Paul Crossley1

In the Whiteway area of Southdown and Twerton over the last few months we have had a small number of young boys who have been creating a disturbance with petty crime and intimidation. Over the last few weeks we have served ASBOs on three of them and this week the police mounted a large exercise with a number of officers and using information gathered over the last few weeks from a number of people in the community moved in and several warrants and arrests have been made. We now need to see what impact this will have on the youngsters. However there is a real problem with some families and its with whole families we need to work with as well as individual young males. Walking round today and talking with a number of residents they are very pleased with the show from the police over the week and a feeling of confidence is being restored. Lets see what happens in the courts now.

JOY

The Primary Schools of Bath had their annual Carol Service in the Abbey this afternoon - which coincided with the opening of our annual Christmas Market. 9 Primary/infant/Junior schools were in the Abbey. With parents and guests the Abbey was full to overflowing. The service consisted simply of each school performing their choir's Christmas carol or two. Southdown Infant School did two carols and were excellant. In fact all the schools were great and Widicombe seemed to bring a full orchestra thay had so many musicians. The children really enjoyed themselves and had a real experience and shared in the celebration of faith together. Here in Bath we are really learning to share our faith celebrations as within the last few weeks we had a big community celebration of EID and more recently Guru Nanuk's birthday with the Sikh community.

This was followed by the switching on off the Christmas Lights and the opening of the Christmas Market. Now in its sixth year it seems to be finally secure but for the first few years of this successful Liberal Democrat initiative the Conservatives did all they could to stop it or try and make it fail - mostly covertly in the background but also overtly by propoganda that it brought no benefit to the City. Well they were wrong and now despite having a Conservative administration it is now safe and an established part of the calendar.

...and sadness

After the joy of Christmas Carols and markets I attended the World AIDS Day candle lit gathering in the Holy Trinity Church. I was there as Deputy Mayor. New Liberal Democrat Councillor Will Sandry also attended. This pandemeic is a real human tragedy and it is a shame the world is not doing more to halt its relentless spread - especially amongst the poorest people of the world. Luckily One world Statesman - Nelson Mandela - is always ready to speak up for the sufferers. This is a HUMAN RIGHTS issue and as with global warming the rich are not doing their share whilst they allow the poor to carry the bulk of the burden.

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Posted by: PaulCrossley    in: My entries

Modified on December 2, 2007 at 9:31 PM

Three planning applications in Southdown this week. Any comments?

Ward: Southdown App Ref: 07/03283/FUL Registered: 15th November 2007 Expiry Date: 10th January 2008

Location: 5 Sladebrook Road Southdown Bath BA2 1LP Grid Ref: (E)372897 - (N)163798 LB Grade: N/A

Proposal: Erection of a single storey rear extension Officer: David Cox

Applicant: Mr D Whitaker  Agent: No Agent

5 Sladebrook Road, Southdown,Bath, BA2 1LP

Ward: Southdown App Ref: 07/03352/FUL Registered: 7th November 2007 Expiry Date: 2nd January 2008

Location: 71 Mount Road Southdown Bath BA2 1LJ Grid Ref: (E)372542 - (N)163581 LB Grade: N/A

Proposal: Construction of a new pitched roof to garage/living room to replace flat roof and installation of dormer to existing kitchen extension

Officer: Tessa Hampden Applicant: Mr Carlos Elvira Agent: Western Building Consultants Ltd

71 Mount Road, Bath, BA2 1LJ

Unit 20,Wansdyke Business Centre, Oldfield Lane Bath BA2 3LY

Ward: Southdown App Ref: 07/03437/FUL Registered: 13th November 2007 Expiry Date: 8th January 2008

Location: 234 Englishcombe Lane Southdown Bath BA2 2ES Grid Ref: (E)372925 - (N)163222 LB Grade: N/A

Proposal: Erection of new detached 3 bedroom house to the land at rear

Officer: Tim Guymer Applicant: Dunlop & Beveridge Agent: Geoffrey Woodward Architect

49 Mount Road, Southdown, Bath, BA2 1LG

1 Rochfort Place, Bathwick Street, Bath, BA2 6PB

Dear_Resident___enews_19_Nov_2007.doc

On Friday I represented the Charter Trustees of Bath at a consultation exercise by the Avon and Somerset Criminal Justice Board. They were consulting on their business plan for the coming year and their main principles. Victim support and getting public confidence in the justice system are key aims of the local board. I raised the issue of young men entering the system and the level of re-offending and asked for a higher priority on ensuring that offenders get education and training whilst inside so that they have better chances upon release.

Then in the evening it was the Federation of Small Business (Bath Branch) auction of promises to raise money for local youngsters in their quest for sporting glory at the 2008 UK school games being held in Bath and Bristol and onwards to the Olympics. The auctioneer was our local MP Don Foster and we raised over £7K. An impressive amount with a wide range of donated goods from small business across the Bath and NE Somerset area. Team Bath attended the auction with several young sports men and women from a range of sports.

On Saturday Dine Romero and myself called around on residents in Blackmore Drive to discuss problems and issues. These covered trees, back lanes, city centre development and an interesting chat with one resident who has set up a website for Twerton on which he is planning to put up history and community information. Then in for tea with a former Councillor and  Mayor of Bath - Angela Godfrey - to  discuss community safety issues.

Afternoon was a visit to Twerton Park (home of Bath City FC) to watch Team Bath play Chasetown in the FA Cup. We lost 2 - 0. The goals were both good ones and Chasetown were deserved victors on the day. Team Bath are doing well in the British Gas Southern
with 24 points and in second position but with three games in hand over the leaders Hemel Hempstead on 27 points. 

Sunday 11 - Remembrance Day. A very special day in the Calendar and one which I always attend. The afternoon Abbey service preceded by the march past is always a moving event. This year the Abbey was fuller than ever and more people watched the march past before the service. The Royal British Legion do a fantastic job looking after the needs of ex servicemen and their families. Sadly the front page of our weekly paper the Chronicle last week had a front page story of a military veteran now homeless and on the street. This year I could not attend the Haycombe memorial in my ward as it clashed with the Abbey service and march past. I think remembrance is important to us all and should help inform decision making going forward. The two conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan are there to remind us daily of the cost of war on all sides.

A road report from Dine and Paul following our site visit with our Highways engineer.

Dear_ResidentFriday_9_November.doc