Quarry Rock Gardens has been in the news a little lately, first in the Chronicle and then on BBC Points West.

The static home caravan site houses 90 residents aged 50+ at the top of Widcombe Hill. Being a privately run site it is not eligible for council gritting (not that many other residential roads have been gritted either!), but the owner of the site has not made any provision for snow and ice. Consequently many residents are housebound and have been for the past week.

I went up to Quarry Rock this morning to check that residents were alright and was pleased to see that most were able to drive out or walk to the bus stop - carefully - and that neighbours were looking out for each other.

However, I was not alone - the fire brigade had also come up to help! With few fire to attend in the cold and wet, Bath Blue Watch drove two of their rescue tenders up to Quarry Rock to dig the residents out. I explained some of the problems to the crew then picked up a broom to help out.

Suitably inspired, my flatmate and I spend another hour that afternoon clearing the pavement outside our home on Bathwick Hill.

Continuing my occassional series of cheery photos, I present the moon, rising above Widcombe.

This one is taken from my flat, as this week I have been at home with mumps.

Armand and I are working to improve the children’s  play equipment in Sydney Gardens.

The park is due major work to improve its layout and facilities which is to be funded by a lottery bid. This plan was drawn up in 1992 though, 17 years ago, so progress has been slow. Until this happens, the children’s play area in particular needs a re-fresh.

A few residents have suggested that the redundant equipment at the old Lime Grove School be used. Cllr Armand Edwards has pursued this idea as the equipment is in good order. However, the council is reluctant citing concerns about EU safety guidelines.

There is better news with the roundabout, pictured, which was merely taken away from Sydney Gardens for maintenance.

A Horse Chestnut in Cleveland Walk has been given an extra few months thanks to a bird’s nest in the trunk.

The council decided to take down the tree after judging that it was in a dangerously poor state. The branches were removed in August, minumising the risk.

However, the tree surgeon discovered a bird’s nest in a hollow at the top of the main stem. The Arboricultural Officer (tree expert) decided to leave the trunk intact until the eggs have hatched and the chicks flown the nest. She expects the remainder to be felled in October.

Replacement trees will be planted this winter along the verge of Cleveland Walk.

On Wednesday morning, the UK Climate Change Committee issued a report saying that if aviation maintained its current levels of Carbon Dioxide emissions, all other sources in the UK must be cut by 90% by 2050 to avert catastrophic climate change.

On Wednesday afternoon I was asked to judge an application for the expansion of Bristol airport, in which CO2 emissions would more than double.

I will be 64 in 2050; I won’t have reached retirement age. Within my working life, my generation must cut greenhouse gas emissions by 90%, while aviation remains as it is. If we can meet this daunting challenge, then the earth will ‘only’ warm by 2 degrees. Climate will change, but we will be able to cope. If say, we don’t manage to make 90% cuts, or if aircraft emissions rise, then temperature will rise by above 2 degrees, the ice-caps will begin to melt and the planet will be locked into a reinforcing pattern of catastrohpic change.

To save the planet in this model, all airports need to do is not expand. The irresponsibility of Bristol International Airport management is incomprehensible.

The BIA planning application will be decided by North Somerset council, but Bristol City and BathNES Councils have been asked to make recommendations. The expansions plans are to double the size of the airport terminal building, to provide 16,000 car parking spaces and build capacity for 10,000,000 passengers per year. This would result in CO2 emissions of 948,680 tonnes per year; an increase of 125% on current levels. The entire of Bath and North East Somerset is responsible for 1,072,000 tonnes per year. Bristol airport wishes to expand to a level at which it will emit almost as much CO2 as 170,000 people in 72,000 homes; 77,000 cars on 690 miles of road; 7,400 businesses and 220 sq miles of land.

At the planning committee meeting, I moved that: “Bath and North East Somerset considers the causes and effects of climate change to be the principal consideration in a development of this nature and recommends that North Somerset refuse the application on these grounds.”

Those who have watched me will know that I am a vigorous public speaker; I’m rather gratified by this review: “I just wanted to write personally to congratulate you on your speech on climate change at yesterday’s DCC meeting. It as good to hear a graduate of this University express himself so well and so much to the point. It set the tone for the debate at a level from which it hardly ever slipped.”

