Bath Echo - Issue 115 - 24/10/2025

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Friday 24th October - Thursday 6th November 2025

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Issue No. 115

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Updated proposals for transport along the A4

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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A NEW consultation has been launched on proposals to improve transport along the A4 between Bath and Bristol.

The latest proposals have been revealed following feedback to local councils and the West of England Combined Authority (WECA) from local residents.

WECA, with the support of Bath & North East Somerset and Bristol City councils, is inviting people to have their say on the revised plans until 2nd December.

The A4 connects the Central Bath and Central Bristol Growth Zone identified in the West’s new tenyear Growth Strategy, linking Bristol Temple Quarter and Bath’s Riverside Innovation District.

The revised proposals, following feedback from 5,000 residents since 2023, include: • Extending the popular Bristol and Bath Railway Path by half a mile into the centre of Bath and improving the entrance near the Bird in Hand pub in Saltford • Upgrades for almost 150 bus stops – 50% more than previously proposed – including raised kerbs for level access, more bus shelters, and new real-time information displays • Improved pedestrian and walking connections around Bath Spa University • 40 new and upgraded pedestrian crossings – with safety set to be improved around local schools such as Holymead Infant and Primary, Wicklea Academy, Broomhill Junior, and St Annes Infant schools • New segregated, two-way cycle lanes near and to St Brendan’s College and Oasis Academy Brislington • New bus lanes – including an almost continuous section between West Town Lane and Emery Road, without losing road space for cars Helen Godwin, Mayor of the West of England, said: “Everyone who calls the West home knows that traffic is often a problem along the A4, particularly at rush hour.

“These revised proposals are a result of listening to local people, including in Keynsham and Saltford earlier this year, and should help cut congestion and pollution.

Newbridge Road in Bath

“I’ve said before and will say again that we need more carrots, and less sticks, so that people have more reliable, sustainable options for how to get around our region.

“School Streets are something I backed as a councillor and I continue to support school safety efforts as Mayor.

“While local council leaders and I think that these proposals are much stronger than previous plans, thanks to the input of residents, nothing is set in stone.

“We want people to have their say to help further develop these ideas, so that this investment can really make a difference that our communities can see and feel in and between Bath and Bristol.”

Councillor Sarah Warren, deputy leader and cabinet member for sustainable Bath & North East Somerset, said: “We welcome this fresh consultation and the improvements made to the A4 Bath to Bristol proposals following feedback from our communities.

“These updated plans reflect a more balanced and thoughtful approach to sustainable transport, with better walking, wheeling and cycling connections, safer routes for school children and significant upgrades to bus infrastructure.

“The proposed extension to the Bristol and Bath Railway Path into the heart of Bath and improving pedestrian access around Bath Spa University are important steps in making active travel a more attractive and accessible

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choice for residents.

“We’re pleased to see that concerns raised locally – such as around road closures and congestion – have been listened to and addressed.

“I encourage everyone in Bath and North East Somerset to take part in this consultation. Your feedback is vital in shaping a transport network that works for all, reduces congestion and supports healthier, more connected communities.”

Councillor Tony Dyer, leader of Bristol City Council, added: “Better transport links between Bristol and Bath is an important step on the way to boosting economic growth, social connectivity, and quality of life across the region.

“These proposals aim to make bus services like the X39 quicker and more reliable, while creating safer, more accessible and pleasant routes for walking, wheeling and cycling.

I encourage everyone who lives, works or travels along the A4 to take part in the consultation and share their views.

“Your feedback will help shape a transport network that works better for all of us – reducing congestion, improving air quality, and supporting more sustainable ways to travel.”

Proposed changes from the previous plans include: • Junction changes to reduce congestion on Newbridge Road, Bath, without any new bus lane • A better cycling route and a

shorter bus lane than originally proposed at Saltford, only heading towards Bath, using highways land and maintaining existing lanes for other traffic • No road closure in Osborne Road, Bath • Traffic calming and new trees instead of a road closure in Talbot Road, Brislington • Road widening and a new bus gate proposed on Hungerford Road, near the Hungerford Gardens bus stop, following a number of school children being hit by cars over recent years • An extension to the peak hours of bus lanes in Arnos Vale, rather than 24 hour operation.

The project is one of many in the West funded by the UK Government, through the Department for Transport’s City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement that was previously secured by the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority.

Previous proposals for the Keynsham bypass and the section of the A4 between Emery Road and Hicks Gate roundabout, and the longer-term Bristol proposals from the West Town Lane junction towards Bristol city centre that were in the 2023 consultation, are being looked at again. Constructive work with local councils continues and they will consult separately on these once the plans are more developed and ready for feedback.

This six-week consultation will include five in-person events for residents to ask questions and discuss the updated plans. These will be held on: • Friday 24th October, 2pm – 8pm, Keynsham Library, BS31 1FS • Tuesday 4th November, 2pm – 8pm, Hungerford Community Centre, BS4 5EX • Friday 7th November, 2:30pm – 8:30pm, St Mary’s Church, Saltford, BS31 3EL • Wednesday 12th November, 2pm – 8pm, The Street Locksbrook Campus, Bath Spa University, BA1 3EL • Thursday 13th November, 2pm – 8pm, St Christopher’s Church, Brislington, BS4 3HN. You can take part in the consultation, and find out more, at www.haveyoursaywest.co.uk

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Have your say on changes to parking and RPZs LOCAL residents are being given the opportunity to have their say on proposed changes to parking across Bath.

Bath & North East Somerset Council is proposing to increase the baseline cost of an on-street parking permit, which has not changed for over a decade, despite the rising costs of maintenance and enforcement of residents’ parking zones (RPZs).

There would also be an uplift across the emission-based bands for residents, which supports cleaner air.

RPZs help reduce commuter and anti-social parking, improve safety, and make it easier for residents to park near their homes, while supporting visitors and local businesses.

However, the local authority has said they must cover their own running costs. The proposal is for the baseline charges for permits to increase by 20%.

To ensure fairer contributions from EV owners, the council also proposes removing the discount for electric vehicle (EV) permits, aligning them with the tariff for the least polluting vehicles.

The proposals were approved at a meeting by Full Council in February, and would take effect this year, subject to the outcome of the Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) consultation.

In a separate, preliminary consultation, the council is seeking views on potential updates to RPZ tariffs for 2026/27, which would be subject to formal

There will be changes to pricing and new or extended RPZs in the city

consultation later this year.

A key proposal in this consultation is to link residents’ permit costs to vehicle size. The aim is to encourage ownership of smaller, safer vehicles that reduce the risk of serious collisions and cause less obstruction on narrow streets.

Smaller vehicles would receive a discount, while some larger models would incur an additional charge on top of any existing emission-based fees.

The council also proposes only issuing permits to vehicles with a valid MOT, helping reduce risks from unsafe or potentially uninsured vehicles.

An increase in the cost of a visitor’s parking permit will also be introduced over three years, from £1 to £2.50 per day by 2028.

For council car parks and Park & Ride sites, changes include introducing Saturday charging at Bath Hill car park in Keynsham, and increasing the 24-hour rate at Park & Ride sites from £3 to £4

for motorists who don’t use the bus service.

The council is also launching the first of three consultations on new or extended RPZs to help tackle growing pressure on onstreet parking.

These are proposed for the Lambridge, Locksbrook and Audley Grove areas of Bath.

In July, the council asked residents in Southdown and Moorlands for their views on an RPZ and is considering the outcomes.

Residents and businesses in Lambridge are being encouraged to give their views on a draft RPZ design bordered by Valley View Road in the north and London Road in the south, including a proposed extension of Walcot’s RPZ into Grosvenor Place.

A formal statutory consultation will follow next year. Initial consultations on RPZs for Locksbrook and the Audley Grove area will launch later in the autumn.

Councillor Joel Hirst, the cabinet member for sustainable transport strategy, said: “We’ve timed these consultations to run together so Lambridge residents can consider the full picture, including potential costs, while reviewing the proposed zone.

“Many residents want action on commuter parking. Introducing a zone can help address this, improve safety, and support a shift to more sustainable travel.

“The proposed increase on baseline permit costs ensures those who benefit from RPZs contribute fairly to their upkeep.

“The baseline hasn’t changed in over 10 years and needs to reflect current pressures. The corresponding uplift on existing emissions-based pricing means more polluting vehicles pay more, supporting cleaner transport.

“Linking permit costs to vehicle size is about safety. Vehicles are getting bigger. And research tells us that pedestrians and cyclists are 44% more likely to be killed or seriously injured if hit by a large vehicle, rising to over 80% for children.

“This supports our Vision Zero goal to eliminate deaths and serious injuries on our roads.”

The Lambridge RPZ consultation runs until Friday 14th November and can be found at https://bit. ly/3WSAEa0 The TRO consultation 2025-6 and the preliminary consultation 2026-27 run until 7th November.

Full details are available at https://bit.ly/43wqI9Y

Appeal after man in his 70s seriously assaulted AN appeal has been launched to identify a man in connection with a serious assault in Bath earlier this year.

After being featured on the BBC’s Crimewatch Live on Tuesday 14th October, Avon & Somerset Police have now released an image of the man they want to speak to.

On Tuesday 1st July, at around 11.40am, the victim, a man in his 70s, and his wife were walking along Argyle Street towards Pulteney Bridge to catch a bus.

An unknown man approached the couple and brushed shoulders with the victim as the pavement wasn’t very wide and there were roadworks.

The suspect turned and ran after the victim, pushing him to the floor before running off towards

The man police want to speak to | Image © Avon & Somerset Police

Great Pulteney Street.

The victim sustained a broken femur following the incident which required surgery.

Officers are keen to speak with the man pictured who they believe can aid them in their enquiries.

He is described as white, between

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30-40 years old, with short, grey hair.

He is shown wearing darkcoloured shorts and a lightcoloured shirt. He is also carrying a rucksack.

The officer on the case, DC Louisa Williams, appeared on the BBC programme, saying: “This has been life-changing for the victim and his family, and he has had to rely on his wife while he is recovering.

“The victim was an active person, but since this incident, he has not been able to be as active and this has had a profound effect on him.

“I would urge anyone who recognises the individual pictured to come forward.”

If you can help, call 101 and quote reference 5225183726 to the call handler.

Bath Echo turns 10 On Saturday 1st November 2025, the Bath Echo will proudly mark its 10th anniversary – a decade of bringing trusted, independent local news to our community.

What began in 2015 as a small online publication has grown into Bath’s leading local news source, keeping residents informed about what’s happening where they live.

Over the past ten years, we’ve covered literally thousands of stories - from breaking news and council decisions to community celebrations, charity initiatives and local sport - always with Bath and its residents at the heart of everything we do.

This milestone wouldn’t be possible without you our readers, advertisers, contributors, friends, family and partners - whose continued support has made the Bath Echo what it is today.

We have had the pleasure to build your trust, and the engagement you’ve shown has allowed us to champion local voices and deliver free, high-quality news that truly matters.

At a time when local news is being financially squeezed, we're working hard to ensure the Bath Echo continues to flourish and is here well into the future.

As we look ahead to the next ten years, we remain committed to serving Bath with integrity, passion and pride. Thank you for being part of our journey - here’s to the next decade of local news together.

Sebastian Hawker, Editor

Weather Forecast Fri 24th Sat 25th Sun 26th Mon 27th Tue 28th Wed 29th Thu 30th

11°c 11°c 11°c 13°c 14°c 13°c 13°c

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(31st Oct to 6th Nov) A changeable start in the region, with wetter and windier conditions as the week continues. Settled conditions on the way, with colder temperatures.

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Friday 24th October - Thursday 6th November 2025

Motorcyclist who survived collision Busy junction to close reunited with paramedic ‘saviour’ for gas upgrade work A MOTORCYCLIST from Bath who was seriously injured in a collision in June has been reunited with the paramedic who rushed to his aid.

Jerry Moon, 34, was involved in the crash near his home on Friday 20th June.

The incident occurred when Jerry was filtering past slowmoving traffic and a car ahead unexpectedly turned right into a driveway without warning, colliding with his bike.

The impact caused Jerry to lose control of his bike, resulting in a sudden collision with a gatepost and wall.

Fortunately, South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT) paramedic, Louise Price, had just finished her shift and was walking home when she witnessed the collision.

She immediately called 999 and provided urgent medical care and reassurance until ambulance crews arrived.

Once stable, Jerry was then taken to Southmead Hospital in Bristol.

He spent a week receiving intensive treatment for multiple serious injuries, including a fractured ankle, broken ribs, a lacerated lung, internal swelling, and bruising.

He also underwent cardiac treatment, including the fitting of a stent due to one of his coronary arteries closing.

Now back home and continuing

Jerry Moon with paramedic Louise Price | Photo © SWASFT

his recovery, Jerry and his partner Emma met Louise again at Paulton Ambulance Station on Wednesday 24th September to thank her in person for her quick actions.

Jerry said: “Louise was at the heart of everything that day.

Her quick actions and kindness before the ambulance arrived were unforgettable and meeting her again to say thank you is incredibly special.

“I am so grateful to Louise and the ambulance service as without their quick actions, and professionalism, I truly believe I would not be here today.

