News & Notices
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Next SJS Bath Ltd Directors Meeting
The next Directors' meeting will be held on 07 September 2017. If you have concerns about anything affecting the Square, please contact one of the Directors (see Contacts page)
PREVIOUS NOTICES
St James's Square Bath Limited - Annual General Meeting Wednesday 23 November 2016
The Company AGM will be held at 7.30pm in the Gallery Room at St James Wine Vaults, 10 St James's St. Company Members, other residents of St James's Square and property owners are welcome to attend, though only Members can vote on matters arising. Wine will be served from 7.00pm
The Agenda for the meeting, along with the Minutes of the 2015 AGM, and the Financial Plan for approval at the meeting, can all be accessed in the 'Company Management and Finance' section of the Members Area
Indian Bean Tree (posted 3 July 2016)
This week the Indian Bean Tree on the west side of the Square has suffered a couple of broken branches. There are no safety issues with the tree and our specialist tree surgeon All Tree Services will be along in a couple of weeks to clear the debris and carry out any more required action
St James's Square Bath Limited - Annual General Meeting 18th November 2015
The Company AGM will be held at 7.30pm in the Gallery Room at St James Wine Vaults, 10 St James St. Company Members, other residents of St James's Square and property owners are welcome to attend, though only Members can vote on matters arising.
For more details see the window of Edmunds News on St James's St, or Members can login to the Members Area of this website and navigate to Company Management and Finance
Gull nuisance (posted 28 April 2015)
Most of us are aware of the problems that gulls cause in Bath. In 2014 one pair of gulls nested on a roof in St James’s Square.
The BANES booklet Urban Gulls describes how they spread out gradually from established nesting sites to new ones. So, whilst there was only one pair in the Square last year, there may be more this year or next. It also explains that it is much easier to prevent them nesting in the first place than to stop them coming back once they have nested there before. The pair that nested on St James’s Square last year may well come back (as will their chicks in time, when they are of breeding age).
So, what can we do? Actually the solution is quite simple if implemented early.
Be watchful - if a pair intend to nest on a roof, they will first establish their presence to claim their territory. They will be there much of the time, checking the site and calling to each other.
If this happens on your roof, please contact a licensed pest control company promptly; they must have a DEFRA licence to remove the nest materials and eggs, which generally makes the gulls leave. This work can only be done under licence, not by us as individuals, and nobody is permitted to remove chicks once hatched – this is why it is so important to act promptly.
Abee Pest Control (contact Julian on 07967 489117) is a reliable company with much experience of the gull problem. They supply free estimates but their current charge to remove a nest is £58 including VAT.
We hope we can avoid having a gull colony on St James’s Square if everyone keeps an eye out for the sort of preliminary activity described above, and acts immediately if it occurs on their roof.
The gulls are building nests now. The risk of a house being chosen for a nest continues until the end of May.
BANES council tax email scam (posted 20 January 2015)
BANES have issued a warning about false emails requesting payments for council tax - see the link http://www.bathnes.gov.uk/latestnews/beware-bogus-emails
Annual Notice of Payment
At the end of May 2014 a request for payment of annual floor fees, along with an explanatory letter outlining proposed expenditure, was sent out to all occupiers/leaseholders/owners as appropriate. A copy of the letter can be found at SJS Annual Notice of Payment 28-05-14
Railway Electrification (posted 11 October 2014)
Network Rail is planning electrification of the Great Western Mainline through Bath. There will be a drop-in session in the Brunswick Room in the Guildhall on High Street between 4-7.30pm on Wednesday 15 October, for all those who wish to see the plans and/or have questions - these might include, for example, the effect on Sydney Gardens, improvements to the timetables, pollution and noise, temporary disruption to the rail service etc.
For further information go to www.networkrail.co.uk/great-western-routemodernisation/banes
You can also give your feedback online at www.myenvolve.com/project/railelectrification
Indian Bean Tree (posted 11 October 2014)
After the damage suffered this summer by the Indian Bean Tree in the Square, the options offered by advisors have been considered and it will be reduced in size and reshaped this autumn. It is hoped that it will quickly rejuvenate; depending on its recovery, a decision will be taken in the next couple of years on whether to plant a replacement.
Planning Application Northampton Street (posted 27 August 2014)
Much of the opposition to the application was co-ordinated by local resident Linda Gamlin, and we are pleased to report that following generous donations from local residents, the costs she incurred in the process have now been fully recouped.
