High Street Twerton

A section of Twerton High Street will be closed from its Junction with the A36 Lower Bristol Road through to its Junction with Shophouse Road.

The road will be closed from 12 midnight to 6am for 5 nights from 13th January 2014.

The closure is needed so that the vegetation and re pointing of the railway embankment can be carried out.

This is work that has been asked for by us for some time now and we are pleased that it is happening as this should make this area much better and cleaner to look at.

By Councillor Tim Ball

Redland Park

I have been into see Curo with regards to the promised litter bins in Redland park. At the fun day earlier this year residents indicated where they would like to see the bins situated on a map.

Curo are now checking to see what budget that they have for the bins and then we should be in a position to work out the final location for the bins and then have them installed.

By Councillor Tim Ball

Bath City Farm Christmas Fair December 14th 11am till 2pm

Christmas FETE

There is a Christmas FETE at St Michael's Church in Twerton on Saturday 14th December starting and 10.30 am and ending at 1.30pm

There will be a Santa's Grotto, tombola, Luck dip, Cake stalls, Craft Stalls, Stocking fillers and lots more.

The Entry is free so go along and have Fun.

Freeview Road

The Police have agreed to monitor the problem of parking on the pavements half way along Freeview Road and take enforcement action if needed. It is a shame that we have had to get to this point but as there are many people in the area with mobility problems and we need to put them first.

Christmas Fun 14th December at The Hut

Go along and have some Christmas Fun at the Time Bank Christmas fun afternoon.

 

 

Closer working with Curo

I am pleased to have been able to agree closer working relationship with Curo on issues that affect the Twerton area.

 As well as regular meetings with Curo I will be undertaking a regular walk around  the ward with Curo looking at issues where the council and Curo could work more closely together for the best benefits of the community of Twerton.

It is very important that we get to a clear understanding of who is doing what between the council, Curo and other agencies to ensure that our residents get the best facilities.

As commented on this blog previously issues have been left undone in Twerton previously mainly due to poor communication on who does what and why.

These matters will hopefully from now will be sorted out before they become a problem.

By Councillor Tim Ball

Free energy advice drop-in sessions

Twerton High Street, every Tuesday and every other Saturday

Are you worried about your heating bills this winter? The Home Energy Team provides free, local and impartial energy saving advice to people across Bristol, Bath and Somerset. They’ve opened a new energy advice drop-in service in Twerton. Come and have a chat if you’re worried about gas and electricity bills, struggling with a cold home, or if you’d like information on upgrading your heating or insulation. It’s free and there’s no appointment necessary.

The advice service is at: Time Bank Bath, 86 High Street, Twerton, BA2 1DE. Drop in from 10am-12pmon:

Saturday 14 December

Tuesday 17 December

Tuesday 7 January

Saturday 11 January

Tuesday 14 January

Tuesday 21 January

Saturday 25 January

Tuesday 28 January

... Continuing every Tuesday and every other Saturday after that.

Call for free advice: 0800 082 2234

Or see www.cse.org.uk/loveyourhome

LIdl get go ahead

Planning permission has today been granted for the development of the western half of the former Herman Miller building on Lower Bristol Road as a Lidl supermarket.  

 

This will provide a valuable additional facility for local residents on the western side of Bath as well as generating new jobs.  

 

The building, half of which will be used for the new Lidl, is Grade II listed, and this permission will secure its future. 

 

Tim Ball, Cabinet Member for Homes and Planning, said, “The Council have been very proactive with Lidl’s to bring the permission toward a conclusion. We are really pleased that a new lower-cost shop will soon be available for the residents in this part of the city as well as creating new jobs.  It will provide a much-needed facility as well as finding a new use for a listed building that can contribute towards the city’s overall regeneration.”

 

It is hoped that the granting of this permission may also prove to be a catalyst for the development of the eastern half of the building, which is in separate ownership.  A previous planning application for this part of the building was agreed subject to the completion of a legal agreement, but this has never been completed by the site owners.

 

Festive Bus Services

First Bus have released the schedule for their buses for the festive season.

Please follow the link for the schedule

http://www.firstgroup.com/ukbus/new_service_updates/attach_1386082447_20831_XmasBath.pdf

Highland Road

I have asked Curo to clear up the fly tipping at the rear of Highland Road.

Some one has dumped old mattresses and old television and other items behind 51/43 on the grass area and path.

I would hope that this matter is cleared up as soon as possible. If you are aware who may have dumped these items then please let us know.

East Way & Kelston View

Rubbish Out on wrong day 


The pictures show rubbish that has been put out on the wrong day at both East Way & Kelston View.

The rubbish that has been put out on Kelston View is spreading across the area whilst the rubbish at East Way is a trip hazard.

