Newbridge Matters!

Free running?

2012-02-02T18:07:00.001Z

Readers may well already be aware by Public Notice published inThe Bath Chronicle newspaper, that B&NES Council invited residents tocomment on the above.

We have now been advised that the Consultation has been CANCELLEDfor the time being.

However, as the Consultation may beresurrected, readers may wish to see what was proposed and prepare any commentsfor submission at a later date. Full details of the Orders werepublished on page 87 of The Chronicle newspaper dated 26^th January2012.

Details of the Consultation Documents wereobtained from the Council's website, but, they have now beenremoved, due no doubt to the cancellation of the Consultation. Otherinformation is still available on this site, to link to this please click here.

We have already spent some timeinvestigating how the Orders would have affected users of the Newbridge VillageGreen and, we give below a brief resume of same.

Order 1

The Fouling of Land by Dogs [Bath andNorth East Somerset] Order 2012.

This Order would have applied to the Newbridge Meadows Village Green.

All dog faeces to be removed by person incharge of a dog.

Order 2

The Dogs on Leads [Bath and North East Somerset] Order 2012.

Would not have applied tothe Newbridge Meadows Village Green - Area not shownin the Schedule.

Order 3

The Dogs on Leads by Direction [Bath andNorth East Somerset] Order 2012.

This Order would have appliedto the Newbridge Meadows Village Green.

It will be an Offence for any person incharge of a Dog to fail to put and keep the Dog on a Lead of not more than 4metres in length, when directed to do so by an authorised officer of theCouncil……….

The Registration of the Newbridge MeadowsVillage Green was obtained partly on the fact that for many generations peoplehave been able to exercise their Dogs by letting them have free run of the areawithout the use of a Lead.

Having just won the right to continueexercising Dogs in this manner by way of the Registration of the area as aVillage Green, any restriction by way of Leads would not satisfythe Registration of the area.

This Order should not applyto the Village Green but, by the original proposed Order, it would do so.

Order 4

The Dogs Exclusion [Bath and North EastSomerset] Order 2012.

This Order would not haveapplied to the Newbridge Meadows Village Green - not shownin the schedule.

Order 5

The Dogs Specified Maximum [Bath and NorthEast Somerset] Order 2012.

This Order would have appliedto the Newbridge Meadows Village Green.

It will be an Offence for any person incharge of more than six dogs.

This information was obtained from theCouncil’s website (please see link above) and, has been confirmed ascorrect by the Council’s Senior Environmental Health Officer.

The closing time and date for makingrepresentations to the Dog Control Orders department, would have been midnighton the 23^rd February 2012 but, as stated above, theconsultation has been CANCELLED, due we understand to the vast number ofobjections to the Orders, already received by the Council.

We will of course advise you further shouldthe Consultation be reinstated.

Air quality management changes...

2012-01-09T17:44:00.000Z

Readers may well already be aware thatB&NES Council has invited residents to comment on the above.

Full details of the Consultation Documents may be obtained through this link.

A member of the Newbridge Matters teamhas sent the following letter to the B&NES Council and, we urge readers toconsider the consultation documents and submit their comments.

You will see from the letter that onlyone of the many aspects of the consultation has been covered, that of providingair pollution monitoring equipment on sites not already covered. This applies to the present Park and Ride CarPark here in Newbridge.

Any comments must be submitted by 31^st January 2012 to:

Bath and North East Somerset Council

Environmental Monitoring

Environmental Services

FREEPOST (BA1458)

Bath

BA1 1ZZ

Letter sent by a member of our team referred to above:

Consultation on Changes to the Bath AirQuality Management Area

7^thJanuary 2012

The vast amount of information you have provided in your Consultation Documentstakes a considerable amount of time to read and comprehend and, so far I havebeen unable to complete the task.

However at this stage, may I make just one point which is that fromthe information at present available, further air monitoring action must betaken.

It would seem that the present levels of air pollution at sites not atpresent monitored, are either not known at all or, values have been obtainedfrom ‘modelling’, these being considered insignificant compared with presentday knowledge of the levels of air pollution causing problems with the healthof various sections of the population.

I am sure you would agree, that had we known more about air pollutionat the time the Royal Victoria Park Children’s Play Area was constructed immediatelyadjoining the A4 Upper Bristol Road here in Bath, it would not have been sitedin this position. I appreciate the largecost that would be involved in moving the play equipment to a much moresuitable site, possibly within the park but, surely human life cannot bemeasured in terms of money. I requestthat very serious thought be given to re-siting this play area, which is usedby many thousands of young children every year, not only from Bath but fromoutlying areas, without delay.

May I suggest that monitoring stations be set up at all schools andtheir playing fields, hospitals, park and ride car parks and other commerciallocations where large numbers of vehicles congregate within the B&NES area,so that definite information may be made available on air pollution levels.

It may well be possible to encourage those responsible for these sitesto receive detailed information from the Council on the method of collectingthis pollution information and, for them to forward the samples obtained toyou.

As far as schools are concerned, this method of collecting therequired information could well be included within the normal schoolcurriculum, making children aware of the dangers of air pollution. This could be done in a similar way to thatwhich many of them already provide weather information to the National WeatherBureau but, in this case the samples would be returned to you for analysis.

Such a system would then provide real data on many of these additionalsites at no additional cost to the Council, other than the initial cost ofproviding the sampling equipment and instruction on the retrieval of thesamples.

I hope that these initial comments will be taken into considerationwhen you assess the results of your consultation period, which ends on 31^stJanuary 2012.

- - - - - - - - - -

We hope readers will respond to the Consultation Documents with theirown views on this very important issue.

In the money!

2011-12-14T20:05:00.002Z

Readers will no doubt be aware from press reports and BBC TV News bulletins, that the Government has approved the revised Bath Transport Packagesubmitted to the Department for Transport [DfT], by B&NES Council.

This revised Package includes a 250 space extension to the park and ride atNewbridge the exact position of which is still a mystery, despite repeated requests over the last few months for information.

We have made numerous enquiries as to its location without success,being advised that the information was not available until the NewbridgeMeadows Village Green application had been settled.

The Village Green has now been approved by B&NES and the area registered as a Village Green, details being shown in The Commons Register.

Both our Ward Councillors, Cllr Caroline Roberts and Cllr LoraineMorgan Brinkhurst, together with our MP the Rt Hon Don Foster, have stated onmany occasions, that the car park site originally proposed north of the river,was not suitable.

We are now actively engaged in drawing attention to many promises ofconsultation by Councillors and our MP, so that appropriate meetings areheld in order to obtain a car park site acceptable to the residents ofNewbridge.

We wait with breath held for the long awaited, and oft requested, details.

Royal name for Village Green?

2011-12-14T19:49:00.000Z

From the previous posting, readers will be aware that the Newbridge Meadows have now been granted‘Village Green’ status.

For those interested, the action taken following this ruling may befound in the Commons Register.

We again thank all those who have supported us in our endeavours tobring about this situation, thereby securing continued use of the Meadows forlawful sports and pastimes.

As reported in the previous posting, a request has been submitted toB&NES Council for the Meadows to be re-named ‘Queen Elizabeth II Fields’ inorder to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, marking 60 years on the thronein 2012.

Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge, the Queen’s grandson, is Patronof the scheme for the ‘Queen Elizabeth II Fields’ and, we have been advisedthat our request has been placed before the Council’s Cabinet forconsideration.

We will, of course, keep you advised as this matter proceeds.

B&NES grants approval for Newbridge Meadows Village Green status

2011-10-26T13:55:00.000+01:00

In April 2010, an application was submitted to B&NES Council by a representative of ‘Newbridge Matters’, an organisation set up to enhance and protect the area of Newbridge, in full co-operation with the Ward Councillors, for the Newbridge Meadow Fields to be registered as a Town or Village Green.
The application was considered to be valid and a Non-Statutory Public Inquiry was held in The Guildhall in April 2011, after which the Inspector holding the Inquiry issued a report recommending that the two large Meadow Fields and the Corridor between them, be Registered as a Village Green.

A meeting of B&NES’s Regulatory (Access) Committee was held in The Guildhall on Tuesday 25th October 2011 to consider the Inspector’s report and, after hearing from their Senior Rights of Way Officer who recommended that as all requirements under Section 15 of the Open Spaces Act 2006 were satisfied, as detailed by the Inspector, he recommended that the two large Meadow Fields and the Corridor between them, be Registered as a Village Green.

The Committee resolved to accept the report and Register the area accordingly. (Please see plan below, click on image to enlarge.)

The meeting was attended by the applicant, another member of ‘Newbridge Matters’, a member of The Bath Society and Councillor Loraine Morgan-Brinkhurst, one of the Ward Councillors, all of whom spoke in favour of Registration.
Also in attendance were members of the public including children and Ward Councillor Caroline Roberts, who had supported the application.

Now that the Meadows have been registered, they will be protected from future development so that present and future generations may continue to enjoy their use, for leisure and environmental purposes.

The Committee was advised that next year, 2012, marks the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, sixty years on the throne and, that in order to celebrate the occasion her grandson Prince William, now the Duke of Cambridge, has as Patron set up a scheme to protect Playing Fields and Outdoor Spaces. If areas of land conformed to criteria set down under this scheme, these areas could be named ‘Queen Elizabeth II Fields’.

The owners of the land, in the case of Newbridge Meadows being B&NES, would if they so desired, be able to request that the name ‘Queen Elizabeth II Fields’ be applied to the Meadows, in a similar way to that for Bath’s ‘Royal Victoria Park’.

A formal request will be made to B&NES in due course for this action to be taken.

Village Green meeting

2011-09-20T12:38:00.004+01:00

We have just been advised that the Inspector’s Report following the Non-Statutory Public Inquiry held in April 2011, will be referred to the Regulatory Access Committee of B&NES Council, which will meet on Tuesday 25th October 2011 at 10.00am in the Council Chamber in The Guildhall, Bath.

The Inspector has recommended that the two large fields and the narrow corridor between them, forming the Meadows, be registered as a Town or Village Green.

Any member of the public may attend but if they wish to speak at the meeting, then due notice will need to be given in accordance with the standing regulations, details of which may be obtained from the Council’s Democratic Services Officer, Mr Jack Latkovic, telephone 01225 394452 or e-mail jack_latkovic@bathnes.gov.uk.

A member of the Newbridge Matters team will attend and speak at the meeting and, anyone who gave support for Newbridge Meadows to be registered as a Town or Village Green who wishes to attend, will be made most welcome.

Time for celebration?

2011-08-26T16:18:00.003+01:00

Finally some good news!

At last we have received the Inspector’s report on our Village Green application, following the Public Inquiry held in April. He has recommended that most of the Newbridge Meadows land contained within the Village Green application, some of which was previously earmarked for the park and ride extension, be registered as a Village Green. The Inspector has excluded the area immediately bounding the north eastern side of the existing Car Park, known as the ‘bund,’ from his recommended registration area. We await clarity as to the precise parts of the application covered by his recommendation.

We have been granted a period of time to consider and comment upon the Inspector’s report ending on 22nd September 2011 and, we are actively considering the report at this time.

A final report from the Inspector, if the present one is modified, will be submitted to the Authority's Regulatory (Access) Committee in due course, for their approval or rejection. At that stage, we will know the specific area of land, if any, on the Meadows that has been registered as a Village Green.

