New company formed in transport battle
A new umbrella body taking legal action over controversial council transport plans is to organise a series of public meetings.
Parish councillors and campaign groups from both sides of Bath have set up a limited company called VeraCityBath (VCB), which has begun moves to challenge council chiefs and Communities Secretary John Denham in the High Court.
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Bathampton Meadows campaigners
It is using a specialist London law firm to seek a judicial review of the handling of the £57.5 million Bath Transportation Package, which includes a new park and ride site at Bathampton, the expansion of the Newbridge Park and Ride site and a new bus route along a former railway line at Newbridge.
The Bathampton Meadows scheme was rubberstamped by Mr Denham's officials at the Government Office of the South West, who also decided not to call a public inquiry over the Newbridge Bus Rapid Transit scheme, which had been approved after scenes of chaos at one of Bath and North East Somerset Council's own development control committee meetings.
VCB has filed an application for a judicial review against both Mr Denham and B&NES, which is relying on Government money for the bulk of the project cost.
It believes Mr Denham should have called for a public inquiry into the planning applications, saying he and his officials overlooked key issues affecting green belt land.
It has already obtained a leading QC's opinion and says it has the funding needed to begin such a court fight.
Campaigners are confident they can meet the high threshold of evidence needed to justify a judicial review, which would see a senior judge decide whether the council and Government officials had acted properly.
One judge has already awarded VCB an interim protected costs order to limit its liability against costs up until the case is next considered.
The company - made up of representatives from Batheaston Parish Council, Bathampton Parish Council, Bathford Parish Council, Claverton Parish Council, the London Road Area Residents' Association, the Bath Society, Save Bathampton Meadows and Newbridge Matters! - is using leading public law firm Harrison Grant, which has acted for Greenpeace.
Spokesman Mark Millar said: "VeraCityBath Limited brings together a number of parish councils and community groups into a united body, seeking to protect the beautiful World Heritage city of Bath and its surroundings.
"These proposals have not been demonstrated by the council to be effective in tackling the traffic problems of Bath, but the council would not rethink the proposal due to the fear of the loss of around £50 million of central Government funding."
There is speculation that the funding may be under threat because a public inquiry has been called into the compulsory purchase orders needed for the package, meaning all the paperwork will not be in order until after the General Election.
Mr Millar added: "It is paramount in these difficult times that such large expenditure on outdated schemes be justified when they will clearly have a significant impact on this World Heritage City, its surroundings and local residents.
"The council has repeatedly failed to take account or consider alternative proposals suggested by the public, including the use of rail, given the forthcoming electrification of relevant lines or alternative sites and instead forced proposals through in controversial manner to avoid the loss of funding.
"A public inquiry is needed to justify the expense and environmental damage of these proposals to the public."
The council has said it has received initial warning of the legal action and Mr Denham's officials at the Government Office for the South West have declined to comment.
VCB will be holding public meetings around Bath in the next few months, starting on January 27 at 7.30pm at the Methodist Hall in Batheaston.
For more information, go to www.vcbath.blogspot.com
11 Comments
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by PJ, Batheaston
Sunday, January 31 2010, 12:54PM
“Dave, so good to see you've added your support as number 1,138 to the SBM online petition. Many thanks for that.
Any further Larkhall support that can be galvanised would also be welcomed - especially as I get the feeling that many are just simply relieved that P&R is no longer going to be sited at Lambridge (although even this is not yet guaranteed).
In addition, the fact that the P&R service and extension to the London Road bus lanes is conceded by B&NES as making no difference to congestion and air quality should be of particular interest to both Larkhall and Lambridge residents.”
by Dave, Larkhall
Tuesday, January 26 2010, 4:49PM
“With you all the way JS.
Have decided to make two issues my priorities for this year. The stupidity of the Bath transport proposal and the murder (allegedly) of Doctor Kelly.
Both will be recipients of a few of my hard earned pounds.”
by JS, Bathford
Friday, January 22 2010, 3:54PM
“Win or lose, this is sterling work by campaigners, and I agree that legal action appears to be the only language left available, since the combined voices of thousands of individuals, experts and organisations apparently count for nothing.
No-one said solutions to 21st century transport problems were easy, especially in a city like Bath. They require particular skills in 'whole-system' analysis and rigorous commitment to future sustainability.
On top of the alarmingly undemocratic process used to push it through, sadly, the BTP is in reality not much more than 50 million quids' worth of tarmac, with no measurable benefits to anyone other than, of course, the recipients of the cash.
