SouthGate or Southgate?

Morley Fund Management and the Council want to rebrand the Southgate Shopping centre by giving it a capital G in the middle of it's name.

Visit www.southgatebath.co.uk

Note how SouthGate is spelt with a capital G in the middle – I am advised that this is part of the rebranding!

But do we like it? Is this a case of Marketing and Advertising gurus taking one step too far with our historic city? Or is this the new forward looking City we want? Take the survey below, and I will let the Developers know what we think!

View MicroPoll
Web Survey

Back Lane at Kensington Gardens

After a number of residents had approached me about the amount of rubbish building up in this rear access lane Council officers have now distributed a letter reminding residents of their responsibility to keep these tidy and will be undertaking door knocking to help people recycling and produce less in their black bags.

Do you have a similar problem in your back lane? If so let us know!

Parking Survey for Thomas Street and near by areas

Due to the increased number of enquiries about residents’ parking, Councillor David Dixon and Colin Darracott, along with local residents are consulting again about the possible introduction of a Controlled Parking Zone (commonly referred to as residents’ parking) for the Thomas Street and surrounding areas. Residents are being urged to return their survey when they receive them.

The outcome of the last survey, undertaken in 2005, of the 62 returned questionnaires, the majority indicated that difficulties in parking occurred during the evenings and weekends (67.7% and 62.9% respectively) as detailed below:-

· 48.4% indicated it was difficult to park sometimes

· 45.2% thought residents parking was appropriate

· 38.7% considered it would not be appropriate

· 58.1% would like further investigations into the introduction of residents parking.

Since this survey we have seen the following:

• Recent introduction of a Controlled Parking Zone in the Bathwick Estate
• About to see new parking restrictions in Pera Road and Thomas Street (introduced to facilitate access for emergency vehicles)
• Camden Road Area Residents Association have consulted and residents have voted FOR a Controlled Parking Scheme.

Some facts about Controlled Parking Zones

Hours of operation	Schemes operate between 8am and 6pm Monday to Saturday.
Cost	Currently the cost is £50 for the first car, and £75 for a second car. Visitor permits of the old paper type (£5 for a book of 25) are each valid for one day. People over 60 can receive up to 200 permits per household, those under 60 just 100 maximum per household. Under the new electronic scheme, visitor permits will be £5 for 250 hours, with up to a maximum of 1000 hours per annum (2000 hours per household for those over 60). The advantage of the electronic system is that if the visitor only stays 1 hour, only 1 hour is used up on the permit. With the old paper permit, using it for 1 hour would use it all up for the whole day. Under the new scheme, old-style paper visitors permits will still be available for those who prefer it. To qualify for a visitors permit, you do not have to have purchased a permit, all you have to be is a resident of the zone. These fees cover initial set up costs, administration and to pay for Parking Attendants to patrol the areas in order to enforce the scheme. Controlled Parking Zones will not be introduced for free, and it is useful to note that it is illegal to set up schemes which aim to make a profit. Bath and North East Somerset’s policy is that controlled parking zone schemes should be self financing.
Availability	This scheme does not guarantee a parking space. It is applicable to residents and businesses within the zone only and is limited to a maximum of two cars per household. Certain users or organisations (such as Carers) can apply to the Council for special permits.

1. Do you support or object to the introduction of a Controlled Parking Zone within this area?

Support	Object	No opinion
id pl

2. How difficult is it to park in your street?:

Very
A little
Not difficult

3. How many vehicles does your household have?

None

1

2

3

4+

4. Do you have any off street parking, for example garage or driveway?

Yes
No

5. Do you run a business from home and need limited waiting to cater for visitors to your business?

Yes	No
id pl

6. Are you living in a property of multiple occupancy?

Yes	No
id pl

If yes how many people live in this property? ­­­­_______

If there is sufficient support for a Controlled Parking Zone, Councillor David Dixon will make a request to Bath & North East Somerset Council for this to be implemented.

