Keep the date - Sunday 30th June from 13:00 - RCV Summer Party
Life by the Avon in beautiful Bath
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News and Updates
Please find the March 2024 Newsletter below:-
Dear RCV Members,
Your committee is keeping busy with the many issues on Riverside and the need to have strong input into choices and decisions that affect us.
The news from Pinnacle is that we have a new manager. Francesca Hill moved on in January and James Lang has replaced her. Inevitably this has meant some slippage but we are working well with James and the Pinnacle team to move things forward.
Homebase site: there is a new owner of the site, Hub Residential, and they are starting a consultation which is expected to lead to a new planning application for the site. We want to be proactive in this discussion as it will be a development that affects us all, and the planning team from FoBRA (the Federation of Bath Residents’ Association) is also keeping an eye on things.
The site already has planning permission, but for care and not for residential. We therefore expect a new planning application for residential. The previous planning permission (refused by the Council but granted on appeal by the planning inspector) means that most, but not all, of the planning issues have already been decided.
Hub Residential have written to us to say: We would like to invite you and your groups to our first consultant event on Friday 22nd March in Green Park Market. Times are from 9am to 7pm. Please drop by.
Elizabeth Park: the RCV Garden Group are very proactive to further improve the park. As the spring slowly arrives there is lots of work going on, including to the wild flower garden.
Litter Pick: if you have an hour on Saturday morning to help make a difference to our Riverside, please meet outside Cassia at 10.30 to give a spring clean to our area. Thank you!
Parking: in January I wrote that Pinnacle were hoping to introduce a new parking and enforcement system for the site. This is still the case but it is delayed and the detail is still being discussed. This is a difficult issue and many residents with cars have fallen foul of Premier Park’s enforcement.
In our discussions with Pinnacle, we are determined to lobby that the new parking arrangements work for us, the residents, and not against us.
Crest Nicholson works under guarantee on site: it is good to see that Crest Nicholson is moving ahead with some major repair works on the site.
And finally: the RCV Summer Party will be in the afternoon of Sunday 30th June. Save the date!
With best wishes
William Hobhouse
Chair
Riverside Community Voice is the community organisation and network for the residents of Bath Riverside. We aim to support the community through social events, keeping people informed and promoting the interests of the residents of Bath Riverside. RCV now has 85 paid-up households in Bath Riverside and would welcome new members -
to join click the green Join your Community link below.
Urban Gulls - Gull Group Information (Nov '23)
Many residents have expressed concern at the increasing number of urban gulls present here, their increasingly aggressive behaviour, and the considerable impact that they have upon sleep and wellbeing. The design of some of the buildings here lends itself well to gulls that form part of a large colony around Westmoreland.
With gulls in decline at national level there are strict protection measures in place meaning that, locally, the number of urban gulls has increased significantly in recent years. In addition, and as the gulls become more accustomed to humans and the urban environment, their behaviour has become more confident.
In early 2023 an informal “Gull Group” was formed under the stewardship of Riverside Community Voice. We work closely with Francesca Hill of Pinnacle, the Pinnacle contracted pest controller, and Gordon Dugan as Gull Officer for B&NES and Worcester councils.
Over the past eighteen months some impacted residents have kept diaries and audio and video recordings of the disturbances caused throughout day and night. In some cases, properties are particularly affected due to the elevations of the different buildings and roof designs, including flat sedum roofs and vertical aspects, which create perfect nesting sites.
In one instance a resident essentially lived amongst a colony of gulls, with upwards of twenty on the property or within fifty feet and with multiple nests and chicks.
The evidence provided has been used by Gordon Dugan to engage with Natural England to secure a licence for nest and egg removals against strict criteria. In addition to these actions in certain “hot spot” locations we have also engaged with Francesca Hill and the Pinnacle contracted pest controller to introduce preventative measures such as spikes and netting at key points and would like to extend these further.
We are currently in the process of defining a strategy for the treatment of the development with the objective of dispersing the gulls away entirely from the Bath Riverside estate. Having completed a drone survey earlier in the autumn, on the instruction of Pinnacle, the parties are now reviewing the results to identify areas that should be proofed as priority.
Crucially we also need to understand from as many residents as possible where issues are occurring as this also helps to determine the approach to the proofing strategy. Please contact us if you have experienced issues or if you have any particular concerns.
