©2003

National Organisation of Residents Associations

Chairman: Brian Fearn    email address: fearn.wilson@virgin.net

Secretary: Alun Morgan    email address: alun@jmorganbath.fsnet.co.uk

Treasurer: Rosemary van Musschenbroek  email address: rosie.musschenbroek@canadean.com

The city

Bath (pop 80,000) with its hot springs and Georgian terraces overlooking the Avon is a very attractive place to live. The city depends on its residents in many ways, not least because they pay to maintain their Georgian homes, thus conserving much of the built heritage of the city. Bath has been designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, and 2 million visitors a year come to see the splendid architecture, to visit the Roman Baths and the other museums, and to enjoy all the city has to offer. There is a large student population which adds to the vitality of the city, and Bath University has been voted the 3rd most popular in the UK. Apart from the good shops, pubs, and restaurants, many also come to Bath for the cultural activities, festivals, films, concerts and the theatre. There is sport too, and Bath rugby and cricket clubs have their grounds right in the city centre. Around 1000 people live in the central part of Abbey Ward which is in the middle of the city, and many are life long citizens of Bath. There are usually a further 1000 visitors, staying in the 15 central hotels and hostels, or having treatment in the old Mineral Water Hospital, now the Royal National Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases. Soon there will be a fresh influx of visitors for the brand new Spa, a £27 million project which is near to completion.

Late night licensing is noisy

Within the same part of Abbey Ward (where 2000 people sleep) there are about 70 licensed premises, 12 of which open later than midnight (because they have late night Public Entertainment Licences – PELs – and so can sell alcohol until 2am). The result is up to 3,500 noisy people on the streets during unsocial hours, and they disturb 77% of the residents, according to a Council survey. The central hotels also report problems with guests being disturbed, asking for change of rooms, or even checking out early. Patients in the hospital are offered extra medication to sleep.

and increases crime

Only 22% of residents from the surrounding district feel safe using their city centre at night. The 2001 crime audit revealed that alcohol-related offences such as violence, nuisance & disorder are 7 times higher in Abbey Ward than the average across Bath and North East Somerset. Criminal damage is 40 times higher! This is no surprise to central residents who regularly wake up to find windows broken and cars damaged. The Abbey has to replace glass about 6 times a year, and the new Spa has already had £10,000 of damage to its glass exterior, before it has even opened!

Residents organise

In 2001 a new residents association formed to represent the interests of the central residents (the Abbey Residents Association or TARA) and they have been campaigning for peace and safety – specifically more police, better CCTV coverage, taxi rank supervision, but mainly for prevention - a limit to the expansion of late night alcohol outlets. This last task has involved TARA in objecting to applications for planning permissions for new bars and opposing licences, mainly applications for extended hours of PELs and Special Hours Certificates (which are the ancillary alcohol permits for after hours drinking). TARA is now a member of the Federation of Bath Residents’ Associations (FOBRA) which represents the common interests of around 20 other city resident groups, and together we have pressed the Authorities for better control of the late night problems.

Planning, transport and other issues in Bath

FOBRA co-ordinates efforts of residents from across the city to influence Council policies, particularly transport, parking, planning etc. The Bath Society based at Green Park Station, Bath (01225 318253), is a much older amenity society affiliated to the Civic Society. The Bath Preservation Trust (01225 338727) is another important organisation also under the Civic Trust umbrella, which takes a particular interest in the built heritage of Bath.

Sundays stayed quiet

In 2001 Sunday night licensing was deregulated. Residents who had been putting up with the noise 6 nights a week for years, realised that the one peaceful night was going to be lost. They became more organised and vocal about the late night disorder, making video recordings at night of disorderly Saturdays and peaceful Sundays, to show to councillors and magistrates. After a series of hearings about Sunday licence applications, which they fought and won, the Council finally adopted a policy not to grant Sunday PELs beyond 10.30pm. Bath may be the only city in the UK to take this step.