News Archive
[23rd January 2012]: Radstock Roads, Civic Buildings and the Future
ROAD PROPOSALS NEED A RETHINK - NOW
Radstock Action Group and supporters are continuing their campaign to find a better, more sustainable alternative to the road proposals agreed by BANES cabinet last week. Though the attempt to get the decision called in was unsuccessful, it became clear during the week that an increasing number of people have reservations about the wisdom of constructing a road and changing the centre of the town when they are likely to lead to anything but regeneration.
We are appealing to BANES to talk to the residents and traders of Radstock about finding a better way forward. It is not too late to reconsider. We are united by our wish to bring regeneration to the town and to retain its distinctive character - we are proud of its history, its prospects and its current town centre boasting a wide range of unusual shops, a museum and beautiful open spaces. Rather than destroying all this, we must build on it. We welcome all councillors to come and see for themselves just how much the town already has to offer.
VICTORIA HALL EVENT
Saving the Victoria Hall event opened by two experts on Historic Buildings
On Saturday 21 January, 35+ people took part in Radstock Action Group's day of discussions on the topic of Saving the Victoria Hall. Ian Lund, BANES Historic Environment Team leader and Varian Tye, BANES Senior Conservation Officer opened the event, with a presentation entitled Uncertain Times for a Heritage Asset. Their detailed, exceptionally informative, professional look at central issues related to caring for and safeguarding precious buildings set the tone for a wide ranging discussion and we were very pleased that they were able to stay for much of the day to contribute to the ongoing debate.
Variety of speakers set the scene for lively debate
Cllr Eleanor Jackson gave an overview of how earlier plans to safeguard the Victoria Hall had been put together and what had happened since people last gathered to discuss the future of this key civic building. She was followed by Chris Dando, the deputy chair of Radstock Town Council, who made lots of positive suggestions about ways of moving forward in the search for an acceptable solution to the problems faced. RAG Secretary, Amanda Leon, presented examples of how other local communities were in the process of breathing new life into precious old buildings with civic roles and then people got down in earnest to discussing the next steps.
Everyone determined that the Victoria Hall will carry on functioning as a community resource
The dominant issue was how to stop the hall being boarded up and neglected when Radstock Town Council moves out at the end of February. Everyone was agreed that the current users of the hall should be enabled to continue their activities and that there was a need to encourage others. At the very end of the meeting, an interim Management Group was created. It will be meeting this week, under the acting chairmanship of Rupert Bevan, to plan the next steps and put activities on a more formal footing.
The meeting also welcomed local MP Jacob Rees-Mogg who took time out from his Saturday schedule to drop into the event, catch up on the lively debate and pledge his support for efforts to save the Victoria Hall for the community.
People who couldn't make it on Saturday can still get involved - everyone will get a chance to take part in looking after the Victoria Hall and making it a landmark building to be even more proud of.
Press Release issued by Amanda Leon, Secretary, on behalf of Radstock Action Group
[20th January 2012]: Saving the Victoria Hall 21 January 2012
What's next for Radstock?
SAVING THE VICTORIA HALL
A day organised by Radstock Action Group
Saturday 21 January 2012
10.00am – 2.30pm
(Doors open 9.30am)
Radstock Working Men's Club
The final line up for our event tomorrow can be found at: www.radstockactiongroup.org.uk/downloads/Saving_the_Victoria_Hall_Programme.pdf.
We are particularly pleased to welcome Ian Lund and Varian Tye who, between them, boast in-depth knowledge and vast experience of our local heritage.
Press Release issued by Amanda Leon, Secretary, on behalf of Radstock Action Group
[16th January 2012]: Cabinet decision to accept road proposals - the fight to save Radstock goes on
CABINET CLAIMS THEY HAVE THE SUPPORT OF THE MAJORITY OF RADSTOCK PEOPLE
When BANES Cabinet met last week and approved unpopular proposals to impose a set of traffic arrangements on the centre of Radstock, no-one was particularly surprised as Cabinet members had been making it clear that they were intent on voting their flawed plans through regardless of the opposition.
The Cabinet meeting itself was little more than a charade for the councillors who tried to convince the meeting, with their series of often heard mantras, that the plans had the support of the majority of people in Radstock, that there had been a meaningful consultation and that their proposals would bring regeneration to the town.
LIB DEMS FAIL TO PRODUCE EVIDENCE TO BACK UP THEIR CLAIMS
They have failed to produce any evidence in support of any of these three assertions, or their other claims, which have been characterized by their lack of accuracy and their denial of the force of the many arguments which have been put forward against the plans. Those who oppose the plans know that they will render Radstock unsafe and ultimately an empty shell as people seek to avoid the town owing to poor traffic flow, lack of parking and poorer shopping facilities.
RADSTOCK IS FIGHTING BACK
Individuals have already started telling councillors how shocked they are by the decision. Everyone in Radstock is in favour of regeneration, despite the Lib Dems suggesting that those who oppose their plans are not. Most people know equally well that the current proposals will do nothing to help the town. It is time for real consultation to start. The businesses, residents and those who shop in and visit the town are those who are best equipped to plan their own future and we hope that before long, everyone can be asked real questions in meaningful, joined up and holistic strategic planning. The Lib Dems claim they are listening - if they are, they are listening and then just carrying on regardless with their plans.
CALL-IN REQUIRED
BANES councillors can arrange a call-in for the decision - it requires ten signatures and we hope that there will be ten councillors willing to give Radstock a chance to prosper rather than watching as the heart of the town is irreversibly damaged by this set of proposals.
CABINET DECISION IS UNWISE, UNSAFE AND BASED ON HALF TRUTHS
- No independent safety audit has been done
- The 'consultation' questions did not ask for views on the real issues which had led to the decision being deferred last year in the face of massive opposition
- Cllr Crossley (leader) has said there will be no road if there are no houses - so why is a decision being made at this point, given that there is no 'live' planning application in existence?
- Why did Cabinet hear that only 17 parking spaces would be lost when we know that the only way of arriving at this number is by counting all parking spaces on any new development as public spaces? If homes are ever built, they will have no dedicated parking spaces, residents will have to park on the public highway where the number of spaces will be fewer than now
- 2000 people signed the RAG petition against the road
And so on ...
MORATORIUM REQUESTED
In a separate move, local resident, Rupert Bevan and eleven other individuals* wrote to BANES Council Leader, Paul Crossley, last Monday to request that there should be a one year moratorium on all decisions and implementation of decisions already made in relation to the road system and the proposed development of the NRR site and wider conservation area. They proposed setting up a company for which the first remit will be the drawing up of a redevelopment plan with inputs from as many appropriately qualified professionals as necessary. This will ensure that the plan will work and reflect best practice for regeneration purposes. The letter states that contributions will be welcomed from local people, planning and legal professionals, civil engineers and those involved in commerce, together with those who have a commitment to preserving the town’s heritage.
* Other signatories are George Bailey, Jackie Bevan, Mike Boulton, Heather Chipperfield, Gary Dando, Lady Hylton, Andrew Jolliffe, Royston Knight, Amanda Leon, Roger Mansell and Carol Warriner.
The heart of Radstock, the best preserved mining town centre in the country, must be saved. We look forward to good sense prevailing and we will continue to organize against these ill-thought out plans. We encourage everyone to speak up for Radstock now.
Press release issued by Amanda Leon, Secretary, on behalf of Radstock Action Group
[16th January 2012]: Saving the Victoria Hall - a one day event on Saturday 21 January - Organised by Radstock Action Group
Saturday 21 January 2012
Radstock Working Men's Club
10.00am - 2.30pm
(Doors open 9.30am)
Speakers
Refreshments
Everyone welcome
Discuss and Share Ideas; Get Involved
Help plan and organize
Radstock's Victoria Hall has a long history, it has been a part of the development and social life of Radstock for well over a hundred years. Not to mention being home to many organizations, including a series of local councils.
Radstock Action Group is convinced it has a lively and positive future but that time is running out, as it gets dilapidated and then unfit for use. The town needs a properly equipped civic building that everyone can feel proud of.
Bringing it up to a standard which reflects today's community and their need for a whole range of twenty-first century facilities needs ideas, commitment and energy - all of which are to be found in Radstock in large amounts.
This day aims to get more people involved, tease out more ideas of what the buildings should be used for and, inevitably, how everything can be financed.
Café? Tourist information? Offices and Work Space? Art Exhibitions? Spaces for dance and other classes? Film shows? Niche shops? Council Chamber? A place for weddings and parties? Reading room? Snooker? Combinations of two or more of these? And Others?
Everyone is welcome.
Press release issued by Amanda Leon, Secretary, on behalf of Radstock Action Group
[9th January 2012]: BANES Cabinet Meeting and the Traffic Regulation Orders - RAG will attend - and oppose
BANES Cabinet please note: the Current Road Proposals are not the Answer
At this Wednesday's (January 11) Cabinet meeting, councillors are being asked to approve the latest version of the Road Traffic Orders which will effectively decide the future of Radstock town centre. They will introduce two way traffic in The Street, they will reverse the traffic flow in Fortescue Road and they will retain the new road through the town centre in front of the Victoria Hall - something that they claimed originally was only needed because they had to close the Frome Road.
Radstock Action Group will be attending the meeting and speaking against these proposals which, to all intents and purposes, remain very similar to the first version which was roundly rejected last autumn. The decision not to close Frome Road was a major step forward, but unfortunately the Council has not followed through on this positive decision and is persisting with ill-thought out proposals which will jeopardise the regeneration of the town by deterring people from coming into the new traffic system which, contrary to Council assertions, will create serious obstacles to the use of the shops and other amenities and ultimately lead to the town being deserted by many current users.
Keep asking questions till you get an answer you want
The BANES press release issued last week stated that 'all the questions in the consultation received majority support'. Quite so, but they were questions which dodged the key issues to which people are opposed. It certainly seems that the Council decided to continue asking fairly random questions until they could state that they had got approval. A familiar old trick ...
Additionally, BANES has not published the responses which they received in addition to the questionnaire answers. RAG knows that a substantial number of people wrote in (as invited to do on the questionnaire) but we cannot obtain clarification as to whether these comments have been made available to councillors or the wider public. And above all, Radstock deserves a joined up plan which puts Radstock first.
Saving the Victoria Hall
One key way of enhancing Radstock will be through the regeneration of the Victoria Hall,. We invite everyone to come and discuss the options for this, our key civic building, at our forthcoming event:
SAVING THE VICTORIA HALL
Saturday 21 January
10.00 - 2.30
Radstock Working Men's Club
Everyone welcome
This event will provide an opportunity to look at the options for what goes on in the hall, for its funding and for who should and could get involved in day to day activity. the hall is in a bad state of repair and needs considerable updating but it can provide a centre for a wide range of events and activities which can only benefit Radstock. Your expertise and ideas are needed.
Press release issued by Amanda Leon, Secretary, on behalf of Radstock Action Group
[2nd January 2012]: Saving the Victoria Hall - Saturday 21 January 2012 - 10.00am - 2.30pm - Radstock Working Men's Club - Everyone Welcome
Saving the Victoria Hall is the first 2012 event in Radstock Action Group's series 'What's next for Radstock?'
Radstock Action Group wants to see the Victoria Hall continue as a community building. But before the future of the Hall can be guaranteed a lot of work has to be done on the building and on discussing the best uses for the Hall as it falls vacant when Radstock Town council finally leaves at the end of February.
A civic building with a proud history
The Victoria Hall was given to the town of Radstock and has witnessed the industrial history and social and economic development of the town since Victorian times. It is now in urgent need of our support and attention. Radstock Action Group wants to ensure that it can play an equally positive part in the town's future and believes that it is important that it remains the major community facility that it has always been.
The town needs a top quality community venue
Already people have been making suggestions about the sort of roles the hall could have in a regenerated Radstock: accommodation for a tourist and information office; a café; properly equipped meeting spaces for groups and businesses; a venue for weddings, parties and other big celebrations; library; snooker facilities; a place to show films; classes; a place to exhibit art; office spaces with state of the art IT resources - the list is amazingly varied and exciting. And with proper building restoration and possible extension, it is likely that all of these activities could be a part of the renewal of this, the key civic building in the town.
