Sharon Ball

I am pleased that the Post office at lower Weston has been saved after a fight by our Local MP Don Foster and Councillors in Newbridge the post office was heavily used by residents in Westmoreland until the bridge over the river Avon closed just after Christmas for repairs.

I am also pleased the Post office at the Bear Flat has survived although I am unhappy that any Post office at all is marked for closure.

It seems that there is little difference between Labour and Tories on Post office closures as Gordon Brown seems hell bent on finishing off the Post Office that was started by the Conservative Government in the 1980's so David Cameron, has nothing to be smug about on this one.

Below is a press release put out today but local councillors of Westmoreland ward

Liberal Democrat Councillors and Don Foster MP attended a meeting with over 20 residents last night to hear their concerns about the future of the Bath Press building on the Lower Bristol Road.

The general consensus of those who were there was that they were opposed to a huge Tesco store on the site of the former Bath Press Building.

Councillor Sharon Ball (Lib Dem, Westmoreland) commented:

“There are many issues surrounding this proposal and the impacts that it would have on neighbouring homes and local shopping centres; these issues must be taken into account. The frontage of the former Bath Press building, although not listed, is an important landmark and local residents will want to see this frontage protected.

“Although Tesco have put no proposals on the table for this site at the moment, I would agree with the residents to whom I have spoken so far and we will oppose a huge Tesco store on this site if that is the proposal which comes forward.

Councillor Lynda Hedges (Lib Dem, Westmoreland) added:

“However we do want to consult all local residents to find out their opinions on the future of this site. My ward colleague and I will bring the views of local residents forward to any future developer of this important employment site.”

Councillors Roger Symonds (Combe Down), Nick Combes (Bathwick) and Shaun McGall (Oldfield) were present at the meeting.

ENDS

Contacts:

Councillor Sharon Ball: 01225 400834

Councillor Lynda Hedges: 01225 358622

I attended a meeting of around 20 residents at the front of the Bath Press building on the Lower Bristol Road tonight.

The general consensus of those that were there is that they were opposed to a huge Tesco store on the site of the Former Bath Press Building.

There are many issues surrounding this one and the affects that it would have on neighbouring homes and local shopping centres that have to be taken into account. The frontage of the former Bath Press site although not listed is an important landmark and I would want to see this frontage saved.

Although Tesco have put no proposals on the table at the moment for this site, I would agree with the residents that I have spoken to so far and that is that I will oppose a huge Tesco on this site if that is what comes forward.

I however want to consult all local residents on their opinions as what to do with this site and I will take their points forward to any future developer of this important employment site.

We now have the prospect of the battle of the supermarkets breaking out on the Lower Bristol Road.

Lidl's have now set out their plans to redevelop the former Herman Miller site that they bought nearly a year a go and has been left abandoned ever since. Lidl have announced that they want a store of about 14,000 square feet of shopping space for their own store and are also looking to have other non retail outlets on the site.

I understand that Lidl have now entered pre planning application talks with Bath & North East Somerset Council concerning their proposals and I will be seeking a meeting with Lidl's in order to discuss their proposals with them including cleaning up the untidy site on the Lower Bristol Road.

It is important that a full and meaningful consultation takes place with local residents on any proposals that they may bring forward.

Further down the road Tesco have shown an interest in the former Bath Press site and although their plans do not seem as advanced as those of Lidl I will be seeking talks with Tesco as this site could be very controversial and could affect local shopping centres if we get it wrong.

I will also be meeting with Council planning and regeneration officers of Bath & North East Somerset Council and will be insisting that local residents and the business community have a chance to have their say on both of these proposals

I also want to hear from local residents of the area on what their thoughts are and would ask that they contact me with their views.

Please remember that refuse, recycling and composting collections all continue as normal over the Bank Holiday weekend so please put out your recycling and rubbish as normal next week.

From last year, all collections operate as normal for all Bank Holidays except those over the Christmas New Year period so for the rest of the year there is no longer any need to put your refuse out a day later for collection.

Please note that the Recycling Centres will also be open during the Bank Holidays from 8am - 3.45pm.

The Christmas and New Year period is now the only time when collections and the Recycling Centres are affected by the holiday period and we will publicise the revised dates at that time.

Well done to Jackie and Steve who are again trail blazing in the charity fund raising stakes.

The have only gone and planned a bungee jumping event that will take place at their White Horse Pub at Shophouse Road, on Saturday 21st June,

The event will take place between 4pm & 6pm and participants will plunge from a crane in the Car Park. I was asked if I would have a go to which the answer was a very short no!

The Forever Friends Charity will be the main beneficiaries of the day and people jumping to raise money for this charity can jump for free if they can raise at least £60 all others will have to pay £50 each.

The event will be followed by a family evening where all residents are welcome. If you want to have a go for charity then visit the White Horse and collect a sponsorship form or pop in and sponsor some one.

