We know that local Lib Dem MPs, Wera Hobhouse and Anna Sabine have been consistently outspoken about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

Following the unanimous Peace Motion at B&NES Full council in July 2024, the Green Group has written to you and asked for a clear and detailed update on the Council’s engagement with and actions taken in response to this Peace Motion.

As you will recall, this motion was a significant commitment by the Council to support peace efforts, humanitarian aid, and community solidarity relating to the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Since its passage, the Green Group has repeatedly sought information on what steps have been taken to implement the pledges made.

Regrettably, it appears that beyond the annual flying of the UN flag for one week in September—coinciding with the International Day of Peace—the motion has largely been overlooked in practice. 

We ask, therefore: How has the Council engaged with the key elements of the motion, including advocacy for ceasefire, humanitarian support, refugee protection, and fostering community solidarity? What specific actions have been taken, and how have these been monitored or reported back to the Council and the public?

The Green Group has consistently championed peace and inclusion, and we expect the Council’s leadership to provide transparency and accountability on this matter. Given the continuing and worsening humanitarian crisis, it is essential that Bath and North East Somerset Council demonstrates real leadership and delivers on the commitments it has made.

Please can you publicly let us know what actions are being taken?

From Cllr Saskia Heijltjes, Cllr Sam Ross, Cllr Joanna Wright

The post Open Letter To Kevin Guy, Leader of B&NES Council appeared first on Bath and NE Somerset Green Party.

The decision (E3620), made by the Cabinet Member for Resources on 4 July 2025, proposes a pilot scheme from September that would alter the evening collection window for business waste to 6pm–8.30pm, make labelling of waste mandatory, and enforce the use of reusable rubbish bags (RRBs).

While the Green Group recognises the importance of improving the public realm for residents and visitors, they argue the changes risk doing the opposite.

“We’re deeply concerned that this decision could lead to more waste collection vehicles circulating through Bath’s narrow streets, including pedestrianised and low-traffic areas,” said Cllr Joanna Wright, Green Group. “This goes directly against the council’s own Vision Zero strategy, which commits to eliminating road danger. It also risks undermining the visual appeal and visitor experience the changes are supposed to enhance.”

The call-in notice highlights widespread opposition from businesses, with 93% of respondents to the council’s consultation rejecting the proposed change to evening collection times. Many businesses warned that the new 6pm–8.30pm window would mean higher staffing costs, as 43% of them currently close by 5pm and would need to pay staff to stay late to put out waste and bring containers back in.

The council’s own assessment estimated an additional annual cost of £3,000 per business, but councillors argue this figure is a significant underestimate.

“Small, independent businesses are the lifeblood of our city and are already under immense pressure,” added Cllr Wright.“This decision risks piling on unfair costs at a time when they can least afford it. Let’s be clear: supporting local businesses and tackling the climate emergency must always come before chasing aesthetic improvements.”

The call-in also raises concerns about increased HGVs movements in the city centre, potentially conflicting with Bath’s Clean Air Zone objectives and the council’s Journey to Net Zero strategy.

The cross-party group of councillors is asking for the decision to be reconsidered to ensure that public realm improvements are achieved without unintended negative impacts on road safety, the environment, businesses, or the visitor experience.

The post Green councillors join cross-party call-in of controversial Bath business waste decision appeared first on Bath and NE Somerset Green Party.

Currently, the narrow set of steps linking the canal to the park excludes people in wheelchairs or mobility scooters and creates real difficulties for parents with pushchairs and those with bikes. The steps also create a bottleneck, with people often queuing or waiting on either side. While making this entrance accessible was included in the original plans for the £3.4 million Sydney Gardens Restoration Project, it was later dropped due to budget constraints.

Cllr Saskia Heijltjes (Lambridge) said:

“This is a key link in our local active travel network, but it’s completely closed off to anyone who can’t manage stairs. That’s not acceptable in 2025. If we want to be serious about inclusion, we have to fix barriers like this.”

Cllr Toby Simon, Councillor for Bathwick Ward, has suggested that because of the narrowness of the towpath and nearby tunnels, people who rely on wheeled mobility — including wheelchair users and parents with prams — should simply avoid this area altogether.

“That kind of attitude is discriminatory, whether intended or not,” said Cllr Heijltjes. “Public spaces must be designed for everyone, not just those who are able to climb the steps.”

The Local Active Travel and Safety Programme (LATSP) gives ward councillors the opportunity to propose small-scale improvements to walking and cycling infrastructure. Cllr Heijltjes is urging B&NES Council to make inclusive access to Sydney Gardens a priority for the next round of LATSP funding.

