City centre giant exhibition plan changed after planning refusal
Organisers have been forced to change plans for another exhibition featuring giant photos around Bath Abbey after they were rejected by councillors.
A planning application for the six-month Wild Planet exhibition in Kingston Parade and the Abbey Church Yard, which would be the third such event in the city centre, had been recommended for refusal by Bath and North East Somerset Council planning officers.
The authority’s own tourism, culture and leisure section submitted the application for 29 giant boards featuring wildlife photos, which will replace the Britain from the Air display which is currently dotted through the centre of the city next month.
But the application concentrated the boards around the abbey and also included plans to site a temporary shop in Kingston Parade.
The majority of councillors said that although they enjoyed the previous displays, the boards and shop were in the wrong location.
Councillor Nicholas Combes (Lib Dem, Bathwick) told a meeting of the council’s development control committee: “Putting so much commercial activity outside a church is just a waste of commercial activity, it should be spread out across the city.
“While being hugely in favour of photographic exhibitions across the city, this isn’t across the city - it’s huddled up. It would be more successful if it was spread out like the rest of them.”
The council has now looked again at the plans for the exhibition, which involves the Natural History Museum, and removed the elements which require planning permission, and spread out the photographs.
A spokesman for the council said: “The council has listened to the concerns of committee members and removed the elements of the exhibition that require planning permission - namely the proposed shop next to the abbey and proposed concentration of exhibits in the Kingston Parade area.”
The exhibition is scheduled to be opened on April 5, with exhibits more thinly spread across the city centre, similar to the recent Britain from the Air Exhibition and the shop will be located at existing premises in Stall Street.
The spokesman added: “The Wild Planet exhibition will be every bit as exciting and interesting as originally planned, and the council looks forward to hosting yet another high quality, popular event that will support tourism and trade in the city.”
Meanwhile councillors at the meeting also threw out a third attempt by Vodafone and O2 to erect a 40ft mast in Poolemead Road in Twerton.
4 Comments
by John, Bath
Friday, March 18 2011, 7:16PM
“'On another point my singal on O2 is awlful in bath and thanks to Banes its gunna stay that way, we need a new mast in Bath we all use mobles (even the ones who complain n protest) we pay alot of money each month and we should have the full service we pay for, Bath needs to up the signal power and the only way is by installing new Phone mast's'
How about you just change provider or 02 pays for a new mast! I don't want my tax money going on a new mast as my signal works fine.
'There is far too much clutter on the streest of this beautiful city'
Its a friggin city not a museum! People live here and have lives to lead.”
by James, Bath
Friday, March 18 2011, 4:47PM
“Haha! Miserable lot. Cities are busy and cluttered, that's the fun.
By the way, I'm on O2 and my reception is fine.”
by SK, Bath
Friday, March 18 2011, 1:30PM
“There is far too much clutter on the streest of this beautiful city....and that includes buskers, market stalls and photo exhibitions..to name but a few (the absolute worst being the flame throwers outside the Pump Rooms restaurant when you're trying to have a civilised mean....”
by Ressie of Bath, Bath
Thursday, March 17 2011, 1:24PM
“Good im glad they have been refused the pictures maybe very intresting but they have been on the streets of bath far to long, taking up valued space causing even more blockages, I hope they go for good!! On another point my singal on O2 is awlful in bath and thanks to Banes its gunna stay that way, we need a new mast in Bath we all use mobles (even the ones who complain n protest) we pay alot of money each month and we should have the full service we pay for, Bath needs to up the signal power and the only way is by installing new Phone mast's”