But concerns are growing over the reliance on volunteer stewards to enforce road closures. While some School Streets schemes across the UK have trialled this approach, evidence suggests it may not be a sustainable long-term solution.

Many councils are now moving away from volunteer-led enforcement. Keeping a School Street running with stewards and temporary barriers demands ongoing community effort, and ‘volunteer fatigue’ often sets in, making it harder to recruit enough people. Worse still, in some areas, volunteers have faced abuse from frustrated drivers, discouraging participation even further. 

There’s also a legal issue: volunteers don’t have the authority to stop traffic. They must rely on drivers respecting signs and barriers – and that’s not always a guarantee. The Department for Transport’s latest guidance on School Streets warns that this method may not be appropriate for permanent schemes due to these enforcement challenges.

Cllr Saskia Heijltjes said:
“School Streets that are based on volunteers will be relying on parents and carers to attend from around 8.15am until around 9am, and again at pick up time. This is difficult for parents who need to go to work, or who have caring responsibilities for younger siblings for example. Managing this pool of volunteers requires considerable effort, because the scheme would need to be run 5 days a week, all year round.”

If School Streets are to succeed and expand across Bath and North East Somerset, a more reliable enforcement strategy is needed. Other councils have successfully introduced measures such as Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras, which ensure compliance without depending on volunteers.

The Green Group, which has championed this initiative through budget amendments for the past three annual budget council meetings, welcomes the progress but urges the council to consider the long-term sustainability of the scheme. Safer school streets shouldn’t rely on goodwill alone – they need proper infrastructure and enforcement to ensure their success.

The post Bath’s £250k Boost for School Streets: Waiting at the Barrier for Lasting Change appeared first on South West Green Party.

Green Party candidate for St Sidwell’s and St James, Thomas Richardson, said:

“We welcome improvements to city services funded by the BSIP, though it is disappointing that it will only apply to some routes. 

“On routes where there is no BSIP funding, Stagecoach seems to have gone into reverse gear, withdrawing morning and evening services on some routes and reducing frequencies on others. 

“It is high time we had a franchise model where a transport authority will set the routes, decent frequencies and reasonable fares, in consultation with bus users. Then private-for-profit companies like Stagecoach have a stark choice – operate a decent service under the terms of the franchise, or drive out of town.”

Greens are also calling for improvements to bus priority. Exeter Green councillor, Andy Ketchin, said:

“The number one complaint from bus users is reliability – buses that don’t turn up when they are meant to. The main cause of unreliable services is buses caught up in traffic congestion. 

“We need Devon County Council to be bold and implement more enforced bus lanes across the city. This will require taking space away from other traffic, but when people see buses traveling quicker and experience a more reliable service, they are more likely to use them. This in turn reduces congestion and a virtuous circle is achieved.” 

The post Changes to Exeter bus services: Greens welcome funding for improvements but accuse Stagecoach of going into ‘reverse gear’  appeared first on South West Green Party.

Despite having decided on a temporary car park, the Labour-run Council is planning a further online consultation on the idea as part of wider consultation on the city centre strategy. Exeter Green Party is calling for a more in-depth consultation with core city centre stakeholders.   

Green Councillor Lynn Wetenhall said:

“It appears only Exeter Labour wants a car park on this site, but as a result of pressure from Green councillors they are now going to consult on its future. The city centre has plenty of parking spaces available already and building more goes against the Council’s own policies of encouraging active travel, public transport and reducing air pollution. InExeter, the organisation that represents city centre businesses, is also against a temporary car park on this site [3]. They are calling for a more ‘nuanced’ and meaningful consultation with city centre organisations of all kinds.”

Thomas Richardson, the Green County Council Candidate for the area, added:

“This is a once in a generation opportunity to develop a prime city centre site into something the people of Exeter actually want. Our own survey shows residents in Exeter have a wide range of creative ideas for the site including a market square or commercial space to showcase local businesses, a city park or plaza, a children’s play park and an arts or performance space.”

The post Green light for city centre car park “only Exeter Labour wants” appeared first on South West Green Party.

