Bath Echo - Issue 128 - 24/04/2026

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Friday 24th April - Thursday 7th May 2026

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SIX-MONTH CLOSURE Manvers Street road to be rebuilt due to deterioration - P3

Don't miss the latest sports news with our expanded team coverage! P22 onwards Photo © Anthony Brown / Cleveland Pools Trust

Rethink after opposition to proposed parking zone - P2

Bath builder jailed after admitting £166,000 fraud - P4

Operator collapse could help with reopening of lido - P6

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Rethink after huge opposition to parking zone P10

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Food & Drink

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Health

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Sports & Fixtures

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For news items and press releases: news@bathecho.co.uk 01225 585484 Editor Sebastian Hawker editor@bathecho.co.uk Becky Feather, Reporter becky@bathecho.co.uk Richard Briggs, Sports Reporter richard@bathecho.co.uk Advertising & Marketing: Rob Last - 07990 253664 rob@mediabath.co.uk For sport and match reports: sport@bathecho.co.uk 01225 585484 Want to have a letter published? letters@bathecho.co.uk Subscriptions/Distribution: production@bathecho.co.uk 01225 585484 Published by Media Bath Limited

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Reporter

BATH & North East Somerset Council has said it is “carefully considering” the findings of two surveys which invited views on a proposed residents’ parking zone (RPZ) in Lambridge, and an extension of the Walcot and Snow Hill zone into the Grosvenor Place area.

Last autumn the council asked residents, visitors and businesses to share their views, and the findings were published last Friday, 17th April.

The council says the informal consultations were carried out following requests from residents.

Around 2,000 properties in and around the proposed zones were contacted directly.

RPZs are designated areas where on-street parking is controlled and enforced, and where eligible residents and businesses can buy permits to park in the zone. The aim is to improve the environment and ensure that scarce parking is fairly allocated.

There were 739 responses to the Lambridge RPZ proposal. Of these, 79% were against and 16% in favour. There was more support for the zone from those living in the proposed zone itself (23%).

Concerns included costs of

permits, visitor access, the impact of shops and local businesses in Larkhall, and the potential displacement of vehicles onto other streets outside the zone.

The Grosvenor Place area proposal generated 118 responses with 61% against and 33% in favour.

Concerns included permit costs, visitor access, the boundary of the proposed RPZ, and potential displacement of vehicles into other streets.

Those supporting the proposals had concerns about levels of commuter parking and congestion, not being able to find parking near their homes, dangerous/anti-social driving behaviours, and poor air quality.

Councillor Joel Hirst, B&NES Council’s cabinet member for sustainable transport strategy, said: “We’d like to thank everyone who took time to take part in these important surveys. Given the outcomes, we will carefully consider the findings before any further decisions are made.

“Across both areas, residents, businesses and visitors highlighted the importance of maintaining a balanced mix of parking. This includes parking for residents, access for local businesses, and ensuring visitors, carers and trades can continue to use the area without harming

Larkhall Square in Bath

local activity.

“We are committed to designing streets that put people first, with safety and accessibility as important considerations. Before any decisions are made, we’ll conduct more detailed analysis.

“This includes additional work to better understand parking pressures and patterns, as requested by the local ward councillors.”

Following a packed community meeting held on Tuesday 21st April at St Saviour’s Church, which Councillor Hirst attended as did ward councillors, a Larkhall Traders’ Group spokesperson told the Echo: “Residents, businesses and the wider community were strongly opposed to the blanket Lambridge-wide RPZ proposal, and there was a huge amount of frustration around how it had

From the Editor... Opinion, insight and the stories shaping Bath this week

O

NE subject that riles a fair number of residents in Bath is student accommodation.

You may have seen in the news this week (page 18 if you missed it) that proposals to create space for more than 900 students at the University of Bath, located across eight new blocks at the Claverton Down campus, have been approved by councillors.

However, there has been the expected commentary alongside this, from those who feel the city is being overrun by the student population, that family homes are continually being lost to those studying at the city’s two universities, and large swathes of Bath are becoming student hotspots. But realistically, there’s

two sides to the story.

The University of Bath and Bath Spa University both guarantee a place for first-year students in their own on-site or nominated managed accommodation within the city, which means that a fair few students are already catered for. There isn’t a confirmed figure of the student intake at the two universities each year, but we still need to consider the fact that come second year, the students have to look for housing elsewhere. This is where the main issue seems to arise – there are plenty of property companies and private landlords who see the opportunity to provide a roof over the head of those students, and will charge a pretty

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been brought forward in the first place.

“The original Lambridge-wide RPZ proposal has now been dropped. The council made clear that it is not moving forward, and that if there are genuine issues on particular streets, any future intervention would require fresh evidence, fresh consultation, and clear justification.”

The spokesperson added that Councillor Hirst had agreed that alternatives to full RPZs should be considered where appropriate, rather than treating permit zones as the only solution.

“That is a very important shift, because for many people, the concern was never about refusing change, but about avoiding a one-size-fits-all approach that simply moves problems from one road to the next.”

Sebastian Hawker

penny to do so. Over the years, the number of properties being converted into student houses and HMOs in Bath has continued to increase, as more developers see the profitability of long-term investments in the city, and the close surrounding areas.

A fact that I do have to point out is that a fair proportion of residents in HMOs aren’t students. They are those who work in the city, and keep Bath functioning. Due to constant increases in rent and house prices, they are far outpriced for finding somewhere to live on a low income, so resort to shared houses where a room alone could cost them up to £1,000 per month. Minimum

wage is now £12.71 per hour, but realistically that doesn’t go very far in the grand scheme of things.

When a home near yours is turned into an HMO (and chances are, there’s already one within throwing distance), don’t immediately assume it will be turned into a student let, with wild parties late into the night.

Chances are, it will be providing somewhere to live for someone learning their trade, working hard and scraping by. Yes, I know there will be issues with parking, and loss of family homes, and noise etc, but Bath’s economy is heavily reliant on those not being paid enough, and they rely on whatever they can get.

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Issue 128

P3

Your City, Your News - Bath Echo

Six-month road rebuild plan for Manvers Street A MAJOR reconstruction project on Manvers Street is due to begin at the end of May, with Bath & North East Somerset Council warning that the city centre scheme is expected to last for up to six months.

The work, which starts on 26th May, will see part of the road rebuilt because the structure beneath it has deteriorated.

Manvers Street sits above vaults, cellars and concrete slabs dating back to the 1940s.

According to the council, both the slabs and the road’s foundations now need replacing to secure the route’s long-term safety and resilience.

Contractors will dig down through the road to reach the top of the vaults and cellars below before removing and replacing the existing slabs and foundations.

The council said the scheme is intended to provide a permanent solution better suited to modern traffic demands while offering

Manvers Street from above | Photo © B&NES Council

greater protection to the road in future.

During the works, Manvers Street will be shut to vehicles between the junctions with Henry Street and Dorchester Street, although access to Manvers Street Car Park will remain.

Pedestrians will still be able to

get through, while cyclists will be asked to dismount. Bus stops along the road will be suspended and services diverted, with revised routes and timetables to be published on operators’ websites.

The closure will also be used to carry out other improvements,

including upgrades to pavements and street lighting.

Utility companies will also renew infrastructure during the project, in an effort to avoid further disruption later on.

Councillor Lucy Hodge, cabinet member for sustainable transport delivery, said: “We know a big project like this will have an impact and as always we will do what we can to reduce disruption.

“This is a complex piece of work which will better protect what is above and below ground for a long time. Carrying the work out now will avoid emergency works in the future which would be much more disruptive.”

The council said it will keep residents and businesses updated during the project and is holding a drop-in information session on Tuesday 28th April in the Brunswick Room at the Guildhall from 11am to 3.30pm.

The Manvers Street work is one of several city centre schemes being delivered by the council this year.

Restoration work scheduled to begin on railway RAIL passengers travelling through Bath are being warned to plan ahead as major work is due to begin on two historic structures on the railway line later this month.

Network Rail is preparing to start restoration work on the footbridge in Sydney Gardens and the eastern entrance to Box Tunnel, with line closures also being used to carry out other maintenance in the area.

At Sydney Gardens, the Grade II-listed footbridge will undergo grit-blasting, steel and masonry repairs, a full repaint and the replacement of its wooden deck over the next three months.

Engineers will also repair and survey the Grade II-listed eastern entrance to Box Tunnel.

Scaffolding for both schemes will be installed during planned closures between Bath Spa and Chippenham on two consecutive weekends in April and May. The closures will also allow track renewal at Bathford and drainage improvements in Corsham to take place.

Buses will replace trains between Bath Spa and Chippenham or Westbury on 25th and 26th April and 2nd to 4th May. Rail tickets will also be accepted on First Bus services between Bath and Trowbridge or Frome.

Work will take place in Sydney Gardens and at Box Tunnel

Trains between London Paddington and Bath Spa will run by an alternative route between Swindon and Bristol Temple Meads and will not stop at Chippenham, although some services between London Paddington and Chippenham will continue to run except on Sundays.

GWR will also continue to run trains between Cardiff Central and Bath Spa, and between Westbury and Portsmouth Harbour, Frome or Weymouth.

Additional work means buses will also replace trains between Swindon and Westbury until around midday on 26th April.

Rail replacement buses will stop in Freshford village and Westwood village rather than at

the stations.

GWR Station Manager for Bath Spa and Chippenham, Oana Apetroaie, said: “We apologise for the inconvenience this may cause but the work planned will help us to maintain our train services in the area for years to come.

“Rail replacement services are planned for those stations affected and ticket acceptance is in place on some local bus services in the area as an alternative.

“It’s important that customers are aware these alternative travel arrangements could make journey times much longer, so please plan ahead.”

Network Rail Principal Portfolio Manager, Dan Parkes, said: “Sydney Gardens footbridge and

the Box Tunnel entrance are not just railway structures, they are irreplaceable pieces of Brunel’s legacy. Restoring them is both a responsibility and a privilege.

“By coordinating this work with other planned maintenance, we’re minimising disruption to passengers whilst protecting two of the most historic landmarks on our railway.

“If you’re planning to travel during this time, please make sure to check before you travel, as bus replacement services will be in place on some routes and journeys may take longer than usual.”

The Grade II-listed Sydney Gardens footbridge is the last surviving cast-iron footbridge of its kind on the Great Western Mainline. Designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel, it stands within one of Britain’s oldest Georgian pleasure gardens.

A work area has been set up in Bath & North East Somerset Council’s existing compound in Sydney Gardens.

For safety reasons, the area beneath the footbridge, including the footpath, will be closed while work is carried out, although pedestrian diversions will be in place and the second footbridge in the park will remain open throughout.

News in Brief Council selling off three pieces of surplus land Bath & North East Somerset Council has announced the disposal of a land holding next to Chatham Row and the River Avon at Walcot, as well as surplus land at Axbridge Road in Combe Down. At Chatham Row the “minor” land holding is said to be surplus to the Corporate Estates’ portfolio and requirements.

It will be marketed and disposed of in line with Corporate Estates policy. The “small parcel” of land at Axbridge Road is also said to be surplus to the Corporate Estates’ portfolio and requirements and will be disposed of in line with policy. The recent list of decisions by the council also reveals plans to dispose of a “small” parcel of land at The Glebe in the village of Freshford which is surplus to requirements. There will be a marketing campaign and then all interest will be registered prior to proceeding with a disposal.

Temporary one-way system in city centre A temporary southbound oneway system has been introduced on St James Parade where a vault under the road began to collapse in early March. There have been temporary two-way signals in place, but to provide the shortest possible diversion route for vehicles wanting to travel northbound, Bath & North East Somerset Council has now removed the vehicle entry restrictions in Avon Street, saying it will minimise disruption and ease congestion.

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Bath builder jailed after admitting £166,000 fraud against resident A BATH builder has been jailed after admitting defrauding a vulnerable resident out of more than £166,000 in a case that left a property uninhabitable and building work described as “quite appalling”.

Bryan Adams, 36, was sentenced at Bristol Crown Court to two years and six months in prison following an investigation by Bath & North East Somerset Council’s Trading Standards team.

Adams, who was homeless at the time of sentencing, had pleaded guilty on 19th December 2025 to carrying on a business for a fraudulent purpose, contrary to the Fraud Act 2006.

He returned to court on 8th April 2026, when the custodial sentence was imposed.

The court heard that between 10th June 2023 and 3rd December 2024, Adams received more than £166,000 from a client to build a single-storey side extension.

Instead of using the money for labour and materials as agreed, he used a large proportion of it to fund a gambling addiction.

His gambling losses during that period exceeded £60,000.

Trading Standards found he repeatedly made false claims in order to obtain more money.

These included telling the homeowner that his bank

Award winning care homes

Bid to turn two-bed home into HMO for six

A bedroom at an HMO property | Library image How the building was left | Photo courtesy of B&NES Council

account had been frozen, asking for cash for materials, and saying he had reached his daily cash withdrawal limit when in fact no withdrawals had been made.

In another example, he charged for a replacement boiler after claiming the existing one had failed. Investigators found no new boiler had been installed, and that a Bosch sticker had simply been placed on the existing unit.

A specialist building surveyor later assessed the annex and described the standard of work as “quite appalling”, saying it had been carried out by unskilled and incompetent individuals with little understanding of basic domestic construction. The structure was judged unsound and has since been demolished.

Councillor Manda Rigby, cabinet

member for communications and community at Bath & North East Somerset Council, said: “This case is a stark reminder of the devastating impact rogue traders can have on people in our community.

“This prosecution sends a strong message to others who may consider similar behaviour that they could face serious consequences.

“Credit goes to our Trading Standards team who work tirelessly to protect residents from harm and are meticulous in pursuing traders who breach the law.”

