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Friday 6th November - Thursday 19th November 2026
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Issue No. 142
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Plans to introduce RPZ in Larkhall are scrapped - P2
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How to get in touch with us... 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: 01225 585484 advertise@bathecho.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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Local Democracy Reporter
PLANS to introduce a residents’ parking zone on the very edge of Bath have been scrapped. Bath & North East Somerset Council had considered introducing a residents’ parking zone (RPZ) in Lambridge after locals complained they were finding it hard to park near their homes. But the council has now decided not to go ahead with the idea after it was opposed by 79% of people who responded to the consultation. The main concern raised by the 739 who responded to the consultation was the impact on local businesses. The area is known for Larkhall’s village-like high street atmosphere and independent shops. Concern about the impact on local businesses was also a factor in the council’s recent decision to refuse planning permission for the Lidl proposed nearby on London Road. Lambridge would have been the 29th RPZ in Bath. Residents’ parking zones have been introduced to increasingly
further out areas of the city, but this has prompted warnings that parking problems are just being displaced into neighbouring areas. The idea of introducing one in Lambridge was only proposed because locals complained to their ward councillors that it had become difficult to park near their homes after the nearby Walcot, Snow Hill and Claremont Road area RPZ went live in 2023. Lambridge’s Green Party councillors Joanna Wright and Saskia Heijltjes said in a statement: “The decision to stop an RPZ in Lambridge from progressing reflects the concerns of the community. Many were genuinely concerned for the large number of local businesses and how this RPZ would impact their ability to operate.” The councillors added: “The decision to stop an RPZ does not solve the wider problem of commuter parking in Lambridge, or the lack of a park and ride on the east side of Bath. “We will keep pressing the council on both. Thank you to everyone who took the time to respond, came to the drop-in event, or spoke to us on the doorstep. We have listened. Your views have
Larkhall Square in Bath
been heard.” Bath & North East Somerset Council, in a statement posted on the webpage for the Lambridge RPZ on Monday 26th October, said: “Following the informal public engagement in late 2025, we, in consultation with the cabinet and ward councillors, have decided not to progress the proposed RPZ at this time. “We’d like to thank the residents and the community for their comments and feedback which informed the decision.” The residents’ parking zone proposed in Lambridge would have affected around 2,000 households.
From the Editor... Opinion, insight and the stories shaping Bath this week
R
OYAL Victoria Park belongs, in a sense, to everyone - and that is probably why the debate over plans for a new cycle lane through it has become quite so heated. More than 4,500 people have now signed a petition calling for the scheme to be paused and reconsidered, while cycling representatives have spoken publicly both for and against it. And, as is often the case, there are reasonable arguments on both sides. Making it easier and safer for people to walk, wheel and cycle around Bath is undoubtedly a good thing. If we want fewer cars on our roads, people need practical alternatives, and a safe
route through the park could give less confident cyclists somewhere to build confidence away from busy traffic. The wider £2.35 million project is not simply about a cycle lane either. It includes improved lighting, resurfaced pavements, accessible crossing points and a zebra crossing. But Royal Victoria Park is not just another route across the city. It is one of Bath’s best-known and most cherished public spaces, used by families, walkers, runners, dog owners, visitors and people simply looking for somewhere peaceful to spend an hour. That means any significant change was always going to attract scrutiny.
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In August, Bath & North East Somerset Council introduced new rules meaning that the cost of a resident’s parking permit depends on the size of vehicle. People whose vehicles take up more space on the street have to pay a surcharge, while people with smaller cars will get a discount. Under the new charges, a Smart car owner gets a £20 discount on their permit each year, while someone with a Land Rover Discovery or Ford Galaxy has to pay just over £41 more. The size-based charge applies on top of the emissions-based charge that drivers already pay.
Sebastian Hawker
Campaigners argue that Weston Road could provide a more direct alternative and have questioned the design, cost, environmental impact and decision-making behind the scheme. The fact that the council revoked its original Traffic Regulation Order decision after an objection was not taken into account has inevitably added to those concerns. That does not necessarily mean the whole project is wrong. Equally, support for better cycling infrastructure does not mean every proposed cycle route must automatically be the right one. Perhaps that is the part of
this debate that risks becoming lost. We should be able to support safer cycling while also asking whether this particular route is the best way to achieve it. We should also be able to question a scheme without being portrayed as opposing cycling altogether. With talk now of a possible judicial review, positions are clearly becoming more entrenched. Hopefully there is still room for everyone involved to step away from the battle lines and consider what will work best for the park and the people who use it. Because whatever happens next, Royal Victoria Park will still have to be shared by all of them.
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Issue 142
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Your City, Your News - Bath Echo
Council may face judicial review over cycle lane Becky Feather Reporter
THE organisers of a campaign against a new cycle lane through Royal Victoria Park say they are taking steps to seek a judicial review of the way Bath & North East Somerset Council has made decisions. More than 4,400 people have now signed a petition calling on the council to pause implementation of the cycle lane scheme and reconsider its design, cost and impact on access to the “muchloved” public park. The wider £2.35 million project also includes a zebra crossing, resurfaced pavements and new accessible crossing points. The council meanwhile has issued a press release saying that cyclists are “supportive” of the scheme. Two cyclists are quoted as saying it would be a “tragedy for people to misrepresent the efforts of the council”. The campaigners, led by Honorary Alderman David Dixon, say that despite repeatedly raising serious questions about the legality of the scheme, the council has failed to provide substantive answers to many of them. “With works continuing, we are now taking steps towards seeking a judicial review of the council’s decisions and the legal basis for the scheme. “This isn’t a step we take lightly, but we believe the council must be able to demonstrate that it has acted lawfully, followed the
Work at Royal Victoria Park
correct procedures and properly considered its responsibilities towards this historic public park.” They say they are not against cycling or sensible improvements but want decisions that are “lawful, proportionate, environmentally responsible and properly considered”. On 22nd October, the council announced it had revoked the decision to grant a Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) and the director who made it would now study an objection from the group Walk Ride Bath which it failed to take into account during the consultation process before making a fresh decision. Walk Ride Bath flagged up that cycle design guidance from the Department for Transport has warned since 2020 that routes through large, quiet parks may be poorly used after dark, even when lighting is provided, and that a suitable street-lit on-road alternative should be considered. The campaign group considers that Weston Road could be a more
direct and better overlooked alternative for a cycle lane. It also highlighted a local connectivity problem for cyclists getting from Tennyson Road to the proposed Royal Victoria Park cycle track. On Friday, 30th October, B&NES Council issued a press release saying: “Cyclists have voiced their support for improvements in Royal Victoria Park as work continues on a major programme to make the park safer, more accessible and easier to use throughout the year. “Bath & North East Somerset Council’s wider programme of improvements includes upgraded lighting, improved pavements, new pedestrian crossings and measures to support walking, wheeling and cycling through the park. “Work on the lighting, pedestrian routes and crossings is currently under way, while the cycle lane element of the scheme remains paused pending a review of the Traffic Regulation Order process.
“Improvements to lighting and footways are being delivered through “separate approvals and will continue as planned. “The scheme forms part of the council’s wider Walking, Wheeling and Cycling Links programme.” The press release adds: “Local cycling representatives have spoken out in support of the project and challenged suggestions that cyclists are opposed to the scheme.” It quotes Pete Dyson, “Bicycle Mayor of Bath”, and Peter Brookes, who chairs Bath Cycling Club, as saying: “We support the Royal Victoria Park scheme. Removing the cycle lane element would be a missed opportunity to give new cyclists a safe place to learn, gain confidence and ride into the city. “It’s a tragedy for people to misrepresent the efforts of the council.” Councillor Lucy Hodge, the Liberal Democrat-controlled council’s cabinet member for sustainable transport delivery, added: “The work to improve pavements, lighting and new pedestrian crossings is ongoing whilst the cycle lane is currently paused. We thank everyone for their comments and are listening to all views.” The petition website was updated yesterday (Thursday, 5th) asking people to attend the Guildhall in Bath on Thursday 12th November at 6pm - half an hour before the B&NES cabinet meeting starts to share memories of the park. Council leader’s email blunder, see page 6
Clothing drop-off to help support city’s homeless Becky Feather Reporter
BATH Street Kitchen, which supports those living on the streets in the city centre, is starting monthly drop-offs for clothes donations. The first drop-off is planned for Monday 16th November from 6pm to 7.30pm at the Cattle Market car park, opposite the YMCA. Men’s and women’s trainers are needed, along with hoodies, long-sleeved tops, coats, leggings, joggers, socks, gloves and hats. All can be second-hand but must
The first drop-off will take place on Monday 16th November
be in reasonable condition. Also required are Fortisips (ready-made, milkshake-style drinks).
42 missions
have been carried out in the Bath area so far this year.
Bath Street Kitchen started in March 2024. Every Monday, volunteers walk around the city and provide homemade hot
meals, cake, cold and hot drinks, clothes and dog food. With Christmas coming the organisers are also asking for any donations of the following so they can provide December extras: cartons of juice/ cans of drink, hot chocolate, coffee bags, selection boxes, bottles of water (500ml), mini marshmallows, gravy granules, tins of tomatoes, lasagne sheets and dry dog food. Donations can also be made at https://www.crowdfunder. co.uk/p/bath-street-kitchendonations The group can be contacted via their Bath Street Kitchen Facebook page.
News in Brief Motorcyclist injured in collision involving van Police are appealing for witnesses and footage following a collision in Bath which left a motorcyclist with leg injuries. The incident happened near the junction of Lower Bristol Road and River Place at around 7.15am on Thursday 22nd October. It involved a white Ford Transit van and a black Keeway Superlight motorbike. Officers are working to establish the full circumstances surrounding what happened and are asking anyone who witnessed the collision to come forward. Police are also keen to hear from anyone who may have relevant dashcam or CCTV footage from the area at the time. Anyone who can help with the investigation is asked to call 101 and quote reference number 5226345058.
Dispersal order put in place due to rise in ASB Avon and Somerset Police imposed a dispersal order across Bath city centre, Royal Victoria Park and the Royal Crescent over Halloween weekend, from 30th October to 1st November, following escalating anti-social behaviour involving groups of teenagers. Officers said incidents included shoplifting, assaults, verbal abuse of staff, noise and littering. The order allowed officers to direct anyone contributing to antisocial behaviour to leave the area.
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Council urged to reopen Sydney Road to ease traffic jams Becky Feather Reporter
AN online petition calling for Sydney Road in Bath to be reopened to ease traffic congestion in the area has so far been signed by more than 1,700 people. A single-lane closure is in place on the A36 Beckford Road at Bathwick after contractors doing works to improve a walking and cycling route broke through the roof of the 200-year-old tunnel on 9th October. The Kennet & Avon Canal and towpath underneath the road remain closed to boats and pedestrians. However, on Tuesday 27th October, the Canal and River Trust posted on its website that Bath & North East Somerset Council is proposing to install a temporary shield around the damaged area (see article below) to allow navigation to be opened until a more permanent repair design can be formulated. The petition on the change. org website says the closure of Sydney Road as part of a Low Traffic Neighbourhood (LTN) scheme has led to “significant disruption”. Started by Kay Martin, it says: “What has escalated the problem is the damage to the tunnel on the Kennet & Avon Canal due to the construction work undertaken as part of these changes. This has caused an immediate halt to all works and has left us in a quandary. “As a result, part of the road remains closed, and this partial closure is causing substantial delays for everyone entering and
Looking down Sydney Place, with the LTN restriction in place
leaving Bath via the A36. “Imagine the daily struggle of additional commuting hours, the increased pollution from idling vehicles, and the sheer inconvenience faced by emergency services that need to navigate these heavily congested roads. Reopening Sydney Road is not just a matter of convenience but a necessity.” The petition adds: “Please join me in urging the Bath council to reconsider their decision. Reopen Sydney Road now, and help us bring about a change that addresses the pressing concerns of Bath’s residents.”
