Welcome to Radstock Action Group

[6th February 2012]: TONIGHT: CANDLE LIT VIGIL IN RADSTOCK

Radstock Action Group is holding a candlelit vigil tonight in protest at the destruction of the heart of Radstock. Today BANES and an outside contractor have been chopping down trees and opening up the railway land to contractors entering from Frome Road opposite Fosseway Press. initially we were told that this was being done by Wessex Water - the truth is, as confirmed by the manager on site, that it is being done by BANES who are clearly intent on starting the road as soon as possible, regardless of public opinion, planning issues, safety audits or anything else.

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 14:07:00 +0000

Despite the short notice we hope to be able to provide a fitting tribute to the town that we all regard as worth saving and regenerating.

Save the heart of Radstock - Stop the Road

CANDLE LIT VIGIL TONIGHT
Monday 6 February
6.30pm
Victoria Hall
Everyone welcome
Come and defend your town!
Bring your candles, torches and lanterns

BANES has begun the destruction of the railway land by chopping down a large number of trees. The subway and the path are closed. THE ROAD WILL BE NEXT.

SAVE THE HEART OF RADSTOCK: STOP THE ROAD

Press release issued by Amanda Leon, Secretary, on behalf of Radstock Action Group

[6th February 2012]: Radstock road construction works starting? Radstock will be the last to know.

RENEWED ACTIVITY ON RAILWAY LAND INDICATES ROAD BUILDING MAY BE STARTING

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 08:35:00 +0000

Last Friday (3 February) there was renewed contractor activity on the Railway Land. It's difficult to know how long it lasted or what they were doing. One thing is certain – they will be back.

Of course, the fact that the Wessex Water operations are starting this week enables BANES to begin all sorts of activity under cover of the inevitable disruption from the sewer works.

It seems highly likely that the subway and the footpath across the railway land will be closed and there are undoubtedly going to be trees in danger.

This is all that we know at present. Apart from two particularly salient facts:

1. The leader of BANES, Councillor Paul Crossley is on record as having said publicly, several times that if there are no houses, there will be no road. There is currently no operable planning permission for the site in existence, so it's clear that nothing should be happening.
2. There has been no Safety Audit for the new traffic system proposed – such an audit is a requirement which BANES has not met.

YET AGAIN TOTAL LACK OF TRANSPARENCY

True to past form, those who will be most affected by the proposed new road, the residents, businesses and visitors, are not even accorded the courtesy of being told what is being done to their town. Having taken no account of the views expressed in their latest ‘consultation', BANES appears determined to carry on with their plans which will render Radstock a housing estate at a road junction. So much for the Lib Dem declaration that they listen.

CORE STRATEGY EXAMINATION UNDERLINES BANES DETERMINATION TO TURN RADSTOCK INTO A COMMUTERS HOUSING ESTATE

As the Inspector continues to examine the BANES Draft Core Strategy, further evidence is emerging, through the Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment (SHLAA), of BANES intention to grab as many sites as possible in Radstock for building homes on, at the expense of potential jobs, with previously work-dominated sites being proposed for housing and the clear admission by BANES at the session devoted to the Somer Valley that 'self-containment will worsen'. This is planning speak for more people will have to out-commute to work; in other words that there will be more homes built than jobs created (roughly to the tune of 2,700 homes to 1,000 jobs in the Somer Valley as a whole). And Radstock, is in their sights, as the place where a disproportionate number of these homes will be built.

RADSTOCK NEEDS REGENERATION - WHY WON'T BANES TALK TO THE PEOPLE WHO KNOW BEST?

What has BANES got to worry about? Everyone is keen to have a dialogue about the future of Radstock. Everyone wants their suggestions to be put into the mix. What is needed now, as a matter of urgency, is the development of a strategic action plan for the town, lots of joined up thinking and a considerable hike in the ambitions that BANES has for the town - a hike that will match local ambitions and reflect the potential as well as the history of the place.

FINALLY

Radstock Action Group asks every single BANES councillor to think about how they would feel if their town or neighbourhood was the object of ill-thought out plans, so damaging and unpopular that secrecy became the key word in securing the changes. A situation in which local people's letters and comments were ignored, aspersions cast on the good intentions and integrity of those seeking to defend their town/neighbourhood from inappropriate development.

Perhaps then, having done this, these same councillors would have a rethink about Radstock.

Radstock Action Group will be renewing its calls to Councillor Crossley to stop this proposed road before it is too late and invites others to do likewise.

RADSTOCK ACTION GROUP SAYS 'SAVE THE HEART OF RADSTOCK - STOP THE ROAD'.

Press release issued by Amanda Leon, Secretary, on behalf of Radstock Action Group

[25th January 2012]: BANES has asked for clarifications to our recent press release

We have great pleasure in amending it, as suggested, and wish to underline that Ian Lund and Varian Tye made it clear that they held no mandate from the Council, could not be involved in any campaigning, and controlled no budgets. They were not in attendance when the future actions were agreed and were not involved in any agreements.

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 19:15:00 +0000

Apologies to anyone offended or misled by our original press release. Click here to download the revised version. (21Kb pdf)