Residents who believe they may have been targeted by a rogue trader are urged to contact the Citizens Advice Consumer Service.

BRIGHTON-BASED property investment company Rivers Birtwell has submitted an application to Bath & North East Somerset Council to turn a two-bed home in the city into accommodation for six sharers.

At 5 Batstone Close, Fairfield Park, which is in a terrace, six single occupancy bedrooms are being proposed.

The scheme includes adding a single-storey extension and a bike store.

Two separate toilet and shower rooms are planned and the proposed communal amenity space is said to be wellproportioned. There are plans to improve energy efficiency to achieve the required EPC rating of C. The application says that “a highquality HMO will be created in an appropriate location

without harming the amenity of neighbours or character of the area”.

It says there are no HMOs in the surrounding area (100-metre radius) so the proposed development would not give rise to any community balance impacts.

The application adds that HMO occupants are generally less reliant on private vehicles than families, meaning further additional parking provision to the two spaces provided is “unnecessary”.

However, Batstone Close and nearby streets “have ample onstreet capacity” if required.

Parking for four bikes is proposed and there are said to be frequent local bus services.

The planning reference is 26/01291/FUL and the deadline for comments is 6th May.

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Friday 24th April - Thursday 7th May 2026

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Operator collapse could help with reopening of historic lido

Help being offered with rising heating oil bills

Becky Feather Reporter

THE collapse of major leisure operator Fusion Lifestyle could speed up plans to repair and reopen Bath’s flood-damaged Cleveland Pools.

Registered charity Fusion Lifestyle, which has its headquarters in Dartford in Kent, recently entered administration.

It ran a significant number of leisure facilities, including swimming pools, across the country. Administrators are aiming to find new operators to take over Fusion’s leisure facilities, which include several in the east of Somerset.

Cleveland Pools, the UK’s oldest lido, is owned by Bath & North East Somerset Council and held on a long-term lease by the Cleveland Pools Trust.

The Grade II* listed riverside baths were brought back from decades of dereliction after more than £9.5 million was raised from a wide range of funders.

Before reopening to swimmers in September 2023, the trust sublet the site to Fusion Lifestyle on a long-term, full repairing and insuring sub-lease.

But the Georgian lido was only open for a short time. It has been

Support is available for those struggling with their finances

The pools before the damage | Photo © Anthony Brown / Cleveland Pools Trust

closed since January 2024, when floodwater entered and caused considerable damage to the operating plant and machinery.

In February, we reported that the trust had confirmed the full extent of the flood damage but warned that finding the money to repair and reopen the site remained a major challenge.

Now in a statement posted on the Cleveland Pools website, Peter Askew, chair of the Cleveland Pools Trust, said: “Cleveland Pools Trust notes the appointment of administrators to Fusion Lifestyle.

“In 2023, following completion of the restoration, the trust sublet the site to Fusion Lifestyle, a charity experienced in operating lidos and leisure facilities.

“As the pools have remained

closed following the January 2024 flood, this development does not have any immediate operational impact on the site.

“However, it may mark an important step forward, as until now the trust has been constrained in its ability to act while the site remained subject to an exclusive sublease.

“We are now working closely with our legal advisers and Bath & North East Somerset Council to understand the implications and to seek to secure full control of the site as quickly as possible.

“This may create a clearer pathway for the trust to take forward the next phase, including progressing plans for repair and reopening. We will provide further updates as next steps are confirmed.”

BED E BUYS

RESIDENTS in Bath and North East Somerset who rely on heating oil and are struggling financially are being offered help through a council support scheme.

Bath & North East Somerset Council says rising oil prices are creating extra pressure for some households across the district, particularly those on low incomes or dealing with unexpected financial difficulties.

In response, the local authority is making support available through its Crisis and Resilience Fund for people who need to order heating oil but cannot afford to do so, as well as for those who have recently bought oil and are now unable to cover the cost.

The council said residents may qualify if they heat their home using oil, are on a low income or experiencing hardship, and either need to buy oil now or have recently purchased it and

are struggling to pay.

Councillor Mark Elliott, cabinet member for resources, said: “We know that rising heating oil costs are causing real concern for some households, especially for people on low incomes or facing unexpected financial pressures.

“This support is there to help residents stay warm and get through a difficult period, and I would encourage anyone who is struggling to come forward and apply.”

The help is being delivered as a Crisis Payment through the Crisis and Resilience Fund, which is a UK Government grant scheme administered locally by Bath & North East Somerset Council for residents facing financial hardship.

Applications can be made through the Welfare Support section of the council’s website or by calling the Welfare Support Team on 01225 477277.

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Issue 128

P7

Your City, Your News - Bath Echo

BATH’S PROPERTY MARKET

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What local experts are seeing right now

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From family homes and first-time buyer pressures to ecoupgrades and presentation, four local property professionals share their view of Bath’s housing market and what matters most to buyers right now.

A market of contrasts Bath’s property market is in a healthier place than it was a year ago, but it remains far from uniform.

According to local agents and architects, demand is strong in some areas and sectors, while elsewhere the picture is more mixed.

Carey Gilliland of Madison Oakley describes the market as “very strong in places” but “variable in others”.

He says there has been particularly high spring demand for low to midrange family homes, with multiple offers quite common, while HMO investments also remain popular. At the same time, he notes that supply has increased in some parts of the market, especially city apartments, as landlords appear to be selling in advance of the Rental Reform Act implementation.

Ben Purnell of TYNINGS Estate Agents also believes the market is in a better place than last year. Prime homes and prime locations, he says, are still commanding strong prices, although buyers are noticeably more selective and more valueconscious than they would be in a more buoyant market. Rosie Marlow, personal estate agent, offers a similar assessment, describing Bath’s market as stable, with prices levelling after recent volatility. In her view, demand remains strong for well-presented homes, but higher mortgage rates mean buyers are approaching decisions more cautiously. Well-priced homes are selling, she says, while overpriced properties are taking longer, with limited supply continuing to support values in what she calls a more realistic market.

What buyers want now If the market has shifted, so too have buyer priorities. Carey Gilliland says one of the most important factors for buyers at the moment is the ability to grow into a home.

That might mean a larger garden with room for a home office, or the potential for a loft extension, but the common thread is clear: many buyers are trying to avoid the future cost and upheaval of moving again.

Location remains close behind, he adds, whether the priority is access to amenities, good schooling, parking or commuter links.

Ben Purnell sees these priorities through the lens of the seller. From his perspective, presentation, pricing, parking, views and energy efficiency are all key factors in attracting interest. The more immaculately presented a home is, he says, the more likely it is to sell quickly. He also believes sellers should deal with any remedial work before bringing a property to

market, to avoid putting off buyers.

For Jonathan Hetreed of Hetreed Ross Architects, one of the strongest priorities emerging in homes today is energy performance.

He points to eco-upgrades, and particularly a “fabric first” approach, as increasingly important because they reduce bills while also enhancing comfort and delight. That emphasis on comfort, practicality and lower running costs reflects a broader change in what people value in their homes.

Bath’s most sought-after areas When it comes to the parts of Bath attracting the strongest interest, some clear favourites emerge. Ben Purnell says central Bath will always remain desirable because of its architecture and history, but in his view Combe Down continues to stand out for the family market. Its friendly nature, range of amenities, abundance of schooling, easy access to the city and proximity to countryside walks all add to its appeal. Rosie Marlow also highlights Combe Down as an area where demand remains particularly strong, alongside Weston, Newbridge, Fairfield Park and Larkhall. She says these neighbourhoods appeal because of their family feel, green space, good schools and sense of community. Central areas such as Lansdown and Bathwick remain popular too, she adds, thanks to their architecture and closeness to the city, with limited supply continuing to keep demand high.

The challenge Bath still faces While parts of Bath’s market remain resilient, some longer-term structural issues continue to shape the city. Carey Gilliland points to the lack of affordable housing for younger generations as one of Bath’s most persistent housing problems. He says this has been an issue for decades and was further compounded by competition from investors, at least until more recent years when legislation began to affect the market.

In particular, he argues that Bath needs more two-bedroom starter houses, yet very few have been built in the city since the late 1990s.

It is a Bath-specific challenge that speaks to a wider tension in the local market: strong demand, limited supply and a shortage of homes suited to younger buyers trying to get onto the ladder.

What really adds value?

For homeowners thinking about improving before they sell, the advice from the contributors is rooted in practicality rather than

over-spending. Rosie Marlow says not all improvements add equal value, and warns against assuming that every renovation will pay off. In her experience, kitchens, bathrooms and additional space tend to offer the best returns, while relatively simple improvements such as neutral décor and stronger kerb appeal can also help generate buyer interest. Overly bespoke upgrades, or changes that reduce the number of bedrooms, may have the opposite effect and can deter buyers. Her advice is to focus on practical, broadly appealing changes that suit the local market.

Jonathan Hetreed agrees that value depends on context, particularly how long the homeowner expects to stay. Kitchen and bathroom fitouts, he says, are often expensive and closely tied to personal taste.

That can make them worthwhile for someone planning a long stay, but less compelling if the property is likely to be sold within a few years, since future buyers may not share the same preferences.

By contrast, he believes improvements that enhance comfort and reduce bills are only going to become more attractive with time.

Advice for the next three months For anyone planning a move or renovation in the near future, the contributors all return to the same broad message: prepare carefully, seek advice early and avoid rushing.

Ben Purnell’s advice for sellers is simple. If you are thinking of bringing your property to market, speak to a local agent as early as possible. Strong presentation is essential, he says, and buyers should not be left with obvious remedial work to tackle. A good local agent will often have buyers already on their books who may suit the property, and can advise on the best route to a successful sale.

Rosie Marlow, having recently completed a full renovation herself, says careful planning is everything.

For those moving or renovating in the next three months, she advises being clear about your goals, setting a realistic budget with contingency built in, and concentrating on kitchens, bathrooms and overall presentation. She also recommends booking trades early, decluttering, and striking the right balance between ambition and practicality.

Jonathan Hetreed offers a more reflective note. His advice is not to be in too much of a hurry, but to get to know a building first, over the seasons if possible. He suggests engaging Bath & West Community Energy or a similar organisation for an initial survey into a building’s eco potential, and says it is important to work with an architect who will really listen to what you need.

Projects and pride Asked to share a recent success story, Jonathan Hetreed points to a deep eco-refurbishment of a listed farmhouse. The project involved external wall insulation in cork with lime render, underfloor heating powered by an air source heat pump, photovoltaic panels replacing concrete roof tiles, and land drains with lime plaster used to deal positively with damp, all while conserving historic features. It is the kind of project that captures the increasing importance of sustainability, retrofit and sensitive design in older buildings.

For Carey Gilliland, success is measured slightly differently. While Madison Oakley won several awards last year, he says the greatest sign of success is clients returning to trust the company’s advice or recommending it to others. After more than 15 years trading in Bath, the firm has worked with some clients through multiple moves and has also helped several generations of the same family.

A market shaped by realism Taken together, these perspectives suggest that Bath’s property market remains active, but with a greater sense of realism than in previous years. Well-located, well-presented homes continue to attract strong interest, particularly in familyfriendly neighbourhoods and established central areas.

But buyers are thinking harder about value, condition and longterm practicality.

Whether discussing family homes, first-time buyer pressures, renovations or eco-upgrades, the common thread is clear: Bath buyers and sellers are being more considered in their decisions.

Presentation matters, pricing matters, and increasingly so does future-proofing a home through comfort, efficiency and adaptable space.

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Friday 24th April - Thursday 7th May 2026

www.bathecho.co.uk

Crime & Court

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Driver more than four times alcohol Traffic warden racially limit given suspended sentence abused by driver A 32-YEAR-OLD Bath woman who admitted driving while more than four times over the legal alcohol limit on Wellsway has been given a suspended jail sentence.

Prosecutor Giles Tippett told Bath magistrates on Wednesday 15th April that at 6.30pm on 4th January, an off-duty police officer was a passenger in a car being driven by her partner when there was a near-collision with a black Mini Cooper which was on the wrong side of the road.

They followed the Mini, and when it stopped, the off-duty officer saw Ashleigh Ball in the driver’s seat, with the engine still running.

Ball was slurring her words and repeating herself and the off-duty officer could smell alcohol.

Police attended and Ball took a roadside breath test, which revealed 174 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath.

Ball was arrested and taken to Keynsham Police Centre where the lower of two evidential readings was 163. The legal limit is 35.

Mr Tippett said it was “luck over judgement” that Ball had not caused an accident as she was “clearly highly intoxicated”.

Representing Ball, solicitor Ned Kemp said the Probation Service had recommended an 18-month community order with an

Bath Magistrates’ Court

alcohol treatment requirement and rehabilitation activity requirement (RAR) days.

Mr Kemp said it had been hard for Ball to internally accept she has an alcohol problem and that the pre-sentence report from the Probation Service highlighted that she had “limited insight” into her offending.

However, working with the Probation Service she could get the tools she needed, he added.

He said Ball was of previous good character and has some mental health issues.

Delivering their sentence, magistrates said the offence was so serious – with a very high alcohol reading, evidence of bad driving and failure to accept responsibility – that only a custodial sentence could be

justified. They jailed her for 18 weeks, suspended for 18 months.

They also imposed an alcohol treatment requirement under the direction of the Probation Service for nine months and told Ball she must complete up to 10 RAR days.

At a court hearing in February, when Ball admitted the charge, magistrates had imposed an interim driving ban. Last Wednesday they disqualified her from driving for 36 months, which will be backdated to the start of the interim ban.

The length of the disqualification will be reduced by 25% if Ball undergoes a drink-drive rehabilitation course. She was also ordered to pay £85 costs to the Crown Prosecution Service and a court surcharge of £154.

