CHANGES TO BUS SERVICES 12 & 12A starting 6 February 2011

The Council have announced that there will be changes to the 12 & 12A bus service that runs through Westmoreland after operator Faresaver announced that it was unwilling to run some services. Below is the new timetable that will run from 12th Feb 201.

CHANGES TO BUS SERVICES 12 & 12A

starting 6 February 2011

Owing to low passenger use, the peak hour journeys on Mondays to Fridays and early morning journey on Saturdays will be withdrawn after 5 February 2011. There will be other changes to the timetable to improve punctuality.

BATH CITY SERVICES WHITEWAY - CITY CENTRE via Oldfield Park 12 . 12A

12 via The Hollow, Lymore Avenue, Claude Avenue, Bridge Road, Cynthia Road, Herbert Road, Livingstone Road, Brougham Hayes, Lower Oldfield Park, Westmoreland Road, Lower Bristol Road, Churchill Bridge, Broad Quay, Ambury.

12A via The Hollow, Lymore Avenue, Dartmouth Avenue, Millmead Road, Lyndhurst Road, West Avenue, Triangle North, Stanley Road West, Brougham Hayes, Lower Oldfield Park, Westmoreland Road, Lower Bristol Road, Churchill Bridge, Broad Quay, Ambury.

Mondays to Fridays (not Bank Holidays)

Service number 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12

WHITEWAY, Haycombe Cemetery 0905 0935 1005 1035 1105 1135 1205 1235 1305 1335 1435

The Hollow, Innox Road 0908 0938 1008 1038 1108 1138 1208 1238 1308 1338 1438

Claude Avenue, Ascension Church 0910 0940 1010 1040 1110 1140 1210 1240 1310 1340 1440

Oldfield Park, Livingstone Road 0912 0942 1012 1042 1112 1142 1212 1242 1312 1342 1442

Green Park Tavern 0915 0945 1015 1045 1115 1145 1215 1245 1315 1345 1445

CITY CENTRE, Ambury  0918 0948 1018 1048 1118 1148 1218 1248 1318 1348 1448

Saturdays

Service number 12A 12A 12A 12A 12A 12A 12A 12A 12A 12A 12A

WHITEWAY, Haycombe Cemetery 0900 0940 1020 1100 1140 1220 1340 1420 1500 1540 1620

The Hollow, Innox Road 0904 0944 1024 1104 1144 1224 1344 1424 1504 1544 1624

Dartmouth Avenue, Linear Park 0908 0948 1028 1108 1148 1228 1348 1428 1508 1548 1628

Oldfield Park, Stanley Road West  0910 0950 1030 1110 1150 1230 1350 1430 1510 1550 1630

Green Park Tavern 0914 0954 1034 1114 1154 1234 1354 1434 1514 1554 1634

CITY CENTRE, Ambury  0918 0958 1038 1118 1158 1238 1358 1438 1518 1558 1638

Sundays & Bank Holidays

Service number 12A 12A 12A 12A 12A 12A 12A 12A 12A

WHITEWAY, Haycombe Cemetery 0946 1046 1146 1246 1346 1446 1546 1646 1746

The Hollow, Innox Road 0949 1049 1149 1249 1349 1449 1549 1649 1749

Dartmouth Avenue, Linear Park 0951 1051 1151 1251 1351 1451 1551 1651 1751

Oldfield Park, Stanley Road West  0953 1053 1153 1253 1353 1453 1553 1653 1753

Green Park Tavern 0956 1056 1156 1256 1356 1456 1556 1656 1756

CITY CENTRE, Ambury  1000 1100 1200 1300 1400 1500 1600 1700 1800

Note:  - near railway station

Service 12 is operated by Faresaver. Service 12A is operated under contract to Bath & North East Somerset Council by Faresaver on Saturdays and by First on Sundays & Bank Holidays. This timetable has been produced by Bath & North East Somerset Council from information supplied by the operators.

