113

Your City, Your News - Bath Echo

Call for pregnant women to get protected from flu WORK to protect the most vulnerable people against the winter flu virus has got under way, with pregnant women and young children being called forward for vaccinations.

Pregnant women, along with children aged either two or three years old, are particularly susceptible to the nasty side effects of flu and are encouraged to take up the offer of the free vaccination as early as possible.

Getting the flu vaccine, which is also available to children aged between six months and 18 years with long-term health conditions, is the best form of protection against what is often wrongly described as just a heavy cold.

Dr Francis Campbell, a GP Partner, said: “Families with young children, as well as women who are currently pregnant, should arrange their flu vaccinations as early as possible.

“Getting protected sooner rather than later gives families the best possible chance of staying healthy throughout the winter and avoiding becoming seriously ill.

“The risk of flu to pregnant women is greater than most, as the virus affects not only mum, but also the baby. Having the flu vaccine is a simple, free and safe step that pregnant women can take to protect themselves and their baby from what can be a devastating illness, which is why getting vaccinated should be high on the priority list for all expectant mothers.”

Flu vaccines are available at any stage of pregnancy, and can be obtained from several locations, including GP practices,

pharmacies and midwife clinics.

The vaccine is also available for two and three-year-olds, and has a dual role in offering protection from flu, while at the same time preventing youngsters from passing the virus on to family members and other children.

Georgia Barker, a working mum in the NHS, has plans to get her toddler Ziggy vaccinated in the coming weeks.

The operational manager for Bath & North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire Integrated Care Board said: “Getting Ziggy protected really is a no-brainer, as it supports him to stay healthy, and in turns keeps him happy, which is everything we could want for our little boy.

“It also reduces the chance of me having to take time off work during the winter months, which is traditionally one of the busiest times of year for the NHS, so taking Ziggy for his flu vaccine is definitely a winwin for our family.”

The child flu vaccine, which is available from GP practices and pharmacies, is usually given as a spray in each nostril and is considered a painless procedure.

Ziggy’s mum Georgia added: “He thinks the flu vaccine is a special potion which goes up his nose to keep the bugs away.”

While flu vaccine invitations have already been sent to those who are eligible, people do not need to wait until contacted before booking their appointment.

The national booking service is currently open, and can be accessed online at www. nhs.uk, through the NHS App or over the phone by calling 119.

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Education

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Further education partnership launches in the West of England

Latest partner joins specialist team at firm

Kenji Batchelor | Photo © Stone King

Photo © Bath College

Becky Feather Reporter

A NEW initiative between further education and sixth form colleges across the West of England has been launched.

By raising aspirations and opening new opportunities, the Colleges West partnership aims to help improve lives and create lasting benefits for communities across the region.

Colleges West represents five leading institutions - Bath College, City of Bristol College, South Gloucestershire and Stroud College, St Brendan’s Sixth Form College, and Weston College – to provide a unified voice for further and sixth form education, and support work being led by the West of England Mayor Helen Godwin to drive

economic growth.

With a combined annual turnover of £215 million and links to more than 6,700 employers, the region’s five colleges deliver highquality education and training to more than 50,000 learners every year. They are also major regional employers, with more than 3,380 employees.

The partnership began meeting earlier this year to strengthen alignment between colleges, employers and national and local government departments.

The partnership will also play a key role in relation to skills on the West of England’s new Business Board.

In a joint statement, the CEOs and principals of the member colleges said: “The launch of Colleges West is an exciting moment for collaboration in the West of England Mayoral

Combined Authority area, further strengthening the critical role that colleges play in delivering economic growth, social mobility, and stronger communities.

“By working together, our colleges can better support Government and employers to ensure the West of England has the skills it needs to thrive.”

Metro Mayor Helen Godwin added: “This new partnership will back skills and back growth.

Our colleges and sixth forms give learners the opportunity to get on and, working together with Colleges West in this new chapter for our wider region, we can show everyone how they can be part of a bright future.

“In the week that we look forward to launching our new regional Growth Strategy for the coming decade, it’s right to have young people front and centre.”

BATH-BASED law firm Stone King has announced the appointment of Kenji Batchelor as a partner in its education team.

Kenji brings over a decade of specialist experience advising education, charity, and not-forprofit organisations.

He will be working primarily with independent schools as an integral part of Stone King’s education team.

He previously worked for VWV, where he was a partner in the firm’s education practice, advising independent schools, special schools and colleges on a wide range of corporate, commercial, governance and strategic issues. In particular, he has expertise in helping schools consider strategic projects such as mergers, acquisitions, jointventures and collaborations.

Kenji has over 10 years of experience working in the education and charity sector and more than 15 years of experience

on the boards of different education organisations and charities.

Of his appointment, Kenji said: “I’m delighted to be joining Stone King, with its strong reputation in both the education and charity sectors, and I look forward to getting to know the team and working together to support our independent schools and SEN sector clients.”

Stephen Ravenscroft, partner and head of Stone King’s independent schools offering, welcomed Kenji to the firm: “We are thrilled to have Kenji on board.

“His deep understanding of the independent schools' sector, combined with his experience advising on complex governance and strategic matters, makes him an excellent fit for our team.

“Kenji’s appointment further strengthens our education law offering and reflects our continued commitment to supporting clients across the sector.”

High praise as Bath is named Sport University of the Year THE University of Bath has been named as The Times and The Sunday Times Sport University of the Year 2026, recognising the sporting excellence achieved by students and staff.

Bath has also climbed from 8th to 7th place in the main academic rankings.

The institution is also awarded University of the Year in the Southwest 2026, a new category acknowledging the rise in undergraduates choosing to stay at home and commute to university.

Bath is one of two Universities highly commended for the University of the Year award.

Professor Cassie Wilson, Pro Vice Chancellor of Student Experience and Sport, said: “It means so much to us that Bath has been named Sport University of the Year, as it reflects our commitment to offer sport at every level, whether

Photo © University of Bath

you are an elite athlete striving for excellence or someone who enjoys being active for your health and wellbeing, there is something for everyone at the University.

“Our pioneering research in

injury prevention and bio banding means that sport at Bath is also making a huge impact on the lives of people worldwide through our high-profile partnerships.”

Stephen Baddeley, Director

of Sport, said: “Every year we welcome over 1.5 million people to our Sports Training Village and we are consistently investing in our facilities to ensure we’re providing a high-quality experience.

“This year we were proud to open the first fully recyclable 3G pitch in the UK, used week in week out by professional, student and community teams, plus our new outdoor multi-use games area for a diverse range of sports.”

Angus Gueterbock, Students’ Union Sports Officer, added: “This award is recognition of the hard work and commitment of our elected Student Union committee members and student volunteers who work tirelessly behind the scenes to nurture the sports community that we are all so proud of.”

