Litter Bin by Bakers High Street

I have asked for the litter bin that has recently been removed in Twerton High Street to be replaced as soon as possible.

The bin that was removed is in an area where there is a heavy litter fall with take away shops close by.

I would hope to see the new bin shortly.

Happy Christmas

From your Twerton Liberal Democrat Focus Team

We are here over Christmas and New Year if you need us.

Be good tonight

Be good the big man will soon be here 

We are here if you need us over Christmas but hopefully you won't.

Highland Road leaves and Rubbish

 I have asked the council to clear the leaves and litter from Highland Road the pictures show the accumulation has been building up for quite some time.

I have asked that this area is kept an eye on as it has clearly been neglected in the past.

Blood donation session

 Blood donation session 

              

Just 1 extra appointment following the advertising that you may be able to provide, could go on to save or improve the life's of 3 people - so your help is greatly appreciated!  

 

 Bath City Football Club

                    Twerton Park, Twerton, BA2 1DB                  

  Wednesday 28th December

                  12:45-15:30 & 16:30-19:45                    

0300 123 2323  

Or visit blood.co.uk   

Our App: NHSGiveBlood     

Blocked drains in Twerton

I have asked the council to clear the drains at several locations in Twerton particularly the ones in Shaw's Way and Watery Lane some of which are so silted up they will not be able to take any water in to them.

With the amount of leaves that are around the matter is only made worse.

The council has to make more effort to ensure that water is easily able to drain away by keeping drains and gullies clear.

Other areas of the country have had floods in the past due to blocked drains Bath & North East Somerset have not learned  the lesson.

Don't be caught out by rogue traders' fishy tales

Bath & North East Somerset Council’s Trading Standards Team is warning residents not to fall for a door-to-door fish-selling scam.

The team has received reports of doorstep callers trying to persuade residents to buy, what they claim is, fresh expensive fish.

Residents have spent up to £200 but when they cook the fish they have discovered the packs are not labelled and their contents are not what they were told.

The sellers also tend not to offer customers cancellation rights or provide a receipt to allow them to seek a refund if they are not satisfied with the goods.

We would advise people that the best place to buy fish is from a reputable fishmonger at an established shop or stall. Rogue traders often call on unsuspecting households to persuade people to buy their goods, but very often they are selling poor quality items with no opportunity for the consumer to ask for a refund or replacement.

“It can often be difficult to spot a rogue trader and can sometimes be hard to say no, especially as rogue traders often use high pressure sales tactics and can be very persuasive. We all like the idea of a bargain, but if the deal sounds too good to be true, then it probably is. Trust your instincts and never buy from doorstep callers.” 

Anyone who has been approached by fish sellers in this manner should contact the
Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 03454 04 05 06.

Further information can be found on www.bathnes.gov.uk/services/trading-standards/rogue-traders-and-scams/doorstep-scams

High Street ( new litter bin, Zebra crossing )

 I am pleased that the council have agreed to install a new litter bin at the bus stop on Twerton High Street that was not put in when the new bus shelter was installed last year. This will certainly help keep the High Street clear of litter.

I have also asked that the Zebra crossing is repainted as the surface is getting badly worn. I hope that the council will deal with this as soon as possible.

Many thanks to Bath & north East Somerset Council no sooner had this post gone up than the lines we're repainted

Curo opening times over Christmas and New Year

Curo have published their opening hours over the Christmas period as below for further details follow this Link

Fri 23 Dec: OPEN 8AM-5PM

Christmas Eve, Sat 24 Dec: CLOSED

Christmas Day, Sun 25 Dec: CLOSED

Boxing Day, Mon 26 Dec: CLOSED

Bank Holiday Tues 27 Dec: CLOSED

Wed 28 Dec: OPEN 8AM-5PM

Thurs 29 Dec: OPEN 8AM-5PM

Fri 30 Dec: OPEN 8AM-5PM

Sat 31 Dec: CLOSED

New Year's Day, Sun 1 Jan: CLOSED

Bank Holiday Mon 2 Jan: CLOSED

Tues 3 Jan: NORMAL OPENING HOURS 

How Hill ( brambles leaves )

 I have asked the council to cut back the brambles from the churchyard at How Hill. The brambles are closing off a small but important footpath in this area.

I have also asked that the rotting leaves that are quite slippery are brushed up and removed as soon as possible.

I would hope that this work would be carried out quickly due to public safety.

