Proposed Road Closure

We have been informed that, to enable the installation of the bridge over Dartmouth Avenue, the following area of roads and footpaths will be temporary closed to vehicles/pedestrians from 19th November for approximately 5 days:

The length of Dartmouth Avenue, extending from it's junction with Millmead Road, in a southerly direction for a distance of 65 metres, Millmead Road, extending from it's junction with Dartmouth Avenue to it's junction with Ringwood Road, the footpath CQ47 Linear Park extending between St Kilda's Road and Ringwood Road, and Footpath BQ47 extending from it's junction with Dartmouth Avenue Avenue in a westerly direction for a distance of 130 metres.

This will be confirmed by BANES Council closer to the date and notices will be erected confirming exact details.

By 
Sarah Moore

Millmead Road/Dartmouth Avenue Bridge

Notices have been put up on the transport route for the two tunnels bridge delivery to Millmead Road/Dartmouth Avenue.

Parking restrictions will be in place along this route which covers The Hollow, Lymore Avenue, Dartmouth Avenue between 19th and 23rd November to enable the safe delivery of the Bridge.

We will re-confirm closer to this date in case any delays occur between now and then.

by
Sarah Moore 

Loxton Drive trees

After reporting several broken trees at Loxton Drive last weekend, I have had a response from the Arboriculture Officer at BANES. 

He has confirmed these trees will not be replaced, but has requested a member of the highways team to go along and make the area safe.

by
Sarah Moore

Important Changes to number 5 Bus timetable

First Bus have announced that the timetable of the number 5 Bus will be revised on 7th October and the frequency increased on Mondays to Fridays from every 15 minutes to every 12 minutes. 

The frequency will be reduced on Sunday & Bank Holidays evenings from every 30 minutes to every 40 minutes. The service via Haycombe Drive to run later, until 1900 on Mondays to Saturdays. 

House Crime Highland Terrace

A burglary occurred in Highland Terrace, Twerton, Bath, on Saturday 6th October 2012 at approximately 4pm.  If any one has any information regarding this incident, please inform local police by ringing 101 or, alternatively, call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111

If you have information about any crime, phone the police on 101 or you can call anonymously to the independent charity CRIMESTOPPERS 0800 555 111.  

Twenty is Plenty now in force.

The new Twenty Mile and hours speed limits are now in force in large areas of Westmoreland many new signs have now been erected detailing the new speed that is in force on affected roads across the area, please look out for the signs.

The Twenty MPH zones were a promise that I made before the last council elections and I am delighted  that they have been delivered although I am keen to get the rest of the ward sorted as soon as possible and have contacted the Lib Dem Cabinet member asking him to bring the rest of our area in as soon as possible.

The warning is if you are doing more than Twenty miles and hour in the In much of East Twerton and South Twerton area you are speeding and subject to a fine and or penalty points on your Licence if you are caught speeding.

The Police have been out reminding residents of the new speed limits.

Please help keep a child safe and keep down to the new 20MPH limit

By cllr Sharon Ball

Further debate on HMO's

The first formal consultation on this issue revealed strong public support for the existence of an HMO policy – the Cabinet will decide what specific measures should be put forward for a further round of consultation.

What are the proposals?

Planning permission will be required for future changes of use from family houses into HMOs across Bath from 1^st July 2013. The Cabinet will consider a simple two stage process which should flag up whether a change of use is likely to be permitted at the earliest stage.

• At stage 1, if a property is located within an area with 25% or more existing HMO planning permission is likely to be refused for a change of use from a family house to an HMO and a more detailed stage 2 assessment is triggered;
• Where a property is not located within an area of 25% or more HMOs then change of use is likely to be granted subject to other planning considerations.

"I am pleased that the council is using the figure of 25% to be consulted upon rather than the origional proposals of 20% recomended by the consultants, I am told by the cabinet member that this is because of the content of student representations that are concerned about availability of accommodation and this level should create a fair balance."

The Council will use its own records of HMOs which it has mapped to make this judgment and this base map is due to be updated every 6 months with the latest data. The proposals would particularly affect major parts of Oldfield Park, Westmoreland and Widcombe Wards and smaller areas in Lower Weston and London Road. The policy also includes a guide to assessing whether a property qualifies as a HMO and includes some guidance on design considerations for HMOs including waste and recycling, cycle parking and room layout.

"The issue of HMOs is clearly one that local people feel strongly about judging by the results of the recent consultation. Bath & North East Somerset Council must act to ensure that there is a fair mix of larger family homes and HMOs and the Cabinet will be considering how the local planning rules should reflect this. We must make clear that whilst HMOs are an important part of local housing supply, it is the concentration of them in certain neighbourhoods that is the concern. Whatever is decided, we will be urging people to have their say through the next round of consultation.”

Other University cities across the country, such as Exeter and Oxford, that face similar issues to Bath and they have all agreed additional planning controls over HMOs.

If the Cabinet approves the planning guidance the new approach will be launched for public consultation on 18^th October 2012 until 30^th November.

The Council is also currently consulting on proposals that HMO landlords in areas with a large number of HMOs be required to apply for a licence to improve management and housing quality. The latest information can be found at www.bathnes.gov.uk/hmo

Bath Recycling Centre temporary closure

The Recycling Centre in Bath will be closed for essential Maintenance between Monday 8th October through to Monday 3rd December.

For latest news please visit

www.bathnes.gov.uk/bathrecyclingcentre