Cllr Nicholas Coombes has reported the increasing number of potholes on Lime Grove to the council.
For nearly a year the road has been used by construction traffic for the Rennie Close development and it is deteriorating. Residents are also able to report potholes for repair though councilconnect@bathnes.gov.uk or calling 01225 394041.
Bath & North East Somerset Council have been named the region’s Most Proactive Public Sector Body in the South West Green Energy Awards 2013. The Liberal Democrat led Council competed against other public sector bodies from across the south west such as colleges, local authorities, health bodies, fire services and the police.
Hosted by renewable energy champions Regen SW, the winners were announced at a ceremony at the Assembly Rooms. When presenting the award the lead judge said “ Bath & North East Somerset Council provided compelling evidence of a long, impressive and diverse list of achievements across electricity, heat and transport plus other low-carbon/sustainability agendas. The judges were particularly impressed by the way they developed a replicable and strong partnership with a local community group – a partnership that has proved highly effective for delivery of projects on the ground.”
The judges were impressed with the wide range of actions that the Lib Dem Council has developed to facilitate a 45% cut in CO2 by 2026, including: a very low energy new build office in Keynsham; becoming the first local authority to begin a major programme to convert street lights to LED; driving forward a cooperation agreement to enable the development of Bath & West Community Energy; launching the Bath Green Homes joint project with Transition Bath and Bath Preservation Trust; creating the Energy@Home partnership to support residents to save energy at home; providing community group training under the Local Energy Champions scheme; making a political commitment to making the Bath Enterprise area a zero carbon regeneration scheme; cutting 80% of city centre deliveries to businesses subscribed to the Freight Consolation scheme and; achieving 52%+ of residential waste being recycled with the aim to recover value from 80%+ of our waste in 2013/14 through mechanical biological treatment (MBT).
Bathwick councillor David Martin is the council’s Energy Champion, responsible for promoting many of the schemes praised. He said: “We have robust policies in both renewable energy and energy efficiency and a strong team of officers in many departments that have contributed towards this success. It really has been a team effort.”
Local councillor David Martin has arranged for provision of a new grit bin on Minster Way. The new bin at the top end of the loop is fully stocked for winter.
Two local residents who volunteered to spread grit in poor weather have been issued shovels. This follows from the successful pilot of the snow warden trial by the Liberal Democrat council elsewhere in the city.
Cllr Martin funded the bin, grit and shovels from his local initiative allowance which has already funded a dozen small projects across Bathwick. Residents with ideas for small interventions are invited to contact their Liberal Democrat councillors Nicholas Coombes and David Martin with suggestions.
Graffiti has been cleaned from the side of the railway arch over Pulteney Road. Your local councillors have reported graffiti for cleaning in this location many times.
The path from Pulteney Road to the canal, crossing Lime Grove, is in need of significant improvement. In recent years, lobbying from Bathwick’s Liberal Democrat councillors has resulted in improved lighting along the path and small scale clean ups. However, much more work is needed.
Developers of the new Rennie Close estate have provided BathNES Council with money to improve the path as a condition of their planning permission. Nicholas Coombes and David Martin are pushing council staff to create a plan of action and improve the path as soon as possible. While there is funding available to undertake the work, there has been no staff time to plan it. Your local councillors are fighting for this work to be given a higher priority.
A second public consultation into plans to divert the footpath by Smallcombe Farm has concluded. There was a strong public response, with many residents sending copies of their objection letters to Bathwick’s councillors Nicholas Coombes and David Martin.
Like the first round, this consultation was undertaken by a specialist solicitor acting on behalf of the applicant. At this stage the consultation is preliminary, for the applicant to understand public opinion and give them an opportunity to modify their proposals. However, all of the responses received will be handed over to BathNES Council if and when the formal decision making stage starts.
If the applicant chooses to proceed, a report will be presented to the Council’s Regulatory Committee at a public meeting. They will decide whether to move the application to the next step, or abandon it at that stage. If the committee does decide to pursue the application, there will be further formal consultation undertaken by the council before the committee is able to confirm the diversion order. If, at this stage, there are any objections – which seems very likely – the file will be passed to the Planning Inspectorate to undertake a public inquiry into the matter.
The process for diverting a footpath is long and complicated; a proposal with significant public objection will struggle.
————
Cllr Coombes was formerly chair of the Regulatory Committee, but he no longer comments on planning or footpath matters to avoid conflict with his employment at the Planning Inspectorate. Cllr Martin will represent residents’ views to the Regulatory Committee if necessary.
A government Planning Inspector has agreed that the muddy path from Claverton Down to Combe Down can be used as a cycle path.
“This is great news,” said Cllr David Martin. “This decision means that the council can improve the path to make it a safe and convenient shared route.” The Inspector mentioned the petition collected by Bathwick’s Liberal Democrat councillors, signed by 91 local residents, in her judgement.
There need to be adjustments to gates and end points to make the route safe, and a new surface to stop the mud. Nicholas Coombes and David Martin will be fighting for council funding to get this work done swiftly.
Bathwick councillor Nicholas Coombes has raised the need for expansion of St Mary’s Primary School at a meeting of the council. He asked how BathNES council was supporting governors in their wish to expand.
The school has an excellent reputation and is consequently oversubscribed with huge demand for places. An increased birth rate in this part of the city means that demand will soon rise further, and the proposed housing development on the MoD site will also contribute to the need for places.
The Council has undertaken a feasibility study about doubling the size of the school to allow for two classes at each year group. This involves using part of the bordering MoD site for expansion, which could also provide playing fields for the first time.
Your local Liberal Democrat councillors strongly support expanding the school so that children living in Bathwick can attend their local primary. Nicholas and David will continue to work to ensure that this opportunity is not missed.
BathNES Council has finished a consultation on whether to introduce 20mph limits to residential streets in Bathwick
“Speaking to people on the doorstep, it’s clear that the idea is very popular,” said Cllr Nicholas Coombes. “However, David and I share residents’ concerns about 20mph limits for Bathwick Hill. We will be looking at the consultation responses with highway engineers to create a practical solution.”
Cllr David Martin has arranged for the reconstruction of the parapet wall above the railway line in Sydney Wharf.
The wall was in a poor state and leaning precariously. Local Liberal Democrat councillor Martin contacted Network Rail to arrange for the repair of the wall, which has now been completed.
As residents start to move into the new houses in Rennie Close, your Liberal Democrat councillors have been investigating parking restrictions to keep the road safe.
Currently parking restrictions stop at the gateway to the development, allowing the possibility of dangerous parking within the development when construction is complete. As the access road is narrow there is no space for safe parking, despite huge demand within the Lime Grove Gardens area. Therefore the whole close will need double yellow lines; residents will have reserved parking and garages.
A Traffic Regulation Order restricting parking has been prepared by BathNES Council and will be implemented when the development is complete and when double yellow lines can be built. At the same time the temporary arrangements for Lime Grove Gardens will be lifted, probably in January 2014.