“You always hear and read about this sort of thing but never expect it to happen to you. When it does it’s a massive eye opener and I’m lucky to be able to tell my story.

“If there’s one thing I’d say to other riders, it’s to always wear

the right protective gear. Your helmet, jacket, trousers, boots, and gloves aren’t just clothing – they can make all the difference.

“Things can go wrong in an instant, and the right kit really can help save your life.”

Louise Price, the paramedic, said: “Seeing Jerry recovering so well is incredibly rewarding, and I’m glad we’ve been able to meet again in such better circumstances.

“This reunion reminds me how meaningful this job truly is; supporting people in their most difficult moments and seeing them recover and thrive is a real privilege. I wish Jerry and Emma all the very best for the future.”

Now home, Jerry continues to focus on his recovery, taking each day as it comes, and is determined to get back to as normal a life as possible.

The junction in Larkhall will be closed until Sunday 2nd November

A BUSY junction in the Larkhall area of Bath will be closed to traffic for a week to allow for the upgrade of gas pipes by Wales & West Utilities.

The junction of Eastbourne Avenue, Fairfield Road, Tyning Lane and Camden Road will be closed from Saturday 25th October through to Sunday 2nd November.

The work is taking place following collaboration between Bath & North East Somerset Council and the gas emergency and pipeline service.

Wales & West Utilities’ Simon Lee is managing this work. He said: “We have planned these works to coincide with the school holidays to minimise disruption to motorists.

“We know that working in areas like this is not ideal, but it is essential to make sure we keep

the gas flowing to homes and businesses in the area, and to make sure the gas network is fit for the future.

“While most of the gas network is underground and out of sight, it plays a central role in the daily lives of this community.

“Whether it’s heating your home, making the family dinner or having a hot bath, we understand how important it is for your gas supply to be safe and reliable and there when you need it.

“This work is essential to keep the gas flowing to local homes and businesses today, and to make sure the gas network is ready to transport green gases in the future.”

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Developer appeals over refusal of Southdown six-bed HMO A DEVELOPER whose plans to turn a three-bed Bath family home into a six-bed house in multiple occupation (HMO) were refused has now appealed to the Secretary of State.

Bath & North East Somerset Council planning officers had recommended Forest Edge Properties’ scheme for 6 Southdown Avenue in Southdown for approval but councillors on the planning committee unanimously turned it down at the end of July.

The developer had originally proposed a seven-bed house HMO with the garage becoming two bedrooms.

They then scaled back the plans, removing the proposed firstfloor and front extension, and

proposing a bedroom and a bathroom in the garage.

Planning committee member Councillor Paul Crossley (Southdown, Liberal Democrat) said at the time: “This is an example of outrageous greed and cramming stuff into an inappropriate building.”

The committee also heard it had become increasingly difficult to park in the area due to displacement from the neighbouring Oldfield Park and Westmoreland Residents’ Parking Zone.

Councillors agreed that the change of use and conversion of the garage to a habitable space would result in overdevelopment of the site through insufficient space for occupiers and

A planning inspector will decide whether to uphold the committee's decision

would increase disturbance to neighbouring occupiers from overlooking and noise.

In appealing, the developer’s consultant says no evidence had been provided to suggest that the proposal would cause significant harm to the amenity of adjacent residents or create severe

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transport impacts.

The consultant’s report says the communal living/kitchen/ dining space would be 23.2 square metres, which is above the minimum requirement of 20 as set out within the council’s own HMO licensing standards document for six people.

Meanwhile all bedrooms exceed the minimum 6.51 square-metre requirement for single bedrooms and council policy indicates that two off-road parking spaces are sufficient for a six-bed HMO. The report adds: “The refusal appears to have been based on concerns relating to the original (superseded) seven-bedroom scheme and on generalised opposition of HMOs, rather than a fair assessment of the submitted plans in their own merit.”

The proposed HMO would result in a concentration of 8.1% within a 100-metre radius, which is below Bath’s 10% threshold.

A planning inspector will now decide whether to uphold the committee’s decision or to grant permission.

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Renovation plan for Construction begins on active travel former Butter Pat shop scheme at Bath Quays development Becky Feather Reporter

THERE are plans to renovate and convert a Georgian townhouse in the heart of the city to create a new mixeduse development, including a speakeasy bar.

Developer Barrow Renovations Ltd’s proposals for 18 Upper Borough Walls include an application to Bath & North East Somerset Council for listed building consent.

The building, where sandwich shop The Butter Pat used to be, is on the corner with Trim Bridge.

As well as a speakeasy in the basement, the scheme for the Grade II listed building includes two shops on the ground floor and non-serviced accommodation on the upper floors.

A new mansard roof level is also proposed. The architect’s report says it will reinstate the floor that historical evidence suggests previously existed.

The report adds: “This proposal provides a sensitive

The former Butter Pat site in Bath

and contextually appropriate enhancement to 18 Upper Borough Walls. It contributes to the ongoing vitality of Bath’s historic centre by introducing sustainable residential use, while preserving the listed building’s character and significance.”

The planning reference is 25/03177/FUL and the deadline for comments is 20th November.

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WORK has got under way this week on the construction of a new active travel scheme in the city centre, connecting routes and helping improve transport.

The latest stage of the Bath Quays project marks a major milestone in the development of safer, greener and more connected routes.

Bath Quays Links will make walking, wheeling and cycling easier and more enjoyable on the Lower Bristol Road and Green Park Road.

The scheme will improve access to the bridge in the Bath Quays area which opened in 2022. It includes the construction of new cycle paths, additional pedestrian and cycle crossings and improvements to the pavements, carriageways and drainage.

Work on Green Park Road started on Monday, 20th October, with completion expected within 10 months. Construction on Lower Bristol Road is scheduled to begin next year.

To minimise disruption during the peak Christmas period, works will be paused from 21st

November to 5th January.

This stage of the project, which will be completed next summer, will link to other planned schemes within the city, including improvements to National Cycle Route 4 through the city centre, the Weston to City Centre route and the Bath Riverline project.

Councillor Lucy Hodge, cabinet member for sustainable transport delivery, said: “Bath Quays Links is a milestone for new and improved active travel infrastructure in the city centre.

“Our aim is to create a better connected and safer routes for walking, wheeling and cycling – and Bath Quays Links is a vital piece of the jigsaw.

“It will improve the active travel routes currently available and make it the natural choice for short journeys across Bath.”

Helen Godwin, Mayor of the West of England, added: “Bath Quays is one of the region’s most exciting regeneration projects.

“It’s an important part of our new regional Growth Strategy, and will see new jobs, homes, and offices created for local people and businesses; cut pollution;

The scheme is set to take 10 months

and unlock the waterside. “£4.7 million of regional investment, in partnership with the council, for transport improvements will help deliver real change that people can see and feel here in Bath.

“Getting the basics right now by improving our walking and cycling infrastructure, and fixing our roads and bridges, will lay the foundations for a better transport system overall for the West of England.

“We secured a record £752 million for that next stage in the summer Spending Review.

“That means that the West can get out of the slow lane on transport and start to catch up with other city-regions, with better buses, more trains, and mass transit plans.”

Environment Agency orders Wessex Water to improve Becky Feather Reporter

BATH-BASED Wessex Water has dropped from an industryleading four stars to two in its Environment Agency performance rating because of the number of pollution incidents last year.

The Environment Agency yesterday (Thursday 23rd October) published its national Environmental Performance Assessment (EPA) for 2024.

Despite hitting target in all other metrics, Wessex Water scored ‘red’ for pollution incidents. This is significantly below target and puts the company at a two-star rating – requiring improvement.

The EPA report is an independent comparison of environmental performance across the sector.

Since 2011, the Environment Agency has rated each company in England from one star to four stars to highlight where improvement in performance is required.

In 2024, the nine companies collectively achieved just 19 stars out of a possible 36, down from 25 in 2023. Only Severn Trent Water received the top four-star rating. This is the lowest number of stars overall since the EPA process began.

This is the third time Wessex Water has had a two-star rating in the history of the EPA. In 2024 it was responsible for 215 pollution incidents – 89 more than the previous year, although none were classed as serious.

Ed Lockington, the Environment Agency’s water industry regulatory manager for Wessex, said: “It is disappointing to see Wessex Water lose its industry leading four-star rating after just a year. But excelling in all metrics except number of pollution incidents shows how high expectations are.

“Driving down the total number of pollution incidents will go a long way to meeting that expectation again.”

Nationally, serious incidents - those causing significant

Photo © Wessex Water

environmental harm - have increased by 60% compared with 2023. Thames Water, Southern Water and Yorkshire Water were responsible for 81% of these serious incidents, while Northumbrian Water and Wessex Water recorded none.

Environment Agency Chair Alan Lovell said: “This year’s results are poor and must serve as a clear and urgent signal for change. What is needed now from every water company is bold leadership, a shift in mindset, and a relentless focus on delivery.

“We will support them however we can but will continue to robustly challenge them when

they fall short.”

The report cites a number of factors for the decline in performance including the wet and stormy weather in 2024, underinvestment and poor maintenance of infrastructure, and also increased monitoring and inspection.

To ramp up its regulation, the Environment Agency says it is investing in 500 extra staff including environment officers, data analysts, enforcement specialists and technical experts, as well as team leaders and managers. It has developed new digital systems and significantly increased the number of water

company inspections - in 2024/25 the Environment Agency delivered more than 4,600 such inspections and is on track to deliver 10,000 in 2025/26.

The Environment Agency inspected 422 Wessex Water sites and assets last year – 35% more than targeted.

A Wessex Water spokesperson told the Echo: “There were no serious pollutions in 2024, largely thanks to increased sewer monitoring and AI technology helping us detect and deal with potential issues on our network before the environment was put at risk.

“Coupled with our historic strong track record of self-reporting, we’ve seen an increase in the overall number of recorded pollutions and we’re extremely disappointed not to have maintained our four-star rating.

“We recognise there is a lot more do to, which is why we’re planning a step change in the maintenance of our sewerage network and a £300 million investment in this area by 2030.”

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Men who burgled Bath convenience Court hears defendant shop are remanded in custody spat in manager’s face TWO men who raided a convenience store in Bath and stole items worth nearly £7,000 appeared separately before city magistrates to admit their guilt.

The first to appear in connection with the burglary at the One Stop store in The Hollow in Southdown was Bristol man Nicholas Hatherall.

He was brought in custody to the court on Monday 29th September.

The 43-year-old, of Lynton Road in Bedminster, admitted stealing cigarettes, tobacco and spirits to the value of £6,815.69.

Prosecutor Kevin Withey said that police had received a 999 call on 26th August saying the alarm at the shop at The Hollow had been activated. Damage caused to the shop was between £2,500 and £3,000. The intruders had left by the time police arrived.

Police identified Hatherall from CCTV, and he was arrested on Sunday 28th September. At his home, clothing was found that matched what he was wearing in the shop. None of the stolen items were discovered.

The court heard a victim statement from a member of the store who said the burglary had meant the store had to shut for a day to clear up the mess and secure the premises, which had impacted the community.

Hatherall has a “very long list” of previous convictions and was on recall to prison, the court heard.

His defence solicitor said Hatherall had been very proud to recently secure a job as a bin man

The One Stop store in The Hollow

and is “full of grief and anger at himself” for relapsing into his drug habit and wants to get clean.

The magistrates said they did not have sentencing powers to deal with Hatherall, so they referred the case to Bristol Crown Court.

He was remanded in custody to appear there on 28th October.

At his court appearance, Hatherall also admitted a charge of driving while disqualified on 24th June at Bonnington Walk in Lockleaze in Bristol.

The court heard he had several previous convictions for driving while disqualified which have been running concurrently.

They banned him from driving for 47 months and 14 days. He also received a 12-week jail sentence and was ordered to pay prosecution costs of £85 and a surcharge of £154.

On Wednesday 1st October

the second person wanted in connection with the burglary at the One Stop shop in Southdown, 48-year-old Lee Morgan, was brought in custody to Bath Magistrates’ Court after being identified by CCTV. The court heard that Morgan, of no fixed address, was awaiting sentence for two other burglaries – one at the Costcutter shop on Filton Avenue in Bristol on 25th July and another on 21st August at a construction site at Romney Avenue in Lockleaze, Bristol.

At his appearance, he also admitted a failure to surrender to bail and being in breach of a curfew.

Morgan, who the court heard has previous convictions for 37 offences, was remanded in custody until 29th October when he will be sentenced at Bristol Crown Court.

Man remanded in custody after drugs seized during warrants A 41-YEAR-OLD man has been remanded in custody after being charged with drug supply offences following search warrants being carried out in Peasedown St John and Paulton.

Police officers seized a quantity of what is suspected to be heroin, cocaine, ketamine and cash after searches at properties in Frederick Avenue, in Peasedown St John, and Brookside, in Paulton.

Gary Browne, of Brookside, Paulton, was charged with the following offences after the warrants were executed at around 8.15am on Wednesday 8th October: • Possession with intent to supply heroin (Class A) • Possession with intent to supply cocaine (Class A) • Possession with intent to supply ketamine (Class B) • Possession of criminal property.

