Combe Down from the air

Here are a couple of pictures taken of Combe Down and in particular the Work Site for the Combe Down Stone Mines project. The photo at the top is taken from the South West and the one on the right from the North East, with Prior Park School playing fields in the foreground. Local people have visited the work site and many were pleased to see how tidy the site is. Friends of Firs Field are still asking people to contribute to any changes needed to the Field when we get it back at the end of the project in 2009. You can make your suggestions by visiting the Information Centre in the Avenue or by making a comment on this Blog.

Planning Applications

Ward: Combe Down App Ref: 07/02344/FUL
Parish: N/A
Registered: 8th August 2007 Expiry Date: 3rd October 2007
Location: 32 Southstoke Road Combe Down Bath BA2 5SN
Grid Ref: (E)374776 - (N)162068 LB Grade: N/A
Proposal: Erection of a single storey side extension and porch
Officer: Tessa Hampden
Applicant: Mr E Grubb
Agent: LBC Planning Services Ltd
32 Southstoke Road
Combe Down
Bath
BA2 5SN

The Old Vicarage
The Downs
Clandown
Radstock
BA3 3DD

Ward: Combe Down App Ref: 07/02347/FUL
Parish: N/A
Registered: 6th August 2007 Expiry Date: 1st October 2007
Location: Netherleigh Pioneer Avenue Combe Down Bath BA2 5QX
Grid Ref: (E)375004 - (N)162227 LB Grade: N/A
Proposal: Erection of a second storey, rear extension
Officer: Chris Beak
Applicant: Mr John Fairman
Agent: No Agent
Netherleigh
Pioneer Avenue
Combe Down
Bath
BA2 5QX

Ward: Combe Down App Ref: 07/02392/FUL
Parish: N/A
Registered: 7th August 2007 Expiry Date: 2nd October 2007
Location: Longwood Cottage Claverton Down Road Claverton Down Bath BA2 7AD
Grid Ref: (E)377000 - (N)162810 LB Grade: N/A
Proposal: Change of use from domestic (Use Class C3) to offices (Use Class B1) and erection of an extension
Officer: Rachel Le Huray
Applicant: BMI Bath Clinic
Agent: Cousins Thomas Rose
Longwood Cottage
Claverton Down Road
Claverton Down
Bath
BA2 7AD

10 Church Walk
Trowbridge
Wiltshire
BA14 8DX

Ward: Combe Down App Ref: 07/02406/FUL
Parish: N/A
Registered: 8th August 2007 Expiry Date: 3rd October 2007
Location: 34 Southstoke Road Combe Down Bath BA2 5SN
Grid Ref: (E)374775 - (N)162089 LB Grade: N/A
Proposal: Erection of a single storey rear extension (Resubmission)
Officer: Martyn Edwards
Applicant: Mr And Mrs K Gammon
Agent: Graham Savage Associates
C/o Agent
The Chestnuts Studio
Burymead
Codford St Peter
Wiltshire
BA12 0NU

Ward: Combe Down App Ref: 07/02431/FUL
Parish: N/A
Registered: 10th August 2007 Expiry Date: 5th October 2007
Location: 18 Stonehouse Close Combe Down Bath BA2 5DP
Grid Ref: (E)375664 - (N)162512 LB Grade: N/A
Proposal: Erection of first floor extension above garage
Officer: Richard Dale
Applicant: Mr And Mrs D Keepen
Agent: No Agent
18 Stonehouse Close
Combe Down
Bath
BA2 5DP