All Liberal Democrat and Labour councillors voted with me, as did two Conservatives, to prevent the expansion of the airport. The motion was passed 8 to 4; the objection of BathNES council will be sent to North Somerset.

However, with the Conservatives running BathNES council, it is very worrying that the majority of Tory councillors voted against the motion, for airport expansion. Conservative policy on airport expansion is ‘mixed’ at best. While the party leadership claims to be against a third runway at Heathrow, the Telegraph quotes a Conservative shadow cabinet member who expects the policy to be “revisited” after the general election. As is often the case, Cameron and the PR people say one thing, but Conservative MPs and councillors (such as ours in BathNES) do another.

As reported in the Bath Chronicle, the airport bosses are not pleased: “The discussion at the B&NES council meeting centred on emotional arguments relating to aviation’s contribution to climate change… We are confident that North Somerset will put much more weight on the employment, economic and tourism benefits generated by the airport.”

In response, I would argue that climate change is the greatest long-term challenge facing the world today (as does the UK government) and it was quite right that the debate centred on this; that’s why I wrote the motion as I did. Naturally, the potential destruction of our civilization within my lifetime does give rise to some emotional arguments, but these are no less compelling than the warnings presented by the world’s scientists. Suggesting that climate change is an emotional issue rather than a matter of science fact is not something I can agree with.

Then there are the percieved short-term employment, economic and tourism benefits of the airport. So far as jobs go, there is direct employment for cleaners, car park attendants, baggage handlers, shop assistants, caterers… the list of badly paid, low skilled jobs at anti-social hours is varied, but, given the shift to budget airlines, quite short. We are told that during the recession, the airport will keep Bath in business, but the development won’t be ready for several years and actually, Bath is doing quite well in this recession.

The supposed benefits to tourism are the real irony here, with over 80% of all BIA flights taking UK residents on holiday away from the region. The residents of Biarritz, Kefalonia, Venice, Faro and Tenerife do not welcome direct flights so that they can visit Bristol. Each of the airport’s 16,000 car park spaces represents a family leaving the South West to spend their money elsewhere.

Interestingly, there are some attempts to mitigate the environmental impact of the airport. BIA will attempt to double the proportion of passengers using public transport to reach the airport, from 8% now to 15% in 2019. In the best case scenario 8,500,000 people would drive to the airport each year. 12 wind turbines would be erected which would resuce the airports CO2 emissions by 48,000 tonnes, leaving only to 948,680 tonnes emitted per year. Finally, there is a suggestion that expanding Bristol will reduce the demand on other airports. This doesn’t really work considering that Heathrow are planning a third runway anyhow.

In conclusion, this is my website and I can write a long rant if I want to. Climate change is the most serious problem facing our civilization; it angers me when airport bosses and Conservative councillors place economic gain ahead of “emotional arguments” about the environment. I am proud of the Development Control committee this week; we have taken positive action now to reduce climate change.

I trust that when Bathwick elected a Liberal Democrat they knew that they were getting an environmentalist!

A government inspector presided over a crowded public inquiry to determine the status of a popular local path.

Bathwick councillor Nicholas Coombes (Lib Dem) joined local residents in making the case to legally record the wide footpath between Claverton and Combe Down. The exact width of the path is disputed by the landowner who believes it is much narrow than claimed by path users and the council.

The council’s footpath records officer presented evidence including hundred year old Ordnance Survey Maps, city maintenance records from the 1960s and recorded eye-witness statements from the 1930s to the present day. These backed the claim that where the path passes between a retaining wall and woodland fence, the entire 7m width between the boundary can be, and has been, regarded as a right of way.

The landowner argued that while the entire area was open, only a thin strip at the edge was ever used as a footpath. The remainder has been variously obstructed by mud, vegetation, gates, rubble and an embankment. He thus believes that only 1.5m can be considered a right of way, and has erected a wooden fence to restrict walkers to this section.

When a member of the council’s footpath committee, Cllr Nicholas Coombes proposed that the footpath be recorded at its full historic width, thus leading the decision by public enquiry. After the meeting he said:

“It was good to see so many local people at the enquiry today; it shows that the people of Bathwick and Claverton Down really do miss the full use of this footpath. I am convinced by the historic evidence and personal accounts, I hope that the inspector was too. The path now is narrow, muddy, dark and some people find it dangerous. I will keep fighting to have it restored to its former self.”