A MAN who hurled racial slurs at a traffic warden in Bath who was giving him a ticket has been fined £200 and ordered to pay compensation for the distress he caused.

Gavin Wilson, 56, from Kenilworth, appeared before Bath magistrates on Wednesday 8th April to admit that on 18th October 2025, his words and behaviour intentionally caused the council worker harassment, alarm or distress, and the offence was racially aggravated.

Prosecutor Maree Doyle told the court that Wilson had parked in a disabled bay near Waitrose in Walcot Street but was not displaying a Blue Badge.

As he saw the ticket being issued, Wilson told the attendant that his exhaust had broken and he was having a bad day.

He was abusive and invaded the attendant’s space in an interaction that lasted a couple of minutes and was caught on the council employee’s body-worn camera.

An eyewitness told Wilson: “I am glad you got a ticket – you deserved it.”

In a victim impact statement read to the court, the traffic warden said he’d been in this country for 20 years and the incident had upset and “really offended” him, making him feel “unwelcome”.

He said: “I hope the male will learn from this experience.”

Wilson had parked in a disabled bay

Duty solicitor Jennifer Stetson said Wilson, of previous good character, was “deeply ashamed”.

She said it was an “entirely isolated” incident.

Wilson was in Bath to visit a friend of his late father’s. He had parked in the disabled bay after his exhaust pipe had fallen off.

She added that it was ironic as Wilson is disabled due to a bad hip.

She said that at the time he had been “in a pressure cooker of distress, grief and exhaustion” and had also recently been diagnosed with diabetes, which can cause “significant” mood swings.

As well as the fine, which was uplifted from £120 due to the racial element of the offence, magistrates ordered Wilson to pay a court surcharge of £80.

He must pay £100 compensation to the victim, but no order was made regarding prosecution costs due to Wilson’s lack of means.

Legal move to confiscate 80-year-old admits causing serious drug dealer’s assets injury to cyclist in Bath

Davies was caught with more than four kilos of cannabis

AN APPLICATION under the Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) will be heard at Bristol Crown Court in May in relation to a 29-year-old Bath drug dealer who was caught with more than four kilos of cannabis.

Leon Davies, of Fox Hill in Combe Down, pleaded guilty at Bath Magistrates’ Court on 18th February to possession with intent to supply.

He’d been found with the large quantity of the class B drug at Sydney Mews in Bath on 19th August 2024.

Magistrates had asked the Probation Service to prepare a pre-sentence report and said they would be considering all options,

including committing Davies to Bristol Crown Court where the sentencing powers are greater.

Davies was back at the magistrates’ court for sentencing on Monday 20th April when prosecutor Paul Kelly said an application had been made under POCA which could only be heard at the Crown Court.

The legislation is aimed at confiscating assets derived from criminal activities. Mr Kelly said the application was for cash and a number of items.

Both the sentencing and POCA application will both take place at Bristol Crown Court on 26th May. Davies’s unconditional bail was extended until then.

AN 80-YEAR-OLD driver caused serious injury to a retired University of Bath professor after knocking him off his bike, city magistrates heard.

Appearing in court on Monday 20th April, Stuart Ball admitted that he had driven his red Nissan too close to the cyclist on Frome Road in Bath.

Prosecuting, Paul Kelly said Ball did not leave the required 1.5 metres and his wing mirror hit the bike’s handlebars while overtaking.

The court saw CCTV footage of the collision on 24th September last year which sent 70-year-old Professor Ronald Jones flying into the air.

His head hit the ground and fortunately he was wearing a helmet, although it was damaged.

Prof Jones recalled “intense pain” in his lower back and pelvis and spent three weeks in hospital as a result of his injuries.

The court heard that previously he was fit and healthy and enjoyed cycling and walking, but now has reduced mobility and his overall fitness has declined.

Ball hit the bike's handlebars while overtaking

He still has neuropathic related pain in his legs and suffers from low mood and anxiety.

He is awaiting the outcome of further spinal investigations.

Mr Kelly did not ask the magistrates to consider making Ball pay compensation to Prof Jones, saying the cyclist would be “fully compensated” through insurance.

Ball, of Prospect Road in Severn Beach in South Gloucestershire, is a former HGV driver.

His solicitor Maxine Twynam said the pensioner had been on his way to visit his son, who has leukaemia, at the time of the collision. Losing his licence would be the “biggest

punishment” as he would not be able to support his son, she told the court.

“He would like to apologise to the cyclist through me. He hopes he can recover and go back to doing the things he obviously loved to do,” Ms Twynam said.

Magistrates said Ball had watched the CCTV footage and understood the seriousness of what had happened, telling him: “There are consequences for the victim and you.”

For causing serious injury by careless driving, they banned him from driving for 14 months and fined him £1,384. He must also pay a £554 surcharge and £85 prosecution costs.

Issue 128

P9 9

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Compensation due after man kicked door

‘Professional criminal’ is jailed for 50 weeks

The Labyrinth nightclub in the centre of Bath

A MAN who kicked a glass door after being accused of shoplifting at a Tesco Express store in Bath has been ordered to pay £200 compensation to the retailer.

At Bath Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday 15th April, Paul Hillman, 58, admitted causing criminal damage to a glass door panel at the store in Westgate Buildings in the city centre.

Prosecutor Giles Tippett said that Hillman, of Sherwood Road in Keynsham, had been with two other men in the store when staff asked them to leave as they were suspected of shoplifting.

Hillman had kicked the panel, which cracked, in what Mr

Tippett said was a “wilful” act.

He asked the bench to consider ordering Hillman to pay compensation to Tesco.

Duty solicitor Will Palmer told the court that Hillman “took great umbrage” at being “wrongfully” accused of shoplifting.

He had kicked the door in “a fit of pique” and had later apologised to the police for his actions.

The value of the damage caused was not known, but in sentencing Hillman, who is on benefits, magistrates said such doors are not cheap. They ordered him to pay £200 compensation, but did not make any order for him to pay prosecution costs or a court surcharge.

BATH magistrates have jailed a “professional criminal” for a total of 50 weeks for his latest string of offences in the city.

Jonathan Peacock, 49, appeared in custody at the court on Monday 20th April to plead guilty to five charges.

On 15th March by entering the Co-op at Burlington Place on Julian Road without reasonable excuse and stealing goods, he was in breach of a criminal behaviour order (CBO) made by Bristol magistrates just the day before.

He stole items of a value unknown from the store on that day, then on 24th March at Sainsbury’s in Green Park he stole goods worth £102.

On 9th April at St Swithin’s Place he attempted to enter a vehicle which he was prohibited from doing by a CBO made by Bristol magistrates on 14th March. On 18th April at Charlotte Street Car Park he broke into a vehicle, again in breach of the CBO. Duty solicitor Mark O’Donnell told the court that Peacock, formerly of Bath but now living in Banwell in North Somerset, had told him he has been a class A drug addict for 20 years but has recently managed to get himself clean.

However, Mr O’Donnell said Peacock has a “chaotic lifestyle”

and had messed up sorting his benefits.

Mr O’Donnell suggested that the court might give Peacock the opportunity to prove he can comply with a community order involving a drug rehabilitation requirement (DRR).

But after deliberating, magistrates said the offences were so serious that only a custodial sentence could be justified.

They cited Peacock’s “flagrant disregard” for court orders, for people and their property, “the number and nature of the offences shows that the defendant is operating as a professional criminal”, and because he offended during the operational period of a suspended sentence.

Peacock was also ordered to pay £102 compensation to Sainsbury’s.

Follow on Threads Find us @BathEcho

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

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P10

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Friday 24th April - Thursday 7th May 2026

Pictures from the Past Newark Street Kirsten Elliott Akeman Press

THESE two photographs, taken 22 years ago, in spring 2004, show a part of Bath which has disappeared without trace – the old Newark Street.

Old in this context, however, is strictly relative. The earliest of these buildings was the bus station, opened in 1958, which can be seen on the right in the first photograph. Behind it was Ham Gardens multi-storey car park, designed by the city architect’s department, which opened in 1974.

The second photograph, taken from an upper storey of the car park, shows what lay on the other side of Newark Street – the back entrance of Southgate Shopping Centre, which also opened in 1974.

The Southgate Centre, whose construction entailed the destruction of several buildings dating from the 17th and 18th centuries, was designed by Owen Luder, the controversial bow-tiewearing architect whose other achievements included the Tricorn Centre in Portsmouth and the Trinity Car Park & Shopping Centre in Gateshead – both, like his Southgate Centre in Bath, now demolished.

The Southgate Centre, along with the car park and bus station, and Newark Street itself, went in 2007.

A pedestrianised Newark Street – slightly further west than the old one – can be found, however, in the new SouthGate, which opened a couple of years later.

And, in case you are wondering why a street in Bath should have been named after a town in Nottinghamshire, it wasn’t. It was named after the man who owned whole swathes of this part of Bath – Charles Pierrepont, 1st Earl Manvers & Viscount Newark.

Above: The former bus station, which opened in 1958, and Ham Gardens car park

Below: The back entrance of Southgate Shopping Centre

COLUMN | Clare Moody, Labour Police and Crime Commissioner

S

TALKING is an offence that can ruin lives but is still not taken seriously enough.

It has risen dramatically in recent years, almost to epidemic levels, with one in 5 women being stalked at some point in their life according to the national crime survey. It is part of a pattern of coercive and controlling behaviour and haunts victims’ lives, often impacting their mental and physical health.

While stalking is nothing new, the near universal access to

technology that can be used to stalk people has taken this crime to a new level. Some of this is via day-to-day tech, like apps on our mobile phones or air tags, some is tech that can be accessed or bought online easily.

The scale of the recent increase in this type of offence is extraordinary. 135,000 offences were recorded last year, up from just under 3,000 10 years ago, with increases in every region of the country, including ours. Nearly 7,000 people were charged last

year.

As a result, last month the Crown Prosecution Service launched its first stalking action plan, designed to tackle the evolving nature of the offence in the digital age, working with tech and trauma experts “to equip our prosecutors with the tools they need to deliver justice for as many victims as possible.”

Whatever the method, a regular feature of stalking is persistent unwanted contact, whether that’s via texts, calls, emails, letters or

social media, sending unwanted gifts or damaging property.

As with all crimes, early intervention and prevention are key in recognising harmful behaviours and stop it from escalating.

If you are experiencing stalking, you are not alone. In a non-emergency situation, you can contact the police by calling 101 and explain what is happening.

If you feel there is any immediate

threat to your safety, then always call 999.

Avon and Somerset, like every police force in England and Wales, has a Single Point of Contact for stalking victims to provide appropriate support You can also contact the National Stalking Helpline, whether you choose to report or not, on 0808 802 0300 for confidential advice and the Cyber Helpline website has a useful Cyberstalking Action Plan.

Issue 128

P11

Your City, Your News - Bath Echo

Crossword

Congratulations to Antony Russell for winning £20!

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

Complete our crossword for your chance to win £20!

Across

Down

1 Without (4,2) 6 Cunning (6) 9 D-Day beach (5) 10 At least two (6) 11 Get ready to go (4,2) 12 Gratification (5) 13 White herons (6) 14 Sun-dried brick (5) 15 Objects (5) 18 Medical imaging process (1,1,4) 20 Advantageous to both sides (3-3) 22 Measuring device (5) 23 Franco-British WWII agent (6) 24 Not genuine, and usually inferior to the original (6) 25 Plant again (5) 26 Crazy Della's in the soup (5) 28 Ready to eat (6) 30 The Premium Bonds (1,1,1,1,1) 32 Counterfeit (6) 33 "___ on TV" (so you already know about it) (2,4) 34 Channel port (5) 35 Drowsy (6) 36 Predilections (6)

2 Demoted (9) 3 Strange and mysterious (5) 4 Minstrel (4,6) 5 Grape residue (4) 6 Headwear (4) 7 Shredded desiccant causes mishaps (9) 8 Solicit a ride (5) 16 Fit out (5) 17 Valentine (10) 19 Alphabetize (9) 21 Mediate (9) 27 Circular reef round a lagoon (5) 29 Edges forward (5) 30 Whirlpool (4) 31 Congregation's place (4)

Entering our competition - via email or post For your chance to win £20, submit your full name, postal address and answers by email to puzzles@bathecho.co.uk or via post to: Crossword Competition 2404 Bath Echo, PO Box 5395, Bath, BA1 0YA The winner will be the first randomly opened entry with the correct answers on 06/05/2026.

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

P12

Friday 24th April - Thursday 7th May 2026

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Food & Drink

Sponsor this section!