The local Ward Councillors have assured us that the planned extra car parking spaces will not be built near to any of our houses. However, as yet they have been unable to tell us where exactly they will be placed. This is quite worrying as the new proposals have to be submitted to central government by 9th September.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who supported us with written and verbal witness statements for the Public Inquiry – we couldn’t have done it without you.

For now we are cautiously optimistic and muted celebrations are in progress!

Update...

2011-07-17T00:29:00.002+01:00

Readers could be forgiven for thinking that we at Newbridge Matters had packed our bags and gone away for a long holiday. Not true…..we have been very busy working with residents, friends, visitors, supporters and Councillors to ensure that everything possible is being done to keep Newbridge a safe and pleasant area in which to live, work and play.

Apart from the very important fact that the Bath and North East Somerset [B&NES] Council is now controlled by the Lib Dems instead of the Conservatives, knowledge of which readers will no doubt have gained from the local press and radio, there has been very little until now concerning Newbridge, to post on this website.

Bath Transportaion Package - [BTP]

Although the new Lib Dem Councillors have made dramatic changes to the original BTP, these changes were only finally approved by the Council at their meeting on Thursday 14^th July 2011.

These changes include the omission of the proposed New Road from Brassmill Lane to Windsor Bridge Road, part of which would have passed through private gardens and other privately owned areas and, apparently the omission of the proposed Park and Ride [P&R] Car Park on Bathampton Meadows.

The omission of the New Road has been a great relief to those in private properties who have suffered terribly from the potential of losing their gardens with really monstrous construction works on their door-steps and until now, the prospect of being unable to sell their properties privately if they so wished.

Likewise, the apparent omission of the Bathampton Meadows Car Park on a beautiful area east of Bath, will be if never constructed, welcomed by many.

Also included in these changes is the proposed P&R Car Park at Newbridge, where instead of a 500 space Car Park, it is now proposed that a 250 space Car Park be provided instead.

At this point in time it is not known where this Car Park will be sited but, we have been told that the Council is actively seeking an alternative site to that originally proposed. The original site for the expansion for 500 spaces was on land to the north east of the present Car Park.

At the Council meeting held on 14^th July, Councillors promised ‘consultation’ on any Car Park site selected and, we will be actively pressing for ‘consultation’ to take place as soon as possible.

A comprehensive BTP scheme, including any Car Park for Newbridge, for the Best and Final Bid for Grant Money, must be submitted to the Department for Transport [DfT] by 9^th September 2011.

If no Grant Money becomes available, no doubt the Council will have to consider further if they have sufficient finances to construct the Car Park.

Newbridge Meadows Village Green

As reported in an earlier posting, the Public Inquiry into the Newbridge Meadows Village Green was held on 11^th, 12^th and 13^th April 2011.

We are still waiting for the Inspector’s recommendations as to whether the Meadows should be ‘Registered.’

The Public Inquiries into the Village Greens at Rudmore Park and Kaynton Mead took place in May and June respectively and, we anticipate that the Inspector may make known his recommendations on all three Village Greens in the near future.

Newbridge Matters received support from the R2R Group for the Meadows Inquiry for which we are most grateful. We in turn supported the Rudmore Park and Kaynton Mead Inquiries.

As previously posted, any recommendations from the Inspector will be submitted to an appropriate committee of the Council, for it to accept or reject.

We will of course advise you further when the Inspector’s recommendations are received.

Appreciation

Newbridge Matters appreciates very much indeed all the support for the benefit of Newbridge that has been given to us by residents, visitors, friends, the Response 2 Route [R2R] Group, Councillors and our many friends and organizations on the east of the city, during the time we have existed.

Local Elections.

2011-05-03T16:06:00.002+01:00

We remind readers that Newbridge Matters is an organization of local residents set up to save the beautiful World Heritage City of Bath from our local Council’s ill-conceived transport plans.

We are NOT affiliated to nor do we have any connection with any political party.

We are sure you are already aware that the Local Elections will be held this Thursday 5th May and ask you to please cast your votes according to your preference for the policies of a particular Candidate.

We hope however, that you will take into consideration the policies of Candidates concerning the proposed schemes for the Bus Rapid Transit [BRT] including the proposed Car Park extension on land forming the Newbridge Meadows Village Green and, the Bath Transport Package [BTP] when casting your votes.

You can read a 300 word statement by each party on its range of policies on the Bath Chronicle web site.

Click here to view.

Web sites offering useful information:

Newbridge Matters web site - http://www.newbridgematters.blogspot.com/

Response2Route - http://www.response2route.co.uk/

Save Bathampton Meadows - http://www.savebathamptonmeadows.blogspot.com/

Bath Heritage Watchdog - www.bathheritagewatchdog.org/

VeracityBath - http://www.vcbath.blogspot.com/

We thank all those who have given us support on the many issues that we have reported upon over the many months since our inception and, sincerely hope that with your help, a Council will be elected which will provide effective and acceptable transport schemes and, protect the beautiful World Heritage City in which we live, for this and future generations to enjoy.

Newbridge Meadows Village Green.

2011-04-14T21:18:00.000+01:00

Readers of earlier postings will know that a Non-Statutory Public Inquiry was scheduled to be held in The Guildhall, Bath, in order to consider an application for the Registration of Newbridge Meadows Village Green, submitted to B&NES Council by one of our team, on behalf of Newbridge Matters.

This Inquiry was necessary because B&NES Council had objected to the application.

The Public Inquiry was held on the 11th, 12th and 13th of April 2011, the Inspector appointed by the Council being a Queen’s Councillor [QC.]

B&NES Council, the objector, was also represented by a Queen’s Councillor.

The applicant was represented by an officer of Planning Sanity, an organisation specialising in dealing with Public Inquiries into Village Green registrations.

We presented Proofs of Evidence of use of the Meadows by 13 persons which had been submitted to the Registration Authority and which were read out by the authors at the Inquiry.

During the Inquiry, 4 other members of the public gave verbal evidence of use of the Meadows.

Well over 100 statements of support from local residents for the Meadows to be Registered, including those from the 2 Newbridge Ward Councillors was also submitted.

The Inspector made copious notes on his computer during the Inquiry and, questions were asked of all the witnesses by the Inspector, by B&NES Council’s QC and by our representative.

A letter addressed to the Inspector from a local resident giving details of use of the Meadows was handed to the Inspector, which he noted.

B&NES Council only produced 1 witness, an officer employed by them whose responsibilities included the management of the Meadows area and, he was questioned by those who questioned our witnesses.

During the course of the Inquiry, members of the public including those from other areas of Bath and some Councillors attended.

The Inspector made a site visit on Tuesday morning 12th April and he was accompanied by B&NES Council’s QC and their officer witness, and by a local resident and the applicant.

We were able to point out various locations on the Meadows and nearby, relevant to the application, such as public footpaths and other means of access, use of the Meadows by way of the remains of camp fires, the abundance of bird and animal life and, the location of nearby elderly persons estates, some of those occupants using the Meadows for recreational and therapeutic use.

During the site inspection, the local resident found and showed the Inspector a baby slow-worm and evidence of the Blue Carpenter Bee, a very rare species, on the site, illustrating the reason why the area is scheduled as a Nature Conservation Area.

We nor B&NES Council’s representatives, were allowed to discuss the application with the Inspector but, we were able to show him various sites that were referred to in the application.

On Wednesday afternoon 13th April, closing statements were made by B&NES Council’s QC followed by our representative’s statement after which the Inspector declared that the Inquiry had ended.

The Inspector advised those present that he anticipated submitting his report to B&NES Council in 6 weeks time from the 13th April 2011.

The applicant will also receive a copy of the Inspector’s report.

Newbridge Matters acknowledges and thanks the many people who have given us support for this application and who attended the Inquiry as witnesses and, those who attended in order to give us moral support.

We acknowledge with very many thanks the help, advice and representation given by Planning Sanity.

We also acknowledge with very many thanks all the help and support that the Response2Route group have given us in dealing with this Public Inquiry.

Some members of the Response2Route group have submitted applications for the Registration of Village Greens at Rudmore Park and Kaynton Mead and, the Non-Statutory Public Inquiries into those applications have been scheduled to take place in The Guildhall as follows:
Rudmore Park - 23rd until 26th May 2011

Kaynton Mead - 13th until 16th June 2011.

We urge readers to give these applicants support, contact being made with them via the Response2Route web site.
We will of course advise you further on the Newbridge Meadows Inquiry when we receive details of the Inspector’s report.
The normal procedure would be for the Inspector’s report in the form of a recommendation, to be submitted to the Registration Authority of the Council and, for it to be considered by an appropriate committee of the Council when a final decision will be made.
We thank all those who have given us support on the many issues that we have reported upon over the many months since our inception.

Briefing Paper sent to the Department for Transport

2011-04-03T18:58:00.004+01:00

Newbridge Matters and the Response to Route [R2R] Group have jointly prepared this Briefing Paper.

Readers will see that we are highlighting why the proposed scheme is a waste of money, why it is flawed and what the alternatives are.

Hopefully the DfT will see that the Bus Rapid Transit [BRT] element including the proposed Car Park is pointless and will refuse funding unless that element is removed.

Please click here to read Briefing Paper.

Newbridge Matters will of course keep you advised of any further developments.

2011-03-27T14:39:00.000+01:00

We are continuing to work hard with the Response2Route Group to prevent our Newbridge Meadows and their green corridor being destroyed by the implementation of the Bus Rapid Transit [BRT] proposals.

Here is a summary of what is happening.

Department For Transport [DfT] Funding for the Bath Transportation Package [BTP]
The Council have to prove to the DFT that the BTP (including the BRT) is the best possible scheme for the money. We are very busy proving to the DFT that the BRT element is definitely not the best possible scheme for the money and, a joint submission with the R2R Group has been made to the DfT details of which will be made available on this website shortly.

We believe that B&NES Council is trying to rush their submission through to the DfT before Easter. As the deadline is not until September, we assume it sees some benefit in doing this. In any case B&NES no longer has time to alter the scheme so it's all or nothing for the BTP. We believe they are going to lose all of the central funding because of their inflexible approach.

B&NES Council is stubbornly refusing to investigate alternatives and provide the government with proof that they have done proper research into the alternatives or any cost-benefit analysis. This is worrying to us as we know there are elements of the BTP which would be of benefit to Bath but, they will all be lost if B&NES’ inflexible approach means that the DfT refuse to grant any funding at all.

We know that the alternatives of siting a Park and Ride Car Park at Twerton Fork on the southern side of the river and using the Upper and Lower Bristol Roads for the BRT buses instead of the proposed new segregated stretch of road, is easily adapted, saving both money and destruction, and delivering benefits to the areas stated by the council to be “deprived.”

B&NES have now set up a “Transport Commission‟ to advise them further on the BTP, consisting of people and bodies who have already stated they support the BRT. The Response2Route Group have not been invited to participate, despite asking to be allowed to do so and having now spent more than 4 years becoming expert in all things transport-related in Newbridge.

Village Green applications
As readers will know from previous postings, an application was submitted on behalf of Newbridge Matters for the Newbridge Meadows Village Green to be Registered as such and, details of the Non- Statutory Public Inquiry for the Newbridge Meadows are shown in the previous posting.

Although if granted, the Registration of the Village Greens would almost 100% prevent the areas from being developed, the primary reason for seeking Registration is to ensure that they continue to be available for this and future generations to enjoy.

These Village Green spaces have been used for over 20 years by local people for recreational activities which means they are already Village Greens. We are simply seeking to get that status officially recognised through a formal process.