Bath placed highly in several individual subject rankings,

including: • Sports Science – 1st • Accounting and Finance – 3rd • Criminology – 3rd • Mechanical Engineering – 5th • Chemical Engineering – joint 5th • Social Work – joint 5th Helen Davies, the editor of The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide, said: “It is exciting to see universities across the UK working to deliver extraordinary medical and technical breakthroughs, lead economic regeneration and inspire.

“New degrees are launching to meet the interests of today’s students and equip the next generation to power industry and progress positive change, such as programmes in electrical and electronic engineering with robotics, and AI and public policy.”

Issue 113

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New headteacher welcomed at Roundhill Primary School

Children help with local park transformation

A PRIMARY school in Bath has welcomed new leadership as the latest school year gets under way.

Headteacher Emma Cooper joined the school earlier this month, bringing with her over 25 years of experience in education.

Formerly deputy head at The Mendip School, a Special School near Shepton Mallet, she is now leading the team at Roundhill alongside newly appointed deputy headteacher, Richard Welsh and Vicky Heslop, SENCO (Special Educational Needs Coordinator).

Emma said: “I’m thrilled to be Headteacher for Roundhill, and am excited about all the opportunities this academic year will bring.

“Together we are committed to providing an inclusive and nurturing school, where all children are fully included and ready for their next steps in education and life beyond school.

“I’m looking forward to meeting parents and carers who are thinking about applying for a place at Roundhill this September.

“Our first Open Day is on Tuesday 7th October, 4.30-5.30pm, and I’d love to say ‘hello’.”

Roundhill Primary School is one of 17 schools supported by

IMPROVEMENTS for nature and people at Staddlestones Riverside Park in Midsomer Norton have begun, with help from local schoolchildren.

The work is part of a project

by B&NES Council, aiming to connect residents to their sustainable green spaces.

Alongside earthworks and landscaping, there will be new picnic benches and seating boulders, a boules court and new footpaths.

Children at Norton Hill Primary School have created designs which will be incorporated into a new metal artwork entrance to the park. Nature restoration features including tree planting and hedge laying will be carried out during the next phase of works later in the winter, together with new play equipment.

The works are expected to last 10 weeks and follow extensive public consultation in summer 2023, which received more than 300 comments and community support.

The Staddlestones Riverside Park scheme is part of the Somer Valley Rediscovered partnership project being led by Bath & North East Somerset Council and grant funded by the West of England Combined Authority and other partners.

Headteacher Emma Cooper with Zane (left) and Tiege (right)

The Partnership Trust, a Multi Academy Trust of primary, first and special schools across Bath and Somerset.

Emma Cooper’s previous school, The Mendip School, is also a member of the Trust.

Emily Massey, CEO of The Partnership Trust says: “One of the great benefits of being part of a Multi-Academy Trust

is watching colleagues develop their careers and progress within our family of schools.

“I’m delighted that Emma will be staying with the Trust as she takes on the Headship at Roundhill, so even more pupils can benefit from her outstanding skills and commitment to ensure every child receives the very best education.”

Waterside Valley in Westfield has also seen recent improvements to benefit the community and wildlife with the addition of an 800m crushed stone path connecting Radstock with the Waterford Park estate in Westfield year-round, replacing a previously waterlogged grass path.

New benches and picnic tables have also been installed, with further improvements including interpretation boards planned for the coming months.

The work has been delivered in partnership with Westfield Parish Council which purchased the 13-hectare site in July 2021.

Councillor Sarah Warren, deputy leader and cabinet member for sustainable B&NES, said: “The improvements to both of these sites are a fantastic example of how we can work in partnership to invest in a better future for our green spaces - for both people and nature. The increased accessibility at Waterside Valley will make it a place where more people can enjoy the views and the sense of calm that this special site offers.

“Useful feedback from local people about the Staddlestones Riverside Park designs has really helped shape plans which are now becoming a reality.”

P22

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Business ‘No interest’ from operators to reopen Rising Sun after blaze Becky Feather Reporter

THE Rising Sun in Bathwick, which has been closed since a devastating fire three years ago, looks unlikely to ever reopen as a pub.

Instead a planning application has been submitted to change the use of the Grove Street building into housing.

The pub dates from the midto-late 19th century and was constructed on the site of a pair of late 18th-century houses.

It was extended and refurbished throughout the 20th century.

Sixteen guests had been staying overnight in September 2022 in eight en-suite letting rooms when fire broke out. They were evacuated after a passerby called 999 to report flames coming out of the roof.

An investigation found three breaches – failure to ensure that appropriate procedures were in place in the event of a fire, failure to ensure that fire safety precautions were properly

maintained, and making false entries in the fire safety logbook.

The ex-landlord Norman Butcher received a suspended prison sentence in August 2023 and was ordered to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work.

Earlier this year, Bath & North East Somerset Council approved plans to remove fire and waterdamaged debris and to reinstate the third floor and roof.

Bedstone Developments Rising Sun Ltd said the works would enable the building to be returned to a “suitable and viable use” that would be discussed with the council. Now the developer is applying for planning permission and listed building consent to turn the pub into seven residential apartments and to build a coach house maisonette.

A report from Savills, which accompanies the application, says although the public house market remains “very active” with both licensed operators, developers, and investors continuing to invest in the sector, interest from licensed operators has been focused on the “best

The former Rising Sun pub on Grove Street

quality assets”.

“Despite the property’s central location within Bath and its proximity to the Bath Recreation Ground, it is situated in a secondary location away from the main commercial thoroughfares and high footfall areas.

“The property offers a small rear trade garden proximate to existing residential properties, which may limit its operational appeal to pub operators. No off-

street customer car parking is available.”

The report concludes: “Based on the interest received during the extensive marketing campaign, we can confirm there is a clear market preference for redevelopment of the site with all enquiries and offers coming from developers, investors and builders.

“No interest was received from prospective pub operators.

We believe (this) reflects the property’s fire damage condition and associated restoration costs, and also the secondary location.

“These factors coupled with broader market conditions, led licenced operators to conclude that the opportunity was unviable and more suited to redevelopment into an alternative use.

“We are also of the view, having regard to the likely rental returns (noting this is dependent on securing a private pub operator), and having regard to the cost of reinstatement, the provision of a public house as part of the redevelopment would be unviable.

“As such, it is not an option that would be progressed by any rational developer on a speculative basis.”

The planning reference is 25/03375/FUL. The deadline for comments is 23rd October.

Bedstone is also converting the vacant halls and vestries at the neighbouring old Central United Reformed Church into apartments.

Plans for five-bed Weston HMO are Repairs needed at pub approved despite objections due to water damage PLANS for a five-bed house in multiple occupation (HMO) in Weston Lane in Bath, which sparked 10 objections, have been approved.

Bath & North East Somerset Council has granted permission for the conversion of the four-bed semi-detached house known as Hillylands, saying the proposal is policy compliant.

Issues highlighted by objectors included parking and traffic, loss of privacy, noise and disturbance, the impact on the local community, and existing issues with rubbish and rats in the garden.

Concerns had also been raised that the property was already operating as a HMO without a licence, that the loft room was being used as a bedroom without building control approval, and there is an ongoing subsidence issue and insurance claim.

