Bath News
The latest Bath news: planning decisions, council and crime updates, business and community stories, each linked back to its official source.
Top story
Flute Bath: Seafood Restaurant Company Heads for Liquidation
The company behind Flute, the George Street seafood restaurant that shut in June 2025, has called creditors to a 29 September meeting to wind it up.
More stories
What's On
Bath Forum Autumn 2026: John Simpson to Phil Wang, 7 Shows
John Simpson opens the Forum's autumn on 1 October. Cabaret Voltaire, Anton Du Beke, Jools Holland, Del Amitri and Phil Wang follow, up to 28 November.
Planning
Bath Gas Works Co-Living Refused, Keynsham 200 Homes Pass
Councillors refused 272 co-living studios at Bath's Old Gas Works against officer advice, 5-4. Keynsham's 200 homes passed 5-4 and Bath Press won 9-0.
Community
B&NES Community Awards: Nominate by 29 November
Nominations are open until midnight on 29 November, with a new support animal award and a lifetime achievement prize. Here is how each winner is chosen.
Transport
Lansdown Road Red Route: Bath Plans No Stopping, Any Time
A red route clearway is proposed on about two miles of Lansdown Road, plus 19 more parking changes in north west Bath. Objections close on 15 October.
What's On
Forest of Imagination Bath: Free Family Day at Entry Hill
Free, no booking: drop-in workshops at Entry Hill on Saturday 26 September, after a pay-what-you-can feast on Friday. What is on and how to get there.
Property
Bath house prices fall £2,941 as all five neighbours rise
The average B&NES home lost £2,941 in the year to July while all five neighbouring councils gained. Flats are back to their January 2022 prices.
Housing
Keynsham council homes: 10 ready, 6,423 on the register
Ten new council flats at Great Barn Court, Keynsham are ready to let. The district's housing register stands at 6,423 households, an eleven-year high.
Council
Bharat Pankhania Still a Bath Councillor, 66 Days On
Cllr Bharat Pankhania told full council on 16 July he would resign. No vacancy notice has been published, and he was the only member absent on 17 September.
Planning
Bath Local Plan comments open 18 Sept: 5 briefings left
The council says its 22,000-home Local Plan consultation opens on Friday 18 September. Five briefings are left, and its own pages give two closing dates.
Data
Bath claimant count August 2026: 2,440, but over-50s up 10%
Bath and North East Somerset had 2,440 people on out-of-work benefits in August, 1.9%, the lowest rate of six neighbours. The rise came from the over-50s.
Bath
Upper Borough Walls faces 18 months of daytime closures
Upper Borough Walls and Parsonage Lane close 10am to 6pm from 29 September, for up to 18 months, while contractors work on the old Min. Saw Close bollards go.
Bath
Newton House respite secured on a five-year contract
Bath's residential respite home has a five-year deal with Dimensions, weeks before the current arrangement was due to end. The council's own papers show how.
What's On
Dave Rowntree in Bath: Blur Show Moves to BLOC, 25 Sept
Blur drummer Dave Rowntree's No One You Know show is now at BLOC @ Burdall's Yard on Friday 25 September, not the Roper Theatre. Tickets £20, 8pm start.
Planning
Bath Local Plan approved: comments open 14 Sept to 26 Oct
Cabinet approved the 22,000-home draft Local Plan on 10 September. Comments run 14 September to 26 October, and must argue soundness, not preference.
Bath
Bath air quality targets: WHO levels adopted for 2035
B&NES has set air pollution targets: nitrogen dioxide at 20µg/m3 by 2030 and WHO levels by 2035. Its forecast still has 11 sites over the 2030 figure.
Bath
Bath Christmas Market: 25 Days Approved, 18 This Year
The market now has permanent permission for up to 25 days a year across a bigger footprint. The council says it will not use it yet: this December still runs 18 days.
Planning
Bath Local Plan: 22,000 Homes, Green Belt Cut at Nine
Draft Local Plan reaches cabinet on 10 September: around 22,000 homes to 2043, 8,900 in the Keynsham corridor, and Green Belt released at nine settlements.
Schools
Bath SEND Inspection: Ofsted Finds Inconsistent Support
Ofsted and the CQC found inconsistent experiences for children with SEND in B&NES, and named CAMHS, neurodevelopmental and learning disability waits for action.
Bath
Bath hosepipe ban started 18 August; Keynsham 27 August
Bath is on Wessex Water, restricted since 18 August. Keynsham, Radstock and the Chew Valley are on Bristol Water, restricted from 27 August. Both fine £1,000.
Bath
Bath Christmas Market: 25-Day Plan Decided Wednesday
Officers recommend permission for a market of up to 25 days, seven more than now, with Parade Gardens and Queen Square held in reserve. Councillors decide 2 September.
Keynsham
Keynsham 200 Homes: 99 Objections, Officers Say Permit
Persimmon's Charlton Road scheme reaches committee on 2 September with 45 per cent affordable homes. Keynsham Town Council objects twice; officers recommend approval.
Bath
Bath and Keynsham traffic cameras go live 24 August
Cameras start enforcing six existing restrictions on 24 August, at four Bath junctions and one in Keynsham. A first offence brings a warning, then a fine of up to £70.
Bath
Bath parking permits priced by car size from 25 August
From Monday a residents' permit in Bath costs more if your car is bigger. A Ford Transit pays £112.08 extra, a Smart Fortwo gets £20 off. The eleven bands.
Bath
Bath Post Office closes 1 September; Moorland Road returns
Union Street shuts 1 September with no city centre replacement. Moorland Road returns 5 October. Chew Magna, ten miles west, follows on 26 October.
Housing
Bath landlord fines: £20,000 starting penalties proposed
B&NES Council wants a £20,000 starting fine for landlords who ignore an electrical fault or run an HMO without working fire doors, uplifted by up to 50 per cent for repeat offenders. Consultation closes 23 September.
Keynsham
Keynsham Memorial Park play area: £250k rebuild in September
Work on the upper play area at Keynsham Memorial Park starts in mid-September and takes up to 12 weeks: a climbing wall, group rope swing, wheelchair carousel and play mounds, funded by S106 money and the town council.
Keynsham
Keynsham care home is the only outstanding one in B&NES
Charterhouse in Keynsham is the only care home rated outstanding in Bath and North East Somerset, out of 51 the CQC has rated. The visit that earned it was prompted by a complaint.
Bath
Bath house prices £18,016 below their November peak
The average B&NES home is worth £18,016 less than it was last November, and grew more slowly over the year than any of the five neighbouring councils. Flats fell again.