But people living in the New Sydney Place and Sydney Road Liveable Neighbourhood area have told the Echo that it is inappropriate and wrong to make the LTN the culprit for an error that happened during construction works to improve pedestrian and cycle improvements along Beckford Road. The LTN was introduced, first as a trial, due to ongoing problems including increasing numbers of vehicles using Sydney Road and not the ‘main’ A36, and noncompliance with a 20mph speed limit and 7.5-tonne weight limit. Bollards across Sydney Road
where it becomes Sydney Place stop vehicles getting through but allow for cyclists and pedestrians. The Liberal Democrat-controlled council conducted traffic monitoring several times during the trial and concluded that while major routes saw an increase in vehicle numbers, the impact on traffic flows, travel times and queue lengths was not seen to be significant, while additional vehicle numbers on surrounding minor roads were very small. Last year it was decided that whilst a majority of the respondents to the public consultation opposed the trial being made permanent,
the reasons cited for objection – increased congestion and pollution – were not supported by “hard data” from traffic and air quality monitoring, and the benefits of the scheme would outweigh any disbenefits. Support for the scheme had been 24% of all those who responded, yet most objections were from people not living within the LTN. The council said at the time that of the 1,887 responses to the consultation, 1,090 (83%) came from outside the trial streets and wider Bathwick area. On Sydney Road and New Sydney Place itself, 72% of respondents were in favour. Critics say closing Sydney Road and New Sydney Place to vehicles has not reduced traffic, only displaced it and caused congestion, air pollution and safety issues. The Echo reported in September that the council had finally brought in consultants to look at what can be done to improve the junction of Beckford Road, Sydney Place and Bathwick Street through which an estimated extra 4,000 vehicles a day have been re-routed. Last week the Echo invited B&NES Council to comment on the petition but we have yet to receive a response. As reported in our last issue, just around the corner in Sydney Place, Wales & West Utilities has been told that following a gas leak, it can’t reconnect the supply for tenants in a Grade I property until it has listed building consent for a replacement pipe.
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Temporary fix being planned to free trapped narrowboats John Wimperis
Local Democracy Reporter
A TEMPORARY fix to a damaged canal tunnel could finally free narrowboats which have been stuck in Bath for over three weeks. Bath & North East Somerset Council is planning to install a “temporary shield” around a hole in the roof of a tunnel on the Kennet & Avon Canal to make it safe for boats to pass under it once again. Contractor Volker Highways broke through the brick roof of the 200-year-old tunnel on 9th October while carrying out roadworks for the council on the A36 above. It has been closed to both boats and pedestrians on safety grounds ever since, leaving boaters on the last mile of the Kennet & Avon Canal cut off from the rest of the canal network. A one-lane closure is in place on Beckford Road A36 around the damage.
The Canal & River Trust said in an update on Tuesday, 27th October: “Bath & North East Somerset Council are proposing to install a temporary shield around the damaged area of the tunnel to allow the navigation to be opened until a more permanent repair design can be formulated. “They are working on the design now and there will be another update when Canal and River Trust know more. The navigation and towpath will remain closed until further notice.” The organisation added: “We appreciate your patience and cooperation while this matter is being progressed.” The closure is just a mile from where the 57-mile-long canal meets the River Avon. At this time of year, many boaters who had been spending the summer on the river are now coming on to the canal in order to avoid the floods. More and more boats are now crowding into the short stretch of canal but until the tunnel is back open, none of them can leave
Repair work could continue into 2027
The roadworks on the A36 | Photo © John Wimperis
except back onto the dangerous river. A one-lane closure is in place on Beckford Road, but this has led to long queues and safety concerns. More than 1,700 have signed a petition calling for the council to reopen nearby Sydney Road (see story above) so that drivers can take an alternative route instead of driving over the damaged bridge. Asked about the safety of the road, a spokesperson for Bath
& North East Somerset Council said: “Safety is our first priority and engineers are closely monitoring the bridge. We are continuing with the eastbound one-lane Beckford Road closure, as well as the closure of the canal and adjacent towpath at the north end of Sydney Gardens. “We want to thank people for their patience and of course we will give further updates when we have them.”
Repairs to the A36 Beckford Road canal tunnel could continue into 2027, Bath & North East Somerset Council has said. The council, Canal & River Trust, Historic England and the contractor are continuing surveys, investigations and design work to determine the permanent repair needed. Because the tunnel is an historic structure, the work is complex and the necessary approvals must be secured before repairs can begin. The council says it is working closely with its partners to progress the scheme as quickly as possible while ensuring the structure is repaired safely. Further updates on the timetable and progress of the work will be published on the council’s dedicated webpage.
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Council set to write off £606k loan and rectify planning breaches
Friday 6th November - Thursday 19th November 2026
Leader’s comments are deemed ‘disingenuous’
Becky Feather Reporter
BATH & North East Somerset Council is poised to write off a £606,000 loan it gave its housing company Aequus for two rental properties in Upper Weston and stump up £200,000 to put right unauthorised works as it faces enforcement action from its own planning department. Last December the Echo reported that council planning officers had granted retrospective permission for works on 9 and 10 Wellington Buildings, which the council carried out before the properties were transferred in 2019 to Aequus. Those works weren’t carried out in line with the permission granted in 2016. The retrospective application included ceiling and wall plaster repairs, part re-rendering of rear walls, replacement rainwater goods and vents, retention of ensuite bathrooms and doors, and stonework re-pointing. Critics had highlighted that the works were not only unlawful but a serious breach of trust, and those responsible must be held accountable. When retrospective permission was granted, the Echo asked the council to comment on the controversy, but we did not receive a response. The Liberal Democrat council’s deputy leader and cabinet member for resources Councillor Mark Elliott has this week approved the surrender of Aequus’s lease for the two properties and that the outstanding £606,000 loan can be written off. He has also approved a budget of £200,000 “to complete the remedial works required to comply fully with listed building requirements”. The decision is however subject to a ‘call-in’ for scrutiny. A report says the properties were transferred to Aequus in February 2019 for market rent but changing
Councillor Kevin Guy | Photo © B&NES Council
BATH & North East Somerset Council’s leader accidentally sent an email warning about “political opponents” to all of his political opponents on the local authority. Councillor Kevin Guy, the Liberal Democrat leader, warned that opposition councillors were trying to “spread misinformation and attack the administration” in a weekly email intended for local Liberal Democrats. But alongside major party donor Baron Paul Strasburger and local Lib Dem MPs, the email also CCed a mailing list for every councillor on the council. One Green councillor said the email was an attempt to “smear” those holding the administration to account. A member of the Liberal Democrat administration admitted the email had been sent “in error” but defended its claims as accurate. Councillor Guy’s email began with updates about his work in the last week before addressing the controversy around a new cycle lane in Bath’s Royal Victoria Park (RVP). He wrote: “The RVP project should be a really good news story with improvements to lighting, pavements and crossings, as well as a cycle route aimed at giving pedestrians and cyclists their own safe routes. “Unfortunately, our political opponents are using this project to spread misinformation and
attack the administration. “We’re going to see more of this as we approach the election, so please do rely on and highlight official sources of information. Please don’t amplify our opponents’ campaigns.” Saskia Heijltjes, a Green councillor who has been a critic of the scheme, said: “It is a serious accusation for the leader of council and former deputy mayor of WECA to suggest that questions on the process to spend public money is “disinformation”. “His comments are disingenuous and appear to want to smear anyone including those holding this administration to account.” Councillor Manda Rigby, the Liberal Democrat council cabinet member for communications, said: “The email referred to was sent to all councillors in error”. She said she was responding on the leader’s behalf as he is “currently at WECA committee securing a £7m investment for BANES”. The statement continued: “The email highlights a lot of the very positive achievements of the week. The piece about RVP is factually very accurate. “There is misinformation being spread, and it’s increasingly clear that some are overtly trying to do this for political gain. “As the leader of the Lib Dem group, I think it’s highly appropriate that Kevin writes to the team weekly, points to the achievements, and asks them to ensure they pass on the right information so that any debate is a legitimate one based on facts, rather than on misinformation.”
early. That is why I have funded access to PolEd for every school in Avon and Somerset. Pol-Ed is an educational platform that helps schools deliver lessons on topics including healthy relationships, consent, respect, online safety and exploitation. The funding is there so that schools can access it free of charge. The assessment also makes clear that this is not a challenge for policing alone. Schools, parents, health services, local authorities, community organisations and technology
companies all have a role to play. Violence against women and girls is not inevitable. By supporting victims and survivors, holding perpetrators to account and investing in prevention and education, we can make a difference. So my ask is a simple one: if you are a parent, carer, governor, teacher or school leader, ask whether your school is making use of Pol-Ed. The conversations we have with young people today can help prevent harm tomorrow.
John Wimperis
Local Democracy Reporter
Wellington Buildings in Upper Weston
market conditions mean they are no longer financially viable. It explains: “A review of Aequus’ property portfolio found that the properties are loss-making because of their high level of borrowing, adversely affecting the company’s profitability, cash flow and potential long-term viability. The properties have also become encumbered by a Planning Enforcement Notice issued against the council (as the ultimate freeholder) which requires addressing. The issue relates to works originally undertaken by the council prior to transfer in February 2019.” The report adds that one property is vacant and will remain unlet to allow the remedial works. “The other is occupied, and possession will be sought within a timeframe agreed, where possible with the occupier and Aequus.” Councillor Elliott has also approved the subsequent disposal of the properties on the open market to provide capital receipt to fund the proposals, with any surplus being ringfenced for affordable housing. A capital receipt value of £806,000 is based on estimated market
value for both properties after conveyancing costs. The report adds: “Alternative uses considered included affordable housing, temporary accommodation and specialist supported housing. “These options were discounted because the properties are unsuitable for these uses due to their layout, thermal efficiency and poor financial performance.” In August, the Echo reported that the council had stepped in to help its housing company, which has been struggling financially. The company had reportedly experienced “significant challenges” in delivering its business plan in 2025/26 with “unfavourable market conditions” said to be impacting on construction activity and depleting company reserves as construction and subsequent house sales had not progressed. The decision, taken by Councillor Elliott as cabinet member, was aimed particularly at supporting the local authority’s Bath Quays North project to redevelop Avon Street and Green Park Road car parks, and to protect the company’s directors from personal liability.
COLUMN | Clare Moody, Labour Police and Crime Commissioner
L
AST week, a new national assessment of violence against women and girls provided the clearest picture yet of the scale and nature of the threat facing women and girls across England and Wales. Published by the National Centre for Violence Against Women and Girls and Public Protection, the assessment found that domestic abuse accounts for 65% of all violence against women and girls offences. It also highlighted the significant role played by repeat perpetrators, who are linked to at least a quarter of offences, and the growing impact of online harms
and harmful content. That has been accompanied by the most recent Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW) results that 9.6% of people aged 16 and over had experienced domestic abuse in the last year which equates to about 4.7 million people. These findings are deeply concerning, but they reinforce something we already know: if we are serious about tackling violence against women and girls, we cannot focus solely on what happens after harm has occurred. Victims and survivors deserve to be heard, supported and treated with dignity when
they come forward. Through my office, I continue to invest in specialist services that support those affected by domestic abuse, sexual violence and other forms of abuse. But support after the fact is only part of the solution. We must also do more to prevent harm from happening in the first place. One of the most striking findings in this assessment is the role that online influences, peer dynamics and unhealthy relationship norms can play in harmful behaviour among teenagers. If we want to change the future, we need to start those conversations
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Crime & Court
Friday 6th November - Thursday 19th November 2026
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Former teacher, 92, on trial for sex offences at Bath boarding school
Civil action against school could follow trial
A FORMER teacher at Monkton Combe School has gone on trial at Bristol Crown Court this week accused of sex offences against boys dating back to the 1970s and 1980s. Derek Stanley Barker, 92, of Winsley Hill at Limpley Stoke, has denied all eight charges against him, which include allegations that he orchestrated the rape of a pupil by an older student in his flat at the school on multiple occasions for his own sexual pleasure. Barker attended court on Monday, 2nd November, when the jury of eight men and four women were sworn in. But he did not attend the hearing on Tuesday when the prosecution opened its case. Judge Euan Ambrose explained to the jury that Barker was “quite tired” from the first day’s proceedings and was “conserving energy” for the following day when live evidence would be given. Prosecuting barrister Ellen McAnaw described Barker as a “sexual predator” with an interest in young boys and his occupation had brought him into contact with them at the “prestigious” private boarding school. The court heard that after Barker was charged with offences against the first complainant last year, three other complainants had come forward and more charges followed. Barker faces three charges that between 1st January 1976 and 1st December 1976 he aided, abetted, counselled or procured the buggery of a pupil under
DEREK Barker, the former teacher charged with sex offences against boys in the 1970s and 1980s, was back in the dock at courtroom 9 on Wednesday, 4th November, to hear live evidence from the first complainant. During his evidence which he gave behind a screen, the complainant said that civil action might be brought against Monkton Combe School once the criminal case is over. The jury heard he had been in touch with law firm Leigh Day about the school’s alleged failure to protect pupils from abuse spanning decades. Before the man’s live evidence, the jury had watched video evidence given by him to police in which he said he had been raped by an older pupil in Barker’s flat at the school around 12 times and the defendant had looked on, pleasuring himself. The man, who was a pupil at the school from 1975 to 1980, had also spoken of how he had not been believed by the chaplain when he told him what had happened. In his live evidence the complainant said he had wanted an apology from Barker for the abuse he had suffered, rather than going to the police and having a court case, but did not receive one. The jury heard from defence barrister Tabby Macfarlane that
Derek Barker leaving Bath Magistrates’ Court in May 2025
the age of 16. The charges relate to ‘the first occasion’, ‘the second occasion’ and ‘multiple occasions’. Barker faces two charges of committing an act of gross indecency with a boy under the age of 14 between 9th February 1979 and 8th February 1981. One of the charges relates to the ‘first occasion’ and the other to ‘multiple occasions’. Barker is accused of carrying out an indecent assault on the same boy between those dates. He also faces a charge of indecent assault against a pupil over the age of 16 between 26th April 1972 and 30th August 1972. Barker is accused of another indecent assault on a pupil over the age of 16 between 3rd April 1981 and 31st August 1982. None of the complainants can be named for legal reasons. During the prosecution’s outline of the case on Tuesday, the jury heard that the complainant who alleges he was raped had spoken to the school chaplain about it but had not been believed; the chaplain had told him that “God would punish him one day” for telling a lie about a nice boy and
a nice teacher. He was given a series of detentions. Ms McAnaw also revealed that the student accused of raping the complainant at Barker’s behest had died in 2016, before any police investigation. She also told the jury that they would hear from a witness who was a pupil at Monkton Combe School in the late 1980s and said he had been asked to tie Barker to his bed at his home in Limpley Stoke and massage him with Deep Heat. The student and his friends took along a camera on the third occasion and had photographed Barker tied up. As they were developing the film in a school lab, Barker, who had managed to free himself, was banging on the door trying to get in. Ms McAnaw said another teacher had then taken the pictures and negatives. Barker had sent a resignation letter to the headteacher on 28th June 1988, blaming “ill health” for his decision to leave at short notice. The trial is expected to last several weeks. Barker remains on unconditional bail.
