SouthdownBath

lateset enews from Dine and Paul

Enews_April_26_2008.doc

Vodafone have just contacted us to inform us that they are seeking to install a new mast in the Southdown area and that their preferred location is in The Circle. These applications keep coming and going. You will remember that over the last 18 months Hutchinson have consulted 3 times on different sites none of which has led to an actual application. We do not know if this latest application from a mobile phone operator will result in a formal application. We will be seeking a meeting with the operator. In the meantime if you have any views on this proposal please let us know.

Tesco have just submitted a planning application for the signs at the new convenience store in Englishcombe Lane. We are seeking a meeting with Tesco management because of the long delay in the build time for this store. Before Christmas they promised a 14 week build with completion in Mid March. At the alcohol licence application they informed us that completion date had slipped by 4 months but would not give a reason. Working progress is still slow and residents are getting fed up. Tesco promised to be a good neighbour - this is not a good start.

Haycombe Drive is scheduled to have new lighting installed over the next year. This is one of the outcomes from our earlier work in Haycombe Drive several months ago. The new lighting proposals will be consulted on.

Alcohol is clearly one of the main issues fuelling anti-social behaviour in our society. We need to ensure that the supermarkets stop selling it irresponsibly. One of the techniques used in Canada is Social Reference Pricing (see below for an explanation on SRP). We need to explore using this technique here in the UK.

Our MP Don Foster is working on this and last week gave a short Alchol_related_problems_-_speech_on_16th_April_2008.doc on alcohol abuse at a conference at the University of Bath at the "Community Partnership to reduce Alcohol-related Harm" .

Social Reference Pricing

* Social Reference Prices (SRP) are government regulated minimum prices below which retailers may not sell certain types of alcohol to the public

* Effective in 8 out of 10 Canadian provinces - on and off license

* The Canadian Government explains the rationale behind SRPs as thus: To "prevent discount pricing practices that would drive problematic levels of consumption and fuel youth drinking"

* SRP can also increases tax revenue without having to change duty (i.e. you can put up minimum prices without having to increase duty but still take more money through tax).

* There are a number of different ways SRP can be established:

o Monetary value per litre or per pack size

o Alcohol (as alcohol content rises so does the SRP)

o Higher SRP on non-refillable containers (environmental objective also)

* In Canada , there were also concerns about how SRP was used in the US/Canada beer trade law, with SRP used as a non-tariff barrier, although SRP could not stop imported beer being sold at a cheaper price than domestic beer. This is not really a problem in the UK .

* Under Canadian competition law, a retailer selling alcohol in accordance with the provincial SRP is deemed to constitute "regulated conduct".

Following our campaign to reduce the licence application for the new supermarket in Englishcombe Lane - It was for a 17 hour 7 day licence - which we managed to get reduced to 15 hour 7 day licence - I wrote to our MP Don Foster to raise concerns about the easy availability of alcohol and the increasing practice by the large supermarkets over this drug of choice to sell it at bargain offers or indeed as a loss leader. The new supermarket has insisted it will be a good neighbour and a responsible retailer. And I am sure it will. However the fact remains there is no reason for alcohol to be so easily available and there is certainly no justification for it to be sold as a loss leader. This retail domination is one of the factors that is fuelling irresponsible drinking and hastening the demise of pubs.

Below is the link to my exchange with Don Foster on the subject: Alcohol_sales.doc

New planning application In Englishcombe Lane. Any comments?

Ward: Southdown App Ref: 08/01207/FUL

Registered: 9th April 2008 Expiry Date: 4th June 2008

Location: 282 Englishcombe Lane Southdown Bath BA2 2ES

Grid Ref: (E)372758 - (N)163111 LB Grade: N/A

Proposal: Erection of two storey side extension

other recent applications - any comments?

Ward: Southdown App Ref: 08/00987/FUL

Registered: 31st March 2008 Expiry Date: 26th May 2008

Location: 9 Englishcombe Rise Southdown Bath BA2 2RL

Grid Ref: (E)372345 - (N)163202

Proposal: Erection of extension to existing conservatory

Ward: Southdown App Ref: 08/01071/FUL

Registered: 20th March 2008 Expiry Date: 15th May 2008

Location: 74 Hillcrest Drive Southdown Bath BA2 1HE

Grid Ref: (E)373039 - (N)163585

Proposal: Erection of two-storey side extension to existing dwelling and subsequent sub-division to create new end terrace dwelling

Ward: Southdown App Ref: 08/01119/FUL

Registered: 26th March 2008 Expiry Date: 21st May 2008

Location: 234 Englishcombe Lane Southdown Bath BA2 2ES

Grid Ref: (E)372925 - (N)163222

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

Following a survey of the road and pavement condition in Haycombe Drive we have identified a number of things that neeed doing from a complete resurfacing to more work on the parking issues. Whilst some of these are major capital bids some are small and can be delivered easily. One such item is improving steps in various locations that are currently too steep and slippery. The first of these has just been redone at the junction with Kelston View/Windrush Close.