Drugs and cash were seized by police

Browne appeared at Bath Magistrates’ Court on Thursday 9th October, and was been remanded into custody until a pre-trial and plea hearing at Bristol Crown Court on Tuesday 11th November.

Suspected counterfeit goods, many of which were packaged, and vehicles, were also seized from the address in Peasedown St John.

Both warrants were carried out off the back of proactive work

by officers, who are also tackling issues raised by the public including anti-social behaviour and seizing vehicles suspected of being used in motoring offences.

Bath and North East Somerset neighbourhood Inspector Stuart King KPM said: “These warrants reflect the excellent proactive work being carried out by officers from the neighbourhood policing teams and have resulted in large quantities of drugs being taken off our streets.

“This will help make the communities of Bath and North East Somerset safer.

“We will continue to pursue individuals who bring harm and misery to their local communities, and I would urge the public to assist us by reporting any suspected criminal behaviour to us.”

Police can be called on 999 if a crime is in progress, on 101 or by contacting Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

The Morrisons store in Twerton

A 50-YEAR-OLD man who spat in the face of a Bath supermarket manager after being turned away from the store has this week been sentenced by magistrates.

Andrew Eddy, of Wedmore Park in Southdown, was found guilty last month of assaulting Christopher Smithers, who runs the Morrisons store in Twerton.

Eddy was also convicted of using threatening, abusive or insulting words and behaviour with intent to cause Mr Smithers fear or provocation of unlawful violence during the incident on 4th April.

Giving evidence during the trial, Mr Smithers had said he had felt threatened and scared and that Eddy spat at him from a distance of about one metre: “It hit me on the nose. You see me wipe it off.”

Eddy had also reportedly insinuated that he had a weapon of some sort in his trousers.

On the witness stand last month, an angry Eddy was repeatedly reprimanded for swearing.

He said that he had been to Morrisons on 4th April to draw out some money from the instore ATM so he and his “missus” could celebrate their birthdays.

He said the manager had confused him with someone called ‘Moggy’ (who carries a machete). Eddy said he had never carried one and “(I) don’t even carry a pen knife”.

Eddy claimed that he had spat on the ground, not at the manager, and made a comment on the witness stand that what he had in his trousers was his “d***”.

But finding Eddy guilty of both offences, magistrates said the spitting action could be clearly seen in CCTV footage. They also said Mr Smithers was a credible witness, as was customer Charlotte Stubbs who had called Eddy out on his behaviour and said she had seen him gesture to his leg with both hands and had mentioned “eight inches or something of that nature”.

She said Eddy had inferred he

was going to use whatever it was although she said she did not see anything.

The magistrates, who heard Eddy had 41 previous convictions for 82 offences, adjourned the case for a pre-sentence report from the Probation Service.

During the sentencing on Wednesday, 22nd October, Eddy again became angry in the dock and began swearing, and the chair of the bench warned him to let his advocate speak on his behalf.

His solicitor Bradley Axam said Eddy, who used to have a Class A drug addiction, has issues with anger and alcohol but was not intoxicated at the time of the incident at Morrisons.

He was angry to be mistaken for Moggy who had quite seriously assaulted him in the past.

The court heard that by committing the two offences Eddy was in breach of a conditional discharge imposed last November for the theft of items worth £52.50 from the Coop in Oldfield Park. The items were recovered.

Magistrates gave Eddy a 12-month community order with a nine-month alcohol treatment requirement and 15 rehabilitation activity requirement (RAR) days.

They also fined him £40.

For breaching the conditional discharge, he was fined another £40.

Eddy must pay £50 compensation to Mr Smithers, £100 towards the £650 prosecution costs, and a surcharge of £114.

Eddy assured magistrates he would not go near Morrisons again, where prosecutor Marie Doyle said he was “not welcome”.

He thanked the bench and said of the alcohol treatment requirement order: “I want to do this.”

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Issue 115

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Drunk driver who went City centre beggar the wrong way down kicked pensioner who Broad Street is banned advised him to get a job

Bath Magistrates’ Court

Stephens had believed he was safe to drive

A MAN who drove in the wrong direction down one-way Broad Street in Bath while over the drink-drive limit has been disqualified for 12 months.

Magistrates heard that 45-yearold Thomas Stephens had passengers in the car at the time of the offence on 22nd September.

He had consumed four pints at the Victoria Pub & Kitchen, but thought he was safe to drive.

He had 42 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath.

The legal limit is 35.

On Monday 6th October,

Stephens, of Lower Hanham Road in Hanham near Bristol, admitted drink-driving. He was of previous good character, magistrates heard.

They fined him £461 and ordered him to pay £85 prosecution costs and a surcharge of £184.

The year’s driving ban will be reduced by 25% as Stephens intends to do a drink-drive rehabilitation course.

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A BEGGAR who kicked and swore at a pensioner after the older man suggested he get a job appeared before Bath magistrates on Wednesday 8th October.

The prosecutor told the court that the man, who is in his late 70s, had seen Callum Lean begging in Union Street on 11th June and had offered him some “friendly words of advice”.

He told him he was a young man who should be able to get a job.

The elderly man, who fell and hurt his knee after being kicked, said in a statement a few days following the assault that he used to enjoy walking around the city but was now “scared to go out in Bath”.

Join the Bath Echo delivery team We’re looking for a reliable and enthusiastic person to help deliver the Bath Echo newspaper every week.

You’ll be taking on established routes, ensuring our dedicated readers have the latest copy.

✅ £12.50 per hour ✅ 3–5 hours per week to start ✅ Flexible weekday schedule ✅ Keep active and earn extra income!

If you’re dependable, friendly and enjoy being outdoors, we’d love to hear from you.

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Homeless Lean, who is an alcoholic, admitted the assault and that on the same day he failed to comply with a community protection notice.

The 33-year-old also admitted being drunk and disorderly in Stall Street in Bath on 8th June and on the same date causing criminal damage to a police van in Keynsham.

The court heard that Lean would welcome an alcohol treatment requirement (ATR) assessment prior to being sentenced for these offences and others of a similar nature that he had admitted at a previous hearing. He was granted unconditional bail and was due to return to court for sentencing today (24th October).

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. We follow their dedicated Standards Code, which can be found at https://bit.ly/4n0d9qN

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Pictures from the Past St Saviour's Road, Larkhall

St Saviour's Road around 1910

Kirsten Elliott Akeman Press

THIS week’s archive photograph is of St Saviour’s Road in Larkhall around 1910.

It is one of a series of views of Larkhall featured in The Year of Pageant, published

by Akeman Press.

They accompany local residents’ reminiscences of life in the village before the First World War, recorded by the late Bruce Crofts in the 1970s. These included Mr Dangerfield of Brooklyn Road, who left school in 1909. He recalled that ‘there were no playing fields. There were watercress men in the streets. The roads were mud in wintertime, dust in the summer. We played

marbles in the cart tracks. In summer there were outings to Kensington Gardens.’

Harold Horsell, another Larkhall resident, recalled that, because of the lack of playing fields, ‘if we wanted to play cricket or football we had to carry the gear to the top of Little Solsbury.’ He also remembered that ‘Francis Garraway, the schoolmaster, ran a club for boys over 14 in a building

behind the White Lion in the square. He started a bible study class there, and it was there I saw the first aeroplane fly over Bath.’

Today, the White Lion, whose sign can just be seen here in the distance, is now home to Larkhall Butchers.

The Year of the Pageant by Andrew Swift and Kirsten Elliott is available from www.akemanpress.com

COLUMN | Clare Moody, Labour Police and Crime Commissioner

Y

OU'VE told me you want safer streets and more visible policing - and I’m delivering on that promise.

Through Your Streets, My Priority, we’re taking coordinated action to tackle anti-social behaviour, retail crime, and criminality in the places you care about most.

In Bath and North East Somerset, this work is already making a real difference.

One of the most impactful actions in recent weeks has been targeted action in Radstock and

Midsomer Norton.

A concern raised by the community is the noise and nuisance caused by modified vehicles.

That’s why your Radstock Neighbourhood Policing Team, in partnership with Response Officers, the Road Policing Unit, and the DVSA, have been out in force this summer to tackle these issues head-on.

This included increased patrols, on-the-spot vehicle checks, and a crackdown on anti-social driving.

There has been visible policing in Bath city centre.

Officers have been out around the Roman Baths, Bath Abbey, Stall Street and Southgate, using unpredictable deployments to disrupt criminal activity and provide visible reassurance to the public.

And the Neighbourhood Policing Team continue to build relationships with our communities through regular Coffee with Cops events - a chance for you to ask questions,

raise concerns, and get crime prevention advice in an informal setting.

These are just a few examples of how Your Streets, My Priority is delivering results.

Supported by £5 million from the Home Office’s Hotspot Fund and additional neighbourhood policing resources, we’re increasing patrols, holding community pop-ups, and working closely with local

partners to make our streets safer.

I’ve seen firsthand how increased police presence deters crime and builds trust.

This campaign isn’t just about enforcement - it’s about listening, engaging, and acting.

If you witness suspicious or anti-social behaviour, please report it by calling 101 or visiting avonandsomerset.police.uk/ report. For emergencies, always call 999.

Issue 115

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Your City, Your News - Bath Echo

Crossword

Congratulations to Helen Smith for winning £20!

You can find the answers to last issue's crossword on page 24

Complete our crossword for your chance to win £20!

Across

Down

9 Adherent of India's majority religion (5) 10 Allowance (9) 11 Forbidden by law (7) 12 Site of major WW2 battle in the Pacific (7) 13 Kidnap (6) 15 Enamoured (7) 17 Column crosser (3) 18 Mutual concord (5) 20 Thin fogs (5) 21 Late in the day (poet.) (3) 22 Past times do, sadly, get confused (3,4) 23 Tangled tinsel makes no sound (6) 26 Generally (2,1,4) 28 Following orders (7) 30 Bright idea symbol (5,4) 31 Residence (5)

1 Arab chief (5) 2 Blue dye (4) 3 Chinese martial art (4,2) 4 Sources of Dabinetts, for example (5,5) 5 Spool-like toy (2-2) 6 Belief that life is devoid of meaning (8) 7 Two-sided (10) 8 Not joking (2,7) 14 In most cases (2,3,5) 15 Women's cabs are all over the place in Kent (10) 16 As thumbs are (9) 19 Abandon ship (8) 24 Elbowroom (6) 25 White heron (5) 27 ___ Barak, former Israeli Prime Minister (4) 29 Clickable image (4)

Entering our competition - via email or post For your chance to win £20, submit your full name, postal address and answers by email to puzzles@bathecho.co.uk or via post to: Crossword Competition 2410, Bath Echo, PO Box 5395, Bath, BA1 0YA The winner will be the first randomly opened entry with the correct answers on 05/11/2025.

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

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Food & Drink

Sponsor this section!

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

Melissa Blease

Food Writer

Tasty Dates For Your Diary Prepare to experience “an exquisite evening of fine Spanish wines and delicious, modern Indian cooking” at The Mint Room (Lower Bristol Road) on Wednesday 29th October when a formidable collaboration between the MT’s fiercely talented new Head Chef Chithar Bohar and Marques de Caceres wines will result in upscale gastronomic experience for all (£60pp). bath.themintroom.co.uk Sunday Brunch has landed at Juno Bar and Kitchen (Philip Street, SouthGate)! From fullyloaded chicken’n’waffles to Avo Smash by way of the Hangover Hero Burger and more available every Sunday from 12pm4.30pm. Also on Juno jollity territory: grab two burgers and get the cheapest one free every Tuesday 5pm-8pm. www.junobarandkitchen.co.uk

Recipe

Meet Head Chef Filip Tencer and sample a dynamic selection of the very best flavours of autumn with game pushed to the fore at the Marlborough Tavern (Marlborough Buildings) on Wednesday 29th October (£55pp; booking essential). www.marlborough-tavern.com In the mood for doing The Time Warp…. again? Book today for the Rocky Horror Bottomless Brunch at Komedia (Westgate Street) on Saturday 1st November: an all-singing, all-dancing, Rocky Horror Show-centric experience featuring a delicious brunch and 1.5 hours of bottomless drinks (prices vary). https://bit.ly/3WbqOzY “Celebrate earth’s bounty as we turn toward winter” with a 5-course home-grown, seasonal feast paired with wines from Bristol-based biodynamic

vineyard Limeburn Hill at plantbased haven Oak (North Parade) on Thursday 6th November (£75pp). www.oakrestaurant.co.uk

owned domaines: it’s all going on at the iconic Royal Crescent Hotel and Spa on Thursday 13th November (£170pp). https://bit.ly/47fKXKh

Swirl and sip your way through a guided tasting focusing on the wines of Languedoc at Comptoir+Cuisine (George Street) on Monday 10th November. Next stop on C+C’s heady wine tasting tour schedule: a Sud-Ouest soiree on Monday 1st December (£22pp, to include wine tasting and exclusive onthe-night discounts). www.comptoirpluscuisine.com

Bath on Ice returns to Royal Victoria Park from Friday 14th November, featuring a spacious ice rink (of course!) complemented by the fabulously-festive, super-cosy Mogul’s Alpine Bar set against a spectacularly pretty winter wonderland environment. www.bathonice.co.uk

Indulge in an unforgettable evening of gastronomic delights featuring a meticulously-crafted menu perfectly matched with a fascinating selection of Burgundy wines courtesy of an ambassador from Louis Latour, one of Burgundy’s most historic family-

Explore the rich flavours of autumn with a special evening celebrating new season truffle and game paired to perfection with fine Italian wines at paradisiacal pastoral pub The Wheatsheaf (Combe Hay) on Friday 21st November. Next stop on the Wheatsheaf calendar: the Christmas Wine Tasting on

Friday 5th December . wheatsheafcombehay.com Spice up your life with tantalising Thai dining experience Raya’s Thai Thali at the gloriously convivial Village Cafe and Bar (Larkhall) on Saturday 27th November. Can’t make the date?

