Current Issues
- Rossiter Road campaign and regeneration of Widcombe Parade
- The Two Tunnels Greenway - how it will affect Widcombe and Lyncombe Vale
- The Localism Bill and how it will affect the Association and Widcombe.
- Beechen Cliff Stabilision The Cliff is badly in need of care and maintenance on a permanent basis in order to ensure its stability in years to come. The Council is willing to put in money (£500,000) but that is only half the sum required to create a fund to provide a permanent annuity to maintain the Cliff for the future. A plan put to the Council by David Beeton, Chairman of the World Heritage Site Steering Group, envisages such a fund enabling the National Trust to take over maintenance of the Cliff whilst at the same time assuming ownership of the adjoining fields surrounding Alexandra Park, thus preserving them in perpetuity for public use. At a meeting organised by the WA on 20th Jan 2012, David outlined his plan to an enthusiastic audience of local residents' groups along with contributions from Council Cabinet Member for Community Resources David Bellotti, and Bath and Sth Cotswolds Manager for the National Trust Wendy Stott. The meeting decided to press ahead with David's plan, and initially to set up a Committee under Paul Osborn and Sylvia Green of ARCH (Calton & Holloway residents) to liaise with the Council and NT and consider ways of raising the remaining half million pounds.
- Beechen Cliff School Lights The lights on the newly installed (opened in Oct 2012) Beechen Cliff School pitches have been causing anger and upset to neighbouring properties, along with complaints about the behaviour of some of those (not schoolchildren) using the pitches. Concern has also been expressed about the impact of the lights on the Bath skyline. At a meeting with Andrew Davies, Headmaster of Beechen Cliff, The WA and Greenway recommended to Mr Davies a lighting expert that he might consult to try to alleviate the effect of the lights. The Headmaster wants to extend use of the lights beyond their current 6pm curfew time, but the WA position is that we will not agree to this unless comprehensive and effective changes are made to the lighting system and the behaviour of those using the pitches is addressed.
- The Abbey Cemetery - the WA has spent 2 years cleaning graves and recording monumental inscriptions, and has sponsored the efforts of the Cotswold Wardens to create a new path from the City centre to Prior Park Landscape Garden via the Cemetery. Now we need to ensure the ongoing care of this lovely place.
- Safe speeds on Widcombe's roads. We support the 20mph initiative.
- Cleanliness on Widcombe's streets.
- Improvement of the pedestrian entry into Widcombe from the City centre by renovating the Halfpenny Bridge, the underpass on Rossiter Rd, and both sides of the railway arches to the east of the gyratory.
- Planning issues – major and local
Other issues:
- Parking:
- prevention of pavement parking
- proposed changes in parking to be implemented to members' satisfaction, especially in Lyncombe Vale.
- Enforcement of regulations to increase in proportion to rise in costs of residents' passes
- Policing:
- dealing with beggars, vandalism and graffiti
- speed limit enforcement
- promoting a safer environment after dark
- prevention of cyclists from using pavements and the footbridge
- anti-social behaviour
- Traffic:
- Pedestrian crossings needed on Prior Park Road and across to Widcombe Locks
- Refuge on Pulteney Road at the bottom of Pulteney Gardens
- Fresh and revised implementation of ineffective traffic calming measures
- Ensuring HGVs do not transit through unsuitably narrow roads and lanes in Widcombe
If you wish to comment on any local issues, contact a committee member or put your comment on the Notice Board .