Month: January 2016

Rail electrification drop in session on Feb 2nd

The following press release was sent from Steve Payne, Communications Manager (Bristol and Bath)
for the Great Western Route Modernisation project.

More reliable, greener and quieter journeys for thousands of passengers
Electrification of the Great Western Mainline will pave the way for a new generation of electric trains. These will bring more seats and more reliable journeys.
To find out more about the programme of work taking place in the Bath area and to give any feedback, come along to our monthly drop-in. This month we will be talking about a planned temporary period of disruption between Bath and Keynsham in April 2016.
We’re in the Brunswick Room at the Guildhall, High Street, Bath. BA1 5AW, from 4.00pm – 7.30pm on:
Tuesday 2 February 2016.
For more information please visit:
networkrail.co.uk/great-western-route-modernisation/banes

Bathampton Placemaking Plan

By now, you should all have received details of 2 green spaces we as your Parish Council would like to preserve as part of the Placemaking Plan. Here is some more detail on this process.

The consultation started in early December on the Draft Placemaking Plan for a seven week period until 3rd February 2016. Details of the consultation can be found on the Council’s website via this link: www.bathnes.gov.uk/placemakingplan.

The Placemaking Plan complements the adopted Core Strategy by providing a set of detailed planning policies and site allocations for Bath and North East Somerset. When adopted, the Placemaking Plan, together with the Core Strategy, will help shape what development takes place and where and will be used for determining planning applications in Bath and North East Somerset up to 2029.

This document has been informed by ongoing engagement and work with local communities. At this stage comments are invited on whether the Draft Plan has been prepared in accordance with legal requirements – ‘legally compliant’ -and whether it is ‘sound’. This is explained in further detail in the attached. The comments received will be analysed by the Council before being sent to the Planning Inspector, alongside the Draft Plan, for Examination next year.

The Draft Placemaking Plan and the Core Strategy have been combined into one document for clarity but as the Core Strategy is already adopted, comments can only be made on the Placemaking Plan part. The difference between the Placemaking Plan text and the Core Strategy text is made clear in the amalgamated document. Please note the Draft Plan has been produced in six volumes for ease of reference:

· Volume 1 – District-wide
· Volume 2 – Bath
· Volume 3 – Keynsham
· Volume 4 – Somer Valley
· Volume 5 – Rural Areas
· Volume 6 – Appendices

In addition to being available on-line the Draft Plan will also be made available to view at all libraries in the District and the main Council offices (One Stop Shop, Lewis House, Bath; The Hollies Midsomer Norton and Civic Centre One Stop Shop, Keynsham).

Interested parties are encouraged to make comments on-line via www.bathnes.gov.uk/placemakingplan. Alternatively they can request a comments form for completion which should either be emailed to placemaking_plan@bathnes.gov.uk or posted to Planning Policy, Planning Services, Bath & North East Somerset Council, Lewis House, Manvers Street, Bath BA1 1JG.

Road safety works begin – B3108 Lower Stoke Road

The B3108 Lower Stoke Road at the junction with the A36 will be closed from Monday January 11 – Friday February 5 for essential safety improvement works. This will involve putting in place a protective kerb and barrier along the embankment on the approach to the A36 traffic lights.

Bath & North East Somerset Council’s contractor Skanska will be working through weekends to get the work completed as quickly as possible.

Pedestrians and cyclists will be able to pass safely through the site along a route marked out by barriers. All businesses in the area will be open as usual with access from the Limpley Stoke village end. Shuttle buses will be in operation for public transport routes affected.

Local diversions will be sign-posted, as follows:
The B3108 Lower Stoke to its junction with Winsley Hill; B3108 through Winsley Village into Winsley Road; B3108 on into Bradford on Avon until its junction with A363 Bath Road; follow Bath Road into A363 Sally in the Woods into Bradford Road onto the A46 Batheaston Bypass and the A4 London Road West into Bath onto A4 London Road into A36 Cleveland Place/Bathwick Street into A36 Beckford Road back onto A36 Warminster Road through Claverton Valley.

Regular users of this route are advised to follow the signed diversion route and plan their journeys accordingly. The Council apologises for any inconvenience and disruption that will be caused.

The work has been co-ordinated with Highways England and Wiltshire Council. Signage was put in place before Christmas and the Council has also liaised with Monkton Combe School.

Roadworks from Monday 11th January affecting bus services to Bathampton

The following is a message from Christopher Heward, the Public Transport Assistant for Bath & North East Somerset Council

From Monday 11th January there are barrier works being done by B&NES just off the A36 heading towards Winsley. This has caused disruption to First’s 265 service between Bath and Bradford-on-Avon, and as such affects bus services to Bathampton, Claverton, Limpley Stoke and surrounding areas.

We have been working with Wiltshire Council and the bus companies to come up with a solution, and details of this have been put up on bus stops along the route today (265 to Bathampton notices). I also attach Bradford on Avon Winsley Shuttle January 2016.

We have placed on our website the complete information regarding the impact of these changes, and these can be seen here: http://www.bathnes.gov.uk/services/parking-and-travel/public-transport/buses/latest-news-service-changes.

Residents can contact Traveline for specific travel advice, via the details in the above link.

If you require any more general information, then please do contact me at Christopher_Heward@BATHNES.GOV.UK