RTT pops up in the Weston Village Ex-Serviceman’s Social Club car park every Friday evening and at Green Park Station Market every Wednesday-Friday from 12pm7pm. www.rayasthaithali.co.uk Melissa regularly reviews eateries across Bath and the surrounding area.

Find out more at: www.theprandialplayground.uk Follow Melissa on X Find her @ThePigGuide

Spicy Roast Pumpkin Soup

Carving pumpkins in readiness for Halloween? Don’t let all that fabulous pumpkin flesh go to waste! This mildly spicy, silky soup is guaranteed to keep the spooky season hunger ghouls at bay. Try to keep your pumpkin chunks neat as you carve, though; aim for evenly-sized chunks.

Ingredients (serves 4) • The deseeded flesh from 1 large pumpkin (usually 1.5-2k) • 1 tbsp garam masala • 2 tsp dried cumin • 1 tsp dried red chilli flakes • 3 tbsp olive oil • 1 large onion, peeled and chopped • 3cm nub of fresh ginger, peeled and grated • 3 garlic cloves, peeled and crushed/grated • 900ml vegetable or chicken stock • 100ml double cream or crème fraiche • To serve: double cream or crème fraiche

Method • Preheat the oven to 190c/gas mark 5. Tumble the chopped pumpkin flesh into a large bowl, sprinkle with the garam masala, cumin and chilli flakes, season well and drizzle with 2 tbsp of the olive oil.

• Toss to cover the pumpkin in the spiced oil, transfer to a baking tray and roast for around 40-45 minutes (turning halfway through) or until the pumpkin flesh is very soft when pierced with a fork.

• Heat the remaining 1 tbsp olive oil in a large saucepan and fry the onion for 10 minutes or until just turning translucent.

Add the ginger and garlic and fry for a few more minutes until fragrant. Add the stock and roasted pumpkin flesh to the pan, stir well and simmer gently for 10 minutes.

• Remove the soup from the heat, season to taste and blitz with a hand blender (or in a food processor) until smooth and silky.

Return to the pan over a low heat, add the cream, season to taste and bring back to a gentle simmer before serving in warmed bowls topped with an extra drizzle of cream and a pinch of chilli flakes to taste.

Alfresco Dine

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What's On

Friday 24th October - Thursday 6th November 2025

Bath Oktoberfest

Community Tree Planting

American Halloween

Archaeology Adventures

Royal Victoria Park 24th – 26th October Enjoy live Oompah bands, traditional karaoke-dancing, Oktoberfest games, axe throwing, fairground activities, gourmet food, big steins of German bier and more!

Bathampton Meadows 25th October, 10am–4pm Be part of Bathampton Meadows' legacy by helping National Trust plant trees in its new woodland pasture. Learn how to plant a tree with National Trust rangers, and leave your mark on the land.

American Museum & Gardens 25th October – 2nd November A week of classic American Halloween fun! Come in a costume for family pics.

Enjoy the interactive pumpkin trail, Scarecrow Friends photo station and creative activities in the Stables.

Roman Baths 27th October – 31st October Visit the Roman Baths and dig for replica Roman artefacts in the special excavation trench. Learn how to identify, record, and uncover hidden treasures just like a real archaeologist.

Little Women

Halloween Haunted Hawks

Boo-tiful Bats

Making A Killing

Theatre Royal Bath 28th – 1st November Experience the enduring journey of the March sisters - tomboy Jo, beautiful Meg, sensitive Beth and spoilt Amy as they navigate the challenges of the Civil War era, forging unbreakable bonds.

The Bird of Prey Project 29th October, 4.30pm-7pm Celebrate Halloween amongst real hawks and owls. Starting with a sunset flying display over a pumpkin-scattered meadow – experience silent owls and rapid hawks flying right overhead.

Beckford’s Tower & Museum 30th October, 10.30am-11.30am Head along this October half-term for some outdoor fun. The children's activity for 5+ will be in the Paddocks at Beckford's Tower based on the bats that fly around at night in the landscape.

Ustinov Studio 30th October – 1st November Performed by just two actors, Making a Killing is a razor-sharp, dark comedy about justice, corruption, and the cost of survival in a world disturbingly like our own.

Spooky Spectacular Fireworks

Fireworks on the Rec

Magic Train!

Rebirth of Plato: Ficino & More

Bath Racecourse 31st October, 5pm–9pm Bath Racecourse will transform into a world of thrills, chills, and sky-high spectacles. Fire eaters, fun fair rides, Light Up Lansdown hot air balloon display and a fireworks spectacular.

The Recreation Ground 1st November, 4.30pm Bath Rotary's annual display is a highlight of the year for families, residents and visitors alike: a professional display with music, and with all proceeds going to charity.

Avon Valley Railway 1st & 2nd November Things are getting spooky... This Halloween, enjoy a steam-hauled train ride with Gizmo the Magic Wizard!

Then, back at Bitton, see birds of prey from Pitcombe Rock Falconry.

BRLSI 4th November, 7.30pm Angie Hobbs examines More’s engagement with the two idealised communities in Plato’s Republic, and shows how More’s uses of seriocomedy and dialogue interconnect.

The Crowd

Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde

Doing Dickens

The Ultimate Classic Rock Show

The Mission Theatre 6th November, 7.30pm Dickens meets dramatic-daring in this comedy. Four actors attempt the impossible: performing every Charles Dickens novel in one show. Brace yourself for witty wordplay and more.

The Forum 6th November, 7.30pm Dust off your air guitars for an evening of the very best classic rock anthems from legends past and present! Let them take you on a rollercoaster journey of classic rock nostalgia.

The Egg 5th – 6th November The Crowd explores how we navigate our positions in crowds. Hear texts from different people about the loneliness and the joy they experience while being part of different groups of people.

Rondo Theatre 5th – 8th November WhimsiCo take a dive into the dark with their new adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson's The Strange Case of Doctor Jekyll and Mr Hyde, combining psychedelic rock with classic horror.

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Community

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Mervyn Metcalf appointed as Chair MP launches Christmas card competition at the Holburne Museum MERVYN Metcalf is set to become the new Chair of the Board at Bath’s Holburne Museum, it has been announced.

Mervyn has served as a member of the Trustee Board since 2024 and brings a wealth of experience in finance and charities to the role.

He said: “I am honoured to have been selected as the new Chair of the Holburne.

“The Holburne is one of the UK’s most exciting museums, with extraordinary collections and immense potential for the future, located in a city that is close to my heart.

“I am particularly excited about the new Schroder Gallery, which showcases the finest private collection of Renaissance silver in the UK. “This, together with one of the most dynamic exhibition calendars of any museum in the country, makes the Holburne a truly unique institution.

“I hope to build on Edward Bayntun-Coward’s outstanding legacy, and look forward to supporting the Director Chris Stephens, my fellow Board members, and the entire Holburne team, in particular the wonderful volunteers, as we build on the Museum’s success and ensure it continues to flourish as one of the UK’s most treasured cultural institutions.”

Mervyn was born in Zimbabwe

Wera Hobhouse with the 2024 competition winner Tilly Davey

Mervyn will succeed Edward Bayntun-Coward | Photo © Holburne Museum

and moved to the UK in 1979. As an alumnus of London School of Economics, Mervyn has both a Bachelors and a Masters degree in Economics.

He forged his financial career in the City of London with positions at BZW, Merrill Lynch and Global Leisure Partners, before cofounding Dean Street Advisers in 2012, providing financial advice for his client base of corporates and private equity.

Mervyn is a trustee of the board of The Discerning Eye, an educational charity which encourages a wider appreciation of the visual arts; and is also a trustee of BBC Media Action,

providing independent media to over 100 million people across 24 countries annually.

Mervyn is also an avid collector of contemporary art, with a particular focus on portraiture.

Mervyn will succeed Edward Bayntun-Coward in July 2026, who has served as Chair of the Board of the Holburne since 2017.

Edward added: “I am delighted to endorse the appointment of Mervyn, who has brought a remarkable range of attributes, including financial acumen, artistic insight and interpersonal skills to the Board. The Museum will be in very good hands.”

BATH’S MP Wera Hobhouse has once again announced a Christmas card competition, open to all primary school children across the city.

Mrs Hobhouse is inviting pupils to get creative and design a card that captures the spirit of “A Bath Christmas” – this year’s theme.

The winning entry will be printed and sent as the MP’s official Christmas card.

Budding artists can submit their A4 or A5 designs via email to office@werahobhouse.co.uk with the subject “Christmas Card Competition” or by post to 31 James Street West, Bath, BA1 2BT, by 21st November.

Mrs Hobhouse is encouraging participating artists to include festive well wishes in their designs such as “Season’s greetings!” or “Happy holidays!”.

Last year, Tilly Davey from

Widcombe Junior School won the MP’s annual Christmas card competition.

Her winning design captured the festive spirit of the city.

Wera Hobhouse said: “Bath is full of hundreds of talented young artists who I know will do a brilliant job of capturing the magic of Christmas in our city.

“As art is one of my biggest passions, I am always inspired by the imagination of our young artists.

“This competition is the perfect opportunity to showcase these skills! I can’t wait to see how our budding young artists bring their favourite bits of Bath to life on the page.”

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Chance to decide on funding for community projects in Bath PEOPLE are being asked to have their say on which projects will benefit from the latest round of community funding through the Neighbourhood CIL fund for Bath.

The shortlisted projects include play facilities, sustainable energy and community hall improvements.

The council has received an unprecedented number of applications for this round of Neighbourhood Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) funding, totalling £270,000, which exceeds the total amount of CIL money available.

Votes from residents are important to help the council decide how to prioritise projects in this round, and potentially place some projects on a waiting list until further funding becomes available.

The consultation on round 18 of CIL funding is open until 7th November.

The projects applying are: • Installing acoustic panels in the Percy Community Centre Sports Hall to improve sound quality

• Phase Two of Alice Park Play Park, to create a dedicated zone for children aged 9 to 14.

• A nature trail and planting at Odd Down Sports Ground • A multi-use enclosed football cage at Royal Victoria Park • The final section of the boundary wall restoration at Bath Jewish Burial Ground • Pedestrian safety improvements at two key junctions in Lambridge and Larkhall • LED lighting upgrade for The Mission Theatre • Refurbishment of Moorland Road Community Library • Improvements to the outdoor learning space at Twerton Community Nursery • Restoration and reopening of The Old Infants School on Weston High Street as a community centre • Refurbishment of Riverside Youth Hub and creation of a multi-use games area • Creation of a green, creative sensory garden for SEND students at Oldfield School • Installation of solar panels and batteries on three Petra

Supportive Housing properties, which support young mothers and their babies • Restoration of the historic reservoir entrances in Sydney Gardens • Creation of an accessible studio theatre, Venue Four, as a community engagement hub • Year Two of the three-year Water My Plot allotment infrastructure project Councillor Kevin Guy, leader of B&NES Council, said: “Projects like these have a positive and lasting impact on our communities and it’s wonderful to see a wide variety of applications coming forward for the latest round of CIL funding.

“I encourage residents to take a moment to review the shortlist and share your views – your input helps ensure that funding goes where it will make the greatest difference.”

CIL is a planning charge payable on new building developments to be spent on projects that benefit the community.

Because Bath has no parish or town councils as the North East Somerset area does, the council

There is £270,000 of funding available for the projects to share

allocates the funds.

From the overall CIL that is collected, 15% is allocated to the Neighbourhood Portion of CIL for Bath. To date, the Neighbourhood Portion of CIL for Bath has allocated more than £2.57 million to local projects.

Outside of Bath, parish and town councils directly receive and distribute 15% of the levy unless they have a Neighbourhood Plan in place, in which case they

receive 25% of the levy. More than £1.98 million in CIL payments have been made outside of Bath since 2015.

The consultation is open until 5pm on Friday, 7th November and can be responded to online at https://bit.ly/49bL6Ru Anyone who needs the information in another format should email connecting_ communities@bathnes.gov.uk or call 01225 396 975.

Issue 115

P15 15

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Planning inspector calls out profiteering Bath developer Becky Feather Reporter

A PLANNING inspector highlighted the profiteering behaviour of a developer as he threw out an appeal against a council-issued enforcement notice for land at Upper Weston.

