Chronicle readers may have spotted that a conference for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles is to be held in Bath’s Assembly Rooms next month. The building is owned by the National Trust and managed by B&NES Council.

As a high profile public building, I do not think that the conference should have been booked, although it now seems to late to cancel. Here’s what I said at a ‘Vision & Values’ debate in Council last night:

While discussing values, I think it would be disengenious not to mention the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle conference booked for our city.

The conference, which must not be referred to as an Arms Fair, is to be in the Assembly Rooms in June. Our council does not accept bookings which would cause offence or harm the council’s reputation. I accept that this was a difficult judgement, but I disagree with it.

Military drones kill indescriminately from the sky. The conference should not have been accepted.

The council has issued a press release welcoming the conference and stating that only one objection has been recieved. I congratulate that objector for standing up for their values.

I am now raising my objection to the conference. It can no longer be said that there was no protest. If this arms show goes ahead, it is not in my name.”

This is, of course, a personal view and not necessarily shared by other councillors. However, if you agree with me, there is a petition against the conference here. I may also see you protesting outside the Assembly Rooms in June.

Nicholas Coombes