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Bath & North East Somerset (Local Environment Profile 2011)

KEY FACTS

> Bath and North East Somerset produced 1,058 kt of end user CO2 in 2008. Between 2005 and 2008, end user CO2 emissions decreased from 1,126 kt to 1,058 kt.

> Bath and North East Somerset residents were responsible for a total of 6.0 tonnes of CO2 per capita in 2008, 23% higher than the South West. This was the second lowest recorded by a local authority in the West of England and the tenth lowest in the region.

> Between 2005 and 2008 per capita emissions reduced in Bath and North East Somerset from 6.5 t to 6.0 t.

> There are 10 river water bodies within Bath and North East Somerset