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Flagship M&S store opens its doors in SouthGate
MARKS & Spencer’s new flagship store at SouthGate in Bath has opened its doors, bringing food, fashion, home and beauty together under one roof in the city centre.
The four-storey 83,000 sq ft shop opened its doors at 9am on Wednesday 4th February, just hours after the long-running Stall Street branch closed for the final time the previous evening.
More than 650 people queued up for the opening, with some arriving at 8am.
The relocation has created 40 new jobs, with all colleagues from Stall Street having transferred to the new location.
The new store has around 300 members of staff, made up of full and part-time roles.
Percy Pig and Colin the Caterpillar greeted customers as they entered the store, with the first batch of customers receiving M&S Bath SouthGate branded tote bags.
Shoppers visiting SouthGate can now explore a large M&S Foodhall alongside clothing ranges, including the latest collections from Autograph and heritage label Jaeger.
A dedicated beauty hall showcases third-party brands such as Clinique, Estee Lauder, Hello Sunday, TYPEBEA, Sam
McKnight and ESPA.
The new site also features a large 140-seat M&S Coffee Shop, which is serving breakfast and lunch options including breakfast rolls, toasted flatbreads and barista-made coffee.
Natalie Jordan, store manager at Bath SouthGate has worked at M&S for over a decade.
She said: “We have a fantastic history in Bath, dating back to 1895 and it is brilliant to be investing in a brand-new flagship store in the city centre.
ASINGLE
word can bring about fear among motorists and cyclists – potholes.
The winter usually brings a bout of potholes and tyre-popping craters in and around Bath, but this year it just seems that little bit worse.
Many factors can be blamed for potholes forming, and it’s not always down to the weather.
Poor roadwork repairs, heavy vehicles and general ageing of the road surface all lead to those pesky dips. You will no doubt have experienced a bumpy ride when travelling along some of Bath’s most popular routes, or worse still, had the unfortunate experience of damaging a tyre or your vehicle after hitting a
pothole. We are encouraged to report potholes as soon as they are spotted to Bath & North East Somerset Council’s FixMyStreet system (https://fix.bathnes.gov. uk), where you have to provide various details including your name, email address, the location of the issue and even a photo if you’re feeling generous. However, the turnaround time for the work to be carried out can really vary – in fact there are still some ‘Open’ reports on the system dating back a few years. I’m aware of a good few repairs in recent months that have been made but soon open up again, leading to worse holes than before as the original pothole
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“Our focus is now delivering the trusted value and exceptional quality we’re known for –alongside a touch of that M&S magic.
“Our new showstopping store does just that and the response from customers has been so rewarding for the whole team.
“So, if you’re looking for the perfect outfit, doing your weekly food shop or craving our M&S coffee, we can’t wait to welcome you soon.”
The SouthGate flagship is one of more than 20 new or renewed M&S stores opening across the UK in the second half of this financial year.
Laurence Budden, senior asset manager at British Land, which owns SouthGate Bath, said the retailer was a major addition to the shopping centre’s line-up. He said: “We are delighted to welcome Marks and Spencer to SouthGate Bath; they are the perfect addition to our strong line-up and further enhance the mix for our visitors. SouthGate’s prominent city centre location and strong transport links create a compelling offer, and with this the scheme is now fully let.” M&S holds a long lease on the old Stall Street store and is working with Bath & North East Somerset Council on its future use.
was enlarged to make the repair. I’m not blaming the contractors (Volker Highways) who spend all day long working their way around the city filling in these holes, but for them to come back within a matter of days or weeks, or for a mound to be put in place with ‘TEMP’ sprayed on the top of it really doesn’t make sense. Something that is frequently brought up when we speak with residents are the substantial resurfacing schemes that B&NES Council undertake, only for the nice new road surface to be dug up shortly afterwards for utility works. One example of this includes Park Lane next to Royal Victoria Park. The road was closed
in April for much-needed resurfacing works, but then excavated again at the end of July for electricity works. For whatever reason, once the road had been backfilled, the contractors were back again to dig it up again (apparently they needed some more cables, but we haven’t had confirmation of that).
If you’re suffering with significant potholes on your road, or have had nicely laid road surface damaged by contractors in recent months, please do get in touch with me – editor@bathecho. co.uk - and we’ll see what we can find out. Maybe we should run a competition for the deepest pothole in Bath?
From the Editor... Opinion, insight and the stories shaping Bath this week
Sebastian Hawker
Store manager Natalie with Colin and Percy | Above: Cutting the ribbon at the new store
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Tributes are paid to D-Day veteran Stan Ford
BATH war veteran Stan Ford, who survived the D-Day landings and went on to become a powerful advocate for remembrance, has died at the age of 100.
Councillor Kevin Guy, Leader of Bath & North East Somerset Council, led tributes to Mr Ford, whose wartime service and work honouring fallen comrades made him a much-loved figure in the city.
Councillor Guy said: “I was deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Stan Ford. On behalf of Bath & North East Somerset Council, I extend heartfelt condolences to Stan’s family, friends and all who knew him.
“Stan was an extraordinary member of our community. Only last year, I was proud to join him, his family and friends to celebrate his 100th birthday, marking not just a remarkable milestone in years, but a life defined by service, resilience and dedication to remembering those who did not return from war.
“Many residents will also remember Stan with great pride when he carried the Commonwealth Baton through the streets of Bath as part of the Queen’s Baton Relay, a moment
that symbolised both his personal courage and his contribution to public life.
“Stan’s service to his country, and his commitment to sharing his experiences with future generations, will not be forgotten.
He will be remembered with deep respect and gratitude by our city and wider community.
“Our thoughts are with his loved ones at this difficult time.”
Stan served with the Royal Navy during the Second World War and was aboard HMS Fratton when it was torpedoed off the coast of Normandy on 18th August 1944.
He suffered a fractured spine and
injuries to both legs when the ship was sunk; 38 crew members were rescued but 31 lost their lives.
In later life, he became an ambassador for the British Normandy Memorial and regularly returned to France to honour fallen soldiers by keeping their memory alive.
Last year, as part of national commemorations for the 80th anniversary of VE Day, a life-size banner of Stan was created for the Standing With Giants project. Displayed at the Guildhall in Bath, it served as a striking visual tribute to his heroism.
Stan celebrated his 100th birthday last May at Keynsham Masonic Hall, surrounded by family and friends.
He was also widely recognised in 2022 when the Queen’s Baton Relay passed through Bath ahead of the Birmingham Commonwealth Games. The 97-year-old Normandy veteran was one of nine Batonbearers who carried the baton from the Royal Crescent, via the Roman Baths, to the Guildhall.
Sharing a statement on Facebook,
The Spirit of Normandy Trust said:
“We are deeply saddened to share the news that D-Day veteran Stan Ford has passed away. Stan was a proud veteran, who was injured when his ship HMS Fratton was sunk off Normandy.
“He was a familiar and muchloved face at many Spirit of Normandy Trust events and pilgrimages, where he generously shared his wartime experiences and helped ensure the sacrifices of his generation are never forgotten.
“Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences are with Lorraine, Kevin, and all of Stan’s family at this difficult time. He will be remembered with great respect and gratitude.”
Decision to keep traffic restrictions to be reviewed
Becky Feather Reporter
A REQUEST for a watchdog group to scrutinise the decision to keep the three latest traffic restriction trials in Bath has been approved.
On Friday 30th January, Bath & North East Somerset Council published its decision to make the controversial trials in Winifred’s Lane, Gay Street and Catharine Place permanent.
The decision was signed off by Liberal Democrat cabinet members Manda Rigby (communications and community) and Joel Hirst (sustainable transport strategy).
But after a call-in request last week by a cross-party group of councillors, the council’s climate emergency and sustainability policy development and scrutiny panel will meet on Monday 23rd February.
The panel can ask the cabinet members to reconsider, ask for the decision to go to full council,
or reject the call-in.
While the three trials are independent of each other, the council says they have been designed to work together to improve the Lower Lansdown and The Circus area in line with its Liveable Neighbourhood objectives. The decision covers the through-traffic restriction on Winifred’s Lane, the closure to through-traffic at Catharine Place and the ‘no entry’ and turning changes on Gay Street and around The Circus.
The call-in was submitted to council chief executive Sophie Broadfield on Friday 6th February with the required nine
signatories, and was approved on Monday, 9th February. Five of the nine are Independents –Colin Blackburn (Westmoreland) who is the lead member for the call-in, Shaun Hughes (Midsomer Norton North), June Player (Westmoreland), Alan Hale (Keynsham South) and Ann Morgan (High Littleton).
The council’s two Conservative councillors - Tim Warren and Sarah Evans (both Midsomer Norton Redfield) are also signatories, as are two Labour members – the group’s leader Robin Moss (Westfield) and Eleanor Jackson (Westfield).
The councillors have outlined
detailed reasons for demanding a rethink on the decision of the cabinet members.
They say there has been a failure to meet stated objectives and that there is a reliance on unsound data. They highlight “safety risks and extreme community opposition” and say pollution is being transferred to more vulnerable areas, in violation of the council’s duty of care.
They also say there are gaps in critical monitoring data and no clear evidence links the three separate Experimental Traffic Regulation Orders, with their combination in a single decision described as “arbitrary and lacking a legal basis”.
Previous call-ins for experimental traffic trials in Bath have been rejected – the through-traffic restriction at Southlands in Weston and, more recently, the through-traffic restriction at New Sydney Place and Sydney Road in Bathwick.
The meeting on 23rd February will be at 10am at the Guildhall in Bath.
City centre road closure
Terrace Walk in the city centre will be closed for three nights next week from the junction with Pierrepont Street to the junction with York Street.
The closure from Monday 16th February between 7pm and 6am is so Wessex Water can install a new connection.
The alternative route will be via Pierrepont Street.
Police probe anti-social driving reports
The Somer Valley policing team say they have received concerns from several members of the public about the revving of engines, speeding and general anti-social behaviour in Clevedon Road in Midsomer Norton. They say recent patrols have been completed at the times reported, adding: “We will continue to provide a presence in the area to combat this issue. No vehicles fitting the descriptions have been encountered as yet.”
Anyone with concerns about anti-social behaviour in their community is asked to call 101 or report them via the Avon & Somerset Police website.
Play area survey plea
Keynsham Town Council is refurbishing Park Road play area and says it’s important to understand what local residents and users would like to see there. A survey is running until 28th February. Residents are invited to have their say at https://forms. office.com/e/REy4cA8WeV#
Long range forecast: (20th to 16th February)
Rain is expected to stay as low pressure continues to dominate across the region. Strong winds are possible, with temperatures around normal for the period.
Stan Ford in Milsom Street in Bath | Photo courtesy of B&NES Council
WORK is scheduled to start on Bath’s new recycling centre at Locksbrook Road on Monday 23rd February – with the tip set to open in late 2026.
Construction firm EW Beard Ltd has written to people in the area, advising them of the start date and promising to keep disruption to a minimum.
Demolition and remediation work has been taking place on part of the current Midland Road recycling centre in preparation for the whole site being redeveloped.
Bath & North East Somerset Council-owned Aequus Construction Ltd has permission to build 176 homes there.
The centre will stay open until the new Locksbrook Road one is ready.
The council will be spending just over £10 million to relocate the recycling centre to Locksbrook Road where it secured planning permission last April – although as we went to print this week, the Environment Agency (EA) had still not granted a permit. The EA said the application was still being assessed.
The council has said it investigated more than 50 sites for a new recycling centre for the city before settling on its street cleansing depot in Locksbrook Road and the adjoining car park it leased to the local VW garage. The street cleansing team are relocating to a refurbished council transport depot on Locksbrook Road.
The replacement recycling centre was approved by the council’s
planning committee despite 189 objections. Nineteen local businesses publicly opposed the scheme, including Bath Spa University which has a campus on Locksbrook Road.
Concerns included the flood risk and the impact on the local business and residential community including environmental health, traffic safety and congestion issues, as well as problems with accessibility due to the proposed gantry system.
There has also been criticism that the categories of recycling will drop from 31 at Midland Road to nine at Locksbrook, although the council says about 80% of the tonnage of items taken to the Midland Road site can be taken to the new site.
According to the council’s timeline, construction work should have started on the new Locksbrook tip last autumn, with a summer opening planned.
In the letter sent to local residents, the construction firm says: “EW Beard Ltd have been appointed by Bath & North East Somerset Council to build the new Bath Recycling Centre, which when it opens in late 2026 will replace the existing recycling centre at Midland Road.”
It adds: “We pride ourselves on being a considerate constructor and we will endeavour to complete works with minimal disruption to surrounding neighbours and residents, and businesses.
“We have a dedicated social value team that will be engaged on the project to ensure that we have a positive impact on the local community.”
Corston man convicted of 21 sexual offences against young children
Becky Feather Reporter
AFTER a nursery worker from Corston near Bath was this week convicted of 21 sexual offences against five toddlers, their devastated families have demanded answers about how he was able to work with children.
Nathan Bennett, 30, who worked at the Partou King Street nursery in Bristol, was found guilty by a jury on Monday 9th February of two counts of sexual assault by penetration, two counts of the rape of a child under 13, and four counts of sexual assault of a child under 13.
Bennett had previously admitted 13 offences - eight of sexual assault of a child aged under 13, four of causing a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity, and one count of engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child. He remains in custody and will be sentenced on 16th March. His crimes came to light when his manager reviewed CCTV after concerns were raised by parents and staff. Bennett was sent home and a report made to the Local Authority Designated Officer who contacted police on 26th February 2025. Bennett was arrested and questioned that same day and released on bail, with conditions including not to be unsupervised with anyone under 18. Following a six-month investigation, he was charged with eight offences and remanded into custody. He was later charged with a further 14 offences.
During the week-long trial at Bristol Crown Court, prosecutor Virginia Cornwall said: “It’s every parent’s worst nightmare, that a person entrusted to be responsible for your child, care for your child and nurture your child at times when you are unable to provide that parental care, abuses their position and sexually abuses that child.”
Investigating officer DC Bethany Cook said: “This investigation involving such young children
was deeply challenging and distressing for all concerned, and I would like to commend the support and strength shown by those families. This case has caused significant anxiety for other families whose children attended the nursery during the time these offences were committed and, when appropriate, we’ve tried to keep them informed.”
