Friday, April 3rd, 2026
Bath 'Drug Den' Closure in Court | Doctors' Strike to Affect RUH | National Reforms Could Lower Green Housing Standards Locally
💉 A suspected drug den that’s caused repeated problems for businesses and visitors in Abbey Green faces a pivotal court hearing, reports the Bath Echo.
🩻 Industrial action by resident doctors from April 7th will affect the RUH and local surgeries, reports the Bath Voice.
🛴 More than 100 fines have been issued everyday to e-scooter users across the region, reports the Bath Echo.
👮🏻 Avon & Somerset’s Police Chief has told the BBC that staffing levels are “disturbing.”
😳 Proposed national planning rules could actually lower environmental standards for new homes in Bath, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service in the Bath Echo. B&NES is one of roughly 60 local authorities that would have to lower their high environmental standards under the new proposals.
🏛️ The Council has launched £1 tickets to the Roman Baths for visiting UK families receiving key benefits, reports the Bath & Wiltshire Parent. Bath residents with a Discovery card still enter for free.
🏠 Chartist House on Trim Street is to be converted from offices back to housing, but with no ‘affordable’ flats planned, reports the Bath Echo.
🟡 Following last week’s unprecedented resignation of the Mayor, Bath Voice has a detailed account of what happened, what it means, as well as party and public reaction.
🕰️ Bath Preservation Trust has nominated the former King Edward’s School on Broad Street to be added to the World Monuments Fund Watch List in a bid to force its owners to preserve the vacant building.
Weather
🌥️ The sun should be back on Bank Holiday Monday according to the otherwise grey Easter forecast. 🐰
📰 If you missed it, read about the history of local newspapers in Bath and the challenges local journalism faces today.
📌 Bath Bee Noticeboard
🎨 Bath Contemporary Art Fair
📆 12 April 2026 ⏰ 10 am - 4 pm
📍Green Park Station
🔬 Pint of Science returns 18-20th May:
Researchers from @uniofbath will be coming to @stjameswinevaults @bathbrewhouse and @saracensheadbath to tell you all about their latest research! 🧐🧫🏉📡
🎟️ Ticket sales live on 13th April 👀 ONLY £5!
City & Region
🚨 A woman died this week after a collision on the A4 between Bath and Bristol, reports the BBC.
🏘️ A controversial HMO in Whiteway has been approved, reports the Bath Echo.
💉 Two men - from Frome and Warminster have been jailed for dealing cocaine and money laundering, reports the BBC.
🏘️ 1700 houses have been approved on the outskirts of Frome, reports the BBC.
🏨 Refurbishment of the old Parade Park Hotel on North Parade is nearly complete, reports the Bath Echo.
🏞️ The canal towpath between Bathwick Hill and Pulteney Gardens is being resurfaced from April 7th for 11 weeks, says the Council. A diversion via A36 Pulteney Road will be in place.
Long Reads
🇵🇸 The Bristol Cable has just published a print edition on Palestinian issues connected to this region - including a fascinating tour of Filton-based arms manufacturers and their connections to the devastation of Gaza. This piece on how Palestinian activists have been sidelined in local campaigns … and another on the fight to influence the Filton 6 jury … are brilliant reads.
🎹 Closer to home, The Bath Magazine has an interesting piece on how a local shop is recycling old pianos as well as the story behind a new production of Pride and Prejudice inside Bath Abbey.
🎪 The latest Nearfield magazine is packed with features relevant to Bath this month: from a major piece on WOMAD, which returns to Corsham… to a profile of the Bath-based art director for WOMAD… to local hotspots for birdsong… and the force behind Party in the City… not to mention all the latest comedy, music, art and drama listings.
💨 For a deeply reported piece on what happened in St Catherine’s Valley and Batheaston to halt plans for renewable wind energy, read this Somerset Confidential report - subscribers only:
🛁 What a shame: Bath University’s student magazine, BathTime, contains good original journalism in its March 2026 issue. Jacob Hanley charts the unique history of Team Bath FC - a rare example of elite UK collegiate sport - until the Football Conference ruled it ineligible because of its university links. Jacob makes the point that collegiate sport provision in the US allows athletes to study AND train, rather than forcing them to choose one pursuit.
🗳️ And this piece below on a former student who recently ran as the Reform candidate in the Gorton and Denton by-election is worth reading. But you’ll have to source a physical copy!
Sweet stuff 🍯
🇻🇳 A Bath man, adopted from Vietnam as an infant, recently met his birth mother for the first time in 30 years, reports the BBC.
🪺 Cranes, which went extinct in the UK about 400 years ago, now number at 87 breeding pairs in Somerset thanks to wetland conservation, reports the BBC.
✈️ A Somerset couple who took a gap year are still on the road a decade later, reports the BBC.
⚽️ April 1: Odd Down walking footballers received an award for their contribution to the local community. Pensioner and hospital season-ticket holder Peter Sas created the Josef Švejk Award as a personal tribute to the charity. It’s named after the fictional hero of Jaroslav Hašek’s beloved comedic novel The Good Soldier Švejk. Hašek died in 1923 leaving the novel unfinished.
“I promised the organising coaches Sam and George a big fat Czech in recognition of their great work,” said Sas. “Unfortunately they misheard me and thought I said cheque.” 😜
😎 NO BEE next week! See you in a fortnight!
🎩 Top posts from last week’s Bee:
🟡 Mayor of Bath heartbroken over suspension following social media posts.
👮🏻 Police seek public help investigating Twerton burglary.
📖 Read Easy Bath celebrates graduation of two adult students.