Christmas at the University

 

 

The University of Bath is already closed for Christmas, with students not back at lectures until 7th January. However, most of the campus services are open for some or part of the winter break.

 

 

 

4W Café

 

  • Monday 17 December until Friday 21 December :  8am-5pm
  • Saturday 22 December until Tuesday 1 January: closed
  • Wednesday 2 January reopens : 8am

 

 Sports Café

 

  • Monday 17 December – Thursday 20 December : 8am-7pm
  • Friday 21 December : 8am-5pm
  • Saturday 22 – Sunday 23 December : 9am-3pm
  • Monday 24 December until Tuesday 1 January: closed
  • Wednesday 2 January reopens : 8am

 

 parade

 

  • Saturday 15 December until Friday 21 December: noon-5pm
  • Saturday 22 December until Tuesday 4 January: closed
  • Saturday 5 January reopens : Noon

 

Wessex Restaurant

 

  • Saturday 22 December until Sunday 6 January: closed
  • Monday 7 January reopens : noon-2.30pm
  • Monday 14 January : 8am-10am & noon-2.30pm

 

 

 

 

Fresh

 

  • Monday 17 – Friday 21 December : 7.30am-7pm
  • Saturday 22 December : 9am-4pm
  • Sunday 23 December – Tuesday 1 January : Closed
  • Wednesday 2 January – Friday 4 January : 7.30am-7pm
  • Saturday 5 January – Sunday 6 January : 9am-4pm
  • Monday 7 January : normal hours

 

Fresh Express

 

Open until 5.30 until Friday 21 December then closed for the whole Christmas period, opening again on Wednesday 2 January.

 

 Post Office

 

  • Closes on Friday 21 December and re-opens on Wednesday 2 January
  • May close for lunch during Student Vacation
  • Last day of posting
    1st class – Thursday 20 December
    2nd class – Tuesday 18 December

 

 Costa

 

Open until Friday 21 December from 8 to 4.  Then closed until Wednesday 2 January when it will open 8 to 5.

 

 Fresh Style

 

Open until Friday 21 December from 10 to 4. Then closed until Wednesday 2 January when it is open 10 to 5 and then normal hours from 7 January.

Banks on campus

 

  • Santander closes Wednesday 19 December and reopens Monday 7 January.
  • Barclays closes Friday 21 and reopens Wednesday 2 January.

 

 

 

Medical Centre

 

  • Saturday 22 December : Closed
  • Tuesday 25 December & Wednesday 26 December : Closed
  • Saturday 29 December : Closed
  • Tuesday 1 January : Closed
  • If you need medical assistance on these dates phone 01225 386655

 

 Dental Centre

 

  • Monday 24 December: open 9-11.30am
  • Thursday 27 & Friday 28 December: open 9-11am
  • Monday 31 December : open 9-11am
  • Thursday 3 January : resume normal hours

 

 

 

Sports facilities – STV

 

  • Monday 24 December until Wednesday 26 December : Closed
  • Thursday 27 December until – Monday 31 December : reduced opening hours : 9am-4pm
  • Tuesday 1 January: closed
  • Wednesday 2 January : Normal opening hours resume
  • Saturday 22 December until Wednesday 2 January :The Founders Hall and Squash Courts closed

 

 ICIA

 

  • Closes Friday 21 December
  • Re-opens Wednesday 2 January

 

 

 

Public Transport

 

  • There are no bus services on 25 and 26 December.  See the First website and Wessex Connect website for more details.
  • National Express will operate reduced services on 24 and 26 December. There will be no service on 25 December.

Free warmer home check-ups for elderly and disabled

A brand new service provider funded by Bath & North East Somerset Council offering practical services supporting elderly, disabled people of any age, and vulnerable people to support them to live in warm, safe, and secure homes is offering free home check-ups in the run-up to Christmas and into the New Year.

West of England Care & Repair is now providing Home Improvement Agency services to residents in partnership with the Council in an initiative funded by the Department of Health. They offer practical help services such as small repairs, minor home adaptations and housing related advice including support to make choices about where to live.

Councillor Simon Allen (Lib-Dem, Radstock), Cabinet Member for Wellbeing, said, ““The Council welcomes one of the first actions to address the impact of cold weather from West of England Care & Repair which is to offer these free home check-ups for Winter.”

From now until 2035 the over-65 population is likely to increase by 50%, and the over-85 population is likely to increase by 110% over the same timescale.

Councillor Allen explained, “The area is facing a ticking demographic time bomb as the number of older people continues to rise rapidly. This service is part of Bath & North East Somerset Council’s overall £5 million commitment to people with intermediate or low level needs to ensure those residents are supported to live in their own home as long as possible and preventing the need for costly residential or nursing care placements.”