After the trial a group of families impacted by the abuse at the nursery, which has since closed, issued a statement through legal firm Leigh Day.
In it they said: “We are devastated by the horrific abuse children have suffered at the hands of someone whom we all trusted to care for them. Nothing can begin to explain the shock, anger and heartbreak we feel – or the profound and lasting impact we are sure this will have on families.”
They called for answers: “We want to understand how someone like Nathan Bennett was able to work with young children, what checks were made, and how the safeguarding systems in place at Partou King Street nursery failed so catastrophically. There are deep concerns among families that management and supervision did not protect children, and that this allowed the abuse to continue. We hope that, as well as securing justice through the criminal process, the wider issues around safeguarding
COLUMN | Councillor Kevin Guy, Leader of Bath & North East Somerset Council
One month into what promises to be a busy and productive year, I would like to share some thoughts.
I’m very proud to be the leader of Bath & North East Somerset Council. Our dedication to improving people’s lives guides everything we do: providing the essential local services that you, your family and the wider community rely on every day. We are firmly committed to protecting and investing in frontline services, including adults’ and children’s care, as well as enhancing funding for our
roads, culture and keeping our environment clean and green.
My experience serving in the Royal Navy taught me that we get the best results by cooperating.
The council works in partnership with a wide range of organisations, including our regional authority, our universities, voluntary organisations, the police, the Bath Business Improvement District, town and parish councils and Curo to name just a few. Together we are stronger and we can achieve more for residents.
The B&NES Community Wellbeing Hub is a prime
example of the power of partnership working. When Covid struck in 2020, we swiftly joined forces with 3SG, the network now covering 200 local charities, social enterprises and community groups. We set up a one-stop shop providing a range of services to help people through this challenging time. I want to pay tribute to all who contributed so much to create and sustain this lifeline. Since then, the Community Wellbeing Hub has continued to develop as an anchor of support. We have strong institutions, but
and protection at the nursery will be properly reviewed so that nothing like this can ever happen again.”
Leigh Day partner Andrew Lord said: “As lawyers specialising in abuse claims, we have significant experience supporting families through the aftermath of child sexual abuse. Even so, the concerns raised by the families in this matter about the Partou’s safeguarding practices are profound. They feel that the systems that should have been in place to protect their children simply did not work. That has left them with fundamental questions about how this individual was employed, supervised, and allowed to be in positions of unsupervised care.
“We will continue to support and represent families affected, and we stand ready to work with all relevant bodies to improve safeguarding practices and accountability.”
A Partou spokesperson said they had been “shocked and distressed by the upsetting details that have emerged over the past several days about Nathan Bennett’s appalling crimes”.
“Our primary concern from the moment we became aware of the offences has been for the children involved and their families. They have been provided with independent, specialist support, and this support is ongoing. Meanwhile we have provided every assistance and cooperation to the investigating authorities in the conduct of their important work.
“We have robust safeguarding policies and practices in place at Partou, which have been followed throughout. In response to the incident, we commissioned an independent review to identify any vulnerabilities, and we have further strengthened our approach to safeguarding all children in our care in line with the recommendations made. We will be engaging with the sector and government to pursue coordinated initiatives to ensure that children in all nursery settings are safe.”
they will only remain strong if we defend them. Looking at the wider world, these are disturbing and uncertain times. We are witnessing the frightening fallout from those who want to dismantle the building blocks of our democratic societies. Sniping from the sidelines, spreading false ‘information’ and sowing mistrust, they aim to divide people instead of bringing them together.
Community is our greatest strength to counter these threats,
and I believe that we build community by finding common ground. This requires that we create room for dialogue, that we listen to each other, identify what unites us, and look together for solutions to the challenges we face. We are so fortunate to live where we do. We have so much more potential to unlock in our area. Based on what we have accomplished so far by joining forces, I am optimistic about what we will achieve in the year ahead.
Council refuses Curo’s plans for car park at Combe Down site
Becky Feather Reporter
CURO’S plans for a permanent car park at its Mulberry Park development at Combe Down have been refused, despite concerns about more vehicles clogging up local roads and the impact on the estate’s community hub.
When the former Ministry of Defence Foxhill site was redeveloped for housing by Curo, the facility in Mulberry Way known as The Hub was intended to be the focus, but it has been so successful that people from further afield come too, and not all use sustainable transport despite the estate being served by the No. 2 bus.
The nursery at The Hub has 12 allocated spaces, while the rest of The Hub has 14 spaces, and there are an additional four parking bays next to Garden Square.
Land opposite Bradford Park Road is being used for temporary parking for 19 vehicles for Hub staff. There is already planning permission in place for temporary event car parking at the site with a grasscrete surface, but a formal 22-space parking area was being proposed.
It falls within an area set to become a park serving the new community.
In its planning application, Curo said the overall design of the car park would be unchanged other than a different surface intended for more regular use and a “slight reconfiguration”.
Curo had admitted that the current parking provision did not adequately support The Hub and that removing the temporary parking for staff would “exacerbate” overflow parking problems, while the loss of parking facilities associated with The Hub would represent “a real risk” to its future sustainability.
The new proposal included a dedicated access from Foxhill
as the current access requires vehicles to drive over the footpath. Curo said the new access would also allow Wessex Water to inspect and maintain the sewerage tank under the park – the current scheme does not apparently provide wide enough tracks or adequate provision for vehicles to turn.
In their analysis of the plans, B&NES Council planning officers acknowledged that the loss of 700 square metres of public open space for a more formal car park would not adversely affect existing and potential recreational needs, and they were
satisfied with the design. They acknowledged that the proposed new access would be “beneficial” but pointed out that the approved arrangement had been considered acceptable, and that Wessex Water had adopted the tank without the infrastructure now being proposed.
Their planning report said: “Whilst the area is currently used for parking by contractors / staff, this arrangement is due to cease as the wider development, including the public open space of which it will form part, is completed.
“The applicant contends that as staff have been using this area for parking at present, these vehicles shall be displaced onto the local road network which shall cause a highway safety issue.
“It appears the present arrangement has not discouraged use of private cars by staff due to the convenience offered by such temporary parking being available.”
The report said the proposal would result in “an excessive level of permanent car parking”, adding that it “fails to provide a level of parking provision which contributes to the aims of the climate and ecological emergency, supports creating healthier places, and which reduces the convenience of unnecessary car usage in order to make sustainable transport a more attractive choice”.
There had been 33 objections and 12 comments of support for Curo’s plans.
The Echo asked Curo if it would be appealing the council’s decision. A spokesperson told us:
“We’re disappointed that the council has turned down this application, which would have increased parking capacity in the neighbourhood and taken pressure off local streets.
“We’ve made no decision on our next steps and will continue to review all options.”
Delivery rider ran over pedestrian, causing devastating injuries
A DELIVERY rider who knocked down a pedestrian in Bath, leaving her with catastrophic injuries, collapsed in the dock after hearing a statement read out in court by the victim’s daughter.
Yasir Ali, who was at the city’s magistrates’ court on Wednesday 4th February for sentencing, was taken to hospital and proceedings were halted.
The 20-year-old had covered his face and sobbed as he listened to the victim impact statement through a Pashto interpreter who was appearing via video link. Ali, of Wells Road in Knowle, Bristol, had admitted at a court appearance in December that he caused serious injury by careless driving on 13th February 2025. The case had been adjourned for a pre-sentence report to be prepared by the Probation Service.
At the sentencing hearing last Wednesday, magistrates were shown CCTV footage of the collision at Margaret’s Hill in Walcot.
A collision investigation consultant calculated that Ali had been travelling at 26mph in the 20mph zone on a Honda motorcycle at the time.
The pedestrian, a mother-ofthree, was knocked unconscious and suffered severe injuries, including to her head and spine. She underwent emergency brain surgery and a year on remains in the Frenchay Brain Injury Rehabilitation Centre in Bristol. Her daughter, supported by other
family members in the public gallery, told the court that her mum had been active and very fit before the collision and “in the prime of life”.
She had lived in Bath for 37 years and loved meeting up with friends, spending time with her family and helping people. “She is now no longer the same person”, her daughter said. When first admitted to hospital, the 62-year-old needed a tracheostomy to help her breathe, but that has now been removed.
She is sustained by a feeding tube into her stomach.
She has very little movement in any of her limbs and has to be hoisted into a wheelchair as she can no longer move independently. She suffers from seizures. Her daughter told the court: “I am sure she is in terrible pain.”
Her mother is not currently well enough to leave hospital, and it is unlikely she will be able to return to her home.
Her quality of life is said to be “extremely low” and her daughter spoke of the sadness that she will not be able to see her children’s life milestones.
Her mum had worked hard all her life and wouldn’t now be able to fully enjoy her retired life; her parents had planned to travel, and her mother had been looking forward to her first cruise in May 2025.
The family are said to be doing all they can to help her emerge from her state and members visit twice daily: “Mum is non-verbal and we have to be her advocates,” her daughter said. She added: “We do not know what the future holds. It seems Mum will never return to the family home and will need adapted accommodation when she is ready to leave hospital.” Yasir Ali’s rescheduled sentencing will take place at the court on 8th April.
The Echo has not named the victim at the request of her family.
Suspended sentence for ‘catastrophic’ mistake
A 19-YEAR-OLD studying on an academic visa at the University of Bath made “a catastrophic mistake” by carrying a knife in a public place, magistrates said as they imposed a suspended jail sentence.
Diego Haruni had admitted being in possession of the 13-centimetre bladed knife in James Street West in the city centre on 8th November without good reason or lawful authority.
At his first court appearance on 26th November, Bath magistrates adjourned the case for a presentence report from the Probation Service, remanding Haruni on unconditional bail.
At his court appearance on Monday 26th January, magistrates heard that staff at a local pub had been concerned that Haruni might have a knife. He had run off but had been challenged by a street marshal. The incident was caught on CCTV.
Representing Haruni, solicitor Liz Morrice told the court the teenager, for whom character references were produced, is “remorseful”.
Very gifted academically, he is from Albania and came over on an academic visa to study finance and accounting.
She said the Home Office is sending him back to Albania due to his lack of attendance at the university following a suspension, even though the university is willing to reinstate him for the next academic year starting in September.
The Probation Service had recommended a community order, but that was not considered workable as Haruni, whose address in Bath was given as Green Park House in Green Park Road, has to leave the country before 27th February, said Ms Morrice.
Magistrates described the offence as “very serious” and crossed the custody threshold. They sentenced Haruni to three months in jail but suspended it for 12 months.
They also ordered the deprivation of the knife and ordered him to pay a £154 surcharge and prosecution costs of £85.
Chair of the bench Robert Kilby said the magistrates hoped that what had happened to Haruni would not affect him too much in the future.
They said it would be up to the immigration service whether he would be allowed back into the country.
Mr Kilby observed that Haruni would possibly regret his “catastrophic mistake” for the rest of his life.
52-year-old carried out assault in pub after being provoked
A MAN who carried out an assault in a Bath pub after being provoked was acting out of character and had “blown up his life”, a court heard.
Matthew Sherlock, 52, was before Bath magistrates for sentencing on Wednesday 28th January after admitting at a previous court appearance that he’d assaulted Darren Clark at the Trowbridge House pub in Coronation Avenue on 8th August 2025, causing him actual bodily harm.
Sherlock, who was a bus driver at the time, also admitted a further charge of failing to provide a breath sample for analysis on the same day. The court heard that Mr Clark had overheard a political conversation in which Mr Sherlock had voiced pro-immigration views. Mr Clark reportedly took issue with what was being said and in CCTV played to the court, he could be seen putting his hands on a table where Sherlock was sitting, and it tipped up. There was a scuffle and Sherlock
was ejected from the pub, but he returned 10 minutes later and attacked Mr Clark, who ended up on the floor.
He sustained a gash to his forehead and nose and two black eyes.
Later, Sherlock went to Bath Bus Station to tell his manager he would not be working.
He appeared intoxicated and was seen to get into his own vehicle and attempt to move it.
The police were called and Sherlock refused to give a roadside breath test. He was arrested and taken to Keynsham Police Centre, where he refused to provide samples of breath for analysis.
Duty solicitor Rachel Tiley told the court that Sherlock had “very foolishly” returned to the pub and assaulted the complainant.
She said he had been driving buses on and off for 15 years and had lost his job of 18 months.
He had resigned as he would “inevitably” have been sacked.
The court heard that alcohol
has always been something of an issue for Sherlock, but he is now abstaining. He had been the victim of a serious assault when he was 18 and suffers flashbacks which might indicate underlying PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder).
The probation officer told the court that Sherlock had very clearly acted out of character and
had been “very shocked” by his behaviour.
“He has blown up his life,” she said. However, she said he had taken responsibility for his behaviour and he welcomed the support being offered.
Magistrates said they recognised there had been provocation, but the big issue was that Sherlock had returned after being thrown
out of the pub.
They imposed a community order under which Sherlock will be tagged for alcohol abstinence and monitoring for 90 days. He will undergo alcohol treatment for nine months with support service Turning Point and must complete up to 10 rehabilitation activity requirement (RAR) days. Magistrates banned him from getting behind the wheel for 17 months, but the disqualification will be reduced by 25% if he completes a drink-drive rehabilitation course.
An interim ban had come into force after Sherlock’s guilty plea in December. He was ordered to pay a court surcharge of £114 and £85 prosecution costs, but magistrates said they did not think compensation to the complainant would be appropriate in this case.
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Bath Magistrates' Court
Sherlock will be tagged for alcohol abstinence
Haruni was carrying a 13cm knife
Boy racer in court after doing 125mph on M5
A 17-YEAR-OLD driver from Somerset was caught doing 125 miles an hour down the M5, Bath Magistrates’ Court heard.
Joe Penfold, who is now 18, appeared in court on Monday 2nd February to admit driving his brother’s VW Golf southbound on the motorway between junctions 19 and 20 at 55 miles above the speed limit and without insurance.
He was stopped on 22nd December 2024 by police who had been travelling in an unmarked vehicle.
