Welcome
The thriving Widcombe Association was formed in 1981 and is the largest Residents' Association in Bath. It exists in order to protect and enhance Widcombe and Lyncombe; to act as a channel for local opinion on Widcombe matters; to encourage community spirit by holding social events and promoting and sponsoring clubs and activities, including the Garden Club , The Local History Society and the Widcombe Mummers.
We monitor planning applications and maintain a dialogue with the Council in members' interests. Major items of interest currently for the Association are the scheme to make Rossiter Rd in Widcombe two-way, and the plan by Sustrans to expand the UK cycle network through the Devonshire and Combe Down tunnels.
We are passionate not only about Widcombe, but about our World Heritage City and its future. Our membership of the Federation of Bath Residents' Associations (FoBRA) provides a voice for Widcombe residents on matters that affect Bath as a whole.
We encourage local organizations to use the recently-erected WA Community noticeboard at Prior Park Garden centre, where it is viewed by 1000's weekly. We also encourage local businesses to advertise in our biannual newsletter. If you wish to put up a notice or take out an advertisement, contact us.
Widcombe is a great place to live. For property in the Widcombe area, click here.
Find out more using the links under the banner at top of page.
What's new....
1st Feb: 2010 AGM will be on 29th April at Widcombe Junior School. 2009 AGM minutes available
31st Jan: Bingo! - report below
11th Jan: New Year's day mummers' performances - report below
5th Dec: The Widcombe Switch-on - report below
27thNov: The Holloway Horse trough - news and a request from Sarah Lewis
14th Oct: Advice re researching family history; info on Survey of old Bath
4th August: Committee updated - more members wanted!
20th July:Rossiter Rd scheme update
20th June: Abbey Cemetery CD now on sale
9th Feb: Abbey cemetery updated, Phil Bendall's final report on work at cemetery
What's happening....
See What's On for full details
What happened....
A Full House for Bingo
From our entertainments reporter. On 29th January St Matthew's Church provided yet again the ideal venue for another unique Widcombe Association entertainment, on this occasion a night of Bingo in aid of the refurbishment of the Widcombe Institute - home of the Natural Theatre Company. The event was sold out, and at 8pm over 120 players sat in eager anticipation, pencils poised, to play the first game. It being a Widcombe Association do, the caller was not of the every-day variety - no, resplendent in a wonderful new shocking pink millinery creation - artfully reflecting the colour of the balloons festooning the hall - was our own dear Lady Margaret, her beautifully-sculpted tones enunciating each number, giving what in other hands could be a rather tawdry experience a whole new depth of meaning. There are indeed those among the audience who now firmly hold that a reading of the telephone directory by her ladyship would reduce grown men to tears. And not for Lady M the murky non-PC utterances of 'Two fat ladies' or 'Was she worth it?' (for expanation, contact me - ed) ; none of her readings was subjected to this needless embroidery. Our peerless peeress was ably assisted by her faithful ladies-in-waiting, the immaculately-coiffured Doreen and Maureen, who delivered each prize to its lucky recipient in a dignified scuttle.
A delicious fish & chip supper for all was provided by Manhattan of Widcombe Parade. The event was another triumph for Sarah Lewis' events committee, this time ably master-minded by Leslie Baker. More photos here.
The Widcombe Mummers ride again!
From our drama correspondent . Where would we be without the magical mystery show that each year delights those of Widcombe's populace who flock to see the Mummers' latest offering? The gripping drama unfolds under our very eyes; the costumes and the superlative acting (topped on this occasion by the painful, prolonged death-agony of Turkey Snipe) transport us to a land of fairytale and make-believe. Between performances at Widcombe Manor, the Garden Centre, and Widcombe Crescent, we can promenade through the streets of Widcombe protected by our own fearsome lollypop lady. The traffic stops and drivers and passengers gape respectfully at the passing spectacle. We are enrapured by the handsome Kind Bladud and his glamorous consort; we gaze in awe at the thunderous majesty of King George and we urge him on in his battle with the invader, Turkey Snipe; we pray that the NHS will never be like Doctor Spinney, and we are drawn to the seductive beauty of Busommeta and her accompanying shops. And then we raise our voices lustily in song for the first truly public performance of the newly-appointed Widcombe song: Widcombe you're a Jewel. And as we make our way home in the new year sunshine, we find ourselves believing it.
