When I’m 64

On Wednesday morning, the UK Climate Change Committee issued a report saying that if aviation maintained its current levels of Carbon Dioxide emissions, all other sources in the UK must be cut by 90% by 2050 to avert catastrophic climate change.

On Wednesday afternoon I was asked to judge an application for the expansion of Bristol airport, in which CO2 emissions would more than double.

I will be 64 in 2050; I won’t have reached retirement age. Within my working life, my generation must cut greenhouse gas emissions by 90%, while aviation remains as it is. If we can meet this daunting challenge, then the earth will ‘only’ warm by 2 degrees. Climate will change, but we will be able to cope. If say, we don’t manage to make 90% cuts, or if aircraft emissions rise, then temperature will rise by above 2 degrees, the ice-caps will begin to melt and the planet will be locked into a reinforcing pattern of catastrohpic change.

To save the planet in this model, all airports need to do is not expand. The irresponsibility of Bristol International Airport management is incomprehensible.

The BIA planning application will be decided by North Somerset council, but Bristol City and BathNES Councils have been asked to make recommendations. The expansions plans are to double the size of the airport terminal building, to provide 16,000 car parking spaces and build capacity for 10,000,000 passengers per year. This would result in CO2 emissions of 948,680 tonnes per year; an increase of 125% on current levels. The entire of Bath and North East Somerset is responsible for 1,072,000 tonnes per year. Bristol airport wishes to expand to a level at which it will emit almost as much CO2 as 170,000 people in 72,000 homes; 77,000 cars on 690 miles of road; 7,400 businesses and 220 sq miles of land.

At the planning committee meeting, I moved that: “Bath and North East Somerset considers the causes and effects of climate change to be the principal consideration in a development of this nature and recommends that North Somerset refuse the application on these grounds.”

Those who have watched me will know that I am a vigorous public speaker; I’m rather gratified by this review: “I just wanted to write personally to congratulate you on your speech on climate change at yesterday’s DCC meeting. It as good to hear a graduate of this University express himself so well and so much to the point. It set the tone for the debate at a level from which it hardly ever slipped.”

All Liberal Democrat and Labour councillors voted with me, as did two Conservatives, to prevent the expansion of the airport. The motion was passed 8 to 4; the objection of BathNES council will be sent to North Somerset.

However, with the Conservatives running BathNES council, it is very worrying that the majority of Tory councillors voted against the motion, for airport expansion. Conservative policy on airport expansion is ‘mixed’ at best. While the party leadership claims to be against a third runway at Heathrow, the Telegraph quotes a Conservative shadow cabinet member who expects the policy to be “revisited” after the general election. As is often the case, Cameron and the PR people say one thing, but Conservative MPs and councillors (such as ours in BathNES) do another.

As reported in the Bath Chronicle, the airport bosses are not pleased: “The discussion at the B&NES council meeting centred on emotional arguments relating to aviation’s contribution to climate change… We are confident that North Somerset will put much more weight on the employment, economic and tourism benefits generated by the airport.”

In response, I would argue that climate change is the greatest long-term challenge facing the world today (as does the UK government) and it was quite right that the debate centred on this; that’s why I wrote the motion as I did. Naturally, the potential destruction of our civilization within my lifetime does give rise to some emotional arguments, but these are no less compelling than the warnings presented by the world’s scientists. Suggesting that climate change is an emotional issue rather than a matter of science fact is not something I can agree with.

Then there are the percieved short-term employment, economic and tourism benefits of the airport. So far as jobs go, there is direct employment for cleaners, car park attendants, baggage handlers, shop assistants, caterers… the list of badly paid, low skilled jobs at anti-social hours is varied, but, given the shift to budget airlines, quite short. We are told that during the recession, the airport will keep Bath in business, but the development won’t be ready for several years and actually, Bath is doing quite well in this recession.

The supposed benefits to tourism are the real irony here, with over 80% of all BIA flights taking UK residents on holiday away from the region. The residents of Biarritz, Kefalonia, Venice, Faro and Tenerife do not welcome direct flights so that they can visit Bristol. Each of the airport’s 16,000 car park spaces represents a family leaving the South West to spend their money elsewhere.

Interestingly, there are some attempts to mitigate the environmental impact of the airport. BIA will attempt to double the proportion of passengers using public transport to reach the airport, from 8% now to 15% in 2019. In the best case scenario 8,500,000 people would drive to the airport each year. 12 wind turbines would be erected which would resuce the airports CO2 emissions by 48,000 tonnes, leaving only to 948,680 tonnes emitted per year. Finally, there is a suggestion that expanding Bristol will reduce the demand on other airports. This doesn’t really work considering that Heathrow are planning a third runway anyhow.