The application form in June

declared that the change of use had not yet started.

Council planning officers said there are 54 homes within a 100-metre radius of the site and only one is currently a HMO. The change of use of Hillylands will bring the concentration up to 3.7%, below the 10% threshold.

Council records also showed no ‘sandwiching’ of a home between two HMOs from the change of use.

The site has on-site space for two vehicles, which the officers said is enough, and for bikes. There is also space for waste and recycling storage.

The planning team said there would not be a significant loss of privacy or outlook, and if there is any noise or disturbance, it should be reported directly to the owner or managing agent.

If problems persist, the council’s environmental protection team could investigate and take action

if necessary.

The report added that if the loft is being used unlawfully, this should be reported to the council’s building control team for investigation.

It added: “The reported subsidence issue and ongoing insurance claim raise concerns about the structural integrity of the building.

“While structural safety is not directly assessed through the planning process, any significant structural concerns should be addressed through building control and the relevant engineering professionals.

“Planning permission does not override the need to ensure that the building is safe and structurally sound.”

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AN application seeking listed building consent for repair works to a pub on the outskirts of the city has been submitted to Bath & North East Somerset Council.

Mitchells & Butlers Retail Limited’s proposals for Grade II listed The Globe Inn at Newton St Loe follow an inspection by a firm of civil and structural engineers.

The application is to replace a timber lintel in a rear gable wall which has rotted due to water getting in at roof level.

The lintel was found to be saturated and “failing”, resulting in cracks in the masonry and mortar missing and loose.

The wall of the gable in which the timber lintel sits was found to be wet and damp inside and out.

The cause was identified as water ingress due to the condition of the parapet and the overflow from drainage hoppers. The engineers’ report proposes like-for-like

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repairs to the parapet, drainage hoppers and downpipes.

The timber lintel will need to be replaced and further intrusive investigations are recommended, which include the removal of part of a ceiling to assess whether any of the timber joists have been damaged. If they have, they will be replaced or spliced, and the ceiling will be reinstated.

The application also includes a replacement fire escape door.

The planning reference is 25/03342/LBA. The deadline for comments is 9th October.

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Your City, Your News - Bath Echo

Popular auction house owes nearly Furniture company £200,000 to former customers Heal’s set to open store on Milsom Street

The Aldridges of Bath Ltd premises on the Lower Bristol Road in Bath

A POPULAR auction house in Bath which went into liquidation earlier this month owes nearly £200,000 to its customers, it can be revealed.

Documents seen by the Echo show Aldridges of Bath Ltd also owes more than £200,000 to company creditors.

The auction house, which was based on the Lower Bristol Road but has now closed, was established in the 1970s, originally trading from Walcot Street before moving to its former premises.

On its website, which has now been taken down, Aldridges said it was “founded in the mid-18th century, originally an equine auctioneers and ‘horse bazaar’ based in London’s Covent Garden until 1940”.

The company owes substantial amounts to individual customers, including one who was due more than £40,000. Another is owed just over £25,000.

Several customers were due thousands of pounds from selling their goods with the auction

house.

The company owes Bath & North East Somerset Council more than £7,000.

The documents state: “The Company did not hold customer monies in trust. Instead, they formed part of the Company’s operating capital.

“Due to the Company’s insolvency and its imminent liquidation, under prevailing insolvency law these monies, such as they remain, cannot be refunded to customers.

“Customers will need to make a claim in the Company’s liquidation. Details of the claim process will be notified to all the Company’s creditors once the liquidation has commenced.”

A spokesperson for Begbies Traynor, who have been appointed as liquidators of the firm, said: “Neil Vinnicombe and Paul Wood of Begbies Traynor have been appointed as Joint Liquidators of Aldridges of Bath Limited on 23 September 2025.

“As part of their statutory duty Joint Liquidators will undertake a

thorough review of the Company records to attempt to establish where the creditors' money went and if there are any Antecedent actions they can pursue. Also to submit a confidential report to the Government on the director’s conduct.

“In these cases, a Creditors' Committee may be established with the approval of Creditors.

This can help the Joint Liquidators agree approach and expedite their work. It can also provide a communication channel to update creditors when possible.

“A number of creditors have expressed a desire to form a Committee and some to serve on it.

“The liquidators will be in contact with the creditors concerned to establish if a committee can be validly formed.”

Some customers of Aldridges have been in touch with the Echo, concerned that they had not been contacted by Begbies Traynor.

The liquidators' Bath office can be contacted by calling 01225 316040.

The former India Jane store in Milsom Street

A HEAL’S furniture store is set to open in Milsom Street in Bath this autumn.

It will be the company’s first store in the South West.

Heal’s, which has been designing, making and selling quality furniture for more than two centuries, already has stores in Tottenham Court Road in London, Kingston Upon Thames, Bicester Outlet Village, Leeds, Newcastle and York.

The shop at 20 Milsom Street is currently vacant and was most recently the India Jane interiors store.

An application seeking listed building consent has been submitted to Bath & North East Somerset Council.

The proposed works to the Grade II listed building include repairs to the roof lantern and sash windows, fire safety upgrades, partial new lighting, redecoration, the installation of freestanding retail fixtures and an external fascia sign.

A letter from the architects that

accompanies the application says: “The proposed works to 20 Milsom Street are limited in scope and have been carefully designed to preserve the historic and architectural significance of the listed building.

“All interventions are sympathetic, largely cosmetic, and fully reversible, ensuring the continued protection of the building’s heritage value.

“The inclusion of essential fire safety upgrades further enhances the building’s functionality without compromising its character.

“Overall, the proposal represents a respectful and considered approach to the ongoing use and stewardship of this important heritage asset.”

The planning reference is 25/03570/LBA. The deadline for comments is 23rd October.

or whether anyone else in the organisation had any knowledge of the fraud. Individual employees cannot be held personally liable for failing to prevent fraud.

Fraudulent acts that can trigger liability: • Fraud by false representation, failing to disclose, or abuse of position • Fraudulent trading, false accounting, or false statements by directors • Obtaining services dishonestly, cheating the public revenue The Home Office outlines six guiding principles, and an organisation’s adherence to these principles will be considered in court: 1. Top-level commitment 2. Risk assessment 3. Proportionate procedures 4. Due diligence 5. Communication and training

6. Monitoring and review The key is to specifically keep under review, understand and address fraud risk.

Practical actions to take (as applicable) include conducting a fraud risk assessment – key areas might be finance and procurement – and strengthening third-party due diligence, noting that agents and contractors might be higher risk.

Including anti-fraud protections in commercial contracts and updating policies, practices, governance and controls will also help.

You may wish to appoint someone to lead on fraud prevention, and train and educate staff accordingly, fostering a ‘speakup’ culture.

Finally, of course, always maintain robust documentation and audit trails!

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Legal Expert Eleanor Reilly Solicitor

Stone King LLP

Sponsored by

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

New corporate offence for failing to prevent fraud A significant change in UK corporate law came into effect on 1st September 2025.

