She’s been Mayor of Bath, Chair of B&NES and a councillor serving the Combe Down Ward since 2007.
Now l hear Cherry Beath will not be standing in the 2019 May local elections.
In a press release – issued today – she has announced she wants to make way for “fresh faces and ideas.”
“Cherry has served in various roles within the Council, including Mayor in 2014, Chair of Council, 2017/18, Cabinet Member for resources, Economy and Major Projects 2011/13.
She initiated Council partnership & funding for innovative projects such as The Guild Co Working Hub, and it was under her watch that the Bath Digital Festival was encouraged, and has become a feature of Bath, and she has championed the Creative, Tech and independent business Sectors in the Community.
As Mayor she was asked to speak and write on Women leaders in Politics, and this is a cause close to her heart, always wanting to encourage younger folk, and particularly women, to get involved. She was the first ‘tweeting Mayor’ of Bath, and recognises the importance of Social Media in these times.
Cherry has variously been a member of the Festivals Board, The Cultural Forum, and is currently a Trustee Director of The Guild, and also of The Genesis Charity. She is Patron of the Mid Somerset Festivals, and supports many other Arts Organisations.
Cherry oversaw the completion of the Combe Down Mines Stabilisation Project, which had a huge impact on residents, and she was able to secure funding for commemorating that project, the evidence of which can be seen by several installations on Firs Field, including the Bath Stone interpretation monoliths, bespoke iron gates, and benches, tree planting and Art Works. She was actively involved in supporting the establishment of the Stone Mine Museum.
She has continued to appreciate the hard working support from residents in bringing about many achievements for Combe Down. She introduced many highway improvements.
Cherry says, “Combe Down has always been an active and busy Ward, and I have been full of admiration for the stoicism of residents coping with the long Mines Stabilisation Project, which until completed, rendered many homes uninsurable. We then in recent years had the disruption and fears of plans to redevelop a large part of the Foxhill Estate, which many residents saw as breaking up their Community, and threatening their homes.
Again we saw the spirit of folk working together and speaking up for what was right, and supporting each other, in defeating a poor planning Application which had been approved by the Conservative Administration. I campaigned on this and spoke at the Planning Meeting.
I shall no doubt miss the work, and certainly the people, but know how it can be good to hand over to fresh faces and ideas”