Getting involved, joining the discussions
The day will include speakers and discussion groups and will be the chance for more people to get involved in all aspects of saving the Victoria Hall. Time is short and rumours continue to fly around Radstock. The day will provide a chance for everyone who thinks that the hall is worth saving for the community. It was originally given to the community and provides the only major civic building in the town.
Everyone is welcome
Press release issued by Amanda Leon, Secretary, on behalf of Radstock Action Group
[12th December 2011]: BANES Information on Road Development is Suspect - Yes, We Know That, but More Evidence is Emerging
Christmas Crackers BANES Style
Last week Radstock found out again, this time through a hastily organised 'Exhibition' about the road scheme, that the last thing on the mind of BANES and developers is the regeneration of the town and the well-being of its residents and businesses. If the current proposals go ahead, Radstock will be reduced to a traffic junction, and if BANES has its way, it will be a high speed traffic junction. It seems like BANES has only two ideas for the town - a gridlocked centre or a fast-track traffic junction. Let's not even talk about the fact that neither of their alternatives bears much relation to the facts of the matter. The council makes statements about their intentions and then sets about creating a back up for their proposals. Here's some of the latest evidence.
Radstock Action Group has, in the past week, received two 'interesting' items from BANES in response to requests for clarification.
Parking
BANES tells us that the loss of parking spaces as a result of the current NRR scheme will be only 24. How have they arrived at this figure? By an item called 'New public car park within NRR development'. This will, they declare, provide 44 spaces. However, when we questioned them on this, they agreed as follows:
- There is no parking specifically for residents in the new housing development
- The 44 spaces on the NRR development will be on the public highway
- Residents on the new development will have to park on this very same public highway
In other words, despite building new homes, the developer will not have to provide any parking for them and the already diminished number of parking spaces will have to be used by all those who live in the housing as well as everyone else who already regularly parks in Radstock. So it's fewer overall spaces and more housing.
Breakdown of Costs for Replacing the Mini-roundabouts at Frome Road
| Site Clearance | 18,000 |
|---|---|
| Fencing | 12,000 |
| Drainage | 32,500 |
| Earthworks | 230,750 |
| Pavements | 124,790 |
| Signs and Markings | 53,820 |
| Toucans | 260,000 |
| Highway Electrical | 22,000 |
| Structural Concrete | 360,000 |
| Masonry Wall | 75,000 |
| Landscaping | 32,000 |
| Dayworks | 122,000 |
| Preliminaries/Traffic Management | 117,680 |
Both these items came from the office of Glen Chipp, BANES Strategic Director for Service Delivery.
The sleight of hand in the parking data doesn't really inspire confidence and we have to ask how many other little 'inaccuracies' and misleading impressions are lurking in the welter of information which they have recently put out. In the case of the sums for the mini-roundabouts, we do not think anyone can be any the wiser particularly as the total was 'circa £1,4000,000' - we may have missed something but the total seems to be £1,460,540. As for what it all means, no-one who has looked at the figures so far understands how these sums were arrived at.
We urge everyone to make sure that they respond to the latest round of 'information' and proposals by the closing deadline of 20 December.
The last round of responses made the council sit up and think. But they haven't thought far enough yet. We intend keeping up the pressure.
Additional information is continually being added to our website.
Press Release issued by Amanda Leon, Secretary, on behalf of Radstock Action Group
[5th December 2011]: Clarification of Councillor Symonds' views on Rail Reinstatement
Radstock Action Group has received clarification from Councillor Symonds on his views about rail reinstatement. We are sorry that we misunderstood the original report and are pleased to publish his statement of clarification:
"My record of support for rail travel is well documented. Govt regularly point out the link between Transport and growth. Radstock does have problems with Transport, having no railway and difficult road connections with Bath and Bristol and motorways.
I hope the GBBN routes to Bath and Bristol will help, but a rail connection to the national rail network would help Radstock residents to be more flexible in their working practices and might encourage more employers to consider Radstock as a base for their businesses.
Of course we have to wait for the results of the study, but this administration is keen to use the railways in the area to encourage commuters off our overcrowded roads. We believe that opening the Radstock - Frome railway would aid this objective.
It may no longer be possible to have a station right in the middle of Radstock, but this should not preclude a connection to Frome."
[5th December 2011]: New BANES Plans have Little To Do with the Regeneration of Radstock
Latest Plans Raise the Question - Why is a New Road Necessary?
BANES has published its 'new' version of the plans for Radstock.
And the good news is that the Frome Road is to remain open. A 20 mph speed restriction is welcome, though many people doubt that traffic will be moving fast enough to require it at the times that BANES sees a problem.
However, BANES fails to explain how the overall proposals are going to aid the regeneration of the town.
Up until now, BANES has maintained that the new link road is necessary so that housing can be built on the railway land, but now we learn that 'Bath and North East Somerset Council wants to tackle traffic congestion and kickstart the regeneration of the town'. No wonder people are confused. Much of the traffic congestion referred to is the result of the proposals to build the new link road.
Virtually all the objections made by so many people are not addressed because BANES is sticking to its determination to put in a new link road and all the modifications are based on that and not on addressing public opposition to the road and the real needs of the town.
Yes, it may well be a good move that a mini-roundabout will replace traffic lights at the junction between the Street and the proposed new link road and that there will be a weight limit of 7.5 tonnes on this link. It may also be a good move that the proposed ban on right turns out of church Street is to be removed. But without the link road, none of these items would be an issue.
What Isn't New about these Proposals?
RAG has already published an initial response to some of the key issues (The_new_proposals_statement_03-12-11.pdf) which include:
- The proposed link road is still in the plans
- The Street will still have two way traffic
- Fortescue Road traffic will still flow in the opposite direction to the present
- The same number of parking space (and probably more) will still be lost
- All traffic exiting Fortescue Road will still have to turn left regardless of where it wants to go
- Traffic from Wells Hill going to Haydon or the town centre will still have to negotiate a right turn at the bottom of the hill, on a new roundabout
- Royal Mail vehicles using the Sorting Office will still not be able to access their depot or park outside
- The Jubilee Oak and the garden on the original war memorial site will still be lost
For further discussion and detail please visit our website which will be updated regularly - space doesn't allow great detail in this press release.
New Additions to Proposals Poorly Thought Out and Unconvincing
A plethora of roundabouts and pedestrian crossings designed to manage traffic on the new system and make pedestrians safe is poorly thought out and will only cause new problems. For example in the short distance between Charltons on the Frome Road and Hope House in the Street, there will be no fewer than two roundabouts, three pedestrian crossings and the bus stops for all services in both directions. The new pedestrian crossing in The Street will have zigzags which will automatically curtail parking even further. BANES says there will be lower traffic flows on the Street - we are not clear how traffic flows can be reduced by making a one way street two way.
RAG was invited to attend a BANES briefing on 29 November. There we were shown traffic modelling which was far from convincing - for instance, decreased journey times look highly suspect: one example put forward by BANES appears to suggest a decline in travelling time between the Camerton turn off at Peasedown and Westhill Gardens which would involve driving at at least 40 mph - and this through the area where the new 20 mph limit would be in place.
We have asked BANES to give us a breakdown of the calculations which show how moving the electricity sub-station would cost £1.4m. Talking to people in Radstock on Saturday there was no clear view on whether the mini-roundabouts should be replaced but at least we need clarification on why they've been eliminated on the basis of cost.
Feedback Form Asks the Wrong Questions
On Saturday morning, a leaflet dropped through everyone's letter box, entitled 'Tackling congestion in Radstock and kick-starting the economy'.
Far from being an objective account of the proposals it bears all the hallmarks of an unconvincing piece of pro-link road publicity. But the really unacceptable part is to be found in the 'Feedback Form' where members of the public are invited to answer a series of questions on proposed modifications and further improvements.
The first four questions ask respondents to express support or not for the retention of the double-mini roundabout at the Frome Road/A367 junction; the retention of Frome Road as at present; the replacement of a proposed signalised junction with a roundabout at the meeting of the Street with the proposed new link road; the removal of the right turn ban out of Church Street.
Radstock Action Group wants to know why respondents are not asked to say whether or not they want a new link road, or two way traffic in the Street, or the reversal of traffic flow in Fortescue Road. These are the central questions on which residents and businesses should be consulted. We urge everyone to tell BANES their views on these three key issues as they will all impact on the future prosperity of the town and the well-being of all those who use it. To introduce them threatens the heart of Radstock - its viability as a shopping centre (which is looking increasingly interesting and attractive) and the buildings of the conservation area which make the town unique.
Any Answers to these Questions?
- Why is the new link road necessary now that the Frome Road is staying open?
- Previously BANES argued that this was all for the new NRR housing development. Now they are justifying it on the grounds that it will improve journey times and reduce congestion. What is the real reason?
- Councillor Crossley, leader of BANES, has said there will be no road unless the housing happens. So why this haste when the housing has not been agreed?
- Wouldn’t the money be better spent on positive improvements to the town?
- Why can’t the road system stay as it is? It’s not perfect but it’s certainly better than the proposals
- Where are the 40 new jobs coming from?
Saving the Heart of Radstock
BANES has not explained how the 'new' proposals will lead to regeneration, simply because they clearly won't for all the reasons rehearsed so many times before. Radstock needs a proper public transport system with affordable fares and frequent services on the buses and the reinstatement of the rail link to Frome. The only real answer to traffic congestion is to enable people to leave their cars at home in favour of a really good public system.
Radstock needs jobs - even BANES says the scheme will only produce 40. It could well lead to the loss of jobs too, if businesses suffer and have to lay off staff or close down altogether.
Radstock needs affordable homes but it is doubtful that the new planning application will propose anything even to the specification in the previous round where very small flats were jammed into very limited space with a few houses.
The reasons for a new road are even less clear than they were before. We want to save the heart of Radstock not destroy it in the name of some vague, poorly thought-out road scheme.
We urge everyone to get involved, to write to their local councillors and MP and to attend the exhibition scheduled for 9/10 December.
On Wednesday 7 December, RAG will be presenting BANES cabinet with more signatures against the new road, with the total now over 2,000.
Press release issued by Amanda Leon, Secretary, on behalf of Radstock Action Group
[4th December 2011]: New BANES Proposals for Radstock: What We Think
BANES Take 2 is Not the Answer: It will still destroy the Heart of Radstock
Click here to view our response to the latest proposals (110Kb pdf)
One of the Maps produced by BANES showing the New Proposals:
Please note that this map is not consistent with other maps of the same proposals. It doesn't show all the proposals such as the roundabout at the junction of the Street and the proposed new link road. (Click map to view larger version (1.3Mb pdf).)
[26th November 2011]: URGENT: BANES up to its usual - calling important meetings at short notice in the run up to Christmas
PLEASE PUT THESE DATES IN YOUR DIARIES
Your help, presence and support are urgently needed for a couple of key events which are being planned by BANES (information leaked out late this week) in relation to the road. We are very concerned that these events are being called at very short notice and in the run up to Christmas when people are exceptionally busy.
EVENT 1: TUESDAY 29 NOVEMBER
A briefing session on the latest proposals for the Radstock Regeneration and Highway Improvement Scheme including modifications to the Traffic Regulation Orders.
We have been asked by BANES to invite our supporters to this meeting, notice of which was sent out late on Thursday afternoon.
Date: Tuesday 29 November
Time: 5.30pm - 6.30pm
Venue: Wansdyke Business Centre, Unit 22 Midsomer Enterprise Park, Radstock Road, Midsomer Norton BA3 2BB - see map (255Kb pdf).
EVENT 2: FRIDAY 9 AND SATURDAY 10 DECEMBER
There is to be an exhibition on Friday 9 and Saturday 10 December in connection with new proposals for the road. We have nothing in writing and the following information has been given us by someone in the Transport Department at BANES.
Date: Friday 9 and Saturday 10 December
Time: Not confirmed but likely to be afternoon and evening of 9 and afternoon of 10 December
Venue: Radstock Methodist Church
Apparently views will be sought at this event which will be followed by a three week consultation which will end on 20 December.
Yet again, it was only when we heard rumour and spent an entire morning pressing BANES for information that they finally told us that this was about to happen.
