Bath Pubs

​A Bath nightclub has withdrawn an application to hold a series of events over this month's bank holiday, amid concern from the police over a number of violent incidents at the premises.
Police initially raised concern about activity at the Weir Lounge in Spring Gardens Road earlier this year, calling for a review of its licence.
And although the club kept its licence following the review by Bath and North East Somerset Council, a number of new conditions were imposed on the premises in a bid to keep a lid on problems.
Approval for the application for a temporary event notice (TEN) for the August Bank Holiday weekend would have meant owner Darius Mosavi could have operated without being subject to any of the conditions on his normal licence.
Police opposed the application, after keeping a close eye on the premises since the licence review in April.
Officers had sent council officials a log of recent violent incidents ahead of the meeting, which was due to be held today, including a report of a serious assault on a woman in the club's male toilets, in which a man tried to force drugs into her mouth.
Police and council officers also made a surprise visit to the premises one evening in June to find almost 500 revellers inside despite a licence limit of just 200.
The application for the TEN, which was due to be decided before B&NES licensing control committee, has now been withdrawn by Mr Mosavi, who declined to comment.

​Bath magazine and digital publisher Future has a new UK chief executive.
The company, which employs 700 of its 1,200 staff in the city, has appointed seasoned media industry expert Mark Wood to the role.
He has sat on Future's board for the last year-and-a-half as a non-executive director, but is resigning his directorship to take on the hands-on role.
Mr Wood has previously worked as chief executive of ITN and editor-in-chief of news agency Reuters.

Hundreds of people descended on Royal Victoria Park to support transplant recipients and raise awareness of organ donation.

Competitors from the ages of two to 82 descended on Bath at the weekend for a special sporting celebration to herald the gift of life.

​Properties in Bath were affected by flooding last night as fire crews were called to incidents in London Road and The Corridor.
At 3am crews were called to Walcot Parade in London Road, where drains had become blocked and were causing flooding.
Firefighters used a ladder to access a roof and unblock the affected drains.
At 3.38am crews from Bath and Brislington were called to The Corridor, where flooding was affecting the upper floors.
The firefighters were unable to find the cause of the leak and used salvage equipment to protect as much stock as possible within the units, which included Which Watch and Cult.

​An 18-year-old woman has been killed in a car accident in Bath.

The incident happened at around 8.18pm on Friday night on Lansdown Road, outside the golf course.
 
The woman's Ford Focus left the road while she was negotiating a right-hand bend and hit a tree and a stone wall.

An ambulance, a rapid response vehicle and two paramedics attended the accident but the woman, who is thought to have been from the Bath area, received fatal head injuries and died at the scene.

Avon and Somerset Police are now appealing for anyone who witnessed the incident to contact the collision investigation unit on 0845 4567000.

People can also call the charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

A semi-retired solicitor who was arrested after a row over the treatment of his elderly mother in a Bath hospital is now facing an extra charge.
The Crown Prosecution Service has added a count of battery to the public order offence charge laid after hospital staff objected to the way John Blanning complained about the treatment being given to his ailing mother.
Mr Blanning was handcuffed by police after a manager at the Royal United Hospital called in security officers to remove him from the ward where his 89-year-old mother Joan was being treated in June.
The 50-year-old refused to pay an on-the-spot fine and will be contesting both charges at a two-day trial before Bath magistrates court in November.
He says he has been told that the charge of battery has arisen because he is alleged to have pushed past one of the security guards.
The offence is used where someone is alleged to have unlawfully touched another person.
The father of three from Cornwall was initially just charged with committing an offence under section 5 of the Public Order Act, which covers threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour, or disorderly behaviour.
His frustration came to a head when a manager, worried about the spread of the sickness and diarrhoea norovirus, tried to stop him re-entering the ward where his mother – who has symptoms of advanced dementia and who lives in Keynsham – was being treated for a chest infection and dehydration.
Mr Blanning had been defending himself in court but has now engaged his own solicitor and says he believes the additional charge has come about because he challenged the legitimacy of the Section 5 accusation.
"The type of push that I'm talking about – whoever's fault it was – is like that which happens when jostled in a crowd or if you bump into someone on the way into a crowded Marks and Spencer's," he claimed.
He has also been charged with two offences under the Bail Act after illness prevented him attending a case management hearing at the court earlier this month.
He said: "I find this to be amazing in an age of austerity, given that this matter will cost the public purse thousands of pounds, for a matter for which I was originally offered an £80 fixed penalty, but which I refused for the simple reason that I had not committed any offence.
"Given the hassle and inconvenience that this matter has caused me, I can understand why people just accept and pay a fixed penalty whether they are guilty or not. Where is the sense of justice in today's judicial system?"
He said he felt he was being singled out by the CPS because he was a solicitor himself.
The CPS declined to comment on why the extra charge had been made against Mr Blanning.