The government inspector will make her judgement in the next few weeks and issue her conclusions in a printed report.

The graffiti tag on the Pulteney Road rail bridge has finally been painted out by network rail.

Bathwick councillor Nicholas Coombes was joined by neighbouring Widcombe Lib Dem councillor, Ian Gilchrist, in chasing Network Rail to get the mess cleaned. What seems to have finally pushed the balance was a third member, Neil Butters (LD, Bathavon South) who works in the rail industry, getting involved.

Let’s hope that the bridge stays clean longer this time.

A long running footpath dispute will be settled by public enquiry next month.

A government inspector has been appointed to rule on the width of AQ78 - the footpath from Combe Down to the top of Widcombe Hill. Local councillor Nicholas Coombes pushed the issue at the B&NES footpath committee, proposing that the full width be enforced.

A fence has been erected in recent years reducing the width of the footpath, leaving a dark and narrow muddy track alongside the fence.

“It is important that the original width be reinstated,” says local resident Dr David Martin. “At full width this could also be a safe and convenient cycle route for pupils at Ralph Allen school and Bath University students.”

The enquiry will be on 25th August from 10am in the Claverton Down Community Hall. Cllr Coombes would like to hear from any long term residents who remember using the path before the dence was erected, or have other evidence of its original width. Already one resident has come forward who remembers walking the path, four alongside, with his family in the 1930s!

The next public forum for Bath University and its neighbours is this week. I established this forum to give local residents more information about work and events at the university and to give them more influence in decision making.

The meeting is at 5:30pm on Thursday 18th on campus. The agenda includes news on building works on campus, the new bus service, an update on the masterplan and a list of forthcoming large events on the campus.

Please RSVP to W.J.Marsh@bath.ac.uk or 386285 and refreshments will be prepared for you!

From this week, household waste and recycling is being collected on the same day. If you haven’t yet discovered your day, visit the council website to find out.

I think that these are beneficial changes which reduce the frequency of waste on the streets and makes recycling more practical. I was elected on a manifesto of introducing same day waste collections, so I am glad that the council have introduced this, even if it is much later than I would have liked.

Incidentally, I hear that even David Cameron’s own Conservative council now collect rubbish from his back garden only once a fortnight…

On 4th June the European Elections co-incided with local elections in most rural areas of the country.

As an active Liberal Democrat supporter, I have been campaigning for my party in these elections, in Bath for the European elections, but mostly in Bristol where we stood a good chance of winning control of the council.

Our Lib Dem MEP, Graham Watson, has been in Bath several times last month. I joined him leafleting in Lambridge, near his mother’s old house! I am proud that the Liberal Democrats campaigned for the European elections on European issues. In the last two months, we delivered three European themed leaflets to (nearly) every house in Bath - 100,000 items in all. It is disappointing that no other party took these elections seriously enough to campaign to this degree.

In the run up to the elections, with politics and the opinion polls in flux, the election was considered very unpredictable. The results, oddly, show very little change from five years ago. Nationally, the number of MEPs representing Britain to Brussels has reduced. Labour absorbed most of these losses; indeed here in the South West the allocation went down by one, and our Labour MEP lost his seat. Aside from that, there was no change in BathNES, in the South West or (to much extent) nationally. The only notable result in BathNES was the fall of the Labour vote and the comensurate growth of the Green and minor party vote. The Conservatives, Lib Dems and UKIP got largely the same result on the same turnout.

In Bristol, however, the local elections have brought about significant change. The Liberal Democrats won four extra councillors, giving them majority control of the city. Labour lost heavily in a once strong labour council. This fits a little noticed pattern of Liberal Democrat growth in urban areas. The Lib Dems now run Bristol, Cardiff, Sheffield, Liverpool, Newcastle and Edinburgh city councils among others. Nationwide, the Lib Dems came second in the popular vote - again ahead of Labour - and were the only party to increase their support from the previous election.