WEDNESDAY 7 DECEMBER AT 6.30PM
Finally, we will be presenting the latest sheets of the petition against the road at the BANES Cabinet meeting on 7 December in the Guildhall in Bath at 6.30pm. Details of how to put your name down to speak and of our arrangements to protest outside will follow.
STOP THE ROAD T SHIRTS WILL BE AVAILABLE AT ALL THESE EVENTS - £5.50.
Radstock Action Group would like to point out that these very short deadlines, right before Christmas, are further evidence of BANES lack of commitment to full democratic consultation and involvement.
In addition, we regard the venue for the briefing as a further obstacle to participation and think BANES should have arranged the meeting in Radstock.
Nonetheless, we ask everyone to turn up for these events.
Please do let us know if you require further clarification or have questions.
Best wishes and many thanks for your continued support. See you at as many of the above events as possible.
Amanda Leon, Secretary, Radstock Action Group
[22nd November 2011]: Clarification Sought on BANES' Commitment to the Future of Rail Between Radstock and Frome
Our latest press release expressed concern that BANES has made up its mind on the possibility of rail reinstatement. Following a query from a recipient of this press release we have written to Councillor Symonds for clarification as follows:
In our latest press release we suggested that BANES had already made a decision about rail reinstatement between Radstock and Frome, But it has since been pointed out that the statement quoted in the Journal last week did not directly attribute to you the view that the case for reinstatement is hopeless. Can you, therefore, reassure us that BANES remains committed to the possibility of rail reinstatement as per previous decisions, and, if this is the case, accept our apologies for this misunderstanding? We look forward to receiving clarification on this matter.
We await a response from Councillor Symonds and will, of course, update everyone on the situation if/when we get a reply. Apologies for any confusion.
Amanda Leon, Secretary, Radstock Action Group
[21st November 2011]: BANES Decides Against Rail Reinstatement and then Commissions Initial Feasibility Study
Radstock Action Group finds BANES Councillor Roger Symonds' latest communication on the question of railways alarming on fundamental grounds. Buried in his statement to the press this last week is a statement that 'a full network reopening to Radstock/Midsomer Norton looks .... hopeless'. Since when has it been customary for public bodies to make decisions before receiving the results of studies they are about to commission?
A Whiff of Token Gestures Fills the Air
Let's leave aside all the inaccuracies and downright errors in the related Terms of Reference drawn up by BANES, for a preliminary study on the reinstatement of the railway between Radstock and Frome, Given the clarity with which Councillor Symonds dismisses, so comprehensively, the chances of the line between Radstock and Frome being reinstated, why is BANES about to pay out for an initial study into the possibilities? This is the latest indication that BANES doesn't take Radstock seriously. Undertakings are made and abandoned. Consultations are announced and don't happen. Future plans for Radstock are not communicated to the people who count. Radstock Action Group regularly requests information and updates on a wide variety of issues - most recently the fate of the Traffic Orders - but we never get replies. We are not the only ones.
Reducing Dependency on the Private Car?
Surely Councillor Symonds could be better employed than issuing congratulatory press statements for First Great Western, giving details of services to places which are fortunate enough to have a train service, but which are enormously difficult to reach from Radstock. If Councillor Symonds and BANES are serious about the council's integrated transport policy which includes encouraging more people to use trains and reduce dependence on the private car, then there are a number of additional actions which could be taken in relation to Radstock and the Somer Valley. Of course, the reinstatement of the rail link is absolutely central to future transport planning but in the meantime, it might be a good idea to stop cutting the bus services, stop hiking up ticket prices and start working for and with local residents and businesses. Plans to build a new main road through the centre of town should also be abandoned as this will militate against an integrated transport plan as gridlock takes over, the vestiges of the public bus service will grid to a halt and those who currently work in and visit Radstock will do their best to avoid it.
But first of all perhaps Councillor Symonds can explain why BANES is paying for a study for a proposal which they have clearly rejected already? Perhaps he could also clarify whether or not BANES has even the remotest glimmer of commitment to even considering promoting rail reinstatement between Radstock and Frome?
Press release issued by Amanda Leon, Secretary, on behalf of Radstock Action Group
[31st October 2011]: Lack of Planning coupled with Neglect and Contempt are BANES' approach to Radstock
Recently Radstock Action Group received responses to two questions they had posed to BANES cabinet - one regarding the progress of a previous decision to conduct a preliminary investigation of the options in relation to the reinstatement of the railway to Frome and the other in relation to the possible re-siting of the Electricity Sub-station and consideration of alternative road schemes.
Rail Study to go ahead despite BANES lack of commitment to the project
Even by BANES standards, the responses we received (from Roger Symonds, BANES Cabinet Member for Transport) show a total lack of joined up thinking and an apparent willingness to press ahead with proposals which have been overwhelmingly rejected by people who live and/or work in Radstock. BANES intends going ahead with a £15,000 investigation of the rail options, whilst elsewhere in their response apparently endorsing an committee report stating that the reinstatement of the railway line will not be possible if the development goes ahead.
RAG Contact with Western Power reveals that BANES has been less than honest about its figures for moving the Sub-station
Meanwhile, on the sub-station front, Radstock Action Group has been given figures for the moving of the sub-station by Western Power which suggest that the real costs would be considerably less than £100,000, as opposed to the £250,000 previously quoted by Peter Dawson (BANES Group Manager Transport and Planning Policy) at the most recent Radstock meeting at which BANES councillors presented a set of 'answers' to questions they had been asked by local traders and residents.
What's Next for Radstock? Save the Victoria Hall - Saturday 21 January
On a positive note, the next in our popular What's Next for Radstock? series will be on Saturday 21 January. The theme will be Save the Victoria Hall and will address the crisis which is looming for the town's key civic building. With rumours abounding, we will be looking at how to ensure that not only does the Victoria Hall continue to exist but that it will be radically transformed into a building fit for community use. We have lots of suggestions about its future but want others to be involved and for whatever emerges to be able to attract the funding and expertise necessary to make it a going concern. Put the date in your diaries.
Further details on all these matters will be posted on this website.
Press release issued by Amanda Leon, Secretary, on behalf of Radstock Action Group, 31 October 2011
[24th October 2011]: Radstock at Risk says English Heritage
Earlier this month, English Heritage launched its Heritage at Risk 2011. Radstock is on this list which baldly states that the Radstock Conservation Area, (including Braysdown and Clandown) has the following designations: Condition - very bad; Vulnerability - high; Trend - deteriorating. This is a sad day for the town described elsewhere by English Heritage as 'the best preserved mining town centre in the country'.
In September, a Radstock Action Group supporter approached English Heritage about the fact that the Radstock road plans could pose a threat to the centre of the town which is a conservation area. The reply she received was, 'We were not aware of any separate highways proposals which may be in mind but as has been pointed out by the Council these do not require planning permission and as a consequence English Heritage has no statutory basis for becoming involved. Nonetheless, the potential for harm to the setting and/or fabric of heritage assets is a source of initial concern and we will contact the Council to try to elicit further information.'
In a subsequent email to Radstock Action Group, English Heritage undertook to make further enquiries but since then, there has been no further news. RAG will be asking what has happened.
BANES must act now
Observers might think that a council with the weighty responsibilities of managing so may great buildings in Bath would be aware of the need to take a pride in all its built heritage, but BANES continues to press on with plans which will destroy Radstock, a site which it should be nurturing and promoting for regeneration, including tourist purposes.
Save our vibrant and historic town centre
As the petition against the road continues to grow, this is a sobering reminder that the people who work, live in and visit Radstock stand to lose a valuable, living town centre where heritage buildings continue to provide a base for commercial, social and tourist activity. BANES must decide now to stop the current plans and work with the people of Radstock to ensure that, eventually, the town can come off the At Risk Register and develop as a community which can show off its value to everyone. The Lib Dem administration must take a clear stand against the destruction of this valuable place and in favour of improving the reputation and tourist offer of the whole area covered by the authority. Only through such a stand will the regeneration of Radstock have any meaning.
You can find the English Heritage report at: www.english-heritage.org.uk/caring/heritage-at-risk/
Press Release issued by Amanda Leon, secretary, on behalf of Radstock Action Group
[17th October 2011]: STOP PRESS Radstock Action Group Petition against the Road hits 1800
No fewer than 238 people signed up to the RAG petition against the Radstock road proposals on Saturday - members of RAG had a lively session outside RADCO and got the opportunity to explain the proposed road layout in greater detail.
This brings the total signatures to date to 1800, so we are now pressing on to the next milestone - 2,000.
Thank you to RADCO and to all the people who showed their support for the campaign on Saturday.
Press Release issued by Amanda Leon, Secretary on behalf of Radstock Action Group
[10th October 2011]: New Man on the Block - can he sort this out please?
Last week Radstock Action Group was told by Glen Chipp, Strategic Director for Service Delivery at Bath and North East Somerset (BANES), that he is, in fact, the person overall responsible for Planning Approvals and Highway Matters. So we shall be directing a number of questions to him in relation to the situation in Radstock. Other members of the public may wish to do the same.
Meanwhile, Steven Moore, BANES Design Group Manager, Design and Projects Group, has recently answered enquiries about the proposed road scheme in Radstock, as follows:
'Following a number of concerns raised by local residents we are currently undertaking a complete review of the proposed scheme. As Highway Authority we are duty bound to comply with national and European standards of design for public highway construction. Accordingly, the proposals for Radstock will be to the relevant standards and therefore will be able to accommodate heavy goods vehicles. In addition, we will be following a safety auditing process which essentially identifies potential safety issues arising and appropriate mitigation measures necessary to reduce any unacceptable level of risk to road users.'
'Why should the town centre have to accommodate heavy goods vehicles?'
Radstock Action Group is not impressed. The question remains, 'Why should the town centre have to accommodate heavy goods vehicles?' We would challenge BANES to indicate any support in 'national and European standards for public highway construction' which endorse or encourage the introduction of heavy through traffic into a small town centre, let alone one with the history and the great shops that Radstock boasts.
Last week, Radstock Action Group wrote to Cherry Beath again saying we would like to know, in the light of the deferral of a decision on the road, when the renewed consultations and discussions about Radstock are going to start. We are also still awaiting answers to our questions:
'Given the decision to defer on the Radstock Traffic Regulation Orderss, please would you let us know:
- The timescale for the next stage of the consideration of these orders
- What form taking 'further opportunities to listen to representatives from the community' will take and how you intend identifying such representatives
- Which 'available survey data' the council intends considering
- What 'alternative options' the council has evaluated and where these can be viewed
- When this item will return to Cabinet.'
Please involve local people in discussions and listen to their ideas.
As we have already said, we welcome the fact that the decision on the Traffic Orders has been deferred but we do want to be involved in the next stages of the review. We look forward to the next stages in meaningful discussion and hope that there will be no more decision-making behind closed doors.
Press release issued by Amanda Leon, Secretary, on behalf of Radstock Action Group
[3rd October 2011]: Radstock Action Group Petition against the Road heading towards 1500 signatures
Sign the Petition!
Last Saturday, October 1st, Radstock Action Group members were in the town centre collecting more signatures against the road. The group has already presented sheets bearing almost 1,000 to Bath and North East Somerset (BANES) and those collected on Saturday, including sheets brought to our stall by supporters who'd been going round collecting on their own, will bring the total to almost 1,500.
Members of the public were able to see the plans (as prepared by BANES) and to ask questions and hear an explanation from RAG members of how the traffic would work. Common responses included, 'Who on earth thought this one up?', 'If it ain't broke ...', 'It's not going to work' ....
Our new 'Stop the Road' t-shirts (see below) attracted lots of attention from shoppers and other visitors to the town and there were plenty of willing signers, especially once the full scheme had been explained. T-shirts were also selling well.
These petition events show exactly the huge range of people coming to Radstock on a Saturday to shop and enjoy the local amenities, including the museum and walks and to visit relatives and friends. What was noticeable this week was how many people from neighbouring communities are worried about how the proposed changes would impact on their travel and their shopping experience in Radstock.
Many people who had already signed the petition stopped to say how pleased they are that someone is fighting the proposals.
Yet again, we urge BANES to listen to the community and to get round the table with everyone concerned to plan for the future of the town with the people who know it best.
Our thanks are due to Brian Preston who took some photos as he looked on.
