The Leader of B&NES Council, Councillor Paul Crossley, has highlighted a range of Council investments across North East Somerset at a Parishes Liaison Meeting.
The meeting was held at the new Keynsham Community Space, on Wednesday 25th February.
He told the parish councils present that Bath & North East Somerset Council has agreed to freeze Council Tax bills for the fifth year running, as councillors agreed a budget guided by the principles of investing in the future prosperity of the area and protecting essential public services.
Cllr Crossley said: “Our sound financial management has allowed the Council to deliver over £30million in savings whilst protecting essential frontline services, as well as taking on new legal responsibilities such as the Care Act.
“This year’s budget commits significant investment into communities across North East Somerset, including schools, highways and businesses.”
Some of the projects in North East Somerset he discussed at the meeting were:
- £1.984m for two additional classrooms and to replace three temporary classrooms at Bishop Sutton Primary School.
- £1.771m for four extra classrooms and a hall extension at Paulton Junior School.
- Improvement works at Westfield Primary School (£100k), and St John’s School Keynsham (£59k).
- £5.9m for highway maintenance and improvements which includes a number of schemes across the area.
- £1.2m for the development of the Midsomer Norton Business Centre.
- Plans are in place for investing in a new leisure centre facilities at Keynsham and Chew Valley Leisure Centre.
- The Regeneration of Radstock Town Centre will also be supported with £100,000 set aside to support a community services hub at new premises adjacent to Victoria Hall and to develop proposals for the next phase of the regeneration.
- The Council has allocated £250,000 for developing a business case for the reopening of Saltford Station.
- Homes and Communities Agency funding of £1,788,536 of has been awarded to deliver 60 new affordable homes at Radstock and Bath Western Riverside, supported by additional funding from Curo Group. The Council is match funding these projects with £1.9m.
- Over the next year affordable housing will be developed in Keynsham, Midsomer Norton, Paulton, Radstock, Whitchurch, Bishop Sutton and High Littleton.
- Over the next 3 years the Council will be prioritising investment in rural housing, bringing empty homes back into use and delivering housing for older people and new homes for people with specific needs, whilst continuing to secure affordable housing provision without the need for public subsidy through planning gain.
- The Council has agreed to put £30,000 into a feasibility study into changing the Peasedown St John junction with the A367 bypass on the Radstock side of the village – this will include consultation on options to address problems.
- Up to £55,000 will be used to enable the commissioning and production of transport strategies for the Somer Valley and Chew Valley and rural areas.
- Funding sources will also be targeted on progressing agreed actions in the Getting Around Keynsham draft transport strategy.
2 Comments
Charlot Ann Coleman
Monday 2nd March, 2015 at 14:43Local railway stations should be reopened/built to alleviate the traffic congestion issues of Bath. This would also help on the Housing issues as more people will be willing to live to the South of the City in peasedown, Radstock Mid-S-N area.