The Liberal Democrats running BathNES Council have approved a plan to cut speed limits in residential areas. The policy was officially signed by leading councillors today.

Twenty mph limits will be designated on all residential roads in Bathwick; this does not include any part of Bathwick Hill or Warminster Road. Local residents and your Bathwick councillors have campaigned for reduced road speeds for many years, which make our residential roads safer for pedestrians and cyclists, including children and the elderly.

Cllr Nicholas Coombes has requested that the council re-paint the lost white lines at the end of Quarry Road. The dashed lines at the junction with North Road, at the University’s western entrance, have been lost through road patching. Local residents pointed out the lost lines at the most recent University Neighbours Forum.

A stretch of pavement on Bathwick Hill is being relaid to improve the surface.

The pennant stones in the middle section of the hill had become uneven. Cllr David Martin requested that they be repaired to prevent the hazard to pedestrians.

The Council has issued a draft order for introducing 20 mph on lengths of several roads in Bathwick ward.

The roads involved include mainly the residential areas situated off Bathwick Hill, and the Claverton Down area, and the residential areas off Warminster Road. Only a very short section at the top of Bathwick Hill is included together with only the section of North Road near King Edwards School.  For further details, you can access the relevant webpage on the Council website here, and we can also provide further information.  Any representations about these proposals need to be with the Council by 15 January 2015, and should be sent directly to them.

Local campaigner Claire Jackson said “the introduction of 20 mph limits in residential areas is a positive step in improving safety in the local road environment for drivers, pedestrians and cyclists alike”.

Pedestrians trying to cross the lower end of North Road at its junction with the A36 Warminster Road have great difficulty in crossing safely due to the arrangement of the junction. Traffic approaches the junction from three directions – from North Road, and from each side of Warminster Road, and adequate visibility of approaching traffic can be a problem.

Local residents collected over 80 names for a petition which was presented to the Council Cabinet meeting in November.  The petition, which was supported by Cllr David Martin, called for the Council to examine different options to improve the safety of pedestrians at this location. The Council will now be considering the road safety issues and will be responding to the petition in the near future.

More brand new bus shelters have been installed in Bathwick, from Claverton Down to Cleveland Walk. The shelters were designed especially for the city, and have been delivered in the Bath Transport Package.

The shelter on Claverton Down Road replaces an older, more exposed shelter. The shelter at the junction of Bathwick Hill and Claveland Walk is a brand new facility, affording potential passengers rest and a roof. Both are ready for ‘real-time’ information screens when this is available on the route.

The Liberal Democrat led BathNES Council has delivered the Bath Transport Package, including expansions to all three Park & Ride sites and ten showcase bus routes across the city.

A new bus stop is planned for St Patrick’s Court on Bathwick Hill. The stop will benefit local residents travelling in to town.

The stop will be part of the Bath Transport Package of improvements to public transport across the city, delivered by Liberal Democrats on BathNES Council. Your local councillors have pressed the council to create the new stop after speaking with local residents.

Many elderly residents living in and around St Ann’s Way want to travel to the city centre by bus, but struggle to use the existing bus stops. The nearest downhill stops are at Raby Place, some distance away, or opposite Cleveland Walk, up a steep part of Bathwick Hill. Provision of a stop in this location will correct the current imbalance, as there are currently more stops on the other side of the road. It also reduces a long gap between stops in this location.

A bus shelter is planned with real time bus service information. The shelter will be in front of St Patrick’s Court flats, so will not spoil any views of the hill. Some on street parking will be lost to the bus stop, but no residents’ parking will be affected.