Safer Speeds for Residential Streets – Foster

Bath MP Don Foster is continuing his call for 20mph zones to be implemented in the city’s most residential streets.  Liberal Democrats across Bath have been pushing for safer speeds on these roads to provide safer communities.  Residents have also been calling for these limits, as evidenced by recent campaigns in across the city.  Don Foster said,

“Residents across Bath know that their streets are unsafe at current speeds and are joining our ‘Twenty is Plenty’ campaign. 

Don was delighted that three Liberal Democrat Councillors visited Portsmouth, where this scheme has been implemented.  They have found out valuable information, and perhaps most importantly, that the scheme is so popular – people want it. Parents no longer feel safe letting their children out to play, and residents are increasingly sick of ‘rat run’ drivers.  The Council needs to understand that these zones aren’t just needed next to schools; they need to be across the majority of our residential roads.  Currently it seems as though there needs be a serious accident before the Conservative Council is prepared to even look at the issue.  We deserve better than that.  The Liberal Democrats have been campaigning on this for our area and so far we have met with a stone wall from the Conservatives.  What Portsmouth has shown that this is easy to implement and is popular.  While the narrow Victorian streets of Portsmouth lend themselves particularly well to the lower limit, there are still numerous roads in our authority where 20mph limits would be sensible.

You can join the Lib Dems calling for 20mph limits by visiting http://ourcampaign.org.uk/twentyisplenty

Twenty is Plenty: Lib Dems’ fact-finding mission

Liberal Democrats in Bath & North East Somerset are continuing their call for 20mph speed limits to apply on residential roads within the authority. As part of this campaign, three local Lib Dem Councillors visited the City of Portsmouth over the Summer, where 20mph limits have been introduced on almost all of the residential roads. They found that the 20mph scheme is popular and appreciated by the vast majority of residents – the Council said they had received only 7 objections to the policy. It is improving road safety; cycling and walking are increasing; and the environment has improved. 

The Liberal Democrats have been campaigning on this for our area and so far we have met with a stone wall from the Conservatives. What Portsmouth has shown that this is easy to implement and is popular. While the narrow Victorian streets of Portsmouth lend themselves particularly well to the lower limit, there are still numerous roads in our authority where 20mph limits would be sensible.

 

With the lower limit, pedestrians in particular feel safer.

 We know from speaking to residents just how many are concerned about the speed of traffic in their road – Portsmouth have shown that something can be done about it. We have to respond in a similar fashion to make our communities safer places to live.

We are pleased that some of the roads around local schools in the ward already have 20 mph limits. We also need to think carefully about the issue of enforcement, and self-enforcement.  

The safety aspect is crucial and is supported by the British Medical Association (BMA). A child hit at 30mph has an almost 50% chance of dying, at 20mph this drops to just 5%.

You can join the Liberal Democrats calling on the Council to implement 20mph limits on our most residential roads by signing the on-line petition at http://ourcampaign.org.uk/twentyisplenty 

New Student Action Line Number

As of Thursday 6th November, the new Student Action Line number (01225 396996) will be live.

Instead of an answer phone, callers will be connected straight to the Council Connect call centre.  This means a member of staff will be available to talk directly to residents, record their issues and report them to the relevant person to deal with at the Council as well as forwarding the details on to the University to deal with in line with their disciplinary procedures.

If the problem concerns any area within the Council’s remit, for example waste and recycling, the service area will also be notified, whether or not it is actually a student related issue. Ideally people calling in to report issues need to provide a full address or postcode that the problem relates to.

The Student Action Line was launched in 2004, when Cllr Shaun McGall persuded the Council to set up the Student Liaison Committee, to better integrate students into the communities where they rent accommodation and resolve any issues of concern. It was operated by a 24 hour answer phone, where residents would report any student related problems related to noise, poor refuse and recycling management, and general anti-social behaviour.

Conservative Cabinet Member Discriminating in Favour of Own Residents

Blue Badge

Bath MP Don Foster has reacted with complete disgust at the discrimination shown by Tory Cabinet Member Charles Gerrish in deciding not to implement Blue Badge Parking charges – in Keynsham alone.

Don said, “Months ago Liberal Democrats heavily criticized the Tory’s poor parking policy, and we called in the decision. The Cabinet Member finally agreed to look at the issue of evening parking charges in Bath, but weeks and weeks on he has still not made his mind up.

“Suddenly residents in Keynsham are unhappy with a policy, and he leaps to change it, but why only in his town? Why are the residents of Bath being treated as second class citizens by this Council? The Conservative Cabinet Member is a Keynsham Councillor. This is a blatant example of discrimination within the authority.

“Cllr Gerrish says there is not sufficient off-street parking in Keynsham – does he really think that there is in Bath? The decision just to remove the increased Blue Badge charges from Keynsham is a slap in the face to the people of Bath.

“I will be writing to Cllr Gerrish to question this decision.”