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

Melissa Blease

Food Writer

Tasty Dates For Your Diary New opening alert! PrimaVista (8-9 Quiet Street), rockin’ the Italian vibes and promising “love at first bite”. Mamma Mia indeed! www.primavista.uk Sip and Savour at the Richmond Arms from 5.30pm every Friday when Pop-Up Wine will offer a range of tipples especially selected to complement topnotch tapas dishes courtesy of the Pasta Laboratory, served up in their gorgeous kitchen studio. For bookings: email info@pastalaboratory.co.uk www.pastalaboratory.co.uk Have you visited Angelo’s on Cheap Street yet? If not, seek it out today! An authentic little oasis of dolce vita including perfect pizza, fabulous focaccia,

Review

salacious salads and more, generally bringing la gioia to Bath city centre.  /angelos_bath Enjoy a unique wake-up call at Coret Coffee (Shires Yard) at 9am on Sunday 26th April when single origin micro-roasters Subtext Coffee will be flying all the way from Toronto to flaunt their incredible selection right here in Bath (£13, to include your own bag of coffee beans).  /coret_coffee The Cross Guns (Avoncliff ) has reopened under the conscientious curatorship of the team responsible for both the acclaimed Iford Manor Estate, Cafe and Kitchen and the recent regeneration of the Inn at

Freshford. Cheers! www.crossgunsavoncliff.com Grab a classic pizza and a pint/ glass of house wine for just £15 at the Claremont (Claremont Terrace) every Wednesday. www.theclaremont.pub Go all out fiesta over a plantbased, Mexican all-you-can-eat feast including loaded tacos, nachos, quesadillas, desserts and bespoke margaritas hosted by chef Robbie from Nourish at the Green Rocket Cafe on Thursday 30th April. Reservations: call 01225 420084. www.thegreenrocket.co.uk Max out on a luscious lunch offer at Cafe au Lait (Dorchester Street): choose from the

Festival of Food and Drink flaunts a carefully curated selection of locally produced wines, artisanal gins, rums, liqueurs, craft beers and ciders complemented by delicious canapés (£27-£29)! https://bit.ly/3QmeJbs

PigFest is back at the Pig and Fiddle (Broad Street) on Bank Holiday weekend, Friday 1st May - Monday 4th May. Live music, a hog roast, a BBQ, and an alfresco bar all day long, every day (free entry). https://bit.ly/4ex0MkS

Land-loving bon viveurs Richard (aka Dick) and Lorna are opening the gates to Dick Willows Farm, the couple's beautiful 8-acre smallholding in Claverton, every spring/summer Saturday this year. Expect fabulous food and drink (including the couple’s very own cider and perry) and “epic vibes” for all (including your 4-legged friends). www.dickwillowsfarm.com

Sip and savour the very best tastes of our region’s season in the uniquely atmospheric surroundings of Avon Valley Railway station (Bitton) on Friday 29th May when the Spring

Check out Melissa's website at: www.theprandialplayground.uk

William’s Table Pub & Kitchen

36 Thomas Street Bath BA1 5NN 07544465835 www.williamstablebath.co.uk  @williams_table_bath “Wow, this is exactly how I want our new kitchen diner to look!”

Okay, so that’s not a typical start to a restaurant review. But perhaps it should be; after all, loving the environment you’re in before you even settle down to eat is surely a Very Good Thing, while going out-out for your dinner while feeling right at (plans for a new-look) home makes it an even nicer experience.

It may be relatively new to the Bath independent hospitality scene, but William’s Table Pub & Kitchen - which magpied into the space recently vacated by Town+House, which itself made a home in the iconic London Road/Thomas Street corner pub formerly known as the King William back in 2019 - is a very out-out but at home kinda place, seamlessly blending proper pub/

Buttermilk Chicken Burger, Mac’n’Cheese, Grilled Chicken Flatbread and more plus fries and a soft drink for just £15 every Monday-Thursday, 12-4pm from now until the end of April. www.cafeaulait.co.uk

The super fresh seabass fillets at William's Table

bar vibes with dining spaces both upstairs and down that offer broad appeal to gastropub denizens and folk who simply want to extend a night down the local with a coupla plates of upmarket, affordable but beyond thoroughly decent grub.

Chef Radek Ostrowski is no stranger to serving thoroughly

decent grub; having served his time at the hob in several Bath neighbourhood hotspots including The Scallop Shell and The Moorfields, he knows what he’s doing.

Radek’s business partner Justyna, meanwhile, runs front of house with the kind of smooth, welcoming efficiency that gives

the overall venture a calm, confident, long-established vibe.

Having taken personal inspiration notes about the environment around our gorgeous little rearof-ground-floor table for two (silky, grey-tone paintwork: tick!)

A little vase of fresh flowers on the table: tick! Cool artwork; sturdy wooden furniture; comfy, colourful cushions: tick, tick, tick!), we started our kitchen supper with super-moist, subtly spicy tandoori chicken bites accompanied by a velvety, herbaceous, garlicky dip, and intensely flavoursome Larkhall [note to selves: local sourcing goes large here] pork rillettes, the decadent richness of this classic French-inspired treat offset by lively pickled shallots and sweet mustard. Yum! For mains, for me, herby lamb goulash: slow-cooked, supremely tender lamb melting into a thick, herb-infused sauce/gravy, uplifted by pickled red cabbage and levelled out again by perfect mash.

For him, super-fresh seabass fillets teamed with aromatic red lentil dhal, crispy potatoes and an invigorating cucumber salsa - an unexpected combination that, as it turns out, works exceptionally well.

As I suspected, Radek knows his stuff… and he further proved that point with the deeply satisfying, beautifully-balanced sticky toffee pudding that went straight to the top of our very carefully considered, well-researched STP charts at first bite.

Quiz nights, live music nights, board game nights and beer deals: there’s a lot in the pipeline for this stylishly lively neighbourhood merrymaking zone that’s already setting tasteful tongues wagging in Bath. But really, you don’t need any bonus excuses to cosy up at William’s Table - just turn up for lunch or supper (prices are, by the way, are reassuringly downto-earth) and your out-out/at home needs are beyond met… and new kitchen inspiration interest piqued to boot.

Issue 128

P13 13

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What's On

Friday 24th April - Thursday 7th May 2026

Tulip Mania: Spring Plant Fayre

Women At War

Larkhall Festival

May Day Family Fun Day 2026

Dyrham Park 24th – 26th April Help your garden flourish with seasonal plants and decorative garden products for sale. There will be special offers and you'll be able to pick up all you need for spring and summer.

BRLSI 27th April, 7.30pm This talk at the BRLSI in Bath honours the heroic women of the Commonwealth who went to war and the impact of the women’s wartime organisations they were involved with.

New Oriel Hall 1st May – 4th May Four days of music, art, food, and community celebration in Larkhall.

Sunday includes a celebratory drum procession through Larkhall, with King Bladud and the Queen of the Festival.

Bath Racecourse 4th May, 12.15pm Looking for the perfect next Bank Holiday? A family day at the races in Bath is just what you need! Head to Bath Racecourse for their hugely popular Family Fun Day – a day out for all ages.

Try Tennis Open Day

Indian Block Printing

Malory Towers

Garden Designer Lottie Delamain

Bath Tennis Club 25th April, 12pm–7pm Bath Tennis Club invites the active health and sports community and their families to the first of their 2026 trilogy of open day events – Try Tennis. Explore the club, meet members, and take part.

No.1 Royal Crescent 28th April, 6pm-8pm Learn about the traditional craft of block printing in the inspiring setting of Number 1 Royal Crescent. Using a wide selection of blocks you will print a bag or tea towel discovering repeat patterns.

Theatre Royal 1st – 9th May It’s back by popular demand! Emma Rice Company’s ‘magic’ Malory Towers (Guardian) is touring the UK again. Get ready for high jinks, high drama and high spirits, all set to sensational live music.

Topping & Company Booksellers 5th May, 7pm Somerset-based gardener Lottie Delamain explores the many ways in which green spaces can be the solution to some of our most pressing problems, from loneliness to climate change.

The Ancient World Of Cleopatra

A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Mythos: Ragnarök

Relatively Speaking

The Roman Baths 25th April, 10am–4pm Spend a day in the ancient world of Cleopatra, with George Sharpley.

Step into the world of Cleopatra, the Egyptian queen who stood against the might of the Roman Empire.

Rondo Theatre 29th April – 2nd May Bath Drama presents a fun reimagining of one of Shakespeare’s most fantastical works, full of fairies, romance, magic, comedy and mayhem, transposed from the medieval Athens.

The Forum 2nd May, 7.30pm Part myth, part muscle, total mayhem!

Combining historic Viking storytelling with high-octane action to establish itself as one of the most unique and thrilling shows in the world.

The Mission Theatre 6th – 9th May, 7.30pm A witty tangle of misunderstandings and mistaken identities, this muchloved play promises an evening of sharp humour and Ayckbourn's perceptive take on human frailties.

Combe Park Canopy Tree Walk

Care-ful Museums Symposium

SparkFest

Bumble-Bee Candle Workshop

RUH, Main Entrance 26th April, 10.30am Starting with the route of Bath Urban Treescape's Combe Park Canopy tree trail: it includes some of the trees on that trail, but also many others to be found amongst the hospital buildings.

The Holburne 30th April, 10am–4pm How do museums demonstrate care – for volunteers, staff, visitors and the communities they engage with?

Join those working at the intersection between health and creativity.

Various Locations 4th May – 30th May A celebration of the creative work of students, alumni, staff and collaborators at Bath Spa School of Music and Performing Arts, providing a platform for emerging artists and students.

Newton Farm 7th May, 6pm-8pm Join this relaxed and creative scented candle and wax-melt making workshop in collaboration with Getting On My Wick. You’ll learn how to craft your own beautifully scented candle and melts.

VALUATION EVENT Thursday 7th May

10am - 1pm

CLAVERTON DOWN COMMUNITY HALL CLAVERTON DOWN ROAD, BATH BA2 6DT BRING ALONG

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P14

Friday 24th April - Thursday 7th May 2026

www.bathecho.co.uk

Community

Legal Expert

Patrol bucks national decline with strong year A VOLUNTEER-RUN toad patrol in Bath has helped thousands of amphibians safely cross a busy road this year, defying wider national concerns about falling toad numbers.

More than 50 volunteers from Charlcombe Toad Patrol helped 3,626 toads, frogs and newts across a half-mile stretch of Charlcombe Lane during the 2026 migration season.

The latest total takes the number of amphibians recorded by the patrol over 24 seasons to more than 55,000.

The group is part of Froglife’s national Toads on Roads project and is one of 280 patrols across the UK taking part.

This year marked the third year in a row that more than 3,000 amphibians have been collected and safely moved across Charlcombe Lane. It was the third busiest year in the patrol’s history, behind last year and 2010.

The 2026 season was the best for toads since 2012, with 1,547

recorded.

Volunteers also counted 1,015 palmate newts, the second highest total since the road closure began in 2003, and 1,064 frogs, the fourth highest figure over the same period.

Charlcombe Lane is closed each year for seven weeks in February and March while volunteers patrol the route every evening from dusk, helping amphibians reach their breeding lake. This year, patrollers spent a combined 645 hours on the road, equipped with torches, buckets, gloves and high-visibility clothing.

Helen Hobbs, patrol manager, said: “This feels like a significant year for the Charlcombe population with more than 3,000 amphibians helped by volunteers for three years in a row. Against a background of many patrols seeing declining numbers of amphibians, having a relatively stable population really matters.”

She said changing weather patterns were making migration harder to predict, adding that the seven-week road closure had

Woman dies after collapsing during visit

Why Making a Will Matters

A frog on Charlcombe Lane | Photo © Jonathan Lidster

become increasingly important.

Volunteer Jonathan Lidster said the annual migration had become one of the highlights of the year, describing it as hugely rewarding to help toads, frogs and newts on their journey to the lake.

Froglife says research published last year found that common toad numbers across the UK have fallen by 41% over the past 40 years.

But Sheila Gundry, the charity’s

head of operations and a local patroller, said Charlcombe was “bucking the national trend” thanks to the temporary road closure, support from surrounding landowners and the creation of two new ponds at Charlcombe Community Nature Reserve.

Bath & North East Somerset Council has supported the patrol and road closure since 2003, while VolkerHighways provides signage each year.

New book set to raise funds for Dorothy House

Kevin Sermon | Photo © Dorothy House The Wiltshire & Bath Air Ambulance landed at Weston Recreation Ground

A WOMAN in her 70s died after collapsing while visiting a property in Bath.

Police were called to Weston High Street shortly after 4pm on Tuesday 14th April, following reports of a sudden death at an address in Sheppards Gardens.

Ambulance crews attended the scene, along with a critical care team from the Wiltshire & Bath Air Ambulance, but the woman

could not be revived.

Avon & Somerset Police said the woman’s family has been informed.

A force spokesperson said: “Our thoughts are with them in their loss.”

Police added that there are no suspicious circumstances surrounding the death and that the coroner’s office has been informed.

A BOOK being launched next month will be sold in aid of the Dorothy House hospice.

Kevin Sermon, the manager of the charity’s Bath Furniture shop on London Road, is also a successful author.

His new book, Three Revelations, is made up of three short stories, each portraying the possible outcome of Armageddon.

The stories are titled Threescore, Moonshine and Eight Days.

Three of Dorothy House’s shops are staging book signings with Kevin.

The first will be on the launch day, Saturday 2nd May, at Broad Street Bookshop. The second will be on Sunday 3rd May at the Bath Furniture store on London Road, and the third will be at the King Street shop in Frome on Thursday 7th May. All signings will be at 2pm, and all proceeds from book sales will go to Dorothy House.

The start of a new year often brings fresh focus on the future and the people who matter most.

One of the most practical steps you can take is to ensure your affairs are in order by making a Will. A professionally drafted Will gives you certainty and control, setting out clearly how you wish your estate to be managed when you die. It also provides peace of mind for loved ones, removing uncertainty and ensuring the right people can deal with legal matters on your behalf.

To make a valid Will, you must be over 18 years of age, act voluntarily, and have mental capacity. Your Will must also be signed in accordance with strict legal formalities; otherwise, it may be deemed invalid. Many people consider making a Will at life milestones such as buying a home, marriage, civil partnership or the arrival of children, but it is wise to put one in place as early as possible.

Without a Will, your estate will be distributed under the rules of intestacy. These rules are rigid and may not reflect your personal wishes. For example, unmarried partners are not entitled to inherit, and married couples with children may see assets divided in ways they did not intend.

The distribution can become increasingly complex where parents, siblings, grandparents or extended family are involved.