FAO News Editors, Political Editors

Saturday 29th March 2025

**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**

[STARTS] Decline in Bus Services Across Bath and North East Somerset Exposed by Government Report

The UK government’s latest official bus statistics report has revealed a concerning decline in bus services across Bath and North East Somerset (B&NES). Despite claims of bus ridership growth, B&NES continues to fall behind national and regional averages for bus service frequency and passenger journeys.

The data shows a sharp drop in bus journeys per head across the South West during 2020-2021, with B&NES (represented by the red line) remaining below both national and regional averages. The region has struggled to recover to pre-pandemic ridership levels and continues to lag behind.

While public funding for buses increased post-2020, bus ridership in B&NES has not kept pace, raising concerns about the effectiveness of this funding. The reported increase in local bus journeys (from 8 million in 2021-2022 to 9 million in 2022-2023) contradicts the decline in service frequency, suggesting overcrowding or unmet demand. This trend is evident across the West of England Combined Authority (WECA) region, with South Gloucestershire and Bristol also facing funding shortfalls. This reflects the impact of the Best Value notice, which has hindered the growth and potential of public transport in recent years.

It’s important to note that large cities, including London, continue to heavily subsidise bus services, skewing national data. Rural areas like Wiltshire are also forced to subsidise routes to ensure they exist at all. This disparity further highlights the challenges faced by smaller areas like B&NES, where public transport remains underfunded.

A report from Friends of the Earth further underscores the severity of the issue, revealing a 48% decline in urban bus services and a 52% drop in rural services since 2008. In B&NES, bus service frequency has dropped by 61.4% since 2010, with similar reductions seen across the WECA region:

• B&NES: Down by 61.4% since 2010
• North Somerset: Down by 65.8%
• South Gloucestershire: Down by 47.9%
• Bristol: Down by 40.4%

These reductions have significantly impacted local communities, particularly in rural areas. The Green Group is calling for urgent action to restore and expand bus services across the region. With ridership still lagging, it’s crucial that both the government and local authorities prioritise investment in service frequency and reliability.

Without meaningful improvements in public transport, communities in B&NES will continue to face poor connectivity, undermining the local economy and climate goals.

The post Decline in Bus Services Across Bath and North East Somerset Exposed by Government Report appeared first on South West Green Party.

The co-leader of the Green Party of England and Wales, Carla Denyer MP, was in Gloucestershire at the weekend as part of the Greens’ campaign launch for the Gloucestershire County Council elections in May.

On Friday night she was one of the speakers at the public meeting at St Laurence Church, Stroud, about local government reorganisation. Politicians from the Green, Labour and Conservative parties were on a panel to discuss the proposed changes, which would see District Councils, including Stroud, being abolished.

Carla spent Saturday morning in the Forest of Dean meeting local supporters, candidates and councillors, before going to Gloucester to meet Green candidates and councillors from across the county. She then travelled to Stroud to attend a private evening event.

Carla said: “The Greens already run the district councils in both Stroud and the Forest of Dean, and have a lot of support across the county. We have a very strong slate of candidates for the county elections, and there’s every chance that in May we’ll see a good increase in the number of Green county councillors in Shire Hall. This could erode the Conservative leadership’s slim majority and put the Green group into a position of power as part of a progressive political alliance on the council.

“I wish the Gloucestershire Greens well with this ambition, and know they have everything it takes to rise to the challenge.”

A full list of the candidates will be announced after the nomination period closes on April 2.

The post Green Party co-leader visits Gloucestershire for start of county election campaign appeared first on South West Green Party.

Green Party councillor, Diana Moore, said:

“There are 3,584 applicants on Exeter’s Housing waiting list [1] and there was an average of 16 people new to sleeping rough each month last year [2]. Yet the Labour-run council has a dismal record on taking control of empty homes to put them to good use. 

“In Exeter, there are estimated to be over 500 long term empty homes [3]. But the Council has investigated just 35 potentially empty properties in the last five years. There have been no compulsory purchases or Empty Dwelling Management Orders issued or enforced sales – all powers available to the Council. 

“When I raised this matter at a scrutiny meeting I was told that action would be taken in due course. With the huge number of homeless people in Exeter, including people sleeping rough, ‘in due course’ is just not good enough. We need urgent action and Labour must use the powers available to them to put empty homes to good use to help address our housing crisis.”  