More photos here and see the complete (Widcombe Crescent) performance here
News Just in: The Mummers have been asked to provide a play on the theme of St George and the Dragon in central Bath on St George's day. Residents of Widcombe will just have to hope that fame doesn't go to their heads. We believe that rumours that they are seeking a 20,000-seater stadium on the rec are unfounded....
The Widcombe Switch-on
From our cub reporter. At 6pm on Thursday, 3rd Dec on a cold but mercifully dry evening an excited crowd assembled outside the White Hart in Widcombe to await the arrival of Lady Margaret to switch on Widcombe Parade's exotic Christmas lights. Excitement rose as the Widcombe Wobblers whipped Lady M's waiting acolytes into near frenzy as the moment of the appearance of their beloved patroness drew near. A ragged cheer arose from the assembled throng when at 6.22pm precisely the doughty dowager appeared in the doorway of the White Hart (her official city residence) accompanied as ever in the festive season by her faithful good fairy.
As promised, the most opulent of new outfits adorned her svelte figure as she mounted the regal dais to address her adoring subjects. The crowd, however, were aghast to see, not the beloved countenance of the peoples' princessling, but the saturnine features of Mr Nicholas Cage, who had performed a similar feat in Bath City centre (albeit with less natural regality). But clever, playful Lady Margaret! She was merely toying with her loyal subjects; such joy and relief as the mask was removed to reveal the regal features of our beloved royal! After a short speech she plunged her plunger and the oohs and aahs of the crowd briefly eclipsed the traffic noise as the assembled throng voiced their appreciation of the attractive mingling of fairy light, tail light and brake light in the Parade.
Then, showing the sort of great leadership for which her class is renowned, Her Ladyship conjured up a lollipop man from apparently nowhere who stopped the traffic, and the crowd surged after her as she strode across the road to carols outside the Baptist Church where her beautiful soprano was heard to good effect, particularly on the high bit in 'Oh Come all ye Faithful'.
Later she officially opened Lennie's Gift Shop, A Balanced Approach beauty therapists and the Hon Fusion Chinese restaurant. Then, it being time for her medication, she made her fond good-byes to her assembled loyal subjects and retired to her official residence.
Also featured in the switch-on festivities were the Widcombe Junior School Choir who sang for the delight of all present.
More photos here.
The 2009 Autumn Meeting
The Widcombe Association's Autumn Meeting was held on Wednesday, 21st October 2009 at St Matthews Church. Minutes of the meeting are available here. During the meeting Mayveen Blackwell paid tribute to past chairman and secretary of the Widcombe Association and indefatigable campaigner for Widcombe, the late Don Lovell. The text of her tribute is here.
A Song for Widcombe
The Autumn Meeting was followed by the Grand Final of the competition to find a Song for Widcombe.
All the songs featured in the final and the Beechen Cliff School Folk Band's ‘Widcombe Suite' will appear on a forthcoming CD to be sold in aid of next year's Widcombe Rising street festival. If you would like to pre-order a copy, send a cheque for £10 (incl P&P) made out to 'The Widcombe Association' to Paddy Doyle, 86 Greenway Lane, BA2 4LN.
The 2009 Summer Festival
The 2009 Summer Festival started early this year with a Private View at the Holloway Exhibition at the Bath at Work Museum. Other happenings included the ever-popular Art Trail weekend (6th & 7th June) Click for Map & Brochure; visits to gardens, including the ever-popular Garden Party at Widcombe Manor (where the weather was, on this occasion, kind) tours of the Abbey Cemetery, visits to rarely-opened places of worship and the Combe Down Tunnel; social gatherings and boules. Find a full report on events in the October 2009 newsletter.