Penfold’s solicitor said his client’s brother had driven the pair of them to Bristol that day but had decided to stay there.
Penfold had decided to drive himself back to his home in Whiteball, near Wellington as he needed to see his grandmother who has health issues.
His solicitor acknowledged the “grossly excessive speed” at which Penfold had been travelling, but told magistrates there had been no near-misses, damage or injuries caused.
He said Penfold accepted he would be banned and asked magistrates to impose a “relatively short disqualification” due to the impact on not just him
but members of his family. Penfold already had three points on his driving licence for an offence last August of leaving a vehicle in a dangerous position.
Accumulating 12 or more penalty points within three years triggers an automatic minimum six-month ban under the ‘tottingup’ system.
Penfold was fined £268 for driving without insurance and £268 for speeding. He was also ordered to pay £130 costs and a £26 court surcharge.
He received eight penalty points for having no insurance and for the speeding offence his driving record was endorsed, but with no separate points.
Penfold’s solicitor asked the magistrates why they had not disqualified Penfold, and they said they were following their sentencing guidelines.
Penfold will, however, still get his licence automatically revoked. A new driver’s licence is cancelled if they get six or more points within two years of passing their test. They have to apply and pay for a new provisional licence and pass both theory and practical parts of the test again to get a full licence.
Second trial involving Bath woman collapses
THE second trial at Bath Magistrates’ Court this year involving the same defendant has collapsed, with the Crown Prosecution Service again offering no evidence.
On Monday 2nd February 38-year-old Pagan Taylor went on trial accused of failing to provide a specimen of breath for analysis without reasonable excuse when suspected of having driven.
The alleged offence took place on 23rd August last year at Keynsham Custody Centre. Taylor, of Ridge Green Close at Odd Down, had denied the charge.
During the trial last Monday, the court heard that an informant had called 999 to express concern about the way a Peugeot car was being driven in Bath in the early hours. It had allegedly been weaving across the road, stopping at green lights and braking heavily.
The informant, who was asked by the call handler to follow the vehicle until the police arrived, reported that a passenger had been seen getting out of the car at a garage with an empty bottle of vodka.
The car was parked near the ambulance station when the police turned up and Taylor was asked to provide a roadside sample of breath.
She refused, saying she hadn't drunk anything. On police body cam played to the court, she referred to the police having it in for her and that she had been set up previously.
In the recording she mentioned Scotland Yard catching a police officer growing weed at her house, and accused the police of victimising and harassing her.
Taylor was arrested and taken to the custody centre where she refused to give a sample of breath, saying the police had not done it properly last time.
The police officer interviewing her noted she had dilated pupils. But on the form he did not write any other reasons to suspect she was intoxicated.
The trial was halted while the transcript of the call to 999 was examined by the prosecutor and defence solicitor and it emerged that nowhere did the informant mention that he suspected the driver of being intoxicated.
The prosecutor told the magistrates that any reference to the suspicion of intoxication had been a “miscommunication” by the operator. As information passed onto officers “did not exist in reality” the prosecutor said she could not take the case any further. It was dismissed, with no evidence offered.
Why do we ‘name and shame’ in our stories?
Since the introduction of our Crime & Court section, 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
Pictures from the Past
The Paragon restored
Kirsten Elliott Akeman Press
WALK along the Paragon today, and there seems little to suggest that it is anything other than what it seems – a grand Georgian terrace.
In April 1942, however, as the first of these photographs shows, Nos 28-32 were destroyed by bombing. After the war, the architect Ernest Tew was asked by the council to prepare a scheme for rebuilding them, not as five houses but as ‘self-contained, horizontally converted flats’. The plan he came up with was for 13 flats – eight with three bedrooms, three with one bedroom and two with two bedrooms – together with store rooms, a laundry and an entrance hall.
Work got under way in 1951 and the second photograph shows them shortly after the scaffolding
came down, shining forth in all their pristine glory. The third photograph shows the back, where, in the words of Mr Tew, ‘instead of those little cantilever outhouses and oddments which clutter up the back of our Georgian houses’, there was ‘a clean neat line’. Getting rid of boundary walls also meant that a lawn could be laid out. It is still there today, but now adorned with three large trees.
The brightness of the stone on the new facade was such a contrast to the sooty patina smothering the rest of the Paragon that it was obvious Nos 28-32 were newly built. Over 70 years later, with the new stone weathered and the rest of the Paragon cleaned, the skill of Mr Tew of matching his designs to those of the original builders means that few now realise that part of one of Bath’s finest Georgian terraces dates from the 1950s.
COLUMN | Clare Moody, Labour Police and Crime Commissioner
SEXUAL abuse and sexual violence cause profound harm, and too often that harm is carried alone.
As Police and Crime Commissioner, one of my core priorities is preventing abuse and ensuring that survivors have the specialist support they need to cope and recover.
This Sexual Abuse and Sexual Violence Awareness Week 2026, I want to tell you about some of the remarkable organisations in Avon and Somerset who are there for survivors every day. One of those organisations is The Green House, a survivorled charity providing specialist therapy for children, young people and families who have experienced sexual abuse. Their work is grounded in
compassion that creates space for young people to begin rebuilding trust in themselves and in the world around them.
Over the past year, I have been proud to fund their innovativeled charity providing specialist therapy for children, young people and families who have experienced sexual abuse. Their work is grounded in compassion that creates space for young people to begin rebuilding trust in themselves and in the world around them.
Over the past year, I have been proud to fund their innovative nature-based creative therapy, which is proving to be a powerful part of their work.
They run 12-week group programmes where young people can step out of clinical settings
and into the natural world. Sitting around a fire with hot chocolate, being encouraged to notice the rhythms of growth, retreat week group programmes where young people can step out of clinical settings and into the natural world. They start to find new ways to understand and talk about their own experiences. This work is rooted in the wellestablished established three model of trauma recovery: safety and stabilisation, processing, and reintegrating with the world. But what makes it extraordinary is how it allows children to engage with these stages in a setting that feels safe, gentle stage model of trauma recovery: safety and stabilisation, processing, and reintegrating with the world.
In March 2025, the charity expanded this offer to include one-to-one to nature therapy, opening up the same benefits to young people who prefer individual support.
Feedback from those taking part speaks volumes.
One child told therapists: “It is so much easier to talk about difficult things when surrounded by nature.”
Another said: “There is no stigma. We are just two people together in nature rather than being in a building that reminds me I have been sexually abused.”
Parents also feel the difference.
One shared: “How wonderful everyone is - from the moment you get in the door, it is such a
pleasant place to be in such unpleasant circumstances. Everyone who opens the door or offers you a cup of tea, that feels like the start of your session. Everyone is so important, you all have such a nurturing way about you. I feel genuine support from everyone.”
The courage of survivors, and the dedication of services like The Green House, give me hope. There is always more to do, but I will continue do all I can both locally and nationally to ensure every survivor receives the support they need.
I remain deeply grateful to those who give their expertise and their hearts to help young people recover, reconnect and rebuild.
Below left: The restored terrace | Below right: The rear of The Paragon Above: The bomb damage from 1942
Congratulations to Keith Weller for winning £20! You can find the answers to last issue's crossword on page 24
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Across
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18 Facial deformity (7)
20 Abandon all restraint (3,4)
21 Harmonize (4)
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25 Absinthe flavouring (5)
28 Early bird's breakfast (4)
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Food & Drink
Tasty Dates For Your Diary
Bath Restaurant Week is back for a week from Tuesday 17th March, launching with the Waiters’ Race along the iconic Royal Crescent on Monday 16th March: an opportunity for local hospitality businesses to form a team ready to relay a tray of drinks and a Sally Lunn Bun while raising muchneeded funds for Hospitality Action. Ready, set, go? Sign your team up today!
https://bit.ly/4qm5Z1d
Exciting new opening klaxon! Daruma Diner (Weston village) specialises in authentic, accessible Japanese comfort food in a super-welcoming environment and serves a set lunch for just £14.95. It’s currently only open daytimes Thursday-Sunday, but there are big plans in the pipeline… and pop-ups are particularly
Recipe
welcome! @darumadiner
Sponsor this section!
Get in touch with Rob Last via rob@mediabath.co.uk
Flip out at Sweet Little Things (Old Bond Street) over a stack of pancakes and a hot drink for just £10 from now until Sunday 22nd February (booking essential). www.sltbath.co.uk
It’s the first Secret Supper Club of the year at The Packhorse (South Stoke) on Thursday 19th February: a voyage of discovery through a multi-course feast accompanied by handpicked drinks-to-match .
https://bit.ly/4tqiknL
The beautiful Bengal Brasserie (Milsom Street) has reopened under the illustrious curatorship of the team behind Mantra (Bladud Buildings) - hoorah! www.bengalbrasseriebath.com
Soup, curry and cauliflower cheese in one glorious, soul-soothing pot.
Swim along to the recentlyrevitalised Corston Wheatsheaf on Thursday 26th February for a very special Cornish Fish Supper guaranteed to make a splash (£49pp).
thecorstonwheatsheaf.co.uk
Learn how to make pizza like a pro in the Dough Pizza (Kingsmead Square) kitchen: limber up with a welcome drink; create, stretch and shape your own dough; top with your favourite ingredients… then chill out and tuck into your very own creation before taking two doughs home with you (£115pp).
https://bit.ly/4thmEpo
They call it ‘dangerous knowledge’, we call it vital intel: massive, fully-loaded 2-for-1 smashburgers (make mine a Big Lebowski, please) at Juno
Melissa Blease Food Writer
Bar and Kitchen (Philip Street, SouthGate) every Tuesday. www.junobarandkitchen.co.uk
Tapas and Jazz Night returns to the Rose and Crown (Larkhall) on Thursday 26th February: live, world-class jazz, intimate vibes and harmonious small plates that bring the swing (free entry; booking essential). roseandcrownlarkhall.co.uk
Tuck into ‘insanely good, awardwinning burgers’ from London’s legendary Leytonstone Tavern crew to eat in or takeaway from the Village (Larkhall) on Saturday 28th February. Can’t make the date? The burger boffins will return to the Village on Saturday 28th March.
https://bit.ly/46CJldS
A trip to Thailand… without going
Ingredients (serves 2) Scallop, Prawn and Red Pepper Linguine
• 175g linguine
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 200g scallops (defrosted if frozen)
• 180g raw king prawns (defrosted if frozen)
• 100g roasted red peppers (from a jar), chopped
• 4 garlic cloves, peeled and crushed or grated
• ½ tsp dried red chilli flakes
• 4 tbsp dry white vermouth or dry rosé wine.
• 4 tbsp double cream
• A generous handful of finely-chopped flat leaf parsley
• Cook the pasta according to the instructions on the packet. Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a large, deep, non-stick frying pan and sear the scallops for 1-2 minutes (turning just once) until golden on the outside. Lift from the pan and transfer to a warm plate while you sauté the prawns until pink and cooked through. Add the cooked prawns to the cooked scallops and set to one side.
• Add a drizzle more olive oil followed by the chopped red pepper, crushed garlic and chilli flakes to the warm pan and sauté (stirring continuously) for around a minute or until fragrant — but don’t let the garlic brown! Add the vermouth or wine and bubble gently until reduced by half. Add the double cream, season to taste and bring to a very gentle simmer.
• Add the cooked, drained pasta and 1-2 tbs of the pasta cooking water to the pan and toss well to coat the pasta in the sauce. Add the cooked scallops and prawns and toss again until all the ingredients have heated through. Serve immediately in warm bowls topped with more freshlychopped parsley, more freshly-ground black pepper, a dusting of finely-grated parmesan and fresh lemon wedges for spritzing.
further than Moorland Road? Yes please! Check out the new Set Lunch menu at Thailand Wok: 2 courses for just £12.95 from 122pm.
www.thailandwok.co.uk
Go back to the 80s at Komedia (Westgate Street) on Saturday 28th February when the biggest hits of the decade form the backdrop to a delicious bottomless brunch and 1.5 hours of bottomless drinks (prices vary).
https://bit.ly/4ra97yp
Melissa regularly reviews eateries across Bath and the local area. www.theprandialplayground.uk
Review Woolley Grange Hotel
A home (not far) from home...
Editor Sebastian Hawker visits Woolley Grange Hotel near Bradford-onAvon following their recent refurbishment.
Tucked away just under 10 miles from Bath is a hidden gem that’s probably a familiar name to some of our readers, but somewhere they haven’t been. Woolley Grange reopened to the public in October following an extensive refurbishment, which saw its rooms, restaurant, spa facilities and gardens undergo a significant transformation.
When we arrived, a little earlier than planned, we made our way to the Orangery, where we took advantage of their Day Dining menu. The pricing was comparable to many lunchlocations in Bath (around £40 for two), and the service from Roberto was excellent. Halfway through our lunch, we were informed our room was ready, and we could make our way up when we were ready.
The room, with views out towards the Westbury White Horse and out over the grounds, had everything you could need – and a quick call to reception would probably have provided even more. Little sweet treats and a welcome note were a special touch, and the fridge, which we discovered contained oat milk, was an added bonus. The hotel itself is incredibly homely. The furniture and decor wouldn’t be out of
place in your own home, and has been specially chosen to ensure guests are as comfortable as possible. Even those who have to do a little work when they are away have space within the lounges to do so, and the attentive members of staff are keen to ensure you’ve got everything you need. Something that makes Woolley Grange incredibly special, and wasn’t something we’d picked up on before our visit, was how family orientated it is.
The hotel group is called Luxury Family Hotels, but that doesn’t even touch the sides of how family-friendly this hotel is.
When we arrived, there were children toasting marshmallows, there was an activity board in reception, a bottle warming station, and there were little ones running around without a care in the world. Something we continually noticed were the personal touches, such as dining table signs with names of the children. There were also many games, jigsaws and family activities dotted around the place. You’d certainly never get bored. There’s even an Ofsted-registered entertainment club, The Four Bears Den, offering free twohour sessions for children aged 3 months to 8 years. We later discovered that the hotel offers ‘High Tea’ at
5pm, a specially organised time for youngsters to have their dinner with mum and dad before heading along to the lounges with milk and cookies, on their way to bed. Story time was also on offer, and once in bed, baby monitors were available for families to keep an eye while they set about enjoying their evening.
