Campaign to tackle gull problem

Bath & North East Somerset Council plans to work with two universities on an 18-month research project into gull behaviour. Behavioural ecology and psychology students from the University of the West of England and Middlesex University will map and track the behaviour of the gulls as they interact with their food sources and nesting sites.

Alongside this, the Council has also earmarked £60,000 to trial a series of measures to deter the gull population from settling in the city. This includes free roof treatments, including the removal of nests to affected properties in designated areas where evidence confirms large, or increasing, numbers of breeding pairs.  This is part of the Council’s co-ordinated approach to the gull problem – which also includes reducing access to food sources, and communicating the importance of keeping the streets clear of litter and waste and not feeding the gulls.

“It is, of course, welcome that the Council is taking the problem of urban gulls seriously. The Liberal Democrat administration worked hard over the previous four years to introduce various innovations to discourage urban gulls. These contributed to slowing the growth of gull populations, and it is reassuring to note that the new administration is planning to continue with many of our measures.”

“However, it is ridiculous if B&NES Council has been forced to go it alone and independently set up a research partnership on the life cycle of the urban gull, after the Conservative government cancelled the £250,000 package of funding into just this issue. The Lib Dems fought for years for the government funded project, which was dropped as one of the first actions of the incoming Conservative government. It is to be hoped that a research project on this local scale will produce useful results.”

Bath Press planning application

The planning application for the redevelopment of the Former Bath Press sire into 244 dwellings and new office space was approved at the development control committee this afternoon with 9 voting in favour and one abstaining.

Liberal Democrat Councillors on the committee have called for restrictions on any residents on this site being able to park in local streets. Councillors also warned that any new 4 bed homes on site must remain as family homes and should not be allowed to be converted into HMO's.

Comments from Conservative councillors is that this site has been a headache for along time but this is a good scheme.

Local residents will at last know what is happening on this site and we hope that the conditions that apply to this site will improve living conditions for residents.

Recycling collections fail again

For those Tuesday recycling collections that were not picked up this week will now not be collected until next Tuesday 19th January and residents are asked to take it back in.

We have been onto the council complaining about the amount of mess that is lying on the streets after previous failed collections due to industrial action by staff working for the councils contractor.

With industrial action in an all out strike this Thursday and Friday we are concerned that this situation could only get worse.

The council have a responsibility to residents to ensure that all residual waste is collected each week and that our streets are clean, so far this current council administration has failed to keep to this.

We await with baited breath in the hope that they will improve.

Deadline for B&NES home improvement grant approaching

Hurry to access Council home improvement grant

Bath & North East Somerset Council currently has a grant of up to £6,000 available through the Energy at Home scheme to help you make energy saving improvements to your home. 

The grant can be used to help cover the costs of improvements such as:

• improved heating systems (including gas and oil fired systems, and electric storage heaters),
• internal, external, or cavity wall insulation, and loft insulation, 
• upgraded glazing including secondary glazing, double glazing and external doors,
• and renewable energy technologies.

Installing measures like these can help improve your home’s energy performance, reduce the amount you spend on your energy bills, and help keep your home warm and cosy over the winter.

This grant is available to all home owners, private landlords and privately renting tenants.  You do not need to be on a low income or an elderly person to be eligible for this grant, but you do need to be signed up before the end of February. 

The Energy at Home scheme will continue to be available after this particular grant ends, with access to other local and national grants, however funding to this level, accessible for so many people, and for this range of measures is unlikely to be available again...
 

..so contact the Energy at Home Advice Service today!

0800 038 5680

Marks & Spencer Western Lock

Much work has been carried out on the development at Western Lock that will son see the opening of a New Marks & Spencer store on the site in part of the building formally occupied by Pc World.

It is our understanding that the Store will soon be opening and we are led to believe that this is in Feb so not long to wait now.

On 6th January Marks and Spencer applied for a new alcohol licence for the store which seems to be reasonable for the area.

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.