Large, incorporated organisations can now be held criminally liable, and so fined, for the new corporate offence of failure to prevent fraud.

This applies when an associated person – such as an employee or agent, or through a subsidiary – commits a fraud intending to benefit the organisation, its group, or its service recipients.

The offence applies to incorporated organisations with any two of the following: • Over 250 employees • Turnover exceeding £36 million • Total assets over £18 million The figures apply across the

corporate group and have reference to the financial year prior to the occurrence of the fraud. Companies, charities and partnerships registered at Companies House, statutory corporations (for example NHS Trusts), corporations with a Royal Charter (for example BBC), and co-operative and community benefit societies are all incorporated organisations.

An organisation’s overseas operations can also be caught.

The corporate offence is strict liability, so the organisation is automatically liable unless it can prove that it had reasonable fraud prevention procedures in place.

Underlying fraud must also be proven beyond reasonable doubt, but an individual does not need to be prosecuted for it.

It does not matter whether any benefit was actually received,

P24

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Friday 26th September - Thursday 9th October 2025

Politics £10m budget for Tufa Field housing development is approved John Wimperis

Local Democracy Reporter

HOMES set to be built on Bath’s Tufa Field wildlife haven will improve the lives of some of the most vulnerable people in the area, the council has said as it approved the controversial plan.

Building on the field by Englishcombe Lane, which contains rare limestone formations called tufa and is a unique habitat, has been unpopular locally, but the field has been designated for housing for about 20 years.

A previous plan to build 37 homes on the field was scrapped, and top councillors at Bath & North East Somerset Council have insisted their plan to build 16 units of supported housing on the field will protect the unique nature of the site and make it a feature of the development.

Planning permission for the council-led scheme was approved a year ago. In their meeting on 12th September, the council’s cabinet voted to allocate the £10.122 million in capital funding to construct the homes.

Council cabinet member for built environment, housing, and sustainable development Matt McCabe said: “It is an excellent award-winning scheme that meets an unmet need in our community and will undoubtedly improve the lives of some of our most vulnerable residents.”

How the new bungalows will look | Image © Arcadis / B&NES Council

The project will see supported housing for 16 individuals with complex needs, such as autism and learning disabilities, built in two clusters on either side of the tufa flushes in the middle of the field.

It won a national planning award in July and a national housing design award earlier this month.

Councillor McCabe told the committee: “The previously permissioned 37-home scheme just about scraped through the system and despite all its shortcomings, it was deemed policy compliant.

“But there was no local support and, having to listen to the concerns of residents, Councillor [Kevin] Guy as the leader stepped in and said we should be delivering something much less dense and far more sensitive to

the site.

“This coincided with a pressing need for local supported housing for some of our most vulnerable residents, where currently we pay for expensive care packages outside of our area, far from family and far from home.”

He added: “Although the tufa flushes do not meet the national requirement for protection, the local residents strongly expressed their desire for the natural environment to be protected and managed. So we have designed the scheme to treat its ecological value as an asset.”

Council cabinet member for children's services Paul May said: “The specialist housing will help residents live as independently as possible in their own homes, but with social care and support they need provided on site.

“The accessible accommodation and peaceful low stimulus environment will be tailored to the residents’ needs.

“This complexity of design will support people with different disabilities and above all will support people to stay in the local area, close to their families, whereas they previously might have been in expensive placements away from the local area.”

The cabinet voted unanimously to agree on the allocation of £10.122 million capital funding for the project. The figure did not appear in the publicly accessible reports for the council meeting, but did appear on a council webpage about the decision, although it was later removed.

The business case being considered by the cabinet was also excluded from the public documents — an action which councils are legally able to take if it is judged commercially sensitive and the public interest is better served by keeping it secret.

But on the Tufa Field website — tufafield.com — which hosts blogs about the field, campaigners have criticised the decision.

A post on the website said: “The decision to redact the business case is nothing short of outrageous and a blatant abuse of powers designed to legitimately protect privacy and commercial sensitivities.

“There is no case in this instance to protect this information, the

council has a budget and an expectation of long-term costsaving and these should be publicly available for scrutiny and long-term monitoring before commitment to expenditure of this amount of tax-payers’ money.”

Out-of-area placements are expensive for the council and reducing the need for them with more in-area provision will lead to a significant saving on the council’s revenue budget.

Council cabinet member for resources Mark Elliott said: “This development is good financially, good for the vulnerable people it will help support, and the best option available environmentally.”

The council plans to put the scheme out to tender within the month, award a contract in November, and see the first enabling works begin in February 2026 with a full start on site in July 2026. It hopes the scheme will be completed by March 2028.

Councillor McCabe told the committee meeting: “This is a nationally excellent scheme but we wouldn’t be here if it hadn’t been for the intervention of the local community.

“I know there will still be those who object to any development but to those who said “if you insist on developing this field, then you must do better,” you were heard.

We listened. We went back to the drawing board.”

He said: “We have those national awards because of you and because we listened.”

Neighbouring council votes to start process of joining WECA John Wimperis

Local Democracy Reporter

NORTH Somerset Council has voted to begin the year-long formal process to join the West of England Combined Authority (WECA) — despite fears it will see the return of the hated County of Avon.

A bitter row dominated the council meeting on 16th September where councillors voted to begin developing and consulting on a proposal for joining WECA. Council leader Mike Bell (Weston-super-Mare Central, Liberal Democrat) told councillors: “Devolution, whatever our views about it might be, is clearly the policy priority of both this government and the previous government.

He said: “It is better for us to engage in this process and try and shape it to suit North Somerset and the needs and priorities of North Somerset rather than having it forced upon us.”

But the idea of once again joining with Bath and North East Somerset, Bristol, and South

Gloucestershire has prompted concern from some long-serving councillors.

“Having fought to destroy Avon Council and all that it stood for, I am not prepared to support in any way the forming of a Greater Bristol authority — for that is what is behind this,” long-time councillor David Shopland (Clevedon East, Independent) told the meeting.

Councillor Peter Burden (Portishead South, Conservative) warned it would be a Bristolcentric “tinpot little city region.”

Meanwhile Councillor Caritas Charles (Portishead East, Independent) said the mayoral model was “not real devolution” and would dilute local people’s voices.

“Instead of more power for communities and people, he said: “It feels like we are being asked to rubber stamp decisions that have already been made in London.”

Councillor Bridget Petty (Backwell, Green) said: “The proposals from the government to set everybody into strategic partnerships is not devolution

and is not good for communities.

However I am pragmatic.

“If the money on the table is at WECA, then we are naive if we think that we can turn it down.”

Councillor Charles said: “Let’s be honest, we are going to give up some of our democratic freedoms for cash. That’s what it’s about.”

Councillor Bell said he was not convinced the mayoral model was a good idea either.

But he said: “We have lost out for eight years. We are losing out now in terms of funding for some culture, for some transport, for youth employment and youth engagement.

