Last Friday, in the House of Commons, the second reading of Frome Lib Dem MP David Heath’s Private Members Bill to get rid of fuel poverty did not get the 100MPs needed to debate the Bill.  It therefore falls.  There were 45 Lib Dem MPs present (70%), 25 Labour (7%) and 20 Tories (5%).  No wonder people have no faith in our Westminster politicians.

This sensible cross party Bill would have made homes “fuel poverty proof” by bringing them up to the standards of new homes.  In doing this the Bill could have saved the lives of many vulnerable people in winter months, stimulated the economy by providing jobs and struck a blow against global warming by conserving energy - a win, win, win situation.

Sometimes the machinations of Party Politics in Westminster are quite beyond belief.   Out of nearly 600 Labour and Tory MPs only 45 turned up.  Don Foster MP was one of the 45 Lib Dems present.  The photo shows Don with someone who would have benefited from the Bill.

Bath MP Don Foster has today met with Wessex Connect, part of Flights Hallmark Ltd, a company with a good track record working in a number of cities in the UK, including Birmingham and Bristol.  Wessex Connect are hopeful of operating the 20A/C route from 11th May.

Don said, “If First do not reverse their decision on this route, I am optimistic that the service will continue anyway thanks to Wessex Connect.

“They are hoping to significantly improve the reliability of this service by making minor alterations to route, which are being made with the views of local residents in mind.

“I am also pleased to learn that Wessex Connect are planning to use larger buses on this route, especially at peak times.  Buses are often overcrowded early in the morning with Ralph Allen and University of Bath students using the service.”

Don is also optimistic that Wessex Connect will offer a service on the 18 route.  Currently, students living in Oldfield Park have to pay extra to get home from the University, as the standard fare is only valid as far as Sainsbury’s.  Wessex Connect are planning to allow students to travel to Oldfield Park as part of the standard single fare.

Over 100 people have signed Don’s on-line petition to save the service at http://ourcampaign.org.uk/onthebuses.

Since the public meeting in January, we have been in contact with highway Officers and have sent the following list of works which can get underway in the short term. We intend to meet with officers and review the longer term road priorities raised by residents, which will need further consultation.

§         Signage in the village, some need taking away / replacing, and generally reviewed.

• Uneven Footpaths, attend to North Road pavement (opposite side to Bank / Letterbox) which slopes
• Pavements, Gullies and Road cleaning needed, Tyning Road, Church Road, and the Avenue
• 20 mph limit top of Shaft Road to join up with the 20 mph in place further down that Road just past the Mountpleasant junction.
• Drop Kerbs needed
• To join up double yellow lines to make continuous double yellow lines on North Road from Farrs Lane to end of  Selway Court

·        Remove temporary yellow lines in The Avenue

§         Issues of traffic speed reduction on North Road ( from junction with Ralph Allen Drive to MOD) and to review the safety re the siting of pedestrian crossings.

§         Re-mark faded Bus stop in Combe Road

§         Ensure privately owned hedges are trimmed back from Footpaths

§         Repair of rail on pathway in Westerleigh Road

§          More bollards in the Avenue, to protect grass verges 

We have asked Highways to evaluate the damage done to North Road and all the roads in the village by Project vehicles, and to then get a contribution from the Project for their repair.   

At the Development Control Meeting at the Guildhall today, following residents and local councillors presentations,  Committee members decided that they wished to look at the sites at Stourton Yard and 37 Flatwoods Road before they decide whether to permit planning applications for these sites, or refuse them.

We believe that both applications are over development of the sites.  There is no question that there will be some development on both sites, but we think that these applications should be refused.  Our view is that there could be better applications, which minimise the impact on present residents and make any development better for future residents.  This is a very sensitive area in the AONB (Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty), in the World Heritage Site and on the border of the GreenBelt and the National Trust Skyline Walk.

Both applications will go back to Development Control Committee next month, but by that time councillors will have the advantage of being familiar with both sites.  This will mean a more informed debate and hopefully a better decision.

First group will cut their services from 10th May 2009.  The cuts which affect Combe Down are:

The complete removal of the 20a/20c service

On service 2 - the cutting of the Mon- Frid 0642 and the Sat 0732, with the present 0718 bus station to Combe Down leaving at 0745

On service 13the cutting of the Saturday 0743 from Foxhill

There has been no consultation on these cuts.  The 20a/20c is the ‘circular route’ used by amongst others, children getting to secondary school, students and workers at the University of Bath and visitors to the RUH.  This service connects many of the outlying areas of Bath.  Sadly these cuts will affect people who do not have access to a motor car.

Justin Davies, First Group manager said: “We are not immune from the tightening economy and in looking to the long term future of our business, we need to ensure that we best match our resources to customer demand.”

Don Foster MP is appalled by the cuts and will meet the First group Manager to discuss them.

Of course First’s highest priority is not to the travelling public, but to its shareholders.  It is scandalous that governments have allowed local people to be at the mercy of private companies such as First for what used to be a Public Transport service.  Transport is now a business run for profit by large private monopolies.

Sign the our petition against the cuts:    http://ourcampaign.org.uk/onthebuses

The photo shows Cherry and Roger pictured when service 4 to Combe Down was removed in an earlier round of Bus cuts.

As most people know there has been a consultation on improvements to the Firs Field when it is returned to the community, after the completion of the Combe Down Stone Mines stabilisation project.

Part of the consultation was about the replacement of the chain link fence along the boundary of the Field, with a stone wall.  You may also be aware that changes to the Firs, including resurfacing, widening of the pavement at the southern end, a ‘pinch point’ in the middle and provision of three parking bays, was delayed by the closure of Combe Road some years ago.

There has been no integration of these two schemes and there has been some inaccurate and contradictory information about each scheme, leading to confusion amongst residents.

Therefore the Council has decided that a further consultation will be carried out on the Firs Field boundary involving the wall and trees, together with the improvements to the Firs, so that an integrated scheme can be devised.  The consultation will be carried out in June 2009, with the works beginning in February 2010, when the Field is returned.

Although this will add considerably to the time it has taken to put in place improvements to the Firs, it makes no sense to go ahead with these works and to take the chance that there could be further alterations when changes to the boundary are decided upon.

Photograph shows Cherry and myself in the Firs.  We will make sure that the funding for improvements to the Firs is  safeguarded.