Council to take measures to curb rise in unauthorised advertisements

The council are at long last going to take some action on the amount of unauthorised advertisements on our streets.

I know from bitter experience of the problems with posters on boards on our highways and footpaths as I am sure many other residents are.

Local businesses and organisations who want to advertise on roadsides must have consent before they can legally display an advert.

Over the past year Bath & North East Somerset Council has seen a significant rise in complaints about unauthorised advertisements across the district, principally banners being displayed along roadsides. 

Whilst there are some exemptions in the regulations (usually relating to banners advertising a specific event) the majority of these advertisements require consent and it is an offence to display them without consent.

In an effort to reduce the detrimental visual impact these adverts are having, in both rural and urban areas, the Council is to bring in measures set out in the Town and Country Planning Act to remove unauthorised banners. 

From January 18, 2016, anyone displaying an unauthorised banner or placard will be given 7 days’ notice to voluntarily remove the advert. If the advert is not removed the Council will remove it for them and store it for a limited period. There will be a fee of £50 for administering the removal and storage of the unauthorised adverts.

Details of how to make an application can be found on the Council’s website athttp://www.bathnes.gov.uk/roadside-ads

There is also a useful Government guide to advertisinghttps://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/11499/326679.pdf

Anyone wishing to discuss these measures, or seeking advice about how to make an application can contact the Council’s planning department on 01225 394041

Beware rogue tree surgeons

Members of the public are urged to be vigilant of rogue tree surgeons after numerous reports of cold-call tradesmen operating across Bath and North East Somerset.

“Several local residents have been approached by tradesmen posing as qualified tree surgeons offering to cut down or provide maintenance to garden trees in exchange for cash."

Not only is this potentially dangerous for the tradesmen, it can also cause lasting damage to the tree, possible damage to the property and, in some cases, may result in enforcement action from the Council.”

Bath and many of its surrounding villages and hamlets are covered by Conservation Area designations. In addition, some trees (including trees located in private gardens) may be subject to a Tree Preservation Order (TPO) – which protects specific trees, groups of trees or woodlands in the interests of amenity. The Council must be notified six weeks in advance of intended works to a tree located within a Conservation Area or covered by a TPO unless a specific exemption applies (such as where a tree poses a risk to the public). To cut down, uproot or destroy a tree covered by a TPO or within a Conservation Area, or to authorise such an action to take place, is considered an offence under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990. Rogue tree surgeons are therefore leaving landowners potentially liable to criminal prosecution.

Work to trees will often require careful consideration by an experienced Arboriculturalist or a person who is practiced in assessing the health of trees and their appropriate management. Tree works should also ideally be undertaken outside of the bird nesting season (March – October) to prevent destruction of eggs and harm to birds protected by the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.

The Council would advise anyone who is considering undertaking or contracting work to trees on their property to first ensure that the trees are not located within a Conservation Area or covered by a TPO. The Arboricultural Association provides a Directory of Tree Surgeons on their website which lists professional, qualified tree surgeons by name, area or postcode. The website also contains information relating to good tree care.

If residents remain in doubt as to the works that can be undertaken to trees covered by a TPO or located within a Conservation Area they can contact the Council for further advice and guidance by emailing Trees_andWoodlands@BATHNES.GOV.UK or calling 01225 394041.

The Energy at Home Scheme

The Energy at Home scheme provides free, expert home energy advice, access to national and local grants, and support to make energy saving home improvements.

The Council currently has a very generous grant available of up to £6,000 for solid wall insulation, and up to £2,000 for other energy saving measures available through the scheme for home owners, private landlords and privately renting tenants. This grant is only available for a limited time and residents need to get signed up by the end of February 2016 to benefit.

There is also extra support available for residents meeting eligibility criteria to help cover the costs of heating and insulation improvements. This includes a voucher scheme for gas connection of up to £2,700 to help you connect to the gas grid (if feasible).

For more information, residents should contact the Energy at Home Advice Service:

Freephone 0800 038 5680 available Monday to Friday 9am-6pm, and on Saturday mornings 9am-12pm. 

Or email advice@energyathome.org.uk

Or visit the website www.energyathome.org.uk

Penny pinching Tories put up School dinner costs

It has come out very quietly that one if the first things that the Tories have done since they have been elected to power in Bath & North east Somerset is to put up the cost of School dinners for primary School children.

The cost of dinner rises from £2.00 per day to £2.30 per day. The Liberal Democrats when in control kept the price frozen for the previous 4 years.

It seems that life under the Conservatives is going to be much more expensive for hard working families.

New noise toolkit and app launched

I am pleased that with all the problems that we have had over the yeas with noise being created by som unsociable residents that the council have launched a new app to help battle this problem for many households.

Noise nuisance accounts for almost two thirds of complaints received by the Council’s Environmental Protection Team, but because it is often unpredictable and can happen at any time of the day or night it may be difficult for Environmental Health Officers to witness. 