We have asked that the council remove the rubbish as soon as possible and attempt to identify who put it out.

If you are aware who is responsible then would you please let us know.


By Councillor Tim Ball

Dominion Road

We have asked the council to clear the litter up that has accumulated in Dominion Road in the last few weeks.

On a recent visit the area had far too much litter to be acceptable and we have asked for this to be cleared up as soon as possible.

Of course if people would take their rubbish home with them then this would not be a problem.


By Councillor Tim Ball

Funding still available

Tim and Gerry still have a small amount of money available for allocation from the councils ward councillor initiative fund.

If you have any small projects that are capital based and not ongoing revenue that would benefit from a boost then please let us know by 25th November so that we can give these consideration before the council deadline on allocating money closes in the next few weeks.

Please either phone or email Gerry on these issues.

By Councillor Tim Ball

Cleeve Green

I have today asked the council to look at completing the council to complete the bollards on the grass verge opposite the Cleeve court extra care home in Twerton.

A grew years ago several bollards were put into place to stop large vehicles using the grass as a extra area for turning their vehicles.

The problem now is that cars are now parking on the verge whilst visiting the home and churning all the grass up into a complete mud soaked area.

I intend making sure that this is completed by using some of my ward councillor initiative.

By Councillor Tim Ball

Longhay Close

I have asked for the street light to be repaired on the footpath from Longhay close to the Hollow.

The light has been out for several weeks now and I have asked that it is put tight as soon as possible.

if you know of any other lights in need of attention then please let us know.

By Councillor Tim Ball

Bus Stops

We have a new planning application for the display of internally illuminated poster cabinets of proposed advertisements in bus shelters serving the No.5 Whiteway-Southgate Route;

These are to be located along Newton Road, High Street (Twerton) and Lower Bristol Road at: Stop No.21 (Walwyn Close), Stop No.22 (Walwyn Close), Stop No.24 (Twerton Parade) and Stop No.30 (Bellotts Road).

Application reference: 13/04339/AR received on 07/10/2013

Planning Portal reference: PP-02870071

if you want to view the application or make comments then please follow the link below.

 Street Record, Newton Road, Twerton, Bath,

First steps Nursery

Had a good visit to first Steps nursery this afternoon and was able to see much of the good work that is being carried out there by local dedicated staff.

It was also good to be able to talk to the chief executive of First steps about their future plans in the community of Twerton.

I have always been a supporter of First Steps nursery and was one of the people in on the early set up of  First Steps back over twenty years ago and have been pleased to see them grow from strength to strength.

Dominion Road to Freeview Road

I have again had to ask the council to clean this
lane and bring it up to standard.

The lane at the moment is in a very poor state and I hope that this lane will be cleaned up as soon as possible.

I have also been chasing the council to ensure that they clear up the decaying leaves that have been falling rapidly across the area.


By Councillor Tim Ball

Rememberance Day wreath laying

This year in Twerton we will be laying a wreath at the War memorial on the footpath through St Michael's Church at 11am on Monday 11th November on behalf of the Mayor and the Citizens of Bath.

The Pupils of St Michael's Junior School will also be attending and laying a wreath on behalf of the School at the same time.

We are hoping that a member of the Church will come out and give a few words of Comfort at this time.

We would be pleased to see as many residents who wish to pay their respects join us.




By Councillor Tim Ball

Redland Park

We have been working with Bath & North East Somerset Council to resolve the issues of how the resurfacing work was carried out in Redland Park.

Many residents have contacted us to say how unhappy they were with the work that was carried out.

After several lots of correspondence with council officers which seemed to be getting us nowhere I met an officer on site last week and was able to demonstrate to him what the problems were.
The issue of the tarmac being laid too close and uneven has caused many cars to ground out at the points of the speed tables.

We have now reached an agreement that these works will be rectified in the coming weeks.

The tarmac will be cut back and relayed in the approaches to the speed tables where the problem is being caused or where the surface has not been laid properly.

I hope that this will resolve these problems and

 have received assurances that if there are further problems these will also be dealt with.

I have no dates when this work will be carried out but am hopeful it wont be too long.

I will publish further details as and when they become available.





By Councillor Tim Ball

Joint working to keep our area clean and tidy.

We have been working on getting Curo and the Council to work together on matters of interest in the area.

In the past the council has litter picked certain areas and Curo has done others, the same goes for grass cutting.

The practice above has not worked at all well as several blog entries recently have shown. Residents are rightly confused as to who does what and why, whether they are private householders Curo tenants or tenants of other housing associations.

We are now working with both the council and Curo to finally define who does what in our area and to try to teach some joint agreement that can be published in map format.