If you want to know more about the Forever Friends Charity then visit their web site at http://www.foreverfriendsappeal.co.uk/

I am pleased to be able to tell you some good news and that is Staff providing care and support for older and vulnerable residents across Bath and North East Somerset received recognition for developing their skills.

Raising the skill levels of staff and carers means that improvements are continually being made to the services received by local people. Bath & North East Somerset Council and Bath and North East Somerset Primary Care Trust (PCT) are delighted that 90 staff who work across a range of services have received National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) awards after taking part in work-based training. The Council and PCT have also extended the programme to include staff from the independent sector.

The staff represent services including; residential care for older people, home care, learning day care and residential services, mental health home support, Paulton Hospital and St Martin's Hospital.

The Council is also delighted that foster carers and staff in the Council's Children's Services teams have also achieved awards.

Certificates were presented to staff at a celebration in the Guildhall, Bath, on Friday, 16 May.

National Vocational Qualifications are work-related qualifications. They are based on national occupational standards and cover all the main aspects of an occupation, including best practice. The awards are certificated by City & Guilds.

Staff received NVQ awards including; Health and Social Care, Health Awards, Business Administration and New Types of Workers (for residential care staff who have undertaken clinical skills training). A number of candidates also gained Assessor and Verifier Awards, which will give them the opportunity to help train and assess other candidates.

Well done and thank you to all the staff invfolved.

The planning application to build a new student block on the Lower Bristol Road to house 333 students next to the current block was deferred by the development control committee of Bath & North East Somerset Council last night.

The reasons for deferral were for a 106 legal agreement to be put together that would include the installation of an off road lay by for buses to pull off at the site and for full details of the planned road widening scheme that would affect this site to be brought back for Development control committee member to consider.

If you want to view the application then follow this Link Student accommodation you can also make comments on this web link.

At the Full Council meeting of Bath & North East Somerset Council on 8^th May the whole council gave a new pledge to children and young people in care.

All councils across the UK are developing pledges as a result of a central Government initiative called Care Matters which sets out a radical package of proposals for transforming the lives of children in care.

The Council's pledge lists its promises to all children and young people in care and to young people moving from care to adult life.

Commitments to the young people include: a named social worker; involvement in decisions affecting their lives; a home that suits the individual; help to stay in touch with family and any other people important to them; help to do as well as possible at school and to develop talents, interests and hobbies; encouragement to be healthy; help and support to make a success of moving on from care to adult life.

The Council is always keen to recruit more foster carers and would encourage anyone interested to get in touch. Applications are welcome from people who are single, co-habiting or married. For more detailed information visit http://www.bathnes.gov.uk/, or contact the Council on 01225 394949, email fpt_duty@bathnes.gov.uk  or write to PO Box 3343, Bath, BA1 2ZH.  

St James investments are reported to have bought the former Bath Press site on the Lower Bristol Road for what is thought to be around £15million, it is understood that Tesco is also linked to this deal.

Local councillors will be seeking more details on this one as the main Bath Press building is not listed it could mean that the whole site could be developed which would cause concern for conservationists locally.

The Bath Press site closed last year with over 200 jobs being lost in the local community these jobs have not been replaced.

The Bath Press building over the last few months has become run down and it is important that something happens here and the site is tidied up in the short term, and I will be chasing the new owners to make sure that this happens. I also feel that this site needs to be used for employment purposes and will be looking to the developer to give us some assurances in this field.

The issue of shopping in this area is also a controversial one as the effects on other shopping outlets have to be considered, it should also be taken into account that Lidl supermarkets have expressed an interest in opening a store less than half a mile away on the former Herman Miller site.

I am pleased to see that St James investments have made comments in the local media and saying:

"It is too early to speculate about what might be appropriate for the site, but I am happy to say that we will be consulting with the community and stakeholders in forthcoming months.

"It is absolutely critical that we create the right proposals and this must not be rushed."

As a local councillor I will be certainly be holding them to just that and will also raise the issue with them about saving the buildings historic frontage.

Regular updates on proposals for this site will appear on this blog and if any other readers have had dealings with Tesco or St James investments then I would be pleased to receive their advice.

The application for new student accommodation that will accommodate 333 Students next to the current block on the Lower Bristol road goes before the Development control committee on Bath & North East Somerset Council on Wednesday 14^th May.

I am putting together my comments for this committee and would ask that if any local residents have an opinion one way or anther that they let me know in the next few days.

If you would like to see that application and read the comments that have been made so far then log on to this link STUDENT ACCOMODATION.

Residents can also comment on the application on line.

I am now into the last week of being Mayor of Bath and I can say that I have really enjoyed my year in office; I hand over my Chains next Saturday 17^th May at 11am in a lavish ceremony in Bath Abbey to which members of the public are very welcome to attend.

I could say that it would be nice to have a rest but that will be short lived as I will become Mayoress on the same day because my Husband is following me and becoming the Next Mayor of our wonderful city.

This is the last entry that I will be making as Mayor and this blog will be returning to giving political commentary.

I understand that my Husband will be writing a separate blog on his year in office and I will publish this link as soon as I have it.