NEW EMAIL ADDRESS

PLEASE NOTE THAT I HAVE A NEW EMAIL ADDRESS:

ddixon.bathnes@btinternet.com

This week's planning applications submitted

Ward: Walcot App Ref: 06/01211/FUL

Parish:

Registered: 30/03/2006 Expiry Date: 25/05/2006

Location: 26 Thomas Street Walcot Bath BA1 5NN

Grid Reference: 375276 165837

Proposal: Single-storey rear extension

Case Helen McCabe

Applicant: Emma Bristow Agent Name:

Applicant 26 Thomas Street Agent

Walcot Agent

Bath

BA1 5NN

Ward: Walcot App Ref: 06/01205/FUL

Parish:

Registered: 29/03/2006 Expiry Date: 24/05/2006

Location: Garden Flat 3 Beckford Road Bathwick Bath BA2 6NH

Grid Reference: 375737 165436

Proposal: Single-storey rear extension

Case Andrew Ross

Applicant: C/O Agent Agent Name: SR Architects Ltd

Applicant Agent 6 Riverside Court

Lower Bristol Road

Bath

BA2 3DZ

If you would like to find out more about a planning application, search for applications or comment on a planning application please click the Public Access Image on the left.

Rooting for Tree Lined Avenues to be Restored

A Campaign is under way to reintroduce tree-lined avenues in Bathwick. There are now gaps in the trees that line many of the streets in the area. It is thought that 27 trees are missing on the Bathwick Estate, with Powlett Road and Forrester Roads suffering along with Forrester Avenue, where there are 12 trees missing.
It is believed that many of the trees have been removed over the years, either during maintenance work or after being hit by cars. Cllr David Dixon, who represents Walcot ward on Bath and North East Somerset Council, said he was keen to see work take place."It is quite important to maintain these trees," he said. "I have asked the council what is going to happen and we are working to get them replaced."I am hoping for some good news on it later in the week. The trees make up the street scene and make it a nicer place to be."The Bathwick Estates Residents' Association has also welcomed any possible move forward."We have been trying for a few years to get these trees replaced," said a spokeswoman."Everyone in the area wants them replaced. They make it look much nicer and softer."Some of them are quite sizeable and the ones that have been replaced have been replaced with modern trees which cost less to maintain."If something is to be decided soon that would be great."

Snow Hill - Condensation and Mould

The tragic death of a Snow Hill resident in January has prompted local councillors to launch an investigation into how another tragedy can be avoided. Cllrs David Dixon and Colin Darracott, who both represent the Walcot ward, arranged a meeting with Somer Housing Group to look at the properties like the one that 24-year-old Laura Smith was staying in when she died.The Snow Hill resident's family were devastated to learn their asthmatic relation died in a flat riddled with damp.The young woman had been moved into the flat in November, and had complained to her family about the dampness in her flat.Cllr Dixon said Somer provided leaflets about what residents should do, and said there was help at hand if people contacted the housing association.He urged anybody experiencing problems to talk to Somer, or to contact him.

Sydney Gardens Traffic Scheme

There was a productive site meeting with residents at the Sydney Gardens crossing. Among many issues and problems highlighted were, traffic travelling much faster through parts of the system, pedestrians mixing with traffic stood still on crossings and general confusion of when to stop or go.

Those in charge of transport and have been asked to revisit the scheme, with a view to making improvements. The view of the Conservative Executive Member for Transportation and Highways was that it is the fault of the drivers that this scheme does not work well, not the fault of the road layout itself. We await improvements. Meanwhile Cllr David Dixon has spoken to the Police to ask if in the meantime they would observe and advise motorists as to the purpose of hatched boxes, to ensure pedestrian safety.

Funding for Riverside Centre

Two bids for funding were made to the Safer Communities Initiative and both have been awarded. These are both related to the Riverside Youth and Community Centre, behind the Porter Butt on the London Road.

The awards are for the funding of a net for the basketball court to stop the ball going over into Weymouth Street, which means that young people using this facility will no longer have to leave the centre to get their ball back and residents no longer have to worry about damage to their cars, or intruders into their gardens.

The other award is to fund lighting along the dark access road to the centre, which has been an issue for many years and in the past has put off people using the centre in the evenings.