As National Empty Homes week concludes [4], Councillor James Banyard added:

“There are over a quarter of a million long-term empty homes in the UK. This is a scandal when there are so many people in desperate need of housing. We cannot afford to waste such properties and councils have powers to act on empty dwellings and they should do so, to make sure these homes house those in need [5].

“Creating homes from empty properties also makes environmental sense. It reduces the amount of land needed for housing developments and saves substantial amounts of material compared to building new homes.  While most empty homes don’t need much work to bring them back into use, they offer an opportunity for retrofit, to make them highly energy efficient to reduce bills for future residents. The Labour government must provide funding to councils so they can retrofit empty homes to the highest standard as part of a nationwide programme of upgrading our housing stock.” 

The post Greens slam Labour’s ‘dismal’ record on tackling empty homes in Exeter appeared first on South West Green Party.

Libraries, schools, community hubs and shops have signed up to take part in the scheme, which was launched on March 1 by Cllr Gill Thomas, Stroud District Council’s official Litter Champion.

Visitors to the various buildings will be able to help themselves to a litter picker to clear any rubbish from the area around the premises.

Gill, Green district councillor for Minchinhampton, has worked with local carpenter Pat Friend to make A-board litter stations that will go outside participating premises with the litter pickers attached. Signage will direct users to the nearest bin where people can dispose of the rubbish they collect.

The scheme was officially launched at Brimscombe Mill, which is to be one of the Litter Champion Hubs. The Mill also hosted the same day a ‘Trash Trail Bike Ride’ and the launch of Transition Stroud’s e-bike hire scheme.

“This is about enabling small-scale litter actions that collectively add up to a lot and will make a massive difference to our environment,” said Gill. “The litter problem is getting worse, not just in Stroud, but across the UK. According to The Guardian, only nine out of 100 places in the UK are completely litter free. Littered streets have a detrimental impact on mental health and safety, as well as the economic development of an area. It costs Stroud District Council over £770,000 a year in tax-payers’ money to clear streets of rubbish and remove fly-tipped waste. If that’s not an incentive to help keep our environment clean, I don’t know what is!”

She went on: “Some people have the attitude that it’s OK to drop rubbish in the streets as someone else – usually the council – will clear up after them. But the council can’t do it all; so it’s the responsibility of all of us to help keep our streets tidy. If we all do a little bit when we’re out and about, and make it a team effort, it will benefit everyone.”

She added: “My mission is to get people into the habit of picking up litter, no matter how small an amount, and this is why I want to make litter pickers more accessible. The national Great British Spring Clean starts soon (March 21 – April 6) so it seemed like a great time to launch this scheme, while litter is so topical. Picking up litter isn’t the solution to the problem, but it does enable people to take positive action. The more opportunities we give people to pick up litter, the more chance there is of developing positive behaviour change.”

If the scheme proves popular, Gill will arrange for more boards and litter pickers to be supplied.

The scheme is likely to cost about £1,200 and it’s being funded from a £12,000 budget assigned by Stroud District Council to various litter-picking projects initiated by Gill in her role as Litter Champion.

Any organisations that would like to get involved can contact Gill at cllr.gill.thomas@stroud.gov.uk.

The post Stroud Litter Champion Hub Launched appeared first on South West Green Party.

Widcombe Hill, one of the links for staff and students travelling to the University of Bath, has long been recognised as a hazardous road. Yet, instead of designing safer cycling infrastructure, the council is pressing ahead with measures that could actively make the route worse for people cycling.

The proposed speed cushions go against government guidance, which advises against using them on cycle routes. Local Transport Note 1/20 warns that speed cushions “constrain the ability of cyclists to choose their preferred position in the carriageway” and are particularly unsafe for those using non-standard cycles such as tricycles, handcycles, or child trailers.

Green councillors are calling for a rethink, arguing that better alternatives exist, such as raised tables, protected cycle lanes or measures to prevent through-traffic.

