Four schemes in Bath are in line to benefit from a slice of £106,000 funding which will help improve a road junction, support two local festivals and protect green space in the Foxhill area.
Image courtesy of B&NES Council
Bath and North East Somerset Council has worked with the Bath City Forum to get people’s views on which projects should benefit from the neighbourhood portion of the Community Infrastructure Levy for Bath.
The Community Infrastructure Levy is a way for local authorities to deliver infrastructure which supports the development of an area. Fifteen percent of the Community Infrastructure Levy receipts in Bath are allocated to local projects through work carried out by the Bath City Forum.
The forum has proposed the four schemes and Councillor Bob Goodman, (Conservative Combe Down) cabinet member for Development and Neighbourhoods, is being asked to agree the four projects to receive funding.
The forum is recommending £70,000 worth of funding to be used on the Marlborough Buildings and Julian Road Junction, which will see traffic calming, an upgraded drainage system, and a new road surface.
Improved footpaths using pennant stone, in keeping with the heritage requirements of the site, are also planned as part of the proposed improvements.
Another £25,000 is earmarked for the protection and restoration of the designated biodiverse green space at Free Fields, near Foxhill.
This project will enhance the space, a designated Site of Natural Conservation Interest which is under pressure from increasing footfall.
The Bath Festival of Nature 2018 is set to benefit from £7,500 to fund new and long-term voluntary activities, new gateway signs, bike storage and encourage stronger community cohesion around the local green spaces in the Kingsmead ward.
Tthe Bathscape Walking Festival 2018 has also been allocated £3,500, so it can attract new citywide audiences through guided and self-guided walking routes.
The walking festival provides encourages residents to get out and enjoy walking, improving people’s health and wellbeing.
Councillor Bob Goodman said: “Four very good projects have been put forward by Bath City Forum to benefit from the Community Infrastructure Levy, each one is aimed at bringing local communities together and improving the environment around them in specific areas of the city.”
Councillor Colin Blackburn,(Independents, Westmoreland) Bath Forum chair, added: “I’m pleased that the City Forum has been tasked with distributing money from the levy. It shows that the Forum can start to influence improvements to the lives of our residents.”
The Bath City Forum has a rolling programme to evaluate project applications.
Details of the criteria and the application process is available on the Council website.