It could be that the council may take on certain responsibilities from Curo or the other way round to create a more sensible balance.

What we want to end up with is a clear definition that the public can easily understand, when this is complete we will publish the details and insist that they are also on The councils and CURO web site.

The above we believe will end the culture of  each blaming the other when it goes wrong.

By Councillor Tim Ball

New community energy saving grants available

Save money on your bills and keep cosy this winter’; that is the message from Bath & North East Somerset Council who have joined forces with the Centre for Sustainable Energy to make new funding available for insulation and heating improvements.

New grants are available for eligible residents across the area for loft and cavity wall insulation, including hard to treat cavities, and for boiler upgrades. People living in certain areas of Twerton or Southdown may be eligible for extra support, including a grant towards the cost of solid wall insulation.

This is a great opportunity for Bath & North East Somerset Council residents to get support to install these measures which could help bring their energy bills down, whilst contributing to reducing our collective carbon footprint. It is the first time this kind of funding has been made available and this scheme is specifically for residents in Bath and North East Somerset.

We encourage all residents to call us to find out what you might be eligible for. As an added bonus, if you install insulation or heating through this scheme before 31 December you will be entered into a prize draw to win £170 of Love2shop Vouchers.

To find out if you are eligible for a grant towards the cost of installing energy efficiency measures, call CSE’s on 0800 082 2234 or visit www.cse.org.uk/energy-at-home to find out more information and download a brochure.

Hanna Close

I have asked Curo to Clear this mess from their land as soon as possible at Hanna Close.

It seems that we are always having to chase Curo on these matters as well as having to clear up the area ourselves.

I would hope that Curo knowing that there is a problem in this area would ensure that they keep it clear but it seems that by their lack of care they have not.



by Councillor Tim Ball

Cleeve Green

I have again asked Curo again to replace the Bollard that has been deliberaltely knocked out of the ground at Cleeve Green.

I would hope that the bollard would be back in place as soon as possible.

If you know of the person who caused this mindless vandalism will you please ether let the Police know on 101 or contact us directly.

This sort of vandalism causes increased bills.


By Councillor Tim Ball

Connection Hill

I have again asked that this mess is cleared from the footpath at Connection Hill that runs from High Street to the Lower Bristol Road.

This area is used as a dumping ground if you know who is dumping here will you please let us know.

In the mean time we hope that this matter will be resolved shortly.



By Councillor Tim Ball

Windrush Close, (Tree Problems)

We have asked for the tree canopies to be raised on the trees near Windrush Close off of Poolemead Road to be raised.

The branches of these trees currently hit people in the face as they are quite low.

Curo has been asked to deal with this problem as we believe that they are the ones responsible.


By Councillor Tim Ball

Parade High Street Twerton

I have asked for the bollard that has been knocked out of the ground at The Parade High Street to be replaced as soon as possible.

These bollards were put in when we had a restructure at this part of the High Street to prevent parking on the pavement.

The damage that has been caused to this part of the High Street has been immense causing broken slabs and trip points.



By Councillor Tim Ball

Working with Our Local Police Redland Park visit

It was a pleasure yesterday to be out in Twerton with Local beat Manager PC Adrian Secker and PCSO Nigel Penny working to resolve issues affecting local residents.

I know that some of you may say seeing me Pictured oposite flanked by Nigel left and Adge to the right that they have caught up with him at last but that is far from the case.

Whilst up in Redland Park we met many locals who came out for a chat and to tell us about issues of concern.

One good thing that I learnt is that the motorcycle problems that we had in last year are a thing of the past.

The issue of the poor resurfacing was raised by several local residents pictured with myself and Nigel Penny.

I have now seen first had the problems that have been caused by the road humps with the poor finishing of the road surface.

I have now written to the Cabinet member of Highways asking for an investigation on why this has been left in such a poor state, and asking for the the contractors to come back and finish the Job.

I have also raised the issue of whether the contractor has actually resurfaced the correct area as the part of Redland Park that has been surfaced is not the area that I expected to see done.

The area leading to Redland Park behind Day Crescent is particularly bad and I was expecting to see this done instead.

I am hoping to carry out regular trips out into Twerton over the coming months with the Police taking with local residents.

by Councillor Tim Ball

Twerton Policeman gets top award

Congratulations to Twerton police officer Adge Secker who last night received Avon & Somersets Police beat manager of the year.

I remember Adge arriving in Tweron just over 5 years Go telling me how he was going to sort some of the crime issues in the area.

On Adge's watch we have seen a remarkable drop in the crime rate in Twerton taking it from one of the highest crime areas to one of the lowest, arrival and dismissal of the ill fated Pact meetings.

