Dear resident,

We are writing to inform you that the Community Contact Vehicle will be visiting Twerton High Street on Friday October 2nd between 11am and 1pm for the TWERTON BEAT SURGERY.

Beat Surgeries work in the same way as PACT meetings, inviting you to come along and raise your concerns and issues, but allow you talk to your Neighbourhood Policing Team on a 'one to one' basis and all issues raised will remain confidential.

If you are unable to make it between those times but would still like to speak confidentially to your Neighbourhood Police Team, the Westmoreland Surgery will take place between 2pm and 4 pm on the same day at Weston Lock Retail Park.

Alternatively, you can contact your Neighbourhood Police Team at any time by e-mailing ssnbathouterarea@avonandsomerset.police.uk

Twerton Neighbourhood Policing Team, 28/09/09

Last Thursday's Bat Walk organised by the Friends of Roundhill community group was just what I had hoped it would be. People from the local estates and beyond had a great time learning more about bats and encountering them on a walk around the hedgerows at Roundhill.

Countryside Officer Miriam Woolnough gave a talk and showed us a specimen of a Brown Long-Eared Bat which you can see here. One type of bat that you are likely to see locally is the Pipistrelle, which can fit into small spaces like crevices under roof tiles to sleep in the daytime.

Some electronic bat detectors were given out. These pick up the ultransonic cries that bats make and turn them into sounds that humans can hear. You can see a bat dector in operation here. The children loved using these and excitedly waved them around in the air to find the bats.

It is suprising how often can bats can be seen flying around Wedmore Park at dusk, catching insects attracted to the streetlights. We heard them on the bat detectors and then spotted them darting between buildings and trees with a fast fluttering movement. A family from Wedmore Park said that they were used to seeing the bats.

Friends of Roundhill is a resident led group dedicated to maintaining and promoting Roundhill as an area for the community and wider public to enjoy. If you would be interested in joining the group, contact us through the Friends of Roundhill website here.

Joe, 26/09/09

Come to a nature walk at Twerton this Sunday 20th September, from 2pm to 4pm. Fungi expert Justin Smith will lead a walk to see what different types of fungi are to be found. The walk will start at the Walwyn Close entrance to Carrs Wood.

All are welcome but children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. Please wear warm clothing and suitable footwear. Please note that there are slopes, steps and uneven paths in the woodland. The event is free but places must be booked. Telephone 01225 477612.

The photo is of a Glistening Ink Cap fungus that we found last year. To see some photos of other fungi in the wood at Twerton, click here.

Joe, 16/09/09

Here are some points summarised from Councillors Paul Crossley and Dine Romero's e-newsletter for the Southdown Ward. To get the full newsletter by email, contact Paul Crossley . You can also find out local news by visiting their blog here.

Football in Whiteway

With support from RE:generate, Andrew Marks and a group of young people at Whiteway have been organising football tournaments and seeking funding to raise money for new goal posts in Rosewarn Field. Two football tournaments so far have been well attended, with over 30 young people at each tournament.

Andrew also organised a football match against the police which was held at Culverhay recently. The police were beaten 10-8! The group has already secured £590 of funding and is nearing the target of £1,000.

Friends of Roundhill

A new community group to manage the public space at Roundill is up and running. The group has started to build a website at: friendsofroundhill.org. The next event will be a bat walk on Thursday 24th September. All are welcome to attend - meet at the YMCA building on Mount Road at 7pm.

Local projects

The Council has made a sum of £8,000 available to support small projects in Southdown and Whiteway. There have already been a number requests made, including support for the project to install goal posts in Rosewarn Field, a bench for Roundhill, a winter grit bin for Alderley Road, and the tree planting that took place in Kingsway to be repeated elsewhere.

If you have a small project in mind, especially if there is funding from other sources that could be matched, please contact Paul and Dine with an outline of the idea and what benefits it will bring to the community.

Haycombe Drive

Some older residents who use the bus stop opposite the entrance to Rosewarn have requested a proper bus shelter and that the ramp leading to the bus door be relaid as it is difficult for wheelchairs. Paul and Dine have shown the problem to the Highway Engineer and hope that it will be fixed shortly.

Blagdon Goldies

At the annual Golden-Oldies concert in the Forum, the Blagdon Park Goldies presented a cheque of £800 to the charity. Golden-Oldies is the charity which offers people aged around 50 onwards a great time singing hit tunes of the 50s, 60s and 70s each week. You can see a video clip of the Blagdon Park Goldies here.

Life skills

Bath City Farm runs a 10 week programme to help people develop back to work skills. The programme includes animal care, conservation and horticulture, as well as health and safety, budgeting and project planning. The next programme starts on 23rd September. To find out more telephone 01225 481269.

Mobile library

After a storm of protest over the mobile library closure programme, the consultation is being redrafted to include an option to keep the current service. This is good news for Southdown as the first draft had the removal of the mobile service from many parts of Bath.

Information from newsletter, 14/09/09

New Twerton pre-school

The Hut at Newton Road opened as a pre-school on the 4th September with over 30 families using the service. Sessions run Monday to Friday, from 9am to 11.30am and from 12.30pm to 3pm. There is a lunch time wrap around session between 11.30 and 12.30pm.

Level 3 qualified staff with Early Years Professional Val Rowlands at the helm, provide children from 18 months with a great place to play indoors and out. Children can get messy in the soft play room, and they can learn through playing with colours, food, foam and natural materials. The sessions cost £8.75.

For booking forms or to look around, please call in at The Hut and speak to the staff on any day. Or phone 01225 832479, or see the BAPP website here.

12th September: For young people aged 11+

Free at Odd Down Community Centre, Odin's Road, Odd Down
from 1pm to 5pm:

Graffitti project - help complete the spray art around the court area

Breakdance and Dance Tutors

DJ workshops

Music sessions

SOFA Slideshow for 2009 with the '09 Film

Refreshments

Opportunities to plan more activities this year including the chance to go climbing or canoeing

26th to 30th October: Free holiday playschemes

1) At The Hut, Newton Road, from 10am to 3pm. For this playscheme you need to book in advance. Call in at The Hut or phone the office on 01225 832479, or download a booking form at the BAPP website here.

2) At Southside Youth Centre, Kelston View, from 10am to 12 noon and from 1pm to 3pm. Children can book in on the first day the playscheme opens.

News from BAPP, 9/09/09

Coming up

A Pirate Day will be held at The White Horse Pub, Twerton, on 19th September. This is part of the international Talk Like A Pirate Day (see here). There will be fancy dress and live music etc. The particulars of the event are still being worked out.

A Bat Walk organised by the Friends of Roundhill group will be taking place at Roundhill, Southdown, on 24th September, starting at 7pm by the YMCA building at Mount Road. Listen out for bats using devices that pick up the ultrasonic calls they make.

Competition

Take part in the Food Waste Diary Competition to win some great prizes, including a cookery course worth £140. All you do is keep a food waste diary for a week and include one or more suggestions on how to reduce food waste. To take part, click here and then click on your local council on the map to download a diary.

Whiteway 20mph

If you have a Facebook account, please consider joining the Whiteway we want 20mph group page. This group is hoping for lots of supporters to start a petition to keep children safer by getting a 20mph speed limit imposed in Whiteway. Visit the group page here.

Free computer course

Do you know anyone who could use a free Computer Confidence Step 1 course? This six week course for beginners starts on 16th September from 7pm to 9pm at Culverhay School. It is for people aged 19 or over, who have little or no experience of using a computer. Learners can progress to Computer Confidence Step 2. Telephone Christina Chow on 01225 396834 for more info or to book a place.

Joe, 7/09/09