Local News
11 December 2024 / 13 December 2024 by dominictristram
Plans for a new recycling centre on Locksbrook Road in Bath have caused concern among residents and organisations, with over 160 objections submitted during the consultation. Critics say the plans don’t address key issues like traffic safety, accessibility, or environmental impact. Locksbrook Road is already a busy and narrow area. Adding more vehicles queuing for […]
Read more »
11 December 2024 / 12 December 2024 by dominictristram
Alice Park in Bath has been selected as one of just 49 locations across the UK to receive a symbolic ‘Tree of Hope’ sapling, grown from seeds of the beloved Sycamore Gap tree. This initiative follows the tragic felling of the iconic tree and aims to spread a powerful message of resilience, renewal, and hope. […]
2 December 2024 / 4 December 2024 by dominictristram
Bath’s Green Councillors are calling for urgent improvements to the city’s Walking, Wheeling, and Cycling Links (BWWCL) scheme, warning that key shortcomings could undermine its ability to create a safer, healthier, and more connected city. While supporting the vision behind the scheme, they stress the importance of adhering to national standards, addressing safety concerns, and […]
29 November 2024 / 3 December 2024 by dominictristram
Councillor Joanna Wright, leader of the Green Group of councillors on Bath and North East Somerset Council, has shared her prepared statement following its omission from the full council meeting on 21 November 2024. The statement, which provides an update on the Green Party’s Peace Motion passed in July 2024 and highlights the importance of […]
21 November 2024 / 21 November 2024 by dominictristram
Bath and North East Somerset (B&NES), a region renowned for its heritage and vibrant community, is facing a critical housing crisis. In a motion tabled by the Green Group, the Council is called to adopt comprehensive measures aimed at safeguarding housing affordability and prioritising local residents over short-term holiday rentals. Key Points of the Motion: […]
Lambridge Councillor, Joanna Wright, Leader of the Green Group at Bath and North East Somerset (BaNES) Council, delivered a critical speech at Thursday’s Full Council meeting, voicing concerns over the lack of transparency in implementing the unanimously passed Peace Motion from July 2024. The speech was given as protestors gathered outside the Guildhall, calling out […]
Tonight, the Liberal Democrats tabled a motion on bus services. A recent report from Friends of the Earth reveals that bus services in Bath and North East Somerset (BANES) have been cut by 60% since 2010—the sharpest decline in the West of England Combined Authority (WECA) region. This drastic reduction has left many vulnerable residents—elderly […]
The Green Party’s community meeting at the New Oriel Hall on 20th November drew a packed hall, with attendees queuing out the door. Residents from Walcot, Lambridge, and nearby areas shared their views on the proposed Camden Road bus gate, part of the new London Road and Snow Hill area Liveable Neighbourhood (LN) plan. The […]
18 November 2024 / 22 November 2024 by dominictristram
Bath and North East Somerset (B&NES) Greens are calling for immediate action on the Vision Zero motion, passed unanimously in November last year, to eliminate road deaths and serious injuries by 2030. Despite expectations that Vision Zero would be on the agenda for last Thursday’s Climate Emergency and Sustainability Policy Development and Scrutiny Panel, it […]
1 November 2024 / 22 November 2024 by dominictristram
Annual awards which recognise people who make life better for others in their community have been launched for 2024 by Bath & North East Somerset Council and its partners. Nominations are now open for the Community Awards which acknowledge volunteers, carers, charities, or employees who make exceptional contributions to their communities. The awards were officially launched at […]
31 October 2024 / 7 November 2024 by dominictristram
Bath and North East Somerset (B&NES) Greens are calling out Labour’s decision to hand over £1.3 billion worth of community health services in B&NES, Swindon, and Wiltshire to a private company driven by profit. This move shifts public funds—intended for patient care—into the hands of shareholders, undermining the NHS’s core purpose: to provide quality healthcare […]
17 October 2024 / 21 October 2024 by dominictristram
The Green Group at Bath and North East Somerset Council is driving forward critical measures to safeguard the welfare of children and young people in the region. At the recent Children, Adults, Health and Wellbeing Policy Development and Scrutiny Panel the Green Group highlighted key concerns, including: Cllr Joanna Wright added:“As councillors, we must take […]
17 October 2024 / 25 October 2024 by dominictristram
