A controversial planning application to demolish The Magic Wok takeaway in order to construct a four storey building, has been the cause of sadness and concern for some Twerton residents. Mr Tang who manages the takeaway said, "The Magic Wok takeaway has been trading here for 16 years. We know all the customers and all the customers like us." Mr Tang also pointed out that The Magic Wok the only Chinese takeaway in Twerton, and that the demolition of the takeaway together with Blockbuster DVD next door would be a very sad loss for Twerton.

The Magic Wok organised a petition of several hundred names in protest against the planning application, while Blockbuster DVD compiled a similar petition of more than 2,000 names in just two days. But the Council has said that these petitions only count as a single complaint each. Now customers are sending individual letters of protest to the Council. You can find out more about the planning application on Councillor Tim Ball's blog here.

Joe, 29/01/08

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Southside news - January / February

The news items in this section summarise parts of two newsletters recently emailed by the elected Councillors for Twerton, Whiteway and Southdown. If you want to receive the full newsletters by email, contact Tim Ball for the Twerton newsletter, and Paul Crossley for the Whiteway and Southdown newsletter.

Southdown and Whiteway PACT meetings

The next Southdown PACT (Partners and Communities Together) meeting will be held at Southdown Methodist Centre, The Hollow, on Monday 4th February at 7pm. The main agenda will be as follows: 1) Presentation on anti-social behaviour; 2) Report on Operation Relentless;
3) Feedback on the top three issues identified at the first PACT meeting (traffic, litter and vandalism); 4) Discussion of issues in small groups; 5) Feedback and votes on issues.

Introduction to computers at The White Horse

A free six-week course introducing people to the basics about computers is to be held in The White Horse Pub at Shophouse Road. The course is organised by BANES Community Learning Service and will start in February or March. Book your place now by calling Christina on 01225 396834, or Jacqui on 07977 239782.

Golden-Oldies

This charity based in Blagdon Park has attracted the attention of the BBC and Canadian and German TV. Golden-Oldies gets older residents together in Blagdon Park Community Centre to sing hit songs from the 50s and 60s, on Mondays from 10.30am to 11.30am. You can see a video clip of the Golden-Oldies here.

Police news

Burglaries continue to be a problem so the police are continuing with high visibility patrols, including evening patrols. Councillors would like to hear from anyone who is interested in setting up or getting involved with a Neighbourhood Watch Scheme.

Bath Foyer

Twerton Councillors Tim Ball and Gerry Curran are meeting with workers at the Bath Foyer in Twerton High Street, in order to better understand what the Foyer is about and to improve its relations with the community. The Foyer always needs kitchen utensils such as pots and pans, crockery and cutlery. Donating a bike to the Foyer can help a young person to go to college or look for work. If you can provide any of these items, please contact Donna Plumb on 01225 405004.

Building projects

The former premises of Marjorie Whimster elderly person's home have been bought by Sarsen Housing. It is anticipated that a planning application will be submitted to build social housing on the site. Meanwhile a planning application has been put in to build 4 studio flats on the corner where Shophouse Road meets with Twerton High Street.

Bath City Farm litter pick

Bath City Farm will be having a litter pick in its grounds on 10th February, from 11am to 2pm.

Information from newsletter, 29/01/08

Twerton's first PACT meeting was attended by about 70 local people. Concerns and ideas were adressed to a panel made up of Dan Foster and Andy Isles from Somer Housing, PC Brendan Keegan, Councillors Tim Ball and Gerry Curran, and David Goucher the headteacher of St Michael's Junior School who chaired the meeting.

PACT meetings usually begin with feedback on the previous meeting. The public are then invited to talk about their concerns and people vote on which top three issues need to be tackled. The PACT panel then meet and discuss plans for addressing these issues.

Because this was Twerton's first PACT meeting there was no feedback stage, so the meeting moved on to the part where the public identify local issues. People very quickly stated that a lack of youth provisions in Twerton was a major problem leading to some of the crime. It was noticed that there were no young people present and there was a suggestion that a special Youth PACT be arranged for them. One resident said, "We need to have dialogue with young people." The tendency for alleyways to facilitate burglaries was also mentioned, as well as problems with police response times.

Arson attacks and repeated damage to the communal entrance doors of blocks of flats in Twerton were other points of concern. Residents were told that every block in Twerton is to have new entrance doors fitted. The new doors are very resistant to being kicked in, as they open outwards and have bolts that lock on all sides. This new type of door has proven very successful at Foxhill.

The PACT panel agreed to follow up on the top 3 priorities voted for by residents. These were:
1) Arson attacks and burglary; 2) Youth provisions; 3) Building security (repair and replacement of entrance doors in local flats). The panel will now discuss plans for addressing these issues and will report on progress in the next PACT meeting.

PC Keegan pointed out that the police are able to provide advice on how to make your home more secure. People were also advised to help tackle burglary by letting the police know who is privately selling secondhand equipment such as video recorders or televisions.

Joe, 29/01/08

St Michael's Church at Twerton was filled with people on Sunday, eager to celebrate the baptisms of seven individuals of all ages. The style of baptism was full immersion, which involved being briefly lowered down under the water in the tank shown opposite. The wooden plank in the photo is holding a heater element in place to warm the water first. For some this was a reaffirming of the baptism they had received as a baby, while for others it was a decision to be baptised for the first time.

In the Christian faith, baptism in water is a visual demonstration of the individual rising to newness of life in Jesus Christ. Everybody in the church got out of their pews and gathered around to witness the special event close up.

Among the people to be baptised was a young woman called Sam, who is a youth worker in Twerton. The left-hand photo shows her being baptised by Rector Richard Wilson. In her testimony Sam said, "I thought 'some of the young people that I'm working with are getting baptised... how fantastic it would be to take that journey with them.'"

You can visit the church website at: stmichaelstwerton.co.uk.

Joe, 27/01/08

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Crafty session at The White Horse Pub

People who attended the free craft session at The White Horse on Wednesday, were taught how to make the decorated boxes, picture frames and cards shown above. Special patterned Japanese paper and adhesive ribbons were some of the materials used.

The event was organised by the Community Learning Service, partly as an opportunity for people to find out more about learning opportunities that are available, while enjoying the craftwork. There will be another free craft session at the pub on Wednesday 30th January, from 12.30pm to 2.30pm, when people will be making lavender bags. The Community Learning Service are also starting up a new computer skills course at the pub in February or March. For more information telephone Christina on 01225 396834, or Jacqui on 07977 239782.

Joe, 23/01/08

This was the scene at Pennyquick Bottom near the Newton Mill Campsite last Friday, after Bath was drenched by more than a month's rain in one day. Police closed off the road between Pennyquick and the Globe Inn at Newton St Loe, due to flooding from the Newton Brook where the water usually flows under the road.

Luckily the residential areas of Twerton are located well above the River Avon's flood plain. Blocked drains can be reported to Council Connect on 01225 394041.

Photo by Daniel and Peter Little. See a couple more photos here: flood 2  flood 3.

Joe, 15/01/08