Nicholas Coombes joined local walkers and ramblers in celebrating the re-opening of Quarry Road footbridge. The bridge has been recently replaced by the university after a three year absence.

Since the original bridge was closed in 2005 the campaign for its replacement has been at times tortuous, but ultimately successful. Cllr Coombes raised the matter personally with the vice chancellor and has involved the council’s Regulatory & Access Committee. The committee chair, the chief executive of BathNES and other ward councillors had also written to Bath University demanding action. A local group, celebrating yesterday, had threatened legal action to re-open the footpath.

“I am disappointed that the University chose not to use the winner of the student design competition,” said Cllr Coombes, “but at least this bridge is now open. While working for the bridge’s replacement, I have tried to keep local residents informed about progress and also to tell the University know how this was harming their reputation. I hope that we can start to build greater understanding between the institution and its neighbours and we shall shortly be launching a Neighbours Forum to do this.”

The university Autumn term starts next week, but new students are moving into their campus halls this weekend.

20% of students are expected to arrive on Saturday with the majority, 60% on Sunday. The remainder will move into their new accomodation on Monday. Locals will know to expect heavy traffic, especially from the motorway, and queues on the university campus. It may also be a bad time to shop at Fresh or attempt a coffee at Dolce Vita (these are the campus retail outlets).

This means that Freshers’ week is about to begin, with young adults newly liberated from their families starting an independent life. The Students’ Union has promised a greater choice of alcohol free events and a reduced level of Bathwick Hill commuting from previous years. Please be understanding, but if you have reasonable concerns, call the student action line (01225 385245) or use this webform http://www.townandgown.org.uk/complaint to leave a message.

Bath University’s masterplanning exercise reaches another stage next month with the publication and consultation on the draft masterplan. A staffed exhibition will take place on campus in the University library (27th-31st October, open 24hrs, staffed 12-2pm) and in the Bath Guildhall (31st Oct and Sat 1st Nov). This will show areas of the campus thought suitable for academic facilities, residential units and areas not suitable for development. Yours comments and suggestions will be invited.

Nick Clegg really is a very good public speaker.

I’m sorry that I couldn’t be at conference this year, but I was able to watch his closing speech on TV (possibly the first time I have found a use for BBC parliament). It’s now at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_depth/uk_politics/2008/party_conferences_2008/default.stm

I strongly recommend watching it if you are interested in values and society. You should be able to recognise our own Don Foster in the audience and possibly my colleague Cllr Roger Symmonds who also has a moment of fame.

Wet weather has delayed the opening of the new university footbridge over Quarry Road. The bridge is now in place, but staff estimate a further week before the approach paths are laid.

Delivery of the bridge itself was put back due to heavy rain as the police delayed the over-sized motorway convoy. Since then, the bridge has been installed but groundworks and concreting has understandably taken longer. The new bridge is higher to avoid tall vehicle strikes, but this means that the approach paths need to be re-graded. With drier weather forecast, this work is expected to be completed this week.

In a conversation with Cllr Coombes providing the revised information, the bridge project director apologised for the delay. Meanwhile the Vice-Chancellor is taking no chances and has arranged the formal opening ceremony for mid October.

Finally the graffiti on Pulteney Road railway bridge has been painted out by network rail.

I first reported this to them in February 2007, 18 months on the job has been done (admittedly in a good light you can stil make out the tag). However, the ground level graffiti tags on the brick arches have not yet been done, so I will have to start phoning again with reminders.

I spoke today with the manager of Bath Youth Hostel, on Bathwick Hill. The hostel was recently granted a 24 hour drinking and entertainment license, to the concern of their neighbours.

The license was granted by BathNES as no objections were received from local residents. However, the licensing application was poorly advertised and neighbours were not notified of the application. The council claimed that this was because of guidance preventing them from ’soliciting’ objections. Don Foster, MP for Bath and Shadow Culture Secretary, agrees that this was the case previously, but that he and others have since reversed this guidance in parliament.

BathNES should have advertised the licensing application more widely and are now aware of this following Don Foster’s intervention.

However, none of this matters to the manager of the hostel, who did not want a 24 hour license and has no intention to use it! The licenses were applied for by the Youth Hostel Association for every one of their hostels in England and Wales. The manager of Bath Youth Hostel says that their hostel, a Grade II listed building, does not attract many late night drinkers and those few are catered for in town. It makes no sense for the manager to staff a bar all night when there is no demand.

Therefore, despite gaining a 24 hour entertainment and alcohol license, the hours of operation have remained the same and the manager intends to continue closing the bar at 11pm, as she always has. The one exception may be New Year’s Eve, which is understandable.

If your experince suggests that the alcohol and entertainment license at the hostel has caused your quality of life to worsen, despite the manager’s assurances, please take notes and get in contact.

Almost a year after planning permission was granted, the council has published its plans for a loading bay in front of the store, many months late.

The report is at http://www.bathnes.gov.uk/Committee_papers/Executive/WL/2008/080829/01E1832BathwickHillTescoLoadingBayObjections.htm which shows the plans and objections made by members of the public. There is now one week for members of the public to comment on the paper before Cllr Gerrish (Con, Keynsham N) makes his decision next week on whether to install the loading bay. Contact democratic_services@bathnes.gov.uk with your comments on decision number E1832. After this date, other councillors will have two weeks to ask him to reconsider his decision if desired.

This means that the loading bay could be marked out next month at the earliest, assuming that BathNES’ contractors are prompt. With the loading bay complete, Tesco will be allowed to open.

The old school buildings on Lime Grove have now been sold by the council. Lime Grove and two other special schools were replaced by the award winning Three Ways special school.

The land, between the railway bridge on Pulteney Road and the allotments by the canal, has been bought by Unite, a student accomodation company; subject to contract exchange. Unite have one student accomodation block on the Lower Bristol Road with another under construction next door to it.