Meeting documents

The high density housing stated in the Bath Western Riverside's SPD MUST be reduced. To herd some 4,000 people into this one area will impact on us and them in many ways, including health.

It is a known fact that people do not thrive where they are packed in like sardines. We all need space, in general as well as our own, and in no way can it be healthy for so many people to be crammed into such a small area to exist in little boxes with few private gardens and little privacy. Not only will there be problems caused for the area, but for the inhabitants as well.

As a society we are becoming more and more isolated with less social and verbal interaction due to computers, texting, e-mail, working from home and the like. Even though in a lot of cases people are `living on top of each other' the saying "I feel alone even thou' surrounded by people" comes to mind. The effect of this causes problems leading to depression and breakdown in some form. Anger and frustration, bitterness and resentfulness and paranoia take over, with our every move perceived to be being watched and our every word overheard. We become scared, nervous and cautious about everything. Arguments occur over petty issues that in larger spaces would not bother us. In the end the bullies and control freaks take over. The majority become ruled by the minority and have to live by their standards. Lawlessness and despair take over which does not bode well and is far from conducive to a healthy happy society.

One starts to lose control over one's life and with this comes a sense of helplessness and hopelessness, standards of decency slide dramatically and areas become run down and vandalised. Interest in one's surroundings disappears and rubbish and the rats, graffiti and boarded up windows appear, to the point that it becomes a `no go' area.

Certainly the G.P surgery included in this Development will be `thriving' because it will be full of anxious and depressed people due to their miserable living conditions. This will then impact on surrounding areas and Bath in general. IS THIS WHAT WE WANT? - NO - and on these grounds alone I urge the Executive Committee to reject the SPD. Prove to us that you are a caring Committee and that you genuinely do have the City of Bath and its residents' interests at heart. You are in the unique position of ensuring that a decent quality and healthy life can be had for all.

From June Player Bath Resident 11^th October 2006