We have now launched an on-line public consultation about our Footpath Project. We need as many reposnses as possible to show potential funders that Ashby is enthusiastic about a new footpath around the Bath Grounds.
For full details of the Project and to take part in the consultation please go to the Projects page of this website.
The District Council has now confirmed that Oakland Hotels have withdrawn their planning application to build 5 "villas" on the Bath Grounds. This is a great victory in our battle to defend and protect the Bath Grounds for the Ashby community and we thank all our supporters for their help in this achievement. You may well have seen the Ashby Times article published today.If not you can find a link on our "Campaign" page.
However we cannot afford to be complacent. Oakland Hotels still have plans lodged for development of the Royal Hotel including 2 unsightly new buildings on the current hotel car park. Also, whist the Bath Grounds remain in private ownership, there is always a danger of further attempts to build on them. Our campaign will now turn to working with the Town and District Councils to ensure that they are properly protected in the new Neighbourhood and Local Plans and ideally to achieve community ownership of the grounds. Should the latter not be possible then we need to ensure that there is no impediment to the Town Council renewing their lease which expires in 2023 (see details below). We are also working with the Town Council to improve the grounds for community use and at their September 15th Parks and Cemetery Committee meeting we will be presenting our detailed suggestions for a properly constructed path for pedestrians and wheelchair users between the South Street and Prior Park Road entrances. We will be posting details of this project and a consultation document shortly.
We have just heard that the Planning Application to build 5 large houses on the Bath Grounds has been withdrawn. This has still to be confirmed by the District Council but we understand that Oakland Hotels have withdrawn their proposal due to the numerous objections, not least by the Friends of the Bath Grounds and all our supporters.
So thank you to everyone who joined the campaign and sent in a letter of objection or signed the petition.
However, we understand that Oakland Hotels have NOT withdrawn the applications to extend the Royal Hotel and build two horrid annexes on the car park. So that fight must continue.