Thursday evening, 14th August (A Level results day co-incidently) “Dig My Pig”, one of the three Combe Down King Bladud Pigs, went missing from its plinth outside the Co-op in the Avenue. It was however returned I am told on the Friday or Saturday morning, with a note saying sorry. The pig was sponsored by Davis Langdon, who acted quickly in taking the empty plinth into the offices on the Firs Field Site, as it would have been a highways safety issue if left, as people could have tripped on it. After Dig’s return the pig was also taken into the Firs Field’s offices for safe keeping. Dig is being re-fixed by the King Bladud’s team, and should be back outside the Co-op this week.

Click on this link for further information on Pig repairs: Experts in the art of pig repair

On a related note, “Piggles” the pig I decorated which is in Milsom Place, has lost his goggles, and his red spotted flying scarf is the worse for wear, from the Summer’s weather, and much climbing and pullings! If anyone has these items to donate in a good cause I would love to hear from you!

We have been trying to get the Council and First group to get this sorted since Combe Road was re-opened and this morning, following a rather strong email to a number of managers at the Council and at First Group, we received a reply from Jenny MacLeod, First’s local manger telling us that provided the Traffic Commissioners give permission, the return to one way working will be 14th September. The following is an extract from my email:

“In the background to this confusion and misinformation are the people with mobility problems in Rockall Lane and elsewhere in the village who rely on the buses. Businesses too, are eager to see the buses once more able to drop people close by. I am disgusted that at present Combe Down residents who rely on buses are getting such a poor deal because of misinformation, confusion and a downright ‘don’t care’ attitude. This morning at Bath Bus Station I was directed from First’s Commercial Manager, to whom I was directed by the Council, to another First manager at Enterprise House in Bristol, who was not there.”

We are very grateful to Jenny MacLeod, who thought that the return of the buses had been sorted out and was very helpful with the survey two years ago, for getting a definite decision about the return of the buses.

Services 20a/c will continue to run along North Road for the present.

The photo shows Cherry, Ray Hardy (First Group) and Roger with the survey.

       Remember this?

We will be coming up to the annual anniversary before long of the presentation by residents of their petition for the badly needed Bus Shelter at this stop. Roger and I have been lobbying for this work to happen for well over a year.

The latest is that a shelter has been ordered from the manufacturers, and we have been told the installation period is the beginning of October. Well, we  just have to pray for a mild September, because the idea of the Shelter was not only to protect from rain, but also the wind on that exposed site. 

 We will continue to press for this to be completed without delay.

The removal will allow for a few more parking places, at the top of the Avenue, just past the Bus Stop opp Hadley Arms. The white marked parking bays in Combe Road, past the School towards Summer Lane, will be extended when the yellow lines are removed, to make a few more places there.

Westerleigh Road has a thin surface on top of concrete, and there is some concern that the process might damage the surface. If that is the case the second best will be to spray the lines to cover them up. We will keep an eye on the situation.

You wouldn’t think that this work would take all this time, and to date we have not yet seen a line removed…

Residents will be aware of the successful campaign in 2007 to save St Martin’s Garden Primary School from being moved to make way for supermarket development, on land which included the adjacent Hayesfield Playing Fields site. Many local Combe Down residents made their views against this very clear.

There is now a development proposal to include on the site of the previous Hayesfield playing fields only (between St Martins and The Link School on Frome Road) a “Medium” sized supermarket operated by Sainsburys, as well as a sports hall and clubhouse, a parade of shops, a nursing home and housing for the elderly.

I do not know what kind of consultation has been done to determin the need in this particular community for all these features of the development. There was a public consultation exhibition over Friday and Saturday last weekend. Roger and I intend to meet with the Agent of Storegap, the developers, and the Company can be contacted at:

 Storegap Commercial Ltd, c/o JBP, The White House, 6 Whiteladies Road, Clifton, Bristol BS8 1PD.       Tel: 01179 073 400.

I am not much of a Supermarket fan, not even if they are medium size. I would rather see local community home grown shopping areas. It has been the colourful and varied areas of Bath and its shops which has contributed to its attraction for visitors and indeed residents. Supermarkets and chain stores tend to make towns bland and erode local character. I’d love to see more Farmers market style shopping areas, which offer excellent local area produce.

Don Foster has raised questions on the Odd Down proposal as follows;

“Whilst the developers have attempted to consider the needs of local residents, I certainly feel that many concerns need to be addressed before the plans go any further. “The Frome Road, already busy at peak times, such as school drop-off and pick-up, would only be added to with the arrival of a supermarket. There needs to be much greater discussion over any plans that might increase the traffic near the schools – especially if they were to introduce more traffic lights. 

“There also needs to be more consultation over whether or not local residents need a sports centre – the University is not too far, and nor is Culverhay

 “Finally B&NES Council and Somer Housing should be contacted to see if there is any need for the sheltered housing in the proposal.  “There is still plenty of work to do to produce a satisfactory plan – rather than developers simply ticking the boxes they feel will result in its success.”