Westmoreland Focus - April 2015

Why not take a look at our latest Local Focus, we are delivering it across the ward and it is full of information about some of the work we have done in Westmoreland ward (just click on the picture to make it larger). 

Please do get in touch if you have any questions you would like to ask.

Tackling the Seagull problems

We are pleased to hear from Don Foster MP that funding has been announced for research into urban gulls. Here in Westmoreland ward we are well aware of the problems and are regularly contacted by  residents who complain about the number of urban gulls in the area. We have long tried to get the matter resolved and as a council we have introduced oiling of eggs brought In Seagul proof refuse sacks and introduced gull deterring paint. 

Don tells us that The Government has committed £250,000 to fund new research that will help tackle the problems that gulls are causing in cities and towns like Bath.

 The current number of urban gulls in the UK is unknown, but according to the latest report by Defra’s Chief Scientist the two commonest species alone total over 250,000 breeding pairs. This research will improve the understanding of urban seagulls’ life cycles and behaviour so that councils are better placed to tackle the problems they are causing, including by controlling urban seagull populations.

We are pleased that the government have agreed to look into the problems for us, but we realise that the problem will not be resolved overnight, but at least now we have got significant back up and support.

Loxton Drive

Whilst out visiting residents last night we noticed that the area of Loxton Drive was full of litter.

Sarah and I needed to make a decision to continue calling on residents or to clear the area up.

Well it did not take long for us to make the decision and we cleared the area of 2 bags of litter.

Local Green space protection

Local Liberal Democrats Councillor Sharon Ball & Campaigner Sarah Moore have taken steps to ensure the safety of our Local parks and open Spaces in the emerging Bath & North East Somerset Placemaking plan.

We have requested that the whole of Brickfields, LymoreGardens play area (including the green space adjoining it) and Dorset Street play area (and green space adjoining it) are protected from any future developments.

Councillor Sharon Ball said: "The Emerging Placemaking plan gives us the opportunity to ensure that open space and parks that provide recreation or act as a green lung in our area are protected for future generations".

Please let us know if there are any other areas in the ward that you feel we have missed  and that should be protected.

Student community Fun Day18th April

Sarah and I have again this year joined the steering group setting up the fun day this year at Oldfield Park Baptist Church.

After being such a success for the past two years it is a pleasure to again be lending a hand at an event designed to bring Town & Gown together.

This year there are stalls being planned from badge making to children's drawing completions and cake making contests.

The Mayor and Chairman have been invited to attend the event.

It is also hoped that local councillors will give up a but of electioneering and attend to give helpful and practical advice to any one who needs it.

Again the event is on 18th April from 12noon till 3pm.

Balancing the democratic right to vote

Councillor Sharon Ball attended a meeting today to ensure that the democratic rights of residents to vote near to their homes is maintained.

The meeting was called after a report that was sent to Council was withdrawn which proposed only two polling stations in Westmoreland with the Twerton village hall being deleted..

Sharon argued that the this would cause massive problems for residents and would also overload the other remaining polling stations. The argument was also put by Sharon that it was no good reducing polling stations but a fourth one was probably needed to cover the ever increasing size of the ward particularly with Western Riverside being more dominant than before.

The resolution of the meeting was that the status quo would remain and the three current polling stations at Twerton Village Hall, Oldfield Park Baptist Church & Ascension Church would remain for 2015 and consideration would be given for a fourth one for Western Riverside if a venue could be found.

Sharon said: "I am pleased that common sense has prevailed and that residents should feel comfortable to be able to vote near their homes without having massive hold ups".

Free Fruit Trees for your garden

We've teamed up with More Trees for BANES to offer residents of Westmoreland a free apple tree to plant in your garden.  Various types available, but supplies are limited, so please contact them now to register your interest:

There is only a few weeks left so if you live in Westmoreland Ward you need to hurry to get one and contact.

http://www.moretreesbanes.org/

moretreesforbanes@gmail.com

07739 737274

Priddy Close

It was good to be able to talk with residents and to pick up concerns about the trees and dumped rubbish in and around the Priddy Close area.