Operators’ contact details: Faresaver telephone: 01249 444444 e-mail: sales@faresaver.co.uk

First telephone: 0845 606 4446 e-mail: bath.csc@firstgroup.com

CHANGES TO BUS SERVICES 12 & 12A

starting 6 February 2011

Owing to low passenger use, the peak hour journeys on Mondays to Fridays and early morning journey on Saturdays will be withdrawn after 5 February 2011. There will be other changes to the timetable to improve punctuality.

BATH CITY SERVICES

CITY CENTRE - WHITEWAY via Oldfield Park 12 . 12A

12 & 12A via Ambury, Corn Street, St James’s Parade, Broad Quay, Churchill Bridge, Lower Bristol Road, Westmoreland Road, Lower Oldfield Park, Brougham Hayes, Livingstone Road, Moorland Road, Triangle North, West Avenue, Lyndhurst Road, Millmead Road, Dartmouth Avenue, Lymore Avenue, The Hollow.

Mondays to Fridays (not Bank Holidays)

Service number 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12

CITY CENTRE, Ambury, stop Wp  0920 0950 1020 1050 1120 1150 1220 1250 1320 1420 1450

Green Park Tavern 0924 0954 1024 1054 1124 1154 1224 1254 1324 1424 1454

Oldfield Park, Moorland Road  0928 0958 1028 1058 1128 1158 1228 1258 1328 1428 1458

Dartmouth Avenue, Linear Park 0930A 1000A 1030A 1100A 1130A 1200A 1230A 1300A 1330AA 1500

The Hollow, Innox Road 0932 1002 1032 1102 1132 1202 1232 1302 1332 1432 1502

WHITEWAY, Haycombe Cemetery 0934 1004 1034 1104 1134 1204 1234 1304 1334 1434 1504

Saturdays

Service number 12A 12A 12A 12A 12A 12A 12A 12A 12A 12A

CITY CENTRE, Ambury, stop Wp  0920 1000 1040 1120 1200 1320 1400 1440 1520 1600

Green Park Tavern 0924 1004 1044 1124 1204 1324 1404 1444 1524 1604

Oldfield Park, Moorland Road  0928 1008 1048 1128 1208 1328 1408 1448 1528 1608

Dartmouth Avenue, Linear Park 0931 1011 1051 1131 1211 1331 1411 1451 1531 1611

The Hollow, Innox Road 0933 1013 1053 1133 1213 1333 1413 1453 1533 1613

WHITEWAY, Haycombe Cemetery 0938 1018 1058 1138 1218 1338 1418 1458 1538 1618

Sundays & Bank Holidays

Service number 12A 12A 12A 12A 12A 12A 12A 12A 12A

CITY CENTRE, Ambury, stop Wp  1030 1130 1230 1330 1430 1530 1630 1730 1840

Green Park Tavern 1034 1134 1234 1334 1434 1533 1634 1734 1844

Oldfield Park, Moorland Road  1036 1136 1236 1336 1436 1536 1636 1736 1846

Dartmouth Avenue, Linear Park 1039 1139 1239 1339 1439 1539 1639 1739 1849

The Hollow, Innox Road 1041 1141 1241 1341 1441 1541 1641 1741 1851

WHITEWAY, Haycombe Cemetery 1044 1144 1244 1344 1444 1544 1644 1744 1854

Notes: A - passengers wishing to travel to City Centre should board this bus and travel via Whiteway

 - near railway station

Service 12 is operated by Faresaver. Service 12A is operated under contract to Bath & North East Somerset Council by Faresaver on Saturdays and by First on Sundays & Bank Holidays. This timetable has been produced by Bath & North East Somerset Council from information supplied by the operators.

Operators’ contact details: Faresaver telephone: 01249 444444 e-mail: sales@faresaver.co.uk

First telephone: 0845 606 4446 e-mail: bath.csc@firstgroup.com

Local Lib Dems call on First Great Western to keep commuter trains stopping at Oldfield Park Station

Don Foster MP for Bath and local Lib Dem Councillors have called on First Great Western to reverse a decision that will stop a busy commuter train stopping at Oldfield Park station.