Response2Route and Newbridge Matters have applied for Village Green status on three areas of land. The applications have been moving forward and we now have dates for the two Non-Statutory Public Inquiries that will be held into the two applications submitted by the R2R Group. All these Inquiries are required to be held as the Council have objected to our applications.

All three Inquiries will be held in the Council Chamber at The Guildhall in Bath, the dates being as shown below:

Newbridge Meadows…11th - 14th April 2011…..Full details as shown on the previous posting.

Rudmore Park…………23rd - 26th May 2011…..Full details not yet known

Kaynton Mead…………13th – 16th June 2011….Full details not yet known

Members of the public are strongly urged to come along to support us at all the Public Inquiries.

Newbridge Matters has obtained Proofs of Evidence of the use of the Meadows Village Green for use at the Inquiry and the R2R Group has been busy putting together evidence to make sure they are fully prepared for their inquiries.

We need local residents to speak at the inquiries – without witnesses we will fail. There are very few of us on the committee who fulfil the criteria to be a witness. We need to prove that the Village Greens have been used by the community overall for a period of at least 20 years, for lawful leisure pursuits.

If you are a member of the community and you have used the Village Greens for any period of time, we need you – please get in touch!

If you cannot attend the Inquiries in person due to a holiday or other commitment please contact us as we can arrange for your submission to be read out by someone else. All witnesses will be fully briefed by our advocate who has experience of many dozens of such inquiries.

Don’t assume we have plenty of other people to do this – we need YOU!

If you work full-time this will not be a problem as there should be at least one evening session built into the schedule to accommodate those of us who do.

Any photographic or other evidence showing leisure pursuits on any of the areas over the last 20 years will be extremely useful and will be gratefully received. Please email to: r2rnewsletter@aol.com

If you do not qualify as a witness but have any interest in seeing our Village Green applications succeed, please support us by coming along and watching the process from the public viewing gallery in the Council Chamber at The Guildhall.

The inquiries have to be run along semi-formal lines in order to reach an official conclusion but most people who attend them enjoy the experience.

A report on the Village Greens has been published in The Bath Chronicle newspaper, edition of Thursday 24th March page 38.

Compulsory Purchase Orders [CPOs] Public Inquiry
Regardless of B&NES’ plans to keep the BTP in its entirety to submit to the Government for funding, the Public Inquiry into the Compulsory Purchase Orders will still need to take place, as if B&NES wish to proceed with the work using Government funding, they need to be in possession of all the necessary land required for the work. We are working hard to put together our dossier of evidence and will be employing expert witnesses to counteract the Council’s arguments.
Local Elections
It is likely that the BRT will feature in the local elections and it will be to your advantage to quiz your prospective Councillors on their views. Some are not as opposed to the BRT as you may assume.

Funding
We have contracted experts to help us in all the above and this costs money. If you would like to help you can donate via PayPal on the R2R web site www.response2route.co.uk or send a cheque made payable to Response2Route to the R2R Treasurer at 43 Ashley Avenue, Bath BA1 3DS.
We thank you for your continued support.
Response2Route www.response2route.co.uk

Newbridge Matters http://www.newbridgematters.blogspot.com/

2011-02-28T10:17:00.001Z

Readers will be aware that our last posting was to wish you all a Very Merry Christmas and a Very Happy New Year. We hope you had both.

As no further postings have been made you could be forgiven for thinking that your team at Newbridge Matters had gone on an extended Christmas holiday and had not yet returned.

However, that is very far from the truth. We have been working very hard indeed with many different authorities in order to try and ensure that Newbridge is provided with the very best possible outcome concerning the Council’s proposals for the Bus Rapid Transit [BRT] system including the proposed Park and Ride Car Park. We thought that time spent on those activities had priority over time spent on postings and, apologise to readers who may think otherwise.

Bath Rapid Transit system.

A member of our team together with representatives of Response to Route [R2R] group. met the city’s MP the Rt Hon. Don Foster on Monday 21st February 2011.

The serious concerns of those in Newbridge relating to the proposed Car Park on the Village Green at Newbridge Meadows and, those of residents directly affected by the proposed New Road as part of the BRT through resident’s gardens, and others, were made known to Don Foster. He promised to pass these on to the DfT.
If B&NES Council wish to obtain money from the Government in order to carry out their proposals contained within the Bath Transportation Package [BTP], which includes the New Road for the BRT route and the Car Park, then they will have to satisfy the Department for Transport [DfT] that the scheme would achieve its objectives and be of ‘value for money.’

In discussions with the DfT they have advised us that, not only are they allowing amendments to the scope of schemes where that would improve affordability and value for money, they are positively encouraging it.

The next steps in the process are that the DfT will have discussions with local authority promoters of various schemes, prior to them submitting a Best and Final Funding Bid on 9 September and, they aim to make decisions by the end of 2011 on which schemes will be funded. In submitting their Best and final Funding Bids authorities will need to specify the precise scope and cost of the scheme amongst other things and. will not be bound by what they have already submitted in their Expression of Interest, which is very much an opening statement for discussion.

It is understood that B&NES Council will likely submit a fresh Expression of Interest to the DfT before the deadline for receipt of same of 9th September 2011.

The DfT welcome comments from the public and interested parties on the Expressions of Interest received and will consider these as part of their consideration of the schemes in question.
Enquiries and submissions from the public may be sent to:

Mr Bob Collins

Department for Transport

3/29 Great Minster House

76 Marsham Street

London

SW1P 4DR

E mail address: Bob.Collins@dft.gsi.gov.uk

Car Park

Previous correspondence with Don Foster established that he did not think the present proposed site for the Newbridge Car Park on the Meadows, was an appropriate location.

We have advised B&NES and the DfT that if a new Car Park is required in Newbridge, it should be located on its original proposed site south of the river on Duchy of Cornwall land.

This site has very many advantages over the present proposal on the Village Green, including a less cost of construction.

In order to protect the Newbridge Meadows from future development, so that the present and future generations of inhabitants may continue to enjoy the facilities they offer, as has been the case for many past generations, readers will be aware that a member of our team submitted an application last year for the Village Green on Newbridge Meadows to be Registered as such.

B&NES have now arranged for an Inquiry to be held into this application, details of which are set out below.

Non – Statutory Public Inquiry to Consider an Application to Register Land as a Town or Village Green under Section 15(2) of The Commons Act 2006

The Land is known as the Village Green Newbridge Meadows - Newbridge – Bath

Details of the Inquiry

The Inquiry will take place in the Council Chamber, The Guildhall, High Street, Bath, BA1 5AW on the following days and at the times stated in April 2011.

It will be conducted by the Inspector appointed by B&NES, Mr Leslie Blohm Q.C

Monday 11th April 10.30am to 1.00pm

Monday 11th April 2.00pm to 4.30pm

Monday 11th April 6.00pm until the session closes

Tuesday 12th April 10.30am to 1.00pm

Tuesday 12th April 2.00pm to 4.30pm

Wednesday 13th April 10.30am to 1.00pm

Wednesday 13th April 2.00pm to 4.30pm

Thursday 14th April 10.30am to 1.00pm

Thursday 14th April 2.00pm to 4.30pm

It is possible that the Inquiry could be concluded before Thursday 14th April and it could be extended, depending upon the Inspector’s directions.

An inspection of the Village Green will take place at the conclusion of the Inquiry.
Proofs of Evidence of use of the Village Green have been obtained and it is anticipated that the authors will read aloud their statements during the Inquiry.
Any member of the public may attend the Inquiry and if allowed

by the Inspector, they may address those present.
Newbridge Matters hope that members of the public will attend the Inquiry to show support for the actions we have and are taking in order to protect the interests of residents.
In due course, the Inspector will make his decision as to whether the Village Green should be Registered or not, known to B&NES and, it will then be up to the appropriate committee of the Council to accept or refuse that recommendation.
If the Village Green becomes ‘Registered’ it is unlikely that any future development could take place on the site.
From the length of this bulletin, readers will be aware that we have been working extremely hard in order to try and ensure that Newbridge becomes an even better place to live, work and visit.

Merry Christmas and a Very Happy New Year.

2010-12-21T19:47:00.001Z

We wish readers a Very Merry Christmas and a Very Happy New Year and thank you for your interest and support throughout the year.

We assure you that we are taking all possible steps to ensure that B&NES Council do not implement their present proposals for the Bath Rapid Transit [BRT] scheme including the Park and Ride Car Park in its present proposed position.

We will of course keep you advised as matters proceed.

Bath and North East Somerset Full Council Meeting Tuesday Nov 16th.

2010-11-17T12:43:00.003Z

At the above Council Meeting where besides other matters the Bath Transportation Package was discussed, a representative of ‘Newbridge Matters’ delivered a written and verbal statement which included the following.

With regard to the Bath Transport Package and in particular, if you wish to continue with your proposals for extending the existing Park and Ride Car Park at Newbridge and receive Grant Money, we understand that you will need to reduce the estimated cost of works in order for the Department for Transport to give further consideration to your Transport Package. A document has been prepared dated 15th September 2010 which I hope you have before you, showing Comparisons of Sites for a Car Park north and south of the River Avon.

From this document you will see that if you revert to your original site for the Car Park south of the river on Duchy of Cornwall land, not only will it provide for a much larger Car Park than that on the northern side of the river but, the cost per parking space should be much less.

This difference in costs is due to the very expensive decontamination works required to be carried out on the northern site, as part of the planning conditions when you received Planning Consent.

This site was for many years used as a commercial and domestic refuse tip.

Very expensive construction and maintenance costs would be involved on the northern site involving the provision of special water filtration material by way of permeable and impermeable membranes in the base construction, in order to prevent ground water from being drained from the site and affecting the adjacent Nature Conservation area.

At the time of the submission by your consultants for Planning Permission, they advised you that the Car Park would need to be excavated from time to time in order to replace the various membranes, giving rise to loss of parts of the Car Park as work proceeded.

Also, your consultants advised you that the Car Park would flood at certain times and that to try and minimise this effect they proposed that large underground water storage tanks be constructed.

None of these restraints would apply to your original site south of the river, it being on virgin land with drainage direct to the river.

The Land Agent for the Duchy of Cornwall in Newton St Loe confirmed on 4th November 2010 that he would be quite prepared to re-open negotiations with the Council for the sale of the necessary land in order for the Car Park to be constructed as originally intended on the southern side of the river.

Your original proposals for that Car Park included for part of it to be on two decks but, even if this was not carried out, the area is of sufficient size [8.33 acres] for it to be capable of providing parking for many more cars than the proposed extension of the existing Car Park, an area of only approximately 4 acres.

We respectfully request that you seriously consider reverting to your original site south of the river, which we feel confident would show a saving of costs at this critical financial time and provide for future transport needs.

To further show our resolve to help you, we have made available to your Chief Executive Officer a plan of the existing Newbridge Car Park showing that if the parking spaces were re-marked to the standard required size, then an additional 103 spaces could be provided giving a 20% increase on that now provided.

Madam Chairman, Councillor Sarah Bevan advised that this statement would be taken into consideration when the Council considered the Transportation Package further.

Conservative Campaign Pamphlet with the name 'Newbridge Matters'

2010-11-12T11:53:00.001Z

We have recently received an A3 size double sided full colour pamphlet with the name ‘Newbridge Matters’ prominently displayed at the top of the first page, promoting the Conservative party.

Readers of this web site may also have received this document and other similar documents from the Conservative party.

We wish to advise you that this ‘Newbridge Matters’ web site has no connection whatsoever with any political party.

