Wednesday 18 November 2009
Twenty is Plenty
This new web site helps pick up the Twenty is plenty campaign and how we can better campaign for it in our area have a look http://www.20splentyforus.org.uk/
Sunday 15 November 2009
Will twenty now be plenty in Bath?
Bath MP Don Foster has reacted favourably to the news that the Conservative Council has finally backed the Liberal Democrat campaigning calling for 20mph speed limits for our residential streets, and are planning to trial lower speed limits next year.
Don said, “Liberal Democrats across Bath have been calling for this move for over two years. It has been one of our best supported campaigns. Across the city people know something needs to be done about speeding traffic in residential areas.
“The British Medical Association are already backing 20mph limits in residential areas. Residential streets need to be safer, especially for our children.
“While I am pleased that this trial will go ahead, the battle is not yet won as there is no firm commitment to ‘Twenty is Plenty’. I’d like to urge as many residents as possible to sign my petition so that we can continue to place pressure on the Council.
“This success is down to the hard work of local residents and a number of Liberal Democrat Councillors, which goes to show that local people can make a difference.”
You can sign Don’s petition at http://ourcampaign.org.uk/twentyisplenty
Don said, “Liberal Democrats across Bath have been calling for this move for over two years. It has been one of our best supported campaigns. Across the city people know something needs to be done about speeding traffic in residential areas.
“The British Medical Association are already backing 20mph limits in residential areas. Residential streets need to be safer, especially for our children.
“While I am pleased that this trial will go ahead, the battle is not yet won as there is no firm commitment to ‘Twenty is Plenty’. I’d like to urge as many residents as possible to sign my petition so that we can continue to place pressure on the Council.
“This success is down to the hard work of local residents and a number of Liberal Democrat Councillors, which goes to show that local people can make a difference.”
You can sign Don’s petition at http://ourcampaign.org.uk/twentyisplenty
Friday 6 November 2009
New Litter bin required
We have asked that the old worn and and broken litter bin by St Saviours Church is replaced as soon as possible.
The current bin has certainly seen better days.
The current bin has certainly seen better days.
Thursday 5 November 2009
Nationwide first for BathRider bus ticket but at a cost
Bus passengers will be able to travel as many times as they want on Bath bus services whatever the operator because of a bus season ticket scheme created by Bath & North East Somerset Council and introduced by the commercial bus operators in Bath. Both Day and Week tickets will be available for adults and children.
The BathRider Scheme is a national first where a Council has used powers under the Transport Act 2000 to make a ticket scheme. All operators in the city are required to take part in the scheme which starts November 9th 2009.
Complex negotiations with commercial bus operators have taken place over the past six months. The Council is grateful to them for their co-operation, assistance, and advice in getting to a workable solution that will offer worthwhile benefits for passengers. Amongst those to benefit the scheme are children going to Ralph Allen School who need two buses to go to school and University students and staff who need more than one bus to get to campus. The ticket is not applicable to Park & Ride services or tour buses.
How does the BathRider work?
Passengers can buy their Daily or Weekly BathRider scratch cards at Bath Bus station; Tourist Information Centre – Abbey Churchyard; Tourism Centre –Bath Spa railway station (Platform 1); STA shop – Bath University.
When the date of travel is scratched off the ticket is then valid for the whole of that day. If it’s a weekly ticket the ticket is sealed over and is then valid for 7 days from the date scratched off. There is no limit to the number of times the ticket can be used that day or week, but the ticket must be shown to the driver each time it is used. The price (set by the bus operators) will be : Daily - £4.95 Adult/ £3.70 Child; Weekly - £17.50 Adult/ £16.50 Child.
Although we welcome the scheme we are concerned at the cost with a all day ticket costing £4.95 over a pound more than First Bus already exorbitant £3.90 for and all day ticket that is more expensive than the same one that they offer in Bristol. The cost of the Child weekly at £16.50 is rather over the top. We would suggest to Bus users that they check the most economical way to travel when they get on the bus.
In these cash straped times the bus companies should be thinking of users not their profit margins.
The BathRider Scheme is a national first where a Council has used powers under the Transport Act 2000 to make a ticket scheme. All operators in the city are required to take part in the scheme which starts November 9th 2009.
Complex negotiations with commercial bus operators have taken place over the past six months. The Council is grateful to them for their co-operation, assistance, and advice in getting to a workable solution that will offer worthwhile benefits for passengers. Amongst those to benefit the scheme are children going to Ralph Allen School who need two buses to go to school and University students and staff who need more than one bus to get to campus. The ticket is not applicable to Park & Ride services or tour buses.
How does the BathRider work?
Passengers can buy their Daily or Weekly BathRider scratch cards at Bath Bus station; Tourist Information Centre – Abbey Churchyard; Tourism Centre –Bath Spa railway station (Platform 1); STA shop – Bath University.
When the date of travel is scratched off the ticket is then valid for the whole of that day. If it’s a weekly ticket the ticket is sealed over and is then valid for 7 days from the date scratched off. There is no limit to the number of times the ticket can be used that day or week, but the ticket must be shown to the driver each time it is used. The price (set by the bus operators) will be : Daily - £4.95 Adult/ £3.70 Child; Weekly - £17.50 Adult/ £16.50 Child.
Although we welcome the scheme we are concerned at the cost with a all day ticket costing £4.95 over a pound more than First Bus already exorbitant £3.90 for and all day ticket that is more expensive than the same one that they offer in Bristol. The cost of the Child weekly at £16.50 is rather over the top. We would suggest to Bus users that they check the most economical way to travel when they get on the bus.
In these cash straped times the bus companies should be thinking of users not their profit margins.
