Residents are wanting to know more about this proposal to have some form of artworks to commemorate the Historic Combe Down Stone Mines and the lengthy and unique process of stabilisation. We have asked The Stone Mines Team to send out a newsletter with a full update on this, and this is to go out shortly.

In short, as most of you know, English Partnerships are putting forward funding for this to happen, which is specifically earmarked for the art project and not transferable. It is also proposed to have a commemorative book, which will document some of the history, and reflect the personal stories and perspectives of residents and others who have been involved.  It is also planned to locate an interpretation Centre in Ralph Allens Yard (just down from The King William Public House) which will include something of an underground experience.      

Art Project Managers have now been appointed, Frances Lord and Steve Geliot, who work together as a team. They are based in East Sussex, and between them have a broad range of experience in devising and delivering public art projects. They will be responsible for selecting the Artists and particular works for this project, and are keen to get to know the people and the area, to help them understand the context of this project, and sensitively develop proposals that are appropriate to Combe Down and it’s residents. This is a crucial aspect of this project, and one which I have flagged up many times.

I have been very impressed with Frances and Steve, who appear to be very committed, and excited about Combe Down, and sensitive to the issues of how the Mines have impacted residents. They have already been up to start to explore Combe Down and have been down the mines, prior to their interview. They will be out and about the village from time to time, and want to meet and consult with the people of Combe Down.

From what I have seen of their work it is excellent, environmentally sensitive, and they both are very enthusiastic and engaging. Steve Geliot is an artist as well as a Public Arts Manager. To find out more about them do have a look at their websites:

http://www.franceslord.com/

http://www.stevegeliot.com

Let us know what you think.

We received the useful information below about Summer Holiday Activity Courses from one of our local residents who is Active Lifestyles Manager in the Sport & Active Leisure Team in the Council:

Summer Activity Camps

July 28th - Aug 1st Chew Valley School 

Aug 4th - 8th - Wellsway School

Aug 11th - 15th – Wellsway School

Aug 18th - 22nd - Culverhay School

9:00 am – 3:30 pm, £15 per day or £60 for all 5 days.

Open to 8 – 16 year olds (Support available for children with additional needs)

Activities: Basketball, Badminton, Football, Swimming,Lacrosse, Tennis, Hockey, Cricket, Dodge Ball, Rounders,Softball, Tag Rugby, Multi skills, Fun games, Water Fights,Archery, Martial Arts, Street dance

N.B. Specific activities will depend on availability and location.

Plus sporting demonstrations and great prizes.

To book a place use the

Also for young Rugby enthusiasts, have a look at:

http://www.bathcombinationrugby.co.uk/images/Summer%20camps%20flyer%20-%20final.pdf

These seem good value, we are all being encouraged to get more active whatever our age and abilities. Find out more from the Sports & Active Leisure Team link: www.bathnes.gov.uk/getactive

Combe Down school now has one of Bath’s famous pigs. It’s called ‘Twinkle’. The school’s new logo of stars prompted the name. First choice was ‘Dazzle’, but another pig had already been allocated that name. The photo shows Roger with the artist and some of the children. the children are already playing the ’spot the pig’ game and are looking forward to Combe Down’s other two pigs. One sponsored by Hydrock in the work site and another sponsored by Davis Langdon and installed near the Co-Op.

Isn’t it just typical that Wednesday this week was so wet, and many of us were on our bikes steaming down at 8am -ish to the Abbey Square, to be rewarded with a cup of tea and croissants, taking advantage of the “Bike Doctor”, from Avon Valley Bikes in Bath, giving our bikes a health check, and to be able to chat to other intrepid bike riders.

This is old hat to Roger who habitually bikes all over Bath and elsewhere, including the continent, I  bought my bike a year ago and am absolutely fine getting into Town, (well it is all down hill from Foxhill…) and  around Combe Down, after first getting up that bit of a hill into Foxhill road!! but I have been known to quite often get the bus back up. My bike folds so this is helpful. I have been getting to all my meetings this week on the bike. 

Tell us what you think about bikes and how the Council could improve bike usage in Bath.

“Polyclinics” are being brought in by the Government, this is a system to have GP led Surgeries, incorporating other multi-discipline care, more associated with care usually given from Hospitals.

These clinics are being touted as the future of the NHS, with the Govt wanting to see 150 built across England.

But how do these multi-purpose clinics, often dubbed super GP surgeries, work? And what are the consequences for hospitals?

Many GP’s are unhappy with the idea, and have set up petitions in surgeries in Bath and around the Country.

There have been a number of articles in the Press, you might find these links of interest:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7431894.stm 

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/health/article3380852.ece

We will be discussing these proposed clinics on the BANES Health overview and Scrutiny Panel next month, which I sit on. Don Foster has also set up an on-line survey seeking residents views, if you are interested in taking part, here is the link: http://www.donfoster.co.uk/newsarticle.php?id=218

I would be interested in the views of Combe Down residents, so do contact me with your thoughts.

On a further related tack, your health views and ideas are important:

B&NES PCT and B&NES Social and Housing Services are looking for people‘s ideas and views on local plans for health and well being for the next three to five years.

