Local buses in Twerton

I have tabled the following questions to the cabinet meeting on 4th May regarding local buses and poor road surfaces on bus routes

Questions to CLLR Anthony Clarke.

Again I raise questions over the suitability of some local roads to be able to accommodate large buses due to the poor condition. 

In Twerton we have large buses using badly broken up roads from 6am in the morning until past midnight.

Residents are complaining of the extra noise of these buses rattling the broken concrete slabs that many roads are made of and the further breaking up of the surface.

It would be a shame if the bus company could not run buses on part of this route due to the condition of the road. This is not just a problem with pot holes that need filling this is the fabric of the roads breaking up.

1) Will he cabinet member in light of the increased usage with large buses carry out a full study and audit of the number 5 bus route through Twerton and take action to install repairs to the road surfaces in Kekston View, Wedgewood Road, North Way and Poolemead Road.

2) Will the cabinet member agree to meet me in Twerton with First Bus to see the problem first hand for himself, and possibly take a bus Ride at the same time.

Updated bus service for Twerton

We are pleased that First bus has recognised the problems with the service in Twerton and have agreed to increase the amount of buses that are available in the area.

What should also be helpful is the reduced fare after 7pm at night to £3 for unlimited travel across the area.

What we now need is for the council to take action on the road surfaces before the buses have to stop running due to collapsing road surfaces.

A statement from first bus is below.

Service 5 – Bus Station - Whiteway
Due to the increasingly popularity of Service 5 the Mon – Fri will increase to every 10 minutes (particularly useful for those students travelling between Twerton Mill & City Centre)

Following numerous customer extra late evening journeys will run at 2330 and 2400 (Monday – Saturday)
On Sundays the frequency (daytime) will increase to every 20 minutes using bigger buses which will provide significantly higher capacity.

All journeys will now operate via Haycombe Drive (including evenings and weekends).
The timetable of Service 5 will be altered to address the current issues of punctuality and reliability.

Pavement parking

Many residents are contacting us regarding pavement parking after we highlighted the issue so we thought that we would give you a quick update.

Residents tell us that they feel it's important to be able to park close to their homes but are critical of parking on the pavement which many see as wrong as it causes difficulties for mobility impaired people and parents with children.

We have already met Curo and are meeting with the council in a few weeks time to discuss what can be done in Freeview Road and Sheridan Road.

If you have any comments on this then please contact us.

Police and Crime Commissioner for the Avon and Somerset Police Area – candidate information

Information has been released today to help voters to choose a Police and Crime Commissioner for the Avon and Somerset Police Area.

On Thursday 5 May 2016, voters across the Avon and Somerset Police area will go to the polls to elect a Police and Crime Commissioner.

Details about the following candidates have been published today athttps://www.choosemypcc.org.uk/area/avon-somerset:

Kerry Barker, Labour Party

Chris Briton, Green Party

Paul Crossley, Liberal Democrats

Aaron Warren Foot, UK Independence Party (UKIP)

Sue Mountstevens, Independent

Kevin Stewart Phillips, Independent

Mark Weston, The Conservative Party Candidate

More information on the election is available on the Avon and Somerset PCC Election 2016 website www.avonpccelection2016.org.uk.

You can vote at the election if you are registered to vote, are 18 or over on 5 May 2016 and are a British citizen, a European Union citizen or a qualifying Commonwealth citizen.

Poll cards with details of the PCC election and the location of polling stations will be posted to all registered electors during April.

If you are not yet registered at your current address, you can do it online atwww.avonpccelection2016.org.uk/register-to-vote. Those who would prefer to register using a paper form, can request one by calling the Electoral Services Helpline on 01225 477333.

The deadline to register to vote in time for the PCC election is midnight on Monday 18 April 2016.

If you can’t go to the polling station on Thursday 5 May, then if you have registered by 18 April you can apply to vote by post or you can appoint a proxy to vote on your behalf. The deadline for postal vote applications is on 5pm on Tuesday 19 April 2016, while the deadline for proxy vote applications is 5pm on Tuesday 26 April 2016.

Dr Jo Farrar, the Avon and Somerset Police Area Returning Officer, said: “Time is running out to make sure you can take part in these elections, so I’d encourage everyone across the Avon and Somerset Police Area to register now if you have not done so already. Our message is simple: you can’t vote, if you are not registered by the 18^th April deadline.  It’s easy and only takes a few minutes online – just head towww.avonpccelection2016.org.uk/register-to-vote.”

Registering now for the elections in May will also mean voters are registered in good time before the referendum on the UK’s membership of the European Union on Thursday 23 June 2016.

