|
Newsletter Notes No.
4
Date: 01/08/2006 Chairman's Notes
Chairman's Notes – Newsletter Notes Summer
2006
The burning issue of the moment is the change throughout B&NES to
arrangements for the collection of waste. This ill-considered scheme
has meant the end of collections of waste from basement areas, to
the detriment of Bath’s World Heritage Site status and reputation.
As Chairman I get bombarded with letters and questionnaires seeking
the Society’s views on matters which barely impinge on life in the
Crescent, yet on this important issue I received no indication that
any change was being considered. This is apparently because B&NES
knew that they would get the wrong answer!
I was dismayed to learn that the public meeting in Keynsham was
held not to review the decision to institute edge-of-property
collection, but to review the implementation and publicity for that
decision. Of course if the original decision had not been so
inappropriate, there would not be the same indignation about its
implementation. The comment by Cllr Gerry ‘Beau Trash’ Curran that
few Royal Crescent households had use of a common waste storage area
was typical of the lack of thought and research about the whole
matter. My own research revealed that, of the 120-odd households in
the Crescent, over 100 had been using a common storage area.
We need to lobby the Council, in particular local councillor Andy
Furse (andrew_furse@bathnes.gov.uk) and Cllr Gerry Curran (gerry_curran@bathnes.gov.uk)
to persuade them to consider the wider effect of the new
arrangements on the tourist economy and heritage aspect of Bath.
Meanwhile please keep the Waste Dept (sarah_alder@bathnes.gov.uk
and/or carol_tunnard@bathnes.gov.uk) informed of any failures of the
new arrangements.
New arrangements for funding Lawn maintenance are going much more
smoothly. Nearly every freeholder has now paid the agreed
contribution (£200) for 2006, with reminders having recently gone to
the stragglers, and all seems set fair for the CLC’s AGM in August
which should pave the way for all freeholders to become members of
the Company and help direct its activities.
And talking of paving the way, I understand that a source of
pennant stone, to replace the unsightly tarmac surface alongside the
Railings, has been located, and its suitability will be assessed
shortly. You may have seen the first visible signs of progress for
the Restoration project in the form of planning consent notices
attached to the Railings. While no problems are anticipated in
securing planning and listed building consent, we have learnt that
for reasons apparently connected with the Bath Spa saga all such
decisions have to be reviewed by central government. This will mean
that actual work will not start until October. However the Parks
Dept remains of the opinion that the announced completion date of
the end of the year will still be met.
Stephen Little Chairman, Royal Crescent
Society
Please scroll down the items below and click
on "more" to
access the new updates on the site
Members Area
- You first register to view this area
and will be automatically requested your login
and password on linking to it
(THIS AREA IS FREE TO
ALL MEMBERS and FRIENDS)
Click here to register or
email
editor@royalcrescentbath.com
Members without internet
access can request copies of the articles from:
The Editor
RCS
28A Royal Crescent
07816 757578
Alternately there is a
full copy of all the site available to be
borrowed on request.
Freedom of Information:
We are for ever striving to inform and give
members full access to not only our extensive archive of newsletters
but also minutes of committee and AGM minutes. We have recently
added to the web site all Society AGM minutes going back to 1992
more... NEW
Crescent Lawn Company
Secretary's Update:
In the last two
newsletters I have been able to tell you some good news of how well
the Railings, Pavement and Ha-ha Restoration is progressing. Back
then (in March) we were looking forward to the start of physical
work in May or June. Well, May and June have come and gone, and we
are now well into July – with a depressingly late start of October
being suggested . Unfortunately this most disappointing state of
affairs is beyond the power of the Directors of the Crescent Lawn
Company to control. On a slightly more positive note I can tell you
that:
CONSENT APPLICATIONS.
Consent applications have been submitted to Bath Planning Office and
they will be submitted to Committee in mid August. Unfortunately
they then have to be sent to the Central Government offices in
Bristol for approve which means a further four weeks’ delay.
VAT. Whether or
not to pay VAT is still causing a problem. There is a very strong
argument that the much of the works should be VAT exempt and the
Lead Monitor is doing all he can to clarify the position. Directors
of the Crescent Lawn Company are hoping for a favourable outcome,
as, I am sure you will appreciate, the difference between paying VAT
and not paying is significant.
THE LAWN-SIDE
PAVEMENTS. A source of reclaimed pennant stone for the pavement
is being sought by B&NES.
THE LEGALITIES. A
draft Contract has now been drawn up between B&NES, Heritage Lottery
Fund and the Crescent Lawn Company regarding payment of the
Company’s share of the costs. Directors have been attending to this
recently and have suggested a few minor amendments.
Sorry the news is so
down-beat, but the Directors and I are as disappointed as all of you
must be.
Jenny Hardisty Secretary
to The Crescent Lawn Company Ltd
Refuse (see Non Members area)
Vandalism and Crime Reporting
We
have recently had a number of incidents one resulted in damage to a
number of cars on the Crescent. As a result Colin Clarkson-Short has
forged a strong relationship with the police and park wardens and
issued details of who you should contact and when.
more ...NEW
Great news as the city agree a clampdown on vandalism around the
Park
more ...NEW
Summer Picnic
Tim Forrester's summer barbeque plus pics
more... NEW
Crescent Life
Read about what the press have said about two properties that were
for sale on the Crescent and find out about planning
applications and the price that house sold for
more....NEW
Remember, all contributions, letters,
photographs etc. are welcome.
Non Members Area
Refuse:
Due to the issue being
city wide and the strong relationships we have forged over the issue
we have taken the step to publish these pages in the public web
site. This enables everyone to see the facts for themselves and
forge their own opinion.
The pages cover all correspondence (RCS, individual, heritage
and tourism and council), the significant press and media coverage
and reader comments, council formal documents and importantly the
official reports and minutes that supported their bad decision.
There are over 14 letters of correspondence, 17 press and
media articles, 11 council correspondence s, and 7 council papers
you can read to make our own mind up on. Plus the council's own
accident reports and health and safety and risk analysis.
more...NEW
Picture Gallery and References:
Another great picture of
the Crescent in winter from Rachel Clarkson-Short
Books
are us:
Read
about 'The Imaginary Autocrat' a first class book covering the life
and times of Richard 'Beau' Nash. It is an insightful read
into how Bath as we know it today was formed and
also life in the early eighteen century and is strongly recommended
and only limited copies available.
more...
UPDATED
General Information:
Read
Mike Daw's personal views on the departure this
year of the Bath Festival opening night from the
Crescent and its recent history.
more...NEW
Restoration Project:
Read about when the
council removed the "cabbage plot" and returned the Crescent field
to lawn in 1957,
more ....NEW
Read about the latest
update on the restoration project
more...NEW
Register now either online
(click here)
to access the website's members only area. We
will automatically send Cresidents email alerts when
the site is updated.
If
you wish to get physical copies of the pages
please request this and we will be happy to
supply. There is also a Master Copy of the whole
site is available to be lent on request.
Your Editorial Team
Martyn and Annie
Daniels
28A Royal Crescent, BA1
2LT
Tel: 01225 427509
editor@royalcrescentbath.com
|
.jpg)
.jpg)