The spa, which partners with Elemis, features a 12-metre swimming pool, along with sauna, steam room and outdoor hot tub, and provided much-needed relaxation. We both took a swim before heading out to use the hot tub - there’s something quite surreal about being sat in a sunken hot tub with steam emanating up around you in the dark.
My partner took advantage of a hot-stone massage with therapist Louise - she hadn’t experienced one before, but afterwards decided it was something she’d certainly do again.
All in all, it was a fantastic 24 hours away from Bath. We would happily recommend it to families in and around the city –the facilities alone for children during the day are beyond anything we’ve seen before.
Though staying overnight may not be within the financial means for all, it would certainly be somewhere for friends and families to stay on a visit to the area, and we’re already planning to go back soon.
Lilley's Cider Bath Cider Festival
Bath Pavilion
13th & 14th February
Enjoy a spectacular range of over 120 real ciders and perries, showcasing the finest craft producers from Somerset, Devon, Dorset, Herefordshire, and further beyond.
America 250
American Museum & Gardens
14th February 2026 – 3rd January 2027
America 250 marks 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Throughout the year, they will explore the ideas, events and people behind the American Revolution.
Lunar New Year
The Holburne
14th February, 11am - 3pm
Celebrate Lunar New Year at the Holburne with a range of hands-on, family-friendly activities inspired by traditions from across East and Southeast Asia.
Joshua Burnell
Komedia Bath
15th February, 2pm
Joshua Burnell brings his Misty Mountain Tour to the Electric Bar for an afternoon of captivating live music. A gifted singer-songwriter and pianist, blending alt-folk and retro-pop.
Archaeology Adventures
The Roman Baths
16th – 20th February
Let’s be archaeologists and examine the Roman remains. Dig for replica Roman artefacts in the special excavation trench and learn how to identify, record, and uncover hidden treasures.
Disney's Beauty and the Beast
Kingswood Theatre
18th – 21st February
Kingswood Theatre are very excited to bring this enchanting musical to life with a spectacular new production. The timeless story of love, courage, and transformation in a tale as old as time.
Bath Bachfest
Various Locations 19th – 21st February
This year’s Bachfest performances across Bath will trace several interlinking lines from the beginnings of the baroque to Gluck’s early classical works, with Bach at its core.
Bath Opera Presents 'Carmen'
The Roper Theatre
19th – 21st February, 7pm
Bath Opera presents Bizet's iconic masterpiece, Carmen. This vibrant new production brings to life the passion, danger, and unforgettable music of one of the world's most loved operas.
Mr Split
Rondo Theatre
20th February, 7.30pm
Jonathan Orchard has carved a distinctive niche in the rock-and-roll cabaret scene through alter ego, Mr Split, transforming himself with an elaborate costume and painted face.
David Copperfield: A Life Theatre Royal 20th – 22nd February
Following the story of David Copperfield from infancy to adulthood in a world that feels at times impossibly lonely and cruel, this epic tale is packed with some of Dickens’ most vivid characters.
The Tea and Crafts of Fukuoka
The Museum of East Asian Art 21st February, 11am – 12pm
Comins Tea discuss their project with Fukuoka Prefecture, exploring the rituals and crafts surrounding tea in the region. The crafts and techniques they use have been passed down for generations.
Safe Space Bath Fundraiser
Boston Tea Party, Alfred Street 23rd February, 5 - 7pm
A fundraiser event to say thank you to all of the businesses on the Safe Space Bath directory and spreading the movement further by recruiting those who are interested to learn more.
Cabinets Unlocked
Dyrham Park (National Trust)
23rd February – 8th March
Discover more about Dyrham's collection of cabinets from around the world. Items including a writing bureau, a square piano, an ebony and ivory cabinet and pieces with beautiful detail.
Orpheus Dismembered
Ustinov Studio
24th – 25th February
Ben Haggarty reads between the lines of Greek Mythology to restore them to their terrifying and truly awesome glory. This is world-class storytelling - dark, magical, and provocative.
The Makings of a Murderer
The Forum
25th February, 7.30pm
Join Peter Bleksley, a founding member of Scotland Yard’s undercover unit and former star of Channel 4’s Hunted, as he lifts the lid on the most dangerous and hidden aspects of murder investigations.
Blue Stockings
The Mission Theatre 26th – 28th February, 7.30pm
Blue Stockings is a comedic, impactful, and emotional play which follows the girls over the course of a tumultuous academic year, in their fight to change education for girls and women.
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Ex-Trump aide set to give talk in September
ANTHONY Scaramucci,
ex-Trump White House Communications Director, is coming to Bath as part of a tour coinciding with the release of his new book, All the Wrong Moves. He will be appearing at venues around the UK in September 2026 – on the eve of the pivotal US midterm elections – to talk about how the United States became so deeply divided, and how it might begin to move forward.
Scaramucci, who will be at the Bath Forum on 19th September, served as Trump’s White House Director of Communications in 2017 for just 11 days before the President fired him.
A financier, podcaster and political commentator, he has written three previous books.
Matt McAllester, CEO of Intelligence Squared, which has arranged the tour, said: “Anthony Scaramucci is one of the most compelling and unconventional voices in contemporary American politics.
“This tour brings audiences a rare opportunity to hear directly from someone who has operated at the highest levels of finance, media and government, and who is willing to speak candidly about the forces shaping America today.”
For more information visit www. scaramucciontour.com
Greenfingers… with Alan Titchmarsh
Alan Titchmarsh - talented broadcaster, gifted gardener, author and all-round horticultural visionary. This month, with Valentine’s Day in everyone’s thoughts, he talks about his favourite –and most romantic – varieties of flowers.
When it comes to romance, most people think of roses. And rightly so. A red rose is the universal shorthand for lovebold, fragrant, and unfailingly classic. Yet after a lifetime in gardens, I’ve come to believe that romance lies not just in the grand gestures but in the quieter blooms too: the ones that catch your heart when you least expect it. Take the sweet pea. Those fragile tendrils and delicate petals, like scraps of silk, have a fragrance that can stop you in your tracks. Like love itself, they’re not showy; they climb, they tangle, they persist through rain and wind. When you pick a handful for the kitchen table, their scent fills the room and I often find stirs something deeply nostalgic in
me. It’s really very magical. Then there’s the lily of the valley - modest, low to the ground, but exquisitely formed. Its perfume is soft and very subtle, but it lingers in an unforgettable way. Camellias, too, have a place in my romantic pantheon. When everything else lies dormant in late winter, they bloom… unapologetically, often, and even sometimes even through frost. There’s something rather moving about that. Love, after all, isn’t just about the sunny seasons. It’s about perseverance through the cold ones.
And we mustn’t forget the rose’s cousin, the wild variety that flowers in hedgerows and along country lanes. Its beauty is fleeting, its petals soon scattered, but in that moment it’s perfect, almost as a reminder that love, like nature, is at its most precious when we appreciate its impermanence.
affection, and I always say the same answer: choose the ones that mean something to you. Don’t be afraid to go against the crowd, because very often the crowd are just blindly following each other anyway. Perhaps it’s the scent that reminds you of your grandmother’s garden, or the flowers that grew where you first walked together. Ultimately, gardens are full of love stories if you know where to look. They’re written in petals and perfume, in the courage of a snowdrop pushing through frozen ground, in the intertwining stems of climbing roses.
People often ask what flowers to give as a gesture of
So this Valentine’s, by all means buy the bouquet, but take a walk in a garden too. You’ll find that nature, in her quiet way, has been celebrating love all along!
Anthony Scaramucci will be in Bath on 19th September | Photo provided
Community
Cyclist with leukaemia prepares for Tour de France challenge
A KEEN cyclist who is living with leukaemia has signed up to ride all 21 stages of the Tour de France to raise £30,000 for charity.
On Tuesday 3rd February, the eve of World Cancer Day, David Stoyle cycled 100 miles on a static bike in SouthGate in the city centre to raise awareness of what he is doing and why.
David, a lifelong cyclist who lives near Bath, was diagnosed last year with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia following routine blood tests ahead of a planned hip replacement.
Having since recovered from surgery, he is now using cycling to raise money and awareness for Cure Leukaemia.
Ahead of the professional Tour de France this summer, David and other amateur cyclists will be taking part in The Tour 21, seen as one of the world’s most gruelling and iconic cycling challenge.
The three-week Tour 21 will
follow the exact route of the men’s Tour de France, covering 3,500km across June and July.
The Tour 21 aims to raise more than £1 million in total for Cure Leukaemia. All participants fund the cost of taking part themselves, meaning 100% of donations go directly to Cure Leukaemia.
The charity funds research nurses at UK blood cancer
Annual toad migration closure begins on lane
CHARLCOMBE Lane in Bath has closed to traffic for the annual migration of toads, frogs and newts, with only residents’ access permitted until Sunday 29th March.
The seasonal closure, one of only five such road closures in the UK, has played a crucial role in keeping the local amphibian population stable over the past 23 years.
Each evening from dusk, volunteers from the Charlcombe Toad Rescue Group patrol the lane, helping common toads, common frogs and newts safely cross as they make their way to their breeding lake.
Wearing high-visibility jackets and armed with torches and buckets, volunteers will collectively spend more than 600 hours walking up and down the road, carefully picking up amphibians using latex-free, powder-free gloves – to avoid any chemicals from their hands – before carrying them in buckets to designated drop-off points closer to the lake.
Last year, more than 50 volunteers helped 3,995 amphibians across a half-mile stretch of Charlcombe Lane on the northern edge of Bath, taking the total recorded over the last 23 years to more than 50,000.
The 2025 patrol recorded the second highest number of amphibians since the closure began in 2003, and included a landmark moment: the first ever sighting of a great crested newt on the patrol. Two of the three
busiest years for the group were 2025 and 2024, with the highest ever counts recorded in 2010.
It was also the best year on record for frogs (1,424) and palmate newts (1,194), while 1,376 toads were helped across the roadtheir best total since 2010.
Before Charlcombe Lane was closed each spring, around 62% of migrating amphibians were killed by traffic.
In 2025, that casualty rate had fallen to just 3%.
Helen Hobbs, who has managed the Charlcombe Toad Rescue Group since 2003, said: “Closing Charlcombe Lane, with the support of the local community, has been a game changer. It has meant that our population of toads, frogs and newts have been able to buck national trends and stand a fighting chance of flourishing.
“With a changing climate it is becoming increasingly difficult to predict the peak times for amphibian movements, that is why closing the road for six weeks makes such a difference.
“Last year the peak movement was 19–23 February, in 2024 it was slightly earlier in midFebruary and in 2023 it was midlate March.”
Bath & North East Somerset Council has supported the patrol and annual closure since 2003, while the Charlcombe Toad Rescue Group fundraises to cover advertising costs and VolkerHighways sponsors the scheme by providing signage each year.
Gas works set to get under way in Camden
WALES & West Utilities will return to the Larkhall area of Bath this half term to continue upgrading gas pipes at a busy junction that previously proved challenging for engineers.
The company is carrying out further work on the gas network around Camden Road, with traffic restrictions scheduled to minimise disruption during the school holidays.
It has been agreed with Bath & North East Somerset Council that the following road closures will be in place while the works take place:
centres, giving patients access to treatments through clinical trials. This support drives significant advancements in blood cancer, globally, improving the lives of those affected by the disease.
David has already raised more than £7,000. Find out more about the challenge and sponsor him at https://www.justgiving.com/ page/david-stoyle-4
• A closure at the junction of St Stephen’s Road and Camden Road on 14th and 15th February
• A closure at the junction of Eastbourne Avenue, Tyning Lane, Camden Road and Fairfield Road from 16th to 22nd February
Wales & West Utilities’ Simon Lee, who is managing the work, said:
“These works have been planned
during the half term break to minimise disruption locally.
“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.”
The latest phase follows earlier upgrade work at the same Eastbourne Avenue / Fairfield Road / Tyning Lane / Camden Road junction, which was closed from 25th October to 2nd November for pipe upgrades. At that time, Wales & West Utilities explained that progress had been hampered by difficult ground conditions and the unexpected location of an older gas main, meaning the job could not be completed as planned and further work would be needed.
Bath-based Forest of Imagination project wins national award
A BATH-BASED arts, nature and community project has scooped a national award.
Forest of Imagination has won the Inspire Future Generations Award for Strategic Vision by the Thornton Education Trust.
Forest of Imagination works with families, schools, artists, designers, educators and community partners to create accessible, natureinspired experiences that invite imagination, play and environmental awareness.
The award recognised the 2025 project Imagining the Future of the Forgotten Land, which placed children and young people, particularly those from marginalised and under-served communities, at the heart of decision-making about the environments where they live, learn and play.
The pop-up event was held over 10 days as a proof of concept for a permanent art and nature park at Entry Hill in Bath, in partnership with Bath & North East Somerset Council.
Councillor Sarah Warren, the local authority’s cabinet member for Sustainable Bath and North East Somerset, said: “Congratulations to the Forest of Imagination team and everyone involved in the 2025 project.
“We were delighted to support the event as a project partner. I’d also
like to thank the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority and the National Lottery Heritage Fund for their funding, which was an element of the support we provided.
“The event was a fantastic example of our place shaping approach, demonstrating how council-owned spaces in our city can be reimagined for people and nature by engaging with local communities and key stakeholders – in this case children and young people.
“It also helped to address issues including inequalities in access to green space and one of the council’s key priorities, the ecological and climate emergencies.”
Forest of Imagination’s other key partners are Grant Associates, Bath Spa University, House of Imagination, Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios, The Egg Theatre, Bath Preservation Trust and Avon Wildlife Trust.
Co-founder of Forest of Imagination Dr Penny Hay, who is Professor of Imagination at Bath Spa University, said: “This recognition affirms our belief in imagination as a powerful force for change and transformation.
“When children and young people, especially those whose voices are too often unheard, are invited to imagine alongside artists, designers and civic leaders, we create environments that are more inclusive, more resilient and more connected to nature.
“We are proud to work with our local council and creative partners, and we look forward to continuing this collaboration for the benefit of the entire community.”