The Hollow

We have one planning application listed for consideration, please see below and comment if you wish to.

Ward:​​Twerton​​​App Ref:​16/01538/FUL

Parish:​​N/A

Registered:​1st April 2016​​​Expiry Date:​27th May 2016

Location:​142 The Hollow Southdown Bath Bath And North East Somerset BA2 1NF  

Grid Ref:​(E)372518 - (N)163918​​​LB Grade:​N/A

Proposal:​Erection of loft conversion with rear dormer

Officer: ​Chloe Buckingham

Applicant:​Ms K Dancey	Agent:    Western Building Consultants Ltd (Western House)
142 The Hollow Southdown Bath Bath And North East Somerset BA2 1NF	C/O Mr Charles Burgess Western House 2 Rush Hill Bath BA2 2QH

To view the case click on the link here.

Bath Recycling Centre closure next week

Bath & North East Somerset Council’s Recycling Centre on Upper Bristol Road will be closed on Tuesday 19th April and Wednesday 20th April.

The closure is necessary to allow the replacement of Bath’s Destructor Bridge as part of the regeneration of Bath Riverside.

The Council’s other Recycling Centres in Radstock and Keynsham will be open as usual.

For more details and recycling centre opening times visit:http://www.bathnes.gov.uk/recyclingcentres

New heads at Local Schools

New Headteachers have been appointed at both our Local Schools and both have been appointed from current teaching staff.

At Twerton Infants George Samios has been appointed head after spending a number of years as deputy head at the school.

At St Michaels Junior School Ben Summers has been appointed head after spending a number of years as Schhol deputy head.

We are sure that both the New heads will take their schools onto even greater success and we wish them well in their endeavours.

Newton Road ( trees )

We have asked the council to inspect the trees along Newton road from 83 through to 135 after receiving complaints from residents telling us of branches both large and small falling off the trees on a regular basis.

The trees in this area are next to the roadside and have become rather large over the years and may now been in need for radical work to ensure that they are safe.

Day Crescent rear road / Redland Park

We have again written to the council complaining about the condition of the road that runs to the rear of Day Crescent that was not resurfaced when the rest of Redland Park was done.

The surface of this road is in a terrible condition and needs to be completely resurfaced and not just given a surface dressing as has happened in the past.

It seems that this councils answer is to just patch up these concrete roads with a big of tarmac that does not work.

We have explained to them that the surface needs to be completely broken up like we had done on Newton Road a number of years ago and the broken up concrete used as hard core to save costs when resurfacing.

BRIDGE STRUCTURE MLN1/108 HIGH STREET, TWERTON, BATH) (TEMPORARY PROHIBITION OF USE BY VEHICLES) ORDER 2016

Notice is given that Bath and North East Somerset Council in exercise of its powers under section 14 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 intends to make an orderthe effect of which will be to temporarily introduce a road closure in that length of the bridge structure MLN1/108 High Street, Twerton extending approximately 20 metres either side of the bridge.

This order is required because works are being or are proposed to be executed on or near the road to facilitate bridge examination in the carriageway and will be operative on 9th May 2016 for a maximum period of one week. The road will only be restricted as and when traffic signs are in position and may not be effected for the whole of the period but only for so long as is necessary to execute the works. This is anticipated to be for one night between the hours of 00.15 and 05.15hrs the next day. ALTERNATIVE ROUTE High Street – A36 - Jews Lane – Lansdown View - Shophouse Road – High Street and vice versa

Windrush Close

We have asked the council to remove the old mattress and rubbish dumped behind 17 Windrush Close.

We have also reminded both the council and Curo that they need to attend to the rubbish and Moss on the pavements in this area.

Don't Park on the Pavement

The issue of pavement parking has again been highlighted after an elderly Man fell an broke his hip navigating around parked Cars in Freeview Road Twerton yesterday afternoon.

On this occasion the gentleman was sat up in bed last night but will need an operation but a more frail person could have been killed.

It is clear that parking on the pavement is dangerous and should be avoided at all times, as this causes danger to pedestrians.

The Police in the past have turned a blind eye to some pavement parking but have now been asked to clamp on pavement parking and issue fines to those doing it.

If you park on the pavement and do not give enough space for a single buggy to get past then you are now liable to get a penalty notice on your car, so if in doubt don't do it.

We are working with the council Police and Curo to resolve some of the parking issues across the whole of Twerton and will soon be consulting residents on some solutions that we are developing.

In the mean time please do not park on the Pavements unless you want to be held responsible for someone being seriously injured or killed.