That’s why this website has been a little quiet recently - I have been developing a healthy suntan delivering leaflets to the suburban housing estates of Bristol. This isn’t just good exercise, Lib Dem control of Bristol city council has real benefits to us here in Bath. My primary concern was the proposed incinerator, which the fallen Labour council had been forcing through. This pollution and unsustainable project is now dead, just in time before a single chimney was built!

While I can’t resist a pun-headline, waste is an important issue.

Litter bins in particular are of concern to many up and down Bathwick Hill. Over the course of the last two years, Armand and I have had to harrass the council bin department about the replacement of three bins on the hill, at the canal bridge, opposite Cleveland Walk and at the top bus stop.

This month though, I have had the minor triumph of an all-new bin being installed at the very top of the hill. This is at the junction of Bathwick Hill, North Road, Copseland, Oakley and The Avenue - a rather busy pedestrian intersection, especially with the foot path access to the university. This is a prime location for students walking to and from campus, and also catches them leaving the bus here, as pointed out by members of the Beech Avenue Residents’ Association at their last AGM.

However, even the expension of our litter bin network is only maintenance; it does not develop our approach to waste. The Liberal Democrats have long argued for a ‘Zero Waste’ policy, which tackles the entire length of the waste chain. This is why, for example, we are opposed to the Bristol incinerator; provision of an easy ’solution’ does not encourage recycling or deter production (of excess packaging for example).

At the most recent council cabinet meeting, I asked the Conservatives about putting recycling bins on the street, alongside normal litter bins. I had first asked about this in November 2007. The answer, paraphrased, is that the trials of recycling bins in parks, that the inherited from the Liberal Democrat administration 2 years ago, are continuing successfully. No moves have been made to expand this into the street.

Somewhat disappointing.

Disappointingly I’ve been revisiting some old issues this week, fixed once, which need fixing again.

The railway bridge over Pulteney Road has been tagged again, this time with “MY TEAM”. This doesn’t make much more sense than the previous tag, “THICK”, but could take as long to clean off. See previous entries  here and here; it took the best part of a year to have the bridge re-painted last time. Again, Network Rail have confirmed to me that Pulteney Road will have to be closed for the tag to be painted out. A correspondant suggests “use the bridge space for a more useful and innovative purpose”. Does anyone else have any suggestions? A mural or a display board? As my photo shows, no matter how hard you try, anything looks nice on a sunny Spring day in Bath.

Also this week, the bollard on George Street (Bathwick Hill) at the junction with Darlington Street has come unstuck. I suspect that it will be repaired again, but I know a few people pushing for its removal.

Bathwick has been promised two new litter bins from BathNES council. One is to replace a missing bin on Bathwick Hill opposite Cleveland Walk, the other a completely new installation opposite Copseland on the top of the hill.

Cllr Coombes and the Bathwick Hill residents’ association have a long list of potential new bin sites, including the top of Madiera Walk and near King Edwards School. However, considering Tory budget cuts and the existing backlog at the bin department, two new bins is a minor success!

The new bin at the top of Bathwick Hill will coincide with the bus stop for the University footpath, just beyond the North Road junction. There has long been a need for a bin here, both for alighting bus passengers and walkers. Now that the request has been approved, this site is on the list for contractors to install.

Nicholas Coombes joined local volunteers and British Waterways to clear up the Kennet & Avon Canal in Bathwick.

The volunteers picked up 20 sacks of rubbish from the towpath and verges between the Bath Locks and Bathampton. Finds included a trolley and TV aerial both secreted in the vegetation below Sham Castle Lane. Marker posts and information boards were re-painted at the stretch opposite Sydney Buildings.

“Volunteering projects like this are really good,” said Cllr Coombes. “A few hours work for fifteen people has made a real difference to our area. It was warm and sunny which helped make for a fun, sociable morning.”

Reading Liberal Democrat Voice recently about the man arrested for taking photos of drain covers; I though that this is certainly an intrustion to civil liberty, but a very odd one. Who takes photos of drains? What makes them terrorist suspects?

However, visiting German at the weekend, I was struck by the above example of considered street scene. The drain cover is a carefully curved segment to fit into the cobble (technically ’setts’) pattern. Bath has a long way to go before it reaches Dusseldorf’s level of public-realm perfection. However, I did appreciate the quick and easy floral display on Blumenstasse, photographed below.