We have requested the publisher of the Conservative Campaign Pamphlet to refrain from using the title of our web site but, our request has been refused.

Be assured that the ‘Newbridge Matters’ web site will continue to remain non-political and continue for the benefit of Newbridge residents and the many supporters we have gathered since its inception.

Application for the Registration of Newbridge Meadows as a Village Green - Latest

2010-09-27T16:02:00.001+01:00

We have received a letter from B&NES Council, advising us that they have now considered our application and, as there remains areas of dispute between us and the objector [B&NES Council,] it has been decided that a Non-Statutory Public Inquiry should be held into our application.

The Registration Authority [B&NES Council] will instruct an independent barrister who will preside over the Inquiry and we will be advised of further details in due course.

It may well be some months before the Inquiry is held and we will now need to prepare our case in detail.

Thank you to all those who have supported this Village Green application and we will of course keep you advised as matters proceed.

Application for the Registration of Newbridge Meadows as a Village Green - update.

2010-09-13T17:06:00.000+01:00

As reported earlier, only one objection was submitted to the registration of this application, that being from Bath and North East Somerset [B&NES] Council.

A formal notice dated 16th July 2010 setting out the reasons for the objection has been received from B&NES.

In response to this notice, a robust and detailed challenge has been submitted and it is understood that it will be considered by the Council’s legal department at a meeting to be held on 16th September 2010, with a view to deciding what further action should be taken.

We understand that if as a result of our challenge the application is considered to be valid, a Non Statutory Public Inquiry will be held at some time in the future, presided over by a duly appointed Inspector, who will at the end of the inquiry report his findings directly to B&NES Council.

It is likely that the Inspector’s report will be considered by an appropriate committee of the Council and a decision then made as to whether the Newbridge Meadows should be granted Village Green status.

As readers will no doubt be aware from previous postings on this website, B&NES have already granted themselves Planning Permission for a Park and Ride Car Park to be constructed on part of the area of land being considered for registration as a Village Green and, it was thought that this action could influence any decision made concerning Village Green status.

It has now been established that the Planning Permission already granted for the Park and Ride Car Park will not in any way whatsoever have any effect on the making of any decision concerning Village Green status. The Officers of the Council, the Non Statutory Public Inquiry Inspector and the appropriate committee of the Council which will make the final decision, will follow the letter of the law in dealing with the application, purely on the merits of the application.

Unless the Council withdraws its objection, it is likely that the Public Inquiry will proceed after a period of time, to allow us to prepare our further detailed submissions to the Inspector prior to the actual inquiry.

The area under consideration is scheduled as a ‘Nature Conservation Area’ and an ‘Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty’ with good reason.

The attention of the Council and our Member of Parliament Mr Don Foster has been drawn to the following.

It is well known that the world is in a state of ‘Ecological Meltdown’ with plants and animals missing two international targets for the continuation of the species.

Over 1,000 species are under ‘Special Protection’ but their decimation continues.

The habitat for many of these species is ‘Lowland Meadows’ such as the Newbridge Meadows, and since World War II, 97% of these Meadows have been destroyed, causing the cessation of very many species.

One in Five Plants in the United Kingdom form the basis of human life and these plants are fertilised by the action of bees and other insects.

Over a quarter of Bumble Bees are in danger of extinction due to the loss of habitat, with half the Honey Bee population having been decimated since the 1980s due to the loss of habitat.

As you will no doubt already know, pollination of plants takes place by the action of Bees, Butterflies and other insects visiting the flowers of the plants to gather nectar and, pollen from the flowers is then transferred to them. They then visit other flowers and deposit the pollen onto them and, fertilisation takes place. Without this action, pollination would have to be carried out by hand, a completely unthinkable situation with estimates of costs provided by the University of Reading running at over £1.5bn per year. This would of course increase the cost of basic food such as bread and even in this relatively wealthy country of the U.K, very serious health and other issues would develop.

For these reasons and many others, we cannot just take Nature for granted. If the pollinators are destroyed it will eventually see the destruction of the human race.

These comments may seem to those unacquainted with the situation concerning Nature, to be ‘outlandish’ but we and many other knowledgeable people in the field of ecology do assure you that if areas of land such as the Newbridge Meadows are not preserved then humanity will suffer, maybe not in our lifetimes but for those future generations.

As you will no doubt know, the Government is paying farmers to preserve hedgerows and strips of land adjoining their fields, half a billion pounds having been spent already, in order to provide habitat for pollinators and other wildlife to continue to exist and, provide an essential part of human life.

B&NES Council now have an excellent opportunity of continuing the policy of the Government in retaining habitat areas for wildlife, by supporting the application for the Newbridge Meadows to be a Village Green and by so doing, preserve the existing habitat for wildlife and at the same time continue the use of the Meadows for the inhabitants which has existed for at least 76 years.

We have seen the demise of many species of plants, animals and insects and we cannot allow this to continue.

The clock is ticking faster every day; now is your opportunity to at least slow it down !
We have been advised by B&NES Council that although the Meadows is the site of a proposed Car Park, this will not have any effect whatsoever on the way the application is considered by them or by an Inspector appointed to oversee any subsequent Public Inquiry and, that any report submitted by the Inspector to the Council will again be considered purely upon the merits of retaining the ecology and the granting of the Village Green application.

We again wish to thank all those who have submitted support and evidence of use of the Meadows, some for well over 70 years to the present time.

We hope that Registration of the Meadows will in fact take place to enable this and future generations to use and enjoy such a beautiful and rare area scheduled as Green Belt Land, a Nature Conservation Area and an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

We will of course keep you advised on how this matter proceeds.

Application for the Registration of Newbridge Meadows as a Village Green

2010-08-12T14:33:00.001+01:00

Readers will recall that in an earlier posting news was given of an application that had been made to the Bath and North East Somerset [B&NES] Council, for Newbridge Meadows to be Registered as a Village Green in order to retain the Meadows as now.

We can now advise you that the application was submitted and only one objection was received and that was from B&NES.

A challenge to the Objection is now being prepared and will be submitted in due course, after which further consideration will be given by B&NES.

We thank all those who have supported this application and who have provided very valuable evidence of use of the Meadows for well over 70 years and, we hope that Registration of the Meadows will in fact take place to enable this and future generations to use and enjoy such a beautiful and rare area scheduled as Green Belt Land, a Nature Conservation Area and an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

We will keep you advised on how this matter proceeds.

NICOLAS MICHAEL SAMUEL. 9.5.1952 – 29.6.2010

2010-06-30T20:41:00.002+01:00

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.

2010-06-26T12:09:00.001+01:00

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.

2010-06-16T17:42:00.000+01:00

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:

2010-06-10T20:22:00.001+01:00

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.

2010-06-09T17:26:00.000+01:00

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.

2010-06-08T22:26:00.000+01:00

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.

2010-06-07T16:22:00.002+01:00

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.

2010-05-31T14:53:00.000+01:00

As you will know, a Public Inquiry [PI] has been called to consider Objections received in connection with the Compulsory Purchase Orders [CPOs] and the Stopping Up of Footpaths Orders, which will need to be resolved before B&NES Council can proceed with the Bath Rapid Transit [BRT] scheme as part of the Bath Transportation Plan [BTP.]

As the Government have already announced massive cuts in expenditure for this year, we wrote to the Inspector appointed to hold the Inquiries, requesting that they be postponed until such time as it was known that the Grant Money would be available to carry out these schemes.

The letter is reproduced below.

25th May 2010

Bath Transportation Package - Compulsory Purchase Orders Inquiry

"With reference to the above and further to your letter dated 14 May 2010, in view of the Government’s proposed financial cuts for this year with £683m being cut from the Department for Transport’s budget, I and very many other residents who are affected by the BTP Package, request that the proposed Public Inquiries be postponed.

This country is said to be £150bn in debt and the deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said today that “The enormity of the black hole on public finance is far worse than we anticipated.”

The Budget will be held in June and a Spending Review in the autumn.

Under these circumstances it would seem that B&NES Council may well not be granted the necessary finance to carry out their BRT / BTP schemes and, I think that the CPO Pre-Inquiry and PI should be postponed until a clear situation arises concerning finance.

I am sure that it would be considered to be acting irrationally to spend many more thousands of pounds of public money on Inquiries with very little hope of the schemes proceeding in the near future.

I therefore request you to convey the content of this letter for a postponement of the Pre-Inquiry and the Public Inquiry to the Inspector and, for it to be forwarded to any other person or authority as necessary."

The reply received from Mrs Helen Wilson on behalf of the Inspector was:

“The inspector has asked me to respond as follows – he suggests that you raise the matter at this time with the Council, but unless and until the orders are withdrawn the inquiry will proceed, unless the Inspector hears very cogent reasons for it to be delayed.”

Bearing in mind the fact that B&NES Council were advised by letter from the Department for Transport [DfT] dated 20th April 2010 “if you choose to continue to work on your major scheme business case, this will be entirely at your own risk,” it would seem quite inappropriate to spend many thousands of pounds of public money on Public Inquiries at this time, before it is known whether funds will be made available by the DfT for the schemes to proceed.

We therefore urge you to make direct contact with the Leader of B&NES Council, Cllr Francine Haeberling, requesting that action be taken for the Public Inquiries to be postponed until a definite decision is made on government funding,

Contact details:

Councillor Francine Haeberling
Leader of Bath and North East Somerset Council
Guildhall
High Street
Bath
BA1 5AW

email: francine_haeberling@bathnes.gov.uk
Telephone: 01225 872199

We would appreciate being notified of any replies you may receive.

A small reminder.

2010-05-31T13:51:00.000+01:00

Those of you who received a form from Mrs Helen Wilson on behalf of the Inspector, who intends to hold the Pre-Public Inquiry at the Guildhall Bath on Monday 14th June at 10.00am into the Objections received for the Compulsory Purchase Orders [CPOs] and Stopping up of Footpaths, are reminded that the form must be returned to Mrs Wilson by Tuesday 1st June 2010.

Contact details for Mrs Helen Wilson appeared in an earlier item.

In view of the short time period now available, if you have not already returned the form, we suggest that contact be made with her by E mail or telephone.

Designation of Footpath as a Public Footpath.

2010-05-26T16:49:00.001+01:00

As a result of the submission of the Village Green application, B&NES Council have discovered that the footpath used by many to gain access to the Park and Ride Car Park and Newbridge Meadows, from the junction of Old Newbridge Hill with Newbridge Road, has not been designated as a Public Footpath.

Discussions have been held with the Council’s officer dealing with this matter, and maps have been prepared showing the footpath concerned and support for its use has been obtained.

This information will be submitted to the Council in due course.

Healthy pursuits in the open country.

2010-05-26T16:41:00.000+01:00

An application has been submitted to B&NES Council by one of our members for a Village Green to be registered under the Commons Act 2006 - Section 15(1) on the Newbridge Meadows.

The land concerned is “that land predominantly to the northeast of Newbridge Park and Ride and known as Newbridge Meadows in Newbridge Bath.”

Notices have been posted at 10 sites at least adjoining the land with a Map attached showing clearly the area required to be registered.

The object of submitting this application is to preserve the Meadows for this and future generations to use for lawful pastimes such as dog walking, nature observations and the study and enjoyment of the environment.

It has been used for these purposes since 1940 and almost certainly before that date to the present time.

As you know there are very few suitable areas adjoining the city for dog walking and such like activities and, we need to preserve them.

If the application is successful, then the land would be preserved as now for ever more.