A meeting is being organised with Curo to look at certain trees that are causing a problem and to look again what we can do about the rubbish being dumped.

HMO Planning application Priddy Close

We have a planning application for a house of multiple occupation that is listed below.

An objection will be made to this application and will be reported on this blog.

We would encourage residents with an interest to make their comments on this application.

Ward:               Westmoreland                           App Ref:           14/04390/FUL

Parish:             N/A

Registered:       23rd September 2014                            Expiry Date:     18th November 2014

Location:          17 Priddy Close Twerton Bath Bath And North East Somerset BA2 1BT 

Grid Ref:          (E)372986 - (N)164423                            LB Grade:         N/A

Proposal:         Change of use from 3 bed dwelling (Use Class C3) to 4 bed HMO (House in multiple occupation, Use Class C4).

Officer:             Heather Faulkner

Applicant:        Ms Claire Jones	Agent:    No Agent
42 Corston View Bath Somerset BA2 2PL United Kingdom

Former Herman Miller Building

It is really good to see the progress on this site with the Lidl development speeding ahead. It is also good to have confirmation that Lidl will open in February.

Many people have been asking us what is going to happen to the other part of the building and why it is not being developed with the rest of the building.

The answer to the above is quite simple and is that the site is owned by two different owners who both have different ideas for the use of the building.

The part of the building that is not owned by Lidl has been causing us some concern so we have been making enquiries that has turned up some interesting information.

Although due to commercial sensitivity we can not reveal exactly what will happen to this part of the building,what we can reveal is that advanced negotiations have been taking place between the owner of the site and a potential user.

We would hope that we would be able to reveal the information about who may use this part of the building in the next few weeks and will do so on this blog.

Free Apple Tree for your garden ( westmoreland residents only )

We've teamed up with More Trees for BANES to offer residents of Westmoreland a free apple tree to plant in your garden.  Various types available, but supplies are limited, so please contact them now to register your interest:

www.moretreesbanes.org

moretreesbanes@gmail.com

www.facebook.com/moretreesbanes

07739 737274

Fly tipping

We have asked for this old mattress that has been dumped alongside Polamco to be removed as soon as possible.

It is annoying that as we start to get this area cleaned up we get people dumping in the area.

If you saw the person who dumped this then please let us know.

Westmoreland walk around

After a walk around with Curo last week we can report that the following issues were raised to be sorted out and we will be working with both Curo and the Council to resolve these matters.

 Rooksbridge Walk

 We have asked the council to clear the weeds from the footpaths at Rooksbridge walk and Loxton Drive the pictures show these have got out of hand.

We would hope that this work could be carried out quite quickly

Loxton Drive

We have asked the Curo to follow up on their promises and remove the old planters that have now become dangerous.

We have also asked the council to jet wash part of the parking area at Loxton Drive.

May residents have complained about the number 40 just being painted on the stone and we have asked Curo to remove this.

We have asked Curo to tidy up the area beside 31.

Priddy Close

Again we have the problem of fly tipping beside the garages at Priddy Close and we will be working with the council and Curo to have this removed and attempt to identify who is dumping at this location.

Albany Road

Cllr Sharon Ball has been helping residents with the aftermath of a sewer overflow last week and has been in touch with both Curo and Wessex water to identify why the blockage keeps happening.

It seems that there may be one very irresponsible resident who is flushing disposable nappies down the drain and we have asked Curo to write to all their tenants to refrain from this sort of activity.

Westmoreland Walkabout

A group of us spent a rather wet Saturday out and about in Westmoreland.

We delivered the latest Focus newsletter to a large number of homes and also spoke with a lot of residents about issues they have.

Whilst out we came across a number of issues that we have reported to BANES and requested they are sorted as soon as possible, including waste being left by the side of the road and blocked drains.  We have also asked BANES to urgently repair the previous reported, very large pothole on South View Road, as it is very dangerous.

If you