the complainant had written an account a few years ago about senior boys at his school punishing pupils in any way they felt suitable, and that he was a “whipping dog” who was bullied relentlessly. The complainant also said in that article that he had been raped by an older boy. Ms Macfarlane told the complainant that Barker denies being present and also denies organising it. But the complainant responded saying he was raped at Barker’s flat and that he and the older boy would not have been there if they had not been invited. He said that Barker had not done anything to him directly but had “facilitated” what had happened. Ms Macfarlane also read out two letters that the complainant had written to Barker. The first thanked the teacher for getting him through his economics A-level. The second was penned three years later, after he left university and could not get a job. In it he told Barker that his “wise suggestions” would be welcome. The complainant was shown a copy of that letter and said he had forgotten writing it but recalled his “desperation” at the time as he could not find a job after graduating. The jury is expected to hear from the other complainants in the coming week.
Former Olympian and peer set to face six-hour trial for speeding
Prolific offender is spared jail at Bath court
A SIX-HOUR trial has been scheduled for next spring when Sharron Davies, the Conservative peer and former Olympic swimmer who lives near Bath, will contest a speeding ticket. Baroness Davies of Devonport MBE had been due to appear at a case management hearing in front of District Judge Lynne Matthews at Bath Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday 21st October. But the 63-year-old did not attend and was represented by her solicitor Laura Singleton, who explained that they were still waiting for disclosure of all evidence from the Crown Prosecution Service. That was produced during the course of the morning, and a trial date was then set for 6th May at Bristol Magistrates’ Court.
A WOMAN with 24 previous convictions for 86 offences appeared before Bath magistrates this week to admit four further offences. Larissa Miller, 34, of Hallam Close in Midsomer Norton, pleaded guilty on Monday 2nd November to two thefts from the Co-op in Elm Tree Avenue at Westfield and two further charges of breaching a criminal behaviour order. The court heard that on 21st July Miller stole items including yogurt, cheese, chocolate fingers and ham to the value of £149.99. On 28th July she stole cheese and chocolate biscuits worth £20. At the time of the offences she was the subject of a suspended prison sentence and is also the subject of another one that was imposed in September for other offences. Magistrates heard that Miller
Davies pleaded not guilty to driving at 65mph in a temporary 50mph limit
Sharron Davies has pleaded not guilty to driving her Mini at 65mph in a temporary 50mph limit due to roadworks on the M4 on 15th October last year. In a statement read to the court in August, she said she was shocked to receive the speeding ticket as she prides herself on being a good and safe driver and had been using her cruise control at
the time. She said she “absolutely did not see” any signs saying the speed had dropped to 50mph, and at the time the traffic was light and there were no workers. Her defence hinges on whether there was a valid traffic order and correct signage in place. The speeding offence carries between three and six penalty points.
is trying to address her Class A drugs addiction and has been engaging with the organisation Turning Point. They imposed a 12-month community order during which she will be supervised by the Probation Service. Miller was fined £40 for the breach of her suspended sentence order and £80 for the four latest offences. She must also pay compensation of £169.99 to the Co-op for the goods she stole. Magistrates made no order for prosecution costs or court surcharge, saying they were prioritising the compensation. The fines and compensation will be consolidated with the outstanding amount Miller owes the courts which is more than £7,000 and which she is paying off via benefits.
Issue 142
Man admits GBH after breaking victim’s jaw A 24-YEAR-OLD has appeared before Bath magistrates to admit he punched a man in the face outside McDonald’s in Bath city centre, fracturing his jaw in two places. Bradley Mill pleaded guilty to unlawfully and maliciously inflicting grievous bodily harm on Christopher Jones. At the hearing on Wednesday 28th October, the court watched CCTV footage of the incident in Southgate Street. Prosecutor Chris Rendell told magistrates that it happened around 3.30am on 18th April. There had been some form of altercation involving Mill and other people and Mr Jones had approached him to try to get him to calm down. Mr Jones, who had just come from a noisy club, had leaned in towards Mill, with his hands in his pockets, to hear what he was saying, and it was then that he was struck twice in the face. Mill’s second punch knocked him to the ground. Mr Jones was taken by ambulance to the Royal United Hospital in Bath where he was X-rayed and found to have two fractures in his jaw. The following day he was
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Shoplifter back in prison after appearance
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transferred to the Bristol Royal Infirmary where he underwent surgery to have three plates and wire inserted. The court heard that Mr Jones suffered pain and had trouble sleeping and was advised to only eat soft foods for six weeks. He was also told that he likely had concussion and suffered from brain fog. When Mill, of Palmer Street in Frome, was arrested, he admitted what he had done and that he “felt bad” for what had happened. Magistrates adjourned the case until 2nd December in order for the Probation Service to prepare a pre-sentence report. Mill was remanded on unconditional bail.
Ware has more than 70 thefts to his name
A DRUG addict who shoplifts prolifically to fund his habit was brought back before Bath magistrates in custody last week. Tony Ware, of no fixed abode, has more than 70 thefts to his name and has been in and out of prison. The 34-year-old had been released from prison on licence on 1st October and had missed Probation Service appointments, with his whereabouts unknown. He was arrested for stealing food worth £178.50 from the Co-op at Kingsdown in Bristol on Tuesday 27th October and appeared in court in Bath the following day to admit the theft. Four other outstanding charges were also put to Ware, all relating
to the Co-op in Larkhall. He admitted that: • On 9th June he stole multiple household items and alcohol to a value of £60. • On 14th June he stole four packets of salmon worth £23. • On 15th June he stole £30 worth of ice cream and sweets. • On 19th June he stole butter and strawberries worth £30. Last Wednesday Ware was automatically recalled to prison for 56 days for non-compliance with the Probation Service. The magistrates also jailed him for eight weeks for each of the five offences, to run concurrently. They also ordered him to pay a total of £332 compensation to the Co-op for the five thefts.
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
‘Zero tolerance’ over illegal e-bikes Man admits criminal and e-scooters across B&NES damage at hair salon THE Bath & North East Somerset Policing team have issued a warning about their “zero-tolerance” approach to the misuse of electric bikes and e-scooters. They are asking for help in their crackdown, saying information provided by residents helps them identify offenders, build intelligence and deploy officers to problem locations. The policing team say that over recent months, concerns from residents have continued to grow and whilst legitimate e-bikes can provide a safe and environmentally-friendly method of transport, a significant number of the vehicles being reported to police are not legal for use on public roads and are increasingly linked to anti-social behaviour. “Many of the machines causing concern are not genuine electrically-assisted pedal cycles. “Instead, they are often highpowered or modified e-bikes capable of speeds far exceeding the legal limit, sometimes operated solely by throttle without the need to pedal. “In the eyes of the law, these vehicles are motor vehicles and therefore require registration, insurance, a driving licence and compliance with road traffic legislation. In most cases, the riders using them have none of
these requirements in place. “The situation is similar for privately owned e-scooters. Despite their popularity, private e-scooters remain unlawful to use on public roads, pavements and other public places. “Yet they continue to be ridden through residential streets, parks, shopping areas and pedestrian zones, often creating risks for both riders and the wider public. “Unfortunately, these vehicles are increasingly becoming associated with anti-social behaviour. Residents regularly report riders travelling at excessive speeds, weaving through pedestrians, ignoring traffic signals, riding on pavements, and gathering in groups that intimidate members of the public. “Complaints often include near-misses involving children, elderly residents and vulnerable people who can feel particularly threatened by fast-moving vehicles operating in areas intended for pedestrians. “The very nature of these vehicles makes them attractive to those involved in anti-social behaviour. They are quick, agile, relatively quiet and capable of accessing areas where conventional vehicles cannot go. “Riders frequently wear face coverings and can quickly leave an area before police arrive. This can create understandable
frustration within communities who witness the behaviour and want immediate action taken. “We want residents to be reassured that tackling illegal e-bikes and e-scooters remains a priority. Our neighbourhood policing teams are working proactively to identify offenders, gather intelligence and target those responsible for causing harm and disruption within our communities. “Importantly, we have adopted a zero-tolerance approach towards the illegal use of these vehicles. Where officers identify an e-bike or e-scooter being used unlawfully, particularly where it is linked to anti-social behaviour, offences under road traffic legislation or criminality, we will use our powers to seize it. “Residents should be aware that seizure is not simply an inconvenience. In many cases, recovering a seized vehicle requires proof of ownership, proof of insurance and payment of recovery fees. “For many illegally modified e-bikes and privately owned e-scooters being used unlawfully, these requirements cannot be met. This often means that owners are unable to reclaim their vehicle and it will be destroyed or otherwise disposed of in accordance with legal processes.”
Giuseppe’s of Bath
A 53-YEAR-OLD man who had denied causing criminal damage at a Bath hair salon changed his plea in court on the day of the trial last week. Stewart Atkinson had initially pleaded not guilty, claiming he had accidentally fallen over and broken the window at Giuseppe’s of Bath on 16th June. But at Bath Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday 28th October, Atkinson admitted the charge on a ‘basis of plea’, which enables a defendant to explain his version of events and the extent of culpability accepted. It had been “a reckless act”, said solicitor Vanessa Pople who was representing Atkinson. She asked magistrates to give him a conditional discharge. The court heard that Atkinson
had been drunk at the time and impaled himself on the broken glass. The prosecutor told magistrates she would waive costs in favour of Atkinson paying compensation to the salon. Atkinson, of St Clements Court in Soundwell in Bristol, was ordered to pay compensation to Giuseppe’s of £502.27, and a court surcharge of £26. Atkinson received a six-month conditional discharge. If he commits another crime within that period, he can be sentenced for the first offence as well as the new one.
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The Curious Incident returns in a bold new staging ONE of the most celebrated British plays of the 21st century is returning to Bath this November in a completely new production. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time will appear at the Theatre Royal Bath from Tuesday 24th to Saturday 28th November 2026 as part of a major UK tour, bringing Mark Haddon’s much-loved story back to the stage in a fresh interpretation directed by Ned Bennett. Adapted by playwright Simon Stephens, the production combines the intrigue of a murder mystery with a powerful coming-of-age story. At its centre is Chris Boone, whose brilliant mind for numbers sits alongside a deep unease with the unpredictability of people and everyday life. When a neighbour’s dog is found dead, Chris comes under suspicion and sets out to prove her innocence. What starts as a search for answers soon leads to secrets much closer to home, testing her understanding of
The production opens in Bath on Tuesday 24th November
family, trust, independence and the wider world. The role of Chris will be shared by Alex Keenan and Imi Price, who become the first women to portray the character. The new interpretation aims to retain the emotional heart of the story while allowing
audiences to experience Chris through a different perspective. They are joined by EastEnders star Charlie Brooks as Judy and Joe McFadden, known for roles in The Crow Road, Holby City and Heartbeat, as Ed. Both actors are returning to the Theatre Royal Bath, having
previously appeared at the venue in The Ocean at the End of the Lane and The Shawshank Redemption respectively. The wider cast includes Bridgette Amofah, Alex Murdoch, Matthew Bulgo, Jerone Marsh Reid, Carla Garratt, Tom Clegg, Robert
Penny and Sera Mustafa. The story has already enjoyed an extraordinary theatrical life. First staged at the National Theatre in 2012, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the NightTime earned acclaim for its inventive design and emotional storytelling, and has since been seen by more than five million people around the world. This new staging is produced by Melting Pot and Birmingham Rep, where the production opened in September before setting off on an extensive national tour. With its mixture of mystery, humour, emotion and theatrical invention, the play continues to explore what it means to make sense of a world that can often feel confusing and unpredictable. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time runs at the Theatre Royal Bath from Tuesday 24th to Saturday 28th November. Tickets are priced from £38 and are available from the Box Office on 01225 448844 or via theatreroyal.org.uk.