Inspector Nick Fagan’s report followed a hearing at the Guildhall last week and upholds the order forcing Hisnain Mahmood to stop using agricultural land at Deanhill Lane, behind Westmead Gardens, to site caravans and store waste, and to remove a recently erected barn used to keep cows.

Three caravans had been brought onto the site in September 2024 and Mr Mahmood, who has an address is Birmingham and is connected to property and pharmacy companies, had initially submitted an application to Bath & North East Somerset Council that month for a Certificate of Lawfulness to enlarge three barns to keep chicken, livestock and horses.

The application was withdrawn last November and a week later the council received a consultation request to operate a certified exempted camping site, but that too was withdrawn.

In January 2025 Mr Mahmood asked for prior approval to put up

a barn to keep livestock, saying his 30 calves would die in the cold without it. Later that month the council ruled that the proposal did not constitute permitted development and said that an application seeking full planning permission would be required.

In June the council issued an enforcement notice, telling Mr Mahmood to cease using the site as a residential caravan site, to stop importing and storing waste materials, and to remove the new agricultural building.

Mr Mahmood appealed in July and the hearing took place on Tuesday 14th October.

Mr Fagan visited the site the day before the hearing and in his report, published on Friday 17th October, says he was able to see the sheds, structures and waste material on the site, including the recently erected calf shelter on the back field behind the sheds and a single caravan in the adjoining field to the west.

The appeal hearing was told that 30 calves had been brought onto the land on 16th March; 11 of them died and the remaining 19 were removed and sold at Frome Market on 24th September.

Mr Mahmood said that he was arranging for more calves to be brought onto the land and that the caravan was needed to support the agricultural operation.

But the inspector says in his

The land at Deanhill Lane in Weston

report: “That seems very unlikely, given that there have only been 30 calves on the site.

“In any case, the appellant confirmed (to the surprise of the council who thought he lived in Birmingham) that he lives a short distance away off Lansdown Road. That means that he can care for any calves on site from home, without anyone needing to live on the site in a caravan.

Irrespective of this, the caravan is being (or was at when the notice was issued) occupied residentially, which requires planning permission in any case.”

The report highlights that Mr

Mahmood, in responding to questions from Mr Fagan about his business activities generally and plans for the site in particular, replied that he runs a number of businesses and owns several plots of land, including in London, that he plans to develop.

“He said that he intended to build nine houses on that part of the site closest to the houses in Westmead Gardens because this land is outside the AONB (Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty) and in ‘grey land” (sic) and use the rest of it to develop his agricultural business.

“It is clear to me, from the

council’s evidence and all Mr Mahmood said at the hearing that he purchased this land in July 2024 simply to turn a profit and maximise its development value in whatever way he can, with or without the necessary planning permissions.”

Mr Fagan also says that Mr Mahmood expressed the view at the hearing that he was “outnumbered” by the two council officers and the 10 residents of Westmead Gardens who attended but had been assured that the purpose of the hearing was to hear from everyone, not least himself.

The report notes that Mr Mahmood had stated he is “here for good” and that the “busybody neighbours” and the council, which is “asleep – I want to wake it up” when faced with a current housing crisis, is not going to stop him doing what he wants on his land.

Mr Fagan’s report adds: “Fortunately, planning controls and the enforcement powers in the [Planning] Act exist to stop exactly the sort of behaviour that has occurred here.”

The council-issued enforcement notice gave Mr Mahmood one month to cease the residential caravan site and the importation and storage of waste, and to remove it all, and six months to remove the barn.

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Health Half-term clinics for youngsters to receive Covid-19 vaccination

Health and wellbeing courses being offered

CHILDREN in Bath and the surrounding area who are eligible for a Covid-19 vaccination are being offered the chance to get protected this half-term at dedicated vaccine clinics.

Five vaccination clinics are taking place during the October school holidays, meaning parents of children who are eligible have a choice of where to take them to get protected.

The Covid-19 vaccine is currently available to people between the ages of six months and 74 who are living with a weakened immune system, as well as to all adults over the age of 75.

Parents and carers of eligible children should have already been contacted about booking a vaccination appointment, but those yet to do so are encouraged to take advantage of the children’s clinics available.

Gill May, Chief Nurse at Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire Integrated Care Board, said: “For vulnerable children, Covid-19 has the potential to be very harmful.

A RANGE of health and wellbeing courses are being offered to people in Bath and North East Somerset, giving them the chance to meet people and develop new skills and interests.

The wellbeing programme focuses on health inequalities through a variety of courses run by community providers using local tutors.

It is co-ordinated by 3SG (Bath and North East Somerset Third Sector Group) working with B&NES Community Wellbeing Hub and funded by the B&NES Council Better Care Fund.

At the launch, Maria, a wellbeing course leader, shared how she started her cancer support group after going through her own treatment, commenting on the previous lack of emotional support available to cancer patients.

Maria was joined by course attendee, Graham, who highlighted how having a space to receive support and share feelings with others had a positive impact on his wellbeing

Vaccines are available from six months

“Not only does it exacerbate the child’s existing long-term health condition, but it also makes it really difficult for their immune system, which is already in a weakened state, to actually fight off the virus.

“And with the beginning of December only six or so weeks away, these dedicated children’s clinics are perfectly timed to ensure that any child getting vaccinated will do so with enough time to build up a good immunity ahead of Christmas, New Year and the arrival of the really cold

winter weather.”

The dates and times of the children’s vaccination clinics are: • Monday 27th October, 10am – 11.30am: Taw Hill Surgery, Swindon • Monday 27th October, 1pm – 3.30pm: Chippenham Community Hospital • Wednesday 29th October, 10am – 11.30am: Central Health Centre, Salisbury • Wednesday 29th October, 10am – 11.30am: St Martins Hospital, Bath • Friday 31st October, 1pm – 3.30pm: Warminster Community Hospital Parents and carers can book their child a slot at any one of the five clinics by logging on to the NHS website at www.nhs.uk or by calling 119 from any landline or mobile.

Other people who are eligible for a Covid-19 vaccination, including those aged 75 and over, can also book their vaccine appointment in these ways, with adults able to receive their jab at their GP practice or from a nearby community pharmacy.

and encouraged anyone going through a similar experience to sign up to the course.

Councillor Alison Born, B&NES Council cabinet member for adult services, said: “I was delighted to be able to celebrate the launch of the new wellbeing courses and it was very moving to hear about personal experiences like those of Maria and Graham.

“There are a fantastic range of courses, such as yoga, art, crafts, cooking and gardening, which will enable people to develop new skills, meet new people, find new interests or simply get out of the house – all of which can help improve overall wellbeing.”

Becky Somerset, Director of 3SG, said: “We are thrilled to be supporting this service and are committed to bringing a varied and useful programme of activities across Bath and North East Somerset using local tutors and organisations.”

The wellbeing courses can be found at https://www.wellbeingcourses.co.uk/.

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Your City, Your News - Bath Echo

Education

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Pupils step back in time School is given green light to turn at the Roman Baths historic lodge into a café Becky Feather Reporter

Photo © Roundhill Primary School / The Partnership Trust

PUPILS from Roundhill Primary School in Bath stepped back in time thanks to a visit to the historic Roman Baths earlier this month.

The Year 4 children travelled to the museum using the local bus service, as part of ongoing efforts to develop their life skills.

Once at the Roman Baths, the youngsters learned about life 2,000 years ago, handled original artefacts and dressed up in Roman clothing.

They also tried their hands as mini archaeologists in the Roman Baths Clore Learning Centre’s

underground Investigation Zone.

Two of the children said: “I enjoyed looking around the Roman Baths and learning about it using the audio guide”, and “I liked looking for the rocks underground because I got to explore more.”

Emily Pugh, Year 3 & 4 teacher at Roundhill Primary School, said: “The session was run amazingly and all of the children got a turn to explore and have fun on all activities. They were able to share their own knowledge with the staff, which they enjoyed as the staff were kind and engaging.”

KINGSWOOD School has been given approval to turn historic Beaconfield Lodge at College Road at Lansdown into a café.

Beaconfield Lodge was built in the 19th century to serve Beaconfield House, which is now a boarding house and part of the wider Kingswood School site.

It is not listed in its own right but the school is, so both planning permission and listed building consent were sought from Bath & North East Somerset Council.

The lodge has been used as storage for a number of years and is said to be in a poor condition.

A report accompanying the application said: “The purpose of this consent application is to propose the conversion of the lodge from an unused and rapidly deteriorating structure into a vibrant, well-maintained public space.”

It says the scheme has been carefully and sensitively designed to respect the historic significance

The lodge has been used as storage for a number of years

of Beaconsfield Lodge while ensuring its continued use and preservation.

“The conversion will provide students and visitors with a sheltered space when attending sports fixtures, enhancing the lodge’s functionality while maintaining its architectural integrity.

“Furthermore, this intervention

is essential to securing the ongoing maintenance of the building, safeguarding it from deterioration and ensuring its long-term viability as a valuable asset to Kingswood School.”

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Business Major Bath employer set to relocate Hotel conversion plan to vacant Pinesgate office site for houses approved Becky Feather Reporter

ONE of Bath’s major employers plans to relocate to the Pinesgate site on Lower Bristol Road.

A planning application has been lodged with Bath & North East Somerset Council by Watkin Property Ventures Investments Limited to retrofit the vacant Pinesgate West building on Lower Bristol Road into a “high-quality office space for a significant and respected local occupier”.

The Echo understands the company is Buro Happold, the international engineering, design and advisory consultancy, which employs more than 3,000 staff globally.

The company is currently based at Camden Mill on Lower Bristol Road.

Pinesgate has two office buildings – Pinesgate East and Pinesgate West – originally developed in the 1980s by the Ministry of Defence.

The application says the most recent occupier was Moco Claims and Services Limited The application states: “The prospective tenant is a globally respected firm of consultants and a major employer, with its head office still proudly based in Bath.

“The city remains central to the company’s identity – both

How the redesigned building could look | Image © AWW Architects

culturally and operationally – with the Bath office continuing to be one of the largest and most significant within the global practice.”

It adds: “With their existing lease approaching expiry, the tenant has undertaken a comprehensive search for new office premises, with a strong preference to remain in Bath.

“Their objective is to secure a workspace that reflects the firm’s core values of collaboration, innovation, and sustainability.

Pinesgate West has emerged as the only viable option within Bath that meets the tenant’s requirements.

“The firm now seeks to work in partnership with the landlord, Watkin Property Ventures Investments Limited, to refurbish the building. The shared ambition

is to transform the property into a highly sustainable, all-electric workspace that prioritises lowcarbon design, staff wellbeing, and exemplary building performance.”

The refurbishment aims to retain the existing structure, significantly improve the building’s thermal efficiency and visual appearance, and introduce high-quality outside amenity spaces.

The plans include removing eight car parking spaces, adding six new electric vehicle (EV) charging points, increasing cycle parking provision from 20 to 100 bikes, installing a new PV array on the rooftop area, and adding showers and changing cubicles.

The planning reference is 25/03816/FUL and the deadline for comments is 27th October.

Bailbrook Lodge Hotel in Bath | Photo © OYO / Christie & Co

PLANS to turn the struggling Bailbrook Lodge Hotel on the edge of Bath into two houses have been approved.

The proposal to reinstate the original pair of three-storey semidetached houses was submitted to Bath & North East Somerset Council over the summer.

The planning application was accompanied by one seeking listed building consent for the conversion.

The Grade II listed property on London Road West dates from around 1825 with some late 19th century alterations.

The planning application said the 15-bed hotel has direct competition from the large Bailbrook House Hotel immediately next door and is sited outside of the city, where

many visitors arrive without cars and increasingly make use of Airbnb-type accommodation and more centrally located hotels.

Reinstating the original two houses will involve minor changes – reversing the knockthrough, removing some ensuites and providing a new doorway.

The existing parking facilities will be kept. There are likely to be fewer trips to and from the site as the users will be reduced from a number of staff and guests to two households.

Any redundant commercial signage will be removed.

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Proposal to turn holiday let into shared accommodation Becky Feather Reporter

PROPOSALS to turn a Walcot holiday let into shared accommodation have been submitted to Bath & North East Somerset Council.

Bath Student Properties Ltd is behind the planning application for 16 Walcot Buildings.

A “dual use” of HMO and house is being proposed but the accompanying report clarifies: “The property is currently utilised as a holiday let, but we aim to return it to residential use.

“Given the property's size,

location, and lack of garden, it is most suitable for shared use, rather than family occupancy.”

The report continues: “The property's layout and location make it ideal for shared living arrangements.”

It adds that there is “a significant demand for HMO properties in Bath, driven by the need for affordable housing options for students and young professionals”.

The property is said to be in an area with a low concentration of HMOs, as outlined in the Bath & North East Somerset Council HMO planning document.

“This change will contribute to a

balanced distribution of HMOs across the city.

“We believe this change aligns with local housing needs and planning policies.

“We are committed to ensuring the property is well-maintained and managed to provide quality accommodation for its future occupants.”

The plans show five bedrooms.

The scheme does not include cycle parking and there is said to be on-street parking “in the vicinity”.

Although there is no garden, the report says there are parks close by.