Ward: Combe Down App Ref: 07/02435/LBA
Parish: N/A
Registered: 30th July 2007 Expiry Date: 24th September 2007
Location: 8 Greendown Place Combe Down Bath BA2 5DD
Grid Ref: (E)375491 - (N)162330 LB Grade: II
Proposal: External and internal alterations to the front and erection of an extension to the rear
Officer: Robert Sutcliffe
Applicant: Mr And Mrs K Gover
Agent: Nicholas Minchin Architects
Leigh House
Leigh Road
Holt
Trowbridge
BA14 6PS
38 Silver Street
Dursley
Glos
GL11 4ND
Ward: Combe Down App Ref: 07/02464/FUL
Parish: N/A
Registered: 1st August 2007 Expiry Date: 26th September 2007
Location: 4 Combe Road Combe Down Bath BA2 5HX
Grid Ref: (E)375527 - (N)162188 LB Grade: N/A
Proposal: Erection of a conservatory to the rear
Officer: Tessa Hampden
Applicant: Mr And Mrs Glenday
Agent: Mr C Jones
4 Combe Road
Combe Down
Bath
BA2 5HX
Honey Cottage
15 Overleigh
Street
Somerset
BA16 0TPWard: Combe Down App Ref: 07/02404/FUL
Parish: N/A
Registered: 25th July 2007 Expiry Date: 19th September 2007
Location: 49 Bradford Park Combe Down Bath BA2 5PR
Grid Ref: (E)375260 - (N)162735 LB Grade: N/A
Proposal: Erection of a single storey rear extension and conservatory
Officer: Alice Barnes
Applicant: Mr P Hunter
Agent: No Agent
49 Bradford Park
Combe Down
Bath
BA2 5PR

Ward: Combe Down App Ref: 07/02385/FUL
Parish: N/A
Registered: 26th July 2007 Expiry Date: 20th September 2007
Location: 31 Trinity Road Combe Down Bath BA2 5AB
Grid Ref: (E)375838 - (N)162674 LB Grade: N/A
Proposal: Erection of a detached dwelling on land at 31 Trinity Road
Officer: Rachel Le Huray
Applicant: Mr And Mrs Barrett
Agent: LPC (Trull) Ltd
31 Trinity Road
Combe Down
Bath
BA2 5AB
Trull
Tetbury
Gloucestershire
GL8 8SQ

Ward: Combe Down App Ref: 07/01966/LBA
Parish: N/A
Registered: 19th July 2007 Expiry Date: 13th September 2007
Location: 147 Church Road Combe Down Bath BA2 5JN
Grid Ref: (E)376318 - (N)162402 LB Grade: II
Proposal: Internal alterations to include the enlargement of existing 1st floor opening and re-aligment of staircase
Officer: Robert Sutcliffe
Applicant: Mr R Newnham
Agent: Neil Chapple And Associates
Scott House147 Church Road
Combe Down
Bath
BA2 5JN
33 Millmead Road
Oldfield Park
Bath
BA2 3JP

Ward: Combe Down App Ref: 07/02175/FUL
Parish: N/A
Registered: 16th July 2007 Expiry Date: 10th September 2007
Location: 3 Oxford Terrace Tyning Road Combe Down Bath BA2 5HH
Grid Ref: (E)376230 - (N)162560 LB Grade: N/A
Proposal: Erection of a single storey rear extension
Officer: Martyn Edwards
Applicant: Mr And Mrs Venables
Agent: Western Building Consultants Ltd
3 Oxford Terrace
Tyning Road
Combe Down
Bath
BA2 5HH
Unit 20
Wansdyke Business Centre
Oldfield Lane
Bath
BA2 3LY

Deep Clean Keep Clean (DCKC)

What an excellent three days for Combe Down! Focused mainly on Foxhill this exercise, paid for with money from Government through the Local Area Agreement (LAA) and the first in Bath, was a great success. There are six such exercises altogether, with the last one a return to Combe Down in three years time. This is the only ward to get two DCKCs. One of the tests of the effectiveness of the DCKC is whether local residents can reduce litter to allow the normal cleaning to keep up the high standard achieved in the last few days - we can all help to do this and to foster pride in our area.

Probably the most visible improvements are the high pressure hot water cleaning of the pavements outside Bradford Road shops, removal of moss from the lanes around Drake Avenue, the cutting of the hedge at the junction of Queens Drive and Meare Road and the collection of bulky waste on Saturday morning. In addition most areas had a 'deep clean' with manual and mechanical sweepers in operation and there was some patching of the roads.

Many of the small jobs done (and some have yet to be completed) were reported to Cherry and I by local residents. Please continue to use our Focus feedback sheets, telephone and email to let us know about problems.

Some of the actions taken are listed below:

Wednesday 8th August
Large Mechanical Sweeper plus one manual - Starts route, concentrating on south side of Bradford Road, including Pioneer, The Avenue etc. (subject to weight limits). Manual sweeper sweeping, litter picking, de weeding where necessary.

