https://www.facebook.com/107992298952915/

Southdown Independents Paul & Mark, 77 The Hollow, Bath (2026)

05/05/2023

The results are out..... and unfortunately we didn't quite make it.

A MASSIVE, MASSIVE, thanks to all of those Southdown residents who voted for us and put up posters.

We came a very credible 2nd, to the long established candidates with a multi-million pound, letter box spewing, propoganda machine and team of loyal activiists behind them.

The turn out was very dissapointing. It was much higher in other BANES wards.

Here was a chance to vote for the status quo or change. But only 25% of elligible Southdown voters, voted. Local issues are likely to affect people just as much as national ones.

Paul and Mark first met on April Fools day (2023!) and applied to be Councillor candidates within hours of the 4th April deadline. All that happened next was a result of their efforts - no publicity machine, no campaign managers, no foot soldiers/activists - just themselves.

In one month they have gone from ground zero to beating the establisehd partys of Conservative, Labour & Green to coming a close second behind the long establisehd pair of Lib Dems, thanks to the over whelming support they have recieved from Southdown residents who see the value in local Councillors who are free of Party Political influence and pressure, and who, might just actually work in their interests.

Those doorstep chats revealed that those who are aware of what is going on around them, and in their City, are gravely concerend about the Lib Dems direction of travel. Those who have used the services of our current councillors are less than impressed - Paul & Mark included.

Paul & Mark will continue to hold Cllr Dine Romero, Cllr Paul Crossley and their community/commerce destroying Lib Dem Party to account.

Unfortunately the overall Election results were disastrous for common sense and Bath.

We wanted a healthier balance of party Councillors. Unfortuantely that has not happened, the Tory vote has collasped, and only the Greens have made gains - well done Sam Ross in Clutton & Farmborough, and Deborah Brosnan in Paulton.

There have been further gains for the "not very Liberal" & "Totally Undemocratic" Party.
...talking of parties..... there will be a celebration of our achievement TONIGHT at a venue in Southdown..... contact Mark for more details!

Thanks again for all of the support.

We just might.....be back!

Paul & Mark.

03/05/2023

Here is a re-post of our Manifesto.

As Independents we work for the residents without any party political interference / pressure.

Hence we are more than interested to hear your comments on our manifesto, and to consider amending it as appropriate. Paul & Mark.

03/05/2023

Paul and Mark, if elected, will also hold BANES to account with regards to their spending.

The unecessary and ineffective anti-terrorist "Ring of Steel" is now projected to cost the tax payer (Govt funds -our Taxes) close to 10 Million Pounds!

As well a being ineffective (others wanted the funds spent on the large events in Bath) the RoS is also ugly and has made Bath a laughing stock - which includes this Private Eye Article.

03/05/2023

Here is an issue which several Lymore Gardens residents have raised with us regards planning application 16/04261/FUL

- Unit 2 Lymore Gardens Twerton Bath - Er****on of 5No Three-bedroom, 2No Two-bedroom and 1No Onebedroom flat following conversion and adaptation of warehouse.

The Panning Officer's Report clearly states that availibility of parking is a pre-occupancy condition per unit. However the units are occupied and there is currently no access the area where parking for seven cars was to be made available - as per the plan shown. Hence there is now more pressure on parking in Lymore Gardens. Why is this allowed to happen?

Residents have told us that they have engaged with our current local Southdown Councillors in relation tothe issue, and got nowhere. We have lost count how many doorstep conversations have mentioned this, and other common Cllr service shortfalls.

Paul & Mark have also had other Southdown experiences where pre-occupancy planning clauses have been ignored by developers and not enforced by BANES planners. One case in relation to an HMO in The Hollow, another a Flat on Mount Road.

Paul and Mark will take this Lymore Gardens' issue up as a priority, should either of us be elected as a Councillor for Southdown.

03/05/2023

Mount Road - Here is the evidence of whi it was who really wanted Mount Road closed to through traffic during School Drop off and pick up. Would it have then been closed for longer periods?

03/05/2023

Paul and Mark were both against the BANES proposal (it turned out to be a proposal from our current Councillors) to close Mount Road to through traffic but were in favour of better speed and parking control.

Mount Road was part of the wider BANES LTN (Low Traffic Neighbourhoods) intitiative and came with Govt funding. Hence here was an opportunity to address the issues which Mount Road residents had raised. However the proposed measures have fallen well short of our expectations.

Here is a repeat of a post Mark posted on Proud of Twerton & Southdown a while back.

A BIG thanks to all the locals who contributed to the surveys & workshops etc. Which were aimed at improving our Mount Road Neighbourhood.

BANES have now published the Cabinet Decision (link below) detailing the process and the planned improvements. I would assume they be implemented during the next financial year (April - March 24)?