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Chew Valley Hoard to go on display at the Roman Baths next year ONE of England’s most significant treasure discoveries is set to go on display at the Roman Baths next year in a major new exhibition. Chew Valley Hoard: Coins, Kings & Conquest will open on 8th January 2027, marking the first time the collection has been publicly exhibited outside London. The hoard consists of 2,584 silver coins dating from around AD1066-68, a period of major upheaval following the Norman Conquest when power shifted from Harold II to William the Conqueror. Buried for safekeeping during this turbulent period, it is the largest coin hoard ever discovered from the immediate aftermath of the conquest. The exhibition is being presented in partnership with the South West Heritage Trust, which acquired the Chew Valley Hoard for the nation with major funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund and Art Fund. It will also mark a first for the Roman Baths, becoming the attraction’s first temporary spotlight exhibition and
launching Bath & North East Somerset Council’s programme for 2027. Visitors will be able to explore the story of the hoard and what the coins reveal about conquest and political change in England. Objects from the Roman Baths collection will also feature, helping to tell the story of Bath’s own mint and the role it played in the city’s history. The exhibition forms part of a two-year community engagement programme being led by the South West Heritage Trust to increase public access to the archaeological discovery. It is also part of the British Museum’s Bayeux Around Britain programme, supported by WorldQuant, and will be accompanied by talks and activities giving visitors further opportunities to explore the period. Councillor Paul Roper, of Bath & North East Somerset Council, said: “The Roman Baths is one of the country’s great heritage destinations, and the Chew Valley Hoard is one of the most important treasure discoveries made in England in recent decades. Bringing them together creates
Coins from the Chew Valley Hoard | Photo © South West Heritage Trust
a rare opportunity for residents and visitors to experience a nationally significant exhibition in Bath. “As the first temporary exhibition at the Roman Baths, Chew Valley Hoard: Coins, Kings & Conquest marks an important milestone for the site and launches Bath & North East Somerset Council’s 2027 programme of events and experiences. Together, they celebrate the city’s remarkable heritage while reflecting the council’s ongoing commitment to culture, learning and discovery.” South West Heritage Trust chief executive Sam Astill added:
“The exhibition at The Roman Baths is a special opportunity to share this nationally significant discovery. “Through our partnerships with the Roman Baths and the British Museum we are bringing the remarkable story of the Chew Valley Hoard to life for audiences across the UK and look forward to opening our landmark exhibition at the Museum of Somerset in 2027.” The exhibition will be the first highlight in a wider programme of events and experiences planned for the Roman Baths during 2027. The year will also begin the countdown to Sulis Minerva
300, marking 300 years since the discovery of the head of Sulis Minerva. Events, workshops and other activities will explore the story of Bath’s patron goddess, the sacred spring and the discovery which helped spark interest in the city’s Roman past and ultimately led to the uncovering of the temple and bathing complex. Visitors will also be able to book new private guided tours for groups of up to ten people, offering a more personal look at the stories behind the sacred spring, temple and Roman bathing complex. Families will be catered for throughout the year with trails, hands-on activities, costumed characters and special events during school holidays. To mark the launch of the new season, anyone booking a visit to the Roman Baths during November or December 2026 will be able to return for £1 during January or February 2027. Chew Valley Hoard: Coins, Kings & Conquest will run until 14th March 2027, with admission included in the standard entry price for the Roman Baths.
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What’s On Bath Racecourse Fireworks
Issue 142 - P12
Friday 6th November - Thursday 19th November 2026 Murder in the Cathedral
Astronomy on Herschel’s Birthday
Giants of the theatre combine as Sir David Suchet stars in T.S. Eliot’s epic study of a character who has shone through almost one thousand years of history.
Take part in evening astronomy with the Bath Astronomers on the anniversary of William Herschel’s 288th birthday and from the garden he discovered Uranus.
Bath Racecourse | 6th November, 7.30pm
Theatre Royal Bath | 10th – 21st November
Bath Rotary Charity Fireworks Fiesta
Mary’s Frankenstein
Jo Brand for Decline and Falling Over
Tasty winter-warming food, fantastic music tracks, exciting pre-display entertainment featuring Jamma de Samba, and, of course, spectacular fireworks.
As WhimsiCo’s second foray into Gothic literature, Mary’s Frankenstein is an imaginative new adaptation of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein.
Jo Brand is getting on a bit and, to be frank, all this stuff about ageing well and staying active has made her feel rather tired. This will not tell you how to live longer.
Head to Bath Racecourse for one of the region’s most anticipated firework displays. As darkness falls, the sky will come alive with a dazzling pyrotechnic show.
The Rec | 7th November, 4.30pm – 6.30pm
Rondo Theatre | 11th – 14th November
Herschel Museum | 15th November, 7-9pm
Komedia Bath | 16th November, 7pm
Bath History Festival 2026
Bath Mozartfest
Walking with The Snowman
The third annual Bath History Festival brings a whole day of fascinating talks to BRLSI. The event is a great opportunity to hear from experts in the heritage field.
2026 is the first to be programmed by new artistic director, Adrian Brendel. The longestablished festival will continue to bring the finest classical musicians to Bath.
Enjoy a brand new trail around Bath throughout the festive period! Created by Wild in Art, the trail will feature 12 spectacular large-scale Snowmen.
BRLSI | 7th November, 9.15am – 5pm
Various Locations | 13th – 21st November
Various Locations | 19th Nov – 28th Jan
Remembrance Concert
Moonlight Memory Walk
Twelve Days of Christmas
Bath Abbey’s choirs present a poignant Remembrance Concert at Bath Abbey, featuring a programme of choral music for reflection, comfort and reconciliation.
Moonlight Memory Walk is a sponsored 5k walk around the beautiful City of Bath, inviting you to walk and remember those who are no longer with us.
A beautiful collection of seasonal stories inspired by the Christmas carol, from the Sunday Times No.1 Bestselling author Susan Stokes-Chapman.
Bath Abbey | 7th November, 7pm
Bath Cricket Club | 14th November, 6.45pm
No.1 Royal Crescent | 19th November, 6pm
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P13 - Issue 142
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Food & Drink
Melissa Blease
Food Writer
Tasty Dates For Your Diary It’s the news that Bath foodies have been waiting for! The utterly gorgeous, characterful neighbourhood bistro The Beagle (35 Gay Street) opens for business TODAY! thebeagleon.co.uk The lovely, lively, Rose and Crown (Larkhall) hosts regular themed Guest Chef nights that have earned a cult following and sell out faster than you can say “hot ticket!” – see link for forthcoming dates. Meanwhile, if you’re a chef that wants to showcase your food, your way, Roser head honcho Dave wants to hear from you! roseandcrownlarkhall.co.uk Celebrate Diwali at vibrant plant-based Indian oasis Sarthi (Walcot Street) this
Sunday 8th November with a non-stop, unlimited Diwali Buffet laden with Indian favourites, live music and plenty of festive cheer from 12pm-9pm (Adults £19.95; children aged 5-12 £11.95; children under 5 free). sarthi.co.uk Float along to paradisical riverside hotspot the Bathampton Mill (Mill Lane, Bathampton) and go large on flavour with 3 small plates for £16 and/ or 2 classy cocktails for the same price every Monday Friday. thebathamptonmill.co.uk Celebrate Beaujolais Nouveau Day at Woods (Alfred Street) on Thursday 19th November: a glass of Beaujolais Nouveau on arrival, a 3-course French-
inspired menu, Organic Beaujolais Nouveau 2026 Domaine de la Couvette by Gautier Marion for £30 per bottle/£8.50 per glass, live music and lashings of oohla-la! All night long (£45pp). https://bit.ly/4izrUA8 The One Pizza Van pops up every Friday at Weston Free Church car park (High Street, Weston) between 5pm - 8pm. Is this the pizza you’ve been waiting all your life for? I guarantee love at first bite, at least… theonepizza.co.uk Party on at the iconic Roman Baths and Pump Room on Thursday 26th November, starting with a sparkling drinks reception around the torchlit, ancient waters before flitting upstairs to the Pump Room,
Reception Hall and Terrace to feast on a rolling buffet while taking a break from dancing the night away on one of two dancefloors (£65pp). Can’t make the date? Consider the Pump Room’s spectacularly elegant Christmas Dinner Dance on Friday 4th December (£92.50pp). https://bit.ly/4iWNbnR Indulge in an exceptional experience celebrating exceptional Rhône Valley wines from the Maison M. Chapoutier portfolio and a meticulously-crafted menu specifically designed to create a harmonious balance between exceptional French regional cuisine and outstanding winemaking: it’s all going on at the iconic Royal
Crescent Hotel and Spa’s Autumn Wine Dinner on Friday 27th November (£150pp). https://bit.ly/4ivxQtZ Two vibrant cooking styles, loadsa inspiration, one plant-based, six-course Tasting Menu celebrating late-autumn produce and bold, fusion flavours: that’s Chef Tania and Chef Carmen’s glorious Autumn Table supper club at Plant. Eat.Licious (below Chapel Arts Centre, Lower Borough Walls) on Friday 27th November (£75pp). https://bit.ly/47VpA1I You can read more on the local food & drink scene, including regular reviews, from Melissa on her website at theprandialplayground.uk
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Pictures from the Past
Issue 142 - P14
Kirsten Elliott Akeman Press
Green Park Tavern
The Green Park Tavern around 1899
THIS week’s archive photo shows a pub which has changed almost beyond recognition – the Green Park Tavern on the Lower Bristol Road. When it was built – as a private house – around 1813, it stood in open country, with fields at the back and a view across the river to Green Park. When it was converted to a pub in the 1840s, shortly after the Great Western Railway opened,
the view across the river was still there, so calling it the Green Park Tavern must have seemed an obvious choice. As factories and rows of terraced houses sprang up around it, it grew ever more popular, but it retained the character of a country pub on the edge of the city, with the weeping ash on its forecourt shading it in summer. Indeed, at a licensing session in 1899 it was described as ‘an old fashioned
house, with no up-to-date requirements’. This photo dates from around that time, when Francis G May was the landlord. When he took over the pub in 1897, he had his name emblazoned across the facade and is seen here standing proudly before it with one of his daughters. A photograph taken in the 1960s showed the Green Park Tavern had changed relatively little in the intervening years, with the weeping ash
still there, and the two side doors still in place. Today, though, the tree has long been felled and those doors filled in. In 2013 it was revamped and rebranded as the GPT Smokehouse. Another change of name a decade later saw it become Nowhere, still as popular and still as much of a social hub as ever, but about as far from ‘an old fashioned house’ as you can get.
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Crossword
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Congratulations to Daniel Gloudemans for winning £20 in Issue 141! You can find the answers to our last crossword on page 24.
Don’t miss your chance to win £20! Across 1 Analgesic (10) 7 The Orient (4) 9 Former German chancellor Willy --- (6) 10 Abstract soy spins out of control (8) 11 “Titanic” star (8) 12 Flower arrangement (6) 13 Itsy-bitsy bit (4) 15 Taxpayers’ get-outs (10) 18 No matter what (2,3,5) 20 Charts (4) 22 Most humans (6) 24 To complete something, go this (5,3) 26 Fomenting (8) 27 Light snooze (6) 28 Otherwise (4) 29 Superfluity (10)
Down 2 Emergency supply flights (7) 3 Japanese assassin (5) 4 Mediate (9) 5 Long noosed rope used to catch animals (5) 6 Modernize (5) 7 Verbal softener (9) 8 Enamoured (7) 14 Very small painting (9) 16 Before, to Tennyson (3) 17 Automotive fuel reserve, perhaps (6,3) 19 Animal air intake (7) 21 Mundane (7) 23 One going downhill fast (5) 24 Conducted (5) 25 Beyond what is usual (5)
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 0611 Bath Echo, PO Box 5395, Bath, BA1 0YA The winner will be the first randomly opened entry with the correct answers on 18/11/2026. 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.