Network rail are inviting your opinions on the difficult balance between safety and history.

Brunel’s railway line through Sydney Gardens is one of the least protected in the UK and the Railways Inspector is now insisting that Network Rail take action against trespass. Network Rail managers have commited funding to a solution, but as many residents will know, previous plans have stopped in their tracks (run out of steam/gone off the rails/been sidelined/hit the buffers…).

Network Rail will be exhibiting three posible solutions in Bath Library next week. I met with a representative this morning to discuss the plans; as they will not be available on-line, here is a summary:

1 - a fence to be fixed on top of the existing stone wall - this may look suitable, but may not be practical

2 - a fence placed in front of the stone wall - this is less attractive but more effective

3 - a ditch, with a fence in the centre, disguised with a hedge, in front of the wall - a slightly better option than it sounds, introduces a wide and deep hedge between the public and the trains.

All of the options will be on public display on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday (17th-19th Feb) between 10am and 6pm. Network Rail staff will be available in the library to explain the options. Plans can be sent out to those unavailable to see them during working hours.

I am glad of the opportunity for the public to examine the plans before they are implemented; Network Rail have had a poor reputation with consultation, so please do take this chance to get involved. Any solution will be controversial given the nature and protections of the park. I am also trying to make sure that this work ties in fully with plans to renovate Sydney Gardens to get the best value for money and best solution.

Cllr Coombes has reported a series of problems on Clavteron Down to the council for fixing.

Between the bus stop and Quarry Rock Gardens the pavement is narrow and the verges poorly maintained. Even more concerning is the state of the drains, which have been entirely blocked by road repairs. A highways inspector is due to visit the  site shortly. The detritus and brocken bollards are also due to be cleared up.

BathNES Conservatives refused calls for an independent review of the Transport Package which controversially includes the Newbridge bus road and Bathampton meadows Park & Ride.

The Liberal Democrats had called for a review, following the radical changes to the package and protests from residents across the city.

Increasing evidence suggests that alternatives to the Newbridge BRT have not been properly assessed. Where the package has been changed, placing a Park & Ride car park on Bathampton Meadows, residents and the parish council have been poorly consulted. Despite your Lib Dem councillors best efforts, the Tories are determined to ram the package through.

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.”

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.

In the same week that I re-joined the Youth Hostel Association, Bathwick Hill’s very own Youth Hostel was granted a mch extended alcohol and entertainment license.

The hostel has previously had a license for the sale of alcohol between 11am and 11pm, but following their refurbishment the new license permits for alcohol and entertainment 24 hours per day. The application, 08/02302/LAPRE is at http://planning.bathnes.gov.uk/PublicAccess/LI/LiApplication/li_application_detailview.aspx?refval=08/02302/LAPRE

 The license was granted because no objections were received. Given the controversy now this would seem odd, except that none of the neighbours (or councillors) knew about the application. Rules preventing the council from ’soliciting objections’ restrict adverts to one lamp-post sign and one notice in the local paper. Following the planning applications related to the refurbishment, there have been application notices fixed to the nearest lamp post for months, so the neighbours did not notice this different notice until it was too late.

If you think that you are being affected by increased noise or disturbance, please make a record of these occurances for 6 weeks. Concerned residents can then apply for the license to be reviewed, possibly revoked, with these records used as evidence.

The whole of Bath’s major road network is to be covered by an Air Quality Management Area to tackle unsafe levels of air pollution.

Originally the AQMA covered the London Road up to the Cleveland Bridge, a road with officially the worst air quality in Britain. This being insufficient, the entire major road network is to be included; in Bathwick this inlcudes Bathwick Street and the Warmininster Road until Minster Way. This change will come into effect on 30th July, following a decision made by the cabinet a few months ago.

An Air Quality Management Zone is derrived from the Environment Act and designates an area of special attention for pollution initiatives. When the AQMA was declared for the London Road in 2002, five specific measures were stated. None of these have yet been implemented.

A third generation mobile phone mast has been installed at the end of The Avenue on Claverton Down.

The mast was given planning permission two years ago, despite fourteen local objections (http://planning.bathnes.gov.uk/PublicAccess/tdc/DcApplication/application_detailview.aspx?caseno=IVHTFKCTWI000). However, in current planning law only the visible attributes of the mast can be considered; in this respect the faux-telegraph pole with rustic finish was acceptable. Nationally the Liberal Democrats seek to change planning laws so that local councils can also consider the electromagnetic radiation when determining mast applications.