There are three meetings:

St Luke’s Church Hall, Wellsway, Bath - Wednesday 16 July 2 - 4.30

Key Centre, Keynsham - Tuesday 22 July 10 - 12.30

Somer Centre, Midsomer Norton - Thursday 24 July 10 - 12.30

To book a place please contact: events@thecareforum.org.uk or telephone Katharine Gonzales or Ronnie Wright at The Care Forum, 0117 9654444.

1.      Composting and recycling rates for B&NES (2006/7): recycling 25.59%, composting 14.24%, total 39.83%.

2.      Tonnage of waste not recycled or composted – 49,392 tonnes.

3.      Percentage of waste collected in your council area going to landfill 59.35%.

4.      Weight of waste not recycled or composted in your area per resident: 284kg.

5.      According to WRAP, households in the UK spend £8 billion on food that is then unused and thrown away.

6.      WRAP figures show that 6.7 million tonnes of food (112kg a person) is thrown away each year in the UK but over half of it is still usable. We are throwing away the equivalent of twice our basic wartime food rations!

Sobering facts, but there are things we can do to make a difference, find out how you can get a BANES subsidised compost bin by visiting:

http://www.recyclenow.com/compost/   or call 08450770757

You might find these links informative:

Local Green Directory: http://www.greenbath.org

http://www.recycle-more.co.uk/ 

http://www.recycleworks.co.uk/

• PS:  Bike Week starts 14th - 21st June, I have pledged to get to all my meetings next week by bike….(I brought my bike last year with my first months allowance as a Councillor, and love to get around Combe Down by bike when I can. But since I am still pretty feeble and wobbly, this pledge is a challenge) 
• Wednesday 18th June, there is a free Bike to Work Breakfast in the Abbey Square from 8am, (you have to come by bike of course…) Roger and I will be there at 8.30am, come and say hello. Pictures next week..

Last Friday the Stone Mines project Team hosted an “open day” for about 100 interested people from industry, who had expressed an interest in this unique project. In the morning the history of the project was outlined and in the afternoon 10 groups of people were conducted around the mines to look at progress.David Keaton, from the funder English Partnerships (EP), who has been connected with the project since the mid 1990s, outlined how the project had evolved. He said that the abortive project in the 1990s failed EP’s economic tests and it was not until MPs from Bath and Vale Royal (another difficult project involving salt mines) lobbied Government, that the Land Stabilisation Programme was set up in 1999, to deal with non-coal mine workings. 

It was acknowledged by all that one of the main reasons for the success of the project was the resilience, patience and co-operation of local people. The setting up by the Council of the Combe Down Stone Mines Community Association, bringing together the two main protagonist groups of the 1990s in a climate of compromise and co-operation, is also a reason for the success of the project. The Community Association, ably chaired first of all by Geoff Hammond, a professor at Bath University and latterly by David Dunkerley, has made sure that the Project Team are challenged when necessary and that liaison with the community has been at the heart of the project.

The removal of the waste material, PFA, early on in the project was a big factor in getting agreement from local people. Substituting foamed concrete, not only, reduced the danger of pollution and houses in Combe Down sitting over waste material, but it also reduced the number of lorries trundling through Combe Down.

The employees of the firms involved in the project, particularly those of Hydrock and Scott Wilson have become familiar faces around the village and without exception they are helpful and friendly to local residents.

The Mines have changed since I last ventured down. There is little to be seen of the old pillars and tunnels, there are new impressive 10 metre high chambers for the bats, soon to be shot-creted (lined with concrete). Even the extensive walkways, constructed to get at the mines are in the process of being filled with foamed concrete.

What of the future? Completion of the stabilisation scheme next year, an Interpretation Centre in Ralph Allen’s Yard to open in 2012 and a public art scheme to commemorate the project, the restoration of Firs Field, Combe Road to re-open today, more road closures during the summer and the buses to return to the village after the closures are finished.

The Combe Down community can then move on with confidence and in the knowledge that problems caused by the old Stone Mines have been solved. Yet we will have the legacy of an Interpretation Centre, with an underground experience, to remember the local men who worked in the mines all those years ago and the men and women who more recently have worked and are still working with skill and dedication to make our homes safe.

What is your experience of the project? How do you feel about the mines? Have you any questions or comments? Please use the ‘comments’ or email facility on this web site to let us know.

A couple of days ago you may have seen a pile of wood chippings in Springfield Park near the trees. This is to do with the “Verge” project, which has involved one or two supervised youth offenders working for a couple of days, as part of their reparation,  laying a small informal woodchip path through the trees to the pond, to improve accessibility and use by residents. The work will also include tidying up the area, removing some of the wood debris left from tree works earlier in the year, to prevent the risk of fires. It is hoped that the young people will go on to painting some of the play equipment.

It is good to have such a positive contribution to the Community from these young people.

Follow on Project - Next week there will be two days work where it is hoped to involve young people and local residents restoring the Spring in the park, from which Springfield gets its name. 

The days are Wednesday 11th June and Saturday 14th June, running from 10.30am - 3.30pm on both days. Do come along and take part for a couple of hours, there will be refreshments and it is hoped to do a BBQ.

Funding for this has been secured from the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers, and the project is being organised by the Council Community link Co-ordinator, working with the Parks Dept. It would be helpful to telephone 01225 477669 if you can, to let them know numbers, but come along anyway, it should be fun.