We hope that you will support this application by writing letters of support as soon as possible addressed to Mr Graeme Stark of Bath and North East Somerset Council, Riverside, Temple Street, Keynsham, BA31 1LA.

Your letters are really important to add weight to the application and result in success.

Any objections to this proposal must be sent to the Council on or before 19 July 2010.

Country walks may be a lost pursuit.

2010-05-25T17:16:00.002+01:00

The Secretary of State has given notice that he proposes to make an Order under Section 24 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 - Section 247, to authorise the Diversion and Stopping up of various Public Footpaths in Newbridge in order to accommodate the BRT scheme including the Park and Ride Car Park extension.

We are opposed to this and many have sent in objections to the Secretary of State as a result of which he has called for a Public Inquiry [PI] to be held.

Monday 14 June 2010….. Guildhall Bath at 10.00am.

Please note that this is the same day and time as for the proposed CPO Pre-Inquiry.

As anyone can attend we encourage you to do so, in order to show our strength of feeling concerning the diversion and loss of certain Public Footpaths.

Update on Compulsory Purchase Orders.

2010-05-25T17:03:00.002+01:00

Following on from the Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) Public Inquiry (PI) statutory and non statutory objectors posting on Thursday 18 February 2010, the situation would appear to be that the CPO PI inspector will decide upon who can speak at the PI.

He is likely to make that decision at the Pre-Inquiry meeting.

The diary for the CPO PI events at the moment reads:-

Tuesday 1st June 2010…..latest date for return of Questionnaire to Helen Wilson, Programme Officer for the CPO PI.
Some of you may have received this Questionnaire on which you are requested to state whether you will be attending the Pre-Inquiry CPO meeting and also answer other questions.
Monday 14 June 2010…..CPO Pre-Inquiry meeting to be held at the Guildhall Bath at 10.00am.
We have ascertained that ANYONE can attend the Pre-Inquiry or actual Inquiry and we encourage you to attend to show your strength of feeling about the BRT/BTP, even if you are not intending to speak or attend further meetings.
Wednesday 11 August 2010….latest date for receipt of “Proof of Evidence” regarding the CPOs by the Inspector, or a date to be fixed by him at the Pre-Inquiry.
If you wish to appear at the actual CPO Inquiry you must confirm this on the Questionnaire.
Wednesday 1 September 2010…..CPO PI meeting to be held at the Guildhall Bath at 10.00am.

We are sure that you will have noted the cuts that the Government are proposing in public expenditure this year, a cut of £683m being for the Department of Transport alone out of a total of £6.2bn.

This country is £150bn in debt and the Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said today on BBC TV “The enormity of the black hole on public finance is far worse than we anticipated.”

The Budget will be held in June with a Spending Review in the autumn.

Under these conditions it would seem that B&NES Council may well not be granted the necessary finance to carry out their BRT / BTP schemes and, we think that the CPO Pre-Inquiry and PI should be postponed until a clear situation arises concerning finance.

We are sure that it would be considered to be acting irrationally to spend many thousands of pounds of public money on Inquiries with very little hope of the schemes proceeding in the near future.

If you are of the same opinion as many readers are, we urge you to write or E mail without delay, a request for the Pre-Inquiry and actual Inquiry to be postponed until the Government’s financial position is made clearer and whether any “Grant Money” is likely to be made available for the BRT / BTP schemes. Ask for your request to be forwarded to any other person or authority as necessary.

You should address your request to:

Mrs Helen Wilson BA (Hons)
Programme Officer for the Public Inquiry
32 Pennyford Close
Brockhill,
Redditch
B97 6TW
email: progofficer@aol.com

Tel/Fax: 01527 65741

Mobile: 07879 443035

Thank you for waiting.

2010-05-23T19:57:00.001+01:00

Hello again everyone !

Sorry for the delay, which was due to family illness, but we are now able to continue.

Please bear with us - more to follow ............

Temporary lapse

2010-03-23T20:45:00.001Z

Sorry, due to serious illness we have been unable to update this site recently. Hope to be back on the case soon.

CPO pubic inquiry: statutory and non-statutory objectors

2010-02-18T14:31:00.001Z

On Saturday 6 February 2010 those who had written to register their objections to the CPOs connected with the BTP received a pack of papers and a disc of supporting documents from the Department of Transport (DfT) via the Government Office for the North East (GoNE).

Included within the Statement of Case document is a table of objectors. Last year we received legal advice on how objectors are classified which quoted Government guidelines that state:

"…Objectors fall into two categories. A statutory objector is a person who has objected within the stipulated time frame and is:

i) an owner, lessee, occupier or tenant of land within the CPO; or
ii) a person who may have the right to claim compensation either because:
a) they own rights in the land being acquired and these will be interfered with; or
b) the value of their land will or may be reduced as a result of works carried out on the land being compulsorily acquired.

Any other objector, e.g. a third party objector is known as a non-statutory objector. Only a statutory objector has the right to be heard at the Public Inquiry and the Minister is only obliged to hold an Inquiry if there are statutory objectors.”

We were dismayed to see that contrary to the above B&NES has only included those whose land or property is subject to a CPO as a statutory objectors everyone else has been mis-classified as non-statutory objectors even though they clearly fall under section b) of the guidelines.
Naturally we contacted GoNE and asked them to clarify this position. The most recent explanation we have received effectively informs that B&NES decide who is or isn't a statutory objector. We do not accept this, as we understand a public inquiry to be an independent procedure and therefore are perplexed as to how it can be left to B&NES to decide such a fundamental point.

From the Newbridge P&R extension perspective there are 28 addresses listed under ‘objections’, of these there are a number that have more than one name attached to the same address (42 company/residents names listed). Of the 28 there are two statutory objectors and 26 non statutory objector addresses. From the non statutory addresses it would appear that all 26 could be classed as statutory objectors under the government guidelines as described above, but certainly 23 addresses would fall into that category. There are only three objectors that might fall into a grey area. In addition, one of the businesses subject to a CPO is not listed anywhere although we have been told they have not entered into any agreement with B&NES.

Updates, updates...

2010-02-18T14:15:00.000Z

Apologies for the absence of posts. Be assured much has been happening and we have attempted to bring you up to date on all the different areas (see above). We appreciate this is complicated, but stick with it and hopefully we will be able to stop the ill founded and unsustainable transport plans B&NES Council is forcing onto us.

Diary date?

2010-01-31T07:34:00.001Z

We have been informed that 18 May 2010 is the earliest date for the public inquiry into the BTP compulsory purchase orders. The exact date has yet to be confirmed.

VCB debut meeting success

2010-01-29T12:42:00.005Z

On Wednesday evening we attended the first VeraCityBath Limited public meeting in Batheaston. There was an excellent turnout with around 80 people having to stand.

The Company directors gave a presentation which updated attendees on the legal challenges against the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government and B&NES Council. In addition, there was information on the public inquiry into the compulsory purchase orders associated with the Bath Transportation Package.

Naturally there was a call for new members and help with funds for legal expenses – details can be found on the VCB blog.

Public meeting announcement

2010-01-18T17:35:00.002Z

Legal challenge launched

2010-01-15T17:48:00.001Z

Today VeraCityBath Limited (VCB) announced that it has launched judicial review proceedings with regard to the controversial Bath Transportation Package. The filed application is against the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with B&NES Council as an interested party.

VCB believes the Secretary of State should have called for a public inquiry into the planning applications for a new park and ride in Batheaston and the joint application for an extension to the Newbridge park and ride and the bus rapid transit route.

A judge has awarded VCB an interim protected costs order to limit its liability against costs up until the case is considered by the judge, when it will seek an extension to the order.

Leading public law experts Harrison Grant and Nathalie Lieven QC and David Blundell of counsel, are representing VCB.

We will keep you informed of progress.

Deadline: Friday 15 January 2010

2010-01-13T15:04:00.000Z

The deadline for registering your opinion with the core strategy spatial options' consultation is Friday 15 January 2010. You can comment on line by clicking here. Look out for point 3.19 which refers to the BTP, might be worth posting something about this if nothing else.

Friday is also the cut off date for completing the questionnaire on the environment and pollution in Bath. See our post 'Pollution stalemate?' for more information.

New boy in town...

2010-01-05T12:12:00.002Z

On Thursday 7 January 2010, the Liberal Democrats' leader, Nick Clegg MP, is coming to Bath for an open question and answer session. The meeting is scheduled to run from

6.30 - 7.45 p.m. at St. Michael's Church, Broad Street.

If you would like to attend click here to register.

Why?

2009-12-31T12:36:00.015Z

Further to our post 'One small step...' we have more to report on the puzzling alterations to the bus stops in Newbridge Road.

Work has been carried out to the bus stop opposite Hartwells' Garage. A short length of existing kerb has been removed and replaced with a preformed kerb slightly higher in profile but with no disturbance to the carriageway, unlike the other recently extended bus stops.

Although the street surface has been marked out to indicate the location of an intrusion into the road, it would seem that as this bus stop is just before the pedestrian crossing, it was considered to be too dangerous both for road users and pedestrians to carry out these additional works.

If this limited amount of work is considered adequate to accommodate the lowered entrance platforms on buses, the other bus stops could have been treated in the same way, avoiding the need to block the traffic.

Without any other forthcoming explanation, are the earlier works a deliberate ploy by B&NES Council to cause congestion on this road in order to justify the BRT?

Scales of justice

2009-12-30T15:14:00.000Z

It has been announced that two legal challenges regarding the BTP have been lodged; one against B&NES and the other against the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, the Rt. Hon. John Denham MP. We understand that B&NES has missed the deadline of 28 December 2010 to respond, however, the GoSW legal team requested an extension within the correct timeframe.

The Bath Chronicle has published a report which may be viewed by clicking here. More details to follow.

Seasonal greetings

2009-12-23T11:55:00.000Z

We'd like to thank all our readers for their support and wish everyone a very happy holiday time and a successful 2010.

Is there anybody out there?

2009-12-21T14:57:00.001Z

We are preparing for the public inquiry into the BTP compulsory purchase orders which will be held next year. This call goes out to anyone with experience or knowledge of this procedure. If you, or someone you know, falls into this category we would be most grateful if you could

e-mail us.

Thank you.

Public inquiry information

2009-12-18T07:20:00.003Z

As outlined in the post below headed 'Fantastic news!' there is to be a public inquiry into all the compulsory purchase orders relating to the BTP. Some statutory objectors have received a letter from the DfT enclosing a booklet with information on the process. This document can be downloaded by clicking here.

One small step...

2009-12-18T07:07:00.004Z

The bus stops in Newbridge Road have undergone some alterations to build a small slope extending approximately six feet into the road. Presumably to allow wheelchair users to be level with the bus floor.

However, when the X39 bus from Bristol pulls up at the newly created bus stop and lowers the entry platform for passengers to embark it comes below the surface of the new area.

Thus people have to step down to get into the bus.

This means that particular bus at that particular bus stop could lower its entry platform to the old existing kerb height with no need for the new construction. While the bus was stationary, traffic either passed it by crossing over the white hatched area in the centre of the road, or had to wait until oncoming traffic ceased or the bus pulled out.

This new structure has added to road congestion and cost money. Another own goal for B&NES?

Stop!

2009-12-17T15:34:00.001Z

We were intrigued by the reader's comments on the traffic lights' synchronisation at the Newbridge Road junction (see post below); so one of our team went down there this morning and made the following notes:

"I observed the traffic lights at The Weston for ten minutes.

During that time the traffic going westwards along Newbridge Road was stopped three times by the lights changing to red for no reason whatsoever as there were no pedestrians using the crossing at that point.