Temporary traffic controls cause more traffic queues
Temporary traffic controls (set up by BANES) at just above the Radstock Hotel on traffic to and from Bath, caused yet more delays (though minor compared with the Wessex Water fiasco of a couple of weekends ago) and showed just how difficult the situation will be if the road scheme ever goes ahead. At some points, Bath-bound traffic was backing up into Wells Road well beyond the bend and there were long queues for traffic coming in from Bath.
RAG meeting with Jacob Rees-Mogg MP
Last Friday, members of RAG attended Jacob Rees-Mogg's surgery and put the case for finding alternative solutions for the regeneration of Radstock. There was a wide-ranging discussion and Mr Rees-Mogg offered suggestions on various specifics; we explained how we would like to move on the redevelopment of the Victoria Hall and that there will be a public event to explore this further before Christmas.
Press release issued by Amanda Leon, Secretary, on behalf of Radstock Action Group
[26th September 2011]: Let's have facts and figures about move the electricity sub-station
Following on from the temporary deferral of a decision on the Radstock Traffic Regulation Orders, it is essential that opponents of the Radstock road scheme keep up the pressure - the reprieve must not be seen a comprehensive victory.
That's why Radstock Action Group is pressing Bath and North East Somerset (BANES) for answers about the possibility of moving the electricity sub-station to make way for a larger roundabout to replace the two mini-roundabouts at the corner of Fortescue/Frome Roads.
Does the fact that Western Power owns the sub-station means that only they would be able to move it?
It's too costly to move the electricity sub-station? Who says? Last week BANES was reported yet again in the press saying that the relocation of the electricity sub-station would be too costly (usually when figures are quoted they say £250,000) and that it would involve considerable disruption. As the move would be the most intelligent solution to the current traffic issues, allowing the replacement of the two mini-roundabouts with one larger one and the slight realignment of the Frome Road onto the strip of rail land behind Fortescue Road, these excuses must be examined more closely.
Has Western Power been approached about this matter and if so, what the outcome of the approach?
So far, Radstock Action Group is not convinced that any costings have been obtained and we have, therefore, asked the leader of the council, Paul Crossley, to answer a series of questions. The sub-station is owned by Western Power, and we have asked Councillor Crossley for information and clarification on the following:
- Does the fact that Western Power owns the sub-station means that only they would be able to move it?
- Has Western Power been approached about this matter and if so, what the outcome of the approach?
- Has Western Power been asked to provide any costings or proposals for any such move? If so, what was the answer? If not, why hasn't the question been asked?
A growing number of people have told Radstock Action Group that they do not think that the costs quoted by BANES are convincing and that it would cost far less and be much less of a practical problem than has been suggested.
Has Western Power been asked to provide any costings or proposals for any such move?
It is time that the council made public the grounds for its continued refusal to consider what many regard as the best option. If there are any faults in our logic on this one, then BANES should explain them. If not then they should either publish the estimates made by the agencies qualified to implement any proposal to move the road and let the public know what such agencies have said, and including the costs.
Meanwhile, we are awaiting news from Councillors Crossley, Beath and Symonds on how they are going to involved Radstock in new discussions about the future of the town. We are very pleased that the Traffic Orders have been deferred and hope this will mark the start of a new era of listening by the council to the views of the people who count - the residents and businesses of the town.
Press Release issued by Amanda Leon, Secretary, on behalf of Radstock Action Group on 26 September 2011
[19th September 2011]: PRESS RELEASE: Decision to delay on Radstock Traffic Regulation Orders (TROs) provides a chance for common sense and positive signs that BANES may be listening
Radstock Action Group welcomes the Cabinet's decision to defer a decision on the Traffic Regulation Orders which would have been another step in the destruction of Radstock town centre. In reply to our enquiries, Cabinet member Cllr Cherry Beath has said, 'We are in the process of setting up a meeting with the relevant Directorates within the Council to agree the next steps'. She has also said that, 'We.do not have precise timescales at present, but will be reviewing the Road Scheme and comments already submitted from Radstock residents.' This is encouraging. we would remind the council that the publication of a full professional analysis of the 2009 traffic survey is an essential first step in this process.
Hopefully this Cabinet decision will provide an opportunity for genuine consultation with everyone in Radstock. The timescales are not clear although Cllr Beath indicated on BBC Radio Bristol that the delay was not going to be long. We call on BANES to ensure that they now put in place a serious programme of consultation with the whole community and that this consultation takes as long as necessary to reach its conclusions.
Radstock Action Group urges everyone to continue to send BANES their suggestions on the future regeneration of the town. It has been all too easy to portray the huge opposition to the road proposals as the voice of people opposed to the genuine regeneration of Radstock. Hopefully, we can all work with the authority now to safeguard and regenerate our town centre.
This is just the beginning of a process and Radstock Action Group will continue to work with everyone interested in a prosperous and sustainable future for the town. We hope that the new administration will prove that politicians do listen - they will find Radstock brimming with ideas and pride in the town's past and future.
Radstock Action Group's next meeting is on Wednesday 21 September at 7.30pm in the Methodist Church. As usual, everyone is welcome. We will be looking again at how best to promote and refine our alternative proposals for the town.
Press released issued on 19 September by Amanda Leon, secretary, on behalf of Radstock Action Group
[15th September 2011]: PRESS RELEASE: BANES Cabinet Decision on Road Orders welcome - and the fight goes on
Last night, Bath and North East Somerset Cabinet members agreed unanimously to defer the decision about the (Traffic Regulation Orders (TROs). Radstock Action Group welcomes this decision and hopes that it marks the start of a more rational and Radstock-focused approach to the town's future.
Radstock Action Group says a big thank you to everyone who supports the campaign to save the heart of Radstock. This decision marks a victory for everyone who has written to BANES, attended meetings, contacted important people, got the petition signed up, and kept arguing in favour of a positive and imaginative development of the town.
We now have to keep up the pressure and work to ensure that businesses, residents and growing numbers of visitors will be able to enjoy a town which provides high quality jobs, homes and amenities. We know that BANES will be back with plans which may still include the road and other proposals which do not reflect our hopes and our belief in the town.
The decision to defer must be regarded as nothing more than a reprieve. It does not mean that the threat of the road has gone away, it is still very much on the agenda.
The decision constitutes a small positive step in a much longer campaign in which we will continue to work for the sustainable and sensitive regeneration of the town. At a Radstock Action Group public meeting on Tuesday, attended by 37 people, everyone expressed the view that we need to promote an alternative, forward-looking plan. Many, varied ideas were bounced around - we now have an opportunity to press forward and get a dialogue going with BANES and other 'stakeholders'.
We remain totally opposed to the construction of the road and will be asking the council to:
- Publish a full analysis of the 2009 traffic survey
- Do a fully costed investigation of the moving of the sub-station at the mini-roundabout end of Frome Road
- Develop a master plan
- Identify alternative and better sites for homes in the town
- Include the reinstatement of the Radstock-Frome railway in all future plans
- Put the needs of Radstock people first
It is certainly a relief to know that the diggers will not be moving into town this week, but the fight has to go on. The NRR/Linden Homes Planning Applications are still to come (possibly in November) and we will be working for their rejection and in favour of a people-centred redevelopment of the precious railway land.
We hope that BANES is beginning to realise that Radstock matters to everyone in the town. It has a great future as well as a great past.
A postscript
At the Cabinet meeting, BANES was presented with the latest pack of petition sheets containing hundreds more signatures against the road and in favour of the moving of the sub-station and the conversion of the two mini-roundabouts into one larger one.
Press Release issued by Amanda Leon, Secretary, on behalf of Radstock Action Group
[14th September 2011]: BANES attempts to answer some questions ....
See how BANES answered the questions that they said had been posed earlier on the visit Radstock Action Group had organised for them on 8 August 2011. At a hastily convened meeting on Wednesday 7 September, they read out these answers to the 30+ people who had turned up at very short notice but who nonetheless were able to prove yet again that this ludicrous proposal will not work. Even so, the councillors appeared hell-bent on supporting this plan which threatens the very future of the town centre.
Click here to download the document (7.8Mb pdf)
[12th September 2011]: PRESS RELEASE: Magic Roundabouts and Deserted Islands
Waterworks offer a glimpse of Radstock's Future
Anyone in Radstock on Saturday 10 September will have experienced, at first hand, the complete chaos caused by road works being undertaken by Wessex Water to repair/replace a storm drain in the town.
With a set up which included several sets of traffic lights (temporary) and the restriction to one way flow of traffic in Frome Road, it provided a foretaste of Radstock's fate should the new road proceed. According to one passenger, it took a bus an hour to get from Peasedown th Radstock; exhibitors travelling to an event at the Working Men's Club were held up by huge tail backs (at least 40 minutes at about 9.30am), and there was an eerie quiet in the normally busy town centre as shoppers abandoned plans for their usual Saturday trip to the shops. Even at 3.30 in the afternoon, traffic from Bath into Radstock was backed up beyond the Clandown turn off and drivers were performing risky three-point turns on the bend at the top of the hill to go back on themselves when they saw how long they were going to have to wait to get anywhere via Radstock.
B&NES Councillors tell the town a story of pure fiction
Earlier in the week, on Wednesday 7 September, at scarcely two days notice, Cllrs Paul Crossley (leader of BANES) and Cherry Beath (Cabinet member for Regeneration), accompanied by Peter Dawson, BANES Group Manager, Transport and Planning Policy, arrived in Radstock to feed back on their visit to the town which had been organised by Radstock Action Group three weeks earlier.
Given the short notice it was impressive to see 37 people in the audience. Unfortunately the visitors didn't have a chair for the meeting and they did not introduce themselves, so the session was chaotic and generally very worrying for those who want to see a constructive and logical plan for the regeneration of the town.
The two councillors took it in turns to read out, from a printed sheet, a series of 21 questions and their answers, prepared in response to the 21 questions which they said had collected during their visit to Radstock. Not an exactly helpful format, but it went ahead nonetheless. A copy of the paperwork will be available on our website shortly.
What emerged from the meeting was sobering evidence that they are not listening and that they appear determined to proceed with the new road regardless of public opinion, informed professional evidence that it won't work, or the provision of alternative solutions from those who live and work in Radstock.
Amongst the 'interesting' statements they produced was, 'The principle (sic) cause of traffic congestion currently being experienced in Radstock, is the sheer number of vehicles passing through the town centre due to the lack of an alternative route' The B&NES solution? Increase the amount of traffic by diverting a main road into the town centre. Brilliant.
Worries about the cellar of Automania? BANES has the answer, 'The cellar is positioned within the pedestrian footway. The proposed scheme widens the footway further resulting in road traffic being moved further from the area of concern'. They could not explain how the inevitable narrowing of the Street was going to help eight axle trucks to pass as they travel along the Street in two directions or why making the turn into the Street from Wells Road even more difficult was going to enhance safety in the town.
One member of the audience was heard to say, 'Magic Roundabouts' as councillors sought to explain their ludicrous plans, another painted a picture of a town deserted by shoppers as traders go out of business because no-one can get into the centre any more - our town centre will, indeed, be a deserted island.
THIS TUESDAY - A PUBLIC MEETING TO HEAR THE LATEST AND GIVE PEOPLE A CHANCE TO EXPRESS THEIR VIEWS This scheme must be stopped - the more we hear from B&NES, the less acceptable it is. This week Radstock Action Group will be present at all B&NES meetings addressing the matter and will be holding a public meeting OF THEIR OWN:
PUBLIC MEETING: Road to Ruin or Regeneration?
DATE: Tuesday 13 September
TIME: 8pm
VENUE: Victoria Hall, Radstock
Demonstrate outside the Cabinet meeting on Wednesday 14 September at 5.45pm at the Guildhall in Bath
Everyone welcome at both events.
Press release issued by Amanda Leon, Secretary, on behalf of Radstock Action Group
[5th September 2011]: PRESS RELEASE: Road works start but under cover of shock conversion of BANES to Ecological Maintenance
Ever since the diggers moved on to the railway land on 24 August, it's been impossible to find any agreement at Bath and North East Somerset Council (B&NES) on what is going on. But, undaunted, Cllr Paul Crossley (Leader of BANES) declared on BBC Radio Bristol on 2 September that 'it's not preparation for the road building' but 'ecological maintenance' and when pressed on no fewer than three occasions to tell listeners whether it had anything to do with the road or was a coincidence, he eventually replied that it was a coincidence.
