In March 2025, the BathNES Green Group brought a Motion to Full Council in March 2025 for an East of Bath Liveable Neighbourhood, which was rejected by the Lib Dem Administration.
The Lambridge Green councillors have now written to all east of Bath residents to update them of the comments made by Cabinet members in recent months. The letter also informed local people about the Freedom of Information (FOI) request that the Greens have carried out on the “extensive consultation” that has been claimed to have been carried out.
Cllr Joanna Wright says “We found out that only 128 residents had responded to the consultation and only 8 of them supported this measure. That doesn’t feel like a fair or meaningful consultation in an area with a population of around 12,000 people. What’s worse, Lambridge ward councillors were excluded from all consultations and design work behind the scenes.”
At a public meeting on 29th March 2025, Cllr Manda Rigby, the Liberal Democrat Cabinet Member for Highways, spoke with enthusiasm about the council’s commitment to working with the east of Bath residents. She highlighted plans to tackle long-standing issues such as congestion, air quality, and pedestrian safety, promising to bring about meaningful change for the community.
However, just one day later, during a council meeting on 30th March, Cllr Rigby voted against the Green motion calling for a community-led approach to the Liveable Neighbourhood in East Bath. She remarked:
“The Green Party is attempting to circumvent the processes in place… This is a blatant attempt to queue-jump.”
The entire Liberal Democrat group followed suit, voting unanimously to reject the motion. For residents who have been advocating for better consultation and transparency in the Liveable Neighbourhoods programme, this vote came as a major disappointment.
The Green motion, supported by a significant number of local residents, called for an inclusive, community-driven approach to Liveable Neighbourhoods. This rejection has left residents feeling sidelined and disillusioned, as they continue to face ongoing issues such as poor air quality, traffic congestion, and inadequate public transport and active travel infrastructure.
Cllr Joanna Wright, Green group Leader and Councillor for Lambridge, expressed the frustration felt by many in the community:
“The east of Bath is crying out for better transport solutions and a real voice in how things are done. We’ve all heard the concerns about traffic, air quality, and the need for better consultation. Yet, when we try to take meaningful action through motions like ours, it feels like it’s dismissed without a second thought. I still believe there’s room for us to work together on this. The people on the east Bath want to be part of the solution. But it’s hard not to feel like we’re being played at times, with promises made in public and then votes and decisions that don’t match up to those promises.”
The Liberal Democrats’ decision to reject the motion raises serious questions about their commitment to community engagement and their willingness to listen to the people they represent. This comes simultaneously claims by the Lib Dem Cabinet Member for Highways, that:
“We have gone through a very detailed process that has been transparent, involving communities from the start…”
Clearly, while the rhetoric may sound promising, the actions of the Liberal Democrat council don’t seem to match their words.
Even Cllr Sarah Warren, Cabinet Member for Climate Emergency and Sustainable Travel, acknowledged that the Green motion was proposing something meaningful, stating:
“The motion seeks a strategic, fully-modelled traffic management plan for Bath. Such a plan would provide a useful blueprint for the future.”
However, she also added, “But it is not a magic wand.” This response is cause for residents’ concerns about the council’s lack of real commitment to tackling the issues they face daily.
Residents of East Bath have long been asking for more than just empty promises, they are asking for action. And yet, with this vote, they are being told once again that their concerns don’t matter.While the Green motion may have been rejected, the people on the east Bath still deserve better.