Helen Godwin, Mayor of the West of England, added:
“Congratulations to the Forest of Imagination team on this well-deserved award. Their work shows the impact of putting children and young people at the heart of decisions about where they live, learn, and play.
“Projects like this bring nature within reach of more families, including those who too often face barriers to accessing arts, culture, and green spaces –something our new Child Poverty Action Plan is committed to addressing.
“This project also reflects the insights shared through the UK’s first Citizens’ Assembly for Culture, held here in the west, demonstrating how communities can co-create inclusive and sustainable places.
“Initiatives that combine creativity, environmental awareness, and social inclusion will help our region’s progress towards a greener future that benefits everyone.”
SINCE 1999, RUHX, the RUH Bath official NHS trust charity, has been supporting the hospital, by advancing the extra extraordinary work that leads to exceptional health care for everyone in our community.
At RUHX, we count on gifts in Wills. In fact, they make up a third of our income. Whether it’s a large sum or a little something, every gift empowers us to go above and beyond with innovative equipment, research, and facilities, along with a huge number of smaller things that bring comfort to patients and staff.
changes in life. “At first I was really scared to exercise with my atrial fibrillation, now I feel completely at ease doing it and am much more confident going to the gym”, shared one patient.
Thanks to the generosity of many who have included a gift in their Will, it has helped us fund our cutting-edge Linear Accelerator (LINAC), for the RUH Radiotherapy department. Since December 2024, this advanced machine uses microwave energy to shape high energy x-ray beams or electrons to match a patient’s tumour. This can destroy cancer cells while sparing healthy tissue, reducing side effects and improving recovery times.
Similar innovation can be found in our lifestyle intervention project Super Rehab, which was trialled at the RUH. Lead by the RUH’s cardiovascular research team, working in partnership with the University of Bath, and with funding support from RUHX, Super Rehab is all about testing the impact of a high-level, well-resourced one-to-one support programme for patients with heart disease, to adapt to
In recent years, the RUH has undergone a transformational change with the introduction of robotic surgery, becoming a regional centre of excellence.
So far, 288 robotic surgeries have been performed, 14 robotic surgeons are now fully trained, and our knowledge is being shared across the country.
But examples like these are only possible that’s to those who have chosen to include a gift in their Will to RUHX. What a powerful legacy to leave behind.
Having a Will, and making sure it’s up to date, is the best way of making clear what you wish to happen to your estate in the future. You can also include who cares for your children or pets, should anything happen to you.
It's important to make sure that friends and family are cared for in your Will, but you can also make sure the causes that matter to you most are included too, as your legacy for the future.
A Will can be used to help both the people and the causes closest to your heart.
To find out more about how a gift in your Will can support your local hospital, head to www.ruhx.org.uk/gift-in-wills to download our free gift in Wills guide or speak to our Gifts in Wills team on 01225 825 900.
Brothers undergo robotic prostate cancer surgery at RUH
TWO brothers who underwent prostate cancer surgery just weeks apart at the Royal United Hospital in Bath are urging men with a family history of the disease to book a check-up.
David and Robert Taylor both had successful robotic radical prostatectomies, carried out by the surgical urology team using the RUH’s Da Vinci surgical robot. A radical prostatectomy is a surgical procedure that removes the prostate gland and some surrounding tissue to treat prostate cancer. It’s the primary treatment for prostate cancer that hasn’t spread beyond the prostate.
Robert, 67, from Saltford, had his surgery in mid July 2025, while David, 70, from Midsomer Norton, followed at the start of September.
Robert explained how his diagnosis began with a routine appointment: “I went to see my GP for a general check-up and
while I was there he suggested that I have a PSA test.”
A PSA (prostate specific antigen) test is a blood test to help check for prostate conditions such as prostate cancer or an enlarged prostate.
“The reading came back high so I was quickly referred to the RUH. I spoke to my brother about it and that’s when he decided to get a test done.”
With a strong family history of the disease, David decided not to delay.
“Our father and uncle both had prostate cancer, so when Robert had his test done and it came back with a high reading I decided to get one done too. My reading was also high so, like Robert, I was referred straight to the RUH.
“You have a higher chance of getting prostate cancer if you have a history of that type of cancer in your family. So if that’s you, please do get yourself a GP appointment and get checked.”
just had major surgery and could get home the same day,” he said.
“There was no pressure to get home that day but I felt able to and the medical team were happy for me to get back to familiar surroundings and recover there.
“So my stay at the RUH was actually very brief, but I had a very positive experience from start to finish, the staff were first class.”
David, who stayed in hospital overnight after his surgery, added: “The care I received was magnificent.
“The consultants, surgeons, nurses – everyone I came into contact with were so caring and supportive.”
Charitable detectorists donate £40,000 for PET-CT scanner
A CHARITY metal-detecting rally set up in memory of a much-loved father has donated more than £40,000 to help fund a new state-of-the-art PET-CT scanner at the Royal United Hospital.
The Rodney Cook Memorial Rally (RCMR), founded in 2018 by Gary Cook, was created to honour his father Rodney, who died at the RUH in 2017 following a battle with cancer.
Determined to give something back, Gary has dedicated the event to raising money for Cancer Services at the hospital, with proceeds from ticket sales, raffles and other activities supporting RUHX, the RUH’s official NHS charity, as well as other local causes.
What started as a tribute has grown into the largest metal detecting event in Europe, attracting enthusiasts from around the world. In 2025, the volunteer team expanded their efforts by organising not one but
three “no frills” charity weekends in Wiltshire during the autumn, boosting their fundraising tally even further.
Their latest £40,000 donation will support RUHX’s campaign to bring a cutting-edge PET-CT scanner to the RUH. Since the rally began, the RCMR team and their supporters have raised an extraordinary £280,000 for patients, families and staff at the hospital, contributing to major projects including the Dyson Cancer Centre, which opened in 2024.
Laura Snell, Events & Community Manager at RUHX, said: “Gary and the RCMR team are living proof that when ordinary hardworking people come together, they can achieve extraordinary things. Their dedication is inspiring and their determination to help others shines through in the fantastic events they put on.
“We are incredibly grateful to the RCMR team, their volunteer marshals and the landowners
who make it all possible and the passionate community of detectorists, who travel far and wide and support so generously.”
Gary Cook, from Westbury in Wiltshire, said the care his father received at the RUH was the driving force behind the rally.
He said: “The staff who cared for my father at the RUH were quite simply incredible, caring, and wonderful people.
“I felt compelled to try and do something to raise some money for RUHX to repay that kindness. So, from something awful, the RCM Rally was born.”
The new PET-CT scanner is described as “more than just a machine”, representing hope, earlier diagnosis and faster, more accurate treatment “when time matters most”.
The Rodney Cook Memorial Rally will return in 2026, continuing to support cancer patients in Bath and beyond, and carrying forward Rodney Cook’s legacy of making a difference.
Thanks to the accuracy of the robotic system, recovery times are improved, and Robert was able to return home just hours after his operation.
“It was incredible to think that I’d
Both brothers were treated using the RUH’s Da Vinci surgical robot, funded by the hospital’s charity, RUHX. The robot helps surgeons to operate on patients with even greater precision, and perform complex procedures with minimal access, while ensuring the highest levels of patient safety.
As part of the BSW Hospitals Group, the RUH, along with the Great Western Hospital in Swindon and Salisbury District Hospital, now use robots in a range of surgeries including urology, gynaecology oncology and colorectal operations.
Council-run care home is rated ‘Good’ by CQC
COMBE Lea Care Home in
Midsomer Norton has been graded ‘Good’ by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), with inspectors highlighting safe, supportive care that enables residents to live well and do the things that matter to them.
The rating, published on 2nd February, follows a recent inspection of the home, which has been run by Bath & North East Somerset Council since 2020.
The CQC found that Combe Lea provides care that meets people’s needs and supports them in a safe, well-run environment.
Relatives told inspectors they are highly satisfied with the home. One said: “It’s absolutely wonderful, it’s a lovely home – so caring, the quality of the food and care is head and shoulders above anything else we have been to.”
Another family member commented: “I cannot say a bad word about Combe Lea, it is welcoming, and the support workers and staff are great.
“My relative is well looked after, the bed is made and clean, they provide entertainment and give 100% in giving them good quality of life.”
Health professionals and partner organisations were similarly positive.
One described the home as exceptional, saying: “I feel the care in Combe Lea to be exceptional, and this would be the only residential home in the area that I would be happy for members of my family to live in.”
Another added: “If I have a
question about a particular resident, they always know the answer.”
Councillor Alison Born, B&NES Council’s cabinet member for adult social care, said: “This rating is very much deserved, and I am pleased that all the hard work and care from staff at Combe Lea is now recognised and reflected by the CQC and the outcome of the inspection.
“Our number one purpose as a council is to improve people’s lives, so thank you to everyone involved in making sure the residents who call Combe Lea their home, are safe and wellcared for.”
Combe Lea received a ‘Good’ rating in all three inspection areas – safe, effective and well-led.
The home provides residential care and health services for older vulnerable adults with a range of disabilities.
It offers a programme of activities aimed at promoting independence and helping residents develop, maintain and enhance their skills, interests and abilities.
LANSDOWN Tennis, Squash & Croquet Club has formed a new relationship with Weston All Saints CE Primary School (WASPS).
Through the club’s Lansdown Foundation, it welcomes eight pupils from WASPS for an hourlong fun coaching session with one of the coaches once a week.
Most of the children, a mix of Year 5 and Year 6 girls and boys who are all pupil-premium eligible, had never played any tennis or picked up a tennis racket before.
The school’s PE coordinator Jordan Taylor said: ‘I’ve been really impressed by the progress the pupils have made in just a few months with their tennis skills.
“They really look forward to the tennis session every week at Lansdown and it’s been a highlight of the week for everyone.
“It’s great to see these children enjoying being active, learning new skills and starting to play with increasing confidence.
“It’s fantastic that they are being given this opportunity and we are very grateful to Lansdown
Tennis, Squash & Croquet Club and its members.”
Club manager Stephanie Bryan added: “The Lansdown Foundation was set up to build stronger links within the community and to be able to provide tennis coaching and facilities for WASPS in this way is a great first step.
“The children have come on in leaps and bounds in such a short amount of time – it’s great to see – and we’re looking forward to this collaboration continuing for many years to come.”
Residents are asked to have say on plans for new School Streets
BATH & North East Somerset Council is consulting on plans to introduce two new School Streets in the city, aimed at creating safer and healthier journeys for pupils.
Proposals have been drawn up for roads outside Widcombe Infant & Junior Schools and St Stephen’s Primary Church School in Lansdown, with formal Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) consultations running from until 26th February 2026, closing at 5pm.
School Streets use short, timed vehicle restrictions at the start and end of the school day to cut congestion outside school gates and encourage more families to walk, scoot or cycle.
The Widcombe and St Stephen’s school communities have been working with the council to shape the schemes, and all three schools are part of the national Modeshift STARS programme promoting walking, wheeling and cycling.
Archway Street and Excelsior Street from 8.20–9am and 2.50–3.30pm on school days only.
Residents on these streets would be able to apply for exemption permits.
At St Stephen’s Primary, the School Street would cover the northern end of Beacon Road between Richmond Lane and Richmond Place, with vehicle restrictions proposed from 8.15–9am and 3–3.45pm on school days. There are no homes or businesses on this stretch that would require exemptions. Essential access, including emergency services, school transport, utilities and agreed accessibility needs, would be Find us on Facebook Just search “Bath Echo”
Under the proposals for Widcombe, timed vehicle restrictions would apply on
maintained at both locations. Councillor Lucy Hodge, cabinet member for sustainable transport delivery, said: “School Streets are about putting children and their safety first. By reducing traffic outside school gates, we can make journeys safer, calmer and more enjoyable.
“These proposals reflect what parents, staff and residents have told us about safety and congestion, and I encourage people to look at the plans and share their views.”
Full details and survey links are available at www.bathnes.gov.uk/ widcombeschoolstreet and www. bathnes.gov.uk/ststephensschoolstreet
Afternoon tea social club
Enjoy a relaxed afternoon in our beautiful café, where
Safety boost as Labyrinth renews £3k sponsorship of Bath Safe Bus
THE Bath Safe Bus has secured another year of support from Labyrinth Bar & Nightclub, after the city centre venue renewed its £3,000 sponsorship of the service.
The renewed backing will help keep the Safe Bus operating every Friday and Saturday night from 10.30pm to 4am, offering a calm, non-judgemental space for anyone needing help while out in the city.
Staffed by medical professionals, security and volunteers, the Bath Safe Bus provides first aid, emotional support, flip-flops, phone charging and sexual health products, as well as a place to sit, regroup and get home safely.
Nick Bishop, business crime reduction partnership manager at Bath BID (Business Improvement District), said: “Labyrinth’s ongoing sponsorship reflects the fact that many of their customers directly benefit from the Safe Bus service.
“By supporting a resource their own community relies on, Labyrinth is playing a vital role in keeping Bath’s night-time
economy safe. Their commitment helps ensure the Safe Bus remains a dependable resource for vulnerable individuals and a valued partner to our emergency services.”
Over the past two years, the Safe Bus has supported more than 1,093 people experiencing welfare or medical incidents.
Its presence is estimated to have prevented 435 alcohol-related emergency service callouts, easing pressure on the Royal United Hospital and other frontline responders.
Labyrinth Bar & Nightclub says its renewed sponsorship reflects a shared responsibility for the
safety of people enjoying Bath’s nightlife.
John Mason, site director of Labyrinth Bar & Nightclub, said:
“At Labyrinth, we believe a great night out doesn’t end when the music stops, it ends when everyone gets home safely.
“The Bath Safe Bus plays a vital role in supporting people during the night-time economy, and we’re incredibly proud to continue our sponsorship for another year.
“It’s a service that reflects the values of our city, and we’re committed to doing our part to keep Bath safe, welcoming and inclusive for everyone.”
Closing down sale begins at Bath shop
THE Bath branch of Russell & Bromley has launched a closing down sale after the company collapsed into administration.
Signs at the Old Bond Street declare all stock is reduced with 20% off the original price.
On 21st January Interpath Advisory were appointed Joint Administrators of the footwear and handbag retailer, which was founded in 1873.
