New Lidl Store on target

Councillor Sharon Ball and Local Activist Sarah Moore at Lidl Site

During our walk around Westmoreland at the weekend, Councillor Sharon Ball and I visited the Lidl site to check on progress.

As you can see windows and cladding have been put in, the boarding has been taken down and work is moving at a great pace and whilst talking with workers on the site we can confirm they are on target for their scheduled opening on Thursday 19th February.

Following the advice and assistance provided to Lidl to overcome difficult planning issues that were encountered, Councillors Sharon Ball and Paul Crossley have been asked to officially open the store at 8am on the day.

by
Sarah Moore

Diamond Travelcard holders urged to check their passes

Holders of Diamond Travelcards issued by Bath & North East Somerset Council are being urged to check that they are using the pass most recently issued to them, if they have previously reported a pass as having been lost or stolen.

From February, smartcard readers on local buses will be rejecting bus passes that have been “hot-listed” because they have expired or previously been reported as lost or stolen.

Anyone whose pass is rejected by the smartcard readers will be asked to pay the normal fare for their journey and the bus driver will keep the rejected pass.

If you think you may be using a card previously reported lost or stolen, please visit your local Council One Stop Shop as soon as possible or call 01225 394041

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

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The meeting was called after a report that was sent to Council was withdrawn which proposed only two polling stations in Westmoreland with the Twerton village hall being deleted..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

Planning Application - High Street, Twerton





Existing view along the High Street

Proposed view along the High Street

We are pleased to see a planning application has been submitted on yet another derelict building within Westmoreland ward.  The site, 151-152 High Street, Twerton, was formally used as an office equipment supply business but has been derelict for over 5 years.

Plans have now been submitted to demolish the existing building and erect a property containing 9 x 1 bedroom flats with a small courtyard garden to the rear.

Your views are invited on this proposal with a deadline of 12th February 2015, full details can be found here on the BANES Website.