To put it quite bluntly Twerton has had a remarkable turnaround partly due to the organisation of Adge's team in crime reduction.

Well done Adge the award was along time in coming but worth waiting for.

On Saturday just to Celebrate Adge's success I will be spending an hour walking the streets of Twerton with our now famous beat manager.

We will be out and about between 12.30 & 1.30 pm so please stop us if you have something to report or just want a chat.

By Councillor Tim Ball

West close and St Michaels Road

We have been working with the Police and Curo to resolve the issue of untaxed commercial vehicles that have been parking in these roads for the past few months.

We also have complaints of other vehicles that are fully legal but should still no be parking in residential streets blocking up peoples drives.

We have identified the owner of these vehicles and CURO and the Police will be dealing with the issues in the next few days.

If you have any questions or concerns about this then will you please contact us as soon as possible.

By Councillor Tim Ball

Blocked drains

I have asked the council to clear several lived drains that have become blocked in Pennard Green as soon as possible and before the really bad weather turns in.

I have also asked that the blocked drain is cleared at the garage block beside Fielding house on Freeview Road.

By Councillor Tim Ball

Bath City farm the story so far

If you want to know what has been going on at Bath City Farm in the last few years this short video will give you a good insight into what has been happening.

The work in the early days when Twerton  residents started off the project is missing in reference and film but however the film is good and I recommend that you have a look at it.

You will need to have a google account to view the video however.

Please follow this link to view, happy viewing http://www.youtube.com/user/BathCityFarm

By councillor Tim Ball

Fair is back in Twerton

The fair is back in Twerton again and is at Bath City football ground until Sunday night.

The fair closes at 9pm sharp to protect the local residents from too much disturbance and does not have loud amplified music.

Why not take the kids to the fair this weekend and help support Bath City football ground.

If the fair is a success it could become a feature several times a year so it is down to you residents to ensure that it is a success and to depart the area with as little fuss as possible when you have enjoyed yourselves at the fair.

Local Schools Open

Local schools in Twerton are to remain open during the teachers strike on October 17th.

St Michael's Junior school will be fully open and children should arrive at school as normal, Twerton infants will be partially open and the advice of the school should be taken on pupil attendance.

If any parents are in any doubt they should contact the Schools directly.

The council web site has all the latest information on other  schools in our area please follow this link, http://www.bathnes.gov.uk/msforms/closures.aspx

Get ready for voter registration canvass 2013

Voter registration packs will be dropping through letterboxes across Bath & North East Somerset around 17 October 2013.

 

The Council would like to encourage residents to respond promptly and, if the details printed on their voter registration form are correct, do so via the internet, Freephone or Text SMS. Re-registering electronically is quick and simple and it also helps save the taxpayers money. Last year over 32,000 households successfully renewed their registration electronically.

 

The largest saving could be made by people simply responding by Friday 8 November. Every household is required by law to give the information asked for in the voter registration form; failure to do so means the Council will have to send out a reminder letter, followed up by a personal visit from a registration canvasser. Every year the Council spends an average of £25,000 on reminders and canvassers’ visits.

 

There will be European Parliamentary Elections in May 2014. Vernon Hitchman, the Council’s Electoral Registration and Returning Officer, said “We are encouraging people to register promptly and go electronic if they can. By doing this, they will have the opportunity to make their voice heard at these elections and to save public money.”

 

How to register – it’s quick and easy

 

All you have to do is update the annual registration form with the details of everyone in your household who is eligible to vote and return it to the Electoral Registration Office by Friday 8 November 2013.

 

·         If the details of your household haven’t changed you can renew your registration electronically using the internet, Freephone or text SMS service;

·         If the details of your household have changed, for example someone has moved in or out, these can only be updated by filling in a form and returning it by post.

 

If you haven’t received your form by Friday 25 October you should contact the Electoral Registration Office either by phone or email. More details are available at www.bathnes.gov.uk/registertovote  

 

Collapsing wall in Carrs woodland

Councillor Gerry Curran has taken up the issue of a wall that is giving way in Carrs woodland on a footpath that runs from Pennyquick View through the woodland area.

The use of the footpath by cattle has caused the wall to become weak and we are looking to keep the cattle away from this area with several styles that allow pedestrian access but keep the cows away.

The wall should then last for quite a few more years with only minor Maintainance.

disjointed working helps no one come on Curo

 

Both Councillor Gerry Curran an I could not believe our eyes when we came across this jobs worth act in Redland Park today by contractors working on behalf of Curo the local social hosing provider.

As it can be clearly be seen the new fence shows up just how far the Curo grass cutters cut the grass leaving an area no more than 15 feet long uncut.

