Paul Crossley1

After a two month break for the local elections, we are pleased to resume our regular e-news to Southdown residents and people with an

 interest in Southdown.

Local election results

The election in Southdown saw both Dine and Paul returned for a further four years. Over Bath and North East Somerset the Conservatives

 gained five seats, the Liberal Democrats lost three, Labour lost one and the Independents lost one.

The new makeup of Bath and North East Somerset Council is:

            Conservative             31

Liberal Democrat      26

Labour                         5

Independent               3

The Conservatives chose not to discuss any form of joint working with the Liberal Democrats. With the support of Labour and Independents 

 they have taken minority control of the Council.

We would like to thank you all for returning us to the Council – regardless of how you voted or if indeed you chose not to vote. We aim to serve 

 all the residents of Southdown.

Our monthly surgeries restart this Saturday and, as before, will be held on the first Saturday of each month from 10am until midday at the 

 Methodist Church in The Hollow.

Avon and Somerset Police

The police have added a new section to their website highlighting each individual beat. The new Southdown beat page can be found at:

http://www.avonandsomerset.police.uk/LocalPages/BeatDetails.aspx?BeatID=252

Southdown Community Safety Action Group AGM

The AGM for Southdown Community Safety Action Group will be held on Tuesday 12^th June in the Southdown Junior School Hall starting at 

  7pm. All welcome.

If you would like to stand for Chair, Vice-chair, Secretary or Treasurer please contact the current secretary, Paul Crossley, for more details. 

 The group has been going for four years but to date we have not been able to find a volunteer to be Treasurer. This has prevented the group 

 from making successful bid applications to grant bodies for money to put towards projects.

Bath Spa University Annexe at Culverhay

We are pursuing the issue of student parking in Englishcombe Lane and Mount Road as a result of the University expansion at Culverhay. We 

 have not yet got a solution but have had white lines painted at the Englishcombe Lane and Mount Road junction to improve visibility.

Roundhill - bike problem

We are working with others on the issue of illegal motorbike riding on the Roundhill. If you have any information about who the riders are 

 please contact either of us in confidence.

Rosewarn – fly-tipping problem

Over recent weeks we have had several loads of fly-tipped rubbish removed from the Rosewarn -Haycombe playing fields. We are working to 

 get some form of CCTV monitoring installed as this seems to be the only course left to identify the fly-tippers. Again if you have any 

 information on this problem please contact either Dine or Paul in confidence.

Employment

Bath has had bad news on the job front with job losses at both the Government Pensions Agency and Bath Press.

Our MP, Don Foster, is working hard with Central Government to get this change of office decision reviewed. The Government is centralising 

 many of its departments. In this case the work is moving to Swansea. The sadness is that at the moment Swansea simply passes the work 

 back to the Bath office.

The print industry across the country is facing a severe challenge from China. Over the last two years print companies have been relocating to 

 China at a rapid rate.

Following the closure of The Bath Press on Lower Bristol Road, concerns have been expressed about the future of the nearly two hundred 

 workers facing redundancy and the future of the site. Bath Press has been owned by Paris-based Chevrillon Philippe Industrie (CPI) since 

 1999.

Our MP, Don Foster is seeking an urgent meeting with CPI to ensure that all necessary assistance is being provided to those staff being 

 made redundant in their efforts to find alternative employment within the organisation or within Bath.

We are also keen for the site on Lower Bristol Road to remain a site for business. With its proximity to the proposed Dyson School of 

 Innovation and Technology, it would be an ideal home for some of the many one, two and three people firms we have here in Bath who work 

 in the fields of technology and design.

Bath has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country but to keep the economy vibrant it is vital to keep a mix of jobs to suit all skills 

 and requirements.

Mount Road

The resurfacing work took place as promised and to schedule. So far we have only had positive feedback, especially on the changes to the 

 mini roundabout. One suggestion we have had from a resident is to make Mount View one way onto the roundabout only with the aim of 

 further improving the safety of the road. Before we take this to the Highway Engineer for comment we would appreciate your comments and 

 opinions on this suggestion.

Speed Message signs

The 30mph sign in Englishcombe has had an impact on traffic speeds. The sign for Whiteway Road should arrive soon. We have also upped 

 the priority for a sign for Southdown Road and are hopeful that we can get this during the coming months.

Public Rights of Way

These are of great importance to many residents and situated as we are on the edge of the city we have easy access to a number of Rights 

 of Way. We are currently consulting on the Rights of Way Improvement Plan. You can see this and add your comments :

online at www.rowip.org.uk  or

email request to draft@rowip.org.uk or

write to ROWIP Consultation Public Rights of Way, Environmental Services,     FREEPOST (SWB481) Keynsham, BS31 1LA.

 Comments need to be made by 12 August 2007

Traffic

Many people complain about the traffic problems on the roads today. Why not sign up to ‘Jambusting’ June at 

www.jambustingjune.com and try different ways to travel to work to ease the problem for us all? Its aim is to encourage commuters

 to change their mode of travel. Prizes are on offer depending on how many jam busting points you earn. 

The competition runs for the whole month of June. Paul is signed up. If you want to walk or cycle try out this link to calculate the distance of 

your proposed route: http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/

And another Environmental Challenge

This time organised by SUSTRANS is Change Your World –one step at a time. This will be taking place from July 1^st to the 7^th. Again there is  a competition and registration starts from June 1^st at:  www.changeyourworld.org.uk

Regional Assembly

The Regional Assembly is developing the Regional Spatial Strategy. The region covers the whole SW of England from Gloucester to Lands 

 End. The Spatial Strategy is considering where housing, jobs and infrastructure go over the next 20 years. It is important. We would be 

 grateful for your views and comments on these plans. Check out www.southwest-ra.gov.uk

And click on SWRA link. The examination in public is currently in progress.

Websites with good e-newsletters

You can sign up for interesting emails at the following websites:

Local Sports news at West of England Sport   www.wesport.org.uk

Religion in the Southwest at Faithnet             www.faithnetsouthwest.org.uk

Environmental issues in Bath at Envolve         www.envolve.co.uk

And finally – you may have read in the press about the next architectural controversy in Bath at the Holburne Museum of Art at the end of 

 Pulteney Street. You can see both sides of the argument at:

For                  http://www.bath.ac.uk/holburne/

Against           http://www.halttheholburne.com/