Green Party councillors in Bath and North East Somerset (B&NES) are urgently calling for action on severe delays in processing Education, Health, and Care Plans (EHCPs), which are harming local children and families. The leader of the Green group of Councillors, Joanna Wright, highlighted these failures at a recent scrutiny panel, pointing out that the […]
10 October 2024 / 10 October 2024 by dominictristram
Following ongoing concerns about the effectiveness of the WESTlink bus scheme, Bath and North East Somerset (B&NES) Greens are calling for a comprehensive review and restructuring of rural bus services to ensure better connectivity for residents. WESTlink was introduced to bridge the gap where bus services have been lost, connecting rural residents with areas where […]
10 October 2024 / 14 October 2024 by dominictristram
The Green Group in Bath and North East Somerset (B&NES) Council has raised concerns about the new electronic voting system introduced at the Guildhall in July. The switch from the traditional raised-hand voting procedure to large TV screens was intended to modernise and streamline council proceedings. However, the new system has led to confusion, accessibility […]
Come along and see how modern, period and listed buildings can all benefit from energy efficient enhancements. You can explore 15 properties of all ages, types and sizes and hear directly from homeowners about how to install solar panels, batteries, insulation, efficient glazing, or new heating options – without talking to a salesperson or spending […]
Work has commenced this week to address persistent flooding issues in the Devonshire Tunnel, part of Bath’s popular Two Tunnels cycle route. Bath & North East Somerset Council, on behalf of Sustrans, the organisation that owns and manages the route, is installing a new pump system at the tunnel’s entrance. This pump will divert floodwater […]
Housing Local News
3 October 2024 / 4 October 2024 by dominictristram
Bath & North East Somerset (B&NES) Green Party are calling for bold, sustainable housing solutions that address the growing affordability crisis in response to the Government’s consultation on the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). This framework sets vital guidelines for local development plans and planning decisions impacting housing, infrastructure, and environmental protection. Changes to the […]
20 September 2024 / 26 September 2024 by dominictristram
Today, at the West of England Combined Authority (WECA) committee meeting, Unitary Authorities (UAs), including Bristol City Council, Bath and North East Somerset (B&NES) and South Gloucestershire agreed to fund the Metro Mayor’s ‘Bus Improvement Options’ report, which will review the applicability of different mechanisms to reform the West’s failing public transport system. Reclaim Our […]
19 September 2024 / 20 September 2024 by dominictristram
Bath and North East Somerset (B&NES) Council has rejected the Rights of Nature motion, a transformative proposal by the B&NES Greens in collaboration with Paul Powlesland, barrister and founder of Lawyers for Nature. The motion could have significantly reshaped how the Council approaches its responsibility towards the natural world. This bold initiative aimed to enshrine […]
At Thursday’s full Council, Bath and North East Somerset (B&NES) Greens, in collaboration with Paul Powlesland from Lawyers for Nature, introduced the revolutionary Rights of Nature motion that could transform how the Council protects its environment. This bold initiative challenges conventional approaches by recognising nature’s legal rights and could establish B&NES as a leading force in environmental protection […]
16 August 2024 / 21 August 2024 by dominictristram
Bath & North East Somerset Council has officially designated the Combe Down allotments site in Bath as an Asset of Community Value, following a successful nomination by a group of local residents. The application, submitted by the Unincorporated Friends of Combe Down Allotments, was thoroughly reviewed by the council and met all the necessary criteria […]
15 August 2024 / 21 August 2024 by dominictristram
The Green Party members of B&NES Council are calling for action to address significant flaws in the recently released Active Travel Masterplan (ATM) for Bath and North East Somerset. Despite a substantial investment of £28,468.70 on peer reviews, graphics, mapping, and design by Aecom, the plan fails to offer a coherent strategy to implement an […]
Green Party councillors in B&NES have expressed concern over recent developments regarding the Liveable Neighbourhoods policy. In 2020, as Joint Cabinet Member for Transport, Cllr Joanna Wright spearheaded the Council’s flagship “Liveable Neighbourhoods” initiative. This policy aims to redesign residential areas burdened by through-traffic to reduce noise, pollution, and traffic hazards, enhancing local environments (view […]