When they were challenged they claimed that the area belonged to the council and they should not cut it.

On top of all of this any litter that was on the grass areas was cut into small pieces including cans that now have sharp edges.

All in All this is a poor Job and we have drawn these grass cutters to the attention of Curo who we hope will see some sense.

It helps no one for these rigid lines to be drawn on who can do what and who cant, It is no wonder the area is in a mess.

By Councillor Tim Ball

Redland Park Road resurfacing

I have been in contact with the council with regards to the state the road was left in after a recent surface treatment with micro-asphalt to repair the road surface.

I have complained that the quality of the work that I have found that it is far from satisfactory and needs to be brought up to standard.

I have been told that contractors are due back in the area in the next few days to finish off the work and making good any defects.

The issue is that the road humps have had a shoddy finish and the iron work needs to be sorted out. I will be chasing these matters up until they are resolved.

Microasphalt

Microasphalt

Microasphalt

Microasphalt

Microasphalt

Connection Hill more litter problems.

 

I have again asked for the mess to be cleared up on the footpath between connection Hill and the Lower Bristol Road.

The broken branches seem to come from the side of 67 High Street and I have asked that the owner of this house clears the overgrown trees at the edge of his garden that are also breaking down the garden wall.

By Councillor Tim Ball

Bath Green Homes

An autumn programme of events to help make local homes warmer, greener and cheaper to run is being organised by Bath & North East Somerset Council, Transition Bath, Bath Preservation Trust, and other local partners. Whether you are a home owner, live in rented accommodation or live in social housing, there are lots of things you can do to help bring your energy bills down. A number of talks and workshops are running in and around Bath during October and November including: • The Bathford thermal imaging exhibition, from 7th-20th October at Bathford Community Café, and Illustrated Talk on Thur 10th 7.30pm. Find out where heat escapes from homes. Bathford Energy Group. • Green Deal Q&A session Find out what’s in a Green Deal Advice Report, next steps, and possible grants available. Mon 14th October 8pm-9pm, upstairs at The Ring O Bells. Energy Efficient Widcombe • Draught Proofing Workshop learn about and have a go at fitting different types of draught proofing. Tue 22nd October 6.45pm, book here. Transition Bath, Bath Preservation Trust, & Centre for Sustainable Energy. • Air Tightness Clinic Bookable half-hour slots with national air leakage expert Paul Jennings to discuss your project. Wed 13th Nov, 12pm-4pm, BRSLI, Queen’s Square. Transition Bath • Leak Tight, Ventilate Right! How to go beyond draught-proofing to make yours a leak-free, air-tight home that is healthy and warm. Wed 13th Nov, 7pm-9pm, BRLSI, Queen’s Square. Transition Bath There will also be a number of coffee mornings and drop-in sessions organised by Curo Sustainability Forum where residents in rented or social housing can find out about what they can do to reduce their energy bills, taking place in Weston, Twerton, Odd Down, Snow Hill, Keynsham, Swainswick, Peasedewn St John, Kingsmead and Bathwick. “These events are a great way for residents to find practical ways to protect themselves from rising energy bills and cut their carbon footprint, helping us move together towards a low carbon future. Reducing the community’s carbon footprint is not something that the Council and its partners can do on their own; it takes action by every single household across the district in the form of challenging their green behaviour and habits.” You can enter the Bath Green Homes prize draw to win a tasty hamper of local food goodies worth over £30 by sharing your Home Energy Saving Tips. Tweet your tip using the hashtag #BGHtips or email it to us at admin@bathgreenhomes.co.uk to enter. Terms and Conditions apply. To find out more, visit the website, follow @BathGreenHomes on Twitter, call 01225 477528 or email admin@bathgreenhomes.co.uk

Dangerous Wall Cleeve Green

I am chasing Curo to get this wall fixed at Cleeve Green that I reported in early July as needing urgent repair.

It can be seen from the pictures that the wall is falling apart and I am concerned about the danger to young children passing by.

It is not acceptable for this not to have been dealt with by now and I have relayed my concern to Curo on this point.


I am hopeful that Curo will carry out these repairs in the near future.

By Councillor Tim Ball

Morrisons Local open

I was pleased to be able to open the new Morrisons store in Twerton on Monday.

The new store is already bringing new trade back to the high street with competitive prices.

I would hope that this would continue and that other traders would benefit from the increased footfall in the village.

by Councillor Tim Ball

Litter again a problem

I have asked the council to clear up some a parts of Twerton that have become over run with litter.

The areas of Dominion Road, Newton Road, Walwyn Close are far below standards and I have asked that these areas are brought up to standard as soon as possible.