Residents may take comfort from the World Health Organisation’s report finding mininal health dangers associated with phone masts (http://www.who.int/peh-emf/about/WhatisEMF/en/index5.html). Various anti-mast groups dispute this evidence.

While the phone mast itself is well disguised, the astute searcher will look for the junction box at its base.

The historic stone found in front of Sham Castle has been resurrected this week. The marker stone was uncovered after the scrub clearance lying on its side. Nicholas Coombes put the local history societies in touch with the National Trust and BathNES archeology department to decide where the stone should go. Based on maps from the early 1800s, the marker has been returned to its original position.

It was used by the Bath Corporation in the late 1700s as a marker stone for one of the many springs in the area which watered their development in Bathwick. It is thought that there are many more on Bathampton Down; the National Trust has now drawn the attention of the Bathwick History Society to another further down North Road.

Thank you Bath University Students’ Union for the invite to the Annual Reception. The councillor’s never ending round of pothole maintenance is always enlivened by a  good drinks and nibbles reception. Rest assured that I was hard at work between the sausage rolls and odd chicken bites, though.

The evening was very well attended, which started auspiciously when I got off the 18 bus and spotted my colleague, Cllr David Bellotti, in the Council Chair’s car. Apparently the slightly tatty BathNES flag which caught my attention is due to be replaced soon with the new logo. I have been to ‘Elements’ (the Union bar) countless times, but walking up with the Chair of the Council was the first time that I have been escorted by SU staff!

Deputy Mayor of Bath, Cllr Paul Crossley, was also in a attendance - he lives in Sham Castle Lane, so it wasn’t far to come. With the two Oldfield councillors there too it made a total of 5 Lib Dems to an event that the Conservatives had ignored. I am always reassured to be at an event that the Tories don’t care for.

Around the formal speeches the rest of the evenign was a flurry of networking with the Vice Chancellor and University management, Student Union sabbatical officers and staff and the local residents’ associations with plenty to discuss. I am getting better at working a reception after a year’s experince of drinks and nibbles but there is still much room for improvement. I have never bettered my first function, at the launch of the Bath Music Festival last year, when expert hosts passed me effortlessly from the Mayor to Vice Chancellor to Joanna MacGregor, pianist and Festival director.

A historic marker post, unearthed during the scub clearance at Sham Castle has now been identified and is soon to be reinstated. The National Trust moved the stone out of harm’s way to prepare the field to be sown as a native meadow. The local history society, concerned for the stone’s archeaological significance, contacted me for its preservation.

Since I put them in contact, the experts from the Bathwick and Bathampton Local History Societies and BathNES council met at the Sham Castle with the National Trust manager to relocate the stone. The marker was put up by the Bath Corporation to mark springs which watered the city in the 1700s, one of a series on the hillside. Using a map from the 1840s they were able to agree an exact location for the stone, to which the National Trust will return it and reinstate the stone upright.

Like the rest of the Sham Castle project, this is another example of local people using their own skills and knowledge to improve their environment, without relying on the local council. I am not an archaeologist (more an architectural historian!) and I didn’t need to be; we have the expertise in our comminuty, it just needs to be linked up.

Recently I seem to have been chasing unnecessarily difficult problems, graffiti, litter and potholes which have been a lot harder to fix than they ought.

The kind people at Network Rail are just as helpful on the phone as they were when I first called them in February 2007, but the graffiti still hasn’t been cleaned from their railway bridge. You probably noticed the ‘THiCK’ tag on the bridge over Pulteney Road over a year ago and I been trying to get it removed since then. In the last few months I added graffiti on the arches to my request, so I am now on my third different customer reference number. We’ve already passed a few deadlines for the contractors to do the work, so I wait with anticipation.

Unlike Network Rail, the electricity company only work to 9-5 office hours, but the one time I did get through I was assured that their substation would be scrubbed within the week. It hasn’t happened yet, I’ll have to call back Monday to Friday.