First Great Western has announced that the service departing Filton Abbey Wood at 17:09 and Bristol Temple Meads at 17:23 will no longer stop at Oldfield Park station.

This service was crucial for a large number of residents living in the South West of Bath using it on a daily basis. As a result, commuters will be expected to get one of the already over-crowded trains leaving Bristol Temple Meads at 17:14 or 17:49.

Westmoreland Community News member Matt Hemsley, who is a commuter between Oldfield Park and Bristol Temple Meads, raised the issue with Don. Matt said, "This loss of this service is a great worry among commuters on this route. Trains are already full at peak time, and removing this service is only going to make the situation worse. It is a regular occurrence to see people, especially cyclists, turned away."

Commenting Don Foster said, "I wrote to First Great Western in mid-November asking them why they have decided to stop this service from calling at Oldfield Park. I have also made enquiries to see what First Great Western's estimates the number of customers currently using the service are and what alternative services they expect them to use".

First Great Western replied that the other trains are less crowded. But this conflicts with the experience of passengers who claim that it is already over-crowded.

Waste Deposit site

For those of you with a lot of recycled material the council have provided a recycling and waste collection point at Bath City Football Club at Dominion Road.

The site has bee provided by the council for residents to use in the bad weather conditions and will remain there during the holiday period.

Residents will be able to deposit their rubbish and recycling at this collection point until early next week but please leave it a few hours for the current deposits to be removed. 

Residents can also take their waste and recycling to the transfer depot at Midland Bridge.

Council Weather forcast and service update Christmas @ New Year

Weather Forecast

Between Friday and Sunday, the latest forecast from the Met Office states that the cold weather will continue, though it should be mostly dry with sunshine by day and some very severe frosts by night. There is a chance of rain or snow later on Boxing Day (Sunday). The longer range forecast is less certain but the Met Office predicts that conditions are expected to give way to outbreaks of rain and sleet, preceded by snow for many areas in the period between Christmas and New Year.

To minimise service disruption the Council is putting in place arrangements to ensure that services continue as normally as possible during the Christmas/ New Year period.

Highways Preparations

Highways staff will be working to ensure that all priority routes remain open throughout the Bank Holiday period, as well as car parks, Park and Ride sites, and key footways during this busy time for shopping and travelling.

We are relatively well-placed in terms of grit supplies compared to other areas and we today received a delivery of grit that will support salting throughout the Christmas/ New Year period. This is based upon gritting in normal winter conditions with careful planning and prioritisation of our stocks. The Council is engaging with suppliers and has placed orders for further grit, which are subject to the national demands on the salt supply chain. Highways staff have contingency plans in place if the weather significantly deteriorates. We may need to consider prioritising our use of salt.

Waste Collection Preparations

The Council has already issued advice to households on what to do if their waste collection is missed. This is available on our website. Staff will be working on Monday 27th and Tuesday 28th December weather permitting to clear the backlog of collections from earlier this week.
 
The waste collection points that have been set-up will continue through the period and usage will be monitored by staff - the locations are available on our website. Additional vehicles and containers have been laid on to cope with the backlog and an anticipated increase in waste following the Christmas period. Extra staff will be working at the transfer stations to cope with this additional waste. Garden waste collection will continue to be suspended to allow extra resources to be put into the collection of domestic waste.

Vulnerable Adult Preparations
 
Adult social services have contingency plans in place for the Christmas/ New Year period. If there is severe weather during the holiday period and any resulting problems with home care services or services for adults with learning difficulties, personal contact will be made with anyone who is expecting a service. This contact will be made by their care provider and they would be kept updated throughout the day. Contingency arrangements are in place to reach clients living in difficult locations. Social care staff are on call 24 hours a day. If there are concerns about service provision they can be contacted through the St. Martins switchboard on

01225 831500.

