NEWS RELEASE

 

6 May 04

 

The future of the urban public realm in Bath & North East Somerset

 

IN every town or city there are areas that everyone has free and ready access to known technically as the urban public realm.

 

The development and future management of the urban public realm is something Bath & North East Somerset Council has identified as one of its major priorities.

 

But before works begins on doing this, the Council’s Planning, Transportation, Economy and Sustainability Overview and Scrutiny Panel is carrying out a review to evaluate just how this will happen.

 

To help the Panel to come up with its findings and recommendations, an informal seminar is to take place on Tuesday, May 11 (10am-4.30pm) at the Church Hall in Newton St Loe during which panel members will hear from a variety of speakers and experts from areas influential in the public realm.

 

These include Age Concern, Avon and Somerset Police, Pedestrian and Motoring organisations and English Heritage.

 

Cllr Peter Metcalfe, Chair of the PTE&S Overview and Scrutiny Panel, said: “This all day seminar is a very informal affair and is quite different to standard council meetings.

 

“I very much hope that members of the public will come along and share their thoughts.

 

“The invited speakers come from very different backgrounds and the opinions raised should provide us with some interesting debate and some challenging and exciting points to think about.”

 

To help members of the public get to and from the meeting, a special free mini-bus service has been laid on.

 

This leaves Bath Spa Station at 9.15am and 12noon and leaves Newton St Loe at 1.30pm and 4.30pm. Please phone 01225 477329 in advance if you anticipate using this service.

 

The next meeting of the Urban Public Realm Review takes place on Monday, May 17 at the Guildhall in Bath at 10am.

 

If anyone would like to get in contact with the Panel with their views on how the council should manage public spaces and what issues affect them, they can write to Cllr Peter Metcalfe, Urban Public Realm Review, Bath & North East Somerset Council, Guildhall, Bath, BA1 5AW. Alternatively people can e-mail scrutiny@bathnes.gov.uk

 

There is also an on-line feedback form with more detail about the review on the Council’s website www.bathnes.gov.uk/scrutiny

 

For more information and comment, contact:

 

Cllr Peter Metcalfe, Chair of the Planning, Transportation, Economy and Sustainability Overview and Scrutiny Panel, on Tel: 01225 312349 or e-mail peter_metcalfe@bathnes.gov.uk

 

Issued by Richard Cottle