Clean Air News: Air quality in Bath has improved according to The Bath Clean Air Zone (CAZ) annual report.
It shows average nitrogen dioxide concentrations in the zone is 32% lower compared to 2021.
Councillor Sarah Warren said: “It’s fantastic to see a fall in air pollution, which means we are all breathing cleaner air.”
She added: “It’s reassuring that the CAZ is still working to improve air quality outside of the zone as well as within it, that non-compliance has decreased by 73% since 2021 and that 947 polluting vehicles have been replaced under our financial assistance scheme.”
Christmas Fayre: The Odd Down annual seasonal fayre will be held on Sunday December 1st, from 11am to 2pm.
If you wish to have a stall email jennifer.jacob@gll.org for details of the event at Odd Down Sports Ground.
Volunteer News: The Apex Hotel is the venue for the Volunteer Fair.
Thinking about giving some time to a charity? Date for your diary – Friday 18 October from 11:00am to 4:00pm. Come to the Volunteer Fair and meet different charities to see how you can be involved.
It’s a great time to chat with the charities, get to know what they are doing and how your skills could be used to benefit your community. You don’t need to register for the fair. Just show up.
Allotment News: In what has become a story of our times in which a green space is under threat from developers in Bath. And in this case the green space in Combe Down has been allotments since 1894 which makes the fight to save the vegetable, flower and fruit beds even more concerted.
The good news is that on Wednesday 14th August 2024 the Council declared the allotments to be an Asset of Community Value (ACV) meaning there is limited protection although the private landlord who owns the plot could still sell although they cannot dispose of it without:
- Waiting until the end of a six week ‘interim moratorium’ period in which community interest groups or any other buyers can request that the council treats them as a potential bidder
- Waiting until the end of a six month ‘full moratorium’ period if the council does receive such a request
This doesn’t protect the allotment holders from the landlord serving notice to quit, but they will be informed if the land is listed for sale within the five year listing period.
Councillor Tim Ball, cabinet member for Neighbourhood Services, said: “This land has been used for allotments since 1894 and continues to be of significant social value for the community today.
“We know that the current occupiers of the plots live in the local area and there are several schools and community organisations which use the allotment space for fantastic social projects and learning experiences. The successful nomination to list the site as an Asset of Community Value will give community interest groups the chance to make a bid should the site become available to buy.”
The leader of the Council Kevin Guy, Cabinet Member for PIanning and Licensing Tim Ball, Cllr Onkar Saini and Cllr Dr. Bharat Pankhania, have all expressed their commitment to securing the future of Combe Down allotments at a meeting in July.
A petition to save the allotments has reached more than 5,000 signatures. To sign visit https://www.change.org/p/save-combe-down-allotments?source_location=search
Liver News: There’s an old joke shared by medics that when a patient is asked how much they drink a week the doctor will mentally double it.
The BBC have reported on the charity Developing Health and Independence (DHI) with notes on Bath resident Matt Davidson. He said: “I probably wouldn’t be here today if it wasn’t for DHI. Last summer, they saw me when I was in hospital due to my alcohol addiction.
“Within days of leaving the hospital, I was in a dry house. I thought there was no way out, that I couldn’t stop drinking. But I found a new life.”
According to the NHS, alcohol-related liver disease usually does not show any symptoms until the organ has been severely damaged. The disease accounted for 10,593 premature deaths in England in 2022, up from 6,140 deaths in 2001.
DHI helps disadvantaged people and those living on the margins of society to turn their lives around such as those with alcohol problems.
Metro Mayor news: Dan Norris will be blocked from running again to be West of England metro mayor after a major change in Labour’s rules about MPs having second jobs writes local democracy reporter Adam Postans.
Delegates at the party’s annual conference approved proposals to extend a ban on councillors remaining in their local government roles if they are elected to the House of Commons to other office holders, including mayors.
It is understood the resolution on Sunday, September 22, received an overwhelming 80 per cent support.
Labour’s Mr Norris became elected head of the West of England Combined Authority (Weca) in 2021 and would be up for reelection next year.
But at July’s General Election, he ousted Conservative Jacob Rees-Mogg to become MP for the newly created North East Somerset & Hanham constituency, having been defeated by the former Tory government minister 14 years ago. Mr Norris previously said he would do both jobs “until at least May” 2025, sparking criticism that he was taking two salaries for two roles that should both be full-time.
It is unclear whether he will have to resign as Weca mayor before the end of his term. Previous rules allowed metro mayors of combined authorities to be MPs.
E-scooter news: Tier e-scooters have changed following a merger in August with Dot. The firm’s scooters in Bath can be used using the Dot App.
Travel West said: “Starting 29 August, all TIER vehicles in Bristol and Bath will only be available on the Dott app.
“This change follows the merger of TIER and Dott.
“Users in the West of England will be redirected to the Dott app to continue using the shared electric vehicles from this date onward.”
Bath Voice and Local Democracy Reporters
The journalists are funded by the BBC as part of its latest Charter commitment, but are employed by regional news organisations. A total of 165 reporters are allocated to news organisations in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland including Bath Voice. These organisations range from television and radio stations to online media companies and established regional newspaper groups. Local Democracy Reporters cover top-tier local authorities, second-tier local authorities and other public service organisations.
Bath Voice Monthly Newspaper is distributed free to thousands of homes and some supermarkets – distributed from the first of the month. Harry Mottram is the News Editor
Email him at news@bathvoice.co.uk Bath website: https://bathvoice.co.uk/news/
Bath Facebook: https://tinyurl.com/bdtf2kep Also on Twitter: https://twitter.com/bath_voice Read the newspaper online at :https://issuu.com/bathvoice
To advertise to thousands of Bathonians call Shaun on 07540 383870 or email him on sales@bathvoice.co.uk
Harry Mottram is a freelance journalist. Follow him on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Pinterest, Telegram, TikTok and Email:harryfmottram@gmail.com
Website:www.harrymottram.co.uk Mobile: 07789 864769