There will be a Community Meals Service over the Christmas/ New Year period. This will operate on normal business days and clients will be offered a frozen meal for Bank Holidays and those days when a personal delivery is not scheduled to take place.  Those people unable to cook a frozen meal will be supported by their carers.

Other Service Preparations


It is anticipated that all other services that would operate during this period will run as normal and all have contingency plans in place to address severe weather conditions.

Communications

The Council will be issuing an update on its website every single day except Christmas Day and an update via Twitter will be issued at the same time. Subscribing to the Council’s Twitter Feed is the quickest way for residents to receive the latest information about our services – www.twitter.com/bathnes

Severe Weather update 21st December 7am

Weather Forecast

Today, it is forecast for some light sleet or snow flurries in the afternoon with a more persistent spell of sleet or snow possible overnight and during Wednesday morning, with accumulations 2-5cm possible. Throughout the rest of Wednesday, some light snow showers are expected at times, but overall there will be a good deal of dry weather. It will remain cold.

Highways and Car Parks

Gritting crews gritted all the 260 miles of our priority route network with another salting run during the night.  All the main roads are  running normally.

However conditions on side roads, minor roads and untreated surfaces are particularly icy and difficult, especially as road temperatures fell to -2c during the night.  We would urge all pedestrians and drivers to exercise due care in these conditions. Drivers should watch out for ice, keep to the main roads and avoid side roads if at all possible.

All the car parks and park and ride sites will be treated as usual and are anticipated to remain open. Car parks and key footways in Keynsham and Midsomer Norton will also be attended to. 

It is hoped that the Park and Ride buses will be operating today. However the final decision will be taken by the bus operators First Bus.

Information on other bus services will be posted on this website today. 

Salt stocks

The Council has planned well in advance for the possibility of severe weather conditions. We have a 1,400 ton salt capacity at Clutton Depot and improved storage facilities at Braysdown. Our capacity is at an all time high this winter in order to salt 260 miles of priority routes across the district. This represents 38% of the total highways network – well above the national average of 30%. For us to complete this work, salt stocks and manpower must be prioritised.

The Council maintains 388 grit bins at present. Refilling bins during periods of adverse or severe weather/ snowfall is labour intensive and the salt stored in these is often spread too heavily, used on private drives, or sometimes stolen. We will continue to meet reasonable requests to refill grit bins, although this ability depends upon the demands on resources of keeping the priority route road network gritted. 

Although the Council has ordered more salt to replenish stocks following the adverse weather experienced a few weeks ago, there is very high national demand for salt because of the problems experienced in the north and the south east already this winter. Should conditions become increasingly severe with even more ice and snow then the Council will need to consider taking measures to conserve salt supplies.

The Council is unable to supply salt to individual residents and in order to ensure  public safety residents should not attempt to collect salt from Clutton Depot. Electronic gates prevent public access and maintain security. 

Waste Collections

Because of the severe weather conditions experienced on Monday morning all waste collections were cancelled and garden waste collections have been stood down until further notice to allow our resources to be concentrated on domestic waste. We are unlikely to be able to conduct a full round of collections on Tuesday 21st December.

Households are being asked to put their waste out on their scheduled collection day. We will attempt to collect it, subject to weather conditions. If we are unable to collect waste, households have the following options:

·         Leave waste out and we will do our best to catch-up – this should not cause an obstruction on the highway or pavement;

or

·         Take the waste back into storage and put it out again on the next scheduled collection day;

or

·         Take the waste to a collection point. These have been set-up at Odd Down Park & Ride (6.30am – 9.30pm), Newbridge Park & Ride (6.30am – 9.30pm), and Bath City FC Twerton (open all hours). These will also operate on Tuesday 21st December and will include recycling facilities from tomorrow. On Tuesday 21st December, a collection point will be established at Tescos, Midsomer Norton from 8.30am (open all hours);

or

·         Households may also take it to their local Recycling Centre.

