COMMUNITY
Within this section we look at the groups of people, particularly those in the local area, and their relationship/potential relationship with the site. We will engage in surveys with local stakeholders (business owners, schools, religious groups etc) to better understand their hopes, worries and visions for their local area and to better understand how an intervention on the island can support their development goals and needs. In undertaking this, it was found that there is a large sense of division of Twerton Community from Northern side of Bath. However there is a strong sense of community within these neighbourhoods.
The site sits of the boarder of two widely different neighbourhoods; To the North, Newbridge, sits in the top 10% of affluent areas in the country. Cross the river, and to the South, Twerton falls into the highest 10% of deprived areas in the country. ‘Housing availability and affordability are key issues in B&NES. The affordability gap in B&NES has widened again after the economic downturn 2008/9 and is almost back to its 2007 peak.’ (Quartet Community Foundation, 2014, p3) ‘Bath and North East Somerset is one of the more expensive places to live in the country. This creates a potential cost of living challenge, as residential wages are below the national average.’ (Bath and North East Somerset Council, 2019)
Surrounding Neighbourhoods
Newbridge
The site sits of the boarder of two widely different neighbourhoods; To the North, Newbridge, sits in the top 10% of affluent areas in the country.
‘Bath and North East Somerset is one of the more expensive places to live in the country. This creates a potential cost of living challenge, as residential wages are below the national average.’ (Bath and North East Somerset Council, 2019)
Newbridge residents totalled just under 6000 in the 2011 Cencus.
The electoral ward is largely residential, with Chelsea Road acting as a small commercial High Street
Twerton
Cross the river, and to the South, Twerton falls into the highest 10% of deprived areas in the country.
‘Bath and North East Somerset is one of the more expensive places to live in the country. This creates a potential cost of living challenge, as residential wages are below the national average.’ (Bath and North East Somerset Council, 2019)
The area suffers from strong negative connotations and a sense of seperation from the rest of Bath caused by the introduction of the trainline and Lower Bristol Road.
However, these factors appear to have fostered a strong sense of inner community within Twerton, with many residents commenting that whilst Twerton has it’s issues it’s not as bad as people think and it is a nice place to live.
Projects such as The Rec run by volunteers in conjunction with St Margret’s Church are begining to bring social value back to the community.
Stakeholder Mapping
The Communities Voice:
Lots of vehicle related stuff! Traffic volume, speeding, air pollution, parking pressures clogging the streets.
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POVERTY, UNDER INVESTMENT, PARKING, STUDENT ACCOMODATION
Lack of resources/vision/
aspiration/
community cohesion.
Priority for walking and cycling, less vehicles. More opportunities to utilise the river. Greater equality across the city. Opportunities for meaningful employment, greener places, more localised food production.
INVESTMENT, HOPE, REDEVELOPMENT FOR THE AREA NOT THE DEVELOPERS
We need a complete redesign with more trees, a one way system to make more room for pedestrians etc
Twerton High Street could be the Hub of the area but it needs the regeneration funding it has been promised! I care about the look/feel/atmosphere of the place to bring prosperity and well being
Health, the environment, good schools, equality, opportunit
People
Safety
Art Links to Site
