MoD site Leylandii to be felled

The developers of the MoD site on Warminster Road are to fell the group of Leyland Cypress trees.

The cluster of trees were originally planted to screen a building since removed. The developer now considers them a security hazard owing to their proximity to the boundary fence.

Few neighbours will be sad to see the hedge go, which has grown up to block the view over the valley from Minster Way. The Council arboricultural officer has been informed and does not think that the group are worthy of a tree preservation order.

Pedestrian island for Convocation Avenue

Convocation Avenue

Bath University plan to install a traffic island for pedestrians crossing Convocation Avenue.

This will be at the main entrance to the Claverton campus, just after the junction with The Avenue. The island will act as a pedestrian refuge for bus stop users from the Woodland Grove/Beech Avenue estate.

The project was announced at the recent Neighbours’ Forum which was shown plans of the works.

Lantern unveiled on Sydney Buildings

Lantern crowd

Dozens of Sydney Buildings householders celebrated the refurbishment of their historic street lantern this weekend.

The Householders Association have recently repainted the lamp posts on their street, and have run a community campaign to install a historic lantern on top of the oldest post. The listed Stothert & Pitt column, at the canal bridge, had lost its original lantern to a modern sodium light.

The Sydney Buildings Householders Association found a C19th lantern and raised money for its purchase and installation. Liberal Democrat councillor Nicholas Coombes contributed to this campaign from his devolved fund. Installation works were undertaken by the BathNES Council Street Lighting team, who sourced a new type of LED white light for the lantern. Plans are currently underway to fit the new LED lights and heritage style lanterns to the other historic columns on the street.

“This project has been a brilliant collaboration between BathNES Council and the community;” said Cllr Coombes “I am pleased to have played a part in it. Thanks are due to the team of residents who led this effort and to Council staff who rose to the challenge. The completed lamp post is splendid and the community spirit has been wonderful too.”

University neighbours forum – Tuesday, 5:30pm

University parade

University staff, students, local residents and Councillors meet once a term to discuss issues of mutual concern. This term’s meeting of the forum is on Tuesday 4th June at 5:30pm.

Regular items include major building works on campus and forthcoming events. The largest of these are University Open Days which attract 8,000 prospective students; these are planned for the 20th June and 14th September.

Also on the agenda are transport matters, including buses, pedestrian routes and issues on Claverton Hill; new policy towards HMOs; and student numbers for the coming year.

After the Summer Ball today most undergraduates will be leaving campus over the weekend. Freshers’ Week for new students starts on 20th September, with returning undergrads recommencing lectures from 30th September.

Air Quality Management Area extended

Bath’s Air Quality Management Area has been extended, reflecting the spread of harmful levels of air pollution.

The zone covers areas where the Nitrogen Dioxide levels are at harmful levels, greater than 40 micrograms per cubic metre, in public places. For a decade the management area covered the London Road and Cleveland bridge. In 2008 it was extended to include parts of Bathwick, including Beckford Road and Warminster Road, and much of the city centre. In July are area will be extended again; the new extent is on this map.

The nature of the AQMA has also been changed, recognising the occurrence of higher concentrations of Nitrogen Dioxide for shorter periods. This measure has been extended to the whole city, details are here.

New bins for Bathwick

Sham Castle bin

Bathwick has benefitted from several new or replacement litter bins in recent weeks. Replacement bins have been provided at Claverton Lodge and at St Patrick’s Court, as the existing bins were rusty and in disrepair. A new bin has been located at the overbridge on the Quarry Road entrance to the university campus. This bin is on the route of the byway to Sham Castle, and was funded from Cllr Martin’s Ward Councillor Initiative fund.

150 attend MoD site consultation

MoD site consultation

One hundred and fifty local residents attended a consultation day organised by the purchasers of the Warminster Road MoD site. Your Lib Dem councillors David Martin and Nicholas Coombes had a private meeting with the development team, and also attended the consultation alongside the Leader of the Council, Cllr Paul Crossley.

Developers of the site put forward their sketch scheme for several rows of terraced houses and a residential care home, covering most of the site. A small buffer zone along the Bathhampton side of the site was left, as was canal side access. The Council concept statement idea of a second bridge over the canal was also included. However, the first draft contained no facility for the expansion of St Mary’s Primary School, which is likely to be made necessary by the new homes proposed.

“I commend the development consortium for organising this consultation day,” said Cllr Nicholas Coombes. “I hope that they continue to listen to and work with local people in developing this site. I expect David and I to have a close working relationship with the consortium to ensure that a scheme satisfactory to all is produced.”

Zebra crossing finally cancelled

David Martin and Nicholas Coombes at Raby Place

BathNES Council Liberal Democrats have stopped a proposed zebra crossing at the bottom of Bathwick Hill.

The proposal has now been officially rejected by the Lib Dem in charge of transport, Cllr Roger Symonds, after considering the report and consultation responses.

Dozens of local residents, including local councillors David Martin and Nicholas Coombes, objected to the plans. Common concerns included the danger that the crossing would cause and the waste of public money.

The Conservatives proposed the crossing in 2011, just before they lost control of BathNES Council. Conservative candidates in Bathwick campaigned for the crossing during the local elections that year.

“I’m glad so many residents took part in this consultation;” said Cllr Nicholas Coombes, “opposition to the zebra crossing was overwhelming. Liberal Democrats on the Council have listened to local people and stopped this waste of money.”

New bus service for Cleveland Walk

Cleveland Walk

A circular bus service is being introduced to Cleveland Walk from the end of the month.

The 734 is being extended into Bathwick, providing a local service into the city centre. Currently the service runs every two hours in a circuit through the Bathwick Estate and Lansdown. From 27th May the bus will go up North Road, across Cleveland Walk and down Bathwick Hill.

The 734 service crosses Pulteney Bridge, which means that local residents of Cleveland Walk or Bathwick Hill will be able to catch the bus to Great Pulteney Street surgery or the city centre Post Office. Like the new 94 bus route, this service partly compensates for the loss of the direct 18 service, caused when the Conservatives tried to close Pulteney Bridge.