Of course, in other circumstances, everyone would be delighted that BANES is now taking its ecological management responsibilities seriously, but these are currently being used as a smoke screen for the real activity of preparing the site for the proposed new road and follow hard on the heels of Nathan Hartley's unwarranted attack on those who seek to ensure that ecological matters are indeed taken very seriously.
PUBLIC MEETING: Tuesday 13 September: Road to Ruin or Regeneration?
Victoria Hall, Radstock - 8pm
In the town centre last Saturday morning, Radstock Action Group found the mood angrier than ever as they collected signatures for the petition against the road. So to give people the chance to have their say, to update everyone on the road and forthcoming related issues of importance, Radstock Action Group will be holding a public meeting on Tuesday 13 September at 8pm at the Victoria Hall, Radstock. Amongst those invited to speak are Radstock's MP, BANES councillors and officers, the chair of Radstock Town Council, the chair of NRR and a range of businesses and individuals opposed to the road. Members of the public should come and make their voices heard too.
Road to Ruin or Regeneration? will be a crucial meeting on the eve of a meeting at which the Road Orders (TROs) will be discussed and where cabinet members will, therefore, have the opportunity to say no to them.
Radstock Deserves Answers
B&NES is still maintaining that it cannot do the analysis of the traffic survey undertaken in 2009 and that officer time is being spent instead on answering questions posed by councillors. However, it would be a very ill-advised authority which went ahead with a major road scheme such as that proposed for Radstock without undertaking full surveys and full analysis of the results.
B&NES says the road is needed for new homes access - unfortunately, even if you wanted to use a car, there will be total gridlock, so you'll never get in or out of the town centre.
Other unresolved questions include:
- Why is B&NES apparently subsidising the NRR and any future developer by paying out for the road, when this should be the developer's responsibilty according to the outline planning permissions?
- Why is B&NES so determined to pursue a scheme which is facing massive opposition from the community?
- Why the moving of the electricity substation and the replacement of the two small roundabouts with one big one is so unacceptable to B&NES?
Crucial B&NES Meeting
Radstock Action Group will be protesting at the B&NES cabinet meeting on Wednesday 14 September and asks as many people as possible to join them at the Guildhall in Bath at 5.45pm - the meeting, at which we will be speaking, begins at 6.30pm but we will be talking to cabinet members as they go into the Guildhall beforehand.
Press release issued by Amanda Leon, Secretary, on behalf of Radstock Action Group
[3rd September 2011]: Radstock Action Group supporters protesting on Thursday 25 August at the site of the BANES activity on the railway land.
Thanks to everyone who turned out at very short notice.
[28th August 2011]: Press Release: You couldn't make it up - and you don't need to - it's happening right here in Radstock
What happened to recent undertakings about the road, to listen and investigate further?
Last Wednesday, to the alarm of very many people, unmarked machinery moved onto the railway land in Radstock and started removing the vegetation on the part of the site adjacent to the sorting office. This came as a particular shock as there are various planning applications and the road traffic orders which have yet to be discussed by BANES and voted on by elected councilors. Adding insult to injury, the move came barely two weeks after Cllr Paul Crossley, the leader of BANES, plus Cllrs Roger Symonds and Cherry Beath (cabinet members for Transport and Regeneration respectively), had attended an event in Radstock, organized by Radstock Action Group, where they assured traders, businesses and the general public, that they were listening and that they would examine alternatives to the current road proposals. Cllr Crossley even went as far as to say that he would not be in favour of the road if the houses were not going to be built. They promised to send a suitable engineer to have a further look at the situation and to keep everyone informed.
Maybe they were genuinely concerned having been taken round the proposed road layout and shown just how unsuitable it is for the town, as it will lead to total gridlock. The five coach companies at the meeting explained that their vehicles would be unable to negotiate the new layout, traders and residents explained in very great detail why they objected and they were left in no doubt that this scheme will be the death of Radstock town centre.
So Radstock Action Group and their supporters set about asking both officers and elected members what was going on. Neither Cllr Crossley nor Cllr Symonds had been made aware that this work was going on and only found out when concerned people from Radstock started contacting them. The development also came as a surprise to Radstock Councillors.
Councillors and officers tell different tales
One member of the public who phoned Cllr Crossley subsequently received the following email response:
‘Thank you for your phone call yesterday. I have been told today that the activity on the NRR site was the ecologist doing routine maintenance and checking work and that the JCB banger was to make ground vibrations so that the animals moved around.’
Meanwhile Geoff Webber, Senior Professional, Major Developments, who hhas responsibility for the NRR proposals in Radstock replied to other enquiries as follows:
‘The works to which you refer are being carried out by the Council in order to prepare the site in advance of the provision of highways works and a contractors' site compound. I understand that the works are being monitored by a Consultant Ecologist also employed by the Council.
This is not a Planning matter, and in order to ensure that you receive the most appropriate response to your concerns, I have been asked to forward your email to James Hinchcliffe, the Council's Communications Manager. James will be able to assist you further.’
Geoff Webber also told us that planning permission is not required as B&NES is acting in its capacity as highway authority and cited works such as road widening and resurfacing as not requiring any permissions. Midsomer Norton residents have just found this out for themselves in South St.
He also stated that the work was being undertaken by B&NES Parks department on behalf of B&NES Major Projects - we subsequently learned that Parks had to contract out the work to another agency.
Radstock Action Group thinks it is high time that councilors pointed out to officers that this is not a done deal. After all, councillors are the elected representatives and the officers are surely there to support and implement decisions made by these same councillors, rather than going off doing their own thing. This appears to be a clear case of democratic deficit – there are only two explanations for the different responses. If, in fact, the councillors did order the work to begin, they have not been honest about their intentions; if they knew nothing then the officers should be told to stop interfering with the democratic process.
Major issues at stake
We are particularly concerned by the following:
- By initiating this work, B&NES is effectively pre-empting the decisions which could be reached by normal democratic means, in cabinet and in full council. the Road Traffic Orders are to be discussed in September and the Linden Homes applications in November, according to information given to one of our supporters.
- In the event of the project not proceeding, they will have wasted public money.
- B&NES officers appear to be undermining the elected councilors, by making and implementing their own policies
- The road, if built, will be achieved by diverting money for the homeless (see Vic Pritchard’s letter in last week’s press) to an unwanted and inappropriate road scheme which will help no-one.
- By undertaking work which should be undertaken by the developer, B&NES appears effectively to be giving an indirect subsidy to the NRR.
- The NRR is allegedly the organisation responsible for the development, so we are entitled to know why BANES is now steering it.
- B&NES has committed £15,000 to an initial study in relation to rail reinstatement and yet they are now pursuing the road without even looking at rail issues
- The work was allegedly being supervised by an ecologist. He certainly was not present for most of the time and, even more serious, he is the same ecologist as Linden Homes is using, thus being a focus for a major conflict of interest. top soil which may well be contaminated has apparently been taken to a local farm - is the farmer aware of the possible dangers?
- Linden Homes, which has yet to sign a full contract and/or receive any funding to finance the proposed housing, or else certain developments are not being made public.
- So this is 'not a planning matter' - brings a whole new meaning to the fine art of buck passing.
The total lack of transparency and the apparent determination of BANES to pursue the NRR plans is absolutely unacceptable. It reveals, yet again, total cynical and offensive contempt shown for Radstock businesses and residents. We invite Cllr Crossley, the leader of the council, to come to Radstock again, as a matter of urgency and explain what is going on.
We urge everyone to phone and email B&NES to demand explanations.
Press Release issued by Amanda Leon, Secretary, on behalf of Radstock Action Group
[20th August 2011]: Image Gallery: The Councillors visiting Radstock to see the situation regarding the changes to the road situation
Click here to view the gallery
[5th August 2011]: Press Release: BANES Councillors to visit Radstock about road Monday 8 August
Councillor Cherry Beath (BANES Cabinet Member, Regeneration) and Councillor Roger Symonds (BANES Cabinet Member Transport) are visiting Radstock at the invitation of RAG. They are going to be given a tour of the proposed road routes and will then go to the Working Men's Club for a discussion with local traders, businesses, residents and anyone who is interested in the future of the town. The aim - to enable them to see for themselves that this plan just won't work.
Meeting Monday 8 August
Date: Monday 8 August 2011
Time: 1.30pm
Venue: Meet outside Museum for tour of Radstock,
with attention to the road proposals.
To be followed by a discussion with councillors at the Working Men's Club from 2.00 - 3.00pm.
Everyone welcome.
[5th August 2011]: Press Release: What the Road will mean for neighbouring communities and for businesses
Although most people are aware of the proposed NRR plans for the Radstock Railway Land, there are still many who are only now beginning to realise how it will impact on them, even if they do not live or work in Radstock.
Which is why Radstock Action Group has begun talking to local businesses including haulage companies, coach companies and businesses which need to transport goods to and from their sites in the area. RAG has also started contacting parish councils to alert them to possible negative impacts on their own communities.
The principal points that a growing number of people are becoming aware of are:
- If you have to go through Radstock for work or leisure purposes, your journey times are going to be longer. this will mean increased fuel consumption, longer working hours and uncertainty on schedules as drivers try to negotiate the gridlock which the road scheme will inevitably bring
- Many drivers, once they see this, will start looking for ways of avoiding going through Radstock, leading to rat runs developing in rural areas and through adjacent communities
- Large vehicles such as articulated lorries will not be able to use the road system as it involves such obstacles as having to go right round roundabouts
- Emergency services will be held up trying to get through the town
- If you enjoy dropping into one of the shops, maybe to get your breakfast or lunch on the way to work, this will no longer be easy as parking is going to be reduced
- Some companies may prefer to relocate, thus losing local jobs, rather than deal with the ludicrous road scheme.
Businesses RAG has spoken to are extremely concerned about the plans and are being urged to make their views known to Bath and North East Somerset before it is too late. The prosperity of the whole area is something that everyone wants to see and everyone must urge the council to listen to people who actually use the road system in Radstock - they know what it needs and it doesn't need the present proposals.
This is an ideal moment for communities to join together and plan strategically for the future - with current business trends and pressures, this is clearly preferable to being isolated. Roads are meant to join people up, not divide them or bring activity to a halt.
Press Release issued by Amanda Leon, Secretary, on behalf of Radstock Action Group
[2nd August 2011]: An Open Letter to Lesley Mansell from Radstock Action Group
The following Open Letter has been sent to Councillor Lesley Mansell, the Chair of Radstock Town Council, in order to highlight how Radstock Action Group is working with decision makers, namely Bath and North East Somerset Council. It does not attempt to cover all our activities which obviously go far wider than BANES.
Dear Lesley,
We read your recent intemperate statement to the local press with serious concern. Although you were addressing a far wider audience than RAG, we thought your remarks showed a lack of insight into how much Radstock Action Group contributes to the debate over the future of the town. Radstock Action Group provides just one of many local voices in dialogue with policy makers including BANES. We would like to give you some indication of how we are working to build good relations with BANES and would like to stress that we are not the only ones.
For example and in no particular order:
- We have a representative on the Somer Valley Partnership, a BANES group, where we have given presentations about our work, shown the rail film and reported back on our activities
- We piloted the BANES Energy Champions project, we were present at the awards and got an award for our efforts
- BANES has given us in-kind support for printing costs for our last two Saturday events
- BANES provides speakers and displays to the Saturday and other events
- We were approached by BANES right at the beginning to be a core member of the Radstock and Westfield Economic Forum
- We are recognised formally as a stakeholder for BANES planning purposes and are invited to participate in events as a result
- Our contributions to the RSS and the Draft Core Strategy have been welcomed and we have had regular dialogues with the nominated officer for Radstock from the department of Planning & Transport Development
- A BANES Councillor set up and ran a meeting between us and a leading rail expert to discuss the potential steps in reinstating the railway
- BANES' logo has appeared on our publicity and they have just requested our logo to put on some of theirs
- We regularly speak at Cabinet, Full Council and Development & Scrutiny (formerly Overview & Scrutiny) meetings.