“This is real stuff — millions of pounds — that we are denied as a community.”

North Somerset Council, at the time under Conservative control, declined to join WECA when it was set up in 2017.

Although it considered joining in 2020, it was blocked by Labourrun Bristol, whose then mayor Marvin Rees said: “I support the expansion of WECA to include North Somerset but only when there is a clear financial offer that benefits Bristol and the West of

England economy.”

It is set to cost the council £290,000 to run the consultation and process to join WECA. Councillor Charles said: “This is £300,000 from local coffers to implement something that the government wants, rather than something our residents have asked for.”

Councillor Bell said he had written twice to the government to ask it to cover the costs.

Despite the concerns, a significant majority of councillors voted to begin the process to join WECA, with only eight councillors voting against.

The process will see an eightweek consultation across North Somerset and the current members of WECA, another vote of North Somerset Council, and Parliamentary approval before the council can become a member.

The report before the meeting said: “It is unclear at present whether this would take immediate effect, or if full membership would wait until after the next 2029 mayoral election.”

The County of Avon remains a divisive idea even among members of the council who had not been born when it was disbanded in 1996.

Councillor Thomas Daw (Winford, Green), 22, told councillors: “Bad experiences from a long time ago doesn’t mean you can’t try something new.

“It was a long time ago and don’t let your past dictate my future please.”

But Councillor Michael Pryke (Clevedon Walton, Conservative), 26, retorted: “Let’s have a discussion about my future then Councillor Daw.” He said: “What do they say the definition of madness is? Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.

“This is frankly a reformed Avon and we should name it as such.

“I am astonished we can sit here tonight and suggest that this is anything but a done deal.”

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Planning Round-up

Public Notices

B&B conversion plans A planning application has been lodged with B&NES Council to turn the Royal Park Guest House at 16 Crescent Gardens in the city from a bed and breakfast into a residential home. The property, which is described as being vacant, has parking for one vehicle. The planning reference is 25/03129/FUL. The deadline for comments is 23rd October.

New lease of life for public loos in Radstock Plans to turn disused public loos in Radstock into an office have been approved by Bath & North East Somerset Council. The block is on Waterloo Road, close to Radstock Museum in the heart of the conservation area and next to the former Coomb's Brewery building of 1898, which is a nondesignated heritage asset. The scheme includes the addition of a slate roof. The building will continue to be in keeping with the surrounding historic context, council planners said.

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

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

Root Bath Restaurant Ltd applied to Bath & North East Somerset Council on 16th September 2025 for a licence to use the premises at 10 Milsom Place, Bath, BA1 1BZ for the supply of alcohol between the hours of 12:00 - 22:45 Monday-Sunday.

Notification of the application made to the Licensing Authority is available on a register at www.bathnes.gov.uk/publicregisters Representations should be made in writing to: Bath & North East Somerset Council Licensing Services Lewis House Manvers Street Bath BA1 1JG

Notification of the application made to the Licensing Authority is available on a register at www.bathnes.gov.uk/publicregisters Representations should be made in writing to: Bath & North East Somerset Council Licensing Services Lewis House Manvers Street Bath BA1 1JG

or by email to licensing@bathnes.gov.uk by 13th October 2025

Six-bed HMO permitted Plans to change a three-bed property in Whiteway into a sixbed house of multiple occupation (HMO) have been permitted.

The assessment by B&NES Council planners said the change of use of 89 Sheridan Road is policy complaint. It will result in a 9.7% concentration of HMO properties within a 100-metre radius, just below the 10% threshold, and will not leave a property ‘sandwiched’.

I, Nilav Sureshkumar Babariya, applied to Bath & North East Somerset Council on 16/09/2025 for a Variation of Premises Licence to use the premises at Pizza GoGo Bath, 4A Cleveland Place, Bath, BA1 5DJ for the following licensable activities: - The retail sale of alcohol for delivery.

- The provision of late night refreshment (pizza shop takeaway and delivery).

Proposed hours of operation: 10:00am to 05:00am.

This variation is only for operating hours, rest conditions and terms are to remain the same.

Representations made will be disclosed in an open meeting should a hearing be necessary.

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

or by email to licensing@bathnes.gov.uk by 14th October 2025 Representations made will be disclosed in an open meeting should a hearing be necessary.

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

Dated: 16/09/2025

Dated: 16/09/2025

Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure) (England) Order 2015 NOTICE UNDER ARTICLE 13 OF APPLICATION FOR PLANNING PERMISSION Proposed development at: Site Of Former Unigate Dairies Depot, Lower Bristol Road, Westmoreland, Bath, Bath And North East Somerset BA2 3DX. Take notice that application is being made by: Organisation Name: Avon Fire and Rescue Service Applicant Name: Ms Caitlin Webster For planning permission to: Temporary use of the site as a fire station comprising modular buildings with station office, vehicular storage bay, staff gym, parking and associated ancillary works.

Local Planning Authority to whom the application is being submitted: Bath & North East Somerset Council Local Planning Authority address: Lewis House, Manvers Street, Bath, BA1 1JG Any owner of the land or tenant who wishes to make representations about this application, should write to the council within 21 days of the date of this notice.

Signatory: Ms Cathy Francis Dated: 26/09/2025 Statement of owners' rights: The grant of planning permission does not affect owners' rights to retain or dispose of their property, unless there is some provision to the contrary in an agreement or lease.

Statement of agricultural tenants' rights: The grant of planning permission for non-agricultural development may affect agricultural tenants' security of tenure.

'Owner' means a person having a freehold interest or a leasehold interest the unexpired term of which is not less than seven years. 'Tenant' means a tenant of an agricultural holding any part of which is comprised in the land.

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Bath’s defeat says more about opponent’s shortcomings Richard Briggs Reporter

TWO tries in the closing stages denied Bath Rugby’s youngsters a remarkable victory over a vastly experienced Exeter Chiefs team in the PREM Rugby Cup. The Devonians, with a near full-strength side, spared their blushes by scoring in the 76th and 79th minutes at The Rec on Saturday 20th September to turn a 14-11 deficit into a 23-14 victory, giving them revenge over the Blue, Black & White for defeat in last term’s final.

But Johann van Graan’s team can hold their heads high – and home fans in the capacity crowd of 14,509 clearly appreciated their efforts which almost inflicted a sobering reverse on the Sandy Park outfit.

The Chiefs had 71% of the possession and 86% of the territory and entered the home 22 on 17 occasions – the hosts, with an average age of 21-and-a-half, managed only two incursions.

But the Blue, Black & White showed great potential in the Pool A encounter, scored two good tries and almost took a major scalp. The result says a lot more about Exeter’s shortcomings than it does about Bath’s.

Conditions were difficult. With the floodlights on from the start, the players – and supporters in the East Stand and North Stand – were battered by spells of wind and rain that left the pitch very slippery.

Bath, who are continuing their policy of focusing on youth in this competition, gave debuts to fly-half James Linegar and replacements Alfie Griffin (prop),

Max Pearce (hooker) and Alex Ridgway (back row).