​Two Bath men charged in connection with a serious assault that left a 32-year-old man fighting for his life today appeared before a crown court judge.
Luke Richardson and Aaron Schofield are both charged with causing grievous bodily harm with intent and violent disorder.
Lee Mitchell, from London, was left with head injuries following an attack in Quiet Street on the evening of Saturday, August 14.
Richardson, 19, of South View Road, and Schofield, also 19, of Armes Court, appeared via video link from prison for a preliminary hearing at Bristol Crown Court.
They both wore grey sweatshirts and spoke only to confirm their names.
John Penny, prosecuting, confirmed that the victim of the assault, Lee Mitchell, was still alive.
Judge Michael Harington told the defendants their next court hearing would be on December 30 when they would be asked to enter pleas.

​Research involving the University of Bath has underlined the risk of cannabis users developing mental health problems.
Experts at the Claverton Down campus say their research might be significant for doctors and nurses who treat large numbers of students.
Using cannabis has been related to psychotic experiences in the general population but few studies have focussed on the student population despite its traditional high levels of cannabis use.
Thomas Richardson from the Mental Health Research and Development Unit of the university's Department for Health, worked with colleagues in Dublin, to ask 334 undergraduate students in the UK, Ireland, Canada, USA, Australia and New Zealand to complete a questionnaire about their use of cannabis and any psychotic symptoms.
The researchers found that cannabis users were more likely to have had hallucinations such as hearing voices.
Mr Richardson said: "The study found that those currently using cannabis had higher levels of hallucinatory experiences that those who were not using cannabis. More frequent use was related to an increased likelihood of hallucinations, and heavy use also increased the risk of experiencing delusions. This suggests that students who move from occasional, perhaps recreational cannabis use to more regular use are more likely to have psychotic experiences.
"I must stress the limitations of this research, but nonetheless these findings are important as undergraduate students as a population have very high levels of cannabis use. This research suggests that those who use cannabis are more likely to have psychotic experiences, which in the long run may increase the risk of developing a serious mental health problem. These results are therefore important for health professionals who work with students."

​Celebrity chef Jamie Oliver was in Bath yesterday to pay a visit to his restaurant in the city.
Oliver, who opened his second Jamie's Italian branch in the city nearly two years ago, stopped by to say hello to staff and customers at lunchtime.
The 35-year-old TV personality, who shot to fame after his cookery programme The Naked Chef, was with his family on his way to Devon on holiday.
Jamie's Italian was initially launched in Oxford in June 2008 but the Bath branch is the hub of the operation.
There are now 16 branches across the UK including Liverpool, Leeds and Brighton.

​Transplant athletes from across the country have gathered in Bath to mark the start of a sporting event which celebrates human triumphs over the odds.
Despite the rain there were hundreds of smiling faces as the 53 teams taking part in the British Transplant Games paraded into Bath Abbey for the opening ceremony last night.
A standing ovation was given to the Donor Family Network, which supports the relatives of people whose organs have been used in transplants.
Organised by Transplant Sport UK, the games aim to celebrate the courage of transplant athletes, as well as remember those who donated organs.
The athletes - all of whom have undergone a transplant of one kind or another - and their supporters were welcomed by the chairman of Bath and North East Somerset Council, Councillor Sarah Bevan, who said: "The Transplant Games are a wonderful event and celebrate the courage of athletes.
"I would like to thank you for coming to Bath, to the transplant athletes, their supporters and to the donor families."
An Olympic-style torch was carried into the abbey by Declan Logue, a kidney recipient from Coventry, where last year's games were held.
This was used to light the transplant flame, which was held by Allegra Martin of the Bristol Adults Team.
Following the Olympic flame was the Transplant Sport UK flag, carried by Coventry team members Grace Newman and Kate Balfour.
The flag was given to Jack Goodland, 11, and Romana Winstone, from the Bristol Children's and Adults Teams, before Dami Howard from the Bristol Adults Team read the transplant athlete's oath.
Chair of the local organising committee Loraine Morgan-Brinkhurst praised the generosity of local businesses, and the courage of transplant athletes.
She said: "It has been a privilege to have been the chair of the local organising committee for the Transplant Games.
"So many people have helped me over the last year to plan the games, without them we would not have been able to put them on.
"I want to thank all the people and businesses that have supported us, it has been fantastic to see.
"To the donor families who give such support to the games, we thank you for your dedication, generosity, and unwavering belief.
"To all the wonderful games participants, we hope you enjoy the games, the city of Bath welcomes and salutes you."
The opening ceremony included the first performance of the Transplant Games anthem.
Reach, by Bath singer and songwriter Clyve and producer Jon Birch, inspires people to aim higher and celebrate triumphs over adversity.
Clyve, who performed the song with help from singers Jazzy B, Sarah, and a choir, said: "Reach is all about believing how we can become stronger in ourselves and aim higher than you can sometimes imagine even when the odds are against us, which is, of course, a tribute to all of the incredible athletes taking part in the games."
The games were then officially opened by the chairman of Transplant Sport UK Peter Ford, who said: "I am pleased to see the Transplant Games starting, it is a wonderful event.
"Enjoy the next few days, and remember it doesn't matter how many medals you win, you are all winners before you even step on the track."
The games are being mostly held at the University of Bath and close on Sunday.
They have brought around 1,500 people to the city.