Tennis Courts at Sydney Gardens

After a local resident advised Cllr David Dixon, he has asked that Aquaterra replace the broken net on the tennis court in Sydney Gardens. Cllr David Dixon said, “It is very important that if these facilities are provided that they are kept in good working order. I do hope that Aquaterra replace these nets very soon so that our residents can make best use of this facility”.

Lighting for London Road

Most of the new street lights along the London Road are now in place. Cllr Colin Darracott said, “I know that residents will like the new street lighting, as it should improve the quality of lighting along the London Road and I feel that the design of the lights are in keeping with the area. It is important that we work hard to improve the London Road, after all it is the gateway to a World Heritage City.”

Lambridge Park and Ride

You may have already heard that the flood compensation works at Mill Lane were turn down by the Council’s Development Control Committee. This means that the Park and Ride at Lambridge can not go ahead. The Park and Ride at Lambridge would be a waste of valuable resources as it is simply too close to the City Centre, too small and would probably be full by 10am. It was noted that the traffic on the London Road would not decrease, but that any spare capacity would have been taken up by suppressed demand.

Cllr David Dixon said, “No one denies that there is not a need for a Park and Ride to the East of Bath, however £6.5million for a scheme which would do nothing to improve the London Road Area, to me does not represent value for money. Once the Car Park is full there will be serious overspill of parking into surrounding streets, would actually worsen the parking situation and increase rat running along through Fairfield Park and along Camden. The Park and Ride really needs to be further out from the City and not in the already congested zone.”

Proposed Parking Restrictions

There are proposals to introduce parking restrictions on Pera Road, Thomas Street, Snow Hill and Arundel Road.The restrictions on Snow Hill were extensively consulted on and drawn up in cooperation with Somer Housing last year. This includes the introduction of a Crossing Point on Snow Hill and hopefully the restrictions will help to slow down traffic flows and make life safer for residents crossing the estate.

We are very keen to receive comments from nearby residents on the rest of the proposals and I am able to send copies of these to any interested residents by email or by post. I would encourage all residents whether in favour for the proposals or not to comment. The quickest way for this is to send an email to transportation@bathnes.gov.uk (I would be grateful if you would copy us in… walcot@bathnes.fsnet.co.uk ).

As you nay know the Planning, Transportation, Economy and Sustainability Overview and Scrutiny Panel, Chaired by Cllr David Dixon has highlighted some gaps in the way the Council consults on Traffic Regulation Orders and that the role of Ward members is particularly important in advising residents of changes to their local area and feedback from effected residents is equally important.

Helping Residents Stay in Touch

Local Councillors can sometimes be accused of being distant from the people they are supposed to represent. But a pair of councillors who represent the London Road and Snow Hill areas have introduced a new scheme designed to help residents in their ward keep in touch.

Cllrs Colin Darracott and David Dixon, who represent the Walcot ward on Bath and North East Somerset Council, are busy delivering a rather unusual postcard to local homes.

Cllr Dixon said: "One thing we always find people saying is that they don't know how to contact us.

"So we came up with the idea of doing this contact card, which is like a postcard with our phone numbers and details on, as well as a handy year planner."

The councillors hope the cards will prompt residents to get in touch with them if they have any concerns or issues they wish to raise.

Bathwick Estate - Resident's Parking Scheme

It has now been agreed to introduce a Resident's Parking Scheme in the Bathwick Estate.

The scheme is likely to be in place by March and when introduced this area would be signed as Zone 10 and, with special authorisation from the Department for Transport, parking bays would not be formally marked out. It is furher proposed to provide some areas with “no waiting at any time” restrictions to improve visibility and to assist vehicles turning.

Cllr David Dixon said, "This area suffers from a high level of commuter parking, partly due to being the nearest area to the city centre without resident's parking. The problem is worsened by the lack of road space for vehicles, this why it is intended not to lose more spaces by not formally marking out parking bays. There is no firm date for the scheme to be installed as the Council is waiting to hear from Contractors, but I'm sure that it will not be long now."