We believe that all this has come about because we have shown that we want to be involved in developing the future of our town. This doesn't mean automatic agreement with whatever BANES say/propose. But we are building positive bridges with BANES, and we think it is fair to say that they engage with us as an organisation willing to bring ideas to the table.
We are unclear what you mean about 'Radstock is ignored and changes made without our involvement'. It seems more accurate to say that some matters have not been agreed on. For example, we disagree with the proposal to run a road through Radstock and are sure that you will accept that this appears to be the view of most people - the press last week and this have failed to find a single letter to print in support of the road.
It is a matter of considerable regret that Norton Radstock Town Council failed to develop such positive working links with RAG which regularly contributed to meetings; it is even more regretful that the new Radstock Town Council has got off to such an inauspicious start with the chair giving offence to so many well-intentioned and committed people.
Best wishes.
R.Knight, Chair
A.Leon, Secretary
Radstock Action Group
Open Letter issued by Amanda Leon, Secretary, on behalf of Radstock Action Group
[1st August 2011]: Press Release: Time for a moratorium and a halt to planning chaos in Radstock
Time to settle down, introduce a moratorium and start again - this is the message Radstock Action Group wants BANES to take on board with regard to the future of the town. RAG challenges anyone to make sense of the following.
Radstock deserves a proper strategic approach to its future but a glance at the list of dates and deadlines RAG has put together, all from sources in BANES, unless otherwise stated, suggests that a bad bout of confusion which has been smouldering for some time, is now getting a serious hold.
Here are some of the dates:
- 21 July: Deadline for comments on most Traffic Orders which will be implemented should the road scheme go ahead
- 3 August: Deadline for Bus Lane Traffic Order because BANES put the wrong date on the original public notices
- ‘Following deadlines, all comments received and recorded and passed to the relevant officer. Once the process is finished, and if it is deemed appropriate, a report is passed to the Councillor with delegated powers to decide if any changes need to be made.’ Transportation Department - Councillor with Delegated Powers in this case is Roger Symonds, (Councillor Member for Transport)
- 14 September: Delegated decision on the Traffic Orders expected by this date But Councillor Syomnds may not be acting alone as, according to BANES website, the matter will be considered by Cabinet on this date
Meanwhile, in another department, plans to find someone to build the road are going ahead:
- 10 June: Invitation for Expressions of Interest for construction of new road advertised (www.supplyingthesouthwest.org.uk).
- 27 June: Deadlines for completing Pre-Qualification Questionnaires – five companies shortlisted to respond.
- 20 August: Deadline for responses from the shortlisted 5.
- September: (date unspecified) contractor appointed; no details of who will make this decision. Final Costs of road unknown ‘until the contractor has been appointed’.
And elsewhere, NRR/Linden Homes have submitted two new planning applications in relation to the whole site, for extensions and renewals of older planning applications. Comments from the public are currently being considered:
- August or September: Objections to the Planning Applications may be heard at the Development Control Committee on either 31 August or 28 September; we are not aware of a confirmed date.
- Date Unknown for the publication of the analysis of the Traffic Survey undertaken in 2009 - all of which could have a materialbearing on what happens next.
It is completely unsatisfactory that a major project which has the potential to cause anything but regeneration is being run this way. Public money is being spent - and now BANES says it doesn't know how much the road will cost until the contract is awarded but it is likely to come in at at least £1.2m. And developers are so poorly organised that they have to ask for extensions. It appears that this may be in order to bring in unacceptable new proposals without the submission of a full new planning application. This process of asking for extensions must not be used to give carte blanche to a set of unspecified changes.
There is no plan - just a series of fairly random dates, pulled out of the hat by three separate operations within the council. At least three departments are involved in this chaos: Development and Major Projects, Transportation, Planning and Transport Development.
Final date:
- 31 July: Linden Homes and NRR say that this is the date by which the Homes and Communities Agency will have made a decision on the £1m needed to finance the proposed housing.
Radstock Action Group is asking BANES to call a moratorium on all of this confusion. It is time to acknowledge that decisions of key importance to the town's future cannot be made for as long as this unjoined up thinking goes on. All parties must agree to an immediate suspension of all decision making - there is no logic to what is going on.
It is time to start listening to the people who know about Radstock - residents, traders, visitors, other businesses, all of whom use the amenities of the town and this includes its road system. Far from abating, opposition to the plans is growing all the time. We all want regeneration but we do not want the confusion, lack of strategy and lack of respect for the town which is implicit in the botched up schedule above.
Press Release Issued by Amanda Leon, Secretary, Radstock Action Group
[25th July 2011]: Press Release: Are you Listening Linden Homes?
The current road proposals are, according to BANES and the NRR, essential to the housing development which they are pursuing in Radstock. Radstock Action Group has been looking at the website of Linden Homes, the latest would-be developer. Here's what we found under 'Community Engagement' (www.lindenhomes.co.uk/community-engagement.htm):
'Working with local communities comes as second nature to Linden Homes. We understand that if we are to deliver houses that not only meet the aspirations of those who seek to live in them but also enhance the existing neighbourhood, then we need to talk to and engage with local people'. It continues, 'By seeking out local knowledge, and listening to local opinion, we are able to build a fuller picture and progress our plans accordingly'.
So why are these admirable sentiments not being applied to Radstock - is it possible that Linden Homes doesn't know that the proposals that they are in danger of being drawn into do not fit at all with their expressed aims? We shall be urging Linden Homes (address: Linden House, The Jacobs Building, Berkeley Place, Clifton, Bristol, BS8 1EH, tel: 0117 930 4949) to consider the fact that there is overwhelming opposition to the road proposals - you only have to look at the extensive postbag in the press last week to see it.
Radstock Action Group suggests that Linden Homes:
- Acknowledges that the road which is a part of the scheme will certainly not enhance the existing neighbourhood.
- Recognises that the 'local knowledge' they refer to, in the case of Radstock provides a picture of a well-informed community which can give chapter and verse on why the road proposed in the plan to which Linden Homes is proposing to sign up, cannot work.
- Listen to local opinion and stop risking the good name of their company in an unsustainable and hugely unpopular scheme.
When Radstock Action Group met Linden Homes representatives,Simon Gait and Mark Rooney, on 22 June, we were not left with the warm glow and positive feeling suggested by the website, about their principled aims. We had 'a frank discussion' with them and they were honest enough to acknowledge that developers are not universally popular and that the job of commercial companies is to make money. They certainly didn't underline, or even mention, their company's commitment to the statements quoted above from their website. Linden Homes needs to match its boasts to the Radstock 'project'.
Meanwhile, last Thursday, Radstock Action Group presented the first batch of completed petition sheets, containing hundreds of signatures against the road, to the BANES Economic and Community Development Policy Development and Scrutiny. The meeting considered an internal report on Radstock regeneration which stated, amongst other things that Radstock Economic Action Plan is a project which 'aims to understand the key strengths and weaknesses of the local economy in Radstock and Westfield and develop a series of locally owned actions designed to support businesses to start and grow and broader job creation in Radstock and Westfield'. They seem oblivious to the fact that if the road goes ahead none of this can happen because Radstock will not have a future and will no longer be able to do other than watch as current businesses collapse and disappear - and with them the many jobs they currently provide.
In the first week hundreds of people signed our petition against the road, signatures are still being collected - we hope that Linden Homes will wake up and realise that the petition is just the latest in an ongoing stream of opposition to the road.
Press Release issued by Amanda Leon, Secretary, on behalf of Radstock Action Group
[18th July 2011]: Press Release: Campaign against the road has a positive and super-active week
Councillor Mansell’s remarks to the Press last week, should not be allowed to overshadow a week of positive activity in the campaign to stop the road. All that needs to be noted is that the ‘vociferous minority’ she refers to are not opposed to regeneration. Far from it, you would be hard-pressed to find anyone in Radstock who wants anything other than regeneration. However, many people are of the opinion that the road being proposed by BANES/NRR will lead to nothing less than gridlock and degeneration. So the campaign to stop the road plan will continue, as will our dialogue with BANES and all those who welcome discussion and positive suggestions.
On Tuesday evening, a Radstock Action Group public meeting on the road was attended by 45+ people. They came up with a series of ideas about what we need to be doing next. These included:
- Close consultation with heavy haulage and transport/coach companies
- Research on the impact of the road on businesses and industrial sites
- Contact with neighbouring councils such as Westfield, Midsomer Norton, Paulton, Kilmersdon and others regarding the impact and future disruption of road links between places
On Thursday 14 July, Radstock traders and residents demonstrated outside the Guildhall, Bath, before the Full Council meeting where Radstock Action Group members spoke against the road in public time.
At this Council meeting, BANES withdrew the most contentious and unpopular parts of the Bath Transport Package. Radstock Action Group argued that if a rethink was possible for Bath, then a rethink is possible for the Radstock scheme. What’s good enough for Bath is good enough for Radstock.
There was lots of applause from the public gallery, we hope councillors listened and we look forward to reopening discussions with BANES on alternative proposals – many alternatives are now being put forward by the community to avoid the ludicrous plans currently on offer. BANES should come to Radstock and listen to the alternatives put forward by the community.
Meanwhile, the deadline for comments on the Traffic Orders is 21 July; RAG will be commenting and we urge everyone else to do likewise. Full details of how to proceed if you wish to comment are available on our website at: www.radstockactiongroup.org.uk/stop_the_road.php
This week has seen new and old faces redoubling efforts to get the road plans reversed. We must all continue to pull together – if the road goes ahead, regeneration will be relegated to the department of pipe dreams.
Press Release issued by Amanda Leon, Secretary on behalf of Radstock Action Group
[18th July 2011]: Protest at Council meeting, 14th July 2011
Some of the 20 or so Radstock traders and residents who demonstrated at the BANES Full Council meeting on 14 July outside the Guildhall in Bath. At the meeting, BANES agreed to serious modifications to the Bath Transport Package including the scrapping of the most unpopular parts such as the Rapid Transit route - in public time, speakers from Radstock Action Group urged a similar rethink over the very unpopular proposed Radstock road scheme - what's good enough for Bath is good enough for Radstock.
[15th July 2011]: PETITIONS AGAINST THE ROAD AND IN FAVOUR OF AN ALTERNATIVE
Help get petitions against the road signed: Petition against the Road (50Kb doc) | Petition in favour of a different solution (52Kb doc)
- Download as many copies as you can use
- Ask your friends to do the same
- Return to the address at the bottom of the petition, no later than 20 July
- Return sheets which are not complete by 20 July
CAN YOU SPARE HALF AN HOUR TO HELP COLLECT SIGNATURES IN RADSTOCK ON SATURDAY MORNING (16 JULY)?
If so, please come along between 10.00 and midday, and there'll be someone there around Fortescue Road, Street, Radco end, near bank.
Thank you for your help - we are all making a difference together.
[15th July 2011]: URGENT - SEND YOUR VIEWS ON THE ROAD AND NRR PLANS TO BANES NOW - deadlines looming
We've put together details of the most recent planning applications and traffic orders which members of the public can comment on - two important deadlines are 21 July and end of July. Read about them, then respond via one of the contacts provided.
Fri, 15 Jul 2011 09:00:00 +0100
Click here to download the document (96Kb pdf)
[14th July 2011]: PROTEST - THURSDAY 14 JULY 6.00PM - GUILDHALL, BATH
SAVE THE HEART OF RADSTOCK - STOP THE ROAD
- Meet outside the Guildhall in Bath at 6.00pm before going into the full BANES Council meeting.
- A couple of members of Radstock Action Group will be speaking on the road issue.
- Come and add your voices outside the Guildhall before the meeting starts. Bring placards if you can. You will be able to sit in the public gallery for the meeting.
BANES Councillors must hear that Radstock doesn’t want the road.
Catch them as they go in to the meeting.
Talk to them, explain your concerns.
Press Release [12th July 2011]: A Responses to BANES' Latest Press Release About Radstock
This press release is a direct response to BANES own Press Release, which can be downloaded by clicking here (75Kb pdf).
BANES latest attempt to hoodwink everyone into believing their claims and supporting their arguments for the ‘regeneration’ of the town, have a familiar ring to them. Above all, they are clearly put together by people who don’t know anything about Radstock. This continued imposition of views and plans from elsewhere enrages people in the town and militates against getting a rational programme for regeneration. Anyone who knows the town can see that the plans are a recipe for destroying it.