It is also important to remember that some assets fall outside your Will, including jointly owned property, pensions, death-inservice benefits and certain life assurance policies. Reviewing these arrangements regularly is essential to ensure they remain aligned with your intentions.

Battens’ Private Client team offers clear, pragmatic advice on Wills, Trusts, Lasting Powers of Attorney, probate and tax planning. Contact the team in our Bath office on 01225 562581 for more information or to book an appointment.

01225 562581 www.battens.co.uk hello@battens.co.uk 7 Gay Street, Bath, BA1 2PH

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Issue 128

P15

Your City, Your News - Bath Echo

Have say on proposed Plans to transform outside spaces at Bathwick road changes Assembly Rooms are approved Becky Feather Reporter

PEOPLE are being invited to have their say on proposals for speed humps, a pedestrian crossing and new waiting restrictions in the Bathwick area.

The measures are part of the Bath Walking, Wheeling and Cycling project for the route between the Kennet & Avon Canal and Great Pulteney Street via Sydney Place.

Bath & North East Somerset Council’s project aims to “rebalance” how road space is used across the city by prioritising active modes of transport to reduce congestion and improve air quality.

This section is one of four schemes in the city that will add more than 6.2 km of new cycling routes across Bath through advisory lanes, dedicated spaces, and quiet routes.

The council says it will also provide significant walking and wheeling improvements, such as crossings and more convenient and safer options, therefore increasing travel choices and greater connectivity in and out of the city centre.

At Beckford Road, a signal-

A new crossing is being proposed

controlled toucan pedestrian crossing is proposed approximately 68 metres from the junction with Sydney Road.

There are plans to install raised table speed humps at the William Street junction with Great Pulteney Street and the Edward Street junction with Great Pulteney Street.

And at William Street, the council plans to bring in no waiting at any time restrictions and to reduce the length of existing permit holder-only bays east and west from the junction with Great Pulteney Street by eight metres.

Any comments on the proposed traffic regulation orders should be sent to the council’s traffic management team by 7th May.

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THE National Trust has been granted permission to transform the outside spaces at Bath Assembly Rooms into welcoming landscaped areas.

The scheme will complement the refurbishment and alteration work currently taking place within the Grade I listed heritage attraction at Bennett Street which includes a new Georgian visitor experience.

The venue had been due to reopen in late 2026, but current signage says it will be in 2027.

Bath Assembly Rooms were designed by John Wood the Younger in 1769 as a place for gathering, dancing and performing. When they first opened in 1771, the Rooms’ assemblies were widely praised for their inclusivity and for the welcome they provided not just to society’s elite, but for people from across the social spectrum.

It was thought to be the only space in the kingdom at the time where ordinary, working-class people could attend the same events as royals and aristocrats.

The National Trust has owned the Assembly Rooms since 1931.

From 1937, it let the venue to the council. The site was severely damaged during German bombing raids in 1942 and restored in the 1950s.

Work is ongoing at the Assembly Rooms

The Assembly Rooms housed the internationally acclaimed Fashion Museum from the early 1960s until 2022, when the National Trust enforced a break clause to take the property back.

In March 2023, the National Trust took on the day-to-day management of the Assembly Rooms before closing the doors in early 2025 to enable the restoration work to begin.

The National Trust’s vision is to bring Bath Assembly Rooms back to life, restoring its Georgian splendour and spirit of diverse assembly.

As well as major investments into the building itself, the National Trust will be transforming the outside spaces, namely the

western forecourt and southern and northern courtyards, to provide an “exciting, welcoming and appealing first impression” to visitors arriving at the site and for the benefit of the wider public.

The scheme will include planted areas, seating and new paving in the courtyards.

Since the Fashion Museum closed, the collection of more than 100,000 items has been in storage at Dents at Warminster.

Bath & North East Somerset Council is due to make a decision later this month on the proposed new home for the Fashion Museum in the city’s Milsom Quarter which, if plans go smoothly, is expected to open in 2030.

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P16

Friday 24th April - Thursday 7th May 2026

www.bathecho.co.uk

Health

Home Care Expert

Locals urged to complete bowel screening tests PEOPLE across the region are being urged to complete and return their bowel cancer screening kits as the NHS programme marks its 20th anniversary.

The appeal comes during Bowel Cancer Awareness Month, with health leaders reminding eligible patients that the free test can be done at home in just a few minutes and could help detect bowel cancer at an early stage.

Screening kits are sent by post to everyone aged 50 to 74 who is registered with a GP. The test uses a faecal immunochemical test, or FIT kit, to check for tiny traces of blood in a sample of poo, which can be an early sign of bowel cancer.

The NHS said the test can not only identify cancer sooner, but can also detect precancerous changes, helping prevent the disease from developing.

Dr Julie Frier, consultant in public health screening and immunisation lead at NHS England South West, said: “Bowel screening saves lives. It’s quick and it can be done in the privacy

Kits are sent to those aged 50 to 74 and registered with a GP

of your own home.

“If you’re aged between 50 to 74 years old a free bowel screening test kit will be sent to your home.

Don’t put it off.

“As the programme marks its 20th anniversary this year, we’re asking everyone who receives a kit to complete it and return it as soon as they can – it could be

the most important post you’ll receive.”

Grace, 54, from the South West, said she believed the lowering of the screening age from 60 to 50 had made a major difference in her case after she was diagnosed with bowel cancer.

She said: “I feel truly blessed that the screening age was lowered –

Appeal after health centre refusal AN appeal has been lodged with the Secretary of State after plans for a new private healthcare practice to help tackle “shortfalls” in provision in Bath & North East Somerset were thrown out by the council.

The application for Barncare Healthcare Centre at Withy Mills, near Paulton, said it was being developed in collaboration with a group of health professionals from the Royal United Hospital in Bath.

The scheme would see the removal of an existing wooden building at the site next to Bath Road to make room for one with a larger footprint and a second storey, housing three consulting rooms, reception and a staff area.

Core services lined up include GP access, physiotherapy and rehabilitation, and mental health counselling. There is also said to be interest from professionals from ophthalmology, dentistry, nutrition and dermatology.

The application highlighted a clear and growing need for affordable private healthcare in the area, where NHS services are experiencing significant pressure, and said the 10-20% projected population growth in Paulton and Timsbury was not being matched by new healthcare facilities.

But the plans were refused by the council on seven grounds.

• The site is remote with limited potential for active travel or public transport.

• The lack of satisfactory walking and cycling facilities.

• The lack of suitable visibility

An inspector appointed by the Secretary of State will determine the outcome

splays at the access.

• Insufficient evidence to show that similar healthcare provision nearby would not be prejudiced.

• The failure to meet Local Plan policy where a significant extension and intensification of the site would be required.

• The proposal doesn’t adequately show a local need and is in an unsustainable location.

• Insufficient information to prove the necessary 10% biodiversity net gain (BNG) could be met.

The applicants’ appeal statement argues that it is not an unsustainable location within the meaning of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), and the planning officer’s assessment is incorrect in failing to acknowledge the adjacent bus route.

Refusal is said to be “inconsistent”

with the approval of comparable development – a nursery approved at Withy Mills.

The applicants say there a is “clear and demonstrable qualitative and quantitative need for the proposed healthcare facility”, which the planning officer’s response fails adequately to address, and the benefits of the proposed development “clearly and materially outweigh any limited and mitigable harm”.

All highway concerns are said to be “technically resolvable”, and the applicants say they are willing to fund and deliver mitigation through a legal agreement.

The statement adds that BNG matters are standard technical details capable of being secured by a planning condition.

An inspector appointed by the Secretary of State will be asked whether to grant permission or back the council’s decision to refuse the health centre.

from 60 to 50 – I’m 54 and I truly believe that if I continued to have no symptoms, by the time I got to 60 in six years’ time, I think things would have escalated.

“Receiving a cancer diagnosis was hugely shocking. I never thought it would happen to me. I think the hardest part was having to tell my family, my husband and my sons. If the test comes through the door, do the test. It takes five minutes and it could save your life.”

Bowel screening is offered to people without symptoms. Over the past 20 years, the national programme has helped detect 70,000 cases of bowel cancer.

People are also being reminded to be aware of symptoms including changes in bowel habits, blood in poo, bleeding from the bottom, tummy pain, bloating, unexplained weight loss, and feeling very tired or short of breath.

Anyone aged 75 or over can still request a screening kit every two years by calling the free bowel cancer screening helpline on 0800 707 6060.

News in Brief New joint chair to lead BSW Hospitals Group A new joint chair has been appointed to lead the formal collaboration between the hospital trusts in Bath, Swindon and Salisbury.

Paul von der Heyde became Joint Chair of the BSW Hospitals Group on Wednesday 1st April 2026.

His appointment marks what the group described as a significant step in the partnership between the three care organisations.

Paul brings more than 40 years of board-level experience across both the NHS and the commercial sector to the role. Most recently, he has served as Chair of NHS Somerset Integrated Care Board since 2021.

The BSW Hospitals Group said he has built a strong reputation for developing effective partnerships that support change and improve the experience of patients, staff and the wider population.

In his new role, he will oversee a combined budget of £1.6 billion and a workforce of more than 17,600 colleagues, delivering care to over one million people across Bath and North East Somerset, Wiltshire, Swindon and surrounding areas.

Paul von der Heyde said: “I am delighted to have been appointed as Chair of BSW Hospitals Group.

“It is clear to see the passion and commitment of the staff and Governors in each organisation to unite behind a common purpose to deliver the best possible care, outcomes and experience to those who need our services across BSW and beyond.”

Why the future of care is helping you stay stronger for longer

For many people, the first sign that extra support may be needed is not a dramatic event. It is something quieter. Getting out of a chair takes more effort. The stairs feel less steady.

A walk that once felt easy now feels more daunting. Confidence begins to dip, often before anything serious has happened.

This is exactly where the right support can make the greatest difference.

At Abney & Baker, we believe the future of care is not simply about providing more hours of help. It is about helping people stay stronger, steadier and more independent, so they need less care for longer. That thinking sits at the heart of Prevent+, our personalised mobility and strength programme designed to support people at home before a fall, a setback or a loss of confidence begins to change daily life.

Prevent+ focuses on something fundamental: movement. Strength, balance and mobility are essential to living well at home. When these begin to decline, everyday tasks can quickly become harder. Standing up, moving around the house, getting outdoors and managing the stairs all start to feel less certain. Over time, this can lead to reduced activity, more reliance on others and a growth risk of falls.

Prevent+ is designed to interrupt that pattern early. It is not a generic exercise plan and it is not about pushing people beyond what feels manageable. It is a structured, personalised programme delivered at home, built around each person’s needs, pace and goals. The purpose is simple: to improve physical confidence in a way that feels safe, achievable and genuinely useful in everyday life.

And the impact can be significant.

Clients have spoken about feeling steadier on their feet, more confident moving around the garden and more able to get up from a chair without needing to hold on. One client shared that, with Abney & Baker’s support, she was able to return to walking to the shops twice a week on her own.

This is why Prevent+ matters so much.

Physical decline is often one of the earliest signs that someone may go on to need more support, but it is also one of the areas where early intervention can have a powerful effect. By improving strength and mobility, we are not just helping someone move better. We are helping them protect routine, confidence and control.

Prevent+ sits within our wider approach to preventative care, which also considers cognitive health, nutrition, emotional wellbeing and home safety. Those pillars all matter.

But movement is often where change can be seen and felt most quickly, and where confidence can begin to return.

That is the opportunity in front of us.

Better care is not always about doing more for people. Sometimes, it is about giving them the right support to keep doing more for themselves.

That is the future of care as we see it: thoughtful, preventative and built around helping people stay independent for longer.

If you have started to notice changes in your strength, balance or confidence, now is the right time to have a conversation. Contact Abney & Baker to find out how Prevent+ can help you stay stronger, safer and more independent at home. Call 0333 043 4880 or visit abneyandbaker.com.

Live the life you choose at home. ✓ Tailored care that fits your life ✓ Compassionate carers you can trust ✓ Support for every stage of your care journey ✓ Help to get out in your community ✓ Peace of mind for you and your family

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0800 817817 4925 0800 4925

P18

Friday 24th April - Thursday 7th May 2026

www.bathecho.co.uk

Education

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Eight blocks of student accommodation gain approval John Wimperis

Local Democracy Reporter

COUNCILLORS have approved plans to build accommodation for 926 students at the University of Bath.

Bath & North East Somerset Council’s planning committee heard that the “much-needed” student accommodation at the university’s Claverton Down campus will create somewhere for students to thrive, and reduce the pressure on HMOs and private rentals in the city.

The university’s chief operating officer said: “The delivery of 926 bedspaces will allow the university to offer on-campus accommodation to all of our first year students.”

The buildings will be built on sports pitches on the eastern edge of the campus and would involve building over two tennis courts.

The university says it will replace them with two padel courts.

Planning committee member Councillor Toby Simon (Bathwick, Liberal Democrat) said: “For me, the important part

is that it allows the university to provide on-site accommodation for their first years, which has been a long-time objective of this authority. The harms identified are outweighed by the advantages and mitigations proposed. I am very conscious that we need to work with universities.”

Councillor Ian Halsall (Oldfield Park, Liberal Democrat), whose ward includes the city’s student area, said: “The university has to grow to be sustainable. It contributes so much to the gross value added in this city and its reputation.”

He said that he originally thought that the design of the eight blocks of student accommodation looked “a little Soviet”, but thought that the proposed materials made up for this. He said: “It’s not going to win awards for its architecture but it is a good design.”

He added: “We’ve got to remember this is a 1960s campus.

It’s a concrete jungle. It is already having an impact, and I don’t think this development is going to increase any harm.”