The Russell & Bromley brand,
together with the retail operations of the Bluewater, Chelsea, and Mayfair stores, has been sold to Next Retail Limited in a £2.5 million rescue deal.
The remaining 33 stores and nine concessions are trading under administration and have been put at risk of closure.
Russell & Bromley employs more than 400 people.
Online sales have ceased while preparations are made to transfer the platform to Next Retail Limited.
The company is not currently accepting returns.
Becky Feather Reporter
The Bath branch of Russell & Bromley on Old Bond Street
BATH & North East Somerset Council has unveiled a package of proposed repairs and refurbishment to the premises leased to Rossiters of Bath.
Numbers 38 to 40 Broad Street and 3 Walcot Street were originally houses that were converted into shops in the 19th century.
Rossiters took them over in the 1960s and 1970s when the buildings were interlinked.
The department store has 17 rooms of furniture, homeware and gifts.
Due to water leaking in and maintenance issues, ceiling and lime plaster works are being proposed along with a dampproofing and waterproofing system to a section of wall within the basement.
Temporary scaffolding will be
required for external works which include roof, chimney, leadwork and stone repairs.
“Extensive” timber window repairs are required, and two or three windows will need to be replaced altogether as they are said to be beyond repair.
External redecorations are also proposed at the Grade II listed premises.
A report says: “The impact of the proposed works to 38-40 Broad Street and No 3 Walcot Street will ensure that the building is returned to a good state of repair and maintenance and prevent further water ingress from damaging the fabric of the building in line with lease obligations so that the property can continue to be let, ensuring the continued use of this building as a shop.”
The planning reference is 26/00005/REG03, and the deadline for comments is 26th February.
Pub raises nearly £100k for charity in one year
Becky Feather Reporter
A COMMUNITY pub in Keynsham has raised almost £100,000 for charity in just one year.
The New Inn, run by Jemma Lewis, has supported Operation Community Hamper and Dogs Friends, while also contributing to Craft Union Pub Company’s nationwide Make It A Million charity campaign, which topped £1.35 million for good causes for the second year in a row.
Operation Community Hamper began five years ago in a local kitchen and has grown into a vital community charity supporting families in need.
The New Inn has supported the initiative by using its skittle alley throughout the year to store donations, hosting fundraising events and acting as a local dropoff hub where people can donate items up to 12 hours a day.
The pub also regularly collects bedding, blankets and food for Dogs Friends, a charity it has supported for more than 15 years, helping to provide care for dogs in need.
Over the past year, the New Inn, alongside local volunteers and members of the community, has hosted a range of fundraising activities, including a 24-hour danceathon and ongoing bar collections.
Operation Community Hamper
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has been able to distribute more than £96,000 worth of hampers and gifts, all donated by local people. The pub has also donated around £3,000 to Dogs Friends.
Jemma Lewis said: “Reaching £1 million raised for charity for the second year running is an incredible achievement for Craft Union, and one we’re really proud to be part of.
“For us, it shows that the pub is about so much more than coming in for a drink - it’s about people coming together and looking out for each other.
“This achievement belongs to our team, our volunteers and the local community, I simply have the privilege of supporting them. The generosity and commitment they show time and time again is what makes this pub and this community so special.
“Every fundraiser, every donation and every small act of kindness adds up, and that’s what makes being a community pub so special.”
Appeal over plans to build houses in woodland
A DEVELOPER has lodged an appeal with the Secretary of State after being refused planning permission to build four detached houses in woodland on the edge of Bath. Bath & North East Somerset Council had received 90 objections and 70 comments of support for the self-build scheme at the site in Weston known locally as Westbrook Woodlands. The land shares a boundary fence with Weston All Saints Primary School and also borders the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and Green Belt, as well as houses at Westbrook Park, Symes Park and Broadmoor Lane.
Historically, the site was one of several parcels of pasture land associated with Weston Lodge and its most recent was as a pig paddock. The planning application was submitted by Context Planning on behalf of Mr P Ealey in August 2024.
A Tree Preservation Order protects 11 individual trees along the eastern and western boundaries of the land. There is also a site-wide Tree Preservation Order imposed by a committee decision in April 2019. In the same year the land
was also subject to a village green application submitted by a local community group; however, this designation was not granted.
The new houses are proposed along the western side of the site, and existing mature trees and the applicant says established tree groups are retained and integrated into the layout.
Council planning officers gave several reasons when they refused the plans in July 2025 including loss of deciduous woodland, that the proposals would have a harmful “urbanising” effect and biodiversity net gain concerns. They said the proposals failed to show they would conserve or enhance the character of the local landscape and important views, or conserve and enhance
the landscape setting of Bath and avoid harm to the setting of the World Heritage Site or Green Belt.
In a statement as part of the appeal process, Context Planning says the development proposes “high-quality, bespoke residential accommodation within a wooded setting, in a sustainable urban edge location”.
Three vehicular accesses are proposed from Osborne’s Lane. The access arrangement includes on-site turning and private driveways serving each house.
The report says an independent ecological review was commissioned following the council’s refusal of the plans: “It provides an objective reassessment of the site and
confirms that the proposals follow a clear avoidance-led design, retain the most sensitive features, and secure measurable habitat gains both on and off site.”
The planning consultants’ report highlights that the site is sustainably located, with Weston High Street 500 metres away and the nearest bus stop a five-minute walk: “In locational terms, it is not isolated, remote or dependent on the private car.”
The report notes that it is “relevant to record that the council’s specialist consultees did not undertake site visits during either the pre-application or application stages”.
It continues: “The reasons for refusal are “founded on a series of mischaracterisations: of the site’s ecological baseline, of the function and quality of vegetation present, and of the applicable policy tests.”
The report also highlights that the council cannot demonstrate a five-year housing land supply so presumption in favour of sustainable development - the so-called ‘tilted balance’ - is triggered. Under the planning appeal process, the council is due to provide a statement by Wednesday 18th February.
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As the 2025/2026 tax year approaches its close, their guidance becomes especially valuable. This period offers some of the most powerful opportunities to strengthen your long-term financial position - but only if you act in time.
Too many people leave their tax efficient planning until the final days of the tax year, only to find themselves rushed, uncertain, or unable to make the most of the allowances available to them. Sarah and Rupert encourage clients to plan ahead so decisions are thoughtful rather than hurried. ISAs remain one of the most effective ways to grow your wealth free from income tax and capital gains tax. Your annual ISA allowance is a “use it or lose it” opportunity, disappearing once the tax year ends. Sarah and Rupert help clients decide how best to use their allowance through Stocks & Shares ISAs, aligning investment choices with personal goals and risk comfort. Pension contributions offer another compelling advantage. Adding to your pension before the deadline can unlock valuable tax relief and accelerate your retirement planning. Understanding contribution limits, carry forward rules, and investment options can be complex, but with expert support, these decisions become far clearer.
What sets Sarah and Rupert apart is the way they blend professionalism with warmth. They make financial planning feel empowering rather than intimidating - and as the tax year clock ticks on, that kind of personalised support becomes invaluable.
Jemma Lewis with Charlotte Churchill of Operation Christmas Hamper
Politics Planning Round-up
MP is further arrested over alleged offences
John Wimperis Local Democracy Reporter
MP Dan Norris has insisted he is serving his constituents to the best of his ability in one of his first public statements since he was arrested on suspicion of rape in 2025.
Mr Norris has been further arrested on suspicion of rape against a second woman, sexual assault against a third woman, and voyeurism and upskirting against a number of women, it was revealed last week.
Mr Norris, who remains on conditional bail, has not been charged with any offence and has said he “vigorously and entirely” denies the allegations.
He continues to be the North East Somerset and Hanham MP but is understood to have been banned from entering Parliament, under rules that can restrict access to MPs arrested on suspicion of a violent or sexual offence, since shortly after his initial arrest in April 2025.
There have been calls locally for Mr Norris to step down, but the MP has said he is continuing to do his job.
Mr Norris told the Local Democracy Reporting Service on 6th February: “I would like to make clear that I am still representing constituents on a broad range of issues, including handling casework and policy, submitting written questions, voting by proxy and staying across all local and national
developments in order to continue to serve constituents to the best of my ability.
“My constituency office is operating as usual, prioritising the most urgent cases as always, replying to all constituents, resolving issues with public bodies and raising broader policy concerns in Parliament.”
It is the first time that Mr Norris has responded to a request for comment from the Local Democracy Reporting Service since shortly after his initial arrest in April 2025, when a member of his team confirmed that staff were continuing to work on casework.
The MP only broke his public silence when he said in a statement after his further arrest:
“I vigorously and entirely deny the serious allegations made against me.
“They are untrue. I am challenging them through my legal representatives.”
Parliament’s register of interests of members' staff shows that, as of December, Mr Norris no longer
has any staff with a pass to enter the parliamentary estate.
Mr Norris responded himself to an email to his constituency office asking how many staff continued to work there, although he did not directly address the question.
Almost 1,500 people signed a petition started by North East Somerset and Hanham constituent Andrew Gray and sent to Mr Norris in December, calling for him to step down. It said locals respected the principle of innocent until proven guilty but that the restriction on his attending Parliament had “created a situation that many residents feel is untenable.”
Mr Norris continues to vote frequently via proxy, with his proxy vote being cast by the Labour whips despite the party having suspended him after his initial arrest.
Avon & Somerset Police, who have not named Mr Norris, said in a statement on Monday 2nd February: “An investigation into allegations of non-recent sexual offences which resulted in the
arrest of a man in his sixties is continuing.
“The investigation, which is being led by officers with Operation Bluestone, our dedicated rape and serious sexual assault investigation team, began in December 2024.
“The man was initially arrested in April 2025 on suspicion of sexual offences against a girl (under the Sexual Offences Act 1956), rape (under the Sexual Offences Act 2003), child abduction and misconduct in a public office.
“Following our enquiries, the man has been further arrested on suspicion of rape against a second woman, sexual assault against a third woman, as well as voyeurism and upskirting against a number of women.
“We’re no longer actively investigating any sexual offences against children, but the original rape and misconduct in a public office investigation is continuing.
“All offences are alleged to have occurred between the 2000s and 2020s.
“Investigations into sexual offences are sensitive and complex and as a result it can take a significant amount of time for enquiries to be completed.
The man remains on conditional bail.
“We’re keeping victims updated on any developments and we’ll continue to give access to any support they may need.
“We’d respectfully ask people not to speculate on the circumstances so our enquiries can continue unhindered.”
£1.85m for hydroelectric power plant plans
John Wimperis Local Democracy Reporter scheme.
BATH & North East Somerset Council is set to spend £1.85 million to draw up plans to build a small hydroelectric power plant in the middle of Bath, just in front of Pulteney Bridge.
The Pulteney Radial Gate, which sits next to the city’s iconic triplestepped Pulteney Weir, is “at the end of its life” and the council is drawing up a business case for replacing the 1970s structure. One option being investigated is to replace it with a hydroelectric power scheme, able to generate enough electricity from the flow of the Avon to power Bath’s Guildhall.
The council plans to allocate £1.85 million, funded through corporate-supported borrowing, in its upcoming capital budget for preparing a business case for all options, including hydroelectric power. The money will cover the cost of the business case and design work, but more funding would be needed to actually construct the
The council carried out a feasibility study into the idea last year.
Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service at the time, council leader Kevin Guy said: “This feasibility study is the most exciting and ambitious inner city hydroelectric project in Europe, and it is part of our commitment for the council estate to be carbon neutral by 2030.”
The city has form for finding surprising ways to make use of its landmarks. The city’s hot springs, which led the Romans to establish the city’s eponymous bath complex 2,000 years ago, are now used to provide heating to Bath Abbey, the Roman Baths and Pump Room museum complex, and the Bath World Heritage Centre.
The capital budget is separate to the revenue budget, where continuing pressures on adult social care costs have led the council to once again propose increasing council tax by the maximum 4.99%. Strict rules keep the two budgets separate. Council tax cannot be used for
capital schemes and borrowing cannot be used to cover the dayto-day expenses of the revenue budget, although interest payments on borrowing have to come out of the revenue budget.
A paper on the capital budget going before the council cabinet states: “The existing radial gate is operated and maintained by the Environment Agency (EA) who now deem the unit as being at the end of its life, and they are looking to transfer responsibility to the council.
“A business case for all options is to be developed, including following up the feasibility
Mineral exploration on farm at Limpley Stoke
Bath Stone Company, based at Stoke Hill Mine in Limpley Stoke, has given formal notice to Bath & North East Somerset Council of its intention to sink exploratory boreholes in land on Peipard’s Farm at Freshford. As the site is located within a National Landscape, notice of intended mineral exploration work must be given to the council as mineral planning authority. An agent for the company says the works fall under permitted development and the exploration will comply with all necessary conditions.
Reconstruction work on canal bridge approved
The Canal & River Trust has been granted listed building consent to repair the historic Bath bridge which was severely damaged in a collision last October. A vehicle and trailer crashed into the parapet of Horseshoe Bridge that crosses the Kennet & Avon Canal, dislodging chunks of masonry. Safety barriers were erected and the footway remains closed. The Grade II listed bridge dates from around 1800 and is attributed to engineer John Rennie. Bath & North East Somerset Council has given the charity permission to repair and reconstruct the parapet re-using the salvaged stone where possible. Any new limestone will be sourced from Hartham Park quarry. The historic metal towing rope bar which was dislodged from the bridge during the collision will be reinstated. The Canal & River Trust has said that all works will be carried out by local specialists who will be monitored by the trust’s heritage team. Vehicle strikes cost the charity more than £1 million per year.
Roundabout advertising plan submitted
studies for hydroelectric power within the existing wide gate channel, currently being undertaken as part of the council’s decarbonisation programme.
“Any installation needs to be synchronised with the rugby stadium redevelopment’s demolition and construction programme.”
Bath Rugby received planning permission for its major plans to build a new stadium on the Recreation Ground last year.
The plans would involve a redevelopment of the riverside close to the Pulteney Radial Gate.