 

Hanna Close ( Rubbish & litter )

After receiving complaints from residents I have asked Curo to clear up the mess on the land that they own at Hanna Close as well as the hedgerows that are also in their ownership.

I hope that this will get cleared up soon and will keep an eye on this.

Freeview Road (parking etc)

I have asked the council to remove the mud from the pavement at this section of Freeview Road.

I have also asked Curo for two bollards to be installed on the edge of the grass area that is being totally destroyed by vehicles reversing off and driving onto this area.

In the medium term I am waiting to see if this area will be added to the councils capital program to create additional parking.

I have also asked Curo to contribute to the cost of any parking spaces that are created.

Kelston View ( litter and leaf cleansing )

I have asked the council to give Kelston View a good deep clean and ensure that all of the recent leaf fall is removed.

In recent years the leaf mound has been left and not cleared away properly, it is no good the council just litter picking the area and then using a leaf blower to blow away wet leaves that of course will not blow away.

I hope that the council will get on with this and remove the leaves and by doing so remove the leaf mound that is the ideal growing medium for next years weeds.

Speed checks Newton Rd, High St.

I have asked the police to carry out speed enforcement checks on Newton Road and on Twerton High Street after receiving complaints from residents about speeding traffic.

The Police have agreed to this an will schedule it for the near future.

It must be remembered that these roads are 20mph for a reason. 

Costcutter Newton Road Planning application.

A planning application had been submitted for the erection of a first floor extension at the Costcutter store 72 Newton Road building two self contained flats.

A link to the application is  here

Please make any comments or observations on the application.

73 Freeview Road ( planning application )

 A new planning application has been submitted for a two story extension at 73 Freeview Road.

A link to the application is 73 Freeview Road 

If you have any comments or observations on the application you can make them on the link above.

Travellers pitch ( High Street Twerton )

I have asked the council to investigate the use of an unauthorised travellers pitch at 62 High Street Twerton.

A few months ago we had a planning application for a travellers  pitch at this address that was turned down by the council. The applicant then appealed and the appeal upheld the council decision to refuse the pitch.

It has been brought to my attention that despite these rulings unauthorised use continues to take place.

Twerton High Street ( litter bin )

I have asked for the litter bin that was removed from the bus stop on the inward journey to town to be replaced.

Under the agreement for the replacement of the bus shelters or the installation of new ones the replacement of litter bins was supposed to happen, it seems on this occasion it was missed.

Connection Hill

I have asked for the bramble to be cut back on the roadside that overhang from the railway track.

I have also asked for improved cleaning to the footpath that runs from Twerton High Street to the Lower Bristol Road.

Windrush Close

Footpaths

We have made many requests for the green Algae that is on many of the paths to be cleaned up and despite promises from both Curo and the council not much of it has been cleared.

Trees

We have also made requests for some if the trees at the front of Windrush Close to be trimmed back and have their canopies raised.

We will keep on to both the council and Curo until these matters are resolved.

Redland Park ( more new litter bins )

One of the bins put in that will be replaced 

After months of nagging Curo we have at last got agreement that new litter bins will be installed in the next few weeks in Redland Park.

It had been agreed that 5 new litter bins will be installed to replace the ones that were either badly installed or were vandalised.

We hope that the new bins will used well and help reduce the litter problem.

Danters Funfair at Bath City

Danter's Funfair will be returning to Twerton Park, next week, from Thursday 13 October until Sunday 16 October 2016.

The operating hours will be Thursday and Friday 17:00-21:00, Saturday 12:00-21:00 and Sunday 12:00-19:00.

As in previous visits, Danter's Funfair will close promptly each evening and the football club will notify the immediate neighbours in advance of these operating hours by letter.

Safer Roads - Kelston View - Progress at last

Following the recent complaints raised and meetings that Local Campaigner Sarah Moore and Councillor Tim Ball have had with both Officers and Directors from Bath & North East Somerset concerning the poor state of repair of some of the roads across the area we have received the following response:

"The Principle Engineer Highway Maintenance has visited the site and identified a section of the carriageway at Kelston View Road that requires reconstruction and a section that is suitable for an overlay as part of a trial to improve the ride quality.  The general condition of most of the slabs is good but we will address the particularly bad section as part of next year's Structural maintenance programme."

They also stated:  "As Highway Authority, it is our duty to maintain the highway for road users legally entitled to use the road."

Current condition of mid section of North Way

Whilst we are pleased our campaign appears to have made significant progress, we will not be reducing the pressure we are applying on the council until all poorly maintained roads across the area have actually been sorted.