Planning officers estimated that

How the new student flats at the University of Bath will look | Image © University of Bath

the student accommodation would remove the need for the equivalent of 386 student houses in the wider city, but some councillors disagreed.

Councillor Shaun Hughes (Midsomer Norton North, Independent) said: “From what I can see, this will increase the number of HMOs developed in our city. If you have a thousand

more students coming into accommodation for their first year that are then seeking HMOs for their next two to three years, it’s going to put more demand on HMOs, not less.”

Councillor Fiona Gourley (Bathavon South, Liberal Democrat) said the plans would be beneficial for students.

She added: “It’s been decades

since the last major residential development at the university.

And actually, seeing some of the accommodation that was put up in the early days, this looks like a huge improvement.”

Councillors voted 5-2 with one abstention to delegate power to their planning officers to grant planning permission for the application.

Bath College unveils new early years Over 94% of children suite and Norland bursary scheme due to start school given first-choice place

BATH College has opened a new Early Years Education Suite and announced a bursary partnership with Norland in a move aimed at tackling skills gaps and strengthening routes into higher education.

The launch took place on 23rd March and marks the start of a collaboration designed to support students preparing for careers in early years education.

The new training suite has been created to reflect real early years settings, with realistic zones, simulation features and modern equipment intended to help learners gain practical experience in an environment that mirrors the workplace.

Alongside the new facility, Bath College has launched a bursary partnership with Norland that will offer a small number of learners a pathway into higher education with the well-known early years training provider.

The partnership will also support the development of what has been described as an elite programme built around best practice, with the aim of helping students become work-ready early years professionals.

Access to the scheme will be available to learners applying for Early Years Education courses from the 2026/27 academic year.

Sue Hudd, head of education at Bath College, said: “The launch of our Education Simulation Suite is an exciting addition to how

1,544 children were given their first school preference Part of the new education suite | Photo © Bath College

we prepare our learners for realworld practice.

“This innovative space allows students to build confidence, apply theory, and develop their professional skills in a safe, immersive environment.

“Our collaboration with Norland sets high aspirations for our learners and exposes them to exceptional standards within the sector.

“Together, we are creating a learning experience that prepares learners for employment and inspires them to strive for excellence in their future careers.”

Vice Principal of Norland, Dr Rebecca Diby, who attended the event, added: “We’re pleased to be working in collaboration with Bath College. Together, we are developing a Norland Bath

College bursary to promote local higher education opportunities, supporting Bath College students to progress to the BA (Hons) Early Childhood Education and Care degree and the Norland Diploma in Bath – training that can open the door to outstanding careers as Norland Nannies.

“Full details will be announced in due course. Norland is worldfamous for its long-standing heritage and exceptionally high standards in early years education and training, and it’s a privilege to support talented Bath College students as they take their next steps.

“The showcase of the college’s excellent resources and learners will further strengthen pathways into higher education and future careers.”

MORE than 94% of children due to start primary school in Bath and North East Somerset this September have been offered their family’s first-choice place.

Figures show that all families who submitted their applications on time received a school offer, with almost all securing one of their stated preferences.

In total, 1,639 applications were made for Reception places.

Of those, 1,544 children were allocated their first preference, accounting for 94.2% of applications.

Another 67 pupils received their second-choice school, while nine were offered their third preference.

Only 19 children were not allocated any of the schools named on their application.

Those pupils were instead offered

a place at the next nearest school with space available, a process known as a referral. Bath & North East Somerset Council said 98.8% of applicants received one of their overall preferences.

Councillor Paul May, cabinet member for children’s services, said: “This is an excellent result for families and reflects the hard work of our school admissions team to meet local demand.

“Beginning primary school marks an important new chapter.

We wish all children and their families every success and happiness for September.”

The number of applications this year was slightly lower than for the previous Reception intake, when 1,686 applications were submitted by Bath and North East Somerset residents for places in the 2025/26 school year.

Issue 128

Profile Bath College Building real skills for real futures across Bath With campuses in Bath and Radstock, Bath College offers practical, work-focused education for thousands of learners, helping people of all ages build confidence, gain experience and prepare for meaningful futures.

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Supporting a broad learner community Bath College serves a wide range of learners, reflecting the many different routes people take through education and training. Its students include school leavers, apprentices, SEND learners, part-time learners, adult learners, ESOL learners and higher education students.

That breadth is one of the college’s defining strengths.

Rather than catering to one narrow group, Bath College supports people at different stages of life and with

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for work. Teaching is also shaped around progression, with tutors helping students build transferable skills and subject knowledge that can support real career opportunities. Practical support is available too, including CV workshops and interview sessions designed to develop effective habits and prepare learners for job applications. Employer partnerships further strengthen this work by offering opportunities for work experience and vocational insight.

A college rooted in opportunity Enrichment, employability and learner voice Bath College plays a major role in education and skills Life at Bath College extends well beyond formal study. development across Bath and the surrounding area, Enrichment and employability opportunities are offering a practical and inclusive route for learners seen as an important part of the learner experience, looking to build their future through vocational helping students build confidence, make connections learning. and develop as individuals.

A dual-campus further education provider based Alongside each qualification, learners take part in a in Bath and Radstock, the college supports around Personal Development and Enrichment Programme, 12,500 active learners across a wide range of courses which is intended to support confidence, wellbeing and pathways. These include programmes for 16 to and personal growth. Weekly tutorials for each 18-year-olds, apprenticeships, adult learning and learning level, alongside events and guest speakers, higher education, with vocational education sitting help broaden horizons and introduce students to firmly at the heart of its offer. new experiences. Learners can also access a wide Strong industry links, work-ready skills and range of clubs and activities, including sports, gaming employability are central to the college’s values. tournaments, book clubs, art events and creative Bath College aims to create an environment where workshops. Importantly, students are encouraged everybody can learn, grow and develop the skills not only to take part, but also to organise activities needed for the workplace, while also building confidence and finding direction. different ambitions, whether they are taking their first step and help shape what is on offer. That gives Bath College Describing itself as a welcoming place where everybody after school, retraining for a new career, improving their learners a voice and helps create a stronger sense of ownership and belonging within the college community. is encouraged to achieve their best, the college is closely English, or progressing into higher education. tied to both the Bath and Radstock communities. It The college says many learners are most proud of the These wider opportunities are designed to do more than presents itself as somewhere learners can quickly feel confidence they gain during their time there. Alongside fill time outside lessons. They help learners grow, develop safe, supported and inspired, with practical teaching developing practical and professional skills, students work-related skills, make friends, strengthen wellbeing and a wide range of opportunities grow in self-belief, learn to express and feel part of a wider college community. helping students shape not only their Learners are encouraged themselves more confidently and Inclusion, wellbeing and belonging qualifications, but their futures too. to ask questions, express begin to approach work opportunities Bath College places a strong emphasis on wellbeing, their opinions and try with a stronger sense of purpose. inclusion and safety. The college says it is committed Learning with purpose to supporting every learner through a broad range of That practical, future-focused ethos something new Success in many forms services that promote both personal and academic runs through the college’s day-to-day At Bath College, success is defined development. life. Bath College says it welcomes every individual and in broad and personal terms. While qualifications This includes welfare support, student supports them to improve and prepare for their next step, and progression matter, the college says support staff, a student nurse, mental with tutors embedding this approach into every lesson. success is really about personal growth health counselling and practical help for Learners are encouraged to ask questions, express their feeling confident, capable and ready for the opinions and try something new in an environment next step. For many learners, that means learners who need it. For SEND learners, designed to help them feel confident and included. mastering the skills needed to move into both campuses offer specialist facilities Across both campuses, the emphasis is on purposeful work or apprenticeships. For others, it means including personalised plans, accessible learning that connects clearly to the world of work. facilities and learning materials, quiet building independence, discovering a sense The City Centre Campus, located in the heart of Bath, of purpose or preparing for adult life with breakout rooms and expert SEND tutors. offers an environment that encourages creativity and greater resilience and determination. Bath Safeguarding is also a key part of the college’s helps learners see the link between further education and College says its alumni go on to a wide range culture, helping to maintain a respectful and real employment opportunities. Meanwhile, the Somer of positive destinations, including employment, safe learning environment for all. Bath College Valley Campus in Radstock is geared strongly towards university and entrepreneurship, and play a valuable says it celebrates diversity, equity and inclusion practical learning, with workshops and facilities role in society and the economy. The college’s aim is through awareness campaigns, student clubs and designed to reflect the workplace. There, learners not to impose one version of achievement, but to societies, and inclusive teaching approaches across the take part in hands-on experiences in spaces college. help every learner find and reach their own. such as the Construction Centre for trades Working with families and the wider community Courses designed for careers and building services, and the Animal The college’s curriculum is built around a Bath College sees families, carers and the wider Care Centre for veterinary nursing. 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Business Developer launches appeal after refusal of major solar farm Becky Feather Reporter

AN inspector appointed by the Secretary of State is being asked to overturn Bath & North East Somerset Council’s decision to refuse permission for a major solar farm at Burnett.

The council’s planning committee rejected Conrad Energy (Developments) II Ltd’s scheme for the 28.2-hectare site, despite the local authority having declared a climate emergency.

The solar farm would generate enough electricity to power 5,763 homes and increase the renewable energy being generated in the area by twofifths.

The proposed site is known as Parcel 1643 Middlepiece Lane and is currently in agricultural use as well as in the Green Belt.

It is also bounded by the B3116 Burnett Hill and Gypsy Lane and is about 2.5 km south west of the Cotswolds Natural Landscape.

The council received 41 objections citing concerns including the loss of agricultural land and the impact on the Green Belt, landscape and ecology, as well as potential flood risk.

Six letters of support were received, citing renewable energy, continued dual use with agriculture and limited local impact.

The area proposed to be covered by solar panels is approximately 18 hectares with other parts of

the site supporting infrastructure and biodiversity enhancements.

Fields under the panels would be used for sheep grazing, and the applicant has said the project is fully reversible, and after 40 years, the land would benefit from increased biodiversity and an improved eco-system.

Ward councillor Duncan Hounsell had asked for the application to be considered and determined by the planning committee, whatever the recommendation of the case officer, because of the size of the application and local, regional, and national public interest.

The planning report from council officers said significant weight is given to the need for renewable energy, locally and nationally but in this case, with the site location and scale of the development, the harm to the Green Belt and landscape would not be outweighed by the benefits identified.

The planning committee agreed and refused the plans last autumn, saying very special circumstances did not exist to clearly outweigh the harm that would be caused to the Green Belt by the inappropriate development; it would also result in “significant harm” to the landscape, and have adverse visual impacts on the local environment that could not be mitigated satisfactorily.

Now Conrad Energy (Developments) II Ltd, the UK’s largest flexible power producer

New Italian restaurant opens in city centre

PrimaVista on Quiet Street in Bath

Becky Feather Reporter

BATH city centre has a new Italian restaurant.

PrimaVista has opened in Quiet Street in premises that until January were occupied by Bardacious.

PrimaVista already has a branch in Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk, billed as a “modern trattoria”,

which opened last summer.

Bardacious was only open for a year and a half following a £2 million refurbishment of the former Royal Bank of Scotland.

Serving Californian and Mexicaninspired cuisine, the owners had hopes of making Bardacious an international brand. But announcing the closure, they said the financial reality of running an independent restaurant had become “unsustainable”.

Discount supermarkets fighting to build stores

It could power over 5,700 homes

with more than 950MW of power generation across 80 sites and a development pipeline of nearly 2GW, has lodged an appeal.

It “strongly disagrees” with the officer’s recommendation of refusal and the decision of the committee to reject the application.

The developer says the availability of suitable alternative potential development sites was “considered very carefully” and the site at Middlepiece Lane should be classed as ‘Grey Belt’, and therefore cannot be considered to be inappropriate development in the Green Belt.

Designating land as Grey Belt allows development in less significant areas of the Green Belt.

The developer has drawn up a list of suggested conditions for the planning inspector to consider should they decide to overturn the council’s decision.

The Jewson's site opposite Waitrose in Keynsham

Becky Feather Reporter

DISCOUNT supermarket chain Lidl is planning to build a store opposite Waitrose in Keynsham and says it is a better location than the site earmarked further out of town by rival Aldi.

Aldi put in a planning application to Bath & North East Somerset Council almost two years ago to build a store on the former Brincliffe Nursery on Bath Road.

There have been many comments of support for a lower-priced supermarket in the town, as well as many objections, with concerns including the impact on traffic on the already busy A4 due to new housing developments.

Planning consultants for Lidl recently lodged an objection to Aldi’s proposed store, and made

reference to a pre-application submission that was made to the council last December for the Jewson’s site at Broadmead Lane.

They said the need for a limited assortment discount (LAD) store in Keynsham is not disputed, but the Jewson's site is situated much closer to the town centre than the Brincliffe Nursery and should be considered to be sequentially preferable.

Now Lidl has applied for prior approval to knock down two industrial buildings, said to be no longer fit for purpose.

Demolition would start on 1st May and be completed by 19th June. Demolition hours would be 7.30am to 6pm Monday to Friday and 7.30am to 1pm on Saturdays.

No Sunday works are anticipated.

The planning reference is 26/01254/DEM and consultation closes on 30th April.

Bath Building Society sets new targets after finance charter pledge BATH Building Society has signed up to the Women in Finance Charter, setting new targets to increase the number of women in senior roles and strengthen its approach to inclusion across the organisation.

The move formalises the society’s commitment to improving gender balance and expanding opportunities within financial services.

Women currently make up 33% of senior management positions at Bath Building Society. The organisation has now set a goal of increasing that figure to 40% by the end of 2028 and reaching gender parity of 50% by 2030.

The Women in Finance Charter, launched by HM Treasury, brings together financial services firms committed to creating more balanced leadership teams and improving how their organisations reflect the customers and communities they serve.