The first half of the Round 2 clash was drab.

Exeter took a fourth-minute lead when Henry Slade booted a 23-metre penalty from in front of the posts.

But there was little more of note until the 31st minute, when the Chiefs’ Rusi Tuima was yellow carded, following the intervention of television match official Dan Jones, after shouldercharging Austin Emens into touch – a misdemeanour that prompted scuffles involving most of the players. And Bath took advantage of their numerical superiority.

In the 32nd minute, Emens passed to Thompson Cowan who outpaced the defence and crossed under the posts. Linegar added the extras and the hosts led 7-3.

A 27-metre penalty from the right

by Slade cut the deficit to one point five minutes before halftime.

The fans in the uncovered stands would have appreciated the interval sunshine. But any smiles resulting from that were wiped away when Exeter regained the initiative in the 59th minute, Dan John scoring from close range in the left corner. Slade failed from the tee and the Chiefs were 11-7 up.

However, Bath stunned their guests in the 63rd minute with a second converted try to go 14-11 ahead.

Exeter spilled possession and Linegar grabbed the ball and found Will Butt who released Louie Hennessey to burst forward from seven metres and cross to the right of the posts. Linegar booted the conversion.

But the game began to swing the

Two tries in the closing stages by their opponents Exeter Chiefs meant Bath Rugby’s youngsters missed out on a remarkable victory | Photo © Richard Briggs

Chiefs’ way for the decisive time in the 74th minute, when Mikey Summerfield was sin binned.

A minute later, referee Craig Maxwell-Keys brandished a yellow card at Scott Kirk, leaving Bath with only 13 players.

Could the hosts hold out, with Exeter piling on the pressure?

The inevitable happened in the 76th minute, when the visitors’ Joseph Dweba scored on the left. Slade’s conversion attempt rebounded off the left post – and at 16-14 down, Bath were still in the match.

But the Blue, Black & White’s hopes were extinguished when, in the 79th minute, Exeter’s Stephen Varney touched down on the right. Slade majored to take the Chiefs nine points clear.

At the final whistle, Rob Baxter’s players knew they had got out of jail.

But Bath are not all about winning trophies. They are also about building for the future. By giving youngsters their chance in

the PREM Rugby Cup, the club are doing just that. And without wanting to belittle the Blue, Black & White’s achievements in lifting the cup last season, much bigger prizes lie in wait.

Bath starting XV: 1 Scott Kirk, 2 Jasper Spandler, 3 Kieran Verden, 4 Harvey Cuckson, 5 Ewan Richards, 6 Ethan Staddon, 7 Thomson Cowan, 8 Arthur Green, 9 Tom Carr-Smith, 10 James Linegar, 11 Tyler Offiah, 12 Will Butt, 13 Louie Hennessey, 14 Austin Emens, 15 Jack Woods.

Bath replacements: 16 Max Pearce, 17 Mikey Summerfield, 18 Alfie Griffin, 19 Will Jeanes, 20 Alex Ridgway, 21 Neil le Roux, 22 Charlie Griffin, 23 George Timmins.

Exeter starting XV: 1 Kwenzo Blose, 2 Jack Yeandle, 3 Bachuki Tchumbadze, 4 Lewis Pearson, 5 Rusi Tuima, 6 Ethan Roots, 7 Christ Tshiunza, 8 Ross Vintcent, 9 Stephen Varney, 10 Harvey Skinner, 11 Dan John, 12 Henry Slade, 13 Ben Hammersley, 14

Paul Brown-Bampoe, 15 Josh Hodge.

Exeter replacements: 16 Joseph Dweba, 17 Will Goodrick-Clarke, 18 Josh Iosefa-Scott, 19 Andrea Zambonin, 20 Kane James, 21 Charlie Chapman, 22 Ben Coen, 23 Nick Lilley.

The Blue, Black & White’s Pol Roger Performance of the Match award went to Tom Carr-Smith.

Bath now turn their attention to the Gallagher PREM. They will begin their defence of the title when they face Harlequins at Twickenham Stoop Stadium on Friday 26th September (7.45pm).

Meanwhile, a strong Bath United side won 33-19 at Champ Rugby newcomers Worcester Warriors in a pre-season fixture on Friday 19th September.

Captain Ben Spencer (2), Guy Pepper, Tom Dunn and Vilikesa Sela scored Bath’s tries in the resurrected Warriors’ first game at Sixways Stadium since the club’s collapse in 2022.

United Starting XV: 1 Francois van Wyk, 2 Kepueli Tuipulotu, 3 Archie Griffin, 4 Ted Hill, 5 Charlie Ewels, 6 Miles Reid, 7 Guy Pepper, 8 Josh Bayliss, 9 Ben Spencer, 10 Max Ojomoh, 11 Will Muir, 12 Cameron Redpath, 13 Ollie Lawrence, 14 Joe Cokanasiga, 15 Henry Arundell.

United replacements: Henry Bartlett, Tom de Glanville, Tom Dunn, Dan Frost, Chris Harris, James Maloney, Isaac Mears, Ross Molony, Enoch OpokuGyamfi, Quinn Roux, Vilikesa Sela, Connor Treacey, Bernard van der Linde, Claudius Wheeler, Sam Winters.

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COLUMN | Ben Hicks, Clerk of the Course - Bath Racecourse Photo © Johnny Hathaway

T

he weekend of 13th/14th September saw the track host our 2-day fixture.

In total, 174 horses and ponies took part, and the weather ensured the two days could hardly have been more different.

The opener on Saturday featured a full eight-race card. Forecasters had warned of showers, but apart from one brief downpour, they largely passed Bath by. With its exposed, breezy position and little significant watering throughout the summer, the track dried steadily during the afternoon and following race 3, I changed the official going to Good To Soft.

Nearly 90 runners contested the card, a healthy figure that tested the surface fully. Credit is due to the grounds team, who immediately set about repairing divots and moving rail once racing concluded, with the

familiar tones of The Wurzles being echoed down to the bottom bend, no doubt adding to the team’s motivation!

This adjusted layout provided a stretch of 4-5 yards of fresh ground for the following day around the bend and up a significant stretch of our home straight – this was appreciated by trainers and jockeys as they prepared for the worsening forecast on day 2.

Sunday opened with two pony races, staged just as light rain began to fall. Both contests were run in good spirits and were well received by the crowd.

These young riders – many already attached to racing yards – showcased their talent and enthusiasm, hinting at careers to come. It was a reassuring reminder that the sport’s next generation is already coming through, many of whom may well be back at Bath in the future as

fully fledged professionals.

Testing Ground for the Feature Finals From lunchtime onward, the rain set in. Persistent and sometimes heavy, it softened the going to Soft following race 1, and Heavy after race 3. By the time the feature contests arrived, the surface required gritty determination and stamina emphasised performances.