Cllr Andy Furse (Kingsmead, Lib Dem) commented, “This is yet another example of the Tories putting Bath residents second. While residents of Keynsham make savings, Bath residents will be expected to put proportionally more into Council coffers. When will this attitude towards the people of Bath change?”

Somer Housing – Residents Meetings

The next meeting of the Somer Housing Bath South Area Panel for residents is to be held on the 24th september 2008 between 3.00 p.m. and 5.00 p.m. the Bath Community Resource Centre which is at the Carrswood Day Centre on Cleeve Green in Twerton. 

 If you would like to attend, please call the Residents Involvement Team at Somer Housing on (01225) 366199 or 366147.

Bath Transport Package: Lib Dem reaction to new park and ride site

Bath Liberal Democrats have given a cautious welcome to the Council’s change of heart on the Lambridge Park and Ride. This follows the announcement that the preferred site for the east of Bath park and ride will be Mill Lane.

However, they have urged the Council to use this proposed change to the Bath Transport Package to also reconsider the route of the Bus Rapid Transit scheme.

Bath MP, Don Foster commented, “I have always opposed the Lambridge Park and Ride scheme. It would have cost a fortune, done nothing to reduce congestion and pollution on the London Road and would, in effect, be a city centre car park. I’m delighted the Council has been prepared to think again.”

Cllr David Dixon (Walcot) added, “After 20 years of discussions and consultation – and after the previous Conservative member in charge of transport wasted 4 of those years trying to force through an ill thought out scheme at Lambridge – I am pleased that the current Cabinet member has seen the light. Mill Lane will provide more spaces and really will have an impact to the traffic which clogs up the London Road.

“This change of heart is a victory for local residents in Lambridge and London Road who have consistently opposed the Lambridge site – were it not for their opposition, the Lambridge park and ride would have already been built.”

Read the rest of this entry.

Council should adopt Cyclescheme

Bath and North East Somerset Council is being urged to take a lead on environmentally friendly commuting and set an example to businesses in the local area by cycle-keen Lib Dem Councillors and Don Foster MP.

Historically Bath and North East Somerset Council has been slow to assume a leadership role in promoting green travel choices. Now Councillor Paul Crossley (Southdown) has asked the Council to join the Cycle to Work scheme which offers employees VAT-free bikes, repaid by loans that are exempt from income tax and national insurance, through a salary sacrifice system.

Cllr Crossley commented, “Cycling is not only good for the environment but it also reduces road congestion and improves health. Many other Councils offer such schemes to their employees, as do several firms here in Bath. The Council should be leading on the green travel agenda and cutting the carbon footprint of the area. The cycle scheme is a great way of getting more people onto bikes and properly equipped for safe and comfortable commuting to work.”

Read the rest of this entry.

PACT meeting – July 2008

Around 20 local residents and owners of business from Moorland Road attended the recent Partners and Communities Together (PACT) meeting on the 9th July 2008.

These residents and local business leaders spoke about their concerns and issues in Oldfield Park.

The panel member who attended this meeting included your local councillors, the local Police team, a representative of Somer Community Housing and an officer from the Council who listened to the comments and suggestions for the priorities that should be taken up.

The resulting priorities agreed upon my local residents and business representatives were:

1) Securing a youth shelter for the Sandpits play park;

2) Poor maintenance of gardens by students and / or their landlords in HMOs / privately rented housing; and

3) Refuse and recycling placed out for collection on the pavement all through the week rather than one the specified day especially in HMOs / privately rented housing.

The previous public priorities were:

March 2008

1) Tackling general misuse of the Shaftesbury Road Memorial Gardens;

2) Reviewing parking and driveways on the Moorfields Estate; and

3) Providing facilities, such as youth clubs for children and teenagers in the area.

November 2007

1) Levels of car crime – criminal damage to vehicles in Monksdale Road;

2) Litter – increase road sweeping;

3) Speeding in Third Avenue, Monksdale Road and Hillside Road.

All the partners are now working on how these issues can be tackled and resolved.

Currently no date has been set for the next meeting but it will take place again at 6:30 p.m. at St Alphages Church, Oldfield Lane, Oldfield Park, Bath.

All members of the public are welcome to attend the next meeting.

Outcomes of the Pizza and Cola Evening (PACT) meeting for younger people held in June

The Police held a successful Pizza and Cola Evening (aka PACT meeting) at Hillside Hall at the end of June for the younger people from the Oldfield Park area.

The priorities that the young people identified at Oldfields Pizza & Cola evening were as follows:

1. Shelters needed in the park
2. Dog fouling
3. Litter (smashed bottles etc)
4. Poor public toilets
5. Cycle paths all around Bath
6. Another Skate Park

It was agreed that the top three priorities would be forwarded on to the July PACT meeting for residents to vote for one of these priorities.

It was generally agreed that our first Pizza and Cola Evening went well and the Police and local councillors hope to hold another evening in the Autumn.