It would seem that either B&NES have deliberately created this situation or the circuits have failed to operate in the correct manner."

Interesting.

Eagle eyed?

2009-12-17T11:06:00.003Z

This week a reader e-mailed us with the following message:

"The traffic lights outside the Weston Inn used to allow traffic going along Newbridge Road towards Bristol unimpeded flow. Of course they turned red when a pedestrian pressed the button to cross but this is not a convenient crossing point for many pedestrians.

I have noticed that the default position is now red except for brief periods when traffic is allowed into Newbridge Rd. I can think of no good reason except to cause congestion (as this seems to be B&NES main role in life)."

We'd be interested in your observations on this and any other transport related experiences in Bath. Please e-mail
us with any information you may have.

Fantastic news!

2009-12-15T12:46:00.001Z

Well okay it might be a bit early to crack open the champagne, but... the news just in from the Bath Chronicle is that there is to be a public inquiry into the BTP compulsory purchase orders. For the newspaper report click here.

Apparently the inquiry will be called in the next twenty-two weeks which means B&NES will miss their March 2010 deadline.

Thank you for all your support.

Oh dear!

2009-12-11T00:26:00.005Z

It has come to our attention that the new Southgate development has done several things transport wise:

It has diverted traffic eastwards passed the railway station along what was two lanes west bound. Now there is one lane each way controlled by lights.
It has reduced road space by about an acre.
It has put the bus station alongside the railway station which is now an 80p taxi ride away due to the newly created congestion.
The upshot is that the new layout has significantly reduced the capacity of the road system to manage the traffic.
To ensure a four minute maximum taxi wait, B&NES has licensed many more taxis to compensate for the number stuck in this traffic. Thus reducing the profitability of the taxis and condeming passengers to be held up in the created mess.
In the future taxis and buses will be banned from Pulteney Bridge diverting them passed the station again.

Now where is that rapid transit bus going?

Pollution stalemate?

2009-12-11T00:16:00.011Z

On the B&NES website is an area dedicated to the environment and pollution where much is made of the alleged benefits of the proposed BTP.

Interestingly the accompanying questionnaire, which has to be returned by 15 January 2010, lists Windsor Bridge and Newbridge as congestion hot spots! So, installing numerous sets of traffic lights, ensuring that bendy buses come out onto the Windsor Bridge and cross Newbridge Road at its busiest point, and encouraging an extra 500+ cars towards the New Bridge (which is already a pinchpoint and cannot be enlarged as it’s a listed structure) near the P&R is going to help how?

CPO public inquiry?

2009-12-09T22:44:00.003Z

We heard today that the decision on whether there will be a public inquiry into the compulsory purchase orders will be made next week. For background information please click here.

Spread the word...

2009-12-03T20:41:00.009Z

Fighting fund

2009-11-24T17:40:00.002Z

To further the progression of justice regarding the Bath Transportation Package, of which the Newbridge park and ride extension is part, the time has come to seek legal advice on judicial review. We have joined forces with other campaigners across Bath and negotiated extremely favourable rates with a leading London lawyer and barrister who have a vast experience in this area.

Of course this costs money!

Please help us raise our share by donating whatever you feel comfortable with. We have set up an account for this purpose, and all contributions should be made payable to:

Account name: Newbridge Matters
Sort code: 30-90-54
Account number: 32158668
Bank: Lloyds TSB
Name: include your name for reference purposes
Currency: Sterling only

Please e-mail through your name and address details to receive a receipt and refund in the unlikely event we receive an excess of funds.

For further information please e-mail us.

Thank you for your support.

Update on CPO objections

2009-11-24T17:10:00.001Z

It has been reported in the local paper that the Government Office for the North East has received 160 letters of objection to the compulsory purchase orders relating to the BTP.

We are now waiting for B&NES to make contact.

You couldn't make it up!

2009-11-22T14:59:00.001Z

Bath resident, Carlo Ambrosino, recently lodged a legal challenge against B&NES' officers on the grounds of the common law offence of Misfeasance. This pertains to questions regarding the first vote at the DDC meeting on 8 July 2009 where Councillors voted 6-5 against the Newbridge planning application. Mr Ambrosino had written to the Council asking for details of the legislation that allows them to ignore the vote. As the Council have refused to reply to this correspondence, yet continued as though there was a legitimate answer to the enquiry, technically various officers have committed the common law offence of Misfeasance in a public office.

The court case was due to be heard on 16 November 2009. However, B&NES neglected to send a representative to defend the Council's standpoint claiming later that they did not need to attend. This opinion clearly differed from that of the Judge as a hearing was re-scheduled for 20 November 2009. Mr Ambrosino was unable to make this meeting, however, the Council's barrister did and apparently attempted to persuade the Judge to hear the case anyway. When asked why a B&NES' representative had failed to attend the original court case, the barrister replied that the Council didn't feel it was necessary as there was no case to answer.

The Judge has now set a provisional date of 4 December 2009 with double the previous time allocation.

Bath Heritage Watchdog's website contains further details and there is also a report in the Bath Chronicle.

Roll up, roll up...

2009-10-26T15:15:00.004Z

The Newton St. Loe Conservation Group is holding a public meeting to inform and raise awareness about B&NES' urban extension plans for 2000 new houses between Twerton and the Globe roundabout. For some background information please refer to our post below, headed 'Nothing to say?'.

The details are as follows:

Date: Tuesday 3 November 2009

Place: Corston Church

Time: 7.30 p.m.

All welcome.

CPO objection e-mail

2009-10-24T18:38:00.002+01:00

Due to the postal strike, the Government Office for the North East has said objection letters to the BTP CPOs may be e-mailed through. Click here to open a new e-mail message pre-addressed to the designated contact.

Please refer to the post below for guidelines.

How to object to a CPO...

2009-10-13T23:48:00.002+01:00

As mentioned in the post dated 24 September 2009 headed 'Time's running out' B&NES Council has to complete and purchase the land under compulsory purchase orders (CPOs) before the next round of the funding application.

B&NES Council has, to date, spent at least £3.5m of local taxpayers’ money on the BTP. In addition, it will need to find in excess of £7m to implement the CPOs. There is no guarantee this money will be recovered as the central funding has not been confirmed. This is a complete waste of money on an unsustainable proposal that will only add congestion and pollution to our City. Click here to read B&NES' information on the different CPOs.

We have compiled some information on how to object which may be viewed here. Please note: these guidelines are not intended as legal advice. For those who wish to object, this must be done in writing and arrive at the address given before Friday 23 October 2009.

Anyone can raise objections as a non-statutory objector. Those whose land is under a CPO, and those whose property value will be adversely affected by work carried out on CPO land are classed as statutory objectors and have the right to speak at any CPO inquiry if they wish.

Same old, same old...

2009-10-08T16:15:00.004+01:00

It has just been announced through GoSW that the Secretary of State will not be holding a public inquiry into the Newbridge or Bathampton planning applications.

This is obviously disappointing but not unexpected. Today's report in the Chronicle on line quotes Dave Jones, GoSW planning manager, from letters sent to Bath Council as saying:

“The Secretary of State has considered carefully .... relevant planning issues raised by this proposal. He acknowledges that this application has raised issues of controversy both from the representations received by B&NES Council and those persons who have taken the trouble to write directly to him.

However, he is satisfied that the planning issues raised do not relate to matters of more than local importance or amount to regional or national controversy, which would be more appropriately decided by him rather than the local planning authority.

He has therefore concluded that the application should be decided by B&NES Council.”

No controversy? We think not!

It does pose the question - which government body is willing to act impartially of behalf of the people?

Here we go again!

2009-10-07T14:39:00.010+01:00

As mentioned in the post below documentation on the proposed CPOs in relation to the BTP was distributed to certain areas of Bath. In our neck of the woods we received the 'Statement of Reasons for Making the Order' on the Newbridge park and ride. Click here to read this report.

We have been through the entire fifty page document and now offer a commentary which is too lengthy to reproduce in this piece, but may be viewed here.

Secret squirrel

2009-10-07T11:01:00.001+01:00

Recently a number of Bath residents received hand delivered packs from the Council regarding the fifty-nine CPOs due to be implemented in connection with the BTP.

The accompanying letter offered a contact name and number of a legal officer who would clarify any queries. The CPO situation is extremely complex and it must have been anticipated that many would need help. Unfortunately, those who rang the legal enquiries helpline were stone walled. Click here for an account of what happened.

It is a mystery why B&NES included the contact details when there was no intention to answer any questions.

Nothing to say?

2009-10-07T10:41:00.001+01:00

For members of the public present at the B&NES Full Council meeting on 1 October 2009, in The Guildhall, it was surprising that no legal advice or information was passed on to Councillors concerning the context of their debate on the Bath Core Strategy document, which was approved for public consultation.

On 25 September 2009 GoSW wrote to all Chief Executives of Local Authorities in the region. GoSW announced a stalling of the SW Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS) in the light of the High Court’s judgement against the East of England RSS, which it found had failed to test reasonable alternatives for two of its proposals.

The Core Strategy is, in effect, Bath’s own development plan, reflecting regional areas of search for strategic housing, business and transportation, all of which are highly controversial; and in the case of the Bath Transportation Package, increasingly under pressure as unsustainable.

Under European law, certain types of public plans and strategies must be accompanied by a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) and it has to be demonstrated that all reasonable alternatives to proposals and policies contained in the plan or strategy have been fully tested. This is why GoSW has now decided there is a need for greater clarity on how its Areas of Search perform in sustainability terms, although it expects this re-assessment to be ‘properly tested’ by the start of 2010.

Opponents to proposals for park and ride sites on green fields at Bathampton Meadows and Newbridge, along with the Bus Rapid Transit, will be working in partnership to submit alternative proposals to both GoSW and B&NES, for consideration during the review process for the RSS and the consultation on the Bath Core Strategy document which carries a deadline of 11 December 2009.

Global warming, carbon emissions and heightened environmental awareness mean modes for the mass transit of people, such as heavy rail, must be considered. In the west a new Newton railway station and bus interchange, together with a bus lane for the A4, and enhanced usage of Corsham station for those living east of Bath, have been ignored as viable alternatives by B&NES.

The need for low cost housing and new well paid jobs must lead to a revision of plans for the development of Western Riverside and its part of the BRT, trailing CPOs before destroying vital green corridors and people’s gardens. Plans for a mini town at Newton St Loe before consideration of the infrastructure is not sustainable and gathering opponents will be looking seriously at a legal challenge given the precedent set by the East of England RSS.

To see the local paper's report on the meeting click here.

Don't set your watch by it...

2009-09-25T18:29:00.000+01:00

This afternoon we heard from GoSW that the decision regarding the call in process which was expected by the end of this month, now won't be made until mid-October. This makes B&NES' March 2010 deadline even more unlikely.

Time's running out

2009-09-24T18:46:00.004+01:00

B&NES Council has set itself the deadline of March 2010 to get everything in place for the final part of the BTP funding application. Presumably, this is to try to secure the money before the general election in May 2010.

To be in a position to approach the DfT, the Council has to fulfill certain criteria. Two areas include setting the planning permission in place and owning all the land needed through compulsory purchase orders (CPOs). Currently, the Secretary of State is considering whether to call in two of the four planning applications intrinsic to the scheme. Assuming this part is approved, the CPOs have to be activated and completed. For a list of these properties click here. The CPOs will cost in excess of £7m and there is no guarantee the DfT will endorse the grant.

