Quality of life in our city has deteriorated
I have lived in Bath for 16 years and in recent times have noticed a real deterioration in the quality of life that I had enjoyed in earlier times.
Firstly there used to be a communal pride in the way in which the city was presented but now we see a plethora of graffiti scarring virtually every available surface from buildings,walls and power boxes.
What has happened to the team that used to be tasked with the responsibility of removing these scars on our landscape?
These daubings are NOT art and descecrate property; they should be regarded as no better than dogs cocking their legs on lampposts.
Is it coincidental that this descecrations corresponds to the increase in student numbers (I am sure that the ‘normal’ non-student residents would not be engaged in this type of activity)?
If so then universities, colleges, schools etc should issue some sort of statement suggesting that anyone found to be involved in this activity would be immediately expelled for what is in effect an antisocial activity.
Secondly the local authorities inability to control the expansion of the student population to the detriment and cost of the residents; virtually every new development is geared towards accommodating students, existing properties are being converted to houses of multiple occupation where residents are not being subjected to council tax or indeed any other responsibilities to the local resident community.
Landlords who are obviously making significant rental returns should be obliged to make a contribution to the council coffers especially at a time when we are told that there is likely to be a significant shortfall in the council’s income which will inevitably lead to the local residents having to pay more local taxes.
Thirdly with regards to local management who is responsible for the traffic chaos in and around the city?
Who, for example, decided to locate new traffic lights in Queens Square to coincide with the restrictions on Cleveland Bridge? Who decided to reject Dyson’s proposed development for a technical centre on the Lower Bristol Road and accept the development of an unsightly office block opposite the Quays site? Do we really need another empty office block?