A new free newspaper, called appropriately "The Bathonian", is proving a hit with residents across Bath, from Twerton to Bathwick.
The publication, written, printed and distributed by the local Bath Conservatives, aims to share news and information about BANES Council decisions which residents may not otherwise know about.
The current edition's front page highlights the cost of the LibDem Council's new automatic road bollards across the city, an issue which has now made the headlines in the Bath Chronicle and on the BBC. The article says that the LibDem Council had admitted the cost would be "£3million and possibly more". Ironically, last week it emerged BANES is now budgeting £7.4million for putting in the bollards.
Other stories highlight the imposition of new resident parking charge zones, continuing e-scooter issues, the worsening mobile phone network across the city, and the indefinite closure of the city's famous Fashion Museum.
Twerton Conservative campaigner Qamar Rafiq says the paper has made an impact. "People have said to me: this is the genuine voice of local people in Bath. It is good to read what is actually going on in our city."
In Bathwick, campaigner Mark McDonald says people have definitely noticed The Bathonian. "We've had people congratulate us on the content, many saying they did not realise some of the things going on in our city."
The newspaper is being distributed by hand by Conservative campaigners, but a pdf copy is also available. Anyone can request a copy by emailing [email protected]
