Bath’s MP is urging the city’s creative community to ensure they take part in the B&NES Local Plan Review. The deadline for input is 18th February.
Wera Hobhouse said:
“You might wonder what a planning review has to do with art and culture, but this is an opportunity to embed public art and spaces for public art into the planning process.
“This time last year we met up at Bath Spa University’s amazing Locksbrook arts campus in the refurbished Herman Miller building. We mapped out a year of engagement and ideas sharing. Instead we’ve had the pandemic and the decimation of the sector. It is time to revive those aspirations for our city and its cultural contribution, and the planning process can help.
“I believe it is vital that as we plan for economic and cultural recovery, we do so with our creativity front and centre. To that end, I have written to all the artists and cultural leaders we have been in contact with to alert them to the Partial Review of the Local Plan that Bath & North East Somerset Council is currently undertaking.
“Every large development brings with it the exciting possibilities of open space, or public space, as well as a financial contribution to the local community, or the city more widely. As part of this ‘planning gain’, we should be commissioning pieces of public art. In order for this to happen, we have to get suitable wording added into the Local Plan, regarding the use of monies received as part of the Community Infrastructure Levy or similar.
“I urge the members of Bath’s creative community to seize this opportunity to reignite our creative sector as our economy recovers from the pandemic.
You can send your support and your ideas to local_plan2@bathnes.gov.uk or go to the online submission at https://beta.bathnes.gov.uk/local-plan-partial-update-options-consultation.
The deadline for submissions is 18th February.”