The property has the required

The property will be turned into an HMO and a house

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Issue 115

P19

Your City, Your News - Bath Echo

Developer’s second bid Keynsham firm wins permission for to keep TV ad screen massive warehouse extension Becky Feather Reporter

The screen installed at the Bath Press site

Becky Feather Reporter

CITY & Country, which is redeveloping the Bath Press site for housing, is trying again to get permission for a TV advertising screen.

In August we reported that the developer, who put up an 88-inch TV screen near busy crossroads to advertise new homes at the site, had been refused permission to keep it.

There were concerns that the brightly-lit screen on top of the sales suite could be a hazard for motorists at the junction where Windsor Bridge Road and Brook Road meet Lower Bristol Road.

Bath & North East Somerset Council planners said that although the retrospective application for signs and flags was acceptable, they were refusing the part seeking advertisement consent for the large screen facing the signalised crossroads on a major route which could impact public safety.

They were also concerned that the backlit changing video and imagery was “at odds” with historic architecture nearby, including the Royal Oak pub and former Bath Press retained façade.

They described the digital advertising display as “an overtly commercial and modern feature, appearing prominently throughout the day and night, announcing commercial interests.

“It would not reflect high quality and traditional Georgian townscape, the landscape

setting of the city or the carefully managed nature of the overall urban environment”.

They also said the brightness exceeded the level nationally advised by the industry body.

Now a new application from City & Country says: “Notwithstanding our consideration that the TV based on its previously submitted details is acceptable, following the refusal, a number of changes have been made to the operation of the TV to reduce further its potential impact on local amenity and public safety.

“Firstly, a static image has been selected to display between 9pm and 7am. The TV, it is understood, is more visible to drivers during darker hours. Having static lighting during these hours will significantly reduce any risk of distraction to drivers.

“It is considered that to have a static image is the equivalent to any other road sign, with slightly increased visibility owing to its illumination.

“Secondly, the video that is played in the remaining hours has been significantly slowed down. Again, we suggest that this poses less of a potential distraction to drivers.

“The resulting advertisement’s impact upon road safety, as well as the impact on the historic environment, is considered to be reduced further as a result of implementing these changes.

“We would therefore invite the LPA [ local planning authority] to reconsider the TV screen as an appropriate form of advertising at this location.”

The planning reference is 25/03878/AR. The deadline for comments is 28th October.

KEYNSHAM firm IJ McGill Transport has won permission for a massive warehouse extension which will support businesses in Bath and Bristol.

IJ McGill Transport Ltd has depots in Devon, Buckinghamshire, Midlands and Manchester and operates the UK-wide company from its Avon Mill Lane site in Keynsham.

The warehousing and storage business is complimentary to the distribution business.

In 2019 McGill’s relocated from Unity Road in Keynsham to the former Keynsham Paper Mill site at Avon Mill Lane, which had been used for the last two decades by DS Smith for paper recycling.

The planning application submitted to Bath & North East Somerset Council sought permission to extend the warehouse that McGill’s built in 2022, and to demolish some of the existing buildings on the site to improve the layout.

A planning statement with the application said: “Since Covid and with the impact of Brexit and the war in Ukraine, together with other global issues affecting supply routes, UK companies are making greater use of storage to ensure they have a good supply of stock for their customers.

“This has seen a growth in the warehouse storage business for IJ McGill Transport Ltd with the new warehouse that was built in 2022 now full to capacity.”

The statement added: “The storage facility serves, and will support in the future, local businesses in Bath and Bristol, providing sustainable solutions and the ability to distribute goods to these local centres on smaller vehicles.

“Goods for storage arrive on site in shipping containers for unloading and transfer into the warehouse.”

The IJ McGill site in Keynsham

The layout takes into account the possibility of a long-talked-about new link road to the north of the site.

In their analysis, council planners said the proposed warehouse extension is “sizeable, indeed more than double the size of the warehouse to which it is to adjoin”.

There will be a net gain in floorspace of 3,702.59 square metres. It will be the same height, at approximately 15.8 metres at the peak of the pitch and around 14.2 metres at the eaves.

“Whilst, generally, extensions to existing buildings are sought to be subservient, this is not the case here.

“However, given the proposed use and resultant building which will have the appearance of a cohesive warehouse, the extension is considered to be an acceptable expansion,” the planning officers said.

They noted that permission for the warehouse in 2022 did not include any restrictions on hours of operation.

The site operates 24 hours a day but given the existing use and degree of separation from the nearest homes which are more than 100 metres away to the south

of the railway line, controls of hours of use were not considered reasonable or necessary.

The planners noted that a construction management plan sets out reasonable hours of construction work.

The council had received one objection and two general comments highlighting that the expansion of premises will result in more lorries using the surrounding roads; Keynsham Town Council had also raised concerns.

Following initial comments from B&NES Council highway officers, an updated transport statement was submitted and it was accepted that the proposed extension would not result in a significant adverse traffic impact.

The flood risk assessment that was submitted had failed to take into account the impacts of climate change, but updated information was provided following discussions with the Environment Agency, which then withdrew its objection.

It is envisaged that the warehouse extension will increase the workforce by 10.

The given number of full-time employees is 116 with three-parttime staff.

positive by keeping goodbyes short and sweet. Focus on the fun or comforting things ahead. If handovers are tricky, consider whether pick up and drop off via school may be better.

5. Allow time for adjustment when moving between homes.

You are all getting used to the new normal.

6. Avoid overpacking – keeping essential items at both homes can help reduce stress and confusion. While it’s important for your child to have familiar comfort items, try to keep things simple.

Older children may worry about having everything they need for school, so providing

them with a checklist can be a useful way to ease those concerns.

7. Validate your child’s feelings – if they are sad or anxious, acknowledge this, tell them it’s ok to miss the other parent, and provide reassurance.

If your child is finding things tricky, hearing their voice through child inclusive mediation can be helpful, as can mediation to discuss a co-parenting routine.

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7 ways to help children navigate transitions between homes When parents separate, it can be a confusing and emotional time for children – especially as they adjust to living between two homes.

While they will naturally want to spend time with both parents, it is important to remember that this arrangement is new and unfamiliar to them.

The more you can do to support and guide them through the process, the easier it will be for them to adjust.

We understand that children can feel anxious about remembering important things – like their

school kit or which house they’re staying at each week.

These tips are designed to help make the transition between homes smoother and more manageable for them: 1. Consider having a colourcoded calendar at both homes, marking where your child is staying on which days.

2. Try, where possible, to keep daily routines, such as bedtime, consistent. Make sure you discuss beforehand what routines you feel it is important to maintain.

3. Consider getting your child involved in choosing how they want to decorate their bedrooms.

4. Make handovers smooth and

P20

Friday 24th October - Thursday 6th November 2025

www.bathecho.co.uk

Politics Region's council leaders to receive £19k pay boost

Pub's aim to boost leisure economy

Alex Seabrook

Local Democracy Reporter

THE new Deputy Mayor of the West of England region will get a hefty pay rise despite doing little work.

The role will rotate between the leaders of the three councils in the area, who will get paid an extra £19,300 for occasionally chairing meetings when the Mayor is unavailable.

For the past few years the West of England Combined Authority has not had a Deputy Mayor.

Former Mayor Dan Norris chose not to have a deputy, but the new Mayor Helen Godwin decided to bring back the role earlier this year.

An independent panel has decided to pay the Deputy Mayor £19,300 a year. Councillors on the overview and scrutiny committee questioned whether this was good value for money, during a meeting on Monday, 13th October.

Bristol Labour Councillor Kelvin Blake said: “It’s a lot of money for the deputy role and therefore there’s an expectation that they act as the deputy and we get good value for money.

“The public will demand that level of scrutiny. It’s quite a large payment.”

Deputy Mayor Kevin Guy and Mayor Helen Godwin | Photo © Freia Turland

Bristol Conservative Councillor Mark Weston added: “I’m very nervous about this. I’m actually not sure what the deputy does for that role. This seems quite a large amount of money for a roughly honorific title.

“I’m not sure this is value for money in any guise at all.

“I think what will happen is you’ll have a payment that goes out,

and I’m not sure any service to the taxpayer or the Mayor will be improved for it. I don’t see the need for this at all.”

The first deputy will be Liberal Democrat Councillor Kevin Guy, the leader of Bath & North East Somerset Council.

He already gets paid £55,827 a year for being a councillor and leading the council, and the new

Deputy Mayor role will take this figure up to £75,127.

His role will be to deputise for the Mayor in her absence; to chair combined authority committee meetings if the Mayor is unavailable; and to meet with international visitors if the Mayor cannot.

The role will swap around every year, and should involve a “commitment of one day a week”.

Rules are proposed to limit HMO conversions John Wimperis

Local Democracy Reporter

NEW rules in Bath could soon ban “family homes” from being turned into HMOs. Houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) — the legal name for shared houses where groups of unrelated adults live together sharing facilities — are often occupied by students, single people, professionals, and lowincome workers.

But councillors have warned that affordable homes for families being turned into HMOs is exacerbating the city’s housing crisis.

Now Bath & North East Somerset Council is proposing a ban on three-bedroom “family homes” in the city from being turned into HMOs. If adopted, it would come into effect as part of the council’s new local plan, a major document which sets out the council’s planning policies and where new developments should go until 2043.

Matt McCabe, the council’s cabinet member for built environment, housing, and sustainable development, said Bath faced “problems which no other city in the country faces” when it came to housing because

Planning Round-up

A bedroom at an HMO property | Library image

the city’s World Heritage Site status meant the city could not be expanded into the green hills that surround it.

He said: “If an affordable home is converted to an HMO, we can’t replace it. There is nowhere in the city now to build houses.

“Hence a new policy direction to sit alongside our existing policy direction. We have got to stop the loss of this housing stock from the city.”

He was speaking at a meeting of the council cabinet on 25th September, specially convened to put the new Local Plan Options Document out to public consultation.

The proposed HMO policy is one small part of the 448-page document, which is mainly focused on to put the 27,000 homes which the government has told Bath and North East

Somerset Council it needs to build.

The new proposed rule would ban three-bedroom homes of a certain defined size from being converted into HMOs. The rule could either be applied citywide or only in the most affordable areas.

The council last tried to limit HMOs in 2022, when it adopted a policy designed to prevent areas having too high a concentration of HMOs. But the council warned this just had displaced the creation of HMOs from the areas of main concentration and out into the wider city, where housing is more affordable, leading to more affordable homes across the city being turned into HMOs. In a debate over HMOs at a full council meeting on 24th September, Councillor Jess

David (Moorlands, Liberal Democrat) said: “Over the last six years, I have seen a steady stream of planning applications in the Moorlands area seeking to convert family homes — typically two or three bedrooms — into houses of multiple occupation.

“Typically, these involve losing the living room to create additional bedrooms, and in some cases, extensions to create larger six bedroom HMOs.” She added: “This trend is directly exacerbating Bath’s housing crisis and with every small family house that becomes an HMO, we reduce the supply of suitable homes for other families to rent or buy.”

Less than a week later, plans to turn a three-bedroom home in Twerton into a six-bedroom HMO came before the council’s planning committee and were unanimously turned down on the grounds of overdevelopment.

Planning committee member Councillor Paul Crossley (Southdown, Liberal Democrat) said: “We can’t just say it must stay as a family house because that’s not a planning consideration for the moment. But it is a real issue and it is something as a council that we have to much more seriously address — and at speed, because of the speed with which these applications are coming in.”

A Bath pub has unveiled plans to help boost the city centre’s leisure economy.

The Bath Brew House in James Street West, run by Young & Co.'s Brewery PLC, has submitted proposals to “refresh and improve” the rear garden area.

The scheme includes a new timber-clad kitchen to replace the existing booths, as well as a minor extension of the decking area and new timber-covered huts with Crittall-style side panels.

There are also plans to repair and redecorate existing windows and doors on the pub’s facade.

A report accompanying the application states: “The proposed alterations to the Bath Brew House are minor in nature and will help to improve the overall experience of the pub and garden area.

“They will allow for an improved customer experience which it is hoped will improve overall trade. The new kitchen area is proposed to allow for additional food preparation and service which will help to maximise the efficiency and operation of the pub.”

The report says there are restaurants, pubs and shops in the immediate area including Kingsmead Entertainment which has a cinema, eateries and other leisure facilities.

The planning reference is 25/03759/FUL and the deadline for comments is 20th November.

Plan to turn three-bed home into six-bed HMO Accommodation company Rivers Birtwell has applied for planning permission to turn a three-bed terraced family home in Whiteway into a six-bed house in multiple occupation (HMO).

The “high quality and well designed” scheme for 139 Sheridan Road includes adding a single-storey rear extension.

The application says there are no significant concentration of HMOs in the local area and the change of use will not ‘sandwich’ a house between two HMOs. The application states that all bedrooms will have natural light and surpass space standards. The communal amenity space will be well-proportioned and there will be two separate toilet and shower rooms, one on each floor.

Energy efficiency will be improved to the required EPC (Energy Performance Certificate) rating of C, including all new double-glazed windows, a new low-energy boiler and wastewater heat recover system.

