Welcome to Bath Preservation Trust
UNESCO DECISION
Bath Preservation Trust has welcomed the decision before UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee today (25th June 2009) particularly with its emphasis on greater protection of Bath’s landscape setting and the call to revise the plans for Western Riverside.
Although the Council has described the report as a ‘clean bill of health’ , Bath Preservation Trust would encourage the Council to demonstrate their commitment to the promises made to UNESCO by placing historic environment and landscape setting SPDs into their plans for the Local Development Plan, by introducing article 4 directions for development across Bath, and to convert the many strategies and plans into direct policies and actions.
The Full UNESCO Draft Report and Decision can be found here.
THE Full BPT Press release can be found here.
RALPH ALLEN STUDY DAY
BPT LEARNING
Visit our dedicated learning website at www.bptlearning.org.uk for details of future workshops, events and online resources, including our forthcoming conference Creating New Communities (Friday 12th June).
BATH TRANSPORTATION PACKAGE
For the Trust’s response to proposals for a new park and ride site to the east of Bath click here. BPT has written to the GOSW to request that the proposal is called-in for determination at a Public Inquiry, download the letter here.
RECREATION GROUND
If you are a trust member and would like to tell us your views on the future of the Recreation Ground email architecture@bptrust.org.uk
PUBLIC REALM AND MOVEMENT STRATEGY
For the Trust’s response to the Council’s Public Realm and Movement Strategy click here.
75TH ANNIVERSARY 1934 –2009
In 2009 year the Trust celebrates 75 years of campaigning to preserve and enhance the city and environs of Bath. Visit www.bptlearning.org.uk to see our Events Calendar for the second half of this anniversary year.
The Trust was founded in 1934 as a direct response to the ‘Bath Bill’, a plan to drive new roads through the heart of the city to accommodate the motor car to the detriment of the historic fabric. Since the Trust’s foundation there have been many campaigns to prevent destruction in the City, most notably in the 1960s and 70s when the ‘sack of Bath’ became a national scandal. As well as this very visible work the Trust has also quietly acted to help restoration of many details across the City from the Circus Acorns to, most recently, the Royal Crescent railings, and has explained aspects of the historic city to thousands of locals and visitors through its museums and educational activities.
The Trust depends on membership income, donations, legacies and visitor admissions to continue its work for Bath. Please consider joining or supporting the Trust in this anniversary year and keep watching the website for specific anniversary activities.
INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF ASTRONOMY AT THE HERSCHEL
Click here for full details.
STREET RENAISSANCE PROJECT
Help revive city space and place by joining the Streetscape Working Group. For details click here. To download a Streetscape Survey click here.
RENOVATIONS REVIEW
For the better part of 30 years the Trust has led the way in putting back lost architectural features, directly saving buildings and monuments and persuading other people that they should do the same. To read more click here
BATH HISTORY VOL XI
Bath History XI, in a new larger format, is full of superb photographs and lively and intelligent articles.
Bath History XI is on sale for £12.99 at Mr B’s Emporium (John Street, Bath), Toppings bookshop (The Paragon, Bath), The Roman Baths shop, or direct from Bath Preservation Trust (01225 338727).
DRAFT REGIONAL SPATIAL STRATEGY
A Call to Oppose Higher Numbers of Houses for Bath
The Government plans to impose even higher housing target figures for Bath in the Draft Regional Spatial Strategy, the spatial plan for growth and development in the south-west from 2006-2026. See the RSS page for more details.
WORLD HERITAGE CONSULTATIONS
The Trust has responded to the Department of Culture Media and Sports consultation on World Heritage for the Nation. Click here for what we said.
The Trust submitted a response to the Government’s consultation on the Protection of World Heritage Sites. Read the consultation document here, and the Trust’s response here. For background on Bath’s World Heritage status go to the World Heritage page.
BUILDING HEIGHTS GUIDANCE FOR BATH
Bath Preservation Trust in a May press release called on Bath and North East Somerset Council to produce supplementary planning guidance on buildings heights in Bath, in line with English Heritage recommendations. See our Buildings Guidance page for details.
BATH WESTERN RIVERSIDE
For details on the decision not to call in the Western Riverside planning application, visit the Western Riverside page.
To view the letter from the Government Office for the South West to the Council which sets out their reasons for deciding not to intervene click here.
Also on the Western Riverside page, read the views of the Prince of Wales, Bath Preservation Trust’s Patron, on the impact of tall buildings on sensitive historic sites.
ROYAL CRESCENT PAVING AND RAILINGS
English Heritage in June 2008 gave approval for the restoration of the Royal Crescent railings to go ahead, following the completion of the restoration of two test sections. The restoration process officially began with the removal of the first set of railings on 18th August.
For more information about the project see the Royal Crescent Society’s website.
The picture on the left shows the park in front of the Royal Crescent used as allotments during the war years, when the haha was filled in with spoil.