Battle is renewed by Back to Bath group
By Bath Chronicle | Friday, November 02, 2012, 20:38
Campaigners wanting Bath to have its own council are stepping up their battle with the launch of a new website and Facebook page.
The Back to Bath group is keen to show the Government the level of support for its call for the city to be self-governing.
It says there is overwhelming backing for the idea of Bath and North east Somerset Council being broken up, with a new unitary authority covering just the city.
The pressure group says Bath – where income from the civic property portfolio was such that the old city council did not need to charge domestic rates – is subsidising the rest of the district.
It acknowledges that seven out of the eight members of B&NES' ruling cabinet are from the city, but says that the current regime allows decisions about Bath to be taken by politicians from places as far afield as the Chew Valley and Whitchurch.
The group, which collected nearly 13,000 signatures for a petition ten years ago, points out that other towns and cities of a similar size to Bath, such as Hartlepool, whose population of 90,000 is identical, have their own all-purpose authorities.
Back to Bath founder Anna Harper said: "Bath people must run Bath. We feel that we have lost our identity."
Her colleague, former city councillor Jill Attwood, added: "We have run our own affairs for centuries but we won't get this if we don't fight for it."
They have no fixed ideas on how the rest of B&NES could be broken up, but one idea would be for Keynsham to be part of Bristol, with Midsomer Norton and Radstock being swallowed up by an extended Somerset County Council and Mendip District Council.
The group says the strength of the city's civic property chest – B&NES is the biggest commercial landlord in Bath – means that the creation of a new local authority need not be expensive.
Ms Harper said: "I believe it could and should happen."
The website is at www.backtobath.co.uk, with the Facebook page at www.facebook.com/backtobath.
Comments
Are you being ageist? I hope not.
By jezer at 20:38 on 02/11/12
ReportI think the photograph sums up sectors of Bath nicely. We should use it on tourism posters.
By Viscount_V at 16:04 on 02/11/12
ReportAbsolutely right Dave. Bath's saving grace has been how shambolically run Bristol has been. Many who live in Bath's satellite towns are some of its most significant 'stakeholders' (to use that awful parlance of the day). Cast them adrift at your peril.
By jdd1977 at 15:44 on 02/11/12
Report"rubbish collection has more to do with budget constraints"
That's basically the point though. The argument is that less money is being spent on basic services in Bath which has seen a decrease in provision because its being siphoned off to keep the old Wansdyke area in new street lights.
By ChronicReader at 15:44 on 02/11/12
ReportI've just posted this on the other closely related thread……………
Strangely with my Independent head on I tend to agree with Messrs Crossley and Foster.
When compared to say Bristol, the City of Bath if it stood alone, would I suggest, find itself very week in the attraction of inward investment stakes. Its income streams have been seriously diluted following the demise of the MOD establishments, and it seriously cannot claim to be big in the field of financial services nor particularly strong manufacturing wise. It can't even blow its own trumpet having no media outlets to talk of.
My view for what it's worth is that Bath will really benefit from having its satellite towns and hamlets, for there lies the opportunity for economic growth and manufacturing job creation. Keynsham in particular will be a jewel in the crown with its unique position midway betwixt Bath and Bristol and its superb communication links to Road, Rail and River. Let this go to Bristol at your peril!
By capndave at 15:13 on 02/11/12
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