The majority, and common sense view, that Mount Road should not be a "No Through Road" has won the day. BANES have formally stated to me, that our Local Lib Dem Cllrs Dine Romero & Paul Crossley proposed closing the road. Dine Romero has, and continues to assert, that Roundhill School wanted the road closed. Roundhill School have denied this. N.B. I have posted evidence of this previously.

The diagram is my attempt at interpretting the written word, which is a bit confusing. On first read I thought there were to be several speed cushions, but that appears not to be the case, as a single "raised" controlled crossing is presumably supposed to be as effective? I can't say I'm convinced? Also - it's all very well extending yellow lines and zig zigs, but will people take any notice without enforcement? Will this now not restrict residents from parkng outside their homes? The other improvements appear positive.

One resident's workshop proposal, which I expected to be taken forward, but which doesn't appear to be, was the zebra crossing on the upper Hollow, between the Blagdon Park slipway and the Methodist Church. That is very dissapointng, if that high children footfall crossing, is not going ahead?

https://democracy.bathnes.gov.uk/mgIssueHistoryHome.aspx...

(1) To proceed with the shortlist of interventions set out in paragraph 3.8 of the report:
(a) Controlled crossing in the Roundhill Grove junction area; and
(b) Mini roundabout (improvements) along Mount Road.
With reference to 3.8(a) it is proposed to provide a raised zebra crossing between Mount Grove and Roundhill Grove.
And 3.9:
(a) Speed cushions along Mount Road and outside the primary school.
(b) Continuous crossings along the side roads which meet Mount Road, supported by narrowing the side road junctions;
(c) Widening the western footway to the southern end of Mount Road, and around the existing bus stops; and
(d) Extend the school “Keep clear” zig zags and double yellow lines outside the primary school.
With reference to 3.9(a) raised pedestrian crossing points across Mount Road are proposed in lieu of speed cushions.
Now taking them forward to preliminary design and engagement.

03/05/2023

The issue of the Community destroying RPZ in Oldfield Park / Moorland road is one which is coming up on the door steps and which we address in our Manifesto.

This high street and community is the largest outside of the Bath Town Centre, and is used by people from all over BANES and beyond. Southdown residents, particularly those who used to be in the Westmorelands Ward pre 2019 (approx 25%) are also concerned about this issue as many use the High Street and community facilities - Heart of Bath Doctors, Churches, Moorfields Gastro Pub, Charity Shops, Nursery, Library etc. For example the Heart of Bath regrets that it will have to close it's car park to patients, if the current RPZ design is implemented, as it will need the spaces to mitigate the risk of losing their staff.

Mark has been working to try and get the current BANES Lib Dem led administration to recognise that the RPZ design is fundamentally flawed and will cause immense damage to the High Street & Community, due to the lack of dual use parking spaces (Chelsea Road has 100% dual use whilst BANES Oldf Pk proposal is for only 14% dual-use (256 out of 1726 spaces across the two wards). Mark was in the fist meeting with BANES and the Cabinet Member for Transport. He was appalled at their unprofessionalism and incompetence. They could not answer basic questions on how they arrived at their RPZ "design".

Mark has been running his own petition in Moorland Road but has now ended this as the OPCA (Oldfield Park Community Alliance) has now gone Live and are running theirs. Mark fully supports and agrees with the OPCA and has signed their petition.

The OPCA page gives full details of their concerns and petition, which is also in the shops in hard copy. If you want to save the Moorland Road High Street and the wider Oldfield Park Community from the Lib Dem's destruction then please sign the petition and please consider the issue when you go and vote.

https://www.facebook.com/oldfield.park.community.alliance?locale=en_GB

27/04/2023

Welcome to Paul & Mark’s Southdown Independents page.

We are two long standing Southdown residents.

As local residents, we have both been known to get involved with a local issue, or two, over the years which have required engagement with our local Councillors and BANES Council.

Recently we became motivated to stand as Southdown Ward Councillor candidates for the May Elections, as INDEPENDENTS - independent of any political party, so that we can represent your views rather than those dictated to us by any political party masters.

We decided to "go for it" early in April, and have come a long way in a short space of time.

We have made our presence known by distributing 5000 flyers to almost every home in Southdown. We say "almost" because we are sure we must have missed a few, even armed with the ward map.

If we have missed you out, then please let us know.

The more interesting parts of our flyers are attached below.

Many thanks to all of our supporters who have requested posters and are now displaying them around Southdown. We have more, and will deliver them to you if you would like some. The flyers themselves look good in the smaller windows.

We will be posting more shortly - lots to do, for us Independent two!

Paul & Mark

Southdown Independents Paul & Mark

05/05/2023

03/05/2023

03/05/2023

03/05/2023

03/05/2023

03/05/2023

03/05/2023

27/04/2023

Address

Telephone

Website

Alerts

Contact The Organisation

Shortcuts

Share

Category