This evening I was invited to a meeting of Bathwick St Mary’s Primary Safer Routes to School committee. This is run by a few parents and teachers at the school concerned by the difficulty getting their children to and from school safely.

As the school is on Darlington Road, a small cul-de-sac, the street gets quickly jammed in the morning; it is now designated ‘no parking’ so that residents can leave their drives. This was still raised as a problem at last week’s PaCT meeting, so I asked our traffic wardens to pay a visit during the school rush. No tickets were given, but the message got across. Armand and I have done a similar thing at King Edward’s School on North Road before too.

However, surrounding the school, the A36 Warminster Road is not suitable for dropping off children safely. Even an environmentalist like me can see that cycling and walking buses isn’t going to fix the problem straight away, so I have been actioned with a list of issues to take up with the council, including that footpath from the canal - uneven and puddled. I am also investigating a 20mph zone for operation during school hours. This was in both the Liberal Democrat and Conservative election manifestos, so really the Tory cabinet can’t say no…

Both Bathwick St Mary’s Primary and King Edward’s have good travel plans and are putting in effort to support sustainable transport. I was particularly happy to support the Safer Routes to School group who do much good work voluntarily. I would be more than happy to visit other local community groups when invited.

Congratulations to the new member of the Youth Parliament for BathNES, elected last night; also to her deputy and the other candidates.

Ten candidates stood to represent BathNES in an election open to pupils in BathNES school aged 12-18. Thousands of votes were cast giving a higher turnout than for most local elections. The poll was organised and counted by members of DAFBY, Democratic Action for BathNES Youth. I joined them for the count in the Guildhall and helped opening ballot boxes.

I became involved with the youth parliament elections when I visited a training day for the candidates in the Guildhall last year. I was asked to chair their afternoon session in the Council Chamber, including the reading of the manifestos and a debate. With this good work going on I wonder if the Conservatives will realise the impact of their plans to cut the youth work budget and close youth centres; the Tory cabinet member for childrens’ services did not attend the count yesterday.

I’ve been contacted a few times about the terrible state of Bath’s school bus system, which leaves children waiting on the road as overcrowded buses drive past. I signed the ‘better buses’ petition several months ago and on Monday I joined their protest outside the Guildhall.

First buses, who could easily be portrayed as the villain, supplied their promotional Yellow Bus for the protest, although they continue to charge children the adult price for a season ticket. Up to 100 people, mainly parents, children and Lib Dem councillors, joined the protest on the steps of the Guildhall.

 It was timed to precede the Children’s Services Overview & Scrutiny Panel, whose meeting included an item on home to school transport. Their conclusion was to launch a review, which is probably the best that could be reasonably expected.

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I’ve just discovered that Bath fm have been playing an interview with me today. The interviewer and I were a little bored before the protest started, so I just chatted to kill time. I’m told it sounded very good though, but sadly I wasn’t listening.

Council leaders have insisted that their Partnership meetings with Bath and Bath Spa Universities be kept secret, despite repeated requests from a local councillor. Conservative Leader of the Council, Francine Haeberling, says “The Student Community Partnership meetings are held in private. The terms of reference provide for an annual public meeting”

Bathwick ward councillor, Nicholas Coombes, thinks that he has a lot to offer the talks though: “Armand Edwards and I are very visible ward councillors; we know what the problems are, both for local residents and the students, who we also represent. It doesn’t make sense not to include local people in these meetings; this is a typical example of the retreat to the Guildhall we have seen in this administration.”

Both Cllrs Coombes and Edwards are also students at the University of Bath, which is within their Bathwick ward. Cllr Haeberling represents Saltford, near Keynsham, with a minimal student population.

The new Conservative council provoked anger from the universities, colleges and students when they closed the successful Student Liaison Committee without warning on their opening night in power. Its replacement, the Student Community Partnership includes only two members of the council, the other being Chris Watt, failed parliamentary candidate for Wansdyke. To the annoyance of many mature students, university issues are covered in his ‘Childrens’ Services’ portfolio.

Cllr Coombes (Lib Dem, Bathwick) will be sending written questions to both conservative cabinet members about the secret meetings this week. “Firstly, I want to know why these meetings are held in private; what is there to hide? More importantly, I want to know if the Student Community Partnership is functioning at all. I have heard that transport was discussed at the last meeting; with the new term about to start have they made any clear plans to tackle the problems? Students and locals have complained to me about the quality of the bus service; I use it myself, so I know that it’s unreliable, overcrowded and expensive. However, with these meetings in secret, I don’t even know if the council is taking it seriously.”

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The answer to my question was that the meetings will be in secret, but there haven’t yet been any. That’s nine months since the old SLC was scrapped without a single meeting between the council leadership and university executive.