A bike store will provide secure parking for four bicycles and there are said to be frequent local bus services.

The planning reference is 25/03982/FUL and the deadline for comments is 5th November.

Issue 115

P21 21

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£500k to be spent on improving EV charging for residents across Bath THE West of England Combined Authority (WECA) is set to invest nearly half a million pounds to improve infrastructure to make charging electric vehicles easier and cheaper.

Local residents taking part in the project would benefit from lower charging costs by utilising their own domestic electricity supply. £429,000 has been made available to the regional authority to help residents without off-street parking to charge their electric vehicles (EVs) at home, without leaving cables lying across pavements.

The funding is from the government’s Department of Transport, following approval from the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles. It would enable narrow channels to be cut into pavements for cables and then covered with lids, strips, or brushes, leaving the surface flat with the rest of the pavement.

WECA has said it would work with local councils to finalise how it would work, with a range of different methods and models already trialled elsewhere in the country, subject to approval at the next joint meeting of the Metro Mayor and council leaders on 17th October.

The rollout would be expected from late summer/autumn 2026. Grants of up to £1,200 per charger would be available, with a resident contribution/annual cost to be confirmed.

The Department for Transport

The money will be used to help make charging EVs easier

has also approved submissions for Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure, with Bath & North East Somerset Council ready to proceed with a further trial of onstreet charging thanks to £60,000 of proposed investment.

This trial is scheduled to start from spring 2026. B&NES Council is also looking to work with Motability to explore how to improve access to home charging for Motability users.

Helen Godwin, Mayor of the West of England, said: “I promised to get the West moving, and get us out of the slow lane on transport.

“We have secured a record threequarters of a billion pounds of new transport funding, which will mean fixed roads and bridges, better buses, more trains, and mass transit plans.

“Green electric buses are already rolling out across the West, cutting pollution and improving journeys – with even more on the way.

“As the government works to

reduce the costs of private electric vehicles, through this grant we will able to support more convenient charging infrastructure for local people across the region.”

Councillor Sarah Warren, deputy leader of B&NES Council and cabinet member for Sustainable Bath & North East Somerset, said: “This is important investment in electric vehicle infrastructure across our region. Making it easier and more affordable for residents – especially those without offstreet parking – to charge their EVs at home is a vital step in helping more people make the switch to cleaner transport.

“This funding will help us trial innovative solutions that improve accessibility and safety, while also supporting our wider climate and air quality goals.

“We look forward to working with the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority and our communities to deliver these improvements.”

Three communities chosen to explore renewable energy THREE communities in Bath and North East Somerset are set to take part in a scheme exploring the potential for community-owned renewable energy projects.

St Catherine’s and Batheaston, Twerton and Whiteway, and Radstock and Westfield were selected from 19 organisations that registered their interest in taking part in the Energy in Your Community project, a partnership project involving Bath & North East Somerset Council, Bath & West Community Energy (BWCE), the Centre for Sustainable Energy (CSE) and the University of Bath.

The project aims to support the development of 5MW of community-owned renewable generation across the Bath and North East Somerset area by 2030.

The three communities selected will be offered support to identify, develop and promote small-scale renewable energy projects such as wind farms or solar farms, which would be set up and owned by the community with the benefits to be retained by the community.

Councillor Sarah Warren, cabinet member for Sustainable Bath & North East Somerset, said: “We had a fantastic response to our call out for communities that were interested in developing capacity

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for local energy generation and I’d like to thank everyone who expressed an interest in taking part. I will be keeping a close eye on progress as the three areas develop their ideas and involve more residents in discussions about which types of renewable energy might work locally.

“Any community-owned capacity established as a result of this project will not only benefit the community but will also help contribute to the council’s goal of 300MW of renewable energy generation capacity.”

The communities will take part in a series of workshops that use the Future Energy Landscape (FEL) methodology developed by CSE as a guide.

Skye Frewin, Renewable Energy Outreach Coordinator at BWCE, said: “We’re delighted to support local residents as they explore the opportunities of locally owned community energy and the direct benefits it can bring back into their area. This is a communityled process, and we’re excited to see the ideas that emerge.

“If you live or work in one of the focus areas, we encourage you to get involved – your participation will help ensure the project develops in a way that’s most impactful and beneficial for you and your community.”

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Bath lose to Leicester Tigers’ lastgasp penalty on day of milestones

Van Graan: Defeat at Leicester was sickening

Richard Briggs

Richard Briggs

SO Bath Rugby are human after all. The undoubted superstars of the Gallagher PREM lost for the first time in their defence of the crown when they were undone by Leicester Tigers in agonising fashion on Saturday 18th October.

Leading 20-19 with the final whistle looming at Mattioli Woods Welford Road in the Round 4 clash, Bath conceded a penalty when Thomas du Toit made a high tackle on Billy Searle.

The South African was sent to the sin bin and Searle, the Tigers’ replacement fly-half, booted the three points from the left. Referee Adam Leal blew immediately for full-time and the Blue, Black & White were beaten 22-20.

Having gone to the top of the table after winning their first three games of the campaign by the bonus point, Bath are now down in third spot, with a derby against fourth-placed Bristol Bears to come at The Rec in Round 5 on Saturday 25th October.

Although Bath had only 41% of the possession and 36% of the territory at Welford Road, arguably the most concerning statistic was the number of penalties they conceded – 12 to the Tigers’ five.

But the Blue, Black & White opened the scoring in the third minute. Leicester’s Adam Radwan made a hash of a chip ahead by Santi Carreras. The Argentina star kicked on again, Henry Arundell took possession and offloaded for Dan Frost to touch down on the right for a try on his first start in a Bath jersey.

BATH Rugby head of rugby Johann van Graan was left to rue missed opportunities at Mattioli Woods Welford Road on Saturday 18th October.

The Blue, Black & White led Leicester Tigers 17-7 and had chances to put the game to bed before they edged back in front, 20-19, with seven minutes to go.

But Leicester won the game 2220 thanks to a last-gasp penalty, inflicting reigning champions Bath’s first league defeat of the season.

“Tough to lose like that, last play of the game, but that’s sport, that’s rugby,” said van Graan.

“I felt they gained the ascendancy in the set-piece battle. We had opportunities in the second half and we didn’t finish. Well done to Leicester. It’s always a sickening feeling when you lose it like this, [having been] up by a point away from home.

“The [points difference when the sides met in the 2024-25] final was two points, this was two points. It was a good set-piece battle against each other, a really big aerial battle.

“We scored some fantastic tries, we left some opportunities out there in the first half.

“They squeezed us to get ahead and then we fought our way back to go one up. But well done to Leicester.

“A fascinating game of rugby.

Sometimes you win it like that, sometimes you lose it like that.

“Ultimately we lost the penalty count and that put us under pressure. We’ll go and review it.

Obviously we conceded quite a

Reporter

Reporter

Bath lost for the first time in the 2025-26 campaign | Photo © Richard Briggs

Finn Russell sent his conversion attempt wide.

But Leicester were in front in the eighth minute. Number 8 Olly Cracknell forced his way over from short range on the left and James O’Connor kicked the extras.

Bath regained the initiative in the 13th minute, Sam Underhill going over from five metres – shrugging off a tackle in the process – on the right. Again Russell’s conversion attempt was off target, and the visitors led 10-7.

The scoreline became 17-7 to the guests in the 25th minute.

Cameron Redpath ran in from 30 metres on the left following another display of speed by Arundell, and Russell majored.

Leicester had a 35th-minute try in the right corner by Hanro Liebenberg disallowed for a forward pass.

But they added a legitimate touchdown two minutes later, Jamie Blamire scoring from a rolling maul on the right.

O’Connor failed from the tee but the hosts were only five points

adrift.

And the Tigers edged 19-17 in front by scoring again in the 44th minute. Pressure on the Bath line resulted in Nicky Smith forcing his way over from close range.

O’Conor landed the two points.

But Bath bagged their first points of the second half when Russell kicked a 73rd-minute long-range penalty from the right. It looked as though it might be enough to extend the Blue, Black & White’s winning start to 2025-26 to four matches.

However, Leicester struck the decisive blow at the death to record their second win of the league campaign and move up to fifth place in the standings.

Long-serving Bath hooker Tom Dunn came on as a replacement early in the second half to make his 250th appearance for the club.

It certainly was a day of milestones, as Tom de Glanville turned out for the Blue, Black & White for the 100th time – and Ewan Richards arrived from the bench to clock up his 50th appearance.

few [penalties] today.

“Never too high, never too low, that kick goes the other way and we win.

“Credit to Leicester. We’ll go and have a look at our performance and crack on next week.”

Van Graan praised second row Ethan Staddon for his performance in the East Midlands.

“I thought he played really well,” said van Graan. “I think he played 68 minutes, so that’s really pleasing from a system point of view. But we win together, we lose together, 23-man effort. It’s one of those where you lose by the last kick – it’s a lot better to win by the last kick.”

A special guest at the game was former England captain Lewis Moody MBE, who played for Leicester and Bath during a glittering career.

On Monday 6th October, Moody revealed that he has been diagnosed with motor neurone disease.

He was joined at the Tigers v Bath match by some of his former Leicester team-mates.

Moody said: “It’s so awesome to see the boys here and just to have the support.

“The rugby community is a good one, we always talk it up, but at times like this when you need it they embrace you, they put their arms around you and you feel that warmth and that love – and we certainly feel it today.

“You don’t ever expect news like this [his diagnosis], you don’t understand how you’ll react when it happens.

“But to be invited back to have the opportunity to be here, in one place in one occasion, to just have a bit of fun, it’s wonderful.”

Double for jockey Mangan at penultimate meeting of season Richard Briggs Reporter

JOCKEY Gina Mangan rode two winners at Bath Racecourse’s penultimate meeting of the season.

Mangan scored in the fifth and final contests on the eight-race Afternoon Racing card at the Lansdown track on Monday 20th October.

The opening BetWright Bet The Wright Way Amateur Jockeys’ Handicap, over two miles and one furlong, was won by Throne Hall.

The 7/1 chance, trained by Archie Watson at Upper Lambourn in Berkshire and ridden by Brodie Hampson, finished threequarters of a length clear of second-placed Colinski (17/2).

Next was the one-mile BetWright Bangers N’Cash Nursery

Handicap, which resulted in victory for Irish raider Royalist.

Finley Marsh guided the 4/1 shot to an eight-and-a-halflength victory over runner-up Time For Action (22/1). Royalist was saddled by Richard Hughes, whose stables are also at Upper Lambourn.

The third race, the one-mile BLTH Novice Stakes, produced a win for French horse Hard Evidence (16/1). Trained by Ed Walker at Upper Lambourn and piloted by George Downing, Hard Evidence got the better of second-placed Shetalkstoangels, the 4/6 favourite, by one-and-ahalf lengths.

Race four, the five-furlong BeatWright: Beat The Wright Way Nursery Handicap, was won by a short head by Red Snapper (9/2), with Ben Ffrench Davis on board, for handler Kathy Turner

Gina Mangan rode two winners at on 20th October | Photo © Richard Briggs

(Sigwells near Sherborne).

Wojtek (9/2) was second.

Next on the card was the five-furlong BetWright Safer Gambling Handicap, won by half a length by 13/2 fancy Jax Edge from runner-up Asinara, the 9/4 favourite. From Chris Mason’s yard at Caerwent, Monmouthshire, Jax Edge was partnered by Mangan.

Another Irish horse, Marching Mac, was victorious in the sixth race, the Thank You BetWright Handicap over five-and-a-half furlongs. The 7/2 joint favourite, from Ireland, took the honours by a short head from second-placed Kiss And Run, the other 7/2 joint favourite. Marching Mac, with Grace McEntee aboard, is trained

by Phil McEntee at Newmarket,

Suffolk.

The penultimate contest, the onemile CB Protection Handicap (Division I), was taken by Irish six-year-old Bobby Dassler for handler Alison Thorpe (Caerfyrddin, Carmarthenshire).

Jockey Elizabeth Gale coaxed the 3/1 hope to success by one-anda-half lengths from runner-up Valkyrja (5/2 favourite).

The closing CB Protection Handicap (Division II), over one mile, saw a two-and-a-half length triumph for outsider Lovely Jubly (66/1) from secondplaced Whiteley Way (12/1).

Lovely Jubly, ridden by Mangan, is trained by Michael Attwater (Epsom, Surrey).

Going was soft changing to heavy after the third race.

Bath’s 2025 Season Finale is on Thursday 30th October. For tickets: https://bit.ly/3WiVa3v

Issue 115

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Romans record vital win over high-fliers

Bath will continue putting faith in youth for PREM ‘marathon’

Richard Briggs

Richard Briggs

BATH City chalked up arguably their best result of the season when they defeated highflying AFC Totton in Enterprise National League South on Tuesday 21st October.

The Romans would have slipped into the relegation zone had they lost – but they recorded a 2-0 victory at the Cannon Clarke Stadium @ Twerton Park against a side who started the evening in third spot in the table.

City’s victory – their first in the league since they beat Eastbourne Borough 2-0 in Twerton on Saturday 23rd August – lifted them up to 17th place.