Last Saturday morning on BBC Radio Bristol, Cherry Beath, Lib Dem Cabinet member for Sustainable Development on BANES, stated loud and clear, in answer to the interviewer’s question, ‘How important is it to you to listen to what people want to say in the town?’ – ‘Very important indeed’. She went on, ‘we are going to be listening to the business community and residents there, so we want to walk in step with the people of Radstock’ and ‘As people will know, when you’re planning regeneration you have to have that infrastructure in place. The public areas need to be there to serve the new development and for it to bind in, in a good way, with the existing town. That’s what we’re hoping will happen, beginning with new road infrastructures and public realm’. When asked, ‘Will you listen to the public if they don’t want where you’re thinking of putting the road?’ she replied, ‘We will, we will’.
So, we would ask her and her BANES cabinet colleagues to start listening now – residents and businesses in Radstock do not want the road because they know it will not work. Far from regeneration this will lead to degeneration. The town will be subject to even worse air pollution, traffic will be gridlocked, 'the best preserved mining town centre in the country' (English Heritage) will disintegrate, people wanting to travel through Radstock on the Bath – Wells road will be equally involved as they wait for local traffic to negotiate the new system. The health and safety of everyone will be compromised and the proposals should ring health and safety alarms.
Come to Radstock and you’ll see our poster ‘Save the Heart of Radstock – Stop the Road’ in the vast majority of shop windows; an NRR member agreed last night that the shops in the Street would be casualties of the ‘development’ ...
Radstock Action Group is all in favour of regeneration which is precisely why it is opposed to the road and the current proposals for housing. Can anyone identify a town where a new road is being built to bring through traffic right through a busy town centre rather than keeping it out?
Last night at Radstock Town Council, protesters and councillors listened to a hapless representative of Linden Homes (the current would-be housing developer) state that the plan is not viable at the moment because there is a £1,000,000 (yes one million pound) deficit to be filled. And yet, BANES is still determined to go ahead with this road, which they state will serve the housing which may never be built, owing to lack of funds.
Additionally, the other chosen partner in this ‘adventure’, the Norton Radstock Regeneration Company, looks totally unfit to be involved in any activity allegedly leading to the regeneration of the town.
In the ten years of their existence, the NRR has received vast amounts of public funds and there is very little to show for it. But such is their lack of relevant skills that they have been ‘functioning’ from a mobile phone and Post Office Box number for some time and have just let it be known that they can’t afford to run a website.
This project has long been mired in dubious practices, lack of consultation and a determined refusal to listen to local people. The latest press release does nothing to dispel our objections.
Radstock is a wonderful town, with a great history and a great future. We, along with many others, intend to go on fighting for it. We do indeed look forward to planners walking 'in step with the people of Radstock'.
Reminder: Radstock Road Rage meeting tonight Tuesday 12 July @ 7.45pm at Radstock Methodist Church
Press Release issued by Amanda Leon, Secretary, Radstock Action Group
Press Release [10th July 2011]: MP Backs Bottom Up Approach to Regeneration at Radstock Action Group Event
Jacob Rees-Mogg, MP, flanked by Simon Allen and Eleanor Jackson, Radstock's BANES Councillors, opened 'Radstock Works', the latest Saturday event (9 July) organised by Radstock Action Group to consider the future of Radstock. Mr Rees-Mogg welcomed the event and underlined that Radstock has a promising future plus a unique and valuable history and heritage.
He said that we should say what we want for Radstock to be regenerated, developed and renewed, and that top-down solutions rarely work. He thought people should grasp the opportunity for Radstock to determine its own future and respect what Radstock has. His message was strongly about a bottom-up approach, with people determining their own town's future.
At times, the Working Men's Club resembled Piccadilly Circus as people came in and out between work responsibilities, family commitments and the inevitable pressures of a Saturday. At least fifty people (new and old faces, traders and residents) joined in the event during the day, and participants were treated to up-to-date figures from BANES’ Duncan Kerr, on the state of the economy and business in Radstock; details on the triumphs and pitfalls of organising a Community Plan from Paulton's Kerr Stirling and John Bull and an outline of small business needs from Angela Ladd of Small Business Focus. Dom Chambers of Somer Valley FM explained how community activities could be highlighted and contributed to by the use of community radio and the day continued with people talking in greater detail about practical steps that could be taken to regenerate and develop the centre.
Inevitably, the day's proceedings were overshadowed to a considerable degree by the threat posed by the latest moves from BANES to push a new road through the town centre. An overwhelming majority of people who spoke opposed the road, believing that it could only bring Radstock to a standstill with increased pollution and a very serious threat to traders, shoppers and visitors in the town.
Councillor Simon Allen who had, prior to the recent election, opposed the road, declared his support not just for the road but for the NRR; Cate Mack of the NRR also tried in vain to convince the meeting that the road is necessary. However, it was clear that most people still cannot see who, if anyone, will benefit from the road and are determined to continue campaigning against it.
NEXT ROAD EVENTS PLANNED:
RADSTOCK ROAD RAGE - STOP THE ROAD - public protest and planning meeting organised by Radstock Action Group. Radstock Methodist Church Tuesday 12 July at 7.45pm. Everyone welcome.
BATH AND NORTH EAST SOMERSET FULL COUNCIL MEETING Demonstrate against the road. Thursday 14 July. Meet outside the Guildhall, Bath at 6.00pm for 6.30pm meeting.
Press release issued by Amanda Leon, Secretary, on behalf of Radstock Action Group
Press Release [4th July 2011]: Radstock Road Rage - Stop the Road - Tuesday 12th July
A meeting organised by Radstock Action Group
Tuesday 12 July
Radstock Methodist Church
7.45pm
The announcement from Bath and North East Somerset that they are hell-bent on continuing with their plans for the unwanted road through the town centre has upset many people, some of whom were unaware that the idea was still being pursued by the council, the NRR and developers.
This meeting has been called to consider how to continue the campaign - further details will be available on the Radstock Action Group website shortly.
The questions that need answering are very simple:
- Where is the evidence that the proposed road will work?
- What is the business case for building the road?
- Why haven't the results of the 2009 traffic survey been published?
- How will the road aid regeneration?
- How much is the road going to cost and who, apart from the Homes and Communities Agency, is paying?
Radstock Action Group will be going to the next meeting of Radstock Town Council (July 11) to urge them to oppose the latest proposals and we urge everyone who values the town centre to join us.
And, of course, come to the RADSTOCK ROAD RAGE: STOP THE ROAD meeting on July 12.
Press release issued by Amanda Leon, Secretary, on behalf of Radstock Action Group
Press Release [4th July 2011]: Radstock Works: Saturday 9 July
Radstock Works
Radstock Working Men's Club
Saturday 9 July
10.00am - 2.30pm
Radstock Action Group's RADSTOCK WORKS will kick off at ten o'clock on Saturday 9 July at the Working Men's Club with an opening welcome from local MP Jacob Rees-Mogg. He will be followed by a range of speakers who will set the ball rolling for what promises to be a busy day of debate about identifying priorities for the future of the town, particularly how we can encourage more jobs and businesses - this in the absence of the Masterplan which had been promised by BANES about two years ago and which they have failed to produce.
We believe there’s no better way to plan than by hearing hard facts and figures, the experiences of other community groups and places with similar issues, and those who are already talking about how to get jobs and business growing in the town. But jobs and business do not come without proper housing, transport infrastructure and the creation of a positive environment in which to live and work.
In addition to speakers from Paulton, Shepton Mallet and Radstock Small Business Focus, we look forward to meeting Duncan Kerr, BANES' newly appointed Principal Economy, Enterprise & Business Officer, who has been busily researching the latest facts and figures on the state of business and employment in the town. But the main emphasis of the day is on getting everyone involved in discussions on how we move forward and what the major priorities are.
This is the third in RAG's series, 'What's Next for Radstock?' - the first two aired major ideas on key issues, now the time is ripe to look at how we can get some action on regeneration. We have also scheduled in as a last minute addition at the end of the event, a quick update on the road situation.
EVERYONE WHO IS PASSIONATE ABOUT RADSTOCK IS WELCOME
Download Introduction (78Kb pdf) | Download Programme (51Kb pdf)
Press release issued by Amanda Leon (Secretary) on behalf of Radstock Action Group
[28th June 2011]: Radstock Action Group response to BANES latest road proposals
Click here to download BANES' Press Release (62Kb pdf)
"This cynical announcement is further evidence of the complete disregard of BANES for the clear opposition of Radstock to the building of a new road. Simon Allen (Lib Dem) and Eleanor Jackson (Labour), our two very recently elected BANES Councillors are both opposed to the road and yet our and their views, as usual, count for nothing. The '...strong feelings...' referred to are nothing to do with inconvenience caused whilst work progresses, but to the whole concept of the new road.
This road, if ever built, will spell the end of Radstock town centre and the conservation area - 'the best preserved mining town centre in the country', according to English Heritage. Can anyone point to any current thinking where building a road through the middle of a town and thus introducing through traffic to a shopping centre is regarded as a good idea?
The NRR's planning permission to demolish the underpass and bridges in the town centre should have been implemented by 4 June 2011. Nothing can be done until this demolition takes place and Linden Homes has recently applied for an extension and Radstock Action Group will be opposing it.
The involvement of the Homes and Communities Agency in financing the road appears to have been won by suggesting that the road will aid the regeneration of Radstock - it will not. This is institutional vandalism which can only lead to degeneration.
BANES' contempt for the democratic process and for Radstock was evident yet again last week. In response to our request for the new applications to be made available at the Victoria Hall, Geoff Webber, BANES Senior Professional - Major Developments, Planning Services, told Radstock Action Group, 'Please be advised that we do not make copies of documents available for local inspection as you suggest. It may be that Radstock Town Council will provide that service, but our standard procedures are based around on-line access to the submitted plans and documents.'
BANES needs to prove that all this will constitute 'significant improvements' - the road/traffic survey from 2009, has yet to be published and is rumoured not to support the case for the new road. BANES has consistently rejected our requests for it to be prioritised for publication. No other documentation has been produced nor a business case made to support the proposed new road.
So what will the new road, BANES' 'significant improvements', mean for Radstock?
- All the through traffic using Frome Road and currently skirting the town centre will pass straight in front of the Victoria Hall and The Street will become a two way road
- Shopping in Radstock will become a far less pleasant experience as pedestrians battle with the fumes, noise and congestion of all through traffic using the roads outside the shops
- A threat to the continued existence of the Victoria Hall and the buildings in the conservation area - they were not built to withstand the force of major through traffic and will be structurally weakened
- An end to any possibility of reinstating the railway
- Increased noise and air pollution as large lorries, cars and trucks all enter the town centre and get stuck in traffic jams
- With traffic trying to turn into Fortescue Road, which will run in the opposite direction to present, there will be chaos - it has already been shown that long and large vehicles will be unable to make the turn.
These are just some of the obvious impacts of the new road.
Cherry Beath must come to Radstock and explain how such developments can be classed as 'improved public infrastructure' and reconsider the view that this investment 'will make the public space in the town a more pleasant place for local people, help manage traffic more effectively, and provide access to the proposed new homes and business space on the former railway land.'
We urge everyone to join the campaign to stop the road, by writing to BANES, to their MP Jacob Rees-Mogg, their BANES councillors, Eleanor Jackson and Simon Allen, and to the new Radstock Town Council.
We say:
- Remove the electricity sub-station and reconfigure the roundabouts at the corner of Frome Road
- Reinstate the rail link
- Ensure that any housing in Radstock is built to the highest standard
- Create an environment which will attract new jobs and businesses, not deter them through inevitable gridlock and degradation of the work environment
We have been unable to track down the dates for submission of comments to this scheme but we will certainly continue to press for clarification.
If this wasn't so outrageous and sad for Radstock, its future (and its history), it would be laughable. But BANES is looking for somewhere to be a dormitory town for Bath and that is why they are hell-bent on destroying the valuable town centre, its shops, amenities and natural environment.
We will update our website as this latest BANES offensive develops. In the meantime, if you feel passionate about Radstock, come to our 'Radstock Works' day on Saturday 9 July and help plan a real future and regeneration for the town."
