Shared housing licensing

Houses in Multiple=

The Liberal Democrats running BathNES Council have launched a public consultation regarding additional licensing of Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) in Bath.

The Council is considering extending its current licensing scheme to require all shared HMOs to be licensed around the Wards of Oldfield, Westmoreland and Widcombe as well as small parts of adjoining wards including Bathwick, Twerton, Lyncombe and Southdown. The roads affected in Bathwick would be Lime Grove, Lime Grove Gardens, Pulteney Road and Horseshoe Walk.

Additional licensing would allow the Council to ensure that HMOs meet minimum standards to protect the occupants in terms of health, safety and welfare. It would also help improve management of these properties which is beneficial not only for the occupants of HMOs but also for the wider community and, provide consistent standards for landlords. This is in addition to, and separate from, the related issue of restricting planning permission for shared housing.

The consultation seeks your views on whether additional licensing should proceed and if so, what should be included and how it could work. The consultation will run until the 30th November 2012 and your views and comments are welcomed.

Click here to view and respond to the consultation.

New primary school for Warminster Road site

Bathwick St Mary's Primary School

The MoD site on Warminster Road will now include an improved primary school alongside 100 new homes.

Hundreds of local people took part in a consultation on the future of the sites. It was clear that residents want more primary school places in Bathwick and better facilities at St Mary’s.

The Liberal Democrats running BathNES Council changed the development plans to insist that St Mary’s Primary is extended, or a new school built to cope with the demand for places. It will up to the governors of St Mary’s, the developers and the Council to agree the best solution.

The scheme will also include 100 homes, of which a third will be affordable, public open spaces, a new bridge over the canal and, at residents’ requests, a local shop.

“The new school is excellent news and proves that the council listens to residents’ views,” said local Lib Dem Cllr Nicholas Coombes, “we are also very pleased that the design and environmental standards have been improved at our request.”

University open day and start of term

University parade

6,000 potential students are expected to visit Bath University on Saturday 15th. The Open Day is a chance for Sixth Formers to look around the Clavterton Down campus before chosing which university to apply for. There are expected to be an additional 2,000 vehicle movements to the campus, although for the first time a Park & Ride scheme will be operating from the Lansdown P&R.

The following week, is moving in day for new students living on campus. Almost 3,000 students will arrive on Friday 21st and Saturday 22nd September. This also marks the beginning of Freshers’ Week with activities every night of the week to welcome new students to the city. University security can be contacted 24 hours per day on 01225 385349 and the Council’s phone number for reporting noisy neighbours is 01225 394041.

The beginning of term for the remaining 10,000 students is Monday 1st October.

For all new students, welcome to Bath.

Pulteney Bridge bus route starts

David Martin waits for the 94 bus

A new bus route will run down Bathwick Hill and along Great Pulteney Street thanks to your Liberal Democrat councillors.

The 18 bus switched to North Parade when the Conservatives tried to close Pulteney Bridge. Ever since, Bathwick residents have been unable to reach the doctors’ surgery or Post Office from the route.

Local Lib Dem councillors David Martin and Nicholas Coombes are fighting to get the service restored, but their petition signed by a hundred Bathwick residents has not yet persuaded First or Wessex to return the service.

However, they have been able to move the 94 bus between Bath to Trowbridge. It will now follow the old 18 route, although it only runs ever two hours.

“This is a small victory,” says Cllr David Martin, “we are still trying to get the old service back, but we hope the 94 will be helpful to some people. The bus is a bit old, but it does the right route!”

What’s going on at the Holburne?

Holburne Colourscape

Residentsmay have noticed an unusal installation at the Holburne in the last week.

The inflatable rooms form Colourscape, an experience of intense colours. In some ways it is similar to the Field of Light exhibition at the museum over Winter, except this is a more interactive experience for visitors to walk through. 

The installation is only open until Monday 27th August, with activities every day and live music at the weekend.

Major projects planned at University

University parade

Bath University plan £100million worth of building projects on their Claverton Down campus over the next few years. Three have been entered for planning permission; click on the link to view the application and comment:

  • Student accommodation block – 12/03055/FUL – 700 bedrooms and a refectory are planned in a five storey buiding over the East car park, adjacent to Marlborough Court
  • Arts Centre – 12/03069/FUL – new performance and support spaces are planned surroundign the Arts Lecture theatre
  • Lecture building – 12/02626/FUL – new lecture theatres and seminar rooms planned on the site of the old 25m swimming pool

Members of the University neighbours’ forum had an early look at the plans in June. The group, for those who live near the university, meets again on Tuesday 4th September. If you are interested in attending please email G.Gillespie@bath.ac.uk.

As ever, September is expected to be a very busy month at the University, with an open day on the 15th, Freshers’ Week starting on the 21st and term starting on the 1st October, all of which will bring significant traffic to campus.

New road to be named Rennie Close

Rennie Close

The new road at the eng of Lime Grove Gardens is to be called Rennie Close.

Bathwick’s Lib Dem councillors ran a competition to suggest a name for the new cul-de-sac. Ideas included Linden or Tilia to recognise Lime Grove, Brunel for the railway and Martin for the birds which fly over the area.

The winning entry, from a number of sources, recognises John Rennie, the builder of the Kennet and Avon canal below which the close rests.

Thank you to all those who entered the competition and for providing the name.

Temporary fence to protect railway in Sydney Gardens

Sydney Gardens railway line

This week Network Rail will erect a temporary fence alongside the railway line in Sydney Gardens.

They have been attempting for several years to increase the separation between the high speed trains on the Great Western line and park users. The rail regulator has powers to compel safety improvements.

Many will have attended an exhibition of proposed permentant fences a few years ago. This fence being erected this week is a temporary fence made of chestnut paling. After negotiations with BathNES Council a temporary solution was accepted so that a permenant and more acceptable solution can be found when the park is restored in the next few years.

New Bathwick bus service for Pulteney Bridge

Nicholas Coombes and David Martin on Pulteney Bridge

Bathwick Hill residents will once again be able to catch a bus over Pulteney Bridge direct to the Guildhall stop.

The number 94 service, which is operated by Libra Travel under contract to Wiltshire Council, will be rerouted from 2 September 2012 to link Bathwick Hill directly with Grand Parade via Great Pulteney Street and Pulteney Bridge.

Most journeys will run to/from Bath Bus Station. The service will enable people to access the Guildhall, Post Office, Library and other shops and facilities in this area of the city centre. This is the same route that the 18 bus took before Conservative councillors attempted to close Pulteney Bridge.

However, the service operates only every 2 hours, and is not a full substitute for the number 18 or U18 services. Your Liberal Democrat councillors are continuing to discuss this issue with the bus operators, who remain unwilling to change from their Pulteney Road and North Parade route as the entry to the city centre.