Don Foster seeks votes for local Two Tunnels project

Bath Member of Parliament, Don Foster, is urging people to give backing to bikes by voting for charity Sustrans in a lottery competition to win a £50 million boost. Don Foster is leading a parliamentary bid to win support for the green transport group, which is on a shortlist of four for the Big Lottery Fund's People's £50 Million Lottery Giveaway.

The Liberal Democrat MP has joined forces with Labour former Home Secretary Charles Clarke to table a Commons motion backing the Sustrans Connect2 project. The aim is to revitalise walking and cycling in 79 locations by creating new routes for journeys, with crossings and bridges over busy roads, railway lines, rivers and canals. Mr Foster said the Bath area's Two Tunnels initiative would give residents an easy and interesting flat, straight route between Midford and Bath, linked to other cycle and walking routes at both ends. He said: "The Two Tunnels scheme is one of the most exciting cycling and walking projects planned by Sustrans across the country as part of its Connect2 project."

The winner of the money will be decided by a TV programme and telephone vote in early December, with the Bath scheme hoping to get £1.1 million if Sustrans wins. The Commons motion urges people to vote for the "exciting UK-wide project" because it would promote sustainable travel by connecting millions of people to the places they want to go. Sustrans hopes to restore Isambard Kingdom Brunel's swivel bridge in the docks area in Bristol as part of the project, four decades after it stopped working. London mayor Ken Livingstone and the Olympic Delivery Authority are among other supporters of Connect2, which will also benefit Weymouth, one of the 2012 venues.

Online voting begins on Monday, November 26, with telephone lines opening on Friday, December 7, and TV presenter Lorraine Kelly championing the Sustrans bid on an ITV1 show on Tuesday, December 4.

Anyone registering at http://www.sustransconnect2.org.uk,/will be reminded to take part in the poll.

The Two Tunnel website also has more information.

Have you say on the University of Bath Masterplan

Have your say on the the future of the University of Bath campus at Claverton Down.

The University of Bath is holding a public consultation exercise as senior staff begin to prepare a masterplan for the Claverton Down campus. The plan will outline future proposed developments at the campus, and the university's other sites elsewhere in the city. And before the final plan is published next summer, the university says it wants residents' views on a number of issues. These include transport and parking, sustainability and the provision of student residential accommodation both on campus and elsewhere in the city. The plan also includes areas for campus development, including new teaching and research facilities.

You can have your say via the web at: www.bath.ac.uk/masterplan2007 This site is availble until Monday 17th dEcember for your comments. Please make use of it!

Zero Waste Week: Calling all Individuals and Community Groups

You may remember the Zero Waste Week that the Council held last year and the BBC family of five who reduced the amount they threw away to the equivalent of one yoghurt pot.

Following the success of the week, this year the Council is looking to invite local people and also community groups to take part and see how much you can reduce your waste over the course of a week.

Anyone can take part, either as an individual or a community group. The definition of a ‘community group’ is as broad as possible so this may range from the whole of Oldfield Park or school community through to a local group or association, street, block of flats or even a virtual community.

So far, over 20 groups have already expressed an interest in taking part. The aim of the week is to encourage as many people as possible to take up the challenge to see how much you can reduce what you throw away over the course of a week, by reducing, recycling and composting as much as they can.

The week will run from Monday 26 November to Sunday 2 December this year. If you are an individual or community group who would be interested in taking part or would like to find out more, please contact Council Connect on 01225 39 40 41 or email councilconnect@bathnes.gov.uk

Planning Applications in Oldfield Ward w/c 8th November 2007

All representation must arrive no later than the 30th November 2007.

App Ref: 07/03302/FUL
Registered: 1st November 2007
Expiry Date: 27th December 2007
Location: Baskervilles Gymnastics & Fitness, Englishcombe Court, Englishcombe Lane, Bath
Grid Ref: (E)373868 - (N)163355
Proposal: Erection of a single storey extension to provide office (Resubmission)
Planning Case Officer: Rebecca Roberts
Applicant: Mr & Mrs R Baskerville, 30 Byfield, Combe Down, Bath. BA2 5JD
Agent: Mr David Minnett, Quarry Rise, Wolfridge Lane, Alveston, South Gloucestershire. BS35 3PG

To find out more about this application click here.