The online toolkit and app will help people to gather evidence, so that the Council can,hopefully, help those affected resolve the issue without the need for formal action.

The toolkit includes advice on the actions you can take whilst noise is happening and afterwards. Amongst the ‘tools’ supplied are log sheets, template letters and the Bath and North East Somerset noise app.

The free app can be downloaded to your smart phone, and can then be used as an electronic noise diary, recording short audio clips, with date, and time. This information is then sent to the Environmental Protection Team who can use it to help with their investigation.

There are a number of benefits in using the app over making traditional audio recordings:

• The app provides a GPS location to pinpoint where you are recording the noise from.

• It has easy to use icons to indicate the type of noise and which room you are in when being affected.

• It means you can take action as the nuisance is happening.

• The app acknowledges that your recording has been received.

• Ultimately, the app provides a whole package to enable you to communicate easily with the Council. There’s no need to write letters or email, the app does it all for you.

To view the toolkit and download the app visit:http://www.bathnes.gov.uk/services/environment/pollution-noise-nuisance/noise-toolkit

Concerns about fracking raised

The Liberal Democrats on Bath & North East Somerset Council have raised concerns about fracking licences and fast tracked planning applications..

The former Liberal Democrat led council on Bath & North East Somerset previously raised concerns to any hydraulic fracking in the Mendip Hills over concerns about how this may affect the hot spa water that flows in Bath. The council were also successful in getting amendments to Somerset County Council mineral workings plan.

The concerns about hydraulic fracking were at the time supported by all political groups on the council.

The Government have announced that the will be encouraging hydraulic fracking across the country whilst at the same time putting restrictions on renewable energy.

This backward approach by the Conservative Government has led us to take action and we have written to both local Conservative MPs expressing our concern.

I would suggest that if you also have concerns that you also write to them expressing any concerns that you may have.

A letter sent by Bathnes Liberal Democrat leader to our 2 local Conservative MPs is below.

Dear Jacob and Ben,

I am very saddened to hear on the news this morning that your Governement is planning to fast track fracking planning applications.

Whilst we do not have any licences or applications at present it seems to me to be fundamentally flawed for central Government to be interfering in local affairs so dramatically. Any fracking application will generate a substantial amount of public interest and the the volume of work involved makes it very difficult to process such an application within 13 weeks.

I hope you will both be speaking out against your governments interference into local planning matters. 

It is indeed a pity that whilst you are persecuting benign forms of renewable energy such as land based wind you seem to be working hard to get fracking as quickly as possible.

Yours

Dine Romero
Leader B&NES LD

Public Consultation into proposal to close Bath Magistrates and Family Court

I am concerned at plans being put forward by the government could see the closure of Bath Magistrates court and also the family court that is important to many local people.

Below you will find details of a scrutiny panel enquiry day and i would suggest that anyone with concerns responds as soon as possible.

The Ministry of Justice has drawn up proposals to transfer the workload of the courts to Bristol. It’s also considering closing North Avon (Yate) Magistrates Court. However, Bristol Magistrates Court will not have the capacity to support the workload from both Bath and Yate.  Therefore, the response from the consultation process will help to inform the decision on whether either of the two proposals are implemented. 

To ensure local people’s view are heard, Bath & North East Somerset Council will be co-ordinating a public meeting on the plans at 11am on Friday 11th September in the Banqueting room in the Guildhall. 

Representatives from the Ministry of Justice will talk about the consultation process and Bath Magistrates Court, to provide an understanding of how the court is used.  There will be an opportunity to discuss the potential impact of the proposal and to help formulate Bath & North East Somerset Council’s response with relevant experts and key stakeholders. 

This is an important opportunity for people to make their views known on an issue that could have an impact on the effectiveness of our local court and the ease with which Bath & North East Somerset residents can access it.”

Members of the public are invited to express their comments on the consultation to the Policy Development and Scrutiny Panel in writing or during one of the time-limited slots at the meeting.

Written representations should be titled “Bath Magistrates Court consultation”, and sent to: Michaela Gay, Democratic Services, 2nd Floor, Guildhall, Bath, BA1 5AW, by fax to 01225 477314, or by email to Michaela_Gay@bathnes.gov.uk

To respond to this consultation on line: 

Email: Scrutiny@bathnes.gov.uk

Or alternatively fill in our online pro-forma http://www.bathnes.gov.uk/consultations/consultation-proposals-close-bath-magistrates-court-and-family-court.

All representations should be received by 3^rd September 2015.

No final decision on the proposals will be made until Bath & North East Somerset Council’ collective response has been reported back to the Ministry of Justice. The deadline date for the consultation is October 8, 2015.

Note 

Bath Family Court covers the following areas of law; Bankruptcy, High Court, Housing possession, Divorce, Money Claims, Domestic violence and Children.