Craig Wilson, West of England Care & Repair’s Chief Executive, said, “We are encouraging homeowners over 60 and disabled people of all ages to contact us to book up a free warm home check-up. As well as giving you advice on essential home maintenance we are also giving out free packs to people in need which include a hot water bottle, snuggle blanket, socks and gloves, and an insulated cup.

“We want to make sure people get advice on keeping themselves and their home warmer this winter. The free warm home check-up includes advice on loft insulation, smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, central heating systems and draft proofing amongst other things.”

West of England Care & Repair can help on most housing issues from repairing a leaking tap, to replacing a bath with a walk-in shower to re-wiring your house.

Residents can also find out more about help available to keep warm at home and prepare for severe winter weather by contacting the Council Home Energy Team on 0800 082 2234.

Advice and support on applying for grants and benefits for housing work and help fundraise for clients on low incomes is also available on 0300 323 0700 or visit www.wecr.org.uk

Repair works on Bathwick Hill made safer for pedestrians

Path on Bathwick Hill

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.

Muddy path petition launched

David and Nicholas inspect the dismantled fence

Bathwick’s Liberal Democrat councillors have launched a petition in support of upgrading the muddy footpath.

You can add your name at www.ourcampaign.org.uk/muddypath

Over the years Nicholas Coombes and David Martin have campaigned to have the path from Claverton Down to Combe Down legally recognised as the AQ78. They have worked to have the fence taken down and recently secured a temporary surface improvement.

The final step is upgrading the path to ‘restricted byway’ status. With this, the path can be legally used by cyclists, and the council will re-surfae the path and make it safer for all users.

BathNES Council will soon put an application before a government inspector to decide the matter. Your local councillors want to prove the community’s support with a petition to demonstrate the demand for this change.

A safe and legal shared path will benefit pupils at Ralph Allen and University Students who could walk or cycle the route. An improved suface would be beneficial for walkers, wheelchair users and pushchairs. Regularising the path would also lead to safety improvements for all.

Please sign the petition at www.ourcampaign.org.uk/muddypath

David Martin funds interpretation board

David Martin and the canal interpretation board

Bathwick councillor Dr David Martin has funded a new interpretation board on the Kennet & Avon canal as part of a circular audio trail.

The board at Darlington Wharf on Beckford Road tells the story of the canal and highlights notable features. It is one of the stops on a walking route along the canal, Great Pulteney Street and the River which takes in locks, Sydney Gardens and preserved industrial features. The trail and map is also online at http://canalrivertrust.org.uk/bath-flight.

Cllr Martin funded the board using a portion of his Ward Councillor Initiative funding, which allows him to support small projects within Bathwick. If you know of any local initiatives in need of a small grant, please contact your Liberal Democrat councillors David Martin or Nicholas Coombes.

The audio trail is also written up by the Bath Chronicle.

Surface improvement for muddy footpath

David and Nicholas inspect the dismantled fence

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.

Vote for Pete Levy on Thursday 15th November

Pete Levy for Police Commissioner

Pete is a former policeman who’ll work hard to protect your family, home and business.

He’s had frontline police experience with Wiltshire Constabulary. He then served six years with the Royal Military Police.

He’s got in depth knowledge of Avon and Somerset Police serving on its Police Authority for the last two years. He’s dealt with budget cuts whilst working with the police to ensure they provide the highest level of service.

He will be inclusive, honest, fair, independent-minded and accountable.

On the first day of taking office he will:

  • Commit our police to continue to reduce overall crime.
  • Support victims of crime and ensure witnesses get the help they need.
  • Robustly tackle all drugs related crime whilst working with agencies to pursue a constructive approach to drug and alcohol addiction.
  • Ensure a fair share of resources across rural and urban communities.
  • Commit to helping vulnerable members of society and work with other agencies to provide support for those with mental health issues.
  • Tackle all violence against women and girls and all forms of exploitation.
  • Be a voice for minorities in our communities.
  • Work across public services to ensure a vibrant yet safe night-time economy.
  • Reduce re-offending by enforcing a robust restorative justice regime.
  • Tackle all types of anti-social behaviour and stand by repeat victims.
  • Build an effective neighbourhood forum to focus on issues of common interest including graffiti, vandalism, speeding, dog fouling.

Pete was born in Somerset; He lives in Bristol. He knows our area and the wonderful people who live here. Like you he wants to live and work in a safe community.

Please give Pete your first preference vote on Thursday 15th November. Poll are open 7am-10pm at the normal polling stations.

City centre bus stop changes

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.