NICOLAS MICHAEL SAMUEL. 9.5.1952 – 29.6.2010

It is with extreme regret and very great sadness that we record the passing at an early age on 29th June 2010 of Nick Samuel, husband of Helen and Father of Hannah and Ben.

Nick had been a tower of strength in supporting Helen and his family who have done so much for the residents of Newbridge and made ‘Newbridge Matters’ what it is today.

We offer Helen, Hannah, Ben and all the family our deepest sympathy.

Update.

Hearty congratulations to the Respose2Route group for a very successful Fund Raising evening held at The Weston Hotel on Thursday 24th June 2010.

Both Newbridge Matters and Response 2Route need to raise considerable funds if they are to have any chance of being represented legally at any future Public Inquiry.

Many people we speak with seem to think that the BTP/BRT schemes are ‘dead in the water’ due to the Government’s recent announcements of financial cutbacks but this is NOT so.

The Government will hold a ‘Spending Review’ this year in October and it is unlikely that any decision will be made before then on whether B&NES will succeed in qualifying for any Grant Money from the Department for Transport [DfT] for these schemes.

However, even if no Grant Money becomes available, B&NES have advised that “Any assumption that the DfT represents the only potential source of funding for this project is flawed.”

We therefore urge you to continue to contribute to the Newbridge Matters Fighting Fund details of which can be found by visiting our website and clicking on the picture of the ‘Pig Moneybox’ and of course thank those who have already contributed.

We really do need your support by way of contributions, no matter how small as every pound will count.

NewbridgeMatters on the radio.

Newbridge Matters was asked by Radio Bristol to comment on the postponement of the Public Inquiries in connection with a piece to be broadcast on Tuesday 15th June in the Breakfast Show.

Below is a copy of the statement.

Public Inquiries into the Compulsory Purchase of Land and Stopping Up of Public Footpath Orders.

"We are delighted that the Public Inquiries have been postponed as we consider them to be quite premature until the Government's spending review has been carried out in the autumn.

"We are however continuing to prepare our case for any future Public Inquiries.

"We have tried to persuade the Council to withdraw these Public Inquiries to be held into the compulsory purchase of land and stopping up of Public Footpaths in order for them to carry out their Bath Rapid Transit [BRT] scheme as part of the Bath Transport Package [BTP.] The decision to postpone them has now been taken out of their hands by the Government.

"The BRT scheme includes the expansion of the existing Park and Ride car park onto the Newbridge Meadows, an area scheduled as Green Belt, Nature Conservation, Outstanding Natural Beauty and within the World Heritage City boundary.

"We have for some years now tried to persuade the Council that their proposals are not the solution to Bath's traffic congestion problems and, that alternative sites should be investigated, together with the omission of the proposed New Road through private gardens and on the site of the old LMS railway line in Newbridge.

"We hope that with the postponement of the Public Inquiries, the Council will take this opportunity to review their proposals so that if the Department for Transport makes any Grant Money available, they will implement a scheme that will satisfy all concerned.

"Meanwhile a proposal has been submitted to the Council for the Newbridge Meadows to be granted Village Green status, which if granted would protect the Meadows from any future development and allow this and future generations to enjoy the environment of the area as they have done for very many years.

"Notice of the application was published in the local press on 20th May 2010 and the closing date for any objections is 19th July 2010. We are also looking for letters of support from anyone wishing to preserve this area for evermore.

"In addition to the Newbridge Meadows site,Village Green Registration applications have also been made for areas of land on the line of the proposed New Road in order that they may be preserved.

For a considerable number of years these areas of land have been used by residents and visitors to enjoy the environment by way of dog walking, nature pursuits and many out of doors activities actively undertaken by children and adults.

Areas of land such as these which are easily accessed for the above pursuits are fast disappearing from the City of Bath and every effort must be made for them to be retained for this and future generations.

"His Royal Highness Prince William, the Queen’s Grandson, has recently announced he is setting up a campaign to protect Playing Fields for this and future generations, as a way of honouring the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee of 60 years on the throne. Playing fields would be known as ‘Queen Elizabeth Fields.’

"The Council would we feel sure be pleased to be known to have agreed to these areas of land being protected for ever as areas for play, relaxation and study and for them to be named ‘Queen Elizabeth Fields.’"