I have also experienced nothing but earnest enthusiasm from our own council helpline, but 2 months on I am still waiting for a highways inspector to visit Sydney Buildings to register the potholes for filling. An inspector did visit my street however, the complaint having been misfiled, and was able to locate some potholes which have since been filled in.

I hope that this post hasn’t spoilt the ‘magic’; I have to spend just as long on hold and re-writing emails as anyone else; the difference is that I get paid for it.

Whether it’s in the job decription is another matter.

—–

27-5-8 In fairness the electricity substation has now been cleaned and the potholes in Sydney Buildings have been inspected.

I have read that a long running competition amongst national newspaper night editors  for the least exciting headline stalled with no one able to better “small earthquake in peru, not many dead”. However, lamp posts, or the unexpected lack of, are of great concern to those missing illumination.

The lamp post at the end of Sydney Wharf, lighting the final six houses plus the bridge over the railway, was unexpectedly removed at the end of last month. Well meaning BathNES technicians thought that they were helping the developer, who asked for the lamp post to be removed from their land, and complying with best practice by getting the light onto the public highway. This is so that it can be repaired without needing written permission from the landowner.

Unfortunately their efforts to relocate  it were more difficult than expected, runnning into cellars, parking and contested ownership. I was contacted by concerned residents worried about the delay. A flurry of emails and phonecalls followed between five different parties until consensus was reached. The developer even paid for the lamp post to be upgraded to ‘herritage’ style, befitting the fine Georgian history of electric lighting.

The lantern is now in place awaiting only the wiring before the grand switch on. There’s more to these dull headlines than you’d expect.

Do you know the origins of the marker stone found near the Sham Castle? More importantly, where should it go?

In the second stage of the Sham Castle project the National Trust have prepared the ground in front of the castle to be sown as a meadow. The scrub and brambles were cleared by a group of community volunteers led by Armand and I in March. For the ploughing, the National Trust moved a historic marker stone which had been lying amongst the vegetation. When they have finished it will be moved back to a suitable location.

The Bathwick and Bathampton local history societies both have ideas about the stone and are working with the city archaeologist to agree its correct location. If you have any thoughts or information to contribute please email me and I will put you in touch with the groups. The stone is likely a marker erected by the city water board to denote a spring on the hill.

The long term management of the land in front of the Sham Castle has now been agreed between the National Trust and the Golf Course. Both have contributed towards sowing it as a wild meadow and shall be mowing it a few times per year when the grass is established.

Thank you to the volunteers who helped clear the scrub in front of Sham Castle. With local councillors Nicholas and Armand, they did an excellent
job cutting back the brambles and creating new wildlife habitats.

Young trees and scrub have grown up over the last few years blocking the view of the city from the folly. The Bathwick Lib Dems found funding for professional tree clearance and organised a community action day
to clear up the site.

The grant was from the Cotswold Conservation Board Sustainable Development Fund, the action day was managed by BTCV and the project was facilitated by the One World Society of Bath University Students’ Union. Thanks also to generous lunch donor and the BathNES Council Community Landscapes Officer who has been hugely helpful throughout.

“This was a brilliant day,” said Cllr Nicholas Coombes, “as a community we were able to do this for ourselves without simply relying on the council to fix it. The Liberal Democrats believe in empowering people to help themselves; our action day was a good example of this.”

The entire site was cleared of scrub, opening up the intended views to and from the city. A dead hedge was also laid as a habitat and wildlife corridor safe from the local buzzards.

A community project to clear the view at the Sham Castle has been finalised for Thursday 13th March. Cllrs Nicholas Coombes and Armand Edwards have received great support since announcing the project last month.

 Sham Castle is a folly built in 1762 by Ralph Allen, Bath stone magnate, to improve the view of the hill. Over the last years however, scrub and young trees have grown up between the castle and city. This spoils the view out from the National Trust skyline walk by the castle and also obscures the floodlit folly from the city.

As no council funding was available, Nicholas Coombes has negotiated a community project grant funded by the Cotswolds Conservation Board Sustainable Development Fund. Professionals will use their machinery to cut and clear the larger trees and vegetation, preparing the site for the volunteers. Bath University students and members of the local community are invited to help tidy the site and create new wildlife habitats in the clearing with the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers. The National Trust will also be supervising the works.

