Latest news with #TimBall
BBC News
27-03-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Bath's Grade II listed Parade Gardens is dropping its entry fees
A popular city park is dropping its entry fees from April after a pilot helped attract more than 29,000 visitors over eight currently costs adults £2.50 to enter the Grade II listed Parade Gardens in Bath, which has views of Pulteney Weir and Bath Abbey, and £1.50 for after Bath and North East Somerset Council trialled free entry in October half term, it decided to remove fees from April until the end of the year.A council spokesperson said it hopes this will make Parade Gardens "accessible and inclusive for everyone". During the pilot, visitors were able to explore the gardens' colonnades – columns that sit below the city's Grand Parade – as well as an undercroft and vaults, and a medieval Paul Roper said "hidden histories of the colonnades" were shared during the trial, which "captured public imagination". "We plan to build on this interest by providing more exciting activities in the gardens later this year," he added. 'Magnificent views' The authority is planning to open the colonnades for visitors during the weekend of May 30 and June 1, alongside a food and drink Tim Ball said the authority was "extremely proud of the iconic Parade Gardens".The gardens are renowned for their "stunning flowerbed displays and magnificent views", he park is being opened up as part of a council regeneration scheme, called Bath Central scheme was awarded £548,000 of grant funding from the West of England Combined Authority in 2023, alongside £232,000 of funding from the council.
Yahoo
15-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Work starts to remove sunken boats from river
Work has begun to remove five sunken boats from the River Avon in Bath. Bath and North East Somerset Council (BANES) said the submerged vessels near Pulteney Weir are dangerous to others and pose a pollution risk. Councillor Tim Ball, cabinet member for neighbourhood services, said: "We have exhausted our attempts to work with the owners to arrange self-recovery, so as a last resort we will be carrying out the operation on their behalf." The work begins on Saturday and is expected to last approximately one week. "We're chasing the owners for recovery costs when we know who exactly owns the boats - but we only know one or two of them," Mr Ball said. The council is hoping to recover the £72,600 costs of the removal once the work is completed. "The sunken boats have been creating a hazard in the waterway and posing a risk to its ecology for a long time, however they are the property of the boat owners who are responsible for them," Mr Ball said. Several of the boats have been left for several years, and the logistics of such an operation present a challenge, the council said. "Some of them are in difficult positions and whether we can actually pull them out on Wednesday and Thursday next week is largely dependent on the weather," Mr Ball said. The same project was attempted last year but was abandoned due to the weather. The works are being done as part of the council's Better Moorings Project, which seeks to address a range of boat mooring-related issues. Several other sunken boats along the river have already been removed by the Canal and River Trust. The council has promised to try to minimize disruption, but sections of the towpath will be closed while the boats are removed. Relief over plans to remove abandoned boats Woman who 'married' Avon continues clean water calls Factory to be torn down to make way for riverside flats BANES
BBC News
15-03-2025
- Climate
- BBC News
Work starts to remove sunken boats from River Avon
Work has begun to remove five sunken boats from the River Avon in and North East Somerset Council (BANES) said the submerged vessels near Pulteney Weir are dangerous to others and pose a pollution Tim Ball, cabinet member for neighbourhood services, said: "We have exhausted our attempts to work with the owners to arrange self-recovery, so as a last resort we will be carrying out the operation on their behalf."The work begins on Saturday and is expected to last approximately one week. "We're chasing the owners for recovery costs when we know who exactly owns the boats - but we only know one or two of them," Mr Ball council is hoping to recover the £72,600 costs of the removal once the work is completed."The sunken boats have been creating a hazard in the waterway and posing a risk to its ecology for a long time, however they are the property of the boat owners who are responsible for them," Mr Ball of the boats have been left for several years, and the logistics of such an operation present a challenge, the council said."Some of them are in difficult positions and whether we can actually pull them out on Wednesday and Thursday next week is largely dependent on the weather," Mr Ball said. The same project was attempted last year but was abandoned due to the works are being done as part of the council's Better Moorings Project, which seeks to address a range of boat mooring-related other sunken boats along the river have already been removed by the Canal and River council has promised to try to minimize disruption, but sections of the towpath will be closed while the boats are removed.
Yahoo
09-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Relief over plans to remove abandoned boats
Residents have welcomed plans to remove five sunken and sinking boats from the River Avon in Bath. Work by Bath and North East Somerset Council to remove the abandoned vessels is due to begin on 15 March at a cost of £72,600. Councillor Tim Ball, cabinet member for neighbourhood services, said the council had exhausted all attempts to get the owners to arrange self-recovery so it was carrying out the work to remove them as a last resort. Resident Casey Nolan, who lives on the river, said he was relieved to hear the wrecks would be removed. More news stories for Somerset Listen to the latest news for Somerset Mr Nolan said their removal was more than just "aesthetics". "It will help the flow of the river," he said. As well as looking unattractive, the boats pose a hazard to others navigating the waterway, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said. Ian Herve, from Bath, said: "It's about time. It certainly needs doing and it's unfortunate the council have to pay £72k for it. "Obviously the owners should be paying." The removal work was expected to last a week, weather permitting, with the towpath and waterway to remain open. The council said it would also attempt to recover the costs of the removal. Ball said: "The Pulteney stretch of the river is the primary flood defence mechanism for the city and between late October and March, carries an increased volume of water with river levels regularly exceeding the height of the bank. "This is a dangerous stretch of river for boats to moor in, especially in winter. "We appeal to all boat owners to safely moor at recognised and officially open mooring sites, monitor their moorings regularly throughout the winter season, ensure their boat is fit for the water and it is fully insured inclusive of salvage." Follow BBC Somerset on Facebook and X. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630. Sunken boats 'openly disintegrating' in river Local Democracy Reporting Service