For those who missed the broadcast, please click on the link below -

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p00881w9/Breakfast_With_Steve_Le_Fevre_15_06_2010/
It is a 3 hour broadcast, and you will find the piece at 2:39:00:

http://www.thisisbath.co.uk/news/Transport-package-inquiry-scrapped-Government-spending-crackdown/article-2292876-detail/article.html

We have been advised by the Inspector’s Programme Officer that the Pre-Inquiry scheduled to be held next Monday 14th June and the Public Inquiry set to be held on 1st September 2010 have both been postponed.

The full text of the message received is set out below.

10 June 2010


“The Secretary of State for Transport has issued a Statement today, indicating that the Department for Transport (DfT) will play a full part in the Government's spending review, which is being undertaken in view of the urgent need to tackle the UK's record budget deficit. This spending review will be reporting in the Autumn and only once it has been completed will the DfT be in a position to identify those major investments that can be supported.


“Steps are therefore being taken to help avoid unnecessary expenditure, whilst the Government considers its transport priorities. The Statement makes it clear that Ministers will postpone decisions on scheme orders and public inquiries relating to schemes which require DfT funding, unless alternative funding sources are available. As the Bath Transportation Package requires DfT funding this means that the Public Inquiries, scheduled to commence on 1 September 2010, have today been postponed.


“In consequence, the Pre-Inquiry Meeting scheduled for Monday 14 June 2010 is also postponed.


“The Government will aim to provide a firm indication on the way forward later this year once the spending review is complete.”

We thank all those who have given support for the abandonment of the Council’s proposals and we will keep you advised of any future developments.

Additional information regarding Pre - Public Inquiry Agenda.

Following a request from Newbridge Matters, we have received clarification of some of the items on the agenda.

• The meeting is not expected to last more than 2 hours.
• The Inspector will not be making any site visits next Monday, the day of the meeting.
• Under ‘Any other Business’ only ‘Procedural’ questions may be asked.
• Questions on the merits of the Orders / Application will not be dealt with at this meeting.

Even though the scope for putting questions is very limited, we hope that you will attend this meeting to show your support for the rejection of the Council’s proposals.

Agenda for Pre- Public Inquiry.

Monday 14th June 2010 10.00am at the Guildhall Bath

We have received the agenda for the Pre-Inquiry meeting as set out below.

BATH TRANSPORTATION PACKAGE

CONCURRENT PUBLIC INQUIRIES INTO:

Compulsory Purchase Orders, Footpath Orders & S19 Application

PRE-INQUIRY MEETING

Monday 14 June 2010

10:00am at The Guildhall, Bath

AGENDA

1 Introduction by the Inspector

2 Purpose of the Pre-Inquiry Meeting

3 Scope of the Inquiry – The Orders

4 Appearances at the Inquiry

5 Inquiry website

6 Procedure at the Inquiry

7 Documentation & timetable prior to the Inquiry

8 Venue, Sittings & Facilities

9 Site Visits

10 Any Other Business

11 Close of Meeting


David Wildsmith

Inspector

3 June 2010



We hope that you will all try to attend this meeting to show the strength of feeling we have regarding the Council’s proposals.

Update re - Public Inquiry into Compulsory Purchase Orders.

Many readers will be aware from Public Notices published in The Bath Chronicle, that B&NES Council has now made Supplementary Compulsory Purchase Orders [CPOs] concerning land they require for the Bath Transportation Package [BTP.]


These latest CPOs require any objections to be submitted to the Secretary of State by Friday 25th June 2010, which is after Monday 14th June - the date already scheduled for the Pre-Inquiry to be held.

We have been in contact with the Programme Officer for the Inspector and have been advised as follows:

“The Supplementary CPOs are for the accommodation works, connected with the scheme, which should have been submitted under S240 of the Highways Act (temporary acquisition) but were in error included in the main (permanent) CPOs. The Council have said that they will accept any relevant objections made under the original CPOs as objections to the relevant Supplementary CPO.


“The Council will give a full explanation at the Pre-Inquiry Meeting (PIM) next week. Please be reassured that there will not be a need for a second PIM, because of the deadline for objections on the Supplementary CPOs being after the Meeting on the 14th. As the Pre-Inquiry Meeting is purely procedural, nobody's right to appear at the Inquiry on Wednesday 1st September 2010 is prejudiced by not attending.”

However we urge you all to attend the Pre-Inquiry meeting to be held at the Guildhall Bath next Monday 14th June at 10.00am to not only witness the provisions of the Law by way of Acts of Parliament being carried out but, to also show the strength of feelings we have concerning the Council’s proposals for constructing a car park, a new road and the stopping up of public footpaths.