If you have an issue in your street, please do get in touch with us.

New Windows for Redland Park

Curo have submitted a planning application to replace the metal windows in all the flats in Redland Park see below for details.

Twerton
N/A
22nd August 2016

App Ref:
Expiry Date: 21st November 2016

185 Redland Park Twerton Bath Bath And North East Somerset BA2 1SQ
(E)371847 - (N)164888 LB Grade: N/A
Replacement of existing aluminium windows to the properties listed in the accompanying

Design and Access Statement Emma Watts
Curo
C/o Agent

Agent:

Curo
The Maltings River Place Twerton Bath
BA2 1EP

To view the case click on the link here. 

Clyde gardens ( planning application )

Twerton
N/A
3rd October 2016
14 Clyde Gardens Twerton Bath Bath And North East Somerset BA2 1DG (E)372619 - (N)164677 LB Grade: N/A

Walnut (T1) - remove all branches overhanging property 14 Clyde gardens due to loss of light and excessive mess caused, to cut and remove a section of ivy growing on said walnut - excessive ivy will eventually harm tree

Jane Brewer
Mr Robert Ayre
14 Clyde Gardens
Twerton
Bath
Bath And North East Somerset BA2 1DG

Agent:
Walcot App Ref:
N/A
26th September 2016
31 Grosvenor Place Lambridge Bath Bath And North East Somerset BA1 6BA (E)376144 - (N)166255 LB Grade: I
Beech - Reduce height by approximately 5 metres and the width on both sides by approximately 3 metres.

To view the case click on the link here.

16/04859/TCA

Bryn Hulbert
46 Dursley road Shirehampton Bristol
BS11 9XF 

Even More Busses through Twerton

Following my post in July concerning the state of the roads across the Twerton area, I am extremely concerned to see we now have an additional bus service running!

We now have a number 17 service being run by Wessex Connect that comes up Watery Lane, Poolemead Road, Wedgewood Road, Kelston View, North Way and then on around areas of Southdown before going back through town and up to the University of Bath.  This bus service is running from 6.45am with the last bus scheduled to come through Twerton at approx 3.15am

This now means that the above roads have almost 200 large busses EVERY DAY running on them. These are residential roads most of which are in urgent need of radical replacement as they were deemed not to be in a fit state to take the original level of bus usage, let alone the additional quantity now being run.

There is an infant school on one of the roads and large numbers of children playing near them, putting safe routes to school in danger and also increasing the risk of children not only being injured by the increased traffic, but their health will also be affected by the increased pollution being produced across this area.

I have written to the Council this morning and requested that immediate action is taken to remedy this situation.

Freeview Road ( parking )

After months of work we now have the costings for the much needed extended parking areas.

We will now be working with Curo and Bath & North East Somerset Council to identify the ares that can be delivered quickly and who will pay for them.

We will keep residents updated as to how quick we can deliver these areas.

BCA ( Bath Community academy )

Many parents are standing up again to fight against the closure of their local secondary school.

There is a meeting at St Barnabas Church in Southdown of Friday 16th at 7pm for parents concerned about the possible school closure.

If you are a parent of a child at the School or a parent thinking of sending their child to the School then please go along.

Organisers are asking that this is an adult meeting only and that every person attending should be respectful of other as all parents are in the same position.

The meeting will be chaired by Twerton Lib Dem Councillor Tim Ball who has grandchildren attending the School.

The Local Liberal Democrats will be supporting and helping parents in their fight to keep a school open on the site.

Please also sign the petition to keep the School open http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/save-our-bca-school-from-closure

Hinton Close

I have reported the mess at Hinton Close to the council and asked that it is cleaned up as soon as possible.

It looks like a lot of the mess comes from the local shop and I have asked that they are chased to ensure that they clear their mess up.

This includes the clutter that they have allowed to build up at the front of the shop.

Woodhouse Road

I have asked Curo to sort out the area behind the bungalows at Woodhouse Road by removing the weeds from the path.

I have also asked that the overgrowth is removed from the grass area and it is returned to its former state.

High Street Twerton ( Travellers Pitch

A appeal against the refusal for a traveller's pitch on land to the rear of 62 High Street has been dismissed by the planning inspectorate.

The application for a travellers pitch in this location was totally inappropriate and I an relieved that this appeal has been turned down.

A link to the decision is below.

http://www.bathnes.gov.uk/WAM/doc/Appeal%20Decision-1092961.pdf?extension=.pdf&id=1092961&location=volume3&contentType=application/pdf&pageCount=1&appid=1001

Highfield Close (phone box)

The phone box at Highfield Close in Twerton will soon be removed by BT.