The Stayers Series Final, a 1m 6f contest, posed an even stronger test of stamina than normal, given the conditions. Local trainer Jeremy Scott, best known for his jumps string and already on the 2025 Cheltenham Festival roll of honour, saddled Fair Dinkum to a brave success. For Scott, the win marked another demonstration of his versatility across codes, and for the horse, it was due reward for sticking resolutely to his task

in the mud. This time of year often sees more jump trainers running horses at Bath over staying trips as they prepare for the upcoming jumps season.

Later came the Bath Sprint Series Final, which went to Cindy Lou Who. She relished the testing conditions and stretched clear impressively, for what was her third win at Bath this season, one of which was on completing contrasting Firm ground! For trainer Tony Carroll, it was part of a notable double on the day, further enhancing his reputation for preparing sprinters to handle all terrains.

Reflections on the Weekend Across both days, the total of 174 participants contested racing in conditions we often see as we approach the Autumnal months.

Saturday’s more forgiving conditions were welcomed; whereas Sunday showed Bath at its most uncompromising, with fog whirling around amongst the rain, thankfully not descending to any detrimental effect. Yet the common thread was resilience – of horses, riders, trainers and the team behind the scenes.

For Tony Carroll, Jeremy Scott, and the winners of the other 13 races, it was a weekend to remember. For the youngsters in the pony races, it was a weekend to dream.

And for everyone else – staff, jockeys, trainers, owners and punters alike – it was a reminder that Bath’s unique character brings the ability to surprise, challenge and entertain in equal measure.

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Larkhall secretary ‘faces sexist behaviour almost every week’ Richard Briggs Reporter

SEXISM is still all too common in non-league football, according to Larkhall Athletic secretary and director Tracey Hill.

She says she is on the receiving end of sexist attitudes virtually every week, despite loving the game since the 1970s, having attended games since the 1980s and having been involved as a football administrator for well over a decade.

And she is tired of the way she is treated by men who are clearly living in the Dark Ages as far as football is concerned.

Her experiences paint a shocking picture of football in 2025, with some men still regarding women as knowing nothing about the sport – a situation even more outrageous considering the rise of the women’s game in England and the Lionesses’ successes over recent years.

She told the Echo: “I’ve loved football since I was really little.

I’m from near London. From when I was about eight to 10, I was a Chelsea supporter briefly.

My brother was Leeds United but Chelsea wore blue and I liked blue.

“By the time I was 11, definitely by the time I was 12, I was a Liverpool supporter and I’ve been Liverpool ever since. I had a poster of Kenny Dalglish in my bedroom when I was a teenager, all that kind of stuff.

“It was really tough liking football when you were a girl [in the

1970s]. I wasn’t able to play at that age. I went to an all-girls’ school, and I did ask them if we could play just five-a-side and they said ‘No way’.

“My brother played football all the time, and was taken to watch too, but it was never an option for me.

The first game I ever went to, I think I was 17. I went to Highbury [Arsenal’s former home] with a mate. I think I went to Highbury twice and then I started going to Brentford a lot, because my mum’s ex was a season-ticket holder, so I could spend some time with my mum and go to the football.

“Brentford were in [the equivalent of ] League One then. It was such a great ground [Brentford’s former home Griffin Park].

“I moved to Bath in 1993 and then moved to Larkhall in 1994, so I’ve been in Larkhall for more than 30 years.

“In 2007, Gerald Rich, who runs the greengrocers in the village and who’s been involved with the club for decades, finally wore me down – he said ‘You’ve got to come and see the Larks’. I was suddenly free on Saturdays so I said ‘OK, I’ll give it a go’.

“I went up with a mate and it was like ‘Oh my God, this is amazing, absolutely amazing’. It was Western League Division One. We got promoted that season into the Premier Division and then we went up to the Southern League in 2014.

“I became football secretary the year before that, so I had one year in the Western League. This is my

13th season as football secretary.

“But being a woman in nonleague football is a challenge.

I’ve been involved for such a long time and there are lots of clubs I know well, but even so I do struggle to be taken seriously by older people.

“There’s a massive backlash with some younger men as well.

“But the [Larkhall] players are pretty good. We were at Beaconsfield Town in the FA Cup [in August], a couple of players were warming up by the touchline and I was standing by the dugout.

“One player turned to me and said ‘What do you reckon [about the game]?’ and I was like ‘You’re actually asking me what I think of the game? OK, I’ll tell you’ and he said ‘Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah’… oh God, that was amazing.

“I do know my football. I played six-a-side a bit when I was about 17 and I’ve been watching football enthusiastically for most of my life. I’m not so good on the tactics because I’m not involved in that capacity, but I write match reports and I understand what I’m looking at.

“I get asked kind of covert questions, very often at away games. People say ‘Is it your son playing?’ – and the unspoken question is ‘What are you doing here?’. It happens virtually every week, somebody says something.

I get this all the time and I’m sick to death of it. But I’ll keep plugging away in the hope that I can change some men’s outdated views.”

Safer fencing being proposed at university’s Sports Training Village

The work is to improve safety for players and spectators

Becky Feather Reporter

PLANS for new fencing around a hockey pitch and volleyball court at the University of Bath’s Sports Training Village have been submitted to Bath & North East Somerset Council.

The application says the purpose is first and foremost to increase player and spectator safety from loose balls.

Currently, three of the four sides of the eastern hockey pitch have six-metre-high fences.

The application seeks planning permission to increase the height

of the eastern fence from 2.75 metres to six metres.

The proposed works at the hockey pitch also include installing a 1.2-metre-high wire mesh spectator fence with kickboard behind the goals and a new threemetre access gate to the pitch.

The volleyball court currently has a two-metre-high timber fence to the eastern and southern external sides.

The plan is to install high-ball stop netting on top of these fences to increase the height to six metres.

The planning reference is 25/03436/FUL and the deadline for comments is 30th September.

Bath Rugby's Johann Van Graan so proud of youngsters Richard Briggs Reporter

BATH Rugby head of rugby Johann van Graan was proud of his young team as they ran a strong Exeter Chiefs outfit so close in their PREM Rugby Cup Pool A opener on Saturday 20th September.

The Blue, Black & White fielded a side with an average age of 21-and-a-half at The Rec and were leading 14-11 with four minutes to go in the club’s first competitive fixture of the campaign.

But a pair of late yellow cards took their toll on Bath and the visitors hit back to win 23-14 in front of a sellout crowd of 14,509.

Van Graan was understandably put out when the opening question of the post-match press conference challenged his team selection and queried why a strong United squad went

to Worcester Warriors for a “meaningless” pre-season fixture the previous evening.

“I disagree totally that it was a meaningless friendly,” he said.

“We’ve got amazing fans, it’s amazing to play in front of a full house. It was amazing about their support in terms of supporting a team at the average age of 21.5.

“And the way we see it at Bath Rec, it doesn’t matter which player takes the field, we’re proud of the jersey, and I saw a team proud of the club.”

The tone shifted when the Bath Echo suggested to van Graan that a young Bath side to be leading a much more experienced Chiefs team until the closing stages was something to celebrate.