By councillor Tim Ball

Morrisons Local

The long awaited opening of Morrsions on Twerton High Street will take place on Monday 30th September at 9am.

I have today met Chris the local store manager who tells me that there will be an official opening of the store on Monday of next week.

Chris also told me that the prices in the store will be competitive and that should help many of our local families who are struggling financially.

By Councillor Tim Ball

Twerton Toilets

Cllr Gerry Curran at Twerton toilets

The Twerton Toilets are to remain open until and alternative can be found in the locality that was the result of the resolution that was passed by the full council on Thursday.

Councillor Gerry Curran and I are both pleased with the resolution that enables us to work with businesses in the area to either take on these toilets from the council or to sponsor their upkeep.

It is very important that we keep toilets in the the High Street area of Twerton and we are in open talks with businesses in the area concerning future provision.

The condition of these toilets in their current state are not acceptable and we will be pushing for improvements.

Morrisons on its way

The development of a new Morrison's Store in Twerton is well underway and we have received confirmation that the opening of the store will be in the very near future.

The works shown ensure that the store is fully disability accessible and will also have a new cash point that will benefit local residents.

We will keep residents informed of the full opening date as soon as it is available.



By Councillor Tim Ball

More Litter at Hanna Close

I have asked Curo to clear up this mess in the Car Park at Hanna Close.

Councillor Gerry Curran and I only cleaned this up a few weeks ago and this mess is again all over the whole car park.

I have pointed Curo in the right direction to one family who seem to be making this mess.

If it is not cleared within the next week I will clear it myself.


By Councillor Tim Ball

Bollards down

I have asked for the bollard that has been knocked out of the ground at Cleeve green to be replaced as soon as possible.

It is very important for the Safety of Children that unauthorised cars and vans stay off of these paths and that is why we had the bollards put in.

Curo are responsible for these posts and i hope that this is replaced as soon as possible.

By Councillor Tim Ball

Extra money for Twerton Schools

Millions of children are going back to school this week. For our local School in Twerton, this also means an £14,000 for Twerton Infants and an extra £37,000 more than last year for St Michael's Junior School, thanks to the Lib Dems’ Pupil Premium.

That's much needed cash to help every child get on in life.

Twerton Infant School

Pupil Premium 2011: £34,160
Pupil Premium 2012: £52,955
Pupil Premium 2013: £66,600

St Michael's CofE Junior School

Pupil Premium 2011: £38,064
Pupil Premium 2012: £67,907
Pupil Premium 2013: £104,400

Remember this wouldn't be happening without the Liberal Democrats in Government championing our children's future.

Redland Park Litter Pick update

The litter Pick that I have been organising with the council and Curo will take place at 2pm and hour before the fun day.

Meeting place outside Cost cutter shop Newton Road

Time 2pm

Please come and join me and other residents if you can.

Bath City take on Eastleigh

Tonight is Bath City's first home match of the season. 

Bath city won on Saturday, away at Bishops Stortford on the seasons opener, and tonight they play Eastleigh at home. apparently Eastleigh are every bookies favourite to romp away with the title (they also won their first match of the season).

Why not go along and support city tonight and encourage them to an even better start than they already have and dent the prospects of Eastleigh.

Twerton toilets update

Residents will have noticed that the toilets have remanded open whilst we negotiate with a private sponsor for these toilets .

Councillor Gerry Curran has had initial talks on this matter that seem positive, but nothing is secured at the moment.

As those who have used the toilets in Twerton will have noticed these toilets are in urgent need of modernisation and we have t be realistic as to what we are able to achieve in the short term and security of use is also and important matter to ensure that criminal activities don not take place.

We have become aware that a debate may be held in the council with regard to the council closure of toilets program.

It needs to be pointed out however that the Council can not alter the program as it was an issue agreed by Council in a budget debate and we believe that the only safe way to secure public toilets in Twerton is through private sponsorship.

By Councillor Tim Ball

Redland Park Fun Day plus

A fun day is being put on for residents of Redalnd Park for Wednesday 28th August to take place at Pennyquick Playing fields from 3pm till 6pm.

The Fun day will be primarily for the residents of Redland Park and is being organised jointly between Curo and Time Bank Plus who are introducing a new worker into the area to encourage residents of the estate to take part in the time bank ethos.

In the light of this I have organised a litter pick in conjunction with the council on the same day starting at 2pm from the bus shelter at Pennyquick View to cover the Redland Park estate please come and join me if you can.

Residents will also be able to make comments on what plans Curo have for the area and what improvements they would like to see made including the location of the new litter bins that Curo have promised us that they are going to install.

Many stalls are being organised with advise and information about Welfare reform and Universal credits and how this will affect you.