In conclusion, this is my website and I can write a long rant if I want to. Climate change is the most serious problem facing our civilization; it angers me when airport bosses and Conservative councillors place economic gain ahead of “emotional arguments” about the environment. I am proud of the Development Control committee this week; we have taken positive action now to reduce climate change.

I trust that when Bathwick elected a Liberal Democrat they knew that they were getting an environmentalist!

Public footpath enquiry

Public enquiry into Claverton Down footpath

A government inspector presided over a crowded public inquiry to determine the status of a popular local path.

Bathwick councillor Nicholas Coombes (Lib Dem) joined local residents in making the case to legally record the wide footpath between Claverton and Combe Down. The exact width of the path is disputed by the landowner who believes it is much narrow than claimed by path users and the council.

The council’s footpath records officer presented evidence including hundred year old Ordnance Survey Maps, city maintenance records from the 1960s and recorded eye-witness statements from the 1930s to the present day. These backed the claim that where the path passes between a retaining wall and woodland fence, the entire 7m width between the boundary can be, and has been, regarded as a right of way.

The landowner argued that while the entire area was open, only a thin strip at the edge was ever used as a footpath. The remainder has been variously obstructed by mud, vegetation, gates, rubble and an embankment. He thus believes that only 1.5m can be considered a right of way, and has erected a wooden fence to restrict walkers to this section.

When a member of the council’s footpath committee, Cllr Nicholas Coombes proposed that the footpath be recorded at its full historic width, thus leading the decision by public enquiry. After the meeting he said:

“It was good to see so many local people at the enquiry today; it shows that the people of Bathwick and Claverton Down really do miss the full use of this footpath. I am convinced by the historic evidence and personal accounts, I hope that the inspector was too. The path now is narrow, muddy, dark and some people find it dangerous. I will keep fighting to have it restored to its former self.”

The government inspector will make her judgement in the next few weeks and issue her conclusions in a printed report.

Graffiti painted out

Grafitti on the Pulteney Road rail bridge

The graffiti tag on the Pulteney Road rail bridge has finally been painted out by network rail.

Bathwick councillor Nicholas Coombes was joined by neighbouring Widcombe Lib Dem councillor, Ian Gilchrist, in chasing Network Rail to get the mess cleaned. What seems to have finally pushed the balance was a third member, Neil Butters (LD, Bathavon South) who works in the rail industry, getting involved.

Let’s hope that the bridge stays clean longer this time.

Public footpath enquiry

Footpath AQ78 from Claverton to Coombe Downs

A long running footpath dispute will be settled by public enquiry next month.

A government inspector has been appointed to rule on the width of AQ78 – the footpath from Combe Down to the top of Widcombe Hill. Local councillor Nicholas Coombes pushed the issue at the B&NES footpath committee, proposing that the full width be enforced.

A fence has been erected in recent years reducing the width of the footpath, leaving a dark and narrow muddy track alongside the fence.

“It is important that the original width be reinstated,” says local resident Dr David Martin. “At full width this could also be a safe and convenient cycle route for pupils at Ralph Allen school and Bath University students.”

The enquiry will be on 25th August from 10am in the Claverton Down Community Hall. Cllr Coombes would like to hear from any long term residents who remember using the path before the dence was erected, or have other evidence of its original width. Already one resident has come forward who remembers walking the path, four alongside, with his family in the 1930s!

University neighbours’ Forum – Thurs 18th, 17:30

The next public forum for Bath University and its neighbours is this week. I established this forum to give local residents more information about work and events at the university and to give them more influence in decision making.

The meeting is at 5:30pm on Thursday 18th on campus. The agenda includes news on building works on campus, the new bus service, an update on the masterplan and a list of forthcoming large events on the campus.

Please RSVP to W.J.Marsh@bath.ac.uk or 386285 and refreshments will be prepared for you!

Rubbish and recycling collection changes

Cllr Nicholas Coombes with his recycling box and compost bin

From this week, household waste and recycling is being collected on the same day. If you haven’t yet discovered your day, visit the council website to find out.

I think that these are beneficial changes which reduce the frequency of waste on the streets and makes recycling more practical. I was elected on a manifesto of introducing same day waste collections, so I am glad that the council have introduced this, even if it is much later than I would have liked.

Incidentally, I hear that even David Cameron’s own Conservative council now collect rubbish from his back garden only once a fortnight…

Election results

Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg with Bristol councillors

On 4th June the European Elections co-incided with local elections in most rural areas of the country.

As an active Liberal Democrat supporter, I have been campaigning for my party in these elections, in Bath for the European elections, but mostly in Bristol where we stood a good chance of winning control of the council.