“I think that’s why there’s a PREM Cup,” said van Graan. “That’s why you get a Champions Cup and a Premiership and a PREM Cup. Last season we played 37 games, we’re going to back our squad.

“Unfortunately, certain things

that DoRs [directors of rugby] have got to abide to and you’ve got make certain choices. So incredibly proud of them.

“We came to win, we led at half-time 7-6, score 16-14 [to Exeter with time running out], Ewan Richards poaches the ball, eventually that penalty goes the other way and we win it by a point, then I think the questioning might be a lot different. So, yes, I’m very proud of them.”

Van Graan insisted that Bath will not change their policy of giving young players their chance in the cup – and he praised teenager James Linegar for a fine display at fly-half.

“James, 18 years old, to deliver that for 72 or 74 minutes, I think he can be very proud of himself,” said the head of rugby.

“We came up against a very heavy pack and we just couldn’t handle their power at the back end, but that’s exactly what this competition is for.

“It’s to make sure we come through those bits and they’ll be better for it. We win together, we lose together and we stick together.

“Average age 21.5, we’ve got 124 Premiership caps across the XXIII, they’ve got 991, not to speak about Test caps, and that’s what we believe this competition should be in the way that Rob [Baxter, Exeter’s director of rugby] selects his team and other coaches select their teams, that’s up to them.

“For us, we’re going stick with the way that we do it and we are tough to beat and you could see it in the players.

“One point is big, one decision is big that potentially goes the other way and we might get a different result. But I’ve got no issues with what happened out there. I thought that was a very intense game of rugby.

“It was the start of the season, first time a lot of the guys have played

80s and 60s and I know we’ll be better for it.”

Baxter, whose side lost their cup opener at Gloucester Rugby on Friday 12th September, said: “We did quite a lot of good stuff and we’ve just got to keep working on getting the line of the team.

The frustrating things were Part A and Part B go right but Part C kept breaking down.

“We’ve just got to keep working hard at piecing things together.

The more we piece things together, the stronger we’ll be across the game.

“If you look at the stats in the territory, we were pretty much dominant in most areas, which we should be with the respective XXIIIs. But we just kind of lacked clinical ability, and it’s not just in the finishing.

“The pressure I know they were feeling today to win, some of our guys, it didn’t allow them to thrive. And I’ve got to find a way for them to thrive.”

P28

Friday 26th September - Thursday 9th October 2025

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Bath City FC is named as one of the top five clubs BATH City FC has received a gold award in this year’s Fair Game Index, recognising the hard work of those off the pitch at the club.

The Index looked at the top 164 men’s professional clubs in the English football pyramid and only five picked up the elite Gold Award – Brighton, Cambridge, Carlisle, AFC Wimbledon and Bath City.

The comprehensive report from football campaign group Fair Game recognised the work of everyone at the club.

Bath City’s Chair David McDonagh said: “We are immensely proud to be one of only five clubs in England to receive the Gold Award from Fair Game.

“It is a testament to all the hard work that so many people have put into the club since we became community owned in 2017.

“We know that our club is a true gem and has so much potential to do even better.

“This award will spur us on to keep delivering for our community and progressing on and off the pitch.”

The goal of this year’s Index, now in its fourth year, is to identify which clubs in the country are ‘regulator ready’ with the impending introduction of the new Independent Football Regulator, following the recent passing of the Football Governance Act 2025.

The Index analysed all the clubs in the top seven divisions of the English men’s professional game across eight sets of criteria.

The eight areas were: Financial Sustainability; Governance; Transparency; Fan Engagement; Ethics; Diversity; Environment; and Community Engagement.

Each of the criteria covered a range of different issues and were developed following extensive research and numerous

Bath Rugby Friday 26th September – 7.45pm

Bath Rugby v Harlequins (Away) Gallagher Prem – R1

Friday 3rd October – 7.45pm

Bath Rugby v Sale Sharks (Home) Gallagher Prem – R2

Bath City FC Saturday 4th October – 3pm Bath City v Farnborough (Away) League Sunday 28th September – 2pm Bath Women v Gloucester City RES (Home) League Sunday 5th October – 2pm Bath Women v Downend Flyers (Home) League The Cannon Clarke Stadium @ Twerton Park | Photo © Richard Briggs

conversations with the then Shadow Regulator to provide a best approximation of the standards required for football clubs in a new regulatory regime.

It took Fair Game’s team of 15 researchers four months to gather all the data, accumulating a total of 22,000 datapoints.

Fair Game CEO Niall Couper said: “This represents a huge achievement for everyone at Bath City.

“They have eclipsed nearly every club in the Premier League and are the only side in the National League South side to scoop a gold award.

“This is a club that is doing things the right way off the pitch. Clubs like Bath City should be rewarded in a new financial distribution model – and for the first time the new regulator will have the powers to do exactly that. In the meantime, everyone at Fair Game is proud to champion Bath City. Well done.”

Wera Hobhouse, Bath’s MP, said: “I have been to Bath City

many times over the years and know first-hand what a fantastic community asset the club is.

“I also understand that running a football club presents many challenges and that Bath City relies on almost entirely on volunteers to keep it going, so I’d like to congratulate everyone at the club in achieving this prestigious award.

“It is another reason for the people of Bath to be proud of the city and I hope many will be encouraged to go to support the Romans this season.”

Under the Fair Game Index, clubs awarded Gold status are deemed to be ‘Regulator Ready’.

Clubs that receive Silver and Bronze awards are recognised as excelling in certain aspects but have room for improvement in other areas to achieve Gold status.

In total, just 27 clubs from the 164 have been awarded any status – with only five receiving Gold.

Gold – Brighton & Hove Albion, Cambridge United, AFC

Wimbledon, Carlisle United, Bath City.

Silver – Chelsea, Manchester City, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur, Plymouth Argyle, Swansea City, Exeter City, Rochdale, Chester City.

Bronze – Arsenal, Brentford, Liverpool, West Ham United, Burnley, Luton Town, Norwich City, Watford, Lincoln City, Chesterfield, Forest Green Rovers, Darlington FC, Maidstone United.

The aim of the Football Governance Act is to improve the financial sustainability of football clubs, ensure financial resilience across the leagues and safeguard the heritage of English football, and the Fair Game Index provides a snapshot of the significant progress required by many clubs across the country to make this a reality.

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Crossword answers - Issue 112 (12/09/2025) Across: 1 Attract, 5 Numbers, 10 Violet, 11 National, 12 Approach, 13 Narrow, 14 Purposeful, 17 Pith, 18 Stye, 20 Second year, 22 Barman, 24 Obstruct, 26 Shanghai, 27 Icebox, 28 Speak up, 29 Dentist.

Down: 2 Thimphu, 3 Ruler, 4 Catharsis, 6 Upton, 7 Biography, 8 Read-out, 9 On the face of it, 15 Pneumonia, 16 Landslide, 19 Teashop, 21 Anchors, 23 Nehru, 25 Rhett.

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