“Wheeling is just as much a part of active travel as walking and cycling. Whether you’re using a wheelchair, a mobility scooter, or pushing a pram, you deserve safe, convenient access to public spaces. We’ve invested millions restoring this beautiful historic park. Now it’s time to make sure everyone can enjoy it — no matter how they move.”

The post Call To Fix Inaccessible Sydney Gardens Entrance appeared first on Bath and NE Somerset Green Party.

The second planning application (ref: 25/01403/FUL), submitted earlier this year, has been given an extension to allow Lidl to carry out further work on transport modelling. This follows discussions between council officers and National Highways to agree the scope of the modelling.

Cllr Joanna Wright (Green, Lambridge) and Cllr Saskia Heijltjes (Green, Lambridge) both objected to Lidl’s original application in 2023, raising concerns about increased traffic, road danger, air pollution and the loss of a valuable green space at Bath’s eastern gateway.

“Lambridge meadow is not the right place for a supermarket,” said Cllr Joanna Wright. “Residents are rightly worried about the impact of increased traffic at this site and how vehicles will be diverted into residential streets. Further the harm this development would do to biodiversity and retail in the area is significant. Bath already has one Lidl store, it doesn’t need a second.”

The councillors stress that once Lidl submits the new highways information, there will be a full round of public re-consultation, giving residents and stakeholders another opportunity to have their say.

“This delay reflects the serious concerns about traffic impacts. The London Road is already at capacity, and access to the proposed store would create significant problems for safe walking, wheeling and cycling provision in the area,” said Cllr Saskia Heijltjes. “We encourage local people to stay engaged and be ready to respond when the consultation reopens later this year.”

The extension means a decision on the application is not expected before the end of 2025.

The post Green councillors: Lidl’s Lambridge meadow plans delayed for further transport modelling appeared first on Bath and NE Somerset Green Party.

The decision was confirmed in a letter to Bathwick residents, which stated: “It’s been decided that the Pulteney Estate LN – which included a bus gate on Great Pulteney Street and a through-traffic restriction on Sutton Street – is put on an indefinite hold while the benefits of these other active travel schemes in the area are realised.”

No further detail has been given, leaving residents, campaigners and councillors in the dark about the future of the scheme.

Cllr Saskia Heijltjes (Lambridge, Green) said:
“We understood the reasons for the Camden Road bus gate not going ahead, and we supported that decision. But this is different. The Pulteney Estate scheme has been quietly dropped with no clear explanation, despite being designed to make these streets safer, healthier and more liveable.”

The original Liveable Neighbourhoods plan set out 15 areas for delivery, but with the cancellation of the London Road and Snow Hill area LN earlier this year and now Pulteney Estate, only 8 remain. Councillors warn that this loss of momentum risks undermining a programme intended to create safer, healthier communities across Bath and North East Somerset.

With Liveable Neighbourhoods funded through the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS), which ends in March 2027, there are now serious concerns about whether enough time remains to deliver the ambitious programme in full.

Councillors from the Green Group say the repeated shelving of schemes highlights a deeper issue: the lack of a properly finalised Movement Strategy and an Active Travel Masterplan with clear, prioritised routes.

“We’ve been calling for a Movement Strategy for years. If we had one, the council would be able to properly coordinate infrastructure changes and avoid these conflicts. Instead, projects are haphazard, priorities are unclear, and well-supported schemes are quietly dropped,” Cllr Joanna Wright (Green Group leader) added.

“We need a plan that works for Bath, one that addresses all the issues. To date, the Lib Dem run council has still not come up with a plan and timeline for a full Movement Strategy for Bath and are disrespectful to those offering practical answers.”

Instead of the original Pulteney Estate LN proposals, the council now plans to implement “soft measures” on St John’s Road, such as traffic calming and signage. But the Green Group warns these won’t meaningfully tackle the core problem: rat-running through Great Pulteney Street and St John’s Road between Bathwick Hill and Bathwick Street.

“These minimal tweaks will make little difference to people’s lives, yet still come with a big price tag. Meanwhile, the underlying issue, car traffic dominating residential and heritage streets, remains unaddressed. The Lib Dem Cabinet members at March’s Full council clearly stated that the M4 to South Coast Study would solve transport issues to the east of Bath, that re-routing lorries to avoid Cleveland Bridge would ease traffic, without explaining that this new route is currently not fit for purpose and will take years to build. Lorries are just a tiny part of the much bigger problem of daily traffic that causes congestion, air pollution, road danger, combined with poor public transport provision across the whole of Bath.”

