Summit to consider future of the River Avon through Bath

“capndave

Good luck tomorrow capn' I hope all goes well for your meeting at the guildhall!”

“When i suggested storage sites for stores, particularly the three supermarkets abutting the river including that running North from Pulteney Weir i was reminded about the complication of riverside ownership. In the circumstances i think the group has produced a magnificent proposal which i fail to see how it could possibly generate any opposition.”

“Nick:

Wasn't us on the River Corridor Group that instigated nor had any input into the safety report

I think you'll find even the Fire & Safety Officers concerned were a little disappointed that the area in the study was so restricted and in fact the recommendations were very, shall we say weak.


http://tinyurl.com/9b36dud”

“First of all the URL for the site is http://tinyurl.com/97kqnt3 . You'll find the 2011 report buried in the News section under the title "Bath Avon River Economy First Report – Summer 2011". At least now people will know where to find it.
As far as the Southgate Project and the Churchill House site is concerned - BV_BV is too right - a seriously badly missed opportunity.
Personally I think that one particularly attractive option would be continue the spread of leisure facilities from the centre, south and west across the Avon to the Newark Works and the South Quays. With the increased amount of hotel accommodation in that area it would be another focal point for, people who'd 'done the baths'. The area could be a good location for showcasing Bath's industrial heritage and perhaps our current education and science strengths with perhaps cafes, bars and conference facilities. All easily reached on foot from the 3/4 new hotels via the previously proposed foot bridge over the river at the bottom of 'the kings mead'.
My two pennies worth.”

“@BV_BV would the North, South confusion explain why the Cosy Club balcony doesn't catch the sun either? Ha ha.”

“The RoSPA report costing over £100,000 and commissioned by the council "only considers the River Avon from Churchill Road Bridge down river to Weston (Dutch) Island. It ignores Pulteney Weir to the Bus Station."
Why was Pulteney Weir to the Bus Station omitted from the report?”

“Well said capn!”

“aurea_flamma;

You may or may not know how hard I tried to engage in sensible dialogue on this very subject. The RoSPA report commissioned by the Council and costing in excess of £100K, in my opinion, is seriously flawed.

It only considers the River Avon from Churchill Road Bridge down river to Weston (Dutch) Island. It ignores Pulteney Weir to the Bus Station, which I consider to be equally if not more unsafe a stretch of river than the study stretch.

It has not initiated, or if it has it has failed, to identify the Riparian Right Owners of the river banks.Thus it cannot implement the legal erection of sign posts, safety equipment etc without the permission of these landowners.

It is recommending the replacement of safety grab lines at low water level. So it you are drowning in a flood river you have to dive under to find the safety line. That's clever!

Th Council has for over two years had at its disposal, for zero cost, some of the most experienced, highly qualified river and marine people in the country, and not once have RoSPA bothered to contact or involve the River Corridor Group on any aspect whatsoever. That's clever!”

“BV_BV;

As The Bath & N E Somerset Council's River Champion I just wanted to say;

You have hit a very big nail hard on the head.

The river running through our city is as important to the future direction our city takes, as it was to the Victorians. It was their M4!

They however made the mistake of turning their backs onto it. We must not make that same error. We have over a hundred years of enhanced intelligence to call upon, together with the amazing advances in technical knowledge.

Surely we must look to our great natural resource to help us build a safer, healthier, and income generating future for our generations to come. Our River Avon, which I love, cherish and respect is begging us to employ it to carry our goods and people, to provide us with energy and nourishment.
It is yelling at us to use it to create jobs and alternative homes that even the poorest of us can enjoy and lead a secure and fulfilled life.

It is screaming out to be friendly to all of us if only we would make it a safe place to play upon and walk alongside. It needs to be used to exercise not only our minds but also our bodies.

I have been banging this river drum for over twenty years now so please come and help me tell the world about our Avon.”

“Whilst I fully support the aims and aspirations of the River Corridor Group it's a pity the council is putting more effort into resolving commercial redevelopment than into the outstanding actions from the ROSPA Report into the safety of the river which still aren't completed!”