The BIG Transition Bath Event 14th November
Big Event tickets on sale now from the Bath Festivals Box Office
£10 (adult), £7 concessions, £5 (child 3-10) are available in person from the Bath Festivals Box Office, Abbey Green, Bath by calling (01225) 463362 or online at http://www.bathfestivals.org.uk
the-transition-bath-big-eventWhat’s The Big Transition Bath Event?
* A day to find out what Transition Bath and many others are doing to make Bath a stronger, more sustainable community.
* A day to debate, swap skills, listen to inspiring eco thinkers and learn more.
* A day to find out how you can make a difference and help to create a more positive future for Bath.
Big Event organisers Jenny MacKewn, Genevieve Bartlett and Nathan Baranowski explain:
“The Big Transition Event will be a fun and creative day of talks and workshops – a chance to meet other like-minded people, listen to and debate with green living gurus and swap ideas and questions. It will be family-friendly with children made very welcome while parents network. If you seek to find out more about how best to go easy on our planet this is a day to inspire you.”
£10 (adult), £7 concessions, £5 (child 3-10) are available in person from the Bath Festivals Box Office, Abbey Green, Bath by calling (01225) 463362 or online at http://www.bathfestivals.org.uk
the-transition-bath-big-eventWhat’s The Big Transition Bath Event?
* A day to find out what Transition Bath and many others are doing to make Bath a stronger, more sustainable community.
* A day to debate, swap skills, listen to inspiring eco thinkers and learn more.
* A day to find out how you can make a difference and help to create a more positive future for Bath.
Big Event organisers Jenny MacKewn, Genevieve Bartlett and Nathan Baranowski explain:
“The Big Transition Event will be a fun and creative day of talks and workshops – a chance to meet other like-minded people, listen to and debate with green living gurus and swap ideas and questions. It will be family-friendly with children made very welcome while parents network. If you seek to find out more about how best to go easy on our planet this is a day to inspire you.”
Wednesday 28 October 2009
Don calls for Commons commitment to 10:10
The 10:10 Campaign is calling on individuals and organisations to commit to trying to cut their carbon footprint by 10% in 2010. Bath Liberal Democrat MP Don Foster has already joined.
Last week (Wednesday 21st October) Don supported moves for the House of Commons to join the 10:10 campaign. Speaking in a debate on the issue he criticised the Labour Government for failing to back the proposal.
Don said, “The 10:10 campaign has so far been a real success, with many individuals and organisations signed up. The Government should be taking a lead, not just lecturing others on what they should be doing.
“That’s why I asked the Minister why she thought everyone else should sign up for 10:10, but not the House of Commons. Sadly I got no answer and most Labour MPs voted against the measure.
The debate was called by the Liberal Democrats, who were the first political party in this country to put climate change on the national agenda.
Don said, “It is disappointing that the government failed to give their support. The government needs to provide strong leadership on climate change, particularly in the run up to the Copenhagen Summit, and signing up the House of Commons to the 10:10 would have been a significant step in doing so.”
Last week (Wednesday 21st October) Don supported moves for the House of Commons to join the 10:10 campaign. Speaking in a debate on the issue he criticised the Labour Government for failing to back the proposal.
Don said, “The 10:10 campaign has so far been a real success, with many individuals and organisations signed up. The Government should be taking a lead, not just lecturing others on what they should be doing.
“That’s why I asked the Minister why she thought everyone else should sign up for 10:10, but not the House of Commons. Sadly I got no answer and most Labour MPs voted against the measure.
The debate was called by the Liberal Democrats, who were the first political party in this country to put climate change on the national agenda.
Don said, “It is disappointing that the government failed to give their support. The government needs to provide strong leadership on climate change, particularly in the run up to the Copenhagen Summit, and signing up the House of Commons to the 10:10 would have been a significant step in doing so.”
Monday 19 October 2009
Local students could face £7,000 tuition fees
There is now less than eight months to save a new generation of young people from huge increases in university tuition fees, according to Liberal Democrat MP for Bath, Don Foster
Don was speaking after the Conservatives suggested they will increase tuition fees to £7,000 if they take power at the next general election, which has to be held by next June.
That will see tuition fees for undergraduates more than double. Currently there is a cap of £3,300 in England and Wales.
Peter Mandelson has already suggested that Labour will allow universities to charge more than at present if re-elected – though the party is too scared to push through the changes it wants before June.
Only the Liberal Democrats will scrap tuition fees. The party believes university education should be free and everyone who has the ability should be able to go – and not be put off by the cost.
Bath MP Don said: “I look around Bath and I see people return from university with no job and a bank balance tens of thousands of pounds in the red. What sort of message is that?
“Labour and now the Tories are showing their true colours. They don’t care about young people – they just want to saddle them with staggering amounts of debt.
“The choice is clear: the people of Bath can vote for a politician who will condemn a generation of youngsters or for the Liberal Democrats who will make education free again, giving young people the best possible start.”
Don was speaking after the Conservatives suggested they will increase tuition fees to £7,000 if they take power at the next general election, which has to be held by next June.
That will see tuition fees for undergraduates more than double. Currently there is a cap of £3,300 in England and Wales.
Peter Mandelson has already suggested that Labour will allow universities to charge more than at present if re-elected – though the party is too scared to push through the changes it wants before June.
Only the Liberal Democrats will scrap tuition fees. The party believes university education should be free and everyone who has the ability should be able to go – and not be put off by the cost.
Bath MP Don said: “I look around Bath and I see people return from university with no job and a bank balance tens of thousands of pounds in the red. What sort of message is that?
“Labour and now the Tories are showing their true colours. They don’t care about young people – they just want to saddle them with staggering amounts of debt.
“The choice is clear: the people of Bath can vote for a politician who will condemn a generation of youngsters or for the Liberal Democrats who will make education free again, giving young people the best possible start.”
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