Locally the Churches are running a series of community events called Hope08. These range from litterpicks to goods exchanges. At a goods exchange people bring along things they do not want and take away things they would like to use. No charge - just free exchange. It worked very well at the Methodist Church and with the added bonus of free bacon butties and tea a lot of people came along and exchanged items over the course of a Saturday morning.

Dear Resident

A lot has happened since our last enews at the end of January and a lot more will be happening over the coming months.

Rosewarn Close The new white line markings we requested following suggestions from residents seem to have slowed traffic speeds in Rosewarn Close and the police are pleased with the improved traffic flow.

Haycombe Drive Two sets of steps near the Windrush/Kelston junction have been reset to make them safer to use for residents. Hillcrest Drive We have requested that the slurry seal on the pavements be completed.

Marsden Road We have requested a slurry seal for the Marsden Road pavements.

Langdon Road We have requested that back footpaths are all cleaned to remove the slime and make them less slippy.

Southside Centre We have found sponsorship to provide a new bike rack and secure locking facilities for the centre. We are very grateful for the sponsorship and think the improved facilities will be welcomed.

Whiteway Respect Association We are working with and supporting residents setting up this association. Again we are delighted to report that we have found sponsorship to help with software support for the committee and also to help with a first project of a Saturday food and cooking club at the Southside Centre. The foundation meeting for the committee is scheduled for mid May.

Southdown Association At the latest meeting of Southdown Traders we met with police and others to discuss the needs for our shopping parade. A CCTV project was discussed as a project to apply for grant funding for. This will however need the support of all the traders.

Budget The Conservative administration have set a budget increase on Council Tax of 3.75%. However they have raised charges everywhere else which in our view means the real level of Council Tax rise is 7.56%. We voted against the buget and proposed an alternative which was rejected. Our alternative would have eliminated the carparking charges on blue badge holders, phased in increases in care charges and removed a substantial sum from the Waste Partnership of the West of England Partnership. The reason for this last part is that we are very concerned that this partnership is aiming to build a large mass burn incinerator (the Governments preferrred solution for waste) which we are completely opposed to. We would have used the money to bring forward food waste collection and a variety of other environmental initiatives.

Secondary Schools The Council is putting out a discussion document on the future of secondary education in Bath and NE Somerset. We would value your thoughts on this. We are only outlining the Bath proposals here but you can go onto the Council website if you want to look at the whole package. In summary the proposals are: Ralph Allen, Haysfield, Beechen Cliff and St. Gregory will stay as they currently are. Culverhay will be closed as a boys school and rebuilt and reopened as a Community Comprehensive for boys and girls. It may also become an Academy sponsored by The Bath Spa University or another large business. Oldfield (girls) and St Marks (Church of England) are both proposed to be closed and a single co-educational CofE school is proposed to be built in the North of the city. The Conservative Cabinet will be making their decision in June following a consultation. The rebuild will be paid for by the Government's Building Schools for the Future programme and the Council would be hoping to get £52M from this fund to rebuild the two schools in Bath. Our postion is absolutely clear on Culverhay - we wish to see this become a co-educational school for our community. We have concerns though about the academy aspect and would want to know a lot more detail about the proposed sponsor first. As regards the North of the City we feel the consultation is vague on the site options. As far as we can see if the two schools are merged then the site of the new school will almost certainly be at Oldfield Girls. Therefore we would like to see more openess on this aspect. Also with all the proposed development for Bath over the next 25 years do we need to close a school at all? We are not convinced by this aspect of the Conservative Cabinet's proposals. If there is to be just one secondary in the North then we would hope this would be a Faith based and Community partnership rather than as proposed soley Faith based. And finally with re-organisation on this scale we would like to see the whole provision of secondary education put in the context of a comprehensive school transport travel plan. We would value your thoughts and ideas on the future of secondary schooling in Bath.

TESCO We would like to thank the many responses we had on this issue and also for the support of several residents at the hearing. The original application was for 17 hours a day 7 day a week alcohol licence. This seems to be becoming almost a standard timescale. At the hearing we put our case and asked for the licence to be resticted to a 12 hour licence. In the end the licence was granted for 15 hours a day. A small victory in some ways but more importantly it is the first successful challenge at this licencing committee for reduced retail hours for alcohol. Whilst there the TESCO team gave a public pledge to be good neighbours to the community at Kingsway and we will certainly be monitoring this promise. We also got some clarifation on the construction problems. Originally they had promised a 3 month build time. This has now extended and they envisage completion in July. We did not get a reason for the delay.