A few weeks ago I attended the meeting that decided to put this event on and I would like to pay credit to Curo, Time Bank Plus, and the council officers that have also helped bring this forward in a very short period of time.

At the fun day their will be many items for the children including the young at heart such as a bouncy castle and competitions and fun things to do.

So if you have the time on your hands, need some advice or just want a bit of fun the this one is for you.

Linley Close

Curo are going to undertake remedial works to all the fire doors in all 3 blocks of flats in Linley Close.

This is in line with a requirement of Bath & North East Somerset Council to bring them into line with the latest safety standards.

In order to carry out the works Curo will be placing 3 units storage and waste in the car park at Linley Close garrage block while the works are being carried out. 

Morrisons High Street Twerton

We have a further planning application from Morrison's for the display of 2 externally illuminated fascia signs, 1 externally illuminated projecting sign and 5 window vinyls

Application reference: 13/02937/AR received on 09/07/2013

Planning Portal reference: PP-02755354

if you want to know more about the application or wish to make a comment on the application then please follow the link below.

 105 High Street, Twerton, Bath, Bath And North East Somerset, BA2 1DB

HMO planning application Highland Road

We have a new planning application for the change of use of 20 Highland Road to a house of multiple occupation.

The application this is in line with the councils new article 4 directive that requires planning permission for the conversion of a domestic dwelling to a HMO.

The definition very briefly is 3 or more persons living in the same address that are unrelated in a regulated zone.

 The application states a change of use from a domestic dwelling (C3) to a house of multiple occupation (C4)

Application reference: 13/03005/FUL received on 15/07/2013

Planning Portal reference: PP-02746676

If you want to know more about the application or wishes to make a comment then please follow the link below.

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20 Highland Road, Twerton, Bath, Bath And North East Somerset, BA2 1DY

 

St Michael's Junior School Twerton

I am pleased to be able to tell readers that special needs children and St Michael's Junior School in Twerton are to have more equipment to help with their learning.

I have been able to make a donation of £490 to the friends of the School to buy specialist education equipment that will help many young people at the School, this has been made through the councillors initiative fund.

The money will add to the money that the Friends of the School raise through events that they organise and take part in during the School year with Children of the School.

A great deal of credit has to be paid to these volunteers who spend much of their free time putting others first.

I am always pleased to be able to help a forward looking School with many young energetic staff.

I have a small amount that I am still able allocate to projects in Twerton as has councillor Gerry Curran.

If you know of any small projects that needs some help then please let us know.


By Councillor Tim Ball

Better Busses for Twerton ?

It has been noticeable in the last few weeks that the condition of the buses on the number 5 Route Twerton has improved and the buses with steps on seem to have disappeared.

Although First have not replied to the complaint that was submitted about the state of the buses it seems that they have taken some belated action.

Lets hope that the condition of the buses continues to improve and that they run a service in the area that is fit for purpose.

They seem to forget the promises that they made to residents of Bath when they became a commercial service all those years ago, in that the fleet would be constantly updated.

In the case of Twerton and the Number 5 we live in hope and some times in despair.

19 new flats proposed for Lower Bristol Road

We have a planning application for a Prior approval request for change of use from Use Class B1 to Use Class C3 for the creation of 19 flats on the Lower Bristol Road.

Application reference: 13/03294/ODCOU received on 26/07/2013

If you wish to view the application or make any comments then please follow the link below.

 Lawrence House, Lower Bristol Road, Twerton, Bath, Bath And North East Somerset, BA2 9ET

This site is on the Lower Bristol Road and is one of the last commercial buildings as you leave Bath towards the turnpike.

Freeview Road House Sub division planning application

We have at last got a planning application for the Subdivision of existing property at 9 Freeview Road to form 2 separate dwellings.

Application reference: 13/02482/FUL received on 12/06/2013

If you would like to view the application or make any comments then please follow the link below.

9 Freeview Road, Twerton, Bath, Bath And North East Somerset, BA2 1DS

The current condition of the property is completely unacceptable and i hope that this will resolve this matter.

by Councillor Tim Ball

Redland Park investigative walk around.

I spent a good day on Thursday walking around Redland Park with Curo officers and the councils cleansing team.

It was a good visit and we identified several issues that need to be dealt with.

I was rather shocked to hear that a cleansing operative had been in Redland Park on Monday of this week and removed 38 full bags of litter that had accumulated.

Curo have again been asked to provide litter bins in this area as much of the area is their responsibility.

The issues that we found were loose kerb edges that need to be reinstated or removed on some of the parking areas.

Curo have agreed to get their gardening and Landscaping team in to cut back the overgrowth that is coming from the edges of residents properties and remove tree saplings that have become rooted and are causing a problem.

