Following requests from your local Councillors, the footpaths on Sham Castle Lane have been repaired and new surfaces laid down. The Council is carrying out a continuing programme of footpath improvements in the city, and sections of the pavement stones on the upper part of Bathwick Hill have also recently been repaired.
Work has started on a new permanent surface for the footpath between Claverton Down and Combe Down. Your Liberal Democrat councillors have supported local residents in campaigning for improvements to the ‘muddy path’ for many years.
The permanent surface of stone chippings will stop the long stretches of mud and puddles which have become a winter feature of the path in recent years. The route is heavily used both by recreational walkers, and by students and pupils of Ralph Allen and the University.
The new stronger surface will also allow the path to be used by cyclists, following the ruling of the government planning inspector. This will save cyclists the longer, hillier and more dangerous route along Claverton Down Road.
“I’m really pleased to see this work being done, after all these years of campaigning,” said Cllr Nicholas Coombes. “Many local residents, students and council staff have worked hard to have this route recognised and improved. I hope that the new surface allows them to enjoy this route, whether walking or cycling for leisure, to work or study.”
BathNES Council is researching footpaths in Bathwick and part of Combe Down to determine whether or not they are public rights of way. This work involves a public consultation which is open until 16 January 2015. Paths which are found to be public rights of way will be included in a Legal Order and added to the Definitive Map and Statement for the city.
There are 17 paths included in the consultation. The Council needs to have information about the public’s usage of each path, whether there have been any barriers or problems in using them and other details about how people have found the ease of access over recent years. There is a questionnaire for each path which the public is invited to complete.
The contact at the Council for enquiries is Bath_DSM@bathnes.gov.uk. The relevant page on the Council web site with more information, a map of the footpaths and the questionnaire can be found by clicking here. Local community volunteer Claire Jackson said “your Bathwick Liberal Democrat team are supporting the inclusion of these popular footpaths to protect their use in the future”.
The muddy path between Combe Down and Claverton Down is set to be surfaced in November.
A stone path with be laid to 3m wide along the full length of the route. The work is expected to take four weeks.
“This is a great result,” said local Liberal Democrat councillor Nicholas Coombes, “we have been campaigning for improvements to this path for many years. I know that many local residents, students, walkers and cyclists will be very pleased with these works.”
The footpath between the Kennett and Avon Canal and Pulteney Road has been resurfaced and improvements made to the steps. Local resident Claire Jackson commented “this path is a very popular route into town and the improvements will make it safer and more accessible for users”.
A short lane leading into the university campus at the top of Bathwick Hill has been formally named “Soldier Down Lane”.
Local historians have identified a connection with the battle of Lansdown during the Civil War. There is evidence that the lane was used by the Parliamentarian forces during and after the battle when they were camped on Claverton Down.
Bath’s first Park Run will be on Claverton Down next month along the National Trust’s Bath Skyline paths.
Park Run organise weekly runs for the community, which are timed over a 5km distance. The first event in Bath is being organised by @bathrunner.
The meeting place is in the council fields opposite Monkton Prep school, at 10am on 4th October. The organisers are also having a trial run on 27th September.
The path between Pulteney Road and the Kennet & Avon Canal is to be improved this Autumn. The path leads from the railway bridge opposite North Parade Bridge Road, past the new Rennie Close, and up to the canal by the allotments.
The developer of Rennie Close provided BathNES Council with money to improve the quality of the footpath. Your Liberal Democrat councillors have been pressing council staff to implement the planned improvements. These include the reconstruction of the steps and installation of a channel for pushing cycles up.
The Council has now issued a notice warning of the closure of the path while work is to be carried out. They have allowed a six month period, from 25th August, to complete the works. However, the path will not be closed for this duration; only when necessary to undertake the works.
The Council is drawing up a definitive list of public rights of way in Bathwick ward.
Some of the well used footpaths are not officially or legally recorded at present. Local community volunteer Claire Jackson said “Your Lib Dem team are supporting the inclusion of these popular footpaths to protect their use in the future.”
The Council has started initial research and will be undertaking consultation with local residents, landlords and user groups. If you would like to see the map of footpaths in Bathwick, or respond to the Council’s consultation, please contact Cllr Martin.
Bathwick councillors David Martin and Nicholas Coombes and lobbying BathNES Council to improve the footpath and steps at Lime Grove Gardens, from the canal to North Parade Road.
The Council has now drawn up a plan to re-surface the whole path and reconstruct the steps to improve safety. There will also be a channel installed alongside the steps for bicycle wheels, so that cycles can be pushed up the path. The works are funded by an agreement with the developers of Rennie Close.
Now that a plan has been drawn up, the works are expected to be done during the summer.