PRESS RELEASE: Radstock Works - a day of activities and discussion for people who are passionate about Radstock and its Future - 27th June 2011
WHAT'S NEXT FOR RADSTOCK? PART 3
RADSTOCK WORKS
DATE: Saturday 9 July
TIME: 10.00am - 2.30pm
Doors open at 9.30am
VENUE: Radstock Working Men's Club
Everyone Welcome
There's never been a more pressing time for a gathering of people who feel strongly that Radstock has an exciting future and that it needs to involve everyone who feels passionately about this.
Radstock Action Group's third Saturday in the series, 'What's next for Radstock?' will bring together a wide range of people who want the very best for the town. we've invited representatives from other communities who are facing similar challenges in a period of economic 'stress' and who have experience of moving forward.
We've invited representatives of our local organisations including businesses/retail, young people and our elected representatives.
This is going to be a day about trying to fill the gaps - Radstock needs a masterplan to act as a framework for future development. It's about talking to each other and bringing together people with different ideas and experiences.
The aim is to end the day with some concrete, specific aims and suggestions for achieving them - whether in relation to housing, transport, jobs and business, young people's needs, older people's needs, exploiting the town's unique natural and built environments, addressing the issues of climate change and energy.
A full detailed programme will be finalised and available on our website within the next couple of days.
Issued by Amanda Leon on behalf of Radstock Action Group
PRESS RELEASE: New Planning Moves Afoot and Radstock People are the Last to Know - 20th May 2011
Purely by chance, Radstock Action Group found out that there are new planning applications in the pipeline for Radstock Railway Land. However, dates, details and purpose are not immediately available, but they seem to be related to the renewal of the old applications. The Nash Partnership, which appears to be acting for Linden Homes, subtitles its 100 page supporting document: Application for a new planning permission and replacement of conservation area consent in order to extend the time limits for implementation.
Later in the document we read. 'Therefore, in order to ensure deliverability and to maximise regenerative benefits for Radstock, Linden Homes Western as the new developer for the site wishes to thoroughly review the proposals and to consider submission of revised reserved matters for Areas 1 and 2.'
Changes appear to be under consideration.
So what is going on? Geoff Webber, BANES Senior Professional - Major Developments, Planning Services, seems not to be remotely worried about the lack of clarity or accessibility to the latest developments.
Radstock Action Group emailed him last week asking for copies of all relevant papers to be made available at Victoria Hall, to which the reply was, 'Please be advised that we do not make copies of documents available for local inspection as you suggest. It may be that Radstock Town Council will provide that service, but our standard procedures are based around on-line access to the submitted plans and documents.'
Also, in response to our request for public notices etc to be displayed we were told, 'As I am sure you are aware, interested persons do not need to wait to be notified by us about an application - comments can be made at any time after the registration of an application'. to which we can only reply that few people make it their business to be scouring the web pages of the BANES Planning Portal on the off chance that they may see something of interest.
We cannot, at this point, comment on the latest developments themselves as we are still awaiting further clarification. However, these papers were registered at the end of May and we need to vigilant in case a closing date for comments emerges. The date of the meeting for which comments need to be prepared is, according to the website, 'No details'.
Radstock Action Group regards the refusal of BANES to involve the people of Radstock as further evidence that the council is hell-bent on building the new road and a housing development which is now out of date and inappropriate, simply to turn Radstock into a commuter dormitory for Bath.
We urge everyone to contact their councillors and MP to express their concerns and seek clarification.
We have a meeting with Mark Rooney of Linden Homes on Wednesday and will be making clear our concerns to him.
It is time to take Radstock seriously and value its history and its potential. Not trample on it.
Issued by Amanda Leon on behalf of Radstock Action Group
PRESS RELEASE: What's Next for Radstock? No.3 Radstock Works - 23rd May 2011
The third Saturday event in Radstock Action Group's successful series focussing on Radstock and its future will centre on Jobs, Business and the need for the development of a Master Plan for Radstock.
WHAT'S NEXT FOR RADSTOCK? PART 3
RADSTOCK WORKS
DATE: Saturday 9 July
TIME: 10.00am - 2.30pm
VENUE: Radstock Working Men's Club
Everyone Welcome
Radstock Action Group is inviting a range of speakers to include addressing Master Planning, Retail Activity, Youth Employment and more - as usual the programme will be flexible and not too formal, with plenty of chances for participation and getting to know other people involved in developing the future for their communities.
Issued on behalf of Radstock Action Group by Amanda Leon, Secretary
PRESS RELEASE: Can Radstock's Elected Representatives Stop the Road? - 16th May 2011
The possibility of the proposed new road through Radstock continues to threaten the town centre and future regeneration. Radstock Action Group is looking to the new intake of councillors at BANES and Town Council level, to fight the proposals with renewed energy.
New councillors oppose the road
The recent BANES and Parish elections clarified a number of things - none more important than what we can expect from our new representatives at BANES and Town Council level on the question of the NRR's ongoing determination to construct a new road through the middle of Radstock, a road that will bring all the heavy traffic from the Frome Road into the core of the community, its shops and services, threatening the continued existence of the town centre.
Our questionnaire, sent to all would-be councillors before the elections, asked, among other things, 'Do you support the NRR proposal to build a new road from Frome Road, past the Victoria Hall into the Street in Radstock?'
Our two BANES representatives, Eleanor Jackson and Simon Allen both replied that they are against the road.
We also know that of the eleven new Town Councillors, six are definitely against it - they are Deborah Porter, Eleanor Jackson, Elizabeth Deri-Davies, Gael Doswell, Hilary Boulton and Lesley Mansell; two are definitely in favour of it - Chris Dando and Fflyff McLaren; one, Peter Sas, said he didn't know and needs more information; another, Roger Baber feels that he is 'not fully informed about the road and its impact and reserves judgement till then'; one - Anne Marie Jovcic-Sas - hasn't responded.
All this is mildly encouraging, although we do think that anyone wishing to represent Radstock should have made it their business to find out about this key issue and reach a position.
Funding to build a new road based on false premise and no reasoned argument
Things are getting more complicated. In mid September 2010, Radstock Action Group asked BANES, under the Freedom of Information Act, for details of all communications between BANES, the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) and Bellway/NRR, in relation to NRR/Bellway and the Radstock Railway Land. What we got, at the end of October, was a response under the Environmental Information Regulations, which may have allowed BANES not to give us the full picture.
We have since asked the HCA for clarification on a grant recently made by the 'HCA to NRR (or possibly other) in relation to the Radstock Railway Land'. The HCA replied that it has not been possible to invest £2.1m, in the NRR site, as envisaged. The spokesperson added that 'the HCA provided £800,000 grant funding to the Local Authority, Bath and North East Somerset Council, in order to facilitate public highway works in the centre of Radstock. The improvement of the public highway network in Radstock had been a long held ambition and identified as being necessary by the Council in early 2006.'
This raises several key points:
- Where is the evidence that the proposed road would 'improve the public highway network in Radstock'? We have looked very carefully at all the documentation released under the Freedom of Information request and failed to find any supporting materials sent to the HCA to convince them of the case, although clear mention is made of the possibility of funding the road.
- If, indeed, the improvement of this network is a 'long held ambition' (presumably of BANES) you would have expected them to have approached the matter with some rigour. However, the most recent traffic surveys conducted (2009) in connection with traffic management and flow in Radstock, have yet to be published. In fact, recently Radstock Action Group was told by David Trigwell, Divisional Director Planning and Transport Development at BANES, 'It is clear from my investigations that there is a considerable amount of work that is needed to be done on the matter before officers will be able to bring forward the final report..... I regret that I estimate it will be some months before the work will be completed.'
- Who is going to pay for the housing proposed by the NRR? Certainly BANES seems unclear about whether it has any money, but maybe they are encouraged by the signing up of the HCA to pay for the road that almost nobody apart from the NRR wants and will be looking for ways of financing the housing.
- Where is Linden Homes in all this? What is the nature of their agreement with BANES/NRR? We have been trying to meet a representative for some time now and the first date they have been able to offer us is at the end of June.
BANES must respect the wishes of the local community, adopt more professional and transparent practices. We are convinced that if they were to do so, there would be a reasonable and acceptable solution to the traffic issue.
Issued by Amanda Leon on behalf of Radstock Action Group
PRESS RELEASE: Another exciting professional contribution to the debate on the future of rail in Radstock - 9th May 2011
Radstock Action Group reminds everyone of the meeting this Wednesday relating to the future of the railway in Radstock, with an account from a rail professional of:
THIS WEDNESDAY
Trains and Systems for Sustainable Railways
Olly Wise, First Great Western
Date: Wednesday 11 May
Time: 8.00pm
Venue: Radstock Methodist Church Hall
Olly Wise, who works for First Great Western on the technical side, will be giving a presentation on the most up-to-date thinking about how our trains and rail system can contribute to the development of sustainable transport.
The meeting comes at a time when interest in the reinstatement of the railway between Radstock and Frome is gathering huge momentum.
Everyone is invited to come and hear from someone who is right at the centre of the industry and who combines technical expertise with infectious enthusiasm for 'all things rail'. Your chance to ask all those questions about rail development.
Press release issued by Amanda Leon (Secretary) on behalf of Radstock Action Group
PRESS RELEASE: A Radstock Action Group event on 11 May - 1st May 2011
Trains and Systems for Sustainable Railways - a presentation by Olly Wise, First Great Western
Date: Wednesday 11 May
Time: 8.00pm
Venue: Radstock Methodist Church Hall
Olly Wise, who works for First Great Western on the technical side, will be giving a presentation on the most up-to-date thinking about how our trains and rail system can contribute to the development of sustainable transport.
The meeting comes at a time when interest in the reinstatement of the railway between Radstock and Frome is gathering huge momentum.
Everyone is invited to come and hear from someone who is right at the centre of the industry and who combines technical expertise with infectious enthusiasm for 'all things rail'.
Apologies for any cross-posting.
Press release issued by Amanda Leon (Secretary) on behalf of Radstock Action Group
PRESS RELEASE: Short and snappy answers from the election candidates - 1st May 2011
Last week, Radstock Action Group sent the candidates in the forthcoming Parish and BANES elections a series of easy to answer questions, requiring nothing more than fourteen short and snappy answers. The first six questions simply required either a Yes or No answer.
Find their replies at: www.radstockactiongroup.org.uk/who_will_you_vote_for.php
No fewer than ten replied - a mixture of Independent and Labour candidates, but there was not a single reply from the Lib Dems or Tories. Very disappointing, some might even call it worrying ...
Only one candidate for BANES has responded, thus making her views clear on the issues that Radstock Action Group really sees as central to the town's future development and prosperity.
The headline findings include:
- An overwhelming majority opposed to the proposed road and the NRR development plans
- A similarly overwhelming majority in favour of keeping the Victoria Hall in public and community use
- Likewise huge support for the reinstatement of the rail link to Frome
The town council candidates came up with a huge range of suggestions for uses for the Victoria Hall and equally creative ideas about how to regenerate the town. We look forward to incorporating them in future campaigns.
Find the details at: www.radstockactiongroup.org.uk/who_will_you_vote_for.php
Radstock Action Group is encouraged that these views are so varied and positive, and that there is overwhelming support on key issues. We urge all voters to look at the responses of the individual candidates before making up their minds. If the new Radstock Town Council can pursue these ideas, things will certainly be looking up for the town.
Responses from other candidates will be put onto the website as they arrive. But in the meantime, all looks set for encouraging discussions at the new Radstock council. A shame that prospective BANES councillors are less forthcoming with their ideas.
Press release issued by Amanda Leon (Secretary) on behalf of Radstock Action Group
Who Will You Vote For? - 30th April 2011
Radstock Action Group asked local election candidates for their views on a range of issues concerning Radstock and its future. Click here for more information, and to find out how the candidates responded.
PRESS RELEASE: Radstock Action Group asks candidates for straight, short answers - 26th April 2011
As the local elections approach, Radstock Action Group is sending all candidates a short questionnaire to find out what they think about key issues facing Radstock at the moment. The questionnaire can be view by clicking here (34Kb pdf).
All the responses will be posted on the Radstock Action Group website.
Press release issued on 26 April 2011 by Amanda Leon
Secretary, Radstock Action Group.