In common with all local authorities nationwide, public safety is paramount when we make a decision on conducting waste collections during adverse weather conditions. When conditions are icy it is unsafe for both pedestrians and vehicles to have waste vehicles weighing up to 20 tonnes negotiating narrow residential streets and collecting waste.

In some cases, residents may have their recycling collected and residual waste not collected (or vice-versa). As well as varying conditions during the day being a factor, recycling vehicles are smaller and weigh less (around 12 tonnes compared to 20) than residual waste collection vehicles meaning they are more manoeuvrable.

Heritage Services

All the Council's Heritage buildings are anticipated to be open as normal today (Tuesday). This includes the Fashion Museum, Roman Baths, the Pump Room and the Victoria Art Gallery.

Adult Social Care

Clara Cross Rehab Unit: Tuesday Dec 21 - All clinics and exercise groups are cancelled.

Further  information will be posted on the website, when available.

Adult care services, clients, carers and relatives should be assured if there is severe weather and any resulting problems with home care services or services for adults with learning difficulties, personal contact will be made with anyone who is expecting a service. This contact will be made by their care provider and they would be kept updated throughout the day. Contingency arrangements are in place to reach clients living in difficult locations.

Other Services

Schools have broken up for Christmas. There is information about Children's Centres and Community Resource Centres on www.bathnes.gov.uk/severeweather

It is anticipated that the libraries, Council Connect, the Contact Centre and Shopmobility will be open today.  

There could be disruption to some services over the coming days and especially those susceptible to icy and snowy conditions. The Council will keep people updated through its website – www.bathnes.gov.uk - about the impact on services – any updates will also be highlighted through its Twitter Feed www.twitter.com/bathnes

For more information

1. The quickest and most direct way of bringing to our attention a problem on the roads, or any other service, is by contacting the Council via the following methods www.bathnes.gov.uk/reportit

2. The Council’s website will be updated regularly to keep residents up to date about general information: www.bathnes.gov.uk

3. All other enquiries should be made to Council Connect on 01225 394041 between 8am – 6pm weekdays (Wednesday 9.30am – 6pm);

4. Outside of these times the Council’s Out of Office Emergency number is 01225 477 477;

5.People can email on councilconnect@bathnes.gov.uk or SMS text on 07797806545. These can be contacted 24 hours a day and a response will be sent next working day. These methods should not be used for emergency communication.

Service specific telephone numbers

Enquiries about Adult care transport should call 01225 394371.

For information on the wider public transport network, bus passengers can call Traveline on 0871 200 2233

Severe Weather Updates Cold weather service update 20th December 4pm

Weather forecast

Most of the district experienced snow showers during the early morning and the afternoon. This combined with sub-zero road temperatures has made conditions extremely difficult. On Tuesday, it is forecast for some light sleet or snow showers in the afternoon with a more persistent spell of sleet or snow possible overnight and during Wednesday morning, with accumulations 2-5cm possible. Throughout the rest of Wednesday, some light snow showers are expected at time, but overall there will be a good deal of dry weather. It will remain cold.

In light of today’s weather and forecast conditions over the coming days we will be reviewing how we run the most severely affected services to get through this period of exceptionally bad weather.

Roads update

Road conditions in some parts of the district have become extremely hazardous. Teams of gritting crews have responded to the prevailing road conditions around the clock – another salting run will be conducted at 7pm this evening. Council gritting crews will continue to work 24 hours a day to salt the 260 miles of priority routes on the road network.

We cannot afford to be complacent with our salt stocks and will continue to prioritise the use of salt accordingly. It is our policy that side roads will not be gritted. But in these exceptional circumstances we will endeavour to redeploy any available resources to assist communities that are struggling in the conditions.