Permission is being sought from Bath & North East Somerset Council to install three advertising signs on Dunkerton Hill Roundabout. The application for the freestanding aluminium signs has been submitted by Peasedown St John Parish Council on behalf of Somer Valley Farms Butchers. One sign would be at each entrance onto the roundabout, showing directions to the nearby butchers. The entrances are from Peasedown St John village (Bath Road), Dunkerton Hill and the A367 bypass. The proposal is to keep the signs for 18 months. The planning reference is 26/00357/AR and the deadline for comments is 2nd March.
New retail unit to be built at service station
Plans to build a second commercial unit at Walcot Service Station on London Road have been approved. The Esso branded station already has a forecourt shop. The new singlestorey development will be at the rear corner of the site.
Council drops plans for Discovery Card and recycling centre changes
John Wimperis Local Democracy Reporter
BATH & North East Somerset Council has dropped its plans to cut the hours of recycling centres and introduce a charge for its Discovery Cards.
The council had proposed saving £200,000 a year by reducing the hours at Bath Recycling Centre and Old Welton Recycling Centre in Midsomer Norton and, at the same time, generating an estimated £50,000 a year by introducing a “small charge” for the council’s Residents’ Discovery Cards.
Both measures were going to be included in the council’s budget for 2026/27, which goes to a vote later this month, but have now been dropped.
Councillor Mark Elliott (Lansdown, Liberal Democrat), the council cabinet member for resources, said in a statement: “The council is committed to listening to residents and I want to thank everyone who took part in the budget consultation.
“As a result of your feedback we will keep the same opening hours for our waste and recycling centres and won’t be changing the terms of the residents’ Discovery Csard.”
The cards are available for free to residents of Bath and North East Somerset grant free admission to some attractions such as the Roman Baths and a host of discounts across the area.
The idea of introducing a charge for the cards generated about a third of all responses to the council’s budget consultation. Presenting the council’s budget to the council’s corporate scrutiny committee on 3rd February, Councillor Elliott warned that it was still a “challenging environment”.
The council has proposed a host of both cuts and new income in order to close a £7.4 million budget gap. Councillor Elliott said that, on top of increasing costs for adult and children’s social care,
the government’s “fair funding review” of local government finance meant that Bath & North East Somerset Council would lose out on £12.6 million over the next three years.
Council tax is once again proposed to increase by the maximum 4.99%, two percentage points of which will be ringfenced for spending on adult social care. That will be another £90.97 a year for an average band D household, or £1.75 a week.
This means the council will bring in just over £7 million more in council tax next year, but Councillor Elliott said the council also had to spend an additional £6.4 million on adults and children’s social care, after savings were taken into account.
He said: “I know that we sometimes get asked: ‘where does my council tax go?’ Primary, that is the answer. It goes on supporting the most vulnerable people in the area.”
Councillor Andy Wait (Keynsham East, Liberal Democrat) told the meeting he was “very pleased” that the cuts to the recycling centre hours had been dropped. The idea had sparked concern when the budget proposal was considered by the council’s climate scrutiny committee, which Councillor Wait chairs.
He told Councillor Elliott: “That was number one on our list of moans about the budget because we felt that there was a risk that there would be a lot of extra mileage to the Keynsham site if
those cuts went ahead – so thank you for listening to the panel.”
Chair of the corporate scrutiny committee, Councillor Robin Moss (Westfield, Labour), said he was also pleased that the proposal had been dropped and that Discovery Cards would not be charged for.
But vice chair Councillor Malcolm Treby (Weston, Liberal Democrat) questioned plans to generate an estimated £250,000 from using new council powers to fine people for traffic infractions such as stopping in a yellow box.
Councillor Treby said: “Other councils around the country have used this as a significant revenue stream.
“I think that would concern residents around Bath … if we were to use it in that sort of way.”
Councillor Elliott said: “I would be surprised if any council was found to be engineering things to make money out of that.
“The primary purpose of it is to enforce the traffic offence, not to make money.”
The budget will go before a vote at the full council meeting in Bath Guildhall on 24th February.
Councillor Elliott’s statement added: “Despite facing a £12.5 million cut over the next three years, as a result of the government’s ‘fair funding review,’ this is a budget that protects services for children and older people while continuing to invest in our road network, support public transport, and keep our streets clean and safe.”
£1.7m funding boost for Fashion Museum plans
BATH & North East Somerset Council’s plans to create a new Fashion Museum in Bath have moved a step closer after securing £1.745 million in grant funding from the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority.
The money, agreed at the WECA meeting on 30th January, will support initial works to deliver the new museum at the Grade II listed Old Post Office in Milsom Street and help transform the surrounding public area.
Fashion Museum Bath is a key part of the council’s cultureled regeneration plans for the Milsom Quarter, which aim to “reimagine” this part of central Bath as a destination for fashion and culture, with improved public spaces, better traffic flow and more housing – making the area more attractive for businesses, residents and visitors.
The new museum will champion fashion’s “transformative power as a global industry and expression of creativity, culture and identity”, bringing the city’s internationally significant collection to life for local and global audiences.
At the heart of the project is the creation of a new public square in front of the Old Post Office, the museum and St Michael’s Church.
Currently dominated by vehicle traffic, the area will be redesigned as a civic space with better routes for pedestrians and cyclists, space for community events and new green landscaping.
The West of England Mayoral Combined Authority has approved the Outline Business Case for the scheme and awarded up to £1.745 million from its Investment Fund – £1.256 million in 2026/27 and £489k in 2027/28.
This follows a foundational investment of £1.5 million towards feasibility work in 2024/25.
The project is identified as a flagship in the Combined Authority’s Growth Plan, described as an investment in the
“growth, profile and success” of the wider region, not just Bath. Councillor Kevin Guy, leader of Bath & North East Somerset Council, and Deputy Mayor of WECA, said: “It is fantastic news for the West of England’s creative and visitor economy that our ambitious vision for Fashion Museum Bath and the Milsom Quarter has been awarded a further £1.745 million of funding.
“The project will help attract further investment into the region, generate new employment opportunities, and strengthen the tourism and cultural sectors across the west of England.
“But this project is so much more than a UK-leading museum – it’s a key component of the Milsom Quarter Masterplan which is our plan for culture-led regeneration in this part of the city.
“It’s particularly pleasing that this grant will specifically contribute to creating a new public square, improved traffic flow and make the space more attractive for everyone.”
Helen Godwin, Mayor of the West of England, added: “I had the pleasure of seeing some of Fashion Museum Bath’s remarkable collection last year, which will soon be brought to life for locals and visitors alike at the heart of the Milsom Quarter.
“It is a real asset for our region. Building on the combined authority’s earlier investment, and that of the council and National Lottery Heritage Fund, this £1.75 million funding will help move this exciting project forward.”
Construction of Fashion Museum Bath is expected to begin in 2027. People are invited to have their say on the planning application for the new museum which was submitted last month.
The deadline for comments is Thursday 26th February.
The Echo has asked the council how it intends to fully fund the Fashion Museum, which we have previously reported could cost up to £40 million.
The Guildhall in Bath
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Hat-trick for Frost as 10-try Bath slam Sharks in PREM Cup
Richard Briggs Reporter
DAN Frost scored a hattrick as 10-try Bath Rugby overwhelmed Sale Sharks in PREM Rugby Cup Round 7 on Sunday 8th February.
The Blue, Black & White romped to a 60-19 victory at the CorpAcq Stadium to keep alive their hopes of qualifying for next month’s semi-finals.
Bath, the cup holders, had the four-try bonus point sewn up by the interval, turning around 26-7 in front.
Although possession and territory were shared almost equally across the 80 minutes, the visitors entered the home 22 on 17 occasions – Sale got into the guests’ 22 only seven times –and gained 441 metres in attack, the Sharks gaining 166 metres.
Sale missed 25 tackles – Bath missed 16 – and conceded 14 penalties, the visitors giving away 11.
And the Northerners suffered
a sin-binning, Sam Dugdale banished for infringing during the build-up to the visitors’ eighth try.
Bath – who gave debuts to Jack Harrison and, from the bench, guest Tyler Mason – opened the scoring in the 15th minute, Arthur Green touching down under the posts. Will Roue converted. Four minutes later, the Blue, Black
Avon concerned over rugby fixture backlog
Richard Briggs Reporter
WITH rain again bucketing down last week, Avon found their rearranged match away to Keynsham 2nd XV postponed.
Flooding at Crown Fields meant that the Counties 2 Tribute Ale Somerset clash on Saturday 7th February was called off.
And Avon are concerned about their fixture backlog, with a raft of 1st XV games being postponed this season due to the weather.
Bath & District Combination Vase quarter-final at home to Corsham.
Bath Ladies United won for the ninth time in 10 matches in Women’s NC 1 South West (East) when they overcame visitors Drybrook 28-15 on Sunday 8th February. The Blue, Black & White led 14-5 at half-time.
The Hicks Field club have played only 11 league fixtures so far this term – the lowest total in the 12team division.
A statement from the club on Saturday 7th February said:
“Avon’s rearranged match away to Keynsham has again been postponed due to flooded pitches.
“Avon have experienced an unprecedented five matches being called off inside the past two months due to the adverse weather conditions.
“Rearranged dates for league matches mean that there are now no blank Saturdays left in the remainder of the season which, in turn, increases problems with also having to accommodate cup games.”
Another fixture to fall to the weather on Saturday 7th February was Combe Down’s Davis Access
The match had originally been scheduled for the Lambridge Training Ground but, because of the weather, was switched to Walcot’s base at Albert Field in Lansdown.
United are in second place in the table, two points behind leaders North Bristol 2nd XV who have played one match more. Meanwhile, the Bath & District Combination squad for the Lewis Moody charity match being played at Bradford-on-Avon on Sunday 22nd February is bristling with talent from Echo-area clubs, alongside players from slightly further afield.
The game, which will kick-off at 2pm, is in aid of motor neurone disease charity the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation.
Moody, a former England captain who played for Bath and Leicester Tigers, revealed in October 2025 that he had been diagnosed with motor neurone disease. The My Name’5 Doddie Foundation was founded by former Scotland and Newcastle player Doddie Weir following his motor neurone disease diagnosis in 2017.
third try when Frost peeled off the back of a line-out to score in the 32nd minute. Roue kicked the additional points and the travellers led 19-7.
The four-try bonus point was secured when, in the 35th minute, Charlie Griffin intercepted a pass from Joe Bedlow inside the Bath half, powered forward and dived over beneath the posts. Roue slotted over the conversion.
The Sharks made exactly the start to the second half that they needed, Jibulu going over from close range in the 45th minute following a tap penalty and Curtis booting the two points.
& White scored their second try, Frost taking the honours from a line-out drive. Roue’s conversion attempt went wide.
Sale reduced the arrears when, in the 26th minute, Nathan Jibulu scored after breaking through two tackles and spinning out of another. Tom Curtis added the extras. However, Bath bagged their
But Bath scored again in the 49th minute, Frost sealing his hat-trick from another line-out drive. Roue was timed out from the tee but Bath were 31-14 ahead.
The lead was stretched on the hour, Green crossing again. Roue majored.
In the 66th minute, George Timmins – who had come off the bench only two minutes earlier – added five more points to the tally.
Roue’s conversion attempt sailed wide.
With nine minutes to go, replacement Jasper Spandler touched down from a line-out drive – and Roue’s conversion took Bath 50-14 ahead.
Timmins grabbed his second try when he scored in the 74th minute. James Linegar, having replaced Roue, missed the conversion.
And with two minutes to go, Bath completed their try haul, Will Muir setting up Mason to add five points. Linegar was unsuccessful from the tee.
The last word went to the Sharks, Albert Bradshaw scoring with the clock in the red. Curtis failed with the conversion attempt.
Bath’s Round 8 derby with Bristol Bears at The Rec on Saturday 14th February (2.30pm) is a sellout.
You can read the full report via our website Scan the QR code
Bath’s Arundell hailed by Borthwick after hat-trick for England
Richard Briggs Reporter
BATH Rugby winger Henry Arundell was hailed by England head coach Steve Borthwick after bagging a hat-trick of tries against Wales in the Guinness Six Nations on Saturday 7th February.
Arundell achieved his treble in the opening 35 minutes at Allianz Stadium in London, helping the hosts to a 29-0 lead at the interval. England went on to win the Round 1 encounter 48-7.
Joining Arundell in the England starting XV were Blue, Black & White back rows Guy Pepper and Sam Underhill.
Among the England replacements was Bath skipper and scrum-half Ben Spencer, who came on for the final 14 minutes.
The Wales starting XV included Bath prop Archie Griffin. The 24-year-old tighthead played for the opening 50 minutes.
Arundell’s hat-trick was the first scored by an England player since he went over five times against Chile in 2023.
Borthwick said of the former London Irish and Racing 92 man: “We all know Henry is a player who has incredible ability running with the ball, and his ability to find the line is excellent. “What I’ve been really impressed by is, over the last number of months, his attitude to go and improve other aspects of his game.
“He’s gone away post-autumn and worked exceptionally hard on some other areas and he’s come back to the Six Nations as an even better player.”
England captain Jamie George echoed Borthwick’s take on Arundell.
“He’s been brilliant,” said George. “He really reminds me of [former England and Gloucester wing] Jonny May in so many ways in terms of his diligence and preparation and the way that he trains, the way that he’s gone away and developed so many different areas of his game.
“When you’ve got a player like that on the field, it just gives everyone else so much confidence that if we work hard in the middle and create space for someone like that, he’s going to capitalise on it.”
Next up for England is a visit to Scottish Gas Murrayfield, Edinburgh, to take on Scotland on Saturday 14th February (4.40pm).
The Scots are smarting from an 1815 defeat away to Italy in Round 1 on Saturday 7th February, Bath fly-half Finn Russell kicking a penalty and a conversion for the travellers.