The phone box has fallen into disrepair and is rarely used and many local people have for a long time been asking for the phone box to be removed.

There are a few others in the Twerton area that also need refurbishment or removal.

Further problems after Redland Park

As part of ongoing visits to Redland Park I have asked for the dangerous section of pavement behind 116 to be repaired as soon as possible.

I have also asked for updates as to when the road surface will be repaired on the road Leading to Redland Park that also runs behind Day Crescent.

Pennard Green & Cleeve Green

After receiving complaints from residents I have asked that the dog warden keep an eye on this area in order to stop the person who is letting his dog foul all over the area.

I have also asked that signs are put on lamp posts in the area asking people to clean up after their dogs.

Redland Park

After being in Redland park for a number of occasions in the past week I have asked for the following issues to be addressed.

1) I have asked for the depression in the footpath between 63 & 64 to be rectified before an accident occurs.

2) I have asked that the weeds on the pathways are addressed.

3) I have asked that the litter bins put in by Curo a year ago are reinstalled properly this time.

                            

Mill lane Bridge

Essential inspection works will take place at Mill Lane Bridge will mean delays exiting Twerton to the Lower Bristol Road.

Detailed Examination Of Above Retaining Walls Using Road Mounted Mewp, Ladders And Small Hand Tools. Works To Be Carried Out Between The Hours Of 22:00 Tuesday 2nd August - 06:00 Wednesday 3rd August 2016.

Safer Roads - Latest

Councillor Tim Ball and I today met with the Divisional Director for Environmental Services, together with her colleague to further discuss the state of the roads in Twerton.

Whilst we were meeting, they were both shocked by the high number of large busses that use our roads and were not aware of the considerable number that travel these badly damaged roads often either empty or with just a couple of passengers.

It was agreed that we will be looking at 2 key things, the cause of the rapid decline in the condition of our roads and how the roads can be repaired.

Tim and I have already had discussions with FirstBus who have agreed to attend 2 meetings in September for residents to come along to and have their say on what sort of bus service we would all like to cover this area.  As soon as the locations for these meetings have been confirmed, we will circulate this around the whole area to ensure as many residents can attend.

We have asked the Council to prioritise North Way as an urgent need to totally repair this road, not just lay tarmac on top of the considerable damage that is there.  Then moving onto Kelston View and then other roads across this area to ensure they are all brought up to a standard that we can use safely. 

We understand there has been no money put aside in the budget for any of this work, however, this will now be fully costed with a view to get the work into the future road repair budgets and get the work completed.

We will continue to push for this work until we get the outcome we need and will not drop this until the work has been completed. 

Positive meeting with Cabot Learning Federation

Lib Dem Councillors from South West Bath that included Twerton Councillor Tim Ball have met with the Chief Executive of the Cabot Learning Federation, the Academy Chain which sponsors Bath Community Academy, to discuss the future of the school. 

Councillor Dine Romero (Southdown, Lib Dem) commented:

“Lib Dem Councillors from South West Bath wards had a positive meeting this morning with Steve Taylor, the Chief Executive of the Cabot Learning Federation. We were grateful for Mr Taylor’s assurances that support will be put in place for children who are currently working towards their GCSEs. 

We also welcome his agreement that there is a need for continued education provision on the Bath Community Academy site. The discussion now needs to be about transformation rather than closure. This needs to be the right sort of provision for the community and for the city as a whole.”

“We intend to call a public meeting with parents and the local community in the near future, probably in September. This will be an opportunity for an exchange of information and views.”

Twerton Arch

Twerton arch the entrance to Twerton via the lower Bristol will close tonight from 12.15 am till 6 am for detailed inspection of the bridge.

https://roadworks.org/?68667826

Rubbish Kelston View - UPDATED

After receiving complaints from residents about the amount of rubbish being scattered along Kelston View from rubbish deposited outside Bath City Farm gates on rubbish collection day each week.

We are working with the farm and council to try to resolve this issue, and have suggested that the farm build a wooden containment unit outside the farm gates to keep the rubbish bags in until collection.

We will keep residents postured on progress.

UPDATE:

Since releasing this post earlier this morning we can already confirm that the Farm has acted promptly in putting this in place, as you can see below:

We would like to thank the Farm for their prompt action in building this to help prevent the rubbish bags from being attacked and for their continued great work in supporting our local community.