For the time being, we will continue to meet reasonable requests to refill grit bins, although this ability depends upon the demands on resources of keeping the priority route road network gritted. A significant amount of work has taken place to keep Council facilities, like car parks and Park and Ride services, operating normally in response to icy conditions.

Although the Council has ordered more salt to replenish stocks following the adverse weather experienced a few weeks ago, there is very high national demand for salt because of the problems experienced in the north and the south east already this winter. The Council is considering what measures need to be taken to conserve salt supplies so that we can continue to grit our priority route network.


Waste Collections

Because of the severe weather conditions experienced on Monday morning all waste collections were cancelled and garden waste collections have been stood down until further notice to allow our resources to be concentrated on domestic waste. We are unlikely to be able to conduct a full round of collections on Tuesday 21st December.

Households are being asked to put their waste out on their scheduled collection day. We will attempt to collect it, subject to weather conditions. If we are unable to collect waste, households have the following options:

·         Leave waste out and we will do our best to catch-up – this should not cause an obstruction on the highway or pavement;

or

·         Take the waste back into storage and put it out again on the next scheduled collection day;

or

·         Take the waste to a collection point. These have been set-up at Odd Down Park & Ride (6.30am – 9.30pm), Newbridge Park & Ride (6.30am – 9.30pm), and Bath City FC Twerton (open all hours). These will also operate on Tuesday 21st December and will include recycling facilities from tomorrow. On Tuesday 21st December, a collection point will be established at Tescos, Midsomer Norton from 8.30am (open all hours);

or

·         Households may also take it to their local Recycling Centre.

Staff will work Bank Holidays on Monday 27th, Tuesday 28th, and Sunday 2nd January 2011 if needs be.

In common with all local authorities nationwide, public safety is paramount when we make a decision on conducting waste collections during adverse weather conditions. When conditions are icy it is unsafe for both pedestrians and vehicles to have waste vehicles weighing up to 20 tonnes negotiating narrow residential streets and collecting waste.

In some cases, residents may have their recycling collected and residual waste not collected (or vice-versa). As well as varying conditions during the day being a factor, recycling vehicles are smaller and weigh less (around 12 tonnes compared to 20) than residual waste collection vehicles meaning they are more manoeuvrable.

Other services

Schools have now broken-up for Christmas holidays today.

The severe weather has affected some adult social care services with disruption to day services, health visits, and some activity groups. Adult care services, clients, carers and relatives should be assured if there is severe weather and any resulting problems with home care services or services for adults with learning difficulties, personal contact will be made with anyone who is expecting a service. This contact will be made by their care provider and they would be kept updated throughout the day. Contingency arrangements are in place to reach clients living in difficult locations.

Social care staff are on call 24 hours a day. If there are concerns about service provision they can be contacted through the St. Martins switchboard on 01225 831000.

Communications

The local media, including radio stations, are being issued with service status updates. However, the media cannot be relied upon to report every update. Subscribing to the Council’s Twitter Feed is the quickest way for residents to receive the latest information about our services – www.twitter.com/bathnes

Local residents can find also out the latest service situation by going to www.bathnes.gov.uk and clicking on ‘Severe Weather Updates’. Please encourage your local residents to use these methods of obtaining information wherever possible.

Cross-party support to tackle urban gulls

We are pleased to be able to report that Don Foster, MP for Bath and 17 other MP’s have written to Caroline Spelman at DEFRA to demand more money is put into research of urban gulls. The cross-party group of MP’s are highlighting how much of a nuisance urban gulls are in their constituencies and how little research there currently is into this problem.

Westmoreland in Bath as Don well knows, has long suffered from Urban Gulls with regular reports of aggressive behaviour, rubbish be strewn across streets and even attacks on property.

Commenting Don Foster said, “It is essential that we put an end to this problem. We need more government funded research if we are to find a humane and effective method of controlling gull numbers.”

He continued, “Urban Gulls remain a nuisance for many of my constituents who have written to me about the issue.  As such, I will continue to work tirelessly to ensure that this problem is dealt with.”