Cllr Saskia Heijltjes (Lambridge, Green), adds:

“It is very disappointing that current government guidance is not adhered to. Speed cushions are bad for cycling and the so-called “improvements” seem to have forgotten about people on cycles. And that’s very odd because we desperately need people who are able to, to stop using a car to get around. Cycling is a great way to get around, especially for journeys under 3 miles.”

Notably, the council’s recent announcement of these improvements mentions drivers and pedestrians but completely overlooks cyclists—even though Widcombe Hill is identified as a strategic cycle route in the Active Travel Masterplan.

With an 8% incline and a history of serious collisions, Widcombe Hill needs safety measures that protect all road users. The Green Group is urging the council to go back to the drawing board and deliver a design that aligns with its commitments to road safety and active travel.

The post Widcombe Hill Plans not Safe for All appeared first on South West Green Party.

The ‘Litter Pickers for Little Pickers’ campaign will give all primary-aged children access to sticks so that they can play a part in keeping the areas around their schools tidy.

Gill, who is Stroud District Council’s Litter Champion, has already been in touch with more than half of the district’s 60 primary schools and almost all of those have asked to take part in the scheme, with requests for 1,100 litter sticks so far. She expects demand to rise as more schools hear about the project.

The scheme was launched at the Water for Wellbeing evening organised by Amy Morris from Stroud Waters at Court Farm, King Stanley, which provided an update and discussion on the proposals for the new outdoor natural swimming area, which has recently been successful in its crowdfunding campaign.

Gill is now aiming to raise the money to buy the sticks, which cost about £6 each. Gill, one of the Green councillors for Minchinhampton, has to raise an estimated £10,000 and plans to take part in a variety of fundraising challenges over the coming year, including a 21km swim along the canal from Saul Junction to Sapperton Tunnel. Other challenges include a 176km trash trail bike ride around the District boundary, a longest day of the year 26.2 mile marathon litter pick night walk, running and litter picking the Stroud Half Marathon, (repeating her achievement in 2024) and an ‘ice walk’ over broken glass bottles collected as litter from the streets of Stroud.

She said: “Schools are really enthusiastic about this. Some already have litter pickers for their children to use, but this project will make picking up litter even more accessible. The schools I’ve contacted so far have asked for anything from 10 to 100 sticks each.”

Gill added: “It’s about nurturing a sense of responsibility from an early age in the hope that young people will carry positive litter habits into adulthood and we’ll start to see a reverse in attitudes to dropping litter.”

The money raised will also help to buy books about litter and the environment, and pay for reading sessions in schools through the Gloucestershire-based charities Read with Me and Read for Good.External

The post Councillor launches campaign to give litter-pickers to all local primary schools appeared first on South West Green Party.

Despite clear and overwhelming opposition from residents, the council pressed ahead with the scheme, showing their disregard for the community’s voices. After facing mounting criticism and pressure, the council has finally cancelled the proposal in an open letter. However, this last-minute change is little more than a reactive measure, reflecting the administration’s failure to engage with residents, meaningfully.

The Green Group has welcomed the council’s backtrack, with Councillor Joanna Wright, Leader of the Greens and representing Lambridge ward, adding: 

“The cancellation is a small victory for residents, but it highlights the incompetence of a council more focused on winning the votes of a few than actually listening to the concerns of the community. This is not the way to plan for a better Bath or create Liveable Neighbourhoods.”

Rather than relying on rushed, poorly thought-out schemes, the Greens are calling for a more thoughtful, evidence-based approach to traffic management in East Bath. They are proposing the creation of a community-led Liveable Neighbourhood for the east of Bath, which would address traffic, air quality, and congestion issues in a way that benefits the entire community, not just a select few.

In response to the council’s failure, Lambridge Councillors are urging the administration to work across political ward boundaries and engage with the community in a meaningful way to come up with a better plan for the East of Bath.

The Green Group is also demanding greater transparency and public consultation to ensure that the voices of all Bath residents are genuinely heard and considered in future decisions.

Lambridge Councillors are inviting the community to another public meeting at the New Oriel Hall on Wednesday 19 March, from 6-7.15 pm to hear their thoughts on a better plan for our community. Cllr Manda Rigby and the Liveable Neighbourhoods team have been invited to this meeting. 

The post East of Bath Deserves Better: A win for the community! appeared first on South West Green Party.