Compact Sweeper plus one manual - Starts route, concentrating on Foxhill Estate, Sedgemoor, Drakes Ave, Quantocks, pavements on Bradford Road. Manual sweeper sweeping, litter picking, de weeding where necessary.

3 manuals working through the Foxhill area.

Graffiti cleared, moss removed, pavements washed around shops.

Arson Task Force's POD will be on the west side of the Bradford Road shopping precinct area from 10.00 a.m - 2.00 p.m with information on all services involved in the DCKC for residents.

Volunteers delivering letters to households giving information on the DCKC, energy efficiency, bulky waste collection on Saturday and in The Firs and Church Road (letters to be delivered) asking them to park cars on opposite side of road for following day to allow a deep clean of kerbed edges.

Thursday 9th August
Large Mechanical Sweeper plus one manual - Completes route, concentrating on Foxhill estate. Manual sweeper sweeping, litter picking, de weeding where necessary.

Compact Sweeper plus one manual - continues route, concentrating on Foxhill Estate, Manual sweeper sweeping, litter picking, de weeding where necessary. Deep Clean The firs & The Avenue if cars removed.

3 manuals working through the Foxhill area.

Graffiti cleared, moss removed.

Clean up of the rubbish from the wooded area around Springfield open space. (volunteers to be on site from 2.30 p.m, Patricia from Foxhill Volunteers)

Arson Task Force's POD will be on the west side of the Bradford Road shopping precinct area from 10.00 a.m - 2.00 p.m with information on all services involved for residents.

Friday 10th August
Compact Sweeper plus one manual - completes route, concentrating on Foxhill Estate, Manual sweeper sweeping, litter picking, de weeding where necessary.

3 manuals working through the Foxhill area.

British Trust for Conservation Volunteers and the Play Rangers scheme organising a park type event for local children on the Springfield open space area, Bug hunts, Den building etc. There will also be a Fire Brigade appliance on site if available

Arson Task Force's POD will be on the west side of the Bradford Road shopping precinct area from 10.00 a.m - 2.00 p.m with information on all services involved for residents.

Saturday 11th August
Bulky Waste collection carried out in the following areas. Signs installed at designated collection points. Pick up times from 10.00 a.m - Noon
Sedgemoor Road
Queens Drive
Kewstoke Road
Quantocks
Porlock Road
Bradford Park

Fire Service taking out an appliance to the area.

Incidentals happening during the course of the 4 days (responsible officer)
Bradford Park shrub beds tidied and litter picked (Bob Jones, Somer)
Certain litter bins and seats refurbished/replaced as agreed (Simon Memory)
Sedgemoor Road - Broken fence on green to be dealt with (Bob Jones, Somer)
Football posts at top of entry hill to be looked at (Rodney Atwell)
Pothole by back of garages in Sedgemoor Road to be dealt with (Bob Jones, Somer)
Bradford Road - Old paved area to be grassed
Foxhill focus litter picking Wednesday morning from Community Centre (Cllr Roger Symonds)
Narrow Road at end of Foxhill joined to Perry mead (formerly Foxhill Lane) - Overhanging growth etc (Bob Standen, Bob Jones)
Pane of glass at the MoD shelter replaced
First bus to look at the timetables on the showcase route - They are aware of the need on the North Road stops.
Request for the Bus stop in Prior Park to be painted over .
Patching works for Queens Road and Sedgemoor Road
Removing weeds etc from drungway between Hadley Arms and Church Road

Tour de France

So the greatest cycle race in the world has ended with victory for Alberto Contador. Blood doping and drugs once again marred the race with Rasmussen and Vinokourov removed. Nic and I went to the fantastic weekend start of the Tour in London and watched this terrific spectacle of riders, support and advertising vehicles and Gendarmes go through the City of London at the Guildhall on the Sunday morning.

It is amazing how this race grips young and old alike along the route whenever it comes to the UK, and this year was exceptional with no less than five British competitors. Well done to Mayor Ken Livingstone who is using the Tour to promote cycling in London, where cycling has increased by 83% since 2000. People are being caught when using drugs, so we can hope for a future where the race is a test of strength and ability, which it always is for most of the competitors and not a test of who can aviod detection of performance enhancing drugs.

We have now watched the beginning and the end of the Tour having witnessed the end of the Tour in Paris back in 2003.