B&NES Council has now responded to the questions put forward by our action group at the Better Bath Forum on 18 June 2008 regarding the London Road and its regeneration.
Forum conclusion 7 (18/07/2008 meeting)
Regeneration of the London Road area could make a huge difference to an important gateway to the city, to the benefit of residents, businesses and visitors alike. The Council should state whether it considers that comprehensive regeneration of the London Road area is feasible.
B&NES response
The question of regeneration of the London Road area must be considered in the wider context of Bath & North East Somerset. The Council have identified specific social and economic improvement priorities within the areas of South West Bath and Midsomer Norton and Radstock.
The Council need to work with the local community to understand their needs and ensure these are represented in the revision to the Sustainable Community Strategy. A more considered response to the needs of London Road and how these can be addressed to ensure the area contributes to the overall regeneration of Bath needs to be established.
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We note that the local authority declares that "The Council need to work with the local community to understand their needs and ensure these are represented...". This comes as a very big surprise because we have seen very little of this so far.
What we have seen for the London Road is inconsistent and contradictory planning provisions and policies; regarding expanding the hostel at Longacre/Caroline House a council leader for Social Services & Housing dismissing people's view so quickly and with such arrogance that it can only show the scheme is a "done deal", with a community that should have no other choice than to accept it; Somer Housing, working for the Council not bothering to answer any questions at the most attended PACT meeting in Bath or not even willing to stick to their words (still no new architectural drawings!)... The previous articles written on this blog have shown all of this and the absence of a true consultation with the local community.
Let's hope that from now on any decisions of the local authority will finally take into consideration the needs of the London Road and its community as it is proclaimed at the Better Bath Forum.
We also note that the Council says that "A more considered response to the needs of London Road and how these can be addressed to ensure the area contributes to the overall regeneration of Bath needs to be established."
A first step for the local authority to start with would be to listen to the local community, stop its support to Somer to expand Caroline/Longacre and why not give these buildings back for community use when there is so little community provision in the area or let the private sector (business or residential) to use these buildings and upgrade them (Click HERE to discover that several offers by private investors have even not been considered by the local authority).
But what is really striking above all in the response from the local authority is the very little knowledge it shows of our area and that it has not quite yet grasped the huge contribution the London Road is already doing for the overall economy of Bath. Those at the Council who have never set foot in this part of Bath shall be indeed reminded of few things.
- The London Road has a vibrant and mixed community to be proud of. It is really unique in Bath and it is evidenced by the multitude of street parties taking place in the neighbouroods and the works of the many community groups, often thanks to local volunteers, in the arts and music e.g. Baka Beyond, Walcot Choir, American Jazz singer, Joan Davis 
and her voice workshop... The area has its pockets of deprivation but it has improved tremendously recently with new comers and sucessful businesses who have spotted a real opportuinity here e.g. award winning King William Pub, Hudson, Burdalls Yard, Ideas of the Mind... Most of these successful business are listed on the column right of this blog.
- The London Road has got a very creative population profile; lots of publishing and web design companies have indeed choosen to be based on the London Road e.g. Radio Ltd, Made up design, Ideas of the Mind, Creative Concept, Anthem Publishing... Most of them are listed on the colum right of this blog and there is probably no equivalent in Bath of such high concentration of creative industries, that the local authority is so keen to attract for Bath. With the presence of two major universities in Bath which can provide the necessary skills, it is important for Bath to retain these highly qualified workers in Bath. These businesses in the London Road are already just doing this and it can only strengthen the whole economy of the city.
- The London Road also found another niche market and has the highest density of furnishing shops in Bath, especially antique dealers. This retail industry has the potential to become once again a thriving business community, attracting many more visitors and tourists at the same time enhancing the heritage status of our city and its “uniqueness”. The B&NES City and Town Centres Studies October 2004 reports that a significant number of visitors choose to park outside the main shopping area and appear to be prepared to walk five to ten minutes to and from the centre. This indicates in conjunction with the park and ride project at the East of the city (while addressing some of the traffic issues) an important potential for the London Road to become a shopping destination if provisions for walking and cycling, along affordable public transport are incorporated into the project.
- The London Road has probably the longest row of listed Georgian buildings in Bath and the whole area has in fact almost remained untouched (save Snow Hill) compared with other parts of Bath. The first impression on arrival to Bath via the London Road is sadly not very positive at present but this heritage is to be preserved and enhanced for the next generations and can make a positive statement for the
whole city. The Longacre site alone is a powerful reminder to the city of the importance of the area and its contribution to the economy of Bath. The London Road further offers a very good supply of small space, in an historic heritage setting, that would be both ideally for more start up and creative business when reinforcing again the heritage status of the city. The easy access to the city centre and the A4, the possible future park and ride facilities makes it an attractive business location.
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Perhaps the image of the London Road at the Council is still based on a perception, sadly mostly negative that does not match today's reality. It may also explain fifty years of inadequate planning and investment or all the mistakes that have contributed to the challenges that the community is now facing. So the questions Council leaders now need to ask themselves are whether they wish to put it right this time or if they want B&NES to be part of and support a transformation, already taking place, of the London Road.... Or do they wish to prevent this regeneration to happen with for example such plans as the ill concieved scheme proposed for Longacre/Caroline House?
At the last meeting of the Better Bath Forum we also said that more is needed to be done to help the less well off. We note the response from B&NES (Forum Conclusion Response 3) and can only hope that the Learning Partnership will finally have a keen interest on those in need on the London Road. The purpose of the Learning Partnership is to provide collaboration, support economic development and regeneration and to ensure that the resources available for education and training are used to deliver the best possible opportunities for the citizens of Bath & North East Somerset. Is it not time for these resources to reach our community or at least, for the Learning Partnership to be a bit more visible here?
Everyone interested can comment on the Better Bath Forum. Click HERE to access the forum website, read the full response to the meeting of 18 June and raise your voice for the London Road.
... and join a Moth Mosey or a Bat Walk in Bath's most centrally located nature reserve.
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