​Police are warning tradespeople to secure their vehicles after a spate of van thefts from the north of Wiltshire.
The vehicles have been taken from the Corsham, Box and Chippenham areas, with most containing valuable tools.
Officers are linking the thefts and DC Andrew Morley said: "It would appear that the majority of these thefts were opportunistic whereby the offender or offenders noticed that the vehicles were insecure and targeted them.
"Thieves are aware that vans are often used for work purposes and may contain valuable tools which they can sell on. I would therefore advise van owners to ensure that they always lock their vans and take the key with them, even if they are just leaving their vehicle for a couple of minutes.
"They should also not leave any valuable items on display and ensure that they remove all the tools from their vehicle each night."
Anyone with information is asked to call him in the Priority Crime Team at Melksham Police Station on 0845 408 7000 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Road safety campaigners have labelled a personal attack on a grieving mother by a drivers' anti-speed camera group as 'appalling and outrageous'.

Clare Brixey, whose son Ashley died in a car crash near Bath in 2004, is today leading a protest organised by pressure group Brake, calling for councillors not to cut the funding to speed cameras throughout Wiltshire, at County Hall in Trowbridge.

But on the eve of the demonstration, motorists' lobby group the Association of British Drivers has questioned her right to protest about the camera network.

Ashley, 20, died in a crash at Limpley Stoke, while a backseat passenger in a car that ploughed into a garden and ended up on its roof in a swimming pool. The driver had been taking drugs and drinking, and was speeding at more than 80mph at the time.

Since then, Mrs Brixey, of Standerwick, near Frome, has devoted her life to road safety campaigning, giving talks to everyone from students to soldiers, often alongside the wreckage of the car in which her son died.

But the ABD dismissed her calls for Wiltshire's speed cameras to be retained, because the driver of the car which killed her son had also been drinking.

"It is ironic that Brake should use the example of the tragic death of Ashley Brixey to highlight their campaign to save cameras," said ABD chairman Brian Gregory.

"We commend Ashley's mother Clare for campaigning against drink/drug driving and for speaking to schools about road safety, but to see her campaigning for speed cameras makes no sense to us. It would be more logical for her to campaign for diminishing radius bends to be re-engineered or against swimming pools being built next to roads."

Mrs Brixey said she was determined not to let the ABD chairman's comments upset her. "It's absolutely ridiculous. How dare they question whether I can campaign for speed cameras? The driver of the car was doing 80mph in a 40mph zone, but it doesn't matter how Ashley died.

"Just because he had also been drinking and taking drugs, does that mean I'm not allowed to campaign on speed cameras? It's clear they've lost the argument and are clutching at straws.

"When I set out to campaign on road safety, I did so in every capacity, not just those which had to do with the death of Ashley. I've got the right of free speech, the same as everyone else.

"The ABD are taking nonsense, but obviously they're worried because now they're making it personal."

The Wiltshire and Swindon Camera Safety Partnership is due to be axed in the autumn with around 40 people losing their jobs.

The decision has been made following the announcement that local authority funding from the Department of Transport will be cut by 27 per cent.

The police and Wiltshire Council say the decision is being made reluctantly and have stressed that traffic officers will continue to watch out for speeders.

But Mrs Brixey said: "I cannot just stand by while the council puts an axe to vital road safety services that save so many young lives here each year.

