Bath MP Don Foster is backing the Live Music Bill put forward by Lib Dem Peer Lord Clement-Jones. Don has also signed a petition on the number 10 website, calling on the government to change laws which came into place as part of the 2003 Licensing Act.
The Live Music Bill aims to revive live music by:
Creating an exemption from licences for the performance of any live music in a pub or similar venue
Reintroducing the rule allowing up to two performers to play live music anywhere without the need for a licence
Enabling hospitals, schools and colleges to perform live music without the need for licences
Don said, “When the licensing laws were changed in 2003 we were promised an explosion of live music, but in reality many small scale events have been stifled by bureaucracy.
“This Bill will not only make it easier for local musicians to get a gig, but it will help small venues who cannot cope with the cost of applying for a license.
“It is time that common sense prevailed, and small venues, hospitals and schools were allowed to host live music without having to cope with an expensive, bureaucratic nightmare.”
Monday, 17 August 2009
Thursday, 6 August 2009
Bath says last farewell to Harry Patch
Combe Down came to a standstill today as residents paid their final respects to First World War hero Harry Patch.
Hundreds of people, young and old, stood out in the rain to honour the Last Tommy, who was born and grew up in the village.
Residents, shop owners and workers were among the many who lined the streets to see his funeral cortege pass through The Avenue, up The Firs and onto North Road following the funeral service in Wells Cathedral.
to read the full story follow the link HERE
Hundreds of people, young and old, stood out in the rain to honour the Last Tommy, who was born and grew up in the village.
Residents, shop owners and workers were among the many who lined the streets to see his funeral cortege pass through The Avenue, up The Firs and onto North Road following the funeral service in Wells Cathedral.
to read the full story follow the link HERE
Tuesday, 4 August 2009
Overflowing dog bin a disgrace
The bin behind the garages at the junction of Uphill Drive and Coxley Drive is overflowing yet again.Liberal Democrat campaigner Raine Harvey-Cantrel has reported this to the Council and asked for it to be emptied immediately as it poses a health hazzard.
Fly-tipping site reported
Liberal Democrat Campaigner Raine Harvey-Cantrell has reported this fly-tipping problem found at the end of the path between Uphill and Coxley Drive to the Council and asked for it to be cleaned up.
New B&NES Supplementary Planning Doc on Planning Obligations adopted
The Planning Obligations Supplementary Planning Document was adopted by Bath & North East Somerset Council on 8th July 2009, it will come into effect for all applications registered on or after 9th July 2009.
The aim of this Supplementary Planning Document is to provide clear guidance on the Council’s approach to Planning Obligations. Planning Obligations on developers are used to secure affordable housing and financial contributions to mitigate the impact of new development on social and other infrastructure such as roads and community facilities.
The SPD will provide the general public, landowners, developers and other stakeholders with clarity about the process by which planning obligations will be sought, when they will be sought and what they will be sought for.
To read the Document follow the link HERE
The aim of this Supplementary Planning Document is to provide clear guidance on the Council’s approach to Planning Obligations. Planning Obligations on developers are used to secure affordable housing and financial contributions to mitigate the impact of new development on social and other infrastructure such as roads and community facilities.
The SPD will provide the general public, landowners, developers and other stakeholders with clarity about the process by which planning obligations will be sought, when they will be sought and what they will be sought for.
To read the Document follow the link HERE
Monday, 3 August 2009
Book of Condolence open for war hero
Bath & North East Somerset Council is opening a Book of Condolence which will give members of the public an opportunity to pay their respects to Harry Patch. It will be available for members of the public to sign from Monday August 3 – Friday August 14, on Mondays to Fridays from 8am – 6pm.
The book will be available in the Guildhall as of today and at the Councils other offices at Keynsham & Midsomer Norton from Thursday.
The Council will also be putting up a special commemorative brass plaque at The Guildhall to celebrate his life and dedication to his country. Harry was the last British soldier from the First World War. He was born in Combe Down, Bath, in 1898 and died on July 25 aged 111.
The plaque will be unveiled in October at a special ceremony. Further details will be announced closer to the date.
The book will be available in the Guildhall as of today and at the Councils other offices at Keynsham & Midsomer Norton from Thursday.
The Council will also be putting up a special commemorative brass plaque at The Guildhall to celebrate his life and dedication to his country. Harry was the last British soldier from the First World War. He was born in Combe Down, Bath, in 1898 and died on July 25 aged 111.
The plaque will be unveiled in October at a special ceremony. Further details will be announced closer to the date.
Thursday, 30 July 2009
new planning Use Class Order for HMOs
The government is thinking of changing the rules on HMOs (houses in multiple occupation, or shared houses) - and they are asking us what we think! Now we have a chance to tip the balance in favour of residents.
Parts of Bath have a problem with HMOs. Of course, there's nothing wrong with sharing a house, as such. But there's something seriously wrong with a neighbourhood where most of the houses are HMOs.
This is now the case in the neighbourhoods in parts of Bath. Few live in HMOs for very long, so what this means is a constantly changing population. Constant change breaks the links on which communities depend. As HMOs increase, community spirit decreases. There are now streets in where temporary tenants outnumber longer term residents. The results are all too obvious in the changes that have overtaken these neighbourhoods in the last decade or two.
But it's not only our area which is affected. Most university towns now have concentrations of HMOs. And not only these - there are huge problems in seaside towns where guest-houses have been turned into HMOs, and in many market towns gang masters have bought up HMOs for seasonal workers.