We do want to hear from you. If you are impacted or disturbed by gulls in your home, either now or in the future as the nesting season in 2024 begins, please do contact:
The Gull Group at gulls@riversidecommunityvoice.org.uk
Gordon Dugan, Gull Officer for B&NES, at gordon.dugan@worcsregservices.gov.uk
Gulls - from Councillor June Player
Ask E-on
Last year E-on held an open meeting at the Energy Centre for Riverside residents to ask any questions they might have about how the Energy Centre supplies the hot water that heats our homes. Paul Brett went better equipped than most with a comprehensive list of questions to ask some of which took over a year to be answered.
You can find Paul's latest edition of Q & A here (Nov '23). It makes interesting reading!
The Dripping Tap withdraws application
On September 8th The Dripping tap withdrew its application to establish a bar with live music at the base of Royal View.
This is mainly thanks to Ian Quekett and Lindsay Bray, co-founders of
'Protect Bath Riverside' and the 100+ residents who responded to the appeal for objections to be made - a great community effort..
Perhaps it's time for residents to make their own suggestions about suitable candidates. When many of us moved in we were told we could expect a restaurant or business premises. If you have any ideas please forward them to Committee@riversidecommunityvoice.org.uk.
There are 2 sites available at the base of Royal View. We now hear that a dental practice will move into the bigger one (which had been sought by 'The Dripping Tap) and the smaller one (1400 sq ft) is still available but apparently has some
interest.
More news here re The Gasworks Site
St William, developers for the Gasworks site, held a mini exhibition in Casia one afternoon in early September '23. The design has been improved since it first saw the light of day – the buildings have have been lowered in height using several stratagems and as they incorporate several finishes are more interesting and attractive. There is now some imaginative landscaping with suitable space for large canopy trees to flourish.
Photo voltaic panels will be fitted on all roof tops where possible and an air pump system will provide energy. The ratio of car spaces to dwellings will be approximately 0.33 (cf Riverside .7). All parking spaces will be provided with EV charging.
There is provision for a nursery but alas no community centre or building that could be used for the purpose.
For more detail or to comment on the plans see BANES Planning portal https://t.co/Y1fvtlV2U4
The
Riverside Summer Picnic on
Sunday 2nd July 2023
was a great success
Magpie and the Shiny Things Played like there was no tomorrow
Over £700 was raised for the work of The Carers Centre
150+ attendees chilled out in the Summer sun....
More here.....
Stothert Ave Parking Consultation is now closed
Pinnacle PM have asked you for your views on parking in Stothert Ave - basically to choose between Residents' Parking and Limited Waiting Parking (open to all) - once this and other roads have been adopted by the Council. The consultation is now closed with a majority in favour of Residents' Parking (details to follow).
You will find information on this subject here.
Regular guided walks are run by Bathscape.
They cover a range of abilities and distances.
We have a bus service!
The Sovereign Point stops are not yet shown on the timetable. They are however on the interactive map
(Link below)
Route 20: University to Twerton | The Big Lemon
https://thebiglemon.com/20-2/
Journey time to Bath University 38 minutes.
The Parking Situation in Bath Riverside - Update October 2023
Parking in Stothert Ave (North side) is currently residents' parking supervised by Pinnacle Property Management. When the road is adopted by the Council it should become Residents Parking (RP) administered by the Council.
Residents' Parking Bays will be marked ‘Residents Only’. A permit for a year’s unlimited parking would be £100 per vehicle (up to 2 max) and cost for residents' visitor parking would be 10p per hour. However if you have one assigned parking space already, you can only have 1 RP space, and none if you already have 2 assigned spaces.
You don't have to have a RP Permit to buy visitor parking: you can qualify simply by being a resident, and buy parking when required for visitors. . The maximum parking allowed per household per year is 1000hrs. These hours can be purchased on-line for £10 per 100 hours (current rates). This option might also be attractive for those who have a dedicated parking space but would like to accommodate visitors occasionally.
As far as Pinnacle-operated Residents' Visitors' parking is concerned there will be 11 spaces available as now in Victoria Bridge Rd and a further 9 spaces between Corinthian House and the Destructor Bridge. The old plastic card system will be scrapped in favour of a web-based system. This system might also include after-hours parking in Victoria Square (outside Coffee#1) and the square at Sovereign Point.
There will be double yellow lines on the south side of Stothert Ave following adoption.
