Bath Voice News: in brief – a fashion museum update; a Bear Flat Christmas Art Fair and Market; and news of Combe Down allotments

Fashion News: The Fashion Museum Bath announced in September the two outfits chosen as Dress of the Year 2023: a stunning silk, tulle and sequin gown by Simone Rocha and a vibrant, printed cotton menswear outfit by Bianca Saunders. The pieces were chosen by Caroline Rush CBE, Chief Executive of the British Fashion Council, to celebrate exceptional British fashion talent and are the latest additions to the Fashion Museum’s world-renowned collection.
The Fashion Museum Bath will reopen in 2030. The collection is currently being housed in heritage glove maker Dents’ headquarters in Warminster, with highlights from the vast collection – including the Dress of the Year – available to view online and on display on loan at other museums.
The Dress of the Year 2023 can be viewed online at www.fashionmuseum.co.uk/dressoftheyear

Bear Flat Christmas: The Bear Flat Artists Christmas Art Fair and Market 2024 is on Saturday 23rd November, from10am to 5pm at the Methodist Church Hall, off Wellsway, Bruton Ave, Bear Flat, Bath.
Artist’s showing includes ceramicists: Wendy Cornish, Yvonne Elston and Christine Watters. Glass artists: Suzanne Baginski and Sally Pollitzer. Illustrators: Lucy Begent, Rita Lazaro and Sammy Hayward. Mosaic artist: Lorelei Hunt. Jeweller: Marie Curtis. Painters: Vicki Cullen, Ben Hughes, Kristine O’Connor and Agnes Pollock. Photographers: James Halsall-Fox, Helena Miscioscia, Shay Parsons and Emily Slinger. Print makers: Carol Baines and Catharine Naylor. Sculptor: Amy Ng. Wood turner: Andy Cornish. Not forgetting festive decorations and cards on sale too.
Yvonne Elston, of Bear Flat Artists, says: “This is a lovely festive art market where you can buy unique gifts direct from local artists. We’ve a range of hand-crafted gifts and affordable art, including ceramics, glass, illustration, jewellery, mosaics, paintings, photography, prints, sculpture, wood turning, festive tree decorations and much more. It’s a chance to buy something special – whilst supporting Bath’s creative community.”
Free Entry – for more see www.bearflatartists.co.uk

Allotment news: A landowner has served notice on Bath & North East Somerset Council to vacate his land in Combe Down which has been an allotment site for more than 100 years.
Currently there are 64 allotments on the land which the council leases from the landowner. Earlier this year the council had been given informal advance notice of the landowner’s intention to serve formal notice to terminate the council’s lease, but at that time no dates were given and the information was non-binding. Since then, discussions have been ongoing between the council and the landowner to ensure the council can remain in occupation, including the possibility of purchasing the site.
Now a solicitor’s letter from the landowner to the council says the council must vacate the land at Combe Down by November 30 2025. The council has informed allotment holders.
Following a successful nomination by a group of residents the council has added the site to its list of Assets of Community Value. The application – from the Unincorporated Friends of Combe Down Allotments – was assessed by the council and found to meet or exceed all criteria needed to be added to the list.
Although the owner of an Asset of Community Value (ACV) is free to sell to any buyer of their choice, they cannot dispose of it without notifying the council of an intended disposal. Once such notice is received the following periods begin to run: a six week ‘interim moratorium’ period in which community interest groups or any other buyers can submit a written request to the council to be treated as a potential bidder. The council must pass the request onto the landowner; and if the council does receive such a request, a six month ‘full moratorium’ period. This period is intended to give a group time to assemble a bid and, if successful, complete the purchase.
The ACV assessment for Combe Down allotments can be viewed on the list of Registered Assets of Community Value in Bath and North East Somerset which is managed and published by the council.

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Harry Mottram is a freelance journalist. Follow him on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Pinterest, Telegram, TikTok and  Email:harryfmottram@gmail.com
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