This contentious plan has caused much anxiety for residents affected by the CPOs, and no doubt they will hold out for as long as possible before being forced to relinquish their property. This then begs the question of how B&NES hope to complete all the necessary stages by next Spring.

People power?

2009-09-18T07:55:00.002+01:00

Today Conservative Party leader David Cameron MP will be visiting Bath to attend an 'open meeting' at St John's Primary School, Pulteney Road, Bath.

Local campaigners have organised a peaceful protest against the BTP to inform the Tory leader of their views. All those interested in supporting the demonstration are encouraged to meet outside the school at 5.00 p.m. this evening.

Easy as 1, 2, 3...

2009-09-15T19:02:00.008+01:00

B&NES Council repeatedly tells us that the BRT (part of the BTP) will provide a reliable and speedy route from Newbridge to the Windsor Bridge. The guaranteed journey time will be six minutes. Response2Route has just released a short video of the same journey in rush hour traffic
(5.15 p.m.) which took just over three minutes on the regular road.

Click here to view the film, which is intentionally silent.

So, the BRT element will...

cost £20m+
destroy green spaces and wildlife
necessitate the compulsory purchase order of residents' back gardens
introduce a two lane road, footpath and cycle track to run between properties
cause the depreciation of property prices
be responsible for the devastation of quality of life for nearby residents, and,
nearly double the time it currently takes to travel the route.

Does this add up?

It's a wonderful world...

2009-09-15T07:00:00.013+01:00

We are most grateful to Dr James Whitehead who took these beautiful pictures of wildlife living in Newbridge Meadows. B&NES Council wants to concrete over these fields to turn them into an unnecessary and unwanted car park. Once destroyed they will be lost forever.

Joined up thinking?

2009-09-15T06:50:00.003+01:00

A major problem in the Newbridge area is parking associated with the hospital.

There is a severe lack of parking for staff and visitors alike, with the added issue that visitor parking charges are very high. This has led to quiet, residential streets in the vicinity taking the strain. Over the years many residents have complained of inconsiderate and occasionally dangerous parking habits.

Original plans for an extended park and ride south of the river, included the use of the existing facility as an overspill car park for the hospital with a shuttle bus service to and from the Royal United Hospital (RUH). Indeed, a comment posted regarding the piece 'Park and ride users?' told us that many RUH staff use the current park and ride as a free car park as there is no room on site or in the surrounding roads.

B&NES Council's current proposals will relegate residents' hopes of returning to a more peaceful way of life to the dustbin.

Questions, answers, questions?

2009-09-15T06:40:00.001+01:00

In July we posted twenty questions we had put to B&NES Council over many months and not received answers to. Last month we had a response.

Unfortunately, the reply posed yet more questions. Click here to view the original questions, B&NES' answers and our further questions.

Residents' Association?

2009-09-15T06:30:00.004+01:00

We are looking into the possibility of starting a Residents' Association to cover the Newbridge area and give our neighbourhood a voice. What do you think? Please click
here to e-mail us with your opinion or post a comment below.

Dear Sir...

2009-09-14T23:06:00.002+01:00

We have recently been in correspondence with Julian Abel, Head of Major Schemes for the South West, South East and East of England, Department for Transport who has been most efficient and helpful with regard to our questions on the BTP.

We understand from David Brown of GoSW that they anticipate making a decision on behalf of John Denham, concerning the Newbridge and Bathampton planning applications, sometime this month. Regardless of any decision made, the DfT will require additional details, assurances and agreements to be entered into by B&NES, before further consideration can be given to any possible funding of this scheme.

Julian Abel has said he "would welcome the resident's perspective".

If you would like to e-mail Julian Abel with your observations on the BTP you can do so by clicking here.

What's in a landfill?

2009-09-14T20:58:00.003+01:00

Last month we posted a piece entitled 'The bigger picture...' which pointed out that the proposed Newbridge park and ride extension is to be built on a 1960s landfill site.

One of our readers commented on the article and asked what was buried in this dump. Since then we have done hours of research to try and give an accurate answer, with limited success. The site was started when the River Avon was straightened at Newbridge. Exploratory holes dug last year revealed brickwork, cars, general rubbish and part of one of the earth levelling machines buried where it broke down is still visible. One of our team used to pass the site on his way to work and recalls it was used as a household rubbish dump and seagulls would flock to pick up edible bits and pieces.

We have got hold of a photograph, dated 1968, which unfortunately we are unable to publish at this time due to copyright restrictions.

To date no comprehensive contamination surveys have been carried out on this land. The B&NES Scientific Officer - Contaminated Land, has written to the planning application case officer to express her concerns. This e-mail can be viewed here.

We are still waiting for some enquiries to be answered and will publish any further information in the future.

Spot the deliberate mistake...

2009-09-06T00:42:00.001+01:00

This picture of the Newbridge park and ride appeared in last week's Bath Chronicle accompanying an article discussing the lack of spaces in Bath's car parks. The full piece can be seen by clicking here.

The irony is that even in this small section three empty spaces can be clearly seen.

What goes around...

2009-08-26T12:23:00.010+01:00

On Monday 24 August 2009 the BBC showed a programme entitled 'Saving Britain's Past' which focused on Bath's planning history since World War II.

The documentary looked at how thousands of Georgian properties had been destroyed and replaced with bland 'boxes', such as the Southgate centre. The irony is that this shopping mall has now been pulled down and is currently being rebuilt in the Georgian style.

There is an obvious link to the BTP proposals - destroying beautiful green spaces, which can never be replaced, with concrete. Why? To further B&NES Council's out of date transport plans which cannot meet their objectives.

If you missed the episode you can watch it online by clicking on this link.

False start?

2009-08-25T15:48:00.007+01:00

Despite the fact that two of the four BTP planning applications are currently lodged with the Secretary of State's office for review; the tender for the work has been advertised.

Do B&NES Council know something we don't?

Reinforcements

2009-08-25T15:15:00.007+01:00

More support for our cause comes in the form of the Bath Labour Party. Now both local opposition parties have written to urge The Rt. Hon. John Denham MP, Secretary of State, to call in the controversial Newbridge application for a public inquiry.

For more information, click here.

Thank you!

2009-08-23T19:05:00.007+01:00

A brief update...

Newbridge Matters! was started in mid July 2009 as a communication tool for people with an interest in what's going on in our area of Bath. In the right hand column we set up the unique visitor counter, which registers readers only once. This gives an accurate indication of how many people have investigated the blog.

Over the weekend the counter passed the 500 mark. We would like to thank everyone who has visited this site and encourage you to check in regularly as we try to update the posts frequently.

Have your say...

2009-08-20T10:39:00.008+01:00

Don Foster MP has written to The Rt. Hon. John Denham MP, the Secretary of State, requesting a public inquiry into the BTP. His letter in full can be found here. The online version of the local paper, The Bath Chronicle, has run a story on this. If you would like to leave a comment on their site, this link will take you directly to the article.

Once upon a time...

2009-08-19T16:17:00.001+01:00

We have researched instances of misinformation from B&NES Council and its officers. To begin with we looked at the Case Officer's report submitted with the DCC meeting agenda on 5 August 2009, click here and go to page 25 to refer to this.

Rather than post the whole document here, click on this link to view what we discovered. As you will see there are twelve points relating to this one report alone.

Uncomfortable reading.

How much?

2009-08-15T15:04:00.014+01:00

We thought it would be interesting to see how much B&NES Council has spent to date on consultancy fees, surveys and other costs associated with the BTP.

After submitting a FOI request on 1 March 2009 we got some information back on 1 May 2009, click here for the original document. Yes, we don't know what all the items refer to either. However, we do know that this statement is not accurate as in March 2009 the promotional costs ran to six figures.

No reminder is needed that this is tax payers' money being used on a proposal that cannot meet its objectives.

Teamwork

2009-08-13T18:14:00.020+01:00

Last night we attended a meeting with fellow BTP objectors from Response2Route and Save Bathampton Meadows.

The objective was to exchange information and develop a united strategy to run alongside our individual campaigns. We are optimistic that this partnership will strengthen our collective quest; namely, to petition B&NES to reconsider its illogical traffic management proposals and come up with a scheme that will work.

No entry?

2009-08-13T17:54:00.011+01:00

While we in the car park this afternoon, we saw a lorry enter the protected field via the padlocked gate, ignoring the sign forbidding entry to motorists. The driver obviously knew the code and conscientiously locked up after he had driven in.

With due recognition of everyone's rights, we wonder why B&NES Council has not moved these travellers to a site which is not an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, a Nature Reserve, greenbelt land etc. Is the theory that B&NES is deliberately degrading this field fast becoming more fact than conspiracy?

Child's play

2009-08-13T17:34:00.005+01:00

Today we visited the Newbridge park and ride to promote our mini online poll (see right) to car park users. Many thanks to everyone who has voted.

Many hands make light work.

2009-08-06T20:29:00.025+01:00

After the disappointment of yesterday's DCC meeting we are putting out a rallying call to prepare for the next round.

We would like to thank all our friends, neighbours and supporters for everything they have done so far. We look forward to a complete victory in the near future.

As the planning application has been referred to the Secretary of State it cannot be approved by the Council at this stage.

For some time now, we have been trying to correct various testimonies that have been made by Councillors in favour of this application and also the content of reports made by the Case Officer, without success.

One example of an incorrect statement made by the Case Officer in his last report to the DCC is to be found on page 27, paragraph 6 which reads as follows:

"As the BRT will run on a dedicated route it will not be delayed by congestion, traffic or other delays."

This is just not true as the park and ride buses will leave and enter the Newbridge park and ride site via the existing Newbridge Road and Brassmill Lane. These roads are used by heavy through traffic from the Industrial Estate and Caravan Park, alongside private residents' vehicles and regular buses. As the BRT will not be a dedicated route it will not accord with Policy T.11 of the Local Plan.

There are many claims that have been made during the period before and after the planning application was registered that are inaccurate and we intend to draw up a detailed list of these statements, and, with your assistance prepare them for submission to GoSW, where the application has been referred. GoSW will make recommendations to the DfT from which any funding will be made, if subsequent final approval is given and the CPOs are implemented.

We see no reason why any Councillor who opposes this scheme should not, if they wish, contribute, and, we would welcome their further help and advice before submitting any documentation.

The battle may have been lost but the war is not yet over.

"Something is rotten in the state of B&NES"

2009-08-05T23:33:00.008+01:00

This evening the DCC voted 7-5 to be minded to permit the Newbridge planning application.

Disregarding guidance that financial issues are not material considerations in planning matters, the threat of losing the DfT funding was the overriding concern. As a result, the application was pushed through.

The fight goes on!

Today's the day...

2009-08-05T06:00:00.003+01:00

Today the DCC meet for the third time to discuss the Newbridge planning application.

We have spent hours researching and preparing. This afternoon we have two minute time allocations to get our points across.

The aims and benefits of the proposal have been found wanting. Leaving only one possible explanation for pushing this scheme through - money. Committee members have come under enormous pressure to approve the application. B&NES Council has repeatedly asserted that if any part of the BTP fails then the DfT funding is lost. The case officer responsible for this application has stated that financial aspects are not material considerations and the decision must be on planning grounds alone.

It is so finely balanced we cannot call which way it will go. Or is it?

P.S. The meeting is open to all, if you would like to attend this application is scheduled for 5.00 p.m. at The Guildhall, Bath.

The bigger picture...