Meeting 14th Feb 2023
June Player, showing great persistence, organised a meeting with senior Council officers on 14th Feb '23 and attendance included both our councillors and Sophie Broadfield, Director of Sustainable Communities; Claire Nimmo, Transport Developments and Policy Manager; Neil Terry, Senior Traffic Engineer and Parking Manager Andy Dunn.
We (RCV) were interested in two main issues: full yellow lining of Midland Rd - thus eliminating obstruction caused by parked vehicles - and early reinstatement of the Bus Gate. For their part the Council wanted to see progress with the parking regime on the north side of Stothert Ave. We made the point that the only way to achieve these aims within the next two years was not to wait for Crest to act, but for the Council to do the work and Crest to pay for it. The Council also asked that RCV aided by Pinnacle Property Management (Francesca) should determine which parking regime should be in place following adoption of Stothert Ave.
Some of this is already happening {Dec '23}. The Council has undertaken the lining works on Midland Rd, TROs for the reinstallation of the Bus Gate are already in hand. There is also slow movement with installing a more robust camera support for the Bus Gate and a ballot of all residents has determined that the decisive choice for parking was Residents' Parking (RP).
Talking Points from RCV Committee Meetings 2023
- Membership Subs – It is now 2023 - members should check when their membership needs renewing. If a member has a standing order, this should be done automatically (at £10 per household, students = £2 and unwaged = £1) members with queries should contact Treasurer@riversidecommunityvoice.org.uk
- Formation of Garden Group under Hilary Lee - 24 trees planted in Elizabeth Park
- There will be a Summer Party for all residents on 2nd July '23. Same band as last year: Magpie & the Shiny Things
- Discussion to decide how best to keep the Community informed - and recruit new members - eg notice boards in apartment blocks, outside Pinnacle Office, etc.
- Crest issues - road adoption still a major concern - some progress now on this (Feb 2023) Residents asked to nominate what parking regime they would like to see in Stothert Ave following road adoption.
- Pinnacle issues eg parking - how to find the right level of action against non-authorised parkers
- Awareness of the approach of BWREMC (management company) and what it means to residents/owners - formation of 'Shadow Boards..
- Reinstating and expanding activities
- Reaching out to the entire Riverside Community - how do we best do this?
- Formation of Gull Group
Home Base Site got Green Light from Planning Inspector
But Developer walked away
As of Feb 2023 no further plans have been lodged for this site.
An email from Councillor June Player on 2nd Sep 2021 discloses that the plans for development of the Homebase site, which had been turned down by B&NES Council, have been approved by the Planning Inspector. Many of our Riverside neighbours will be dismayed, particularly by section 110 of the inspector's findings, which includes the following:
"...I find that significant harm would not be caused to the living conditions of nearby residents with respect to privacy, sunlight, daylight or noise and that the proposal would therefore ... ensure that [the] development achieves appropriate levels of privacy, outlook and natural light to existing occupiers as well as avoiding significant harm to the amenities of such individuals in terms of loss of light, increased noise and overlooking."
Looking at the position of the site as seen above, one might be forgiven for thinking that the Inspector wrote this following an overly generous lunch.
It has now been reported that the developer - despite winning their appeal - has walked away from the site.
Latest news is that demolition of Homebase buildings has now started (27th Jan '23). No new planning applications have been published for the site.
You can read the full report here and see the RCV objection to the original planning application on this site here.
Bus Gate Latest
Here is the latest from B&NES Transport Development and Policy Manager Claire Nimmo (27 Oct '23):
"Due to delays and complications with Crest undertaking the redesign of the bus gate I have commissioned it myself. We have received a couple of preliminary plans for it and they are being checked for compliance and enforceability currently by colleagues. Crest have said that as soon as we provide them with a design they will contract the works".
There is probably little likelihood, therefore, of this work being completed anytime soon.
News on EV charging points for Riverside
Nov '23: A local firm - Self-charge - is about to start work on the infrastructure to provide the ability for all parking spaces in the underground car park to be able to install EV chargers should they so wish. At one stage it seemed that certain clients might have to move if they required a charger but Self-Charge say they have ensured that their design will not oblige any EV owner to move..
The previous plan for EV chargers had been modest: a limited number of public chargers to be installed outside Sovereign Point. Previous report is here
Thinking of Complaining about Gulls?
Read the important advice below first (from Councillor June Player)
BANES are collaborating with Worcester Council as they have a very similar approach to us in dealing with Gulls and so have employed Gull Officer Gordon Dugan through Worcester Council.