Let us have your views.

Extra Early July News

In Hawthorn Grove, Combe Down, Friday morning July 4th,  around 20 local people demonstrated in favour of local 20 mph speed limits for Hawthorn Grove, Sedgemoor Road and Southstoke Road.

This was also the launch of the Lib Dems’ and Don Foster’s campaign for 20 mph speed limits in all residential areas. After all 48% of pedestrians in collision with a motor vehicle travelling at 30 mph will die, but if the speed is reduced to 20 mph deaths are reduced to 5%.

We have been trying to convince the Council for more than 2 years to provide these local speed limits, but even though local people have presented petitions to Council and money was allocated by local councillors sitting on the Bath South Local Committee, we are still waiting. The new Conservative administration abolished the committee and used the money for schemes elsewhere.

There is hope of funding for Hawthorn Grove and Sedgemoor Road, because there some money to start a scheme has been allocated and there is also likely to be a contribution towards a crossing by the Church when/if their St Andrews scheme for community facilities is approved. But for Southstoke Road and Bradford/North Road (after the long awaited pedestrian refuge is finished) there is nothing. We will continue to campaign for a speed limits in Southstoke Road and for Bradford/North Road to be made safer to encourage walking and cycling.

We will help residents in any of our local streets to campaign for speed limits if they are agreed that this will improve their environment. Please get in touch.

In his opening comments Paul Britton said that there will be no planning application submitted this year and any start on works will not happen for at least 18 months/2 years. Both Paul and Edward emphasised that this consultation is at a very early stage in the process, but it is envisaged that the development will comprise an Interpretation Centre/Community Space, access to the mines for part of the year, and housing.

They asked for our input before any decision was taken on how big or small the Interpretation Centre would be. Many of the buildings on the site would be kept, in particular the stone frontage to Rockhall Lane, and the number of housing units had to be sufficient to attract investment from the private sector. There would be money available to build the Interpretation Centre.

Some of the points raised by local residents present were:

Traffic problems. Response - the centre would not be open every day and the main use would be educational, with groups visiting by appointment.

Would the present ‘credit crunch’ affect building? Response - the development would attract small builders, who would be better able to ride out the problems than big housebuilders.

Have Housing Associations been contacted, because they can get funding from Government and could build ‘affordable’ homes? Response - yes, housing Associations know about the site.

There would be problems of access from Rockhall Lane and the proposed two courtyards would be too small. Response - these were issues that would be addressed at the detailed design stage.

The development should be an exemplar sustainable development, possibly carbon neutral. Response - this would depend on planning regulations. My comment - this is not strictly true - the Local Plan sets minimum standards. There is no reason why these cannot be exceeded.

There are too many homes and they could be ’sheltered’ accommodation. The development could be highly detrimental to Rockhall Lane residents. Response - the consultation is at an early stage and nothing has yet been decided.

Less houses, better community facility. Financial issue over the land bought at Industrial rates and would now be sold at higher housing rates - should mean a good profit for owners.

Sheltered Housing and starter homes would be a good use of the site. Response - good idea, will be considered.

Interpretation Centre too small - squashed into corner of site.

Why not have parking space where housing is proposed?

Edward Nash said that the developer was looking to the community to tell them what kind of community facility was needed. The response from the audience was “you can tell from the size of this meeting.” He was directed to the ‘vision statement’ compiled by the Heritage Society in 2004. Many people stayed to give their comments to the developer at the end of the meeting and filled in forms for comments. I have also passed on the comments that were given to me before the meeting.

My comments:
This meeting was very well attended, especially given the short notice. The main views were that there was too much housing proposed and that the Interpretation Centre was too small. It is clear that there must be housing if we are to finance the building of the Interpretation Centre, but as yet the balance is not right.

I was reassured that we are at a very early stage and that the developer does want to hear the views of the Community. There will be further consultation and we hope that as a result changes will be made in line with Community wishes.

Cherry and I feel that this is a great opportunity for Combe Down and together with the art project will leave a lasting memorial to the mines, the people who worked in them and to all the effort in recent years to stabilise the mines. We believe that the development must be to the highest standards, as it is not simply the Interpretation Centre that should be a reminder to future generations, but the whole of the development.

Any further comments can be made direct to nash partnership, 23a Sydney buildings Bath BA2 6BZ E mail@nashpartnership.com or through Cherry and myself, by phone, letter. email or on our web site.
Roger

Seeing is believing of course… but one of the big hold ups was that a Traffic Regulation Order had to be advertised, which included other parking changes in other areas, and objections to those meant a further delay. The removal of these lines will allow a few more parking places along from the School towards the Summer Lane junction, and one or two elsewhere.

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.

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