The councillors are urging B&NES to commit to completing the long-overdue Movement Strategy and to publish a prioritised, deliverable set of Active Travel routes — where there are meaningful public consultations on the delivery of LNs and ensure public money is well spent, not just a long list of possibilities and poor community engagement.

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While we support the idea of collaboration to address one of the most pressing challenges facing our communities, we do not believe this Accord provides a meaningful or effective way forward. The Accord, as it currently stands, appears to be a vague statement of intent rather than a framework for real action. It lacks detail on how it will deliver change, what resources are being committed, or how it will influence local planning decisions.

Crucially, it remains unclear what the actual purpose of the Accord is. If it is not binding, and councillors remain free to act independently of it, we question how it can deliver the unity or consistency it claims to promote.

As Green councillors, we already play a constructive role in shaping the future of housing in our area. Cllrs Sam Ross and Joanna Wright sit on the Spatial Planning Action Group (previously the Local Development Framework Steering Group), where they are actively feeding into the development of the new Local Plan. This is the process through which real decisions about the location, type and sustainability of new housing will be made.

In November 2024, the Bath and North East Somerset Green Group brought a motion to Full Council titled “Tackling the Housing Crisis in Bath and North East Somerset.” The motion was rejected, with 40 councillors voting against, 4 in favour, and 4 abstaining.

https://democracy.bathnes.gov.uk/documents/s84468/Green%20Group%20motion%20-%20Tackling%20the%20Housing%20Crisis.pdf

We remain committed to building genuinely affordable, energy-efficient homes in the right places, supported by public transport, green spaces, and local services. The Green Party pledges to provide new social homes ending the individual ‘right to buy’, and to keep social homes for local communities in perpetuity. We will continue to push for rent controls so that local authorities can control rents when the rental market is unaffordable for many local people. We will continue to champion this vision and work with others where it leads to meaningful progress, but we will not sign up to statements that lack substance or risk being used to obscure the complexity of the challenges ahead.

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Taking place from 7am on 3 July until 1am on 4 July at the Rebecca Fountain by Bath Abbey, the vigil will involve members of the public reading aloud the names of thousands of children killed in the conflict. Participants have signed up for 15-minute time slots throughout the day, and a book of mourning will be available for those who wish to leave messages.

The action follows in the footsteps of the Choose Love vigil held outside Parliament in May, during which the names of all 15,613 known Palestinian children killed in Gaza were read out over 18 continuous hours. As organisers said at the time:

“Every single one of those names was someone’s universe.”

Green Party councillors Joanna Wright and Saskia Heijltjes will join local residents in taking part.

Cllr Joanna Wright, Leader of the Green Group on Bath and North East Somerset Council, said:

“We join this vigil as an act of remembrance and solidarity. Every child’s name represents an unimaginable loss, and every voice raised is a call not to look away. In the face of this horror, our responsibility is to bear witness and demand change.”

The Green Group has consistently called for action from the Council on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. In July 2024, a Green-led Peace Motion was passed unanimously, committing Bath & North East Somerset Council to supporting a ceasefire, humanitarian aid, refugee protection and local community solidarity.

However, in May 2025, the Green Group formally requested an update from the Council on implementation of the motion. They expressed concern that, beyond flying the UN flag for one week in September, little progress had been made—and that residents deserved greater transparency and leadership.

Cllr Saskia Heijltjes said:

“This is about human dignity. The vigil allows us to come together, hold space for grief, and renew our commitment to peace. Local people care deeply, and our institutions should reflect that.”

The post Bath community gathers to remember children killed in Gaza appeared first on Bath and NE Somerset Green Party.

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. 

The post Liveable Neighbourhood Update – Letter Sent to Residents appeared first on Bath and NE Somerset Green Party.

The changes – made as part of Traffic Regulation Order 24-037 – were approved despite a strong written objection from the council’s own Active Travel team, who warned the move runs counter to key council objectives on road safety, public health and climate action.

“It’s deeply disappointing to see more parking created right outside a primary school, flying in the face of what we know about children’s health, air pollution, and the climate emergency,” said Cllr Saskia Heijltjes, speaking on behalf of the BaNES Green Group. “Our officers made it crystal clear: this move undermines everything we’re trying to do to encourage safer, healthier travel.”

The new parking bays will be created on Darlington Road, in front of the school, replacing double yellow and zig-zag ‘keep clear’ markings. Officers noted then zig-zag markings were “universally ignored” and said the space could accommodate two parked cars “in a way that does not impede other access.”

However, the Active Travel Team strongly objected, saying:

“The proposal to remove some zigzags and increase parking spaces outside Bathwick Primary School is counter to everything we are trying to do at the council in terms of encouraging more sustainable, safer, and active travel… We should be doing everything to help encourage schools, pupils and their parents/guardians to reduce car travel directly to school sites and create behaviour change.”