"They need to know how appalled local communities are about this. Most people fully support cameras and feel safer with them turned on.

"The cost of a speed camera does not compare to the cost of a life."

Hundreds of students across the Bath area were celebrating achieving the new A* grade at A-level today.
But those who fail to achieve their desired grades face the bleakest prospect in a generation of getting a place at university.
Nationally, 8.1 per cent of passes achieved the elite grade, with 69,000 A-level papers awarded the new supergrade despite the introduction of tougher essay-style questions aimed at boosting the credibility of the qualification.
At Bath's Ralph Allen School, the number of A* passes was 10 per cent, with staff describing the achievement as "fantastic".
Of the 283 entries at full A-level, 38 per cent of grades were A or A*, 63 per cent A or B grades and 83 per cent A to C. The overall pass rate was 99 per cent.
Deputy head John Chantry said: "Once again Ralph Allen's Year 13 have achieved a fantastic set of A-level results.
"Many students achieved A/A* grades across the board, but I am delighted for all our students this year who have worked so hard for their grades, many triumphing in the face of significant difficulty.
"None of these subjects are easy for students to achieve top grades in, far from it. The excellent teaching we have at Ralph Allen School gives us these superb results, not only in sciences and mathematics but across the whole range of subjects studied at sixth form. These excellent results will in turn gain the students access to excellent higher education places."
Students Helen Longstreth and Yazzie Hussein were celebrating after picking up their results, both getting two As and a B.
Helen, who is now taking a gap year before deciding what to study at university, said: "It was really scary coming into school today, because I didn't think I was going to do that well."
Yazzie, who is also taking a gap year, added: "I decided not to apply for university because I didn't know what I was going to get and I didn't want the pressure of trying to get a place.
"Now I know what I have got and where I can go."
Charlotte Davis, who lives in Batheaston, picked up A*,A,B in sociology, English literature and law.
At Prior Park College 38 pupils achieved A* grades, with 52 per cent A grades, 80 per cent A to B and 90 per cent A to C.
A total of 26 per cent got 3 A-grades or better.
Headmaster James Murphy-O'Connor said: "We are extremely impressed by this year's results which have completely smashed previous records. To achieve a record year of A-level results all round is exceptional. We are particularly pleased by the high number of A* grades achieved by students.
"We feel that the implementation of the A* grade this year has only had a positive effect on our results and further demonstrates how hard our students and teachers have worked."
Student Clemmie Brown achieved 2 A* and 2 As in French, Spanish, history and maths and will go on to study Arabic and French at Edinburgh University next September.
Classmate Alex Klasse achieved 3 A*s and an A in philosophy, history, English and Spanish.
At St Laurence School in Bradford on Avon more than a quarter of all exams results was either an A or A* grade.
Four students are now heading off to Oxford or Cambridge.
Head teacher James Colquhoun said: "With high quality and focused teaching alongside persistent effort from students, our A level candidates have done well compared to targets. 
"Results were particularly impressive in English language and literature, theatre studies, business studies, geography, law, history, German, maths and physics.
"We are therefore extremely proud of this excellent set of results and impressed by the sheer commitment of our young people. It sets a high standard and will challenge the school to do even better in years to come."
Students at The Royal High School are also celebrating their best ever set of A-level results, with 84 per cent of grades A* to B.
Notable achievements include Jo Pinkard, who got 4 A*s in economics, history, maths and philosophy and is now going to Oxford University.
She said: "I can't quite believe I've done it.
"I had an incredible goal to work towards and school has been great at guiding me at every step."
Xenatasha Cologne-Brookes got four A* grades and two A grades and is now also off to Oxford to read maths.
Headteacher Rebecca Dougall said: "I am so proud of our students.
"It's wonderful that all their hard work has paid off; there's nothing better for a school to see its students heading off to the best universities in the country to study subjects they have a real passion for.
"It has been an exceptionally hard year for applicants to Higher Education, so the smiles and congratulations are all the more satisfying."
At Hayesfield School a number of pupils had picked up outstanding grades, including 18-year-old Adelais Mills, who got 3 A*s and an A.
She said: "I have already got a place to study English literature at Bristol but I think I am going to turn that down and reapply for Oxford.
"I am happy with my grades but a bit disappointed with the A."
Anna Rowan, from Larkhall, picked up 2 A*s and an A and is also hoping to change her university place because she did better than expected.
She said: "It has been awful waiting for the results, I have been so nervous. But it was all worth it now."
Her mum Charlotte May said she was feeling "quite emotional" seeing how well her daughter had done.