It was noticed that many residents have started to tidy their gardens but there is a hardcore that still refuse to deal with their overgrown gardens or leave old furniture rotting outside.

We have agreed to have a crackdown on these properties in the next few months in order to get the estate back into good order.

By Councillor Tim Ball

Taking a precautionary line on 'Fracking'

The issues of shale gas exploration (often called 'fracking') and coal bed methane have been very much in the public eye lately. B&NES Council is no exception.

At its meeting of 11 July, Council considered a motion on this issue. The main thrust of the motion is to express concern over the risks that fracking could pose to the Bath hot springs, local bodies of water and the local environment generally.

The motion goes on to call for an evidence-based report on these issues including information about what powers the Council might use to control and prevent such works.

Speaking in the debate, many Councillors expressed their opposition to fracking generally. Beyond the protection of the hot springs (which is paramount), our Councillors raised environmental concerns relating to water pollution and extension of our dependence on fossil fuels.

Read the Full story

Economy Upadate

An Economic update has been produced by the Liberal Democrats who run Bath & North East Somerset Council for the local area.

Councillor Tim Ball has published the information on his personal web site follow the link to see the update.

Bathnes Economy update

Twerton Toilets

The Toilets in Twerton that had been identified for closure in the councils budget have drawn quite a bit of attention in the last few days with a demonstration taking place by a lady from Larkhall.

Twerton Councillors have been working to try to find a private sponsor for these toilets and have been in talks with several businesses who we hope will take on responsibility for their upkeep.

Council budgets have been tight for a number of years now and will continue to be so for a number of years to come so it is important to secure the safety items that the community want a and private sponsorship is important to ensure that this happens.

We have asked that these toilets remain open until we have concluded our talks with businesses who we hope will take on the Twerton Toilets.

Many towns and cities now have their toilets run by sponsors in the business sector so this is not a new idea of having toilet blocks sponsored.

Can't afford your water Meter Bill read on

The WaterSure scheme is available for certain customers with a water meter. It allows them to have their bills capped. This is to make sure that these customers don’t cut back on how much water they use because they are worried about how they will pay their bill.
To qualify for help under the WaterSure scheme, you or someone living with you, needs be entitled to receive one of the following:

• council tax benefit
• housing benefit
• Income Support
• income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
• Working Tax Credit
• Child Tax Credit (except families in receipt of the family element only)
• Pension Credit
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance

In addition, you need to either:

• be responsible for three or more children under the age of 19 and in full-time education living in the property, or
• have (or someone living in the property must have) a medical condition which requires significant additional use of water. Examples of medical conditions include weeping skin diseases (such as psoriasis), Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis.

If you qualify for WaterSure, you will pay no more than the average household bill for your company (XLS), even if you use more than the average amount of water.
You will not qualify for WaterSure if you use a garden sprinkler system or have a swimming pool.
If you think you are eligible for WaterSure, you will need to apply through your water company.
More information on benefits, including those listed above is available from Directgov.

Thanks to Lib Dem Councillor Steve Beasant for this information.

Council Launches place making consultation

Bath & North East Somerset Council have launched its Place Making Plan consultation document to supplement its Core Strategy workings.

The council wish to hear from residents on detailed ideas on the plan that will run until 2029.

To read more on this please go to Tim Ball's personal website by following this link.

Bathnes Place Making

Twerton Pact meeting

The next Twerton PACT meeting will take place on Thursday 1st August at 7pm a St Michaels Junior School Newton Road,Twerton.

This is your chance to catch up with what the Police are doing locally and to raise any issues that are of concern to you.

Let's have a half decent bus First

We have complained to First Bus about the condition of the buses that they are using on the Number 5 Route.

It is not acceptable in this day and age for them to be running buses on the Number 5 Route with steps on them particularly as they had new low floor buses over 18 years ago paid for with a donation from Avon County Council.

Many elderly and disabled people are no longer able to use some of the buses on this route due to them not having low floors.

The council have had the foresight to put in new bus stops that will enable passengers to be able to get on and off of the bus easily through the Bath Transportation package it is a shame that First have not had the same foresight and provided a decent bus for its passengers on this route.

Do First really believe that it is acceptable for them to be running buses on this Route that in fact are not fit for purpose the Council has invested now its time for First Bus to do the same.

By Councillor Tim Ball

Twerton Police turn to two wheels

Twerton beat Police officer PC Adge Secker has turned to two wheels in order to solve crime.

Adge has been cycling around Twerton for the last few weeks on his police duties speaking to local residents who seem surprised to see him approach without being noticed.

Adge new idea is not proving a hit with the criminal element as he is there before they know it.









By Councillor Tim Ball