As part of its commitment, Bath Building Society said it will continue tracking progress against its targets while embedding inclusive practices in recruitment, career development and progression.

Chief executive Richard Ingle said: “We’re dedicated to having a real gender balance at every level in the society.

“Our People Strategy is designed to help everyone succeed and includes a clear plan to meet our gender balance targets.

This plan supports our strategic goals and reflects the society’s values of Integrity, Creativity and Excellence. Some of the steps we’re taking include helping female colleagues progress in their careers, improving the ways we find and develop talent, offering better, flexible working and family support and make sure our workplace is welcoming for everyone.”

The society said its plans include targeted action to support

female colleagues throughout their careers, including better identification and development of talent, support for progression into leadership positions, wider flexible and hybrid working options, and stronger familyfriendly policies.

It added that it also wants to ensure its working culture remains inclusive, supportive and welcoming.

Bath Building Society said recent figures from the Review of the Women in Finance Charter showed female representation in senior management across building society signatories stands at 44%, compared with a cross-sector average of 37%.

By signing the charter, the society said it is reaffirming its view that diversity and inclusion are important to long-term sustainability, strong performance and positive outcomes for colleagues, members and the wider community.

Issue 128

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Politics

Planning Round-up

Long-awaited play park refurb remains on hold Becky Feather Reporter

THE long-awaited upgrade of the upper play area in Keynsham’s Memorial Park has suffered another setback after Bath & North East Somerset Council received no tenders for the job.

The town council looks after the facilities under an agreement with B&NES Council.

After the disappointing news was posted on Facebook last week

by B&NES councillor George Leach (Keynsham North, Liberal Democrat), there were several comments of criticism.

One person posted: “How is that play parks in Bath. (e.g. Calton Road and Alice Park) have had major upgrades in the last year and yet the council can’t find anyone to bid for Keynsham Memorial Park? ... Just feels like Keynsham are being left behind yet again whilst all the investment

The Memorial Park play area in Keynsham

goes to Bath.”

This week, Councillor Sarah Warren, Liberal Democrat cabinet member for Sustainable Bath and North East Somerset, said: “Refurbishment of the upper play area at Keynsham Memorial Park was advertised for tender for six weeks earlier

this year in accordance with best practice procurement processes.

“We are disappointed that we didn’t receive any tenders by the closing date or any feedback from contractors. Unfortunately, this reflects the current situation in the construction and play equipment markets.

“We know this will also be disappointing for residents who want to see improvements made to the play area as soon as possible.

“We’ll now be re-tendering targeted at a wider range of landscapers, which we expect will attract more interest.

“This will give the project the best chance of progressing, so that it could be possible for construction to start in September - avoiding disruption to Keynsham Music Festival and to families enjoying the summer holidays in the park.”

Meanwhile last Friday, 17th April, the council announced the opening of the newly-refurbished play area at Burnt House Road in Bath.

In response to the post on Facebook, Labour Keynsham town councillor Martin Burton commented: “Looks good, Keynsham continues to wait for its refurbishment, four years behind schedule, look forward to news about our park.”

Jolly’s distinctive ‘Mock Bid to remove ‘rare’ Tudor’ architecture is part of Bath’s industrial to be replaced heritage blocked

Work is well under way at the Jolly's store in Bath

Becky Feather Reporter

A DISTINCTIVE feature of the historic Jolly’s store in Bath is having to be replaced as it is in such a poor state.

Extensive restoration work and repairs have been taking place at the store since it closed in February 2025 after more than 200 years.

Bath & North East Somerset Council owns the site which Morleys Stores will be taking over - keeping the Jolly’s name - once work is complete.

Jolly’s is an interconnected terrace of Grade II listed buildings on Milsom Street and John Street.

The latest application for listed building consent is to carry out internal and external alterations for repair and restoration works to the cantilevered timber facade at No.10 John Street.

A report says that due to extensive

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problems, the best thing to do is replace the timber frame with a matching design using more robust construction and weathering details.

It says: “The proposals enable the cantilevered timber frame jetty to be reinstated with its newly-restored, historically significant ground-floor window.

This provides continuity with its historic visual appearance.

The jetty’s aesthetic significance as ‘Tudorbethan’, or ‘Mock Tudor’ style has been faithfully preserved in the proposals.”

A decision on the application for listed building consent is expected next month.

Morleys confirmed last month that the store is due to fully reopen in October. Initial plans would have seen a partially reopening in March.

Meanwhile a decision is still awaited on a planning application to erect flags and flagpoles on the Milsom Street façade.

The building is linked to Bath's historic masonry background

Becky Feather Reporter

PLANS to demolish a “rare” part of Bath’s industrial heritage have been blocked.

Travis Perkins Trading Co Ltd applied last May to Bath & North East Somerset Council to demolish a single-storey building at its site on Lower Bristol Road that it considered to be of “limited architectural or historic merit”.

The wider site also includes four large warehouses and a yard for external storage, customer parking and deliveries.

The scheme included constructing a replacement boundary wall to a height of five metres, using stone from the demolished building where possible, and installing an electrical services container.

The planning application said

demolition would enable the “constrained” site to operate in a more efficient manner and ensure the retention of 10 fulltime equivalent jobs on site.

But it has this week been refused.

The council’s conservation team said: “The building possesses a high degree of significance as a locally important heritage asset and demolition would have a negative impact on the setting Bath Conservation Area and further erode evidence of Bath’s industrial past.

“It represents a rare survival of an industrial building in the city, and not least a building that was involved in an historic masonry tradition that Bath is globally renowned for.”

The conservation team said the building appears to retain “much of its integrity and legibility”, despite being neglected and resultant evidence of decay.

Permission renewed for temporary classroom Palladian Academy Trust has been granted planning permission to keep a temporary classroom at St Martin’s Garden Primary School at Odd Down.

The Portakabin has been in situ at the school at Lympsham Green since 2019 and provides a specialist classroom to accommodate special educational needs. In an application to Bath & North East Somerset Council, the trust said: “Due to an increase in need for specialist provision across the local authority, there is a constant requirement to provide additional special educational need spaces.”

Plans for boxing gym relocation hit the spot Plans to change the use of a vacant industrial unit in Twerton into a boxing gym have been approved.

Roman Boxing Gym has been given the go-head to convert the former M & B Brake Press Engineering Limited premises in Bellotts Road.

Council planners said the site is not within the council's strategic or primary industrial estate sites and has been vacant for more than 18 months. Feedback provided during marketing the unit for industrial use was that it was not viable.

They said the site is in a highly sustainable location and the principle of a boxing gym is suitable.

Following concerns raised by neighbours, officers asked for a noise impact assessment.

Environmental protection officers concluded that the report sufficiently predicts the impact of change in noise level arising from the gym, with any music being background only so will not be an issue. There will be no external changes to the premises and no changes to the access.

The club, which had been based at Twerton Park Football Stadium, says on its website that it is “temporarily closed while we complete our move to our new location, and there are no training classes until further notice”.

Scheme to convert 14bed hotel to housing Plans have been unveiled to turn a hotel in Keynsham into housing. Hayward's at the Grasmere currently provides bed and breakfast accommodation in 14 en-suite bedrooms and has a restaurant, bar and function room. The building on the corner of Bath Road and Chandag Road is made up of two large Victorian semi-detached properties that have been extended. An outline application has been submitted

by Haywards Group Ltd to demolish the existing rear and side extensions and change the hotel into eight flats, as well as build a separate two-bed mews house to the rear which would be accessed from a new drive from Chandag Road.

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Sport

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Bath shrug off Spencer’s absence to Sela on amazing Bath dismantle Quins at Rec role model and squad’s special atmosphere Richard Briggs Reporter

BATH Rugby shrugged off the absence of skipper Ben Spencer to overwhelm injury-ravaged Harlequins at The Rec and stay hot on the heels of Gallagher PREM leaders Northampton Saints.

Scrum-half Spencer had been due to start but was withdrawn from the matchday 23 because of a shoulder problem.

And despite not producing a vintage performance, the Blue, Black & White scored eight tries as they posted a 48-15 victory on Saturday 18th April to close Round 13 still only one point behind the Midlanders.

The Blue, Black & White had 56% of the possession and 52% of the territory. They entered Quins’ 22 on 16 occasions – the visitors got into Bath’s only nine times.

The hosts gained 587 metres in attack, Harlequins managing 423 metres. And in defence, the Somerset team made 83 tackles, whereas the travellers were forced to make 128.

Bath found themselves two tries down early in the Round 1 encounter with Quins at Twickenham Stoop Stadium in September – but there was no repeat in the return.

Captained by Charlie Ewels, Bath took the lead in the fourth minute.

Santi Carreras intercepted a pass from the guests’ Jarrod Evans just outside the home 22 and dashed down the left before cutting in and touching down under the posts. Finn Russell converted.

Harlequins reduced the deficit in the 13th minute, Bryn Bradley forcing his way over in the right corner. Marcus Smith’s conversion attempt crashed against the right post.

The hosts added their second try in the 15th minute. Tom CarrSmith fed Ollie Lawrence who

Photo © Richard Briggs Bath Rugby were not fazed by losing skipper Ben Spencer to injury in the lead-up to their match with Harlequins here at The Rec and raced to a 48-15 success on Saturday 18th April | Photo © Richard Briggs

then returned the ball to him six metres out for a score under the posts, Russell booting the extras.

Bath ensured a 21-8 advantage at the interval thanks to another converted try. Following an offload by Russell, Carreras sidestepped a posse of defenders before touching down behind the posts in the 30th minute. Russell kicked the two points.

The four-try bonus point – the Blue, Black & White’s 11th of the PREM campaign – was claimed in the 43rd minute, Tom Dunn touching down on the right from a rolling maul. Russell’s conversion attempt went wide.

Harlequins bagged their second try when, in the 46th minute, a Russell pass just inside the Bath 10-metre line was intercepted

by Guido Petti Pagadizábal who offloaded for Kieran Treadwell to batter his way over on the left.

Smith majored and the hosts’ advantage was reduced to 26-15.

But Bath scored again in the 49th minute, Alfie Barbeary passing to Ewan Richards for a short-range try in the left corner. Russell missed from the tee.

Hosts’ head of rugby Johann van Graan made wholesale changes in the 54th minute, bringing on seven replacements. And one of them, Josh Bayliss, scored a try only two minutes later, going over in the left corner after a 42-metre charge. With Russell having gone off, kicking duties fell to Carreras – but his conversion attempt was off target and the home side led 36-15.

The Blue, Black & White’s seventh try – this in the 63rd minute – was scored by Guy Pepper, who crossed in the right corner after receiving a lofted pass from Lawrence. Carreras converted.

The scoring was completed at the death, Bernard van der Linde dotting down to the right of the posts after picking up six metres out. Carreras’ conversion attempt went wide.

Bath will visit Northampton in Round 14 on Saturday 25th April (5.30pm).

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Richard Briggs Reporter

VILIKESA Sela says that his Bath Rugby team-mate Thomas du Toit is an amazing role model – and not just on the pitch.

Young prop Sela started in the Blue, Black & White’s 48-15 win over Harlequins at The Rec in Gallagher PREM Round 13 on Saturday 18th April.

And at the victors’ post-match press conference, the 21-yearold praised Springboks star du Toit for helping him improve his game.

Sela, who played for England A this season, said: “Even off the pitch he’s such a role model. Just an honest guy, family man, and every time I see him, I’m just like ‘I want to be exactly like him’.

“He’s the number-one tighthead in the world, in my opinion.

So being able to train with him and learning from him is just amazing.”

When Sela was asked how he rates himself if du Toit is 10 out of 10, the former pupil of Bath’s Beechen Cliff School said: “That’s a tough question.

“I’d say I’m seven. I still feel like I’m a bit behind him, but there’s

lots of progress to be made, and he’s talked to me after the match and he was saying ‘We can work on a few things’.

“So I’m just happy that he’s seen what I can work on and he’s happy with where I’m at.

“I’ve been talking to Thomas especially around recovery, because when I first started playing Premiership matches, I found after the matches my body would be in pain – and I was like ‘Last season he was doing 80-minute matches’ and he was just telling me ‘It’s all about the lifestyle’.

“He tried to put me on the carnivore diet. So red meat. I tried that for a bit and I noticed my numbers in the gym started skyrocketing. He’s got a lot of knowledge, and I’m happy that he’s around to give it to me.”

Sela revealed that the atmosphere within the squad at Bath is unlike anything he has experienced elsewhere.

He said: “I’ve been enjoying the squad. The atmosphere that we have within this team is something special – and being around different teams, it’s just something that I don’t really feel other than here at Bath. So I’m happy be here.”

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

F

OLLOWING on from our previous fixture, we returned last Friday evening, 17th April, for what proved to be a slightly different test underfoot, as the weather finally caught up with us.

It was a damp evening, with the forecast rain arriving right on cue just before the first race.

While never particularly heavy, the steady 6mm of rainfall was enough to ease conditions as we moved through the card, with the going ultimately changing to good to soft by the end of racing.

Despite the change in conditions, the evening’s racing went very

smoothly and produced plenty of competitive action.

We again staged an eight-race card, following strong demand at the declaration stage which saw the one-mile handicap divide.

It’s always encouraging to see such healthy field sizes, and it made for a varied card, with a two-mile contest to start us off, down to five-furlong sprints during the evening.

Looking ahead, we now have a particularly busy spell coming up.

As many of you may have seen, we have taken on an additional fixture transferred from Brighton

Racecourse.

This meeting will take place on the evening of Wednesday 29th April, just two days after our already-scheduled fixture on Monday 27th.

