Environmental pollution is a broad area of concern due to the many types of pollution that impact on life in Bath:
Air: The principal source of air pollution in Bath is traffic, and this is covered under the 'Traffic and Air Pollution' Priority. The Council needs to be alert to other sources of air pollution (eg domestic fuel burning).
Water: There are factors beyond the direct control of B&NES that contribute to flood risk from, and pollution in, the River Avon. The Council should be proactive in searching for catchment-wide solutions to flood risk for residential areas in Bath, and pollution control in combination with the Environment Agency, Wessex Water and other riparian councils and owners. Climate change makes flood control imperative. Within Bath we support the measures for control of plastic waste and the Council's support of the Community Boats to clear larger plastic items from the river. We have major concerns about the planned installations of Artificial Turf pitches at Twerton, Bath University, King Edward's School and the Recreation Ground. The last is planned to be combined with a car park. These concerns surround the production of microplastic particulates and heavy metals, each of which is known to have long term public health effects, to be toxic to marine organisms and to contribute to the acceleration of Climate Change. We urge a moratorium on such installations so that independent Environmental Impact Assessments can be undertaken.
Noise: Pollution and noise from aircraft overflying the City are of increasing concern. FoBRA opposes proposals by Bristol Airport to introduce extra night-time flights, and will work with relevant authorities to prevent these from overflying the city. Noise from party houses can have a serious impact on neighbouring residents. FoBRA continues to work with B&NES and national bodies to seek ways to regulate them.
Visual Appearance & Views: WHS status was conferred on the city in part because of the landscape setting of the city: the views of and from the surrounding hills from the city, the setting of buildings within the surrounding green landscape and the green spaces within the city. The most recent designs by Bath Rugby for the Recreation Ground indicate that the height of the stands will block views of the surrounding landscape from important viewpoints like Laura Place, Grand Parade and Johnstone Street; as well as being prominent in the views of the city from the hills around. These proposals could jeopardise the city's WHS status. Furthermore, the footprint of the proposed stadium is much larger than the existing stadium and would reduce the amount of green space within the Recreation Ground.
Litter, recycling and waste: FoBRA seeks a partnership with the Council to tackle litter and waste across Bath, including:
• Keeping Bath clean and free of litter and refuse, while recognising the need to remove opportunities for fly tipping. This should be a key priority for the council's waste and recycling strategy.
• Supporting the council's policy of improving recycling rates and reducing non-recyclable waste to minimise landfill or emissions. We will promote recycling amongst our member associations.
• Supporting the council's adoption of a different policy for the city centre areas where HMO and multiple occupancy blocks of flats mean that increased density buildings without communal storage facilities require at least weekly non-recyclable waste collections.
• Promotion of the proactive use of the 'fix my street' website and App by residents to enable targeting and fast response to clean up problems in a cost effective way.
• Supporting and promoting individual residents' associations which want to tackle clean-up issues in their own areas and helping them liaise with Council officers to provide guidance/equipment.
• Where abuse to the collection system continues to occur and refuse is left out on streets, expecting prompt action by the council cleansing teams to clear and enforce remedial action to be taken to help other residents live on clean refuse-free or litter-free streets.
• Encouraging the Council to regulate landlords of student HMOs, HMOs and short term holiday lets in terms of charging and managing their properties' waste.
Carbon: FoBRA will support measured action to decrease the City's carbon footprint.
1 Oct 2019