Our Lib Dem MEP, Graham Watson, has been in Bath several times last month. I joined him leafleting in Lambridge, near his mother’s old house! I am proud that the Liberal Democrats campaigned for the European elections on European issues. In the last two months, we delivered three European themed leaflets to (nearly) every house in Bath – 100,000 items in all. It is disappointing that no other party took these elections seriously enough to campaign to this degree.

In the run up to the elections, with politics and the opinion polls in flux, the election was considered very unpredictable. The results, oddly, show very little change from five years ago. Nationally, the number of MEPs representing Britain to Brussels has reduced. Labour absorbed most of these losses; indeed here in the South West the allocation went down by one, and our Labour MEP lost his seat. Aside from that, there was no change in BathNES, in the South West or (to much extent) nationally. The only notable result in BathNES was the fall of the Labour vote and the comensurate growth of the Green and minor party vote. The Conservatives, Lib Dems and UKIP got largely the same result on the same turnout.

In Bristol, however, the local elections have brought about significant change. The Liberal Democrats won four extra councillors, giving them majority control of the city. Labour lost heavily in a once strong labour council. This fits a little noticed pattern of Liberal Democrat growth in urban areas. The Lib Dems now run Bristol, Cardiff, Sheffield, Liverpool, Newcastle and Edinburgh city councils among others. Nationwide, the Lib Dems came second in the popular vote – again ahead of Labour – and were the only party to increase their support from the previous election.

That’s why this website has been a little quiet recently – I have been developing a healthy suntan delivering leaflets to the suburban housing estates of Bristol. This isn’t just good exercise, Lib Dem control of Bristol city council has real benefits to us here in Bath. My primary concern was the proposed incinerator, which the fallen Labour council had been forcing through. This pollution and unsustainable project is now dead, just in time before a single chimney was built!

Throw-away article

a new bin by the university

While I can’t resist a pun-headline, waste is an important issue.

Litter bins in particular are of concern to many up and down Bathwick Hill. Over the course of the last two years, Armand and I have had to harrass the council bin department about the replacement of three bins on the hill, at the canal bridge, opposite Cleveland Walk and at the top bus stop.

This month though, I have had the minor triumph of an all-new bin being installed at the very top of the hill. This is at the junction of Bathwick Hill, North Road, Copseland, Oakley and The Avenue – a rather busy pedestrian intersection, especially with the foot path access to the university. This is a prime location for students walking to and from campus, and also catches them leaving the bus here, as pointed out by members of the Beech Avenue Residents’ Association at their last AGM.

However, even the expension of our litter bin network is only maintenance; it does not develop our approach to waste. The Liberal Democrats have long argued for a ‘Zero Waste’ policy, which tackles the entire length of the waste chain. This is why, for example, we are opposed to the Bristol incinerator; provision of an easy ‘solution’ does not encourage recycling or deter production (of excess packaging for example).

At the most recent council cabinet meeting, I asked the Conservatives about putting recycling bins on the street, alongside normal litter bins. I had first asked about this in November 2007. The answer, paraphrased, is that the trials of recycling bins in parks, that the inherited from the Liberal Democrat administration 2 years ago, are continuing successfully. No moves have been made to expand this into the street.

Somewhat disappointing.

not again…

Grafitti on the Pulteney Road rail bridge The bollard on George Street has been hit again

Disappointingly I’ve been revisiting some old issues this week, fixed once, which need fixing again.

The railway bridge over Pulteney Road has been tagged again, this time with “MY TEAM”. This doesn’t make much more sense than the previous tag, “THICK”, but could take as long to clean off. See previous entries  here and here; it took the best part of a year to have the bridge re-painted last time. Again, Network Rail have confirmed to me that Pulteney Road will have to be closed for the tag to be painted out. A correspondant suggests “use the bridge space for a more useful and innovative purpose”. Does anyone else have any suggestions? A mural or a display board? As my photo shows, no matter how hard you try, anything looks nice on a sunny Spring day in Bath.

Also this week, the bollard on George Street (Bathwick Hill) at the junction with Darlington Street has come unstuck. I suspect that it will be repaired again, but I know a few people pushing for its removal.

A little rubbish

New bins are needed

Bathwick has been promised two new litter bins from BathNES council. One is to replace a missing bin on Bathwick Hill opposite Cleveland Walk, the other a completely new installation opposite Copseland on the top of the hill.

Cllr Coombes and the Bathwick Hill residents’ association have a long list of potential new bin sites, including the top of Madiera Walk and near King Edwards School. However, considering Tory budget cuts and the existing backlog at the bin department, two new bins is a minor success!

The new bin at the top of Bathwick Hill will coincide with the bus stop for the University footpath, just beyond the North Road junction. There has long been a need for a bin here, both for alighting bus passengers and walkers. Now that the request has been approved, this site is on the list for contractors to install.