We are delighted to be able to assist one of our sister tracks by hosting this extra fixture while further works are undertaken there in preparation for their 2026 racing season. It’s a good example of the collaboration within the racing industry and ensures continuity of opportunities for horses, trainers and jockeys.

With that in mind, preparations here at Bath are already well

under way for what will be a quick turnaround between meetings.

The current forecast suggests a dry week ahead - and as a result, I would expect the ground to return to the faster side for our next fixture.

One positive from our earlyseason planning is the rail alignment we began with.

This has allowed us to preserve fresh ground on the inside line, particularly around the bottom bend and into the home straight.

That decision was made with exactly these conditions in mind,

and it should now come into its own as we look to provide fresh ground for these conditions.

As ever, I’d like to thank the team for their continued hard work, particularly during what is shaping up to be a demanding period. Their efforts behind the scenes ensure that we can adapt to changing conditions and maintain the high standards expected here at Lansdown.

We look forward to welcoming you back for what promises to be an exciting and busy few days of racing.

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Back-to-back defeats for Larks – but Walcot secure league Devs one win from title runners-up spot Richard Briggs Reporter

LARKHALL Athletic will go into their final match of the Pitching In Southern League season on an unwanted run of back-toback defeats.

The Larks followed up their 3-1 setback at Willand Rovers on Wednesday 15th April by losing 4-2 at Bashley on Saturday 18th April to leave them in ninth place in Division One South but with a chance of finishing eighth.

However, the men from the Camella Stadium have had an excellent campaign, considering they only just avoided relegation a year ago.

New Forest villagers Bashley were 2-0 up at the Veho Community Stadium before Athletic got onto the scoresheet.

Ieuan Turner handed the Hampshire outfit the lead after eight minutes, heading in from a corner.

Larkhall keeper Liam Armstrong produced a fine save to deny Luke Holmes but could not stop the Bash extending their advantage in the 33rd minute, Scott Bungay evading the travelling defence and firing home.

However, the visitors pulled one back a minute later when Alex Camm drilled in a penalty.

And Jeff Furkuo stunned home fans in the crowd of 232 by equalising with his first goal for the Larks.

It was almost 3-2 to the guests shortly afterwards, Bashley custodian Oscar Glover producing a great save.

The guests had several good chances early in the second half but failed to put them away.

Walcot on the attack during their derby win | Photo © Jon Taylor Larkhall Athletic battled back from 2-0 down to level here at Bashley on Saturday 18th April, only to lose 4-2 | Photo © Richard Briggs

And the hosts rode their luck to edge back in front with 16 minutes to go, Finley Toghill shooting past Armstrong following an assist by Hayden Wells.

Bashley struck again right at the end, substitute Joe Freak the marksman.

An injury-time goal from Milo Murgatroyd was the Larks’ only reward from their trip to Mid Devon to take on Willand.

A crowd of 194 at the Stan Robinson Stadium saw Harvey Dorothy open the scoring for Rovers in the 19th minute.

Bailey Kempster made it 2-0 with a penalty shortly before the break – and Dorothy effectively killed the game as a contest by scoring again four minutes into the second period.

Athletic’s final league fixture will be against Mousehole at the Camella Stadium on Saturday 25th April (3pm).

Larkhall Development face an all-or-nothing clash at Shrewton United in the Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League Premier Division on 25th April (3pm).

A victory – but only a victory – at the Recreation Ground will give the second-placed Larks the championship and guarantee promotion to Step 6.

The game will be the last of the league campaign for both sides.

Shrewton – who have failed the ground-grading requirements for elevation – hold a two-point lead at the top of the table.

The Devs set up the final-day decider by overcoming Pewsey Vale 2-0 at the Camella Stadium on 18th April, James Horrocks scoring both goals.

Arlo Stone, James Okell, Angus Williamson and Ben Riccio all went close before Horrocks broke the deadlock on the half-hour when he headed in following a corner.

Pewsey started the second half well but were rocked when Larkhall netted again in the 55th minute, Horrocks on target after good work by Ben Wickens.

After that, there was little goalmouth action as the home side were happy to see out the game.

The Larks have another massive match on the horizon too – the Wiltshire League’s Fountain Trophies Senior Cup final.

Athletic will play Melksham Town Reserves – who beat their Calne Town counterparts on penalties in the semis – in the showpiece at Devizes Town’s ground on Saturday 9th May (3pm).

Richard Briggs Reporter

WALCOT secured runnersup spot in Counties 1 Tribute Ale Southern South when they beat neighbours Corsham on Saturday 18th April.

The 41-28 derby win at Lacock Road means the men from Lansdown are six points clear of third-placed Frome with one round of matches to go.

The Black & Whites opened the scoring with a try after only two minutes.

After they advanced to the home 22, some aggressive tackling forced a desperate clearance kick from which full-back Alex Barnsley smacked the first of several 50:22s to put the away team in the driving seat. The subsequent line-out was pinpoint – and from a flowing threequarter move, Ben McMullen went over in the corner.

Sam Firth was yellow-carded for a high tackle and play ebbed and flowed until Barnsley produced another 50:22 from which Gabe Moore dotted down out wide.

Play went with the home team for the next five minutes and they bagged a well-organised converted try from a line-out.

Within a minute of the restart,

Mark McAlonan went on a long, winding run from his own 22 before touching down next to the posts. Cam Hamer converted and Walcot led 17-7.

Corsham scored a converted try early in the second half but it did not take long for the guests to respond in kind, Harry Williams going over.

Play by both sides became more fluid and the hosts scored another converted try to reduce Walcot’s advantage to 24-21.

However, a superb kick by Barnsley enabled the travellers to gain field position and Jonah Edwards created space for Hamer to slice through the Corsham defence for a try that was converted.

The Wiltshire team upped their game but came up against a resolute Walcot defence.

And when Ieuan Watkins scored a great try after Edwards created space for him, the Black & Whites were 36-21 ahead.

However, a Walcot cross-field kick was picked off by a Corsham player who ran the length of the pitch to score their fourth try. The conversion reduced the visitors’ lead to 36-28.

The final Walcot try was the most polished of the afternoon, Barnsley the scorer after superb interplay by the whole team.

Bath off bottom of NXT Gen League after impressive win Richard Briggs Reporter

TEAM Bath climbed off the bottom of netball’s NXT Gen League by recording an impressive home win over NIC Leeds Rhinos.

The Blue & Gold prevailed 60-46 at Team Bath Arena on Friday 17th April to post their second victory of the campaign and move into penultimate place in the standings at the expense of LexisNexis Dragons.

After recent defeats at London Pulse and Manchester Thunder, plus a disappointing display in the reverse fixture with Leeds, Team Bath were determined to right the wrongs in front of another capacity crowd.

The hosts dominated the onepoint period throughout as

Lowri Windsor in possession for Team Bath during their victory over NIC Leeds Rhinos on Friday 17th April | Photo © Josh le Feuvre

unrelenting defensive pressure from Daisy Harrison – the opposition’s pick as Team Bath’s star player – and Lottie Robinson forced error upon error to leave

the Rhinos reliant on Super Shots.

Team Bath’s through-court attacking play was also slick, controlled and patient, resulting in only nine passing errors across

the first 45 minutes of play as the home team extended an 18-14 lead after the first quarter to 3521 at half-time and 52-32 by the three-quarter mark.

Lily Jones had a standout performance as captain, shooting at 95% against her former Team Bath Super League team-mate George Ford.

And Wales U21 wing-attack Lowri Windsor played beyond her years, showing immense maturity and composure with ball in hand plus fierce speed and tenacity in attack to earn her first most valuable player award.

A spokesman for the winners said: “All 12 Team Bath players were involved in the win – and although there was a slight dropoff in the last quarter, the first 45 minutes were arguably some of the best netball played all season.”

Team Bath starting 7: GK Sophie Siffre, GD Lottie Robinson, WD Poppy Tydeman, C Becca Hinkins, WA Lowri Windsor, GA Lucy Herdman, GS Lily Jones.

Team Bath impact players: Katherine Mansfield, Ellen Morgan, Ellie Ervine, Sydney Sawyers, Saskia Lea. Next up for the Blue & Gold are visits to title-chasing London Mavericks (Saturday 25th April) and Birmingham Panthers (Saturday 9th May) before they return to Team Bath Arena for their last home match of 2026, against the Dragons on 16th May. Centre-pass against the Dragons will be at 3pm and tickets, priced from £12 to £20, are available at netball.teambath.com/tickets

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Relegated Romans cause one of biggest shocks Richard Briggs Reporter

Bath Rugby Saturday 25th April – 5.30pm

Bath Rugby v Northampton Saints (Away) Gallagher PREM – R14 Sunday 3rd May – 3pm

RELEGATED Bath City caused one of the biggest shocks of the Enterprise National League South season when they as good as ended Dorking Wanderers’ title hopes on Saturday 18th April.

The Romans, whose demotion was confirmed by defeat at AFC Totton on Tuesday 14th April, travelled to Meadowbank Stadium to face a Dorking side lying second in the table, three points behind leaders Worthing.

And with the Rebels losing 2-1 at Maidstone United, a win for Wanderers against Scott Bartlett’s City would have put them level on points with the West Sussex outfit going into the final round of matches.

However, with gloveman Charlie Binns in inspired form, Bath recorded a sensational 3-1 victory, the result ensuring Dorking were pushed down to third spot in the standings by Hornchurch.

Although mathematically the Surrey team can still win the championship on the final day of the regular campaign, they would need a miracle as Worthing have an overwhelming goaldifference. And the result against the Romans grated with Dorking manager Marc White.

He said: “We’ve had 34 shots and over 20 of them were on target.

Bath had four shots on target and scored three goals.

“We couldn’t have been more dominant in the first half. And then they do a little one-two, great goal.

“Dominate, dominate, dominate, and then their keeper’s had an absolutely unbelievable game – and that’s obviously frustrating.

Bath Rugby v Bordeaux-Begles (Away) Investec Champions Cup – R7

Bath City FC Saturday 25th April – 12.30pm Bath City v Maidstone United (Home) League Sunday 26th April – 2pm Bath Women v Whitchurch (Away) League Thursday 30th April - 7.30pm Bath Women v Weston-super-Mare (Away) Junior Cup Final Bath City’s Donovan Wilson goes for goal during the 3-1 success on Saturday 18th April Inset: Bath City’s Jordan Alves looks to motor past a Dorking Wanderers man | Photos © Simon Howe

“The data would tell you, and anyone that was here today would say, we’re playing good football.”

A crowd of 2,277 saw Matt Bowman hand City a 20thminute advantage.

Wanderers came close to levelling before the break, Harry Pinchard hitting the bar.

However, Pinchard was involved in Dorking’s equaliser – 20 minutes into the second half. His corner was headed in by Brennan Camp.

But with 14 minutes to go, Scott Wilson set up Alex Fisher to fire home from 12 yards.

And worse was to come for the high-fliers as, in the 86th minute, Donovan Wilson netted via a post after his initial effort was blocked.

Camp headed against a post in the closing stages but there was no denying City a superb success.

Bath: Charlie Binns, Joe Raynes, Dan Greenslade, Ollie Tomlinson, Kieran Parselle, Jordan Alves (Brad Ash, 85),

Scott Wilson, Alex Fisher (Reubin Sheppard, 88), Matt Bowman (Jaiden Putman, 72), Donovan Wilson, Josh Laqeretabua.

Unused subs: Harvey WilesRichards, Louis Sweeten, Mitch Beardmore, Owen Pritchard.

A young City team were beaten 3-1 by Frome Town at the Cannon Clarke Stadium @ Twerton Park in a Francis Hillier Premier Cup semi-final on Thursday 16th April.

But in front of 683 spectators, the hosts took a 21st-minute lead.

Louis Sweeten’s free-kick was cleared only as far as Sam Stirling and he struck from 16 yards.

The Robins equalised through San Meakes in the 36th minute but needed two goals in the closing stages to send them through to the showpiece, Jensen Wakefield and Albie Hopkins on target.

Bath: Charlie Binns, Blake Bennett, Seweryn Streczen, Tresor Mabika, Sam Stirling, Emmanouil Athanasiou, Cayden

Linton (Mohamed Manhi, 74), Owen Pritchard, Zion Thompson (Finley Siddorn, 85), Louis Sweeten, Oliver Montgomery (Djibril Ciss, 78). Unused subs: Dominic Cook, Evan Siddorn, Edison Poole, Harry Williams.

Bath will complete their season with a league game against Maidstone at the Cannon Clarke Stadium @ Twerton Park on Saturday 25th April (12.30pm).

Looking to the future, boss Bartlett said: “We need to maybe make it a little bit more difficult to be a Bath City player, a little bit less comfortable. I think there’s masses of potential, that’s why I came here.

“If we’d had an extra couple of games, we’d have probably given ourselves a really good chance of staying in the division.

“But it is what it is and I’m looking forward to rebuilding, I’m looking forward to growing the club from the football side and putting a team together that we can be really proud of.”

Crossword answers - Issue 127 (10/04/2026) Across: 1 Mossad, 5 Visitors, 9 Elephant, 10 Remiss, 11 Dyer, 12 Andy Warhol, 13 Mayo, 15 If not, 17 Bush, 18 Viz, 19 Oil, 20 Bora, 21 E-mail, 23 Asst, 24 Atomic bomb, 27 Know, 29 Muscle, 30 Acolytes, 31 One or two, 32 Hasten.

Down: 2 Otley, 3 Supernova, 4 Dramatize, 5 Voted in, 6 Straw, 7 Timor, 8 Responses, 14 About turn, 16 Tollbooth, 17 Black eyes, 22 Avocado, 25 Macho, 26 Chest, 28 Obese.

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