The Governments proposals for the number of new homes, jobs and economic growth that are to be built in the South West over the next 20 years are set out in the Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS). The Government has recently published its Proposed Changes to the RSS for public consultation.

For the West of England, which includes Bath and North East Somerset Area, the proposed number of new homes and jobs and overall spatial strategy is set out in policy HMA1. In summary the proposals are as follows to:

21,300 homes – 3,000 in Keynsham, 8,000 in an urban extension to Bristol somewhere within an ‘area of search’ between Whitchurch and Hicks Gate

20,200 new jobs in the Bath Travel to work area – any new jobs in Keynsham are included in the figure for Bristol Travel to Work Area

Economic growth at a rate of 3.2% per annum – in recent years economic growth has been about 2.5% and is currently much less than this

Removal of land from the Green Belt to enable urban extensions to be developed and strain on the current infrastructure resulting from new development

B&NES Council and Keynsham Town Council have both responded to these plans. The response of the Town Council is set out below.

• 1. Raise concern that the number of homes for the B&NES area was raised by the EIP from 15,500 to 18,300 and that this figure has now been raised to 21,300. The initial figure was that which B&NES felt was possible given the land use in the district.
• 2. That the number of dwellings built in the B&NES area has averaged 400 per annum. For the government figures to be met this would need to rise to over 1,000 per annum - an unsustainable figure.
• 3. The RSS has indicated a growth rise of 3.2% year on year, yet within this area during the boom years the growth was only 2.8%. How is this higher figure to be achieved over twenty years?
• 4. Green Belt - The RSS says that the green belt between Bath and Bristol will be maintained. In actuality there is a green belt between Bristol and Keynsham, Keynsham and Saltford, Saltford and Newton St Loe, all of which maintain the identity of the different communities. These should be maintained.
• 5. There are concerns that the present infrastructure, especially transport issues, are not currently fit for purpose, the RSS does not say how this will be improved or who will be responsible for paying for the improvements.
• 6. 3000 homes within the Keynsham area are not sustainable without the increase in jobs and yet Keynsham is part of the designated Bristol Travel to Work area so any increase in jobs would not count towards the total required for the Bath Travel to Work Area. Keynsham does not want to be part of the Bristol conurbation.
• 7. Concern was raised that there has been no possible direct input from Town and Parish Councils since the draft RSS was published.

So what can you do to stop these plans ? –

We are now currently in the consultation phase of these plans – you have until 24th October 2008 to make your feelings known and submit your comments to the Government Office for the South West. In order to make sure your comments are considered you need to make it clear which policy or paragraph you are commenting on.

You can do this in a number of ways.

Write to: quoting policy reference HMA1

Government Office of the South West
Regional Spatial Strategy Team
2 Rivergate, Temple Quay
BRISTOL
BS3 6ED
E-mail: rssconsult@gosw.gsi.gov.uk
Telephone: 0117 900 1705
Fax: 0117 900 1914

If you fail to act NOW it will be too late!

Welcome to the new look news page at our website.
These new pages enable you, the visitor, to read and leave comments on the news articles which are posted here by the members of the Keynsham Town Council. (Please note all comments are checked by council staff before being publish live on the site).

2008 has been a landmark year for raising awareness of Fairtrade in Keynsham. Keynsham Fairtrade Group worked with the Music Festival Association and More to Life 08 to bring the Fairtrade message to this year’s Music Festival. The Fairtrade Group sponsored the Fairtrade River Stage, with support from Urban Espresso, the Co-operative Membership, Bristol Banners and Signs and More to Life 08.

Two artists who campaign for Fairtrade performed at the Festival; Danelle Harvey and Gareth Davies-Jones. Gareth also performed a brilliant and thought-provoking set at the Fry Club as part of the pre-festival programme. Stalls at the Festival were encouraged to think ‘local and Fairtrade’ and there is no doubt that visitors to the Park that day got the message loud and clear that Keynsham is a Fairtrade Town.

The Fairtrade Group is always looking for volunteers to join in. Meetings are friendly and informal. To find out more, contact Rachel Ward on 0117 9868683 or email rachel_ward@bathnes.gov.uk

The event was very successful, with over 150 people attending throughout the course of the day. There was a small exhibition showing the site being excavated whilst the bypass was being built. There were samples of some of the smaller pieces of stone work that are not usually on display. The wall hanging created by year 6 of St Keyna School was also on display with a range of different activities for children to participate in. There were examples of geophysical surveys of the site undertaken by the Bristol Young Archaeologists on the day and a bone flute was carved out on site.

Wall hanging created by St Keyna School Year 6	Visitors viewing display at Archaeology in the Park
A capital excavated from Great Cloister, Keynsham Abbey site

Now in their fourth year Keynsham Film Works have a programme of ten films for the 2008/09 season. Running from September ’08 to May ’09 (with the additional music festival film in July ’09), Film Works hope that you will enjoy the screenings and invite your friends to come along.

Their aim is to bring films to Keynsham that have either been overlooked by the mainstream cinemas completely, or had very short runs and could have easily been missed.
The films are held ate the Fry Club on the Cadbury factory grounds but will possibly be moving in the 09/10 season due to changes at Cadbury’s, so if anyone has any ideas for a new venue please come forward!

Keynsham Film Works is a non-profit making society funded by membership subscriptions. The films are shown on the first Thursday of each month at 7.45pm, doors open at 7.15pm.
As a member you can come to any of the films in the season with no pre-booking necessary. There is a free parking, wheelchair access and a bar.
The bar will remain open after the screening, please stay for as long as you like to discuss the films – and don’t be put off by the film equipment being put away! Membership is available to anyone of 16 and above and there is seating from 120 people.

A change in film fees and the terms under which they are hired, along with other price rises, have put the running costs up again this season. To meet the price increase membership has been increased to £27, which then gives you free admittance to all the season’s films. Part membership of £20 is for those not sure if they can make it to all the films, and carries an extra charge of £1.50 per film viewed. Non-members pay £4.50 on the night.
Full members are guaranteed a seat up to ten minutes prior to the start of the film, thereafter it is first come first served. Due to circumstances beyond the Film Works control films may change without notice.

Film Dates 2008/2009

Judging took place on Wednesday 9th July 2008 and it rained all day! However, that did not stop the judges seeing some wonderful gardens and displays. A presentation evening will take place on Wednesday 24th September in St John’s Church Hall when the winners will be announced. At the same time the winners of the Sunflower growing competition will be announced and the children’s art project.
There was at least one entry for each category and the judges had a difficult time making their final choices. All those who took part have been invited to the presentation evening as well as the trophy sponsors and the judges. The ‘best in show’ judged from each category winner will be presented with a special prize.