November Update

It has been an interesting month, with work continuing on our response to the Core Strategy consultation. We have not received many comments from members, but are very appreciative of the responses which have been sent and the suggestions of closer liaison with some Parish Councils which we shall be progressing. If anyone else wishes to pass us their comments we would be very grateful to receive them. Please send to julia.sherwen@tiscali.co.uk

We have been keeping in close touch with the ongoing discussions around Bath Farmers Market (see section on local foods below).

We were also represented at a meeting at Culverhay School in Bath about the proposed urban extension to the south west of Bath and are keen to ensure that development does not extend into the Greenbelt outside Bath or other areas at risk in the Core Strategy. We believe that:

• the focus must be on ensuring that brownfield sites are developed before greenbelt land is put at risk
• he Council should not plan based on unproven forecasts of growth.

As we all know, once we have lost a part of our countryside, it is lost forever. This will be one of the main thrusts of our Core Strategy response.

In terms of development outside Bath we are also keen to ensure that the proposals for a “Buffer Zone” around the World Heritage Site are clarified before further land is sacrificed for development.

The CPRE Avonside Branch AGM was held on 24 November and was followed by two excellent talks. Detailswill be posted on this website soon. The Avonside Branch is particularly fortunate to have as one of its committee members Georgie Bigg, the North Somerset District Chairman who is now on the National Board. Sir Nigel Thompson, the Chairman of CPRE, also made time to attend the meeting and input to the debate.

Julia Sherwen