When I stood down from BathNES Council, I stopped updating this website. However, after four years, I feel it deserves a proper ending.

Sadly David Martin and Claire Jackson were not elected in 2015; Bath voted for a Conservative MP and councillors. On a bad night for the Liberal Democrats across the country, I was especially saddened to see Bathwick lose David. My friend and colleague was easily the most capable and active councillor for Bathwick in recent years.

In 2017 Bath overwhelmingly returned a Liberal Democrat MP, as the Conservative government started to pursue an increasingly extreme Brexit policy.

For the council elections in 2019, I was happy to return to Bath to support my old colleagues, and to canvass for Manda Rigby and Dr Kumar in Bathwick. I am delighted that both were elected, as the Liberal Democrats took majority control of BathNES Council for the first time.

Congratulations Cllrs Rigby and Kumar, and best wishes to you and to Bathwick.

I have since moved to Bristol, and become a chartered town planner, specialising in nationally significant infrastructure. I am still politically active, and intend to stand again for council and for parliament in the coming years.

~Nicholas

Norwood Avenue, the south eastern entrance to the university, is to be resurfaced during the Easter holidays. The road is likely to be closed from 30th March, with buses diverted.

A carnival, organised by the Bath School of Samba, is coming to Sydney Gardens this weekend. There will be a activities, a parade and a party in the park.

During the afternoon, organisers will facilitate workshops in Sydney Gardens for families to prepare for the carnival. The parade itself will be between 6:30 and 8pm, starting and finishing in Great Pulteney Street. The route will include a circuit of Grand Parade and High Street, and also of Milsom Street and Broad Street. In the evening, there will be live music and dance in the gardens until 9:30pm. Through the day there will be food and drink outlets in the gardens.

The organisation of the event has not been without controversy, with many residents concerned about the late notice and potential for disturbance. BathNES Council and the event organisers have had detailed discussions in recent weeks to agree protective measures – including for bats nesting in the Minerva Temple.

BathNES Council’s emergency number is 01225 477 477.

Cleveland Pools are taking part in the Heritage Open Weekend on Friday 13th – Sunday 15th September.

The Cleveland Pools Trust are working on restoring the Georgian lido to public use. Built in 1815, the pool is unique yet has been disused since 1984.

The pools site will be open from 2-5pm on each of the days. This year, for the first time, there will be public access to the cottage as well as the pools. Access is from Hampton Row, by the railway in the Bathwick Estate. Parking nearby is difficult and access to the site is down an uneven path.

Bath MP Don Foster and local Councillor David Martin are planning on attending the first open day on Friday 13th.

Bathwick councillor David Martin tweets about Bath and environmental issues.

You can read his tweets at www.twitter.com/davidmartinbath and follow him at @DavidMartinBath

The footpath from Claverton Down to Combe Down will recieve a temporary surface to make it more accessible in Winter.

The muddy path is a popular route for walkers and students but is at times almost impassible in places. Your Liberal Democrat councillors have long been campaigning to improve it. A government inspector will soon hear whether the path should be upgraded to a bridleway, so that it can be used safely and legally by cyclists with a consequent surface upgrade.

In the mean time, a section of the path will be improved to make it more usable in poor weather. Only a small part of the whole path will be done to save money, as the whole path will be upgraded if it is designated as a bridleway.

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!”