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Community Historical group objects to bigger cemetery due to buried canal
Fundraiser nears target to refurbish phone box
Becky Feather Reporter
PLANS to extend a cemetery on the edge of Bath have been approved, despite concern from a historical group that it will bury any hope of resurrecting the old Somerset Coal Canal. In 2019, a review had identified the need to extend Combe Hay Cemetery. A parishioner gifted an adjoining parcel of land for the specific purpose. Ownership has since been transferred to the parish council, which in August submitted plans to Bath & North East Somerset Council to change the use to a burial ground providing up to 46 additional plots. The site lies to the east of Rectory Lodge, and to the north and east of the cemetery. It is within the World Heritage Site, Green Belt and National Landscape. The parish council said in its application that the existing cemetery has “limited remaining space”. Without being able to expand it, the parish would have no alternative but to seek provision beyond its own boundary, “requiring bereaved families to bury and to visit their dead outside the community to which they belonged”. It added: “For a parish there is no more sensitive or weighty community matter than the provision of a place to bury its dead. “It touches every family in the village; it cannot be substituted by provision elsewhere without real and lasting distress, particularly to older and longstanding residents; and it goes to
The phone box which will be restored Combe Hay Cemetery
the identity and continuity of the community itself.” The parish council said 71 representations had been made in support of the application and there was one objection from the Somerset Coal Canal Society. “The objection rests on one proposition: that this small plot must be kept free of burials so that the canal can one day be restored to water along its historic line or diverted across this land. That proposition is not supported by the evidence.” The parish council said the canal on this stretch closed in 1898 and the Great Western Railway branch line was largely constructed along the route. The existing parish cemetery was established in the year the canal closed, immediately alongside its line. The parish council said: “The canal here has been buried for well over a century. Very few upstanding remains survive along this stretch, and there are none on this plot.”
It added that restoration of the canal can’t proceed without the agreement of landowners and no such agreement exists or will be given. It also pointed out that the B&NES Draft Local Plan contains no diversion or restoration safeguarding for the canal. B&NES Council planners have now approved the new burial ground, saying the site seems the most appropriate location for the development and the parish council has confirmed it does not own any other suitable sites. The officers’ report confirmed that the Somersetshire Coal Canal route is considered a nondesignated heritage asset. “It is common ground that this section of canal has been infilled; due to the nature of the proposals, there is no evidence to suggest that the new use of land would cause any more harm above that which may have historically taken place and for that reason, officers do not consider there to be any adverse effects.”
Becky Feather Reporter
THERE are plans to refurbish the old red telephone box on the edge of Beacon Hill Common at Lansdown, with the community fundraising appeal getting closer to its £5,000 target. An application seeking listed building consent has been submitted to Bath & North East Somerset Council for the red phone box which stands outside what was the old Post Office at 6 Mount View. It is a Kiosk K6 (mark 2) and carries the Tudor Crown of King George. The application says it possibly dates back to 1939/40, although it would definitely have been installed before 1953. The Grade II box has most recently been used as a book exchange. The application says the “old and very dilapidated telephone box” will be temporarily removed to be restored from its current “sad appearance” and returned in a condition in keeping with that in
which the GPO first installed it. “The benefit is that it removes a dreary-looking phone box to one which provides an attractive embellishment to Beacon Common and it will be able to inform residents and visitors to the area of the history of the Common and why it was called a Beacon. (Spanish Armada).” The community’s last project was the Coronation bench installed around the oak tree which was planted in 1953 on the day of the Coronation of Elizabeth II. The application says: “This appears to have attracted walking groups to the area and the restored telephone box will further enhance Beacon Common.” Residents who live on the edge of the common were consulted about the changes to the telephone box and everyone who responded was reportedly “very pleased” with the proposals. So far, £3,400 has been raised from residents to fund the restoration. The planning reference is 26/02539/LBA. Comments are invited by 19th November.
Church’s plans to become more accessible and welcoming Becky Feather Reporter
THERE are plans to make St Matthew’s Church in Widcombe more accessible and welcoming to the community. Key proposed improvements to the Grade II listed building include new glazed doors and a new accessible stone paved ramp. The current temporary accessible ramp to west door is described as “cumbersome” and only used when requested in advance. There is no real opportunity for providing car parking spaces so visitors are encouraged to travel by sustainable means of transport.
To promote this, the church is proposing to install four bicycle hoops and mobility parking in front of the accessible entrance. Also planned are new handrails, planters and benches along with improved surface water drainage and lighting. The building on Widcombe Hill hosts worship services, weddings, funerals, concerts and a range of church activities. The parish hall and upper room support prayer groups, monthly church family lunches, toddler activities and other meetings. The church is also used by Bath Operatic and Dramatic Society, city-wide youth ministry groups and Christian student organisations. The planning application
submitted to Bath & North East Somerset Council by the parochial church council explains that although St Matthew’s is highly valued by its congregation and existing user groups, its significance as a community asset is not currently reflected in the level of wider community engagement. “Poor visibility, limited signage and accessibility constraints reduce awareness of the building and discourage use by potential community groups and visitors. “The relatively low response from the wider community to a parish-wide survey suggests that the church remains underrecognised as a local resource.” The application adds that the proposed investment in
St Matthew’s Church spire dominates the skyline in Widcombe
accessibility, visibility and welcome would help unlock the building’s full potential, enabling it to serve a broader crosssection of the community and strengthening its social value. It says there will be no impact on the areas of high historic significance in the listed building, Minister the Rev Laura Doe said:
“St Matthew’s has served the people of Widcombe for well over a century, and this planning application forms part of a wider project to make the church more welcoming, accessible and usable for the whole community. “The project is about much more than improving a building. It’s about creating a place where everyone feels welcome, where people can connect and belong, and where our church community can flourish. We hope these improvements will enable this historic building to continue serving Widcombe and the city of Bath for generations to come.” The planning reference is 26/04039/FUL. The last day for any comments is 19th November.
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Issue 142
Your City, Your News - Bath Echo
Repair work proposed at historic Bath lock
Council continues efforts to bring allotments back to Combe Down
The lock which will be undergoing repairs
Becky Feather Reporter
THE Canal and River Trust is planning to carry out repairs at one of the locks in Bath. Work to the lock gate anchorage of the bottom gate on the towpath side at Bath Lower Lock No.7 is proposed as part of the trust’s annual planned maintenance ‘stoppages’ in February 2027. The work requires the replacement of the anchor stone and the repair or recast replication and reinstallation of the iron web anchor. Minor repairs and maintenance to the lock gates are also proposed.
The structure is Grade II listed and one of a series of locks linking the Kennet & Avon Canal to the River Avon, completed in 1810 and restored in 1976. The application submitted to Bath & North East Somerset Council says the repairs are needed to ensure the functioning of the waterway and will be carried out on a like-for-like basis, using traditional materials including matching masonry and bricks and using traditional lime mortar specification which has previously been granted consent on other listed structures along the canal. Consultation ends on 3rd December. The planning reference is 26/04038/LBA.
EFFORTS to restore allotment provision in Combe Down are continuing after Bath & North East Somerset Council was required to leave the community’s former site last year. The Church Road allotments had served Combe Down for more than 130 years before the private landowner gave the council notice in September 2024 to vacate the site by 30th November 2025. The site has remained empty since then, while the council has been working to secure land and the necessary access rights for new allotment provision. A series of formal offers have been made to the landowner, but an agreement has not yet been reached. A report due to go before the council’s cabinet on Thursday 12th November is now seeking approval for officers to continue negotiations while also preparing other options should those discussions ultimately prove unsuccessful. Councillor Paul Roper, cabinet member for economic and cultural sustainable development, said: “Our
The land formerly occupied by the allotments in June 2026
preference always has been and remains one where we reach an agreement that enables allotment provision to be restored at Combe Down without the need to use statutory powers, these would be a last resort. “What we want to do at this stage is simply keep that option available while negotiations continue, so that we have a route forward if all reasonable efforts to reach an agreement are exhausted. “The former allotments served this community for generations and there is clear continuing demand for allotment plots. We want to find a practical way
of providing allotments again while continuing constructive discussions with those involved.” If the cabinet approves the recommendations, officers will continue trying to reach an agreement while carrying out due diligence and preparatory work in case statutory powers are required in future. Those powers would involve a compulsory purchase order, or CPO, but the council says this would only be considered as a last resort. Any decision to proceed with a CPO would need to return to cabinet through a further report.
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Health Former NFL player joins stroke study after treatment at RUH A FORMER professional American football player who suffered a stroke at the age of 51 is taking part in a national study supported by the Royal United Hospital in Bath. Rob Hart, from Edington in Wiltshire, played as a placekicker for NFL teams including the Miami Dolphins, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and New Orleans Saints between 2002 and 2004. Known for kicking barefoot with one boot on and one off, Rob has remained active since retiring from the sport, completing a marathon and a 100km charity run this year. Earlier this year, he began experiencing heart palpitations and was due to have an ECG after visiting his GP. Before the appointment could take place, he suffered a stroke. Rob said: “I started feeling really dizzy and my eyesight started going too. Then my hand went completely numb. “Fortunately my wife was with me at the time and she thought it could be a stroke. She called NHS 111, who organised an ambulance straight away. “It was a very scary time, not just for me but for my wife and children too, we just didn’t know what was happening.” Tests at the RUH found Rob had suffered a stroke on the right side of his brain.
Former NFL player Rob Hart | Photo provided
He said: “The doctors said that the heart palpitations had caused a blood clot to travel to my brain. “I’ve lost about 15% of my sight in both eyes, otherwise I’ve been very lucky that there’s no other significant damage to my health. “I’ve made some changes to my lifestyle since and the doctors are hopeful that it won’t happen again.”
Speaking ahead of World Stroke Day on Thursday 29th October, Rob praised the care he received. “I could not have asked for better care,” he said. “Everyone I came into contact with, from the ambulance team to the staff in the hospital, were wonderful. “They were so supportive and reassuring, I really couldn’t have
New RUHdolph Day fundraiser launched to support hospital A NEW festive fundraiser is being launched this December to support patients, families and staff at the Royal United Hospitals Bath. RUHX, the official charity of the RUH, is inviting workplaces, schools, nurseries, clubs, community groups, friends and families across Bath, Somerset and Wiltshire to take part in RUHdolph Day. The fundraiser will officially take place on Wednesday 9th December, although supporters can choose any day during the month that suits them. Participants are being encouraged to get together, wear something festive and raise money for people spending Christmas at the hospital. Laura Snell, Events & Community Manager at RUHX, said: “Taking part couldn’t be easier, and it might even earn you a place on Santa’s nice list! “Whether you take part with colleagues, teammates, community groups, or friends and family, we’re asking everyone to gather their herd, wear something merry and bright
asked for more from anyone.” Following his stroke, Rob joined the National Young Stroke Study, which is open to stroke patients aged under 55. The research aims to better understand why strokes among younger adults are increasing and what risk factors may be involved. The number of new stroke cases
among adults under 55 has doubled over the past decade in the UK and other high-income countries, although the reasons remain unclear. Researchers are examining established risk factors including high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, smoking and obesity, as well as possible emerging factors such as long working hours, stress and mental health conditions. Participants complete a short questionnaire with the RUH research team covering medical history, lifestyle and family history. Rob said: “I was more than happy to take part. It was really straightforward and if it can in some way help raise awareness of potential new risk factors for strokes and how they can be prevented, then that can only be a good thing. “I would encourage people to consider taking part in research studies like this – you really could make a vital difference to others in years to come.” The study is being led by the University of Oxford in partnership with hospital research teams across the country. The RUH took part in more than 300 research studies over the past year, recruiting 4,800 participants to its portfolio of trials.
Event shines a light on living with diabetes
The community event will be held at the Little Theatre Cinema
The fundraiser will take place on Wednesday 9th December
to help raise vital funds for local patients and families. “And if you want to take your festivities even further, you could hold a festive bake sale or mince pie and coffee morning, get together for some reindeer games, deck the halls - or desks or come up with your own festive fundraising challenge or game. “However you choose to take part, it’s a chance to have some fun, bring people together and do
something really special for your local hospital this Christmas.” Thousands of patients, families and staff spend time at the RUH over the festive season each year. Registration for RUHdolph Day is free, with everyone signing up receiving a fundraising pack containing ideas, resources and inspiration. Money raised through the event will support patients, families and staff at the RUH this Christmas and beyond.
Becky Feather Reporter
ROCHE Diagnostics is bringing its The Yes Years campaign to Bath on 25th November with a community event at the Little Theatre Cinema. The campaign highlights the impact diabetes can have on everyday social experiences. To help spotlight this issue locally, the evening will be designed specifically with the needs of people living with diabetes in
mind, featuring a discussion with a local diabetes healthcare professional, opportunities to hear from people living with diabetes about their experiences, and a private screening of I Play Rocky. There will be refreshments with nutritional information clearly displayed, and a planned interval to support diabetes management during the screening. The event is open to the public. You can register your interest by emailing TheYesYears@ mhpgroup.com
Issue 142
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Praise for popular Bath nursery school following inspection Becky Feather Reporter
CHILDREN feel a “deep sense of belonging” at Little Blossoms Nursery School in Southdown, says Ofsted. The inspector’s report was published on 21st October following her visit to the nursery at St Barnabas Church Hall in Mount View at the end of September. The categories of inclusion and children’s welfare and wellbeing are both said to be of a strong standard. The 32-place nursery school is of the expected standard for achievement; leadership and governance; behaviour, attitudes and stabilising routines; and curriculum and teaching. Safeguarding standards are met. The report says that staff greet children warmly and attend to
A child playing | Library image
their needs swiftly. “This helps children to feel a deep sense of belonging, including those with special educational needs and/
or disabilities (SEND), and those who face barriers to their learning and/or wellbeing. “Children form close bonds with
staff and their peers.” Children at the nursery are said to develop excellent independence skills.