The top performer at King Edward's School was Alan Bowman, who achieved a staggering 5 A* grades and is now going on to study science at Cambridge.
Overall, 39 pupils scored at least one A* and nine achieved at least three A*s.
Head teacher Martin Boden said he thought the new grade was a good way of distinguishing the very top students.
He said: "What it does is it gives pupils at the very top end a chance to shine and show what they are really capable of.
"For the universities it acts as a helpful tool in terms of really identifying those with outstanding academic talent.
"However, it shouldn't diminish from those who have achieved As, Bs and Cs. We are proud of all the pupils' achievements."
At Beechen Cliff School 9.3 per cent of pupils got the new A* grade.
Tom Naylor, 18, scored an A* in chemistry and As in biology and Spanish and will now be studying medicine at university.
He said: "I looked on the UCAS website this morning so I knew I had got my university place.
"That really takes the pressure off and means you can open your results at school, rather than wanting to open them at home."
At Kingswood School 17 per cent of all grades were A*, with top results being gained by Benhao Hu, who got 3 A* and 2As.
Other pupils who scored particularly well were Chris Robinson, Harriet Brooker, Ralph Eliot, Joshua Brodie, Nina Fini, Nina Goodman, Xinyuan Hu, Katrina Marshall and Kieta Sayce.
In the AS-level results 75 per cent of entries were graded at A or B.
Headteacher Simon Morris said: "I am delighted that this exceptional year group has achieved such splendid results. 
"This is a wonderful reflection of their hard work and commitment and also the quality of teaching they enjoyed. 
"It is particularly pleasing that these results have enabled students to secure places at some of the most competitive courses at our top universities."
Around 100 students picked up their results from the City of Bath College, celebrating an overall pass rate of 88 per cent.
This was a nine per cent increase on last year and included 12 subjects where the pass rate was 100 per cent.
Deputy principal Lianne McCarthy said: "This year's fantastic A-level results are a credit to the hard work of the students and tutors at the college.
"I would like to wish all our A-level students the very best for the future, whether they are going on to higher education or starting work.
"We should also not forget that the majority of the college's 5,000 students are on vocational courses and we also congratulate them on their achievements."
Nationally, girls outperformed boys in getting A*s, although the position was reversed for science, maths and technology subjects.
The results show an increase from 26.7 per cent to 27 per cent in A grades.
The combination of a record number of applicants for university places and the public sector squeeze on spending limiting the number available could mean disappointment for up to 200,000 sixth formers.
There are hardly any places remaining at any of the west's universities for people hoping to secure a spot through clearing if they do not quite get their predicted grades.
Over 660,000 people had applied for full-time undergraduate courses by the end of June – up nearly 12 per cent on last year's record-breaking figure.
The University of Bristol received around 34,100 applications for 3,280 places available from September, and the University of Bath 19,000 applications for 3,000 places.
The University of Bath said it was "highly unlikely we will have any vacancies for clearing or adjustment applications" but any it does have will be on its website from today.
In some subjects, almost half of A-levels will be given the new A* grade, which is being awarded for the first time this summer to candidates achieving 90 per cent or higher in their final exams.
Headteachers said the new grading system had spurred bright pupils on to greater achievement than the traditional A to E scale.
Public sector union Unison said funding cuts to the Connexions advice service meant many students in the South West were at risk of being left without the help they needed.
Connexions West has announced a 30 per cent cut in funding, with 55 jobs on the line across the former Avon.
The National Union of Teachers (NUT) has criticised the new A* qualification, but congratulated all the students on their results.
South West regional secretary Andy Woolley said: "Every year our young people demonstrate their commitment and enthusiasm for learning, and every year despite this there is a chorus of criticism from those who simply can't believe that it is young people's efforts and the quality of teaching that have yielded the results. 
"Those critics cling tenaciously to the unsubstantiated allegation that somehow exam standards are falling.
"Parents, young people and the general public should ignore those critics and celebrate young people's success."

Tributes have been paid to the most senior clergyman of the Catholic church in Bath, the Right Rev Mervyn Alexander, who has died aged 85.

A groundsman at the University of Bath who had a liver transplant seven years ago will be preparing the site for the British Transplant Games.

A student from Bath Spa University who comfort ate to cope with her dyslexia has lost three stones and appeared in a national magazine.

Bath Cats and Dogs Home has come out in support of the Staffordshire bull terrier, a breed which it claims is misunderstood.

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