England squad to face Scotland in Round 2: Starting XV: 1 Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears), 2 Luke Cowan-Dickie (Sale Sharks), 3 Joe Heyes (Leicester Tigers), 4 Maro Itoje (Saracens, captain), 5 Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers), 6 Guy Pepper (Bath), 7 Sam Underhill (Bath), 8 Ben Earl (Saracens), 9 Alex
Mitchell (Northampton Saints), 10 George Ford (Sale Sharks), 11 Henry Arundell (Bath), 12 Fraser Dingwall (Northampton Saints), 13 Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints), 14 Tom Roebuck (Sale Sharks), 15 Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers). Replacements: 16 Jamie George (Saracens), 17 Bevan Rodd (Sale Sharks), 18 Trevor Davison (Northampton Saints), 19 Alex Coles (Northampton Saints), 20 Tom Curry (Sale Sharks), 21 Henry Pollock (Northampton Saints), 22 Ben Spencer (Bath), 23 Fin Smith (Northampton Saints). Meanwhile, two Bath players turned out for Scotland A in their 24-24 draw with an Italy XV in Rieti on Friday 6th February. Blue, Black & White centre Cameron Redpath played for the full 80 minutes – and back row Josh Bayliss came off the bench in the 47th minute. Redpath notched the third of the Scots’ four tries, touching down in the 48th minute for a score whose conversion left Italy A 1914 behind.
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City boost squad by signing young defender and ex-Wolves striker
Richard Briggs Reporter
BATH City have bolstered their squad by signing young defender Joel Sullivan and experienced striker Donovan Wilson.
Sullivan, aged 18, has arrived at the Cannon Clarke Stadium @ Twerton Park on a non-contract basis after being released by Plymouth Argyle.
Wilson has joined the Romans on loan from their Enterprise National League South rivals Dagenham & Redbridge. He made 16 league appearances for the East London outfit this term, scoring twice. Among those appearances was a 73-minute outing against Bath at the Cannon Clarke Stadium @ Twerton Park
on Saturday 8th November in a match that ended goal-less.
Having played in the Championship for Wolverhampton Wanderers, Wilson had a spell with City in the 2020-21 season, which was declared null and void because of COVID.
Now aged 28, Wilson has also played in the Football League
for Port Vale, Exeter City, Macclesfield Town, Sutton United and Grimsby Town and turned out for two clubs in Spain’s third tier.
He will remain with Bath until the end of the campaign.
The Romans have extended until the end of the season the loans of defender Jaiden Putman and midfielder Ruebin Sheppard.
Will Butt set to leave Bath Rugby
Richard Briggs Reporter
BATH Rugby’s Will Butt says he is incredibly excited to be joining Exeter Chiefs on a threeyear contract this summer.
The Winchester-born 26-year-old – a graduate of the Blue, Black & White’s academy – will leave The Rec for Sandy Park at the end of this season.
Primarily a centre, Butt – who made his Premiership debut for Bath in 2021 – can also play on the wing.
He said: “I’m incredibly excited to be joining Chiefs next season. They’re a team that have achieved a huge amount in the last 10 years and look to be building something special once again.
“I’m looking forward to being a part of the group and contributing to the team in any way that I can.”
Rob Baxter, Exeter’s director of rugby, said: “We’re delighted to have signed Will on a long-term deal. He’s a guy who we’ve had an eye on for a long time and now, as we’re in a position of wanting to strengthen our centre depth, it’s perfect timing.
“He’s an experienced player who’s big and strong, got a great set of skills, including being a very good defender.
“We feel that he’s still got a lot of really good rugby to play having already played in a very successful Bath team for a number of years.
“We hope that coming in with us, he can be involved in a lot of big games in the future as we look to build a very competitive squad in the coming seasons.”
A statement from the Blue, Black & White said: “Bath Rugby can confirm that Will Butt will leave the club at the end of the 2025-26 season to join Exeter Chiefs.
“The centre will join Exeter Chiefs ahead of the 2026-27 season.
“Will Butt joined Bath Rugby at the age of 14 and captained Bath at under-18 level during the 2017–18 season.
“Butt graduated from the Bath Rugby Academy to the senior squad in the summer of 2021, ahead of the 2021–22 season, making his PREM Rugby debut in December 2021 away against Northampton Saints.
“Since joining the senior squad, Butt has made 69 appearances in Blue, Black & White.
“Butt was a key contributor during Bath’s remarkable treble-winning season, playing his part in lifting the Gallagher Premiership, EPCR Challenge Cup and Premiership Rugby Cup trophies.
“A well-liked figure around the club, he will stay in Blue, Black & White until the end of the 202526 season.”
COLUMN | Ben Hicks, Clerk of the Course - Bath Racecourse
AS we continue preparations for the new season at Bath, there are plenty of positive developments to share as we build towards our opening fixture in early April. Although spring may still feel some way off, the work that goes on through the winter months is crucial in setting the course up for the season ahead – and the team have been working extremely hard behind the scenes. One notable addition to the 2026 fixture list is an extra raceday we have taken on from our sister track, Chepstow.
We will be hosting an additional
meeting on Tuesday 12th May, followed by the existing fixture the next day, making this another two-day fixture at Bath alongside the one already scheduled for September.
This change comes as Chepstow undergoes essential drainage works, which will require additional recovery time for their track.
We are pleased to be able to support them during this period and to welcome another valuable fixture to Lansdown.
Away from Bath, I have recently spent some time at Wolverhampton, clerking three
Larkhall seniors rained off but Devs chalk up another big win
Richard Briggs Reporter
LARKHALL Athletic were frustrated in their bid to return to winning ways in the Pitching In Southern League on Saturday 7th February.
The Larks were due to visit struggling Mid Devon villagers Willand Rovers for a Division One South match.
But the game was postponed on Friday 6th February because of a waterlogged pitch.
After a great run of five successive victories under boss John Durbin, Athletic were set to go to Willand in search of their first success in three outings, having lost 5-0 at Hartpury on Saturday 24th January and drawn 1-1 at home to Didcot Town a week later.
Larkhall will be back at the Camella Stadium on Saturday 14th February when league newcomers Sporting Club Inkberrow provide the opposition (3pm).
The Larks were 2-1 winners at the Worcestershire outfit in October.
On Wednesday 18th February, Athletic will go to bottom club Tavistock (7.45pm).
Although the Plain Ham seniors were out of action on Saturday 7th February, Larkhall Development did play – and they took their goal-tally to 16 in three matches by thumping Purton Kingstown 4-1 at the Camella Stadium.
The result consolidated the Devs’ Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League Premier Division title push, being their third straight big win since losing 2-0 at fellow championship hopefuls Swindon Supermarine Development on Saturday 17th January.
Victory over Purton enabled the Larks to pull six points clear of Supermarine – who have three
games in hand – and close the gap on table-topping Shrewton United to four points. However, Larkhall have played two matches more than the Shrews.
Harvey Pritchard forced a good save from the Purton keeper before Athletic took a 22ndminute lead. James Horrocks was the scorer, tapping home after more good work by Pritchard. Five minutes later, Angus Williamson pounced on the loose ball after a free-kick was blocked, netting his 11th goal of the campaign. It was 3-0 five minutes before the interval, Jack Goodall firing in a 20-yard free-kick.
Purton battled well in the second period but Larkhall completed their haul in the 70th minute, Ben Wickens setting up substitute James Okell to tap home.
Ollie While bagged a consolation for Purton in the closing stages. Larkhall described the fixture as a good game with a few tasty challenges.
The Larks face a crunch match on Saturday 14th February – away to Shrewton (2pm).
When the teams met at the Camella Stadium in August, the result was 1-1.
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of their evening fixtures.
All of those meetings went smoothly and, as always, it was useful to touch base with owners, trainers and jockeys – many of whom we will be welcoming back to Bath in the not-too-distant future.
Maintaining those relationships across different tracks is an important part of the role and always worthwhile, particularly as we head towards the start of our own season. Back here at Lansdown, we have now reached the soil sampling stage with our fertiliser provider, which allows us to put a detailed
plan in place for this season’s fertiliser programme. These plans do, of course, remain subject to the weather, but I am confident we have arrived at a very effective approach.
The products we currently use suit the track well, and we are also looking forward to trialling some new seed and possibly other products that have recently come onto the market, as we continue to refine and improve our maintenance programme year on year.
All roads now lead to our first
fixture of the season on Easter Sunday, 5th April, which will feature the Lansdown Fillies’ Stakes run this year for £70,000. This race always provides an exciting start to the year at Bath, and no doubt trainers will be preparing plenty of smart fillies to kick us off in style at that opening meeting. With the course in good order for the time of year and plans progressing well across all areas, there is plenty to be optimistic about as we count down to April and the welcome the return of racing to Bath.
BATH City suffered a third successive postponement when their scheduled league match at AFC Totton on Tuesday 10th February was claimed by the weather.
The Romans have not played since they thrashed Jewson Western League Premier Division outfit Street 5-0 at the Cannon Clarke Stadium @ Twerton Park in the Francis Hillier Premier Cup quarter-finals on Saturday 31st January.
Since then, City’s programmed games in Enterprise National League South against Maidenhead United at York Street on Tuesday 3rd February, against Hemel Hempstead Town at the Cannon Clarke Stadium @ Twerton Park on Saturday 7th February and now against Totton at The Snows Stadium have all been called off because of waterlogged pitches.
The tussle with the Stags was postponed in early afternoon on 10th February.
In a statement, the Hampshire club said: “Yet again we’ve fallen foul of this horrible weather and we regret to inform that, unsurprisingly, tonight’s match against Bath City has been called off.”
A statement from Bath a few minutes later said: “Tonight’s match against AFC Totton has been postponed due to a waterlogged pitch. A new date for the game will be announced in due course.
“We try again on Saturday [14th February] when we are due to travel to Dagenham & Redbridge.”
The Valentine’s Day game against the mid-table Daggers, who were
relegated to Step 2 last year and were in League 1 in 2011, is set to be the Romans’ 27th league outing of the campaign.
Darren Way’s team have played fewer fixtures than any other side in National League South.
With relegation-battlers Hampton & Richmond Borough recording an impressive 3-0 victory at promotion-chasing Hemel on 10th February, City are now down to 20th spot in the table.
Only goal-difference is keeping Bath out of the drop zone, which starts one place below them.
The Romans have played up to five games fewer than the teams beneath them – and although matches in hand can be a great help in a relegation dogfight, the raft of postponements since the start of 2026 could become a major burden for Bath.
Already City find themselves with Tuesday matches scheduled in the league every week until late March – and the rearranged fixtures against Maidenhead, Hemel and Totton still have to be fitted in.
Kick-off against East London side Dagenham & Redbridge, who drew 1-1 at Horsham on 10th February, will be at 3pm.
Title-hopefuls Team Bath chasing first win
Richard Briggs Reporter
TEAM Bath are still looking for their first win of the NXT Gen League season – after three matches.
The Blue & Gold are hoping to win the title in 2026 after finishing as runners-up last year.
But they find themselves in penultimate place in the table, with only one point to their credit, after losing at Leeds Rhinos on Saturday 7th February in their first away fixture of the campaign. The setback in West Yorkshire followed home defeats to London Pulse and Nottingham Forest.
Team Bath were missing several key players for the clash with the Rhinos at Leeds Beckett University.
But the Blue & Gold felt they produced some great passages of play in a well-contested match that they lost 53-45.
Lucy Button and Saskia Lea, Team Bath’s most valuable players in the opening two fixtures, both made their first starts of the season in the defeat by the Rhinos – as did Dani Carr, who was promoted from the NXT Gen Development Squad.
Lowri Windsor, a Wales teammate of Carr at the 2025 Netball World Youth Cup, also made her first appearance in the matchday
Crossword answers - Issue 122 (30/01/2026)
squad.
Ellen Morgan was named the Blue & Gold’s most valuable player against Leeds.
Team Bath starting 7: GK Dani Carr, GD Daisy Harrison, WD Poppy Tydeman, C Lucy Button, WA Saskia Lea, GA Lily Jones, GS Lucy Herdman.
Team Bath impact players: Daisy Collett, Lowri Windsor, Ellen Morgan, Katherine Mansfield.
The Blue & Gold will return to Team Bath Arena tonight, Friday 13th February, for their next league encounter – and they are determined to record their first success of the season.
The opposition will be provided by Manchester Thunder, who are one place above Team Bath in the standings.
Thunder have one win to their name from three outings, having triumphed 62-44 at Welsh outfit LexisNexis Dragons on Saturday 7th February.
Tickets for the Blue & Gold’s tussle with Manchester, priced from £12 to £20, are available to purchase at netball.teambath. com/tickets
Meanwhile, Team Bath’s U17 and U19 Netball Performance League squads and senior Player Development Programme squad achieved a clean sweep of victories against guests Nottingham Forest on Saturday 7th February.
Across: 9 Iceberg, 10 Raphael, 11 Skies, 12 Sour cream, 13 Lifeblood, 15 Se a t o, 17 Open to the public, 20 Noose, 22 Front door, 24 Overheard, 26 Twine, 27 Mailing, 28 Sceptic. Down: 1 Tinseltown, 2 Belief, 3 Least bit, 4 A gas, 5 Ground zero, 6 Epochs, 7 Baseball, 8 Plum, 14 Out of range, 16 Occurrence, 18 Esoteric, 19 Untitled, 21 Ethnic, 23 Opiate, 24 Ohms, 25 Dusk.
STAIRLIFTS
Saturday 14th February - 2.30pm
Bath Rugby v Bristol Bears (Home) PREM Rugby Cup – R8
Saturday 21st February – 4.30pm
Bath Rugby v Exeter Chiefs (Away) PREM Rugby Cup – R9
Bath City FC
Saturday 14th February – 3pm Bath City v Dagenham & Redbridge (Away) League
Sunday 15th February – 2pm Bath Women v Stockwood Wanderers (Home) Junior Cup QF
Tuesday 17th February – 7.45pm
Bath City v Ebbsfleet United (Home) League
Saturday 21st February – 3pm
Bath City v Hampton & Richmond Borough (Home) League
Sunday 22nd February – 2pm
Bath Women v AFC Brislington (Away) League
Tuesday 24th February – 7.45pm
Bath City v Weston-super-Mare (Home) League
Get Involved
Whether you'd like us to include your upcoming fixtures, or submit a match report for publishing, our team would love to hear from you. Please send fixtures lists for your team to sport@bathecho. co.uk and we'll add your next event to our calendar. If you have photographs that we can use, we'd also like to include them within these pages, on our website and social media. We're happy to host match reports. Please send them to sport@bathecho.co.uk with the subject Match Report.
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