Bathwick St Mary had previously expressed interest in taking part in the council’s new *School Streets* pilot – which aims to reduce traffic and improve safety outside schools – but was not selected for the first phase. In a publicly available report, the school said it wished for “softer measures” such as improved crossings. These have yet to be delivered.

A travel survey conducted at the school in January 2025 showed that while 30% of pupils currently travel to school by car, two-thirds of those said they would prefer to use another mode. Interest in cycling is particularly high: while only 6.6% of pupils currently cycle, over 40% said they would like to.

“We’re facing a childhood health crisis and a climate emergency,” said Cllr Joanna Wright. “A third of primary school children in England are overweight or obese, and transport remains the biggest source of carbon emissions in B&NES. This is not the time to be making it easier to drive to the school gates and goes against everything the B&NES Lib Dem administration have said they are working towards.”

At a B&NES Cabinet meeting in February 2025 it was minuted that:

“Cllr Sarah Warren welcomed the funding that has been provided in the budget for the School Streets initiative. This scheme will reduce traffic in and around schools during drop off and collection times to create a safer environment for children and to encourage active travel to improve health and wellbeing.”

Green councillors are also highlighting that transport decisions are not only a climate issue but a public health one. The B&NES’ Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy prioritises action to “enable and encourage proactive engagement in health-promoting activity at all ages for good quality of life.” Removing space for walking, cycling and safe school access directly undermines this aim and makes it harder for families to make healthy travel choices.

The Greens have been demanding the publication of a School Streets strategy for B&NES including a delivery programme over the next 5 years so that all young people benefit from safe streets on their journey to school. B&NES council needs to remain committed to pushing for a safe, high-quality School Street at every viable primary school across Bath and North East Somerset by 2030. Cllr Joanna Wright says “Why are the Bathwick ward councillors are not actively opposing these requested changes to parking?”

The proposal for new limited waiting bays outside the school was included in a routine annual review of parking restrictions in the area. Ward councillors can request changes, which are then consulted on via public notices placed on lamp posts. No formal objections were received from residents, but the Active Travel Team’s internal objection was noted – and ultimately dismissed – during the final decision-making process.

“When our own Active Travel officers are so strongly opposed, it’s clear something has gone wrong in the process,” said Cllr Saskia Heijltjes. “This decision exposes a real weakness in how we work across departments. If this B&NES Administration is serious about achieving our shared aims – safer streets, healthier children, cleaner air – then council teams must work better together to make those goals a reality.”

The ward councillors for Bathwick are Cllr Toby Simon and Cllr Manda Rigby.

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Bath & North East Somerset Council will carry out the works, which are due to be completed by the end of the summer holidays. The upgrade will feature exciting new equipment including a roundabout, rope trail swings, and pick-up sticks. A redesigned entrance is also part of the project.

The park’s fencing will be repositioned to bring several trees into the play space offering shaded spots ideal for family picnics.

This first phase of improvement works paves the way for the planting of a Sycamore Gap sapling, named the ‘Tree of Care’, which will take place on National Care Day, 21 February 2026.

The ‘Tree of Care’ was named by Bath & North East Somerset Council’s Children in Care Team and symbolises both the achievements and the ongoing challenges faced by children in care and care-experienced young people.

Alice Park was chosen as one of 49 locations across the country to receive a ‘Tree of Hope’ sapling, a project spearheaded by the National Trust, announced in November 2024.

Improvement works will run from 7 July through to 24 August, during which time parts of the play area will be temporarily closed to allow for the upgrades.

Alice Park has served as a cherished play space for Bath’s children since it was gifted to the city’s young people in 1937. It remains a popular local destination. The park is held in trust by Bath & North East Somerset Council and overseen by the Alice Park Trust Sub-Committee, under delegation from the Charitable Trust Board.

Councillor Joanna Wright, Chair of the Alice Park Trust, said:

Green Party councillor Joanna Wright, Chair of the Alice Park Trust, said:“Over many years the Alice Park Committee has been working hard to ensure that new play facilities in Alice Park were put in place, as we recognise that the present facilities are very limited. On completion of this first phase, the play area still needs additional work to be delivered to improve the whole of the play area.  Further funds still need to be raised and any contribution that you can make to help us raise £250.000 will be gratefully received. To make a donation for the Alice Park Play Area please go to: https://www.bathnes.gov.uk/donate-alice-park-play-project”

The current £125,000 funding package includes £75,000 from the Bath Community Infrastructure Levy, with generous contributions of £25,000 each from the Medlock Trust and Roper Rhodes.

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