Western Riverside

After hearing from residents about cars speeding into Western Riverside and had a concern raised that a resident was nearly knocked over by a car racing into the site we have taken some action to have this matter resolved.

We have asked that 20mph repeater signs are introduced at the entrance to this site with immediate affect and are spaced at periodic intervals in the site.

We have also asked that the Police check this area periodically to deal with offenders breaking the speed limit.

Western Riverside - Signage

Street name signage around the entire Bath Western Riverside development is being improved to increase visibility thanks to prompt action by Westmoreland Councillor Sharon Ball.

Building and street names for the new housing area were nicely etched into the buildings, following traditional local practices. However, residents have been asking for the signage to be improved as it is very difficult to read the names. This has been a particular problem for people visiting the site – for example delivery people who may not be familiar with the area.

Councillor Ball met with developer Crest Nicholson and discussed various options for enhancing the names to make it clearer and local residents will be pleased to see that the etched names are being painted to improve visibility without the need for signs to be attached to the side of buildings.

Councillor Sharon Ball (Lib Dem, Westmoreland) commented:

“It is great to see that these names are being improved to make them clearer. I have been contacted by a large number of residents at Western Riverside requesting something to be done as they were having difficulty receiving their deliveries.”

Local Lib Dem campaigner, Sarah Moore, added:

“These improvements should also make the signs easier for people with impaired vision. We are grateful to Crest Nicholson for listening to, and acting on, residents’ concerns.”

Western Riverside - Post collections

We are pleased to announce that we are currently in discussion with Royal Mail  concerning the potential for a post collection box to be installed at the Western Riverside.

There is nowhere close by for residents to send any post and following discussions with a number of residents and with the large number of properties in this area, we felt it would be a great addition.

We have a meeting arranged on site later this week and will confirm the outcome of our discussions shortly.

by Sarah Moore

Western Riverside - Road Signs

Working with Crest Nicholson we are close to being able to resolve the problem of signage where people are unable to find their way around.

Although the carved stone name plates for the roads look very nice residents have been telling us that they are not very practicable with delivery drivers and Taxi cabs not being able to find there way around.

Cllr Sharon Ball has been able to persuade Crest to look into highlighting the carved stones which would allow the road names to be very much clearer .

A recent communication from Crest tells us that a solution to the problem has been found and we will be seeing this with Crest in the next few weeks.

Cllr Sharon Ball and Campaigner Sarah Moore at Western Riverside

Western Riverside

We have a planning application for the Approval of reserved matters with regard to outline application 06/01733/EOUT for the erection of 97 residential dwellings (blocks B5 and B16), 750m2 of ground floor commercial uses, erection of bin and cycle stores, plant, and associated landscaping works.

Application reference: 14/02005/ERES received on 30/04/2014

Planning Portal reference: PP-03070521

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

Western Riverside Development Area, Midland Road, Twerton, Bath,

Western Riverside

After a recent meeting with Crest on site we were able to agree the following issues that have been of concern for a while now.

The issue of Riverside safety was raised and we agreed that we would push the council to retain that lifebuoys that are currently in place. Crest have agreed to place a notice on the steps leading to the river warning people of the danger of water that could be in flood.

We again raised the issue of sign-age on the site and are pleased that Crest have provided an additional sign at Hershel Terrace.

Crest have informed us that the rest of the development is going as planned.  

Western Riverside

It is good news to hear that the gas tower on Western Riverside has been finally decommissioned so no longer holds any gas.

It is planned over the next few months for the gas tower to be taken down and the contamination from the land removed.

This latest new means that the restrictions on building in this area can be lifted allowing for the further development of housing on Western Riverside.

Western Riverside

Councillor Sharon Ball and I would like to thank all the residents in Western Riverside for their time on Tuesday evening. 

We received some good feedback and during our discussions we also identified a few issues that we will look into.

We have arranged a meeting with Crest Nicholson to discuss the issues highlighted and will update you on the outcome of that meeting shortly.

If you missed us during our walkabout on Tuesday, please do get in touch as we would be more than happy to come along and talk with you.

by
Sarah Moore

Night Time Drinkers at Riverside

I have reported the issues of night time drinkers at Riverseide and the mess that they are leaving behind to both the council and the Police.

I have asked the Council to clear up the mess and the Police to monitor the area at night to deter this sort of anti social behaviour.

It is all well and good for people to be able to socialise but not to leave the mess that is being left here.

I would like to thank the residents for brining these matters to my attention and for providing the photograph used here.






By Councillor Sharon Ball

Remaining Gas Tower To Be Decommissioned

I am pleased to be able to report that the final gas tower that has dominated the horizon for decades is to come down.

In a joint press release Crest and Bath & North East Somerset Council have announced that work will soon commence to decommission the last remaining gas holder at Bath Riverside, clearing the way for the rest of the Bath Riverside development and other adjoining sites to progress.

Two of the site’s three gas holders have already been taken down, although much of their structures remain in the ground.

The gas holder needs to be decommissioned to remove the current Health and Safety Executive restriction on development occupation and before the land can be decontaminated, and the structure eventually removed. The decommissioning process will be completed in 2013 with demolition and decontaminationthen likely to take at least eighteen months following which the site will then be prepared for redevelopment.

This marks a significant step forward for the regeneration of Bath Riverside as well as enabling other developments to come forward within Bath’s recently formed Enterprise Area which is transforming the western corridor of the River Avon.

Crest, working in Partnership with Bath & North East Somerset Council are utilising £4.1m funding from the West of England’s Local Enterprise Partnership to decommission and remove the gas holders. Wales &West Utilities, the owner of the facility will undertake the works on behalf of the Bath Riverside project.