Watched by a crowd of 1,035 on the club’s Student Night, Bath got the better of the Hampshire outfit thanks to a goal apiece from Brad Ash and Kieran Parselle.

Romans’ boss Darren Way said: “It’s probably been the best home performance I’ve seen I’ve been in the post. The support tonight, over 1,000 supporters, was excellent, so thank you for coming and getting behind the players. It was a performance that the supporters deserved.

“We knew the game wasn’t going to be easy but it was a result we deserved for our performance.

“I think it all came together and the players realised how important it was to put in a performance for our supporters.

Tactically we were very astute.

“Brad and Jake [Tabor] ran the frontline really well and were a constant threat – you wouldn’t want to mark them.”

It took only six minutes for the Romans to break the deadlock.

Joe Raynes crossed and Ash headed past Totton keeper Ryan Gosney. The goal was Ash’s fourth in four outings.

Way said: “It was a good finish, a

BATH Rugby will continue bringing through young players and putting their faith in them.

So says the club’s head of rugby Johann van Graan as he prepares for the visit of Bristol Bears to The Rec on Saturday 25th October.

The Blue, Black & White go into the Gallagher PREM Round 5 match having lost to a last-gasp penalty at Leicester Tigers on Saturday 18th October – their first setback in the league this season.

Speaking at the reigning champions’ pre-Bristol press conference on Tuesday 21st October, van Graan said: “It’s always a big game [against the Bears]. It’s obviously a rivalry that’s come a long time and there’s some classic matches. But that’s not our focus, our focus is on our performance on the weekend.

“We know that they’re a quality outfit, well coached. They play a specific way and we play specific way and I’m sure for fans all across the Premiership it’ll be nice to watch on Saturday.

“Quinn [Roux] will be fine, he’s recovered [from injury].

Unfortunately Frosty [Dan Frost] broke his hand [against Leicester] so he’ll be out for a number of weeks.

“We won’t see Jaco Coetzee until the new year, we’ll only see Bernard van der Linde in the new year, we’ll only see Sam Harris in the new year and we’ll only see Ciaran Donoghue in the new year.

“And Will Muir has gone for ankle surgery so he’ll be out for a number of weeks.

“We’re very comfortable with the squad, we’ll adapt accordingly and look forward to Saturday.

“We’ll see where we are later in

Reporter

Reporter

Photo © Simon Howe

well-worked goal. Jordan [Alves] did well, obviously an excellent cross from Rainsey and obviously a brilliant finish, so a good start.”

Ash, Luke Russe and Parselle all shot over before City went very close to extending their advantage in the 41st minute.

Tabor chipped the ball to Ash but the former Barnsley player saw his shot saved superbly by Gosney.

Bath kept up the momentum after the break. And seven minutes in, Ash slammed the ball against the outside of the near post.

But the second goal came in the 58th minute. Will Jenkins Davies sent over a corner and Gosney attempted to punch clear. But the ball was blocked and rebounded to Parselle, who headed in.

The Stags’ only serious chance of the match came in the 64th minute. Substitute Ralph Vigress broke away and fired in a shot but home gloveman Harvey Wiles-Richards saved well at the expense of a corner.

Bath: Harvey Wiles-Richards, Joe Raynes, Ollie Tomlinson, Jack Batten, Kieran Parselle, Jordan Alves, Will Jenkins Davies, Jake Tabor (Louis Sweeten, 81), Brad Ash (Manny Yeboah, 87), Jordan Tillson, Luke Russe (Mitch Beardmore, 75). Unused subs: Martin Horsell, Tresor Mabika.

City will be looking to build on the win over Totton when they visit promotion-chasing Hemel Hempstead Town in the league on Saturday 25th October (3pm).

the week. Ted Hill is making his way back [from injury], there’s seven lads away at national [England] camp.

“So we’ll only be together on Thursday and I’ll make the final calls after training.

“Injuries are part and parcel of the game.

“Sometimes you get decisions that go for you and sometimes the decisions go against you.

“Sometimes you win a game that you shouldn’t and sometimes you lose a game that you shouldn’t.

“Each team will go through adversity.

“One thing that we’ve done really well this season and the previous ones is just to look after ourselves.

Never too high, never too low, and respect the opposition for what they are.

“I think the Premiership has shown this season once again that anybody can literally beat anybody on the day and we’ve got to make sure that we prepare accordingly.

“We’ve been together as a whole group for three weeks.

“It’s the autumn now, then we’re into one round of Premiership and then into Europe.

“We’ve got Christmas, it almost feels that you’re back into the Six Nations and then once you get to March, there’s eight rounds of the Premiership left.

“So this is a marathon and that’s why you’ve got to make sure you keep developing players.

“I thought Ethan Staddon was fantastic over the weekend [against Leicester], which again shows from a system point of view… every day of training, with the opportunity you get, and then you get performances like that.

And so was Louie.

“So that’s a sign that our system works and we’re going to keep investing in our squad.

“We’ve got to make sure that every week we try and get a bit

Photo © Richard Briggs

better and then hopefully by all of our performances put together over nine months we’ll be in a spot where we can compete at the back end of the season, so that’s ultimately what we try to do.

“I’ve been involved in over 450 first-class matches. You kind of go through every single emotion.

I’d much rather learn by winning than by losing. But I think that’s the reality of professional rugby, sport in general, sometimes you lose in the last play of the game.

“Just because we lost on Saturday doesn’t mean that we really played badly, we actually did some really good stuff in that game. Some things will go for you and some won’t.

“I think the important bit for us is we led with the last play of the game and we actually defended really, really well.

“We pushed them back almost 20 metres and then there’s a high tackle, a fair call by the referee [for a Leicester penalty at the death]. We win together and we lose together. So no drama from our side.

“We took it on the chin, looked at what we could do better throughout the game. Our setpiece clearly wasn’t good enough on Saturday and that’s something that can be worked on in the week.

“Pretty quickly on Monday morning we moved on and looked forward to a great week because it’s always a great occasion [against Bristol].”

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

M

onday 20th October certainly gave us a proper taste of autumn racing at Bath.

It started out looking like a fairly typical October afternoon with soft as the headline going description, although rain was forecast for the day – and it duly arrived.

We ended up with 9mm of rain on the day – and after Race 3, the going officially turned heavy.

From then on, the emphasis on stamina increased as the ground continued to open up.

The track held up well, especially the focused running lines around the bends.

As so often happens in soft

ground conditions, runners headed over to the stands-side rail on the home straight where the action rarely gets sighted throughout the summer months.

These sorts of days always throw up a surprise or two, and Monday’s card followed suit.

The standout moment came in the last race, when Lovely Jubly, the 66/1 outsider, won in fine style.

This followed a few recent big-price winners around the country, most notably the two Group 1 winners last Saturday at Ascot at 100/1, and a mighty 200/1, the largest-price Group 1 winner in history.

Lovely Jubly’s win was a perfect reminder that in racing, anything can happen, especially at this stage of the flat season.

Some horses come into their own on testing ground, for which many would have been kept fresh in anticipation.

Behind the scenes, my thanks go to our ground staff and the wider team here at Bath.

They were out there from dawn until dusk, ensuring the track remained in fit state, and forking back between races to maintain the surface condition during testing weather.

It’s a job that doesn’t always get the spotlight, but their experience

and efforts make all the difference.

Now, attention turns to our final meeting of the season, coming up on Thursday 30th October.

Entries close at noon today (Friday 24th October), and if this week’s weather is anything to go by, we might be in for another proper test.

We’ve been able to remove some false rails and open the track up to full width for this fixture, providing fresh ground around the bends and for much of the home straight.

Trainers with proven stayers and a liking for ease in the ground will

be eyeing up suitable races, and I think we may see some of Monday’s winners return. The final fixture of the year always comes around quickly. It doesn’t seem so long ago we were preparing for our opening fixture.

Next week we’ll celebrate another season of great racing here at Bath. Whatever the weather throws at us, we’ll be ready, and we hope to welcome many familiar faces to see out the flat turf season.

See you all on the 30th!

You can read all of Ben's columns at www.bathecho.co.uk/sport

P24

Friday 24th October - Thursday 6th November 2025

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Two goals in injury-time hand Larks victory Richard Briggs Reporter

Bath Rugby Saturday 25th October – 3.05pm

Bath Rugby v Bristol Bears (Home) Gallagher Prem – R5 Friday 31st October – 7.45pm

LARKHALL Athletic scored twice in injury-time to secure a dramatic Pitching In Southern League victory over neighbours Westbury United on Saturday 18th October.

The White Horse Men looked to have earned a point from the Division One South match at the Camella Stadium when they came from 2-0 down to level late on.

But the Larks netted in the fourth and eighth additional minutes to snatch a remarkable 4-2 win from a thrilling derby that was watched by a crowd of 253.

The result ensured Athletic took their points haul to seven from three matches across eight days and lifted them into ninth place in the table.

Playing down the slope in the first half, Larkhall created a chance in the second minute. Dawid Regula moved into the box, held off Westbury’s Jamie Jordan and shot – but his low effort was too weak to cause keeper Joel ManningButler any problems.

However, the home side went ahead 10 minutes later, Max Williams beating Manning-Butler with a low angled drive after good work by Matt Bowman.

United’s first attempt on goal saw Aaron Cockerill shoot into the side netting in the 19th minute.

But back came Larkhall. Ryan Beckinsale fired high and wide from 22 yards in the 23rd minute.

And five minutes later, Regula set up Bowman, whose goalbound drive was blocked at the expense of a throw by Westbury captain Ryan Bole.

In the 31st minute, Bowman’s shot went across the face of goal – and Alex Camm was just unable to connect from a couple of yards out.

Bath Rugby v Bristol Bears (Away) Prem Rugby Cup – R3

Bath City FC Saturday 25th October – 3pm Bath City v Hemel Hempstead Town (Away) League Sam Boulton shoots into the empty net to give Larkhall Athletic their fourth goal against Westbury United on Saturday 18th October | Photo © Phil Scovell

The White Horse men shaded the remainder of the first half.

Bole drove wide from the edge of the box in the 37th minute. And two minutes later, Josh Jenkins was narrowly off target from 20 yards. Ethan Cannings drove over from long range in the 43rd minute – and shortly afterwards, Ben Starr hooked the ball across the face of goal from 12 yards.

However, Larkhall doubled their advantage in the 51st minute.

Beckinsale did the spadework and Regula shot. Manning-Butler spilled the ball and Camm put it away.

Soon Starr fired over from 18 yards for the guests, who made four changes in the 54th minute.

But Starr found the target in the 66th minute. A shot from one of the substitutes, Aaron Witchell, deflected off Larkhall defender Ewan McMillan, and Starr followed up to reduce the arrears.

Beckinsale tried his luck from an angle eight yards out in the 82nd minute but Manning-Butler blocked with one of his feet.

United equalised in the 88th minute. Ali Sen, another of the replacements, sent in a curling shot from out on the left – and the ball crashed off the far post and

entered the net. It was a superb goal.

Westbury were not finished, though, and Jenkins forced home gloveman Liam Armstrong to claim a 25-yard low free-kick in the 89th minute.

But in the third minute of injurytime, Camm slammed the ball off the Westbury bar following a cross from Beckinsale. “That’s their last chance,” shouted a United fan in an attempt to gee up the visitors.

How wrong he was.

Almost immediately, Milo Murgatroyd crossed and Regula headed in from close range to restore the Larks’ advantage.

The hosts sealed their success when skipper Sam Boulton broke on the left and – with ManningButler still out of his box having moved up for a Westbury freekick – shot low into the empty net, the ball going in via a post.

The loud singing coming from the Larkhall dressing room after the game told you everything you needed to know about the scoreline.

Larkhall: Liam Armstrong, Max Williams, Will Banks, Sam Boulton, Ewan McMillan, Sam Tisdale, Alex Camm, Matt Bowman, James Horrocks, Ryan

Beckinsale, Dawid Regula. Subs (all used): Spencer DymondHall, Jeff Forkuo, Asa White, Lewis Graham, Milo Murgatroyd.

The Larks are next in league action on Saturday 25th October, when they go to Exmouth Town (3pm). And they follow up by making the short trip to Frome Town on Wednesday 29th October (7.45pm).

Larkhall Development could only draw 0-0 at mid-table Purton Kingsdown in a physical Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League Premier Division encounter on Saturday 18th October.

The Larks stay in third place – but Shrewton United, who started the day in second spot, took over in pole position by seeing off visitors Melksham Town Reserves 2-1.

Shrewton top the table by one point from Swindon Supermarine Development, with Athletic four points further behind.

However, the Larks have two games in hand on Supermarine and have played one game fewer than the Shrews.

Larkhall Development will be at home to Bemerton Heath Harlequins in the Premier Division on Saturday 25th October (3pm).

Crossword answers - Issue 114 (10/10/2025) Down: 1 Isaac, 2 Follow suit, 3 Eternity, 4 Naked eye, 5 Wreath, 6 Zagreb, 7 Alto, 8 Stricture, 15 The Rockies, 16 Alongside, 19 Finds out, 20 Soloists, 22 Polyps, 23 Dotage, 25 Truss, 27 Avon.

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