2009-08-04T13:14:00.012+01:00

In Corby last week, several children with congenital defects successfully sued their local council for negligence. Their mothers were exposed to "an atmospheric soup of toxic materials" that had poisoned the Northamptonshire town when the local steel works were demolished.

The judge, Mr Justice Akenhead, criticised the council for a "dig and dump" approach to disposing of the waste from the former British Steel plant.

In Bath it will be necessary to disturb the 1968 landfill at the Newbridge park and ride, to construct the special foundations required to manage the water issue.

Bath's top performing school lies in close proximity to the site and has over 1000 girls approaching or of childbearing age.

This sort of foundation would not be required for the site south of the river.

Answers, answers?

2009-08-04T11:36:00.007+01:00

We have now received a response from B&NES Council to the questions posed in the 27 July 2009 piece Questions, questions?.

These 'answers' have raised yet more 'questions'. We will post the answers and our further questions as soon as possible.

Follow the leader...

2009-08-03T13:23:00.021+01:00

Today we were asked the following question,

Q: Do you think that swapping DCC members for ones that are more in line with party policy is tantamount to vote rigging?
A: Oh yes, we do!

During one of our discussions with B&NES' Democratic Services we were told the DCC was supposed to assess all planning matters in an independent way, i.e. without consideration for party affiliation. This has not happened with the BTP applications.

Furthermore, it is unprofessional for some DCC members, regardless of their political allegiance, to have not even read associated documentation or visited the sites connected with a major project such as this.

The more we’ve investigated this planning application, the more we are convinced there should be checks and balances in place to prevent the abuse of process that seems to be going on.

Planning application notes

2009-08-03T01:17:00.013+01:00

We are grateful to one of our team for going through the planning application report attached to the Agenda for the DCC meeting on 5 August 2009.

Click here and go to page 25 to view the report. An in depth analysis in note form can be found here.

Extra, extra - read all about it!

2009-08-03T00:45:00.016+01:00

We have frequently been told that ruining one's view is not a material consideration with regard to planning issues.

If that is the case, why are the Government reviewing council tax rates in order meet the costs of council employees' gold plated pensions among other things? One of the proposals is to increase the tax for residents with uninterrupted views.

For more information on the so called 'patio tax' visit thisismoney.co.uk.

Needless to say there is no mention of a rebate if the Council defaces the countryside with a 1000 space car park.

To blog or not to blog...

2009-07-31T07:30:00.003+01:00

We started this blog a couple of weeks ago as a communication tool and have updated it regularly with manageable pieces of information.

As it has been useful for some, we wondered which Council members ran a blog or website to keep their electorate in the loop. Here are the findings:

Timothy Ball - Liberal Democrat - Twerton
Sharon Ball - Liberal Democrat - Westmoreland
Cherry Beath - Liberal Democrat - Combe Down
Sarah Bevan - Liberal Democrat - Peasedown
Neil Butters - Liberal Democrat - Bathavon South
Nicholas Coombes - Liberal Democrat - Bathwick
Paul Crossley - Liberal Democrat - Southdown
Gerard Curran - Liberal Democrat - Twerton
Colin Darracott - Liberal Democrat - Walcot
David Dixon - Liberal Democrat - Walcot
Ian Gilchrist - Liberal Democrat - Widcombe
Nathan Hartley - Liberal Democrat - Peasedown
Lynda Hedges - Liberal Democrat - Westmoreland
Malcolm Lees - Conservative - Weston
Shaun McGall - Liberal Democrat - Oldfield
Nigel Roberts - Liberal Democrat - Odd Down
Will Sandry - Liberal Democrat - Oldfield
David Speirs - Labour - Paulton
Roger Symonds - Liberal Democrat - Combe Down

It is striking that this list contains only one Conservative and one Labour Councillor. We checked it out and found the Conservative link leads to a fairly standard local Conservative website and the Labour blog hasn't been updated since 2007.

As B&NES Council has a Conservative majority, surely in 2009 there should be on line comments and information from at least some of these Councillors? Then we discovered that Cllr. Francine Haeberling, Council leader, has issued a directive forbidding all Tory Councillors from running a personal blog.

You can draw your own conclusions.

P.S. The links were taken from the B&NES' website, if you know of any new additions please let us know and we will add them to the list. Thank you.

DCC Agenda - 5 August 2009

2009-07-31T07:22:00.000+01:00

Click here to view the agenda for the next DCC meeting on Wednesday 5 August 2009.

Yakkity, yak - don't talk back!

2009-07-30T12:17:00.020+01:00

Throughout, B&NES Council's communication with affected residents has been negligible.

We were under the impression that one of the tick boxes for a large scheme such as this was a proper consultation process. Unfortunately, this has not materialised. Officers will no doubt allude to leaflets, the public exhibition and a couple of local meetings. These have amounted to little more than propaganda exercises with dictates rather than discussions. After the so called exhibition in November 2008, 1200+ people completed the Council's questionnaires, however, despite requests for the data they contained to be made public they appear to have vanished.

There are no checks and balances in place and lack of consultation is apparently not a material consideration. Is it unreasonable to expect some form of communication explaining that 500 cars are to be parked at the bottom of the garden? Once the altered proposals (moving the planned park and ride from south of the river to north of the existing car park) were uncovered we have repeatedly invited Council officers and their consultants to meet with us. These invitations have been ignored or dismissed. Enquiries have, at best, been met with a standard reply or gone unanswered.

As previously stated, we are all in favour of reducing congestion and alleviating pollution but our city centric Council feels this does not apply to the whole of Bath. Time and time again we have asked for irrefutable evidence that this scheme is the best option for Bath - this has not been forthcoming.

Democracy? Not in our back yard!

2009-07-29T16:45:00.000+01:00

The DCC rejected the Newbridge park and ride extension and BRT planning application on 8 July 2009. However, 'legal brains' have been wracked and there is to be another debate on Wednesday 5 August.

Many residents had planned to go away but have given up any thoughts of a summer holiday for fear of what the Council will sneak through while they are away. When the DCC reconsiders the application surely members can only confirm their previous decision and refuse to permit.

This application, along with the Bathampton Meadows proposal, is now being considered by the Government Office for the South West. Taking account of the continual deferments by the DCC alongside the incompetence of the Applicant, presumably the GoSW will consider that B&NES Council are incapable of implementing such a scheme and call it in it whatever decision is reached on 5 August. (Remember the Bath Spa fiasco?)

Residents have been told that the application will be considered on 'planning grounds' only and that the question of money is not material. Why then are Councillors being pressurized into approving the scheme without delay, and told if not passed they will lose the opportunity of obtaining central government funding?

We have had this proposal hanging over us for some two years and it is time it was put to bed once and for all. The DCC must refuse the application if they are to retain any semblance of dignity.

This date couldn't be more inconvenient for members of the public and Councillors alike. Many are away and of course it is the middle of the school holiday period. It is understood that the DCC Chairman, Cllr. Les Kew, has the authority to postpone the discussion to a later date; however, this option has not been taken up.

Yet again the electorate has been ignored and the bullying tactics of the Council have come into force. In the interests of fair play and transparency, or even as a good PR exercise, just once B&NES Council could have shown some common sense and listened.

Questions, questions?

2009-07-27T07:00:00.006+01:00

Here are some of the questions we have put to B&NES Council over the last few months, we are still waiting for answers...

1. Why was the original site for an expanded Newbridge park and ride south of the river scrapped and moved north of the existing park and ride car park?

2. Why does the documentation submitted to the Department for Transport (DfT) show the site for the extension in a different place to that shown in the planning application? In addition, why does this documentation show 12 alternative sites for this extension yet none of them are the actual site now proposed?

3. In the grant application to the DfT there is no budget itemised for the extension to the Newbridge park and ride, why is this?

4. Why has the very real possibility of flooding on the proposed site not been taken seriously, despite advice and calculations to support this prospect from various statutory bodies and B&NES’ own consultants on this matter?

5. Why is B&NES Council ignoring all the wildlife and ecological protections put in place to protect Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Nature Reserves etc.?

6. Why have B&NES neglected to protect and maintain the site over the last few years, thus flouting the law? A current example, allowing a group of people and heavy vehicles to live on the site, thus destroying important flora and unsettling local wildlife.

7. On the matter of public consultation regarding this proposal, this has been minimal and even when invited to ‘engage’ and ‘consult’ with directly affected residents this has been declined/ignored. How can this be considered acceptable?

8. What happened to the 1200+ completed feedback questionnaires submitted after the public exhibition in The Guildhall in November 2008? When asked B&NES’ officials are unable to answer.

9. From a security angle, why do B&NES not share affected residents and the Police’s concerns, yet state CCTV will be installed as a measure against an expected increase in crime in the Newbridge locality?

10. Why have B&NES not carried out a proper survey of current Newbridge park and ride users? If they had done so they would have found approximately 50 per cent to be commuters who live in Twerton. By doing nothing to improve Twerton residents’ public transport B&NES is contradicting its own policy to reduce traffic in Bath as these commuters have to drive to the Newbridge park and ride to get the bus into the City centre.

11. What is B&NES’ opinion on the inevitable increase in traffic congestion in the Newbridge area that will occur, if the proposed traffic lights are installed to prioritise buses entering and exiting the park and ride and crossing Newbridge Road, alongside an additional 500 cars travelling to the locality?

12. Why is Bath Council ignoring directives from Westminster and considering the use of bendy buses from the Newbridge park and ride to Bathampton?

13. Why when Bath has been highlighted as having a shortage of green spaces per capita is B&NES proposing to build on four acres of land used by numerous residents and visitors?

14. Why are there so many errors in the planning application documentation and why did it take a request under the FOI Act to provide nearly 30 missing pages from the WSP Report?

15. It is the Council's stated aim to reduce traffic congestion in the City centre, why then has it agreed to a large car park within the new Southgate development?

16. Why has B&NES ignored reports of wax cap mushrooms in the Newbridge Nature Reserve?

17. How does B&NES hope to fulfil its obligations towards protected invertebrates when it plans to chop down most of their habitat, the Poplar trees?

18. Why does B&NES plan to wipe out the Blue Carpenter bee locally with the BTP scheme when there are only 20 recorded sites in the UK?

19. Why did the local Spatial Plan pay no attention to the suburbs of Bath?

20. Why is B&NES ignoring its own planning obligations supplementary planning document in proposing this park and ride plan, in contravention of the following SEA SA objective numbers:

6. fear of crime
12. …promoting cycling….
14. protect and enhance local distinctiveness
16. protect and enhance biodiversity
19. encourage sustainable construction
21. reduce vulnerability to and manage flood risk?

Money, money, money...

2009-07-24T07:09:00.004+01:00

B&NES Council has made a preliminary application to the Department for Transport (DfT) for the major part of the funding for the BTP.

To proceed to the next stage the Council has to have everything in place. This includes owning all the land currently under compulsory purchase order (CPO). The CPOs cover a wide spectrum from private gardens to commercial land, residential right of ways to the privately owned field that makes up half of the proposed Newbridge park and ride extension.

This will cost millions.

According to a recent report in The Times road building schemes across the UK will have to be postponed or cancelled due to Government cut backs. On 21 July 2009 it was announced that outstanding Government debt had risen to £799bn, 56.6% of UK GDP, the highest since records began in 1974. Therefore, even if B&NES Council manages to push through all the planning applications, the Secretary of State's investigations allow the BTP to progress further and the CPOs are completed there is no guarantee the DfT will make the money available.

This leaves the hard pressed Bath tax payer to foot the bill for the money spent.