Planning in Bath seems to have had a long history of maladministration, most recently the smart-looking but oddly user-unfriendly bus station (lack of joined-up thinking there) and the fake Georgian shopping mall beside it (we know it's breeze block and cardboard underneath - we watched it go up). I read something recently about Bath having been more severely damaged by its own planning officers during the past 60 years than anything that was dropped on it during WW2.
Personally I would love to have been consulted properly about future transport in the area, and have been researching ideas to put forward if democracy and common sense prevail and the BTP is finally ditched.
Count me in for a contribution of hard-earned cash to the VCB campaign, and good luck to you. Enough is enough.”
by Stevo, Bath
Tuesday, January 19 2010, 11:13PM
“Is Francine Haeberling still unavailable for comment on anything related to her unpopular BTP?
Perhaps the power behind the throne, Malcolm Hanney, could comment in her absence?”
by anil, south glos
Tuesday, January 19 2010, 10:24PM
“The formation of an umbrella organisation is a good idea. That will put you on a better footing for coordinated action. Recognising and doing that in itself is a positive and constructive move.
No, this is not a change of heart on my part. I am in favour of rapid bus schemes, bus priorities, integration and smart-card ticketing. All of these seem part of the BRT. But mine is only one view. I know the majority feel otherwise; strongly so. I recall from my younger days that, even after a highly competitive game of cricket where the opposition's pacemen tried to take your head off lobbying balls at 180 kmph, you would still shake hands at the end of a match...
Best of luck to you all! Challenging the establishment and status quo is almost always a good thing to do. ;-)”
by Lucy, MSN
Tuesday, January 19 2010, 1:33PM
“Facts? Who said I had facts?
It's just an observance and an opinion...”
by HS, Bath
Tuesday, January 19 2010, 1:28PM
“Thank you Lucy for your comment. You might be interested in updating your 'facts' - we happen to know that Newbridge Matters played an instrumental part in this partnership.
Full support to all those involved and let's hope your hard work pays off.”
by PJ, Batheaston
Tuesday, January 19 2010, 1:17PM
“JC - Your prediction may unfortunately prove a true one. But what other choice have the people of Bath been given?
But a clue lies in the name. VCB Ltd is about much more than the interests of the few representatives listed in this article and has more widespread support.
VeraCityBath Ltd is determined to expose the truth of the B&NES Council transport strategy and their determination to use nearly £60m of public money on a scheme that will bring no improvements to congestion, air quality, or public transport, as is claimed in the council's Business Case.
Any further inappropriate use of taxpayer's money, on top of the millions already spent in preparing a seriously flawed case, would only be yet another in a long list of examples of the councils desire to avoid the truth, transparency and the democratic processes the people of Bath rightfully expect.
Unlike the council, VCB intend to be inclusive and provide opportunities for every concerned Bath citizen to become involved in shaping their future. Opportunities that have been denied by their own council until now.
So all those who have commented here in the past should get in touch, find out what's really going on, then start to do something about it by fully supporting VCB.”
by Tony, Bath
Tuesday, January 19 2010, 1:07PM
“Lucy - With the greatest of respect, all the groups involved in opposing this have done fantastic work over the last couple of years, and have had a cohesive and co-ordinated approach all the while - perhaps you just haven't noticed.
Without a B&NES type budget to get the message across it's quite difficult you know.
Even with that budget, (they've spent at least £3.5m of your money so far), B&NES haven't convinced many people that they have a cohesive or co-ordinated plan.
Quite frankly, it was probably always going to come to this as B&NES steadfastly refuse to follow democratic process, regardless of what they may say.
You try getting a straight or honest reply from them - even using the FOI process.
Taking legal action is evidently the only language that they understand, and the formation of VCB Ltd is a mechanism to make this legal action possible.
Perhaps you disagree with their actions - perhaps you think the BTP is a good idea - that's your privilege and good luck to you, but for those who think this fiasco needs bringing to a close, then all the best to VCB and their members.
Like thousands of others I support them all the way and will be putting my money where my mouth is..”
by Lucy, MSN
Tuesday, January 19 2010, 12:27PM
“"It has already obtained a leading QC's opinion"
QCs will argue any viewpoint if you pay them enough.
Seriously, it's an interesting turn of events to see a somewhat more cohesive and co-ordinated approach to this than what people like "Newbridge Matters" have previously offered....”