As a result, residents groups from all over the country have joined the National HMO Lobby, a network of community associations pioneered by the Leeds HMO Lobby. Locally the Bath Federation of Residents Associations are members. In addition, there is a parallel national group of local councillors, of which Cllr Shaun McGall Oldfield ward is a member. Don Foster, our MP here in Bath, is a member of the parliamentary Group working on these issues.
Together they have campaigned for ten years to get government nationally to bring in legislation which will enable government locally to resist concentrations of HMOs. They helped to bring in licensing of HMOs with the Housing Act 2004, and the highly successful voluntary local accreditation scheme for HMOs
But licences and accreditation schemes don't resist HMOs - for this, new planning legislation is needed.
At the moment no permission is needed to convert a family house to a HMO - so anyone can do so, landlords, buy-to-let investors, student parents ... There's nothing the Council can do without new powers. So we have been campaigning for a change to the Use Classes Order, the relevant regulation. Colleagues in Loughborough, Nottingham and Southampton have shown ministers what the problems are in their areas. So last year, we got the government to commission a report on HMOs - and this recommended consultation on new legislation. The consultation paper agrees that concentrations of HMOs cause problems. It suggests three courses of action, and is seeking the views of the public on these.
Option 1 is to rely on existing ‘good practice', like the things we've done in Bath to try to tackle the problem - but we know it doesn't work!
Option 2 is to change the Use Classes Order, so that HMOs need planning permission - this is obviously what is needed, and what we've campaigned for so long. On its own it won't solve the problem, but it is essential to prevent it getting any worse, here and elsewhere.
Option 3is a complicated proposal to allow HMOs anywhere at all - except where the government agrees to give special powers to councils in limited areas (Article 4 Directions). This is basically unworkable.
We have until 7 August to persuade the government to act on Option 2.
What can you do to help?
Many Bath Councillors have written make sure that your has as has. Don Foster, our MP here in Bath. So too can you, the more voices the better!
Please join us in writing to the Government if you need help with your letter or email then please contact us.
The email address for replies is:
UCOHMOConsultation@communities.gsi.gov.uk (subject: HMO Consultation);
The postal address is:
Susan Turner,
Planning System Improvement Division,
Department for Communities and Local Government,
Zone 1/J10,
Eland House,
Bressenden Place,
London
SW1E 5DU.
The deadline is 7 August 2009.
Parts of Bath have a problem with HMOs. Of course, there's nothing wrong with sharing a house, as such. But there's something seriously wrong with a neighbourhood where most of the houses are HMOs.
This is now the case in the neighbourhoods in parts of Bath. Few live in HMOs for very long, so what this means is a constantly changing population. Constant change breaks the links on which communities depend. As HMOs increase, community spirit decreases. There are now streets in where temporary tenants outnumber longer term residents. The results are all too obvious in the changes that have overtaken these neighbourhoods in the last decade or two.
But it's not only our area which is affected. Most university towns now have concentrations of HMOs. And not only these - there are huge problems in seaside towns where guest-houses have been turned into HMOs, and in many market towns gang masters have bought up HMOs for seasonal workers.
As a result, residents groups from all over the country have joined the National HMO Lobby, a network of community associations pioneered by the Leeds HMO Lobby. Locally the Bath Federation of Residents Associations are members. In addition, there is a parallel national group of local councillors, of which Cllr Shaun McGall Oldfield ward is a member. Don Foster, our MP here in Bath, is a member of the parliamentary Group working on these issues.
Together they have campaigned for ten years to get government nationally to bring in legislation which will enable government locally to resist concentrations of HMOs. They helped to bring in licensing of HMOs with the Housing Act 2004, and the highly successful voluntary local accreditation scheme for HMOs
But licences and accreditation schemes don't resist HMOs - for this, new planning legislation is needed.
At the moment no permission is needed to convert a family house to a HMO - so anyone can do so, landlords, buy-to-let investors, student parents ... There's nothing the Council can do without new powers. So we have been campaigning for a change to the Use Classes Order, the relevant regulation. Colleagues in Loughborough, Nottingham and Southampton have shown ministers what the problems are in their areas. So last year, we got the government to commission a report on HMOs - and this recommended consultation on new legislation. The consultation paper agrees that concentrations of HMOs cause problems. It suggests three courses of action, and is seeking the views of the public on these.
Option 1 is to rely on existing ‘good practice', like the things we've done in Bath to try to tackle the problem - but we know it doesn't work!
Option 2 is to change the Use Classes Order, so that HMOs need planning permission - this is obviously what is needed, and what we've campaigned for so long. On its own it won't solve the problem, but it is essential to prevent it getting any worse, here and elsewhere.
Option 3is a complicated proposal to allow HMOs anywhere at all - except where the government agrees to give special powers to councils in limited areas (Article 4 Directions). This is basically unworkable.
We have until 7 August to persuade the government to act on Option 2.
What can you do to help?
Many Bath Councillors have written make sure that your has as has. Don Foster, our MP here in Bath. So too can you, the more voices the better!
Please join us in writing to the Government if you need help with your letter or email then please contact us.
The email address for replies is:
UCOHMOConsultation@communities.gsi.gov.uk (subject: HMO Consultation);
The postal address is:
Susan Turner,
Planning System Improvement Division,
Department for Communities and Local Government,
Zone 1/J10,
Eland House,
Bressenden Place,
London
SW1E 5DU.
The deadline is 7 August 2009.
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