They engage and explore through the varied activities and resources available, and make steady progress from their starting points, including those with SEND, those who face barriers to their learning and/ or wellbeing, and those who are known to social care. They enjoy visits to local farms, shops and theatres, helping them to develop new knowledge and experiences in their local community. Leaders are said to work closely with families to promote the importance of attendance and punctuality. They also reach out to the community and make the most of local initiatives to support families, including local charity shops and food banks. “Parents deeply value and recognise the support provided as ‘genuine care’,” the report notes.
Plans to demolish Culverhay School Care leavers celebrated at Rush Hill are approved during month of events across B&NES
The former Culverhay site, which became Bath Community Academy
Becky Feather Reporter
PLANS to pull down buildings at the former Culverhay School site at Rush Hill in Bath have been given the go-ahead. The demolition will pave the way for the Green Ways Academy, a 120-place Special Free School for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), to be built on the site at Rush Hill. Demolition work is proposed to start early next year but one of the buildings on the site remains occupied by a Hindu Temple under an existing lease arrangement that expires in July 2027.
Demolition proposals have been developed on a phased basis so that building will be included in a later phase. The plans include measures to control the timing of vehicle arrivals and departures to and from the site across the day to minimise the traffic impact. Site working hours will be 8am to 5pm on weekdays and 8am to 1pm on Saturday. No works will be undertaken on Sundays or bank holiday unless there are exceptional circumstances agreed in advance. An application to demolish the redundant Footsteps Nursery building on the site has also been approved by Bath & North East Somerset Council planners as part of the redevelopment.
Next to the road, it was originally a house and dates from the mid19th century, with more recent additions. It is said to be in a very poor condition. It was a separate application as it required specialist heritage input whereas the other 20th century buildings on the wider campus were of no architectural or historic interest. It was not felt that the building reached the criteria to be considered as a non-designated heritage asset and it will be levelled with the rest of the main school site. Meanwhile plans to erect a bat mitigation building on the site have also been approved this week.
THE achievements of careexperienced young people across Bath and North East Somerset are being highlighted throughout November as part of National Care Leavers’ Month. Bath & North East Somerset Council has created achievement walls at Bath Central Library and Keynsham Library, featuring milestones, positive stories and reflections shared by young people and those who support them. This year’s national theme is Leading the Way: From Experience to Empowerment, focusing on how careexperienced people can become leaders in their own lives. A programme of activities is also being organised by the council and Off the Record B&NES, giving young people opportunities to meet and take part in events together. The council currently supports 254 care-experienced young people, including access to a dedicated Personal Advisor offering one-to-one support until the age of 25. Eight young people are also taking part in a joint pilot with Off the Record which will provide each of them with 20 counselling sessions during the next year. Housing support has recently helped another three careexperienced young people move into their first flats through the council’s Affordable & Specialist Housing Programme. The council has committed
to making a proportion of homes within B&NES Homes developments available to careexperienced people as they move towards independent living. Councillor Paul May, cabinet member for children’s services, said: “Care Leavers’ Month is an important opportunity to celebrate care-experienced young people and your ambitions. It’s wonderful to see the achievement walls in our libraries giving everyone the chance to share and recognise your accomplishments. “As corporate parents, we are here to support you as you take your next steps, helping you build the future you want with confidence.” Charlotte and Jack from Off the Record B&NES’s Participation Team said members of the Care Experienced Council had dedicated significant time during the year to helping their peers have their voices heard and bringing about change for looked after and care-experienced young people. The council is also signed up to the Care Leaver Covenant and operates as a Care Leaver Friendly Employer, offering guaranteed interviews to eligible care-experienced applicants who meet essential criteria. Its Education, Employment and Training pathway provides support from the teenage years through to 25, including help with further and higher education, apprenticeships, work experience and employment.
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Legal Expert
MP raises concerns over issues at Bath estate ANNA Sabine MP has raised concerns about unresolved problems at the Sulis Down development near Bath and the level of engagement between residents and developer Vistry. Residents living at the development, which was built in 2019 on the southern edge of Bath in South Stoke, have reported unfinished and potentially dangerous highways, poorly maintained landscaping, broken street lighting and building materials left around the site. Ms Sabine has met with the residents’ association to hear their concerns and approached Vistry directly to request a meeting. However, the developer declined the request and instead directed residents back to its customer services team. Ms Sabine said the situation highlighted wider questions about the rights of homeowners on new developments where
At the Sulis Down development | Photo © Office of Anna Sabine
promised infrastructure or other work remains incomplete. She said: “Buying a home is probably the biggest financial commitment most people will ever make. People work hard,
Bath piano shop set to become maisonettes
save for years and put their trust in a developer to deliver the home and community they have been promised. “They should not then find themselves spending months
Former three-bed semi wins permission to become nine-bed HMO Becky Feather Reporter
Trade has been gradually declining at the shop | Library image
Becky Feather Reporter
THE owner of a shop in Walcot has revealed plans to turn it into housing. Both planning permission and listed building consent are being sought to convert The Piano Shop into three maisonettes. The shop is on the ground and lower ground floors of three adjoining Grade II listed buildings on the south side of London Road. – numbers 1 and 2 Canton Place and 1 Walcot Terrace. The application to Bath & North East Somerset Council says the shop has been operating for 40 years; however, trade has been gradually declining and the owner wants to find an alternative
viable use. The scheme involves the demolition of a workshop and the construction of new singlestorey extensions to the rear. The three listed shopfronts would be retained and repaired, with the fanlights over the doors reinstated. The vaults would be repaired for storage and bicycles. To the rear of the properties, three parking spaces would be retained, with a new EV charging point and shared refuse storage. The upper floors are separate flats and not affected. The planning reference is 26/04112/FUL. The deadline for comments is 3rd December.
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or years chasing basic answers about unfinished works, while being passed from one department to another. “Customer services cannot become a substitute for accountability, and a complaints process is not much use if people cannot get meaningful answers or clear timelines for resolving their concerns. “When a developer has sold people their homes, it should not be able to wash its hands of the wider development and leave residents to pick up the pieces.” Following the company’s decision not to meet with residents, Ms Sabine raised the matter in the House of Commons, naming both Sulis Down and Vistry Group. She has also requested a meeting with the housing minister to discuss how residents of new developments can be given greater power to challenge developers over unresolved issues.
A PROPERTY company has won planning permission to turn what was originally a threebedroom semi in Combe Down into a nine-bed house in multiple occupation (HMO). The change of use of 20 Meare Road into a six-bed house HMO was established in December 2023 when Bath & North East Somerset Council approved the conversion, which involved a side extension and bike storage. The following May, the council approved another application for No.20 to become an eightbed HMO by adding a groundfloor extension, additional bike storage and parking for two cars. In September of this year, an application to convert a groundfloor storeroom at the house into a ninth bedroom was submitted by REN Living Ltd, and that has now been permitted. The applicant described the proposal as “a modest increase in occupancy from eight to nine persons”. The council received five objections, including about the impact on traffic “with six of the tenants last year bringing six more cars and parking in the area primarily allocated to the flats
and blocking the road to services”. Concerns were also voiced about rubbish and recycling. B&NES planners said a review had found that within 100 metres of No. 20 there are four HMOs and 125 residential properties, giving a concentration of HMOs of 3.2%, well below the 10% threshold. The ninth bedroom will have a floor area of approximately 7.12 square metres, above the minimum size stated for a single room, which is 6.51 square metres. The application also meets minimum space requirements for communal living and kitchen accommodation for nine people, while the cycle store can accommodate an extra bike. The officers said the property can accommodate an additional person without harming neighbouring amenity. They noted the pressures on the local network from the additional parking but said one extra room in the HMO “wouldn’t demonstrably cause additional traffic concerns”. The property is said to be in a sustainable location with public transport options and local services within walking distance. The concerns around rubbish and recycling were noted, but the officers said there is a dedicated bin store and kerbside collections.
What do I need to think about before writing a Will?
Making a Will is an important step in ensuring your wishes are set out, and your loved ones are provided for. But where should you start? Raquel Ugalde, Senior Associate at Battens Solicitors, outlines seven key things to consider when making your Will. 1. Executors Your Executors are responsible for administering your Estate, including gathering assets, paying debts and distributing your Estate in accordance with your wishes. Choose people you trust and make sure they know where your Will and important financial documents are kept. 2. Assets Consider everything you own, including property, savings, investments and personal possessions. Think about whether assets are owned solely or jointly, as well as pensions, life insurance and death-in-service benefits, which may pass outside your Estate. 3. Guardians If you have children under 18, consider who you would want to care for them if there were no surviving person with parental responsibility able to do so. You may also wish to leave a letter outlining your preferences for their upbringing and education. 4. Gifts and legacies Think about whether you want to leave particular items or sums of money to individuals or organisations. This could include jewellery, artwork, property or sentimental possessions. You may also want to make arrangements for your pets’ future care. 5. Debts and liabilities Take stock of any outstanding debts, mortgages and other financial obligations, as these may need to be settled by your Estate. 6. Beneficiaries Consider how you would like the remainder of your Estate to be divided once debts, expenses and specific gifts have been dealt with. Think about family, friends, charities and anyone who depends on you financially, as well as what should happen if a beneficiary dies before you. 7. Your circumstances Every family is different, so make sure your Will reflects your personal circumstances. If you intend to exclude someone who might reasonably expect to benefit, discuss this with your solicitor to understand the potential implications. At Battens Solicitors, our experienced team is here to guide you through the process and help ensure your Will reflects your wishes. Speak to the Battens Solicitors team at 7 Gay Street, Bath, today, on 01225 562581.
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Politics
Planning Round-up Ceiling repairs sought at listed Bath hotel
Council sets out plans to tackle £14.7m of savings BATH & North East Somerset Council has outlined how it plans to address a £14.7 million savings requirement while continuing to protect essential services. A report going before cabinet on 12th November sets out the authority’s Medium-Term Financial Strategy for 2027/28 and the pressures expected over the coming years. The council said rising demand and increasing costs are placing particular strain on services supporting vulnerable adults and children. Changes to government funding are adding to the challenge, with the Fair Funding Review expected to reduce the council’s funding by almost £13 million a year over the next three years. The authority said its Transformation Plan will play a central role in putting its finances on a more sustainable footing. The programme focuses on
prevention by supporting people earlier, improving productivity through simpler services and better use of technology and data, and working with communities and partners to make better use of local resources. Current plans have identified £7.25 million of potential savings through transformation during 2027/28, although further measures will still be required. Cabinet members will also consider a new approach to improving wellbeing and reducing inequalities across Bath and North East Somerset. Proposals include developing a Wellbeing and Outcomes Framework, a 10-year Inequalities Plan and a Prevention Strategy, with greater emphasis on intervening earlier and improving outcomes for residents. This work will sit alongside the council’s new Climate and Nature Strategy and Action Plan 2026-
The Guildhall in Bath
2030, which covers reducing emissions, adapting to climate change and restoring nature. Councillor Mark Elliott, cabinet member for resources, said: “Like many councils we face significant financial challenges, with increasing demand for important services at the same time as costs are rising and central government funding is being reduced. “We need to change the way we work if we are going to keep delivering the services people need. Transformation means
helping people earlier, making services simpler and more effective, and making the best use of our money and resources. “It won’t solve the whole financial challenge and there will still be difficult choices ahead. But it will help us protect the services people rely on and put the council on a more sustainable footing for the future.” Residents will be consulted on the council’s budget proposals later in November before the 2027/28 budget is set in February.
Work begins to transform care home into school WORK has begun to transform a former council-run care home in Keynsham into a specialist school and two children’s homes for young people with special educational needs and disabilities. Charlton House, in Hawthorns Lane, will be converted to provide a 30-place school for children and young people aged 11 to 18 with complex needs, including autism and social, emotional and mental health needs. Two separate children’s homes will also be created at the site, each providing accommodation for up to four children. Bath & North East Somerset Council appointed Beard to carry out the project, with an initial six-week programme of enabling
works now under way. This stage includes installing site hoarding and welfare facilities, setting up temporary services and fire safety and security systems, and carrying out work inside the existing building. The main refurbishment programme is expected to begin in late November. Councillor Paul May, cabinet member for children’s services, said: “Starting work at Charlton House is an important step towards providing more specialist education and care closer to home for children and young people here in Bath and North East Somerset. We want children with complex needs to be able to receive the right support close to their families, friends and
local communities. The new school and children’s homes will provide a safe and welcoming environment where children and young people can learn, develop their independence and thrive. “I would like to thank local residents for their continued engagement with the project. We will work closely with the contractor to keep neighbours informed as the work progresses.” The scheme forms part of the council’s wider plans to increase specialist SEND provision locally and reduce the need for children and young people to be placed outside the area. A SEND resource base currently being built at Mulberry Park Primary School will provide places for up to 10 pupils.