Running Whilst this years half marathon had some well publicised problems running is still a great way to get fit. The Council is again running a course aimed at encouraging ladies to run. The course costs £35 for 10 weeks of guided sessions, annual membership to the Women's Running Network, a t-shirt and a water bottle. The courses are fun, gentle enough for complete beginners to have a go, and led by qualified running leaders. You can go from running 2 steps to 5km in 10 weeks, just in time for the Bath Race for Life event on Sunday 1st June. You will need to book a place by contacting Tina Woodberry on 01225 396427 or emailing tina_woodberry@bathnes.gov.uk The Bath Course will run on Mondays from 6.30pm meeting at Bath Sports & Leisure Centre from 7th April New Hedge planted by Southdown Infant School children.

Southdown Infant Children along with a number of adults ventured across the road passed Culverhay School and the Sirrius wood and upto the top of the hill to plant a new hedge. The hedge will link up two woods, one of which has dormice. Dormice are very rare - nationally and declining. They are protected and are restricted to the SW of England with only 5 known populations in B&NES. By creating good habitat for dormice we'll benefiting all wildlife. Despite the wind and the wet we all had a great morning out and the children were completely enthused by the project.

Bus pass Current free bus pass holders should all have had their new bus pass. The new National Bus Concession is being introduced that will allow eligible people to travel for free after 9.30am Mondays to Fridays, and anytime on Saturdays, Sundays & Public Holidays, on all local bus services in England. Details of the new scheme as applicable to Bath & NE Somerset pass holders are now available from the Bath & NE Somerset Council website at http://www.bathnes.gov.uk/BathNES/transportandstreets/travel/buses/buspasses.bb Police matters in Southdown Southdown and Whiteway remains as a district priority.

Over the last few months we have had tremendous support from the police dealing with the issues of burglary, mainly carried out by a core group of young people. In order to have a positive impact on this problem Core Teams and Southdown's Neighbourhood Policing Team have been tasked to increase the number of foot patrols carried out in the area at targeted times including evening. A leaflet drop was done by the police as part of the preventative measures scheme using a mini-footprint flyers to make residents aware of the problem with burglaries in the area, and offering advice to help prevent their households being targeted. Our Beat Team - of Alastair, Julie and Emma - whom we share with Oldfield Ward - won the Western Daily Press Community Police award for the Bath division. We are very pleased that they got this recognition for all the work they have done over the last two years. The team is now changing though with Alstair and Julie leaving for new responsibilities and Mark and Paul are joining the team. More news on these changes next time. We will send a full report on the last PACT and details of the next one when the police minute taker has passed the minutes onto us. However after the meeting the Mount Road Shop Parade recieved a deep clean to remove all the chewing gum blobs, a new litter bin will be sited in the parade and it is hoped to put some yellow hatch lines around the Co-op cash machine to improve security for users.

Planning There is an application - reference 08/00518/FUL - for the erection of 30 dwellings with new access road and associated landscaping on land adjacent to the Holloway. Applicant is Somer Community Housing Trust. The case officer is Rachel Le Huray. The application was registered on 6th February and further details are available on the Council's web site at the following location: http://planning.bathnes.gov.uk/publicaccess/tdc/DcApplication/application_searchresults.aspx Please note Paul is a member of the planning committee and is not allowed by law to engage in any debate on the application in advance of its public hearing. Dine is not on the committee and has decided this application is not suitable and is opposing it. We would value your views on this application. At the last planning committee there were two controversial planning applications - one for a community village shop in Freshford which was passed 10-2 and the second was the Dyson Academy which was passed with 7 for, 4 against and 1 absention. Paul voted for both applications.

Saturday Morning Swap Shops Churches Together are running a series of Swap Shops where you can take along things you do not want and take away things you do want. Complimentary refreshments are also provided. Last Saturday it was held at teh Methodist Church and the next one in Southdown is at Sladebrook Evangelical Church on Englishcombe Lane from 1030am to Noon. Electrical goods are not accepted. Please do not bring rubbish to swap and only stuff that can be carried.

Useful Links

Planning applications

http://planning.bathnes.gov.uk/publicaccess/

Road Works in Southdown

http://tinyurl.com/k7lnn

All Meetings of the Council

http://tinyurl.com/2bev4s

The forward plan of the Conservative Cabinet of the Council

http://ewp.bathnes.gov.uk/ewp_efp.asp

Councillor Surgery

If you would like to speak to either Councillor Dine Romero or Paul Crossley personally, our surgeries are held on the first Saturday of the month at the Methodist Church in the Hollow, from 10 am until midday. No appointment is needed. Alternatively, you may contact us by phone or email.

Attended an excellent evening with local football referees - including several from Southdown - at the Guildhall. The event was to celebrate 100 years of referreing in Somerset and the guest speaker was Jack Taylor - our most famous world cup referee.

Our local paper is now only a weekly and it did not make the press until the 17 April. Story and picture Link.