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HoLCG Public Meeting Summary


The HoLCG Public meeting on Wednesday June 17th was well-attended. Key points from the meeting were as follows:-

 

Andrew Roberts (Chairman of the HoLCG) gave a history of how the funds previously raised by the HoLCG had been spent:

  • On the legal challenge to the first Winifred’s Lane ETRO. This legal challenge was successful, but the Council returned with a second ETRO which addressed the deficiencies in the first ETRO.

  • After the second ETRO was implemented, funds were spent on actions that would lay the groundwork for further legal challenges. These actions included;

    • Independent traffic monitoring around Winifred’s Lane.

    • An independent safety report by SLR Consulting to assess the safety issues raised by the Winifred’s Lane LTN

    • Legal advice from Counsel on a challenge to the second ETRO and on a challenge to the TRO implemented after the Council Scrutiny Meeting

  • These actions effectively used up all the funds that were raised during the first round of fundraising.

 

Julian Gooding (HoLCG legal expert) then outlined the current status of the HoLCG’s legal challenge to the Council's TRO that would make the Winifred’s Lane LTN permanent:

  • Legal papers have been served within the 6-week window within which objectors to the TRO must initiate High Court action.

  • The HoLCG has 7 strong grounds on which to contest the Council’s decision to make the TRO. Julian reviewed each of these grounds which, as is needed for a successful legal challenge, focus on errors and flaws in the Council’s decision-making process. Just saying that the Council has made a bad decision would not be sufficient grounds.

  • If the Council loses the case, they cannot come back with a modified ETRO. The time limit for the second ETRO has expired so the Council, if they so wished, would have to go back to square one.

  • Julian has secured the services of a barrister and an instructing solicitor on favourable terms. An additional £22,000 is required to go ahead with the High Court action. A GoFundMe campaign is underway to raise the funds. There has been a very good response so far with many very generous donations being received. Due to public support, we now need to raise the final £9,000

  • The HoLCG is waiting for the Council to respond to the papers that have been served

 

Tim Spratt (HoLCG Media Contact) gave an update on media activity and coverage:

  • A lot of exposure in the local press – headlines in the Bath Chronicle, favourable articles in the Bath Echo and Bath Voice and online coverage in Somerset Live and local BBC news. A good relationship with John Wimperis, local democracy reporter with the Bath Chronicle.

  • A positive article in the online Sunday Telegraph

  • A slot on the ITV West local news with an excellent Andrew Roberts interview.

  • The Chronicle has also picked up and published letters from HoLCG and it would now help if individuals wrote to the editor letters for publication relating to incidents and serious concerns about the knock on effects from closing Winifreds lane.

 

There were a good number of questions and comments from the audience including:

  • Feedback on the seven grounds

  • What happens to the funds raised if the HoLCG win and get some costs back from the Council? Answer from Andrew Roberts: We will poll donors as to which local charity would receive the balance of the funds.

  • Several comments on incidents that have occurred on Sion Road around the blind bends.

  • Issues with cyclists going downhill on Winifred’s Lane. Also, a comment from a cyclist about the dangers of cycling on Sion Road.

 

Call to action:

 
 
 

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