Planning permission has also been sought for a new singlestorey resource base at the Wellsway School and IKB Academy campus in Keynsham, which would provide up to 20 places for young people aged 11 to 19. Charlton House has been empty since the former care home closed in March 2024. Residents were supported to move to alternative placements based on their individual care needs and preferences, while most staff transferred to other council-run residential services. Permission for the change of use was granted in July. Work is expected to be completed in time for the new school to open during the 2027/28 academic year.
An application has been submitted to B&NES Council for listed building consent to repair ceiling areas on the third floor of the Grade II listed Royal Hotel following water damage. The building dates from the mid19th century and was developed as a railway hotel opposite Bath Spa Station. The hotel remains open with repairs limited to three bedrooms and a communal hall. The planning reference is 26/04000/LBA. Any comments on the proposed works must be made before 19th November.
Another HMO being planned in Oldfield Park There are plans to convert a three-bed house in Oldfield Park to a four-bed bed house in multiple occupation (HMO). Zest Property Services is the agent for the application for 23 Oldfield Lane. The proposal includes increased communal living space, waste and bicycle storage in the rear garden, and improvements to the rear fencing for security. The application says there was a “positive preapplication” in relation from the council. The planning reference is 26/03861/FUL. The last date for comments is 18th November.
Plans to extend shelters at football ground There are plans to extend two small open-fronted dugout shelters at the football ground in Church Road in Peasedown St John. The ground is shared by local football teams and the application has been lodged by the parish council. The planning reference is 26/02767/ FUL. Consultation ends on 13th November.
Proposal to turn city offices back into house Plans have been submitted to change the use of Grade II listed 1 North Parade Passage from offices to a single private house.
COLUMN | Councillor Kevin Guy, Leader of Bath & North East Somerset Council
I
KNOW how frustrating it has been trying to get around Bath recently. Roadworks have been raised with me more than almost anything else, and it’s clear that having so many schemes happening together has caused real disruption. We’re doing everything we reasonably can to get the current works finished, including additional shifts by contractors where possible. The good news is that the main schemes, including the Manvers Street vaults work, are on track to finish this month. We are creating better maintained
roads and infrastructure, new cycle lanes and improved walking routes, making it easier and safer for people to get around Bath however they choose to travel. People have quite reasonably asked why so much has been happening at once. Part of the answer is that work was delayed by the extreme heat over the summer, which hit highways contractors across the country. We’ve also had some unexpected subcontractor problems locally, as well as utilities work that has needed to happen at short notice. None of that changes the fact that the disruption has been
difficult for people and, as leader of a council known for its professionalism and competence in delivery, I apologise for the disruption that has occurred and promise that lessons are learned. Please do refer to council sources for the latest and reliable information. Our weekly email newsletter always includes the latest news. Sign up at: newsroom.bathnes. gov.uk/council-newsletter Another issue of great concern is ensuring the most vulnerable in our society are looked after, especially as the weather gets colder and thoughts inevitably
turn to the cost of heating. Our Energy at Home service offers advice to help you lower your bills and make your home energy work harder for you, creating a more energy-efficient and comfortable place to live. Find out more on the Community Energy Network website at www. banesenergynetwork.org/ Information, advice and support regarding the cost of living is available via the council’s Live well pages at livewell.bathnes. gov.uk or if you’re not online, the Community Wellbeing Hub
can help via 0300 247 0050. The Live well pages also include information about our local network of welcoming Warm Spaces, where people can go to stay warm, feel safe, and meet others during periods of cold weather, high energy costs, loneliness or isolation. We would love to have more venues signing up to the network this winter, so if you’re aware of a venue which could be a Warm Space, please do suggest they register.
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Friday 6th November - Thursday 19th November 2026
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Arundell and de Glanville back with Van Graan hails backa bang as Bath end winless run from-injury duo
Henry Arundell and Tom de Glanville marked their return from injury by scoring a try apiece in Bath Rugby’s 36-28 win| Photo © Richard Briggs
Richard Briggs Reporter Bath Rugby have ended the opening block of Gallagher PREM matches lying in fifth place in the table, five points off the top, thanks to a win over Sale Sharks here at The Rec on Saturday 31st October | Photo © Richard Briggs
Richard Briggs Reporter
HENRY Arundell and Tom de Glanville scored a try apiece on their return from injury to help Bath Rugby to a vital victory over Sale Sharks on Saturday 31st October. The Blue, Black & White got back to winning ways after three successive defeats across all competitions, beating Alex Sanderson’s side 36-28 at The Rec in Gallagher PREM Round 5. This was a largely dominant and exciting display all around the pitch by Bath, who completed the opening block of league games with three wins and two losses and are fifth in the table – one of four sides with 16 points to their name. Although Sale snatched a bonus point courtesy of two late tries, the scoreline flattered them. The Eccles-based club ended the block in eighth spot. Bath had 54% of the possession and the same amount of territory. On an afternoon when their backs clearly enjoyed themselves, the Blue, Black & White gained 466 metres in attack and forced the Sharks to make 165 tackles. Although Sale secured more entries to the opposing 22 – 13 against Bath’s 12 – the hosts were impressive at the breakdown, where they won 88 rucks to the Sharks’ 66. Arundell and de Glanville both featured in the hosts’ starting XV. And it took winger Arundell only two-and-a-half minutes to open the scoring. Having received the ball just inside the Bath half, he made a trademark burst of speed that saw him surge through the centre of the field and out to the right, and he touched down in the corner for a try converted by Finn Russell. However, Sale – who went into the match one place below Bath in
the standings – responded in the 14th minute, Nathan Jibulu going over in the left corner from a rolling maul. George Ford added the extras via the right post. Russell missed a 34-metre penalty from in front of the posts in the 18th minute. But the Blue, Black & White regained the lead four minutes later. Ben Spencer passed for fullback de Glanville to run in from eight metres on the left, Russell booting the two points. And on the half-hour, Max Ojomoh released de Glanville just inside Sale territory and he made 35 metres before passing to Joe Cokanasiga to go over in the right corner. Russell’s conversion attempt flew wide of the right post and Bath led 19-7. Johann van Graan’s team secured the four-try bonus point in the 43rd minute. Cokanasiga latched onto a crossfield kick from Russell and gave Alex Lozowski the slip, only to be brought down by Joe Carpenter. However, Cokanasiga stretched for a score in the right corner. Russell converted. But the Sharks hit back with a 45th-minute try, Tom O’Flaherty diving over in the left corner after taking a pass from Ford 12 metres out. Ford landed the extras. A Russell 12-metre penalty from in front of the posts in the 58th minute gave Bath breathing space at 29-14 up. And the Blue, Black & White bagged their fifth try of the afternoon when, in the 65th minute, Louie Hennessey – who arrived from the bench only seconds earlier – crossed in the right corner after collecting a grubber kick from Bernard van der Linde. Russell majored with a superb strike from the touchline. However, Sale refused to lie down – and two tries in the closing stages ensured they headed back to the North West with a bonus point. First, Luke Cowan-Dickie crashed over, from a rolling maul,
in the right corner in the 72nd minute, Ford converting to make the score 36-21. Then, in the final minute, Elia Canakaivata scored from short range just to the left of the posts, Ford successful from the tee. Bath’s young prop Claudius Wheeler made his professional debut when he came on as a replacement in the 73rd minute. De Glanville was named the Gallagher Player of the Match. And Miles Reid, playing at openside flanker for the Blue, Black & White, was the winner of the Champagne Pol Roger Performance of the Match award. Bath starting XV: 1 Beno Obano, 2 Dan Frost, 3 Archie Griffin, 4 Will Jeanes, 5 Charlie Ewels, 6 Ted Hill, 7 Miles Reid, 8 Josh Bayliss, 9 Ben Spencer, 10 Finn Russell, 11 Henry Arundell, 12 Max Ojomoh, 13 Ollie Lawrence, 14 Joe Cokanasiga, 15 Tom de Glanville. Bath replacements: 16 Tom Dunn, 17 Claudius Wheeler, 18 Will Stuart, 19 Enoch OpokuGyamfi, 20 Ewan Richards, 21 Bernard van der Linde, 22 Louie Hennessey, 23 Jaco Coetzee. Sale starting XV: 1 Nicky Smith, 2 Nathan Jibulu, 3 Asher OpokuFordjour, 4 Ernst van Rhyn, 5 Ben Bamber, 6 Christ Tshiunza, 7 Ben Curry, 8 Tom Curry, 9 Gus Warr, 10 George Ford, 11 Tom O’Flaherty, 12 Alex Lozowski, 13 Joe Marchant, 14 Tom Roebuck, 15 Joe Carpenter. Sale replacements: 16 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 17 Si McIntyre, 18 Tomas Francis, 19 Tom Burrow, 20 Sam Dugdale, 21 Dom Hanson, 22 Rekeiti Ma’asi-White, 23 Elia Canakaivata. The PREM Rugby Cup now takes centre stage for several weeks, Bath resuming their campaign by visiting Exeter Chiefs in Round 3 on Saturday 7th November (3pm). The Blue, Black & White had a bye in Round 2 but lost 50-28 at Sale on Sunday 6th September in the opening stage.
JOHANN van Graan hailed the contributions of back-frominjury duo Tom de Glanville and Henry Arundell in Bath Rugby’s home win over Sale Sharks on Saturday 31st October. After winger Arundell scored the opening try in the third minute of the 36-28 victory, de Glanville bagged his own touchdown, set up Joe Cokanasiga for another and made a superb performance at full-back that earned him the Gallagher Player of the Match award. At the Blue, Black & White’s postmatch press conference, head of rugby van Graan was asked by the Echo for his thoughts on the efforts of de Glanville and Arundell in the PREM Round 5 fixture. Van Graan said: “I thought it was great to have Deeg [de Glanville] and Henry back. “I thought Deeg’s aerial game was good. “We came up against a good aerial side but his decision making, things like how he put Joe away [for a try] in that first half – Deeg is a rock for us. “Unfortunately we lost Santi [Carreras through injury] for the season now, but great to have Deeg back. “He struggled at the back end of the game with a bit of discomfort, but really, really glad that he’s back. “We signed Henry a season ago because of his pace and I think he showed it again today. “We’re not a team that speaks about injuries too much, because we back our squad, but we’re at the back of this PREM block now. “Henry’s played one game, Deeg has played two games on the wing and one at 15. Will Muir hasn’t featured yet this season. “Great to push Charlie Griffin and Tyler Offiah through. And as we’ve done we’ll treat the PREM Cup [which takes centre stage during November] as a development competition. “Some guys will get a few minutes, but loads of guys away into
international rugby, whether it be England or Wales or Scotland or Italy, obviously Santi’s not available, and a lot of guys will be on holiday for up to two weeks. “I think if you look at the world of rugby now, guys are playing such a high amount of minutes. “So from a PREM point of view we’ve got loads of guys who you’ll only see again at the start of December [when league action resumes] – and so much rugby left.” The success against Sale meant Bath bounced back following a run of three successive defeats across all competitions. Van Graan said: “We finished opportunities, we were a bit more clinical. “We weren’t worried in terms of the opportunities we created [in the defeats], we needed to finish them – and I thought we did really well today. “I thought we had good balance to our game, the scrum did well. “Sale are a very physical team so we used the space out wide. “I thought Miles [Reid] was excellent [at openside flanker]. Internally we’ve got a man of the match [award] and I gave that to him, I thought that was an excellent 80-minute performance. “I thought we used opportunities well. “The try just after half-time, we scored, but then we were really positive with the ball. Unfortunately it was a forward pass and we invited pressure back on ourselves but I think we closed off this game really, really well. “All credit to the players, even when we were two guys down, getting attention at that penalty in the corner, we still went for the crossfield kick, so we were really positive and I think this was a real squad effort. “I’m really proud of the squad of players. “There are 10 very good sides in the PREM. So we need to make sure we get our five points at home. “We’ve played two games at home in the PREM and we got 10 points.”
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Run of defeats hasn’t lowered Bath’s Team Bath urges fans sights, says back row Reid to back 2027 NXT Gen League campaign
Miles Reid – here, left, with Bath Rugby head of rugby Johann van Graan during one of the club’s previous press conferences | Photo © Bath Rugby
Richard Briggs Reporter
MILES Reid says that Bath Rugby’s recent run of three successive defeats has not changed their aims for this season. The Blue, Black & White were beaten twice in the Gallagher PREM – by Northampton Saints and Gloucester Rugby – to sandwich a loss to Montpellier Hérault Rugby in the Investec Champions Cup. But Johann van Graan’s team bounced back with a stylish PREM victory over Sale Sharks at The Rec on Saturday 31st October, Reid earning the Champagne Pol Roger Performance of the Match award for a fine display at openside flanker. At Bath’s post-match press conference, the Echo asked Reid whether the hat-trick of defeats has changed the club’s targets for 2026-27.
