This website, the online home of your Bathwick Liberal Democrats, doesn’t often carry messages from the Conservative party, but today is an exception.

• 2011 Conservative council candidates: “Tony and Johnny are backing investment in local road safety, such as plans for a new zebra crossing at the bottom of Bathwick Hill”

• 2013 Conservative campaigner: “these plans have not been thought through”

During the consultation into the proposed zebra crossing at the bottom of Bathwick Hill, many asked where such an idea had come from. It appears that it was an election gimmick from Conservatives hoping to be elected in Bathwick. Having lost the election they forgot about the idea, but it was already lodged in BathNES Council’s list of potential schemes. Two years later the idea was drawn up and taken out to public consultation.

Dozens of local residents objected to the proposal, including your local Liberal Democrat councillors. Given this negative reception it is hardly surprising that the Conservatives have reversed their position. However, the process of designing the scheme and consulting the public will have been costly to the taxpayer.

It is yet to be seen whether proposing, then opposing, the works will be beneficial to the Conservatives’ electoral prospects, but it has certainly hurt public finances.

During the recent cold snap the street sign at the top of North Road was damaged.

Cllr David Martin has reported the breakage to BathNES Council and anticipates a replacement sign.

Freezing conditions and vehicle traffic also seems to be contributing to the break up of the pavement outside Miles House nursery on Bathwick Hill. As the mortar has degraded, many of the slabs have come lose. Cllr Nicholas Coombes has reported the problem to the council for repair.

The Council has suggested installing a zebra crossing at the bottom of Bathwick Hill, near the roundabout.

While there may be some benefits, your Lib Dem councillors have concerns about the scheme. A number of parking spaces will be lost, the bus stop will be moved so that buses wait on the roundabout, and the carriageway wil be reduced to a single lane approaching the roundabout. Click on the image above for a larger drawing of the plans.

Bathwick councillors Nicholas Coombes and David Martin want to know what you think about the plans. If you support or object to the proposed zebra crossing, please take part in the public consultation. Email transportation@bathnes.gov.uk by 31st January quoting PEV8719/TP. Please CC nicholas_coombes@bathnes.gov.uk or david_martin@bahtnes.gov.uk so that your councillors are better able to represent your views.

Whilst major repair works are to be carried out on the retaining wall at Bathwick Grange, the adjacent footpath on Bathwick Hill has been closed to pedestrians.

This presented a potential safety problem for pedestrians and road users, mainly due to the bend in the road and the unrestricted parking on the opposite side of the hill. Pedestrians would have to cross the road at this point or step into the roadway in order to pass the footpath closure.

The situation has now been improved by the installation of a safer protected route for pedestrians alongside the closed section of footpath, and the use of temporary no-parking cones opposite. Bathwick Hill is a very busy route at most times of day for vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians alike, and all users need to take care when passing this location.

Bathwick bus services will stop outside the railway station when building work finished next month.

The project to create a town city square between the railway station and bus station opens up the arches under the railway for shops and restaurants. The developer promises that this will be finished before Christmas. The new square will also include new bus stops along the length of Dorchester Street.

The 18 and U18 service will stop outside the railway station on Dorchester Street instead of Manvers Street as is currently the case. The 20A service will also move from Manvers street to a stop outside the bus station on Dorchester Street.

The changes are expected during December when the buiding works are completed.