Current Planning Issues

Transport proposals for Bath City Centre

The latest phase of the WECA corridor schemes concerns the City centre. Part of this is an improved east-west cycle route that has little bearing on Bear Flat. But the other part will affect our journeys to and from town by bus, taxi, cycle or car (less so on foot): this is a scheme for St James’s Parade and the Ambury Gyratory. The biggest change would be that buses and taxis (but not other traffic) would be able to turn right from Churchill Bridge into the bus station or Dorchester Street instead of going round by Ambury. You can find out more on the WECA website. BFA responded in December 2023, and you can read our comments here. We give broad support as we think the benefits for bus, taxi and cycle users would outweigh the inconvenience to car users. So it would be beneficial to air quality and health. We also make a number of comments and suggestions.

Transport proposals for Bear Flat Summer 2023

WECA consulted on their scheme for the A367 through Bear Flat in summer 2023.  There is more on BFA’s response here.

Footpath consultation Autumn 2023

B&NES Council is drawing up a legal record of public rights of way: footpaths, bridleways, restricted byways and BOATs (byways open to all traffic) in Bath, consulting residents and residents ‘ associations like BFA. We circulated the draft map and the draft list of paths to be sure that the list is as comprehensive and accurate as possible. It could be years before another such consultation comes along for our area so it’s important we help the Council to get things right. The BFA response to the consultation supports most of the paths shown, but also raises some queries and points out a few possible omissions.

Keep Snowy snowy!

When we heard that The Bear pub was to be refurbished and its lighting and signage revised, we asked the brewery to confirm that the polar bear over the front door would be retained. We then heard first that it was to be removed, and then that it would be retained – but painted brown! Consultation on this closed on 23rd December and a decision is expected on or after 18 January 2022. Read our statement to see what the Bear Flat Association is doing to protect this much-loved landmark.

Liveable Neighbourhoods

BFA responded to the Council’s consultation on Liveable Neighbourhoods. There is more on the consultation at https://beta.bathnes.gov.uk/liveable-neighbourhoods-consultation. The BFA response is here.

Plan for student accommodation, corner of Wells Road and Wellsway

The scheme
Planning application 20/01591/FUL was submitted to B&NES Council for an extension to 138 Wells Road and 2-6 Wellsway, to create 28 units of purpose-built student accommodation. This concerns the block containing Fidelis, Menu Gordon Jones and the single-storey shop round the corner on Wells Road. The scheme would mean adding a fourth storey slightly set back from the frontage. The single-storey shop on Wells Road would become three storeys. Alterations at ground floor level would be minimal, and apparently Fidelis and Menu Gordon Jones would continue. The plans can be seen on the B&NES web site.

The planning application (20/01591/FUL) was refused by B&NES Council on 1 September 2020. The stated reason was: The creation of purpose built student accommodation (sui generis) would result in the loss of 6 residential units (C3). There are no demonstrable and substantial conservation, economic, social or environmental benefits that would outweigh the harm resulting from this loss of residential accommodation. The development is therefore contrary to Bath and North East Somerset Placemaking Plan policy H5.

BFA view

After an email consultation with BFA members, the Planning and Transport Group submitted an objection to the proposal.  You can read the text here.

Wellsway-WellsRd-Corner
Existing block