Reid said: “No, no, no, not at all. “Obviously we’ve been relatively successful in the last three years, and it’s about elevating your game and changing small things as the game changes. “You’ve seen the scrum change, you’ve seen the maul change and you’ve got to adapt around that – and I think we’ve taken to that well. “You saw our backs today, they were on fire, and we really gelled as a team today and the combination of forwards doing our work and backs doing their work, and came together in that sense. “So I’m massively happy.” When asked about the breakdown battle with the Sharks, Reid said: “That was really good. “We knew that part of the game was going to be hotly contested today, with both the Currys [Sale back rows Ben Curry and Tom Curry] playing, and I think we got on the right side of it, so massive for the win.
“Obviously, losing three on the bounce isn’t us and we haven’t felt that for a very long time within this group. But this group is so tight that three losses are never going to tear us apart. “A lot of people in the media have been saying this and that about us, but we run our own race, we do our own things, we stick to our own process and we know we’ll come good like we did today.” Reflecting on being picked to play as a flanker or a number 8, Reid said: “My game doesn’t really change that much, whether I’m at 8 or 7. “There’s sometimes more of a balance in the back row, depending on who I can play with, like [Josh] Bayliss today, he was at 8 and I was at 7, and Jaco [Coetzee] comes on and kind of changes things a bit more because obviously he’s a massive ball carrier for us. “I don’t mind. As long as I’m on the pitch and contributing, I’m not too bothered.”
TEAM Bath Netball is calling on supporters to continue demonstrating the demand for elite netball in the South West during its 2027 NXT Gen League campaign. The Blue & Gold will play eight home fixtures at the Team Bath Arena, beginning with a Super Saturday meeting against AO Thunder on 13th February at 3pm. The match will form part of a triple-header, with Team Bath’s U17 and U19 sides also facing Thunder in NPL fixtures on the same day. NIC Leeds Rhinos will provide the opposition for the first Friday night fixture on 5th March, before the home campaign concludes against LexisNexis Dragons on 19th June. It will be Team Bath’s third season in the NXT Gen League, with strong attendances recorded during the previous two campaigns. The majority of home matches have attracted capacity crowds, while ticket sales have at times matched or exceeded those for some Netball Super League fixtures. Team Bath recently announced Project Phoenix, an initiative focused on bringing Super League netball back to the South West. Netball Manager Emily Siddy, who is also Franchise Operations Manager for Project Phoenix, said: “We are incredibly grateful to the supporters who have continued to stand with Team Bath Netball and the NXT Gen programme during the past two
seasons. “Their passion, together with the continued support of the University of Bath and our NXT Gen partners, gives us a powerful platform for what comes next. “Now we need that support to continue showing its strength. We want fans to keep showing up, keep backing the programme and keep demonstrating the demand for elite netball in this region.” Season tickets covering all eight home matches have been frozen at 2026 prices, costing £119 or £140 for adults and £84 or £98 for concessions. Those securing their seat before the end of October will also receive a free Team Bath Netball gift. Individual match tickets start at £17.50 for adults and £12.50 for concessions. Team Bath’s 2027 home fixtures are: • Saturday 13th February - AO Thunder, 3pm • Friday 5th March - NIC Leeds Rhinos, 7pm • Friday 19th March Birmingham Panthers, 7pm • Friday 16th April - London Mavericks, 7pm • Friday 23rd April - Nottingham Forest, 7pm • Saturday 15th May - London Pulse, 3pm • Friday 21st May Loughborough Lightning, 7pm • Saturday 19th June - LexisNexis Dragons, 3pm.
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COLUMN | Ben Hicks, Clerk of the Course - Bath Racecourse Photo © Johnny Hathaway
A
ND just like that, another season at Bath Racecourse has come to an end. Our final fixture of the year saw 106 horses declared, and provided some brilliant finishes on what was Soft, Heavy in places ground. It was certainly a different afternoon to most of the conditions we had experienced earlier in the season, and for the first time this year we saw the runners come up the stands side rail. It was the first time we had properly testing ground, so it was no surprise to see this fresh section of the track used by the jockeys. One of the highlights of the afternoon was presenting our Ride of the Year award, as voted
for by our annual members. This year’s winner was Finley Marsh, who has also finished the season as Bath’s leading jockey with eight winners. Congratulations to Finley and thank you to everyone who took the time to vote. It is always good to recognise some of the outstanding rides we have seen here at Lansdown throughout the year. Looking back over the season as a whole, we have staged 21 race days, with 1,414 runners taking part across 149 races, alongside our Arabian and pony races. That is a considerable amount of racing to accommodate, and a lot of preparation and hard work has gone in to maintain our standards over the past seven months. It would be fair to say that this
has been a challenging year, particularly for the grounds team. The prolonged periods of extreme dry weather, soaring temperatures and fixture changes have all presented their own challenges. There have certainly been times when we have had to work exceptionally hard to keep the track in the condition we expect. However, I am incredibly proud of the resilience, commitment and dedication shown by the whole team. Everyone has played their part, often putting in long and unsociable hours and going above and beyond to get us through some difficult spells. To the jockeys, trainers, owners and stable staff, thank you for your continued support of Bath.
To our racegoers and annual members, thank you for coming along and supporting our fixtures, and, of course, a huge thank you to the entire racecourse team. It takes a lot of people to deliver a successful season, and I am grateful for everyone’s efforts. Although we have now put the final fixture behind us, I am sure the off season will fly by. There will be plenty going on over the winter months as we assist our fellow ARC colleagues, carry out our usual maintenance and start planning for what is ahead. We are already looking forward to kicking off the 2027 turf flat season on Good Friday, which is early on 26th March. We are
confident this will be a wonderful day to begin our year, with £255,000 in prize money on offer, making it the richest day of racing ever staged at Bath. There is plenty to look forward to, and we will be working hard to make sure we are ready to welcome everyone back. I will keep you updated over the winter with what we are getting up to around the course, so there will be plenty more to share before we get back racing. In the meantime, I hope everyone has enjoyed the 2026 season as much as we have. Thank you again for your support, and we cannot wait to get going again in March!
P24
Friday 6th November - Thursday 19th November 2026
www.bathecho.co.uk
Sport
Upcoming Fixtures Bath Rugby
Bath City beat promotion rivals, Larkhall draw Richard Briggs Reporter
SCOTT Bartlett was delighted with his Bath City side’s excellent home win over Poole Town on Saturday 31st October. The Romans beat the Dolphins 1-0 at the Cannon Clarke Stadium @ Twerton Park to leapfrog them into third place in Pitching In Southern League Premier South. Harry Parsons grabbed the decider in the 18th minute. Poole failed to clear a free-kick from Jordan Tillson – and Joe Raynes set up Parsons to fire home from 18 yards in front of a crowd of 1,202. But the visitors from Dorset dominated the game and should have equalised in the 57th minute, the unmarked Ryan Campbell spurning an excellent opportunity by heading off target. Poole’s best chance came in the 70th minute, Ezio Touray’s attempt to lob the ball over home keeper Harvey Wiles-Richards going narrowly wide. City battled back into the match and Reuben Reid had a shot saved by Adam Parkes before Enzio Boldewijn drove inches wide. Manager Bartlett said: “They [Poole] were a good team. They’ve got some good players. They stretch you both ways and they’ve got good rotations in midfield. “So we had to make a decision whether we go full press and make it a bit more difficult for them, which we did up to the goal, and then we protected that a little bit. “We had to ride a couple of waves of good possession from them, and they’ll go away a bit disappointed that they haven’t got something from the game.
Harry Parsons fires in Bath City’s winner against Poole Town at the Cannon Clarke Stadium @ Twerton Park on Saturday 31st October | Photo © Simon Howe
“But if you can’t be brilliant on the ball – which we weren’t today, we were a little bit loose, a little bit passive, maybe tried to get in behind their backline too early at times – you’ve got to try to keep the ball, and I thought we were thoroughly professional in doing that. “We made the subs at the right time, and they had a big impact on helping us gain another three points. So in a nutshell, can play better, 100% we will, defended brilliantly, looked really organised, the subs came on and really contributed, and we scored a great goal through Harry Parsons, so I’m really pleased. “That’s another clean sheet, although they did have a wonderful chance with a free header in the box, which is unlike us. I think for their territory and their other chances we kept them to long distance or wider efforts on our goal. So I was pleased with that.” Bath: Harvey Wiles-Richards, Joe Raynes (Alex Fisher, 71), Ollie Tomlinson, Enzio Boldewijn, Pedro Elawar (Matt Bowman, 60), Ollie Chamberlain, Harrison Minturn, Jordan Tillson, Harry
Parsons (Scott Wilson, 60), Callum Wood, Donovan Wilson (Reuben Reid, 69). Unused sub: Seweryn Streczen. The Romans’ next game will be a league clash at West Sussex club Chichester City on Saturday 7th November (3pm). Then on Tuesday 10th November, Bath will face league action against Taunton Town at the Cannon Clarke Stadium @ Twerton Park (7.45pm). Bath City Women Development received a walkover against Yeovil team Pen Mill Ladies in Somerset County Women’s League Division One on Sunday 1st November. The Romans’ 1st XI had no scheduled game that afternoon. On Sunday 8th November, the Devs will travel to Wellington Wildcats in Division One and the 1st XI will face Paulton Rovers Ladies at the Cannon Clarke Stadium @ Twerton Park in South West Regional Women’s League Division One Central. Both fixtures will kick-off at 2pm. Larkhall Athletic picked up a precious point from their Southern League Division One South derby against Bristol
Manor Farm at the Camella Stadium on 31st October. A crowd of 210 saw Ryan Beckinsale’s 56th-minute goal cancel out Joe Beardwell’s 19thminute opener. The Larks will go to North Devon outfit Bideford in the league on 7th November (3pm). Harvey Kendrick was sent off in the 33rd minute but Larkhall Development still beat hosts Park United 1-0 in the second round of the Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League’s Fountain Trophies Senior Cup on Friday 30th October. Substitute Harvey Flippance notched the 75th-minute winner at Southbank in Corsham, following excellent work by Arlo Stone. The Devs will play Worle at the Camella Stadium on 7th November in the third round of the Melhuish & Saunders Senior Cup, formerly the Somerset Senior Cup (3pm). Odd Down were without a match on 31st October but will entertain Oldland Abbotonians at the Lew Hill Memorial Ground in Jewson Western League Division One on 7th November (3pm). The Down’s Development side also had no game on 31st October. They will resume action on 7th November, when they journey to Pilton United in The Waterhouse Financial Advisers Mid Somerset League Premier Division (2pm). Odd Down Women cruised to a 4-1 success at Street Ladies on 1st November in the Somerset County Women’s League Cup second round. Falisha Shahbaz (2), Dani Macer and Katie Minty netted for the Down, who will receive Nailsea United Women at the Lew Hill Memorial Ground in Division One on 8th November (2pm).
Saturday 7th November – 3pm
Bath Rugby v Exeter Chiefs (Away) PREM Rugby Cup – R3
Saturday 14th November – 2pm
Bath Rugby v Gloucester Rugby (Home) PREM Rugby Cup – R4
Bath City FC Saturday 7th November – 3pm Bath City v Chichester City (Away) League Tuesday 10th November – 7.45pm Bath City v Taunton Town (Home) League Saturday 14th November – 3pm Bath City v Truro City (Home) FA Trophy 2
Get Involved Whether you’d like us to include your upcoming fixtures within our pages, or submit a match report for publishing, our team would love to hear from you. Please send fixtures lists for your team to sport@bathecho.co.uk and we’ll add your next event to our calendar. If you have photographs that we can use (with relevant permissions), we’d also like to include them within these pages, on our website and social media. We’re happy to host match reports from across Bath and the local area. Please send them to sport@bathecho.co.uk with the subject Match Report. Please limit the length to 400 words.
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Crossword answers - Issue 141 (23/10/2026) Across: 8 Tasmania, 9 No exit, 10 Brunei, 11 Nut brown, 12 On and off, 13 U S Navy, 14 General interest, 18 Helmet, 20 Got worse, 23 The Devil, 24 Bremen, 25 In-laws, 26 Sheridan. Down: 1 Barren, 2 Eminence, 3 Indigo, 4 Magnifying glass, 5 Instruct, 6 Neuron, 7 Midwives, 15 Elephant, 16 Activism, 17 Rhodesia, 19 Median, 21 Tables, 22 See-saw.
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