His contact details are: Mobile: 07917592887. Email: Gordon.dugan@worcsregservices.gov.uk
Please direct any queries to Gordon - the Gull Officer for Bath and North East Somerset Council
The gull officer can assist residents, businesses, and other organisations in Bath and North East Somerset with any issues relating to gulls. • Information and advice can be provided in relation to deterring gulls from both nesting and frequenting certain areas, and in regard to proofing existing and potential nest sites.
The gull officer may also be able to arrange subsidies for proofing nest sites. This normally involves Bath and North East Somerset Council providing access (e.g. by cherry picker) and the property owner paying for the gull exclusion and deterrent works themselves. Such works include: chimney top and chimney base gull nest steel mesh exclusion cages, gull exclusion netting, and anti-perching devices such as spikes and wires. •
The gull officer can also facilitate the licensed removal of occupied gull nests, including eggs. In special circumstances chicks may also be safely removed and relocated to an animal hospital; they are subsequently reared and released into the wild in a rural coastal environment.
The removal of gull nests, eggs and chicks under licence from Natural England can only take place where the gull officer and Natural England are satisfied that the gulls in a specific location present a threat to public health and/or public safety. Both species of gull which nest in Bath - the herring gull and the lesser black-backed gull – are afforded a very high level of protection under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. The licensed removal of occupied nests and their contents cannot take place if the issues caused are matters of nuisance such as noise, droppings, blocked drains, and scavenging of food from bins for example.
A key threat to public health caused by gulls is chronic sleep deprivation. This is where the overnight and early morning noise caused by nesting gulls is so great and so sustained that specific residents cannot get adequate sleep and where their physical and/or mental health may suffer in consequence. In such circumstances it may be possible to remove the nests under licence from Natural England.
A key threat to public safety is where gulls may swoop upon vulnerable people when defending their nests. An elderly person for example, may lose their balance and fall while protecting themselves against a gull attack. Such a fall could potentially cause serious injury. Nest and egg removal may therefore be permitted under licence.
Bath and North East Somerset Council engages in research on urban nesting gulls and their management. This includes a recent gull population survey in the city. Other related activities include deterrent hawking and researching other approaches such as high intensity gull management zones in parts of the city which are particularly sensitive to the presence of nesting gulls.
Regards June Player
Independent Councillor Westmoreland Ward Bath 01225 341904
Twitter: @JunePlayer1
Pinnacle Property Management have confirmed (Jun 2022) that flights by birds of prey to deter seagulls will continue at the Riverside Estate.
Cassia at Bath Riverside
Cassia is now well established at Riverside offering lunch breakfast and takeaways.
There is a full cafe service indoors and work stations to rent by the day.
You can follow them on instagram @cassiacommunity or their website www.cassiacommunity.co.uk
Opening of Destructor Bridge
After 4 years of waiting the Destructor Bridge finally opened without pomp or ceremony on 7th October 2020
All North-bound traffic is now permitted to use Midland Road (towards the Upper Bristol Rd from the Lower Bristol Rd)
South-bound traffic crossing the Bridge will effectively be entering a cul-de-sac unless they are permitted to turn left into Stothert Avenue, as Midland Road becomes one way with a No Entry sign just after this point.
(The car in the picture has ignored the No Entry sign)
The Bus Gate is currently suspended - See above
Prior to suspension, the following vehicles are permitted to turn left into Stothert Avenue and through the Bus Gate:
Bicycles
Local Buses
Taxis
NB No other vehicles are permitted through the gate (The signs have been changed since this photo was taken; references to 'permit holders' have been removed.)
What Next?
With the Destructor Bridge open, the next Big Thing should be the closure of the Recycling Centre and subsequent development of the site. No news of this development has been available for some time (Feb 2023)
Entrance to the centre is tagged in the Google maps view above, with the Destructor Bridge and Sovereign point towards the bottom right.
As reported in the Bath Chronicle of 22 October 2020, the Bath Recycling Centre should be closed by the end of 2022. In answer to fears that the nearest recycling centre might then be in Keynsham, the Council Cabinet Member for Neighbourhood Services is quoted as saying that 'Bath residents will not be left without at least one, and possibly more, centres for household waste and recycling.'
The space at Midland Rd will be released to meet 'the much needed demand for new housing' of which the Chronicle reports a quarter will be affordable. The Council's own development company, Aquues, has submitted plans for 176 apartments on the site, The sketch below shows what the development might look like.