Annual General Meeting 30th April 2009
At the AGM, the new constitution was formally adopted by the Association. Rupert Rhymes and Rosemary Emsley were unanimously re-elected as vice-chairman and secretary respectively and newly co-opted committee member Sue Dawson was unanimously confirmed. Sue will be taking over the Streetscape portfolio from Brenda Beeton, who was presented with a bouquet in recognition of her hard work on the committee, particularly in regard to Abbey Cemetery. Once the business of the meeting was over the guest speaker, Brenda's husband, David, shared with the meeting his views on the World heritage city in which we are fortunate enough to live.
David Beeton is Chairman of the Bath World Heritage Site Steering Group. To an attentive audience he explained that there are only two complete cities in the world designated as World Heritage cities; namely Venice and Bath. Unfortunately, however, the designation carries carries no legal status and no money. The delegation last November from UNESCO was concerned about the impact of Western Riverside and the Dyson Building on our city and will report in June this year. The Dyson building has of course now been dropped, but in any case our status is not in danger. Bath is a very challenging site for the following reasons:
- Lack of cash. A low spending Council doesn't spend on conservation. One solution might be to raise the parish council tax in Bath itself. We only pay £6.62 per resident compared for instance with Norton Radstock's £87.55.
- The state of the local economy. We have two universities with world class young professionals but there are few opportunities for them to stay in Bath and work. We export rather than attract talent.
- Traffic: the biggest threat to our heritage. 24,000 people a day commute into Bath from new housing outside the city centre.
- Low priority afforded by the Council to Heritage. Most Councillors live outside the city. Only one Cabinet member lives in Bath. Our World Heritage status is not mentioned in the ‘Vision of Bath.' There is even talk of moving the Council Headquarters to Keynsham.
- We have a great problem in developing modern building styles. Most people like the new Spa and Pulteney Weir but there is great controversy over the bus station, the Holburne Museum, the Rugby Club and particularly Western Riverside.
What can we do? There are huge challenges: not enough money, no easy answers and a polarised citizenry. We need to take action to raise pride in our city. David had four proposals for action:
• Setting up a charity to raise funds for conservation work with a contribution from the Council.
• Volunteer working parties
• Extend the National Trust's ownership of Bath Skyline. It already owns over 2 square miles When they acquire land, it is safe.
• Start an annual Heritage Festival – national and international.
WA Chairman Richard Wales thanked David for an excellent presentation and questions were taken from the floor.
(WA members please note: Formal minutes of the meeting available here).
The Two Tunnels - Public Meeting 22nd April 2009
This meeting was convened by the WA in conjunction with the Greenway Lane Area Residents' Forum (GLARF), and was chaired by WA ChairmanRichard Wales; the GLARF Chairman, Martin Broadbent, being unavoidably unavailable. The meeting was well-attended not only by residents, but by Adrian Roper, Regional Director of Sustrans, who gave the formal presentation and fielded most of the questions; Malcolm Shepherd, Chief Executive of Sustrans; local councillors Ian Gilchrist and Brook Whelan; B&NES director for Planning and Transport Development David Trigwell, and police representatives Inspector Stephen Mildren and PC Malcolm Webley.
Main points raised by concerned residents concerned security, and increase in traffic and parking in the Lyncombe Vale area. These concerns were addressed by Adrian Roper, who said that the tunnels would have mobile phone reception, and in answer to a request from the floor, that the Devonshire tunnel would also be fitted with a cctv system, as well as the main Combe Down tunnel. Lights in the tunnels will be on all day, and have infra-red sensors at night. The tunnels would be gated during the construction phase , and in response to a query from the floor, Adrian said the gates could be retained, and moreover, on being pressed by Councillor Whelan, promised that there would be a written undertaking that the tunnels would be closed if necessary.
Most attending felt that the meeting had been a constructive one, with many residents' fears addressed. The WA and GLARF will continue to monitor progress and hold regular meetings with Sustrans.