Planning Application Northampton Street (posted 15 August 2014)
Following a concerted effort by a large majority of local residents to oppose a planning application to open a dispensary St James Surgery on Northampton Street, a recent BANES planning meeting has decided to refuse the application. Details can be found at;
http://isharemaps.bathnes.gov.uk/projects/bathnes/developmentcontrol/default.aspx?requesttype=parsetemplate&template=DevelopmentControlApplication.tmplt&Filter=%5EREFVAL%5E='14/00958/VAR'
Indian Bean Tree (posted 13 July 2014)
The Indian Bean Tree on the west side of the Square suffered a broken large branch on Friday 11 July. The debris was quickly cleared away by our specialist tree surgeon All Tree Services and we are currently awaiting their report on options for dealing with the remaining tree.
Tree Safety Maintenance Work
On 12 June, All Tree Services commenced the first phase of a two season programme of works, removing a significant amount of dead branches from the 2 large trees at the southern end of the Square. Considering the size of some of the branches removed, it reinforced the importance of ensuring that this work is done in a professional and timely manner, a process to which St James's Square Bath Ltd is fully committed.
Planning Application Northampton Street
St. James Surgery were granted permission in 2009 to demolish garages to build an annexe for 'administrative use' and when local objections were heard by the Planning Committee, Dr Playfair from St. James Surgery gave cast iron assurances that they had no intention to open a dispensary or chemist.
They have now submitted a planning application to convert the annexe into a chemist/dispensary!
Objections of residents include;
1. Pedestrian hazards, parking problems and vehicle congestion
2. Threat to existing local businesses from reduced footfall, especially St. James's Street chemist (Hawes Whiston & Co)
3. Supplier deliveries, typically 4 times per day, in a narrow road without parking or turning space for lorries
Experience has shown that the volume of objections received makes a difference to the outcome of planning applications. If you are concerned about any aspect of this application, please submit your comments via the link to the Local Planning Portal below - it only takes a few minutes of your time and every voice counts.
http://isharemaps.bathnes.gov.uk/projects/bathnes/developmentcontrol/default.aspx?requesttype=parsetemplate&template=DevelopmentControlApplicationComments.tmplt&basepage=default.aspx&Filter=^REFVAL^='14/00958/VAR'&SearchLayer=DCApplications&SearchField=REFVAL&SearchValue=14/00958/VAR
Please note, any objections to this application MUST BE SUBMITTED BEFORE 10 April 2014.
FoBRA Winter Reception 14 Jan 2014
FoBRA's Winter Reception will be held at the Victoria Art Gallery in Bath. A great way to meet people from other Bath Resident's Associations, tickets cost £10 - if you are interested in attending, more details can be found at FoBRA Winter Reception 14-01-2014
Unfortunately this year's Carol Singing in the Square has had to be cancelled.
Because of ill health our Social Coordinator has been unable to finalise arrangements and, despite our best efforts this week, we couldn't put in place everything needed.
However, like last year we will still have a Christmas tree in the Square, and we plan to decorate it in the morning of Wednesday 4th December - if anyone would like to help they will be most welcome.
St James's Square Bath Limited - Annual General Meeting 27th November 2013
The Company AGM will be held at 7pm in the Gallery Room at St James Wine Vaults, 10 St James's St. Company Members, other residents of St James's Square and property owners are welcome to attend, though only Members can vote on matters arising.
For more details see the window of Edmunds News on St James's St, or Members can login to the Members Area of this website and navigate to Company Management and Finance
Special Olympics Opening Ceremony, Royal Crescent Lawn 28th August 2013
The opening ceremony will formally commence the 2013 Bath Games. It will focus on celebrating the athletes, their families, delegations and supporters and the majority of tickets have been distributed to these people. However, the organisers have been kind enough to offer 100 free seated tickets to the ceremony and the Royal Crescent Society would like to offer residents of St James's Square a chance to share in this unique occasion. If you would like to attend, tickets can be obtained on a first come first served basis from Michelle Little at No 22 The Royal Crescent at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Gates open around 15:30, the show starts at 17:30 and will end around 21:00. For further information regarding the 2013 games and Special Olympics GB, please visit www.bath2013.org.uk and www.specialolympicsgb.org.uk
St James's Square Garden Party, 7th September 2013
If you have any questions, or would like to volunteer to help in any way, please contact Ros Thomson on 01225 443440 or at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
St James's Square Garden Party 2013
All residents and owners in St James's Square, Bath are invited to the Summer Garden Party on Saturday 7th September in the garden. Guests also welcome. More information to follow.