Crest’s Executive Director, Chris Tinker, overseeing the Riverside development said, “This is really positive news for Bath Riverside, and in turn the city as a whole. “

“The development is already transforming this riverside corridor into a vibrant community having creatednearly 300 new homes with a further 1,700 due to be completed by 2025.”

“The last remaining tower needs to be removed to allow us to progress with this important regeneration project which will bring opportunities for local people in the coming years.”

Councillor Paul Crossley (Lib-Dem, Southdown), Leader of Council, said, “The removal of the gasholders is a crucial milestone in the regeneration of this site that will provide thousands of urgently needed homes for local people. This project is a fantastic example of partnership working between the Council and the private sector to revitalise a rundown, brownfield site which previously had little value to anyone. It will now play a huge part in Bath’s future as a major part of city life, including the Bath Enterprise Area.”

Chris Tinker added, “We are delighted that in conjunction with B&NES Council, we have been able to secure the funding required. This will enable the Bath Riverside development to continue to mature into a thriving new urban quarter providing an excellent living environment for residents.”

Chris Clarke, Director of Asset Management for Wales & West, said “Wales & West Utilities are pleased to be able to cooperate with Bath & North East Somerset and Crest Nicholson to remove the planning restrictions imposed by the presence of the gas holder, and we will be replacing the storage by utilising underground pipework to ensure continuity of supply.”

Sainsbury's Planning Application

Sainsbury's have submitted a planning application to build a new superstore near to their existing store in Bath.

They are proposing to move from their existing site to the neighbouring Homebase site and build a store that would fill the entire area, including the trade park area/

Their proposal is to put a 5 storey building on the site, which would include a roof top car park that could hold 847 vehicles an increase of 389 over their existing car park, together with office space, additional retail outlets, Cafes and approximately 280 homes.

The planning application can be viewed by clicking this link to the Application.

It is important that you make your views known before the deadline which is 22nd July.  You can do this by either completing the on-line form at the above link or by emailing or writing to the case officer:

Daniel Stone
Bath & North East Somerset Council
Planning Services
PO Box 5006
Bath
BA1 1JG

development_control@bathnes.gov.uk

Make sure any correspondence you send contain the planning application reference number: 13/00983/EFUL.

If you have any queries you could like to discuss before you submit your comments or would like any help in doing this, please feel free to contact us to discuss this.

by
Sarah Moore

Take part in history - comment on Victoria Bridge proposals

Sarah & Sharon at Victoria Bridge

Residents are being invited by Bath & North East Somerset Council to view and comment upon the proposals for the refurbishment of Victoria Bridge and proposals for the replacement of the Destructor Bridge until 24^th March 2013.

The plans follow the Council approving its budget which approved funding that took the investment in Victoria Bridge to £3.4 million.

They are being displayed as part of an exhibition at the Museum of Bath at Work on celebrated engineer and designer of the bridge, James Dredge.

Extensive research by the Council into the history of Victoria Bridge, including the life and work of James Dredge will present many historical illustrations of the bridge rarely seen at the Museum of Bath at Work, Julian Road alongside the designs. The research has helped shape the refurbishment which takes into account the heritage of the bridge.

The engineering expertise of the past is shaping the future refurbishment of this important bridge. Bath & North East Somerset Council has delved into history to support our aims of making the city more appealing for people on foot and who use bicycles.

Victoria Bridge is a vital connection between communities on either side of the River Avon. It supports sustainable travel to Bath Riverside that in the coming years will support thousands of new homes and jobs for local people.

The structure has a high heritage value which played a significant part in the story of the city’s industrial development and advanced bridge engineering through the Victorian era. The exhibition is a unique opportunity for people to explore history and have their say on these multi-million pound projects.

Get involved – exhibition details
The Victoria Bridge Exhibition, including proposals for the replacement of Destructor Bridge with a two way traffic bridge with pedestrian and cycle ways is open Friday to Sunday only, 10.30am – 5pm. Anyone who cannot attend the exhibition can view the plans online at www.bathnes.gov.uk/victoriabridge

 Although the opportunity to comment closes on 24^th March, the exhibition continues until May 23^rd – more details at www.bath-at-work.org.uk

Planning applications Western Riverside

We have two separate planning applications in for Western Riverside for the next phase of development.

The links to both applications are below if you wish to view them or make any comments.

1) Western Riverside Development Area, Midland Road, Twerton, Bath, Bath And North East Somerset

Approval of reserved matters with regard to outline application 06/01733/EOUT for the erection of a six storey building comprising 55no. apartments and 1no. commercial unit, erection of a cycle store, vehicular access from Midland Road, parking, landscaping and formation of temporary car park.

Application reference: 12/05387/ERES received on 07/12/2012

Planning Portal reference: PP-02333180

2)   Western Riverside Development Area, Midland Road, Twerton, Bath, Bath And North East Somerset

Approval of reserved matters with regard to outline application 06/01733/EOUT for the erection of three and four storey buildings comprising 26 houses and apartments and 1 commercial unit (A3 cafe/restaurant), vehicular access to Victoria Bridge Road, parking and landscaping.

Application reference: 12/05590/ERES received on 20/12/2012

Planning Portal reference: PP-02354282

by Cllr Sharon Ball

Western Riverside gets the cash to start building

Work can finally start on building the 2,000 new homes on Western Riverside. It is being reported this morning by the BBC.

Bath’s Western Riverside development has been given a £6m boost by the Homes and Community Agency (HCA).

The 44-acre scheme has already gained £2m of investment from the agency for infrastructure work around the site.

The latest money will help to fund 100 new affordable homes on the 44-acre site as well as 100 other homes which will be sold privately.

About 3,500 homes could eventually be built at the site as well as business, leisure and retail facilities.
read the full story http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-12208201