 Already many Bathwick locals have volunteered their time but everyone is welcome. The day will run from 10am until 4pm with volunteers invited to stay for the whole day, but able to drop in and leave when they chose. Tea, coffee and biscuits will be provided with a sandwich lunch paid for by a generous member of the public. All equipment will also be provided by BTCV. The castle is on the skyline walk and best accessible by foot; it is near the Bath Golf Course club house on Golf Course Road up North Road but please do not bring a car.

Armand and Nicholas look forward to seeing as many people as possible on the day. Please visit for as long as you can, whether the whole day or just an hour. If you don’t feel up to heavy work we’ll be pleased to see you regardless.

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Although Cllr Coombes has organised this project, many thanks are due to BathNES landscapes department, the Cotswold Conservation Board SDF, BTC, the National Trust, the One World Society and the University of Bath Students’ Union.

Our Big Energy Challenge was launched in 2006 under Lib Dem leadership to reduce the carbon footprint of BathNES. The council and their partner groups, including the hospital and universities will also save public money by cutting energy use.

Already big savings have been made, with current plans due to cut energy usage by 7.5% through relatively simple steps. Everyone can do their bit at home or at work by switching off unnecessary appliances and only using the energy they need. Already the larger institutions have saved thousands of pounds and individuals can save too.

Already Nicholas uses energy efficient light bulbs and turns off unused electrical applicances, but the progress report gave some very useful hints at persuading other people and organisations to follow suit. Please visit www.ourenergychallenge.org for practical advice on saving energy, saving money, reducing pollution and reducing global warming.

Liberal Democrat councillors Armand Edwards and Nicholas Coombes are leading a volunteer community project to clear the scrub at Sham Castle. Trees and vegetation have grown up obscuring the historic view between the city and the folly.

No money was available from BathNES council for this work so Nicholas and Armand have coordinated a funding application to the Cotswold AoNB Sustainable Development Fund with promises of help from Bath University’s One World environmental society. The Bathwick Hill, Copseland and Beech Avenue Residents’ Associations have all offered their support as have the City of Bath Mayor’s Guides.

An action day is planned for volunteers to cut back the scrub and clear up after the young trees have been felled in March. If you are interested in helping please post back the form overleaf, call 01225 426577 or email nicholas_coombes@bathnes.gov.uk to be kept updated; your support will be welcomed.

“The Liberal Democrats believe in empowering people and communities to help themselves,” says Cllr Edwards, “this is a brilliant example of our policies in practice and we hope you can support us.”

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Since writing this article I have discovered that the council worker who helped us organise this project has been made redundant by the Conservative spending cuts. I have sent a card and pot plant, but it doesn’t quite make it right.

BathNES Council’s footpath committee voted unanimously on Monday to recommend that a footpath in Bathwick be recorded and that the fence erected in the middle of it be removed. This recommendation is passed to the Secretary of State to confirm the decision. The wide footpath from the old quarry in Bathwick to Combe Down has existed, undisputed for a century. However, a neighbouring landowner had enclosed part of its width with a six foot timber board fence, forcing the path into a narrow muddy track. Known as AQ78, the path has been the centre of a local row since January 2000.

Bathwick Cllr Nicholas Coombes proposed the motion at the Regulatory & Access committee on Tuesday. It was seconded by the Chair that the council recommends that the full width of the footpath be recorded. Pending the Secretary of State’s ruling, the council’s footpath team intends to order the fence be taken down. This will not only restore the historic width of the path, enjoyed by local walkers until recently, but will also allow its intended conversion into a cycle path, funded by Bath University.

“This is great news,” says Nicholas Coombes, “It’s taken a lot of time and effort by the council and local campaigners to get this far. I’m glad to have helped and moved us to the final stage. Soon this locally important footpath will be available to walkers, wheelchair users prams and cyclists to enjoy.”

The alley linking St Christopher’s Close with the Warminster Road has been resurfaced and trimmed following action by local councillor Nicholas Coombes. He noticed the state of the path soon after his election last year and started the long process of persuading the council to adopt the path and  maintain it. A local resident tells Cllr Coombes that her husband had asked the previous councillors to fix the path 17 years ago without success and that generous locals had been looking after the path since. It has now been added to the council maintenance schedule.