The key issues currently facing us
Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs)
Bath & North East Somerset Council is continuing to implement Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs) as part of its wider Liveable Neighbourhoods strategy. The scheme most affecting us is an Experimental Traffic Regulation Order (ETRO) covering a wide area of Lower Lansdown.
We are currently awaiting the B&NES decision in relation to the closure to traffic of Winifred’s Lane, and the consequential displacement of traffic onto Sion Hill and Sion Road. The B&NES website states that they intend to publish reports on the outcomes of their consultation later in 2025. In April Committee members carried out door to door visits, or sent individual emails, to gauge the feeling of residents. The overwhelming majority opposed the LTN. The Committee then made a formal submission to the B&NES LTN consultation, which closed on 30 April 2025, opposing the LTN. Prior to closure of the consultation period, we also attended various general consultations with B&NES and offered direct meetings to B&NES which to date have not been accepted. We are aware of the strength of feeling amongst the majority of residents and will keep you updated as soon as we are aware of any developments.
Planning
We aim to track emerging and changing planning policy which may impact upon the neighbourhood and in this regard our current concern is the possible impact of emerging central government policy on the future redevelopment of the Bath Spa University Sion Hill Campus site – in particular the number of residential units that may be permitted in a future application for the residential redevelopment of the site.
Members of the Association may recall that in Spring 2024, we asked them to comment upon the Local Plan “Options” Document (for the proposed new Local Plan), that was out for consultation at the time. In particular we were lobbying for a reduction in the number of allocated residential units for the site from “around 100 2+ bedroom new dwellings”, as set out in the existing Local Plan to “no more than 60 2+ bedroom new dwellings” and to retain all other aspects of policy SB24 in the existing Local Plan as currently drawn.
We were neither successful or unsuccessful in this endeavour because soon afterwards there was a general election and the new government manifesto included a desire to substantially increase housebuilding, with directives being issued to local authorities to increase their allocations. We have yet to see if and how this might affect the Sion Hill site, but we will continue to monitor emerging draft planning policy from Bath and North East Somerset Council.
The other area of concern for us are any ongoing major planning applications within the area, whether for redevelopment or major extensions. We have recently commented on two applications but only in relation to the potential impact of the proposed works themselves on the continued use and enjoyment of the area by existing residents. Our concerns mainly relate to the need for an appropriate construction management plan for the removal of waste materials, delivery of new materials, use of service vehicles of a weight and size appropriate for our local road network, the general management of the site and site operatives – including the parking of site vehicles.
Local Events / Noise
The Committee have been concerned by the noise generated by certain events in Royal Victoria Park. (In the past, Pub in the Park, The Fairground, Oktoberfest). We are now in contact with the Council’s Events Team and as a result we are consulted about future local events. This also enabled our members to get an early option to purchase tickets for Robbie Williams concert, held on Royal Crescent Lawn.
In the last two years, the council withdrew their original Code of Practice for noise, leaving us without guidance for nearly 2 years. There is a new Code of Practice which was published earlier this year. This now gives the organisers the responsibility to control the noise, and the onus on individuals or RAs to contact the organisers at the time of the event, should they wish to complain. Organisers are required to send out contact information to local residents before the event.
Neighbourhood Watch
There are now two Neighbourhood Watch groups, covering Summerhill Road (coordinator Zak Johnson) and Sion Hill, (coordinator Jenny Atherton). The aim of the groups is to make life safer by sharing knowledge of any criminal activity in our two roads, especially but not exclusively break-ins and damage to vehicles. Avon & Somerset Police and other reputable local sources also send coordinators regular information about local criminal activity including online scams, which if relevant to Sion Hill and Summerhill Road is passed on to members.
If you have views on any of these issues, do please get in touch.