BathNES Council has published a guide to parking contravention enforcement. The guide covers how parking contraventions are punished and mechanisms for appeal.
Bathwick couple film Burmese elephants
A documentary by a Bathwick couple has been selected for the Bath Film Festival. The premier is on Sunday 1st December from 4pm at the Chapel Arts.
‘Of Oozies and Elephants‘ is a 90 minute documentary filmed entirely in Myanmar, Burma. Filming took place over two years by just two individuals and their hand-held cameras.
Oozies are the head-riders, the men who work with elephants to log forests. Logging in this way not only saves forests but may save the endangered Asian elephant from extinction.
Tickets available on Friday 25th Oct by signing up for the Bath Film Festival newsletter for priority booking, or from Friday 1st November from bathfilmfestival.org.uk or www.bathboxoffice.org; Tel 01225 463 3362 Mon-Sat 9.30-5.30.
Twenty is plenty for Bathwick
Plans for 20mph limits in residential areas have been offered to Bathwick residents.
The council consultation was sent by post to local households, with responses asked for by 8th November. The leaflet contains a map and reply slip.
“I’m really pleased at this chance for safer speeds in the streets were we live,” said Cllr Nicholas Coombes. “I urge residents to respond to the consultation, and to use the comments section if you have any modifications to suggest. The Lib Dems on BathNES Council will listen to local people.”
Push to expand Canal Gardens allotments
Cllr Nicholas Coombes is lobbying to convert he remainder of the Lime Grove School site into allotments. The old playground alongside the new Rennie Close could be incorporated into the Canal Gardens site.
The Canal Gardens allotment site is very popular and Nicholas has already worked to speed the turnover of empty plots. Expansion into the neighbouring site could provide 50% more plots, helping more local people grow their own food.
A plan to convert the site had been stuck between council departments, but after Cllr Coombes’ intervention it is progressing again. The Liberal Democrat councillor in charge of Neighbourhoods is now involved in the project and is optimistic of a positive resolution.
New Smallcombe footpath plans on display
The National Trust are asking residents about new plans to alter the footpath by Smallcombe Farm.
Earlier this year dozens of residents took part in a preliminary consultation into diverting the existing footpath. Given the overwhelmingly negative response, a new proposal has been drawn up by the applicant.
The Trust wants to gauge residents’ support for the new plans before deciding whether to support them and divert their popular skyline walk.
An exhibition is being held on Thurs 31 October in St Mary’s Church Hall from 2 to 8pm.
These proposals are at any early stage and any plan needs several stages of formal consultation and approval by the council Regulatory Committee before implementation.
University builds pedestrian crossing to bus stop
The University of Bath have built a new pedestrian crossing to access the bus stop on Convocation Avenue.
The need for a crossing was brought up at a meeting of the University Neighbours’ Forum, a regular meeting of university management and local residents. The Forum was established by Bathwick’s Lib Dem councillors to improve town and gown relations.
A new strip of pavement has been laid, and a pedestrian island installed just after the Avenue junction. This means that local residents and bus passengers will be able to cross safely for their outwards and return journeys.
Cllr David Martin, who lives nearby, has welcomed the construction of the crossing: “I’m glad that local residents have a forum to discuss matters like this with the university management.”
Bathwick buses back on Pulteney Bridge
A new bus service, from Bathwick Hill to the city centre over Pulteney Bridge, starts today.
Bugler Coaches’ 18B service is the first to take residents directly to the city centre since the Conservatives caused the route to be scrapped three years ago.
Liberal Democrats on the council stopped the bridge closure plan and now services have returned after a long campaign by local residents and councillors.
The yellow buses run every 15 minutes weekdays until 8pm and every half hour on Saturdays and university holidays. The route is circular, returning via Widcombe.
“This is a victory for bus users, who value a service that meets their needs directly,” said Cllr David Martin. “I hope the service will prove useful for residents, who will now be able to make a choice between different operators providing slightly different service routes into and from the city centre.”
New Warminster Road pedestrian crossing consultation
New plans for a pedestrian crossing over Warminster Road have been published for consultation.
One hundred local residents signed a petition for a safer crossing, which Dr David Martin presented to BathNES Council in 2010. Funding was allocated by the Liberal Democrats on the council for this year, and a scheme was publicised in March. However, a number of objections were received about the loss of parking at the rear of St Mary’s School.
The revised plan is for a pedestrian island between the back gates of St Mary’s School and the footpath from St Christopher’s Close. This would make it safer for residents of the Minster Way estate to take their children to school, or to walk further into town.
Comments on the proposal, included in the picture above, should be made to transportantion@bathnes.gov.uk by 9th September, quoting TC8428/TRO.
Signs show car park availability
New digital signs have been installed in Bath to tell drivers which car parks have available spaces.
The signs are part of the Bath Transport Package, a huge investment secured by Liberal Democrats on BathNES Council to improve transport in the city. It also includes expansion of our park and ride sites and improvements to bus stops.
By directing drivers to available spaces, and warning if car parks are full, traffic in the city centre will be eased on busy days as drivers spend less time searching for parking.
In Bathwick there are new signs on Beckford Road and Pulteney Road.
Campaign for Abbey bus shelter
The 18/U18 bus stop on the High Street outbound from the city centre was recently re-positioned to be adjacent to Bath Abbey as part of the Public Realm improvements in the city centre. The re-positioning and bus stop layout was to accommodate more easily the bendy buses that are used on this service.
The new position has proved to be somewhat exposed to wind and rain in poor weather, and residents have asked for a bus shelter with seating to be incorporated at this new position. Your local Lib Dem councillors have supported these calls.
The Council has responded to these requests, and has undertaken to review how a shelter can be successfully integrated into this part of the High Street area; they are evaluating what appropriately sensitive design of shelter can now be incorporated at this location. The aim is to develop a proposal for public consultation in the next few weeks. Shelters within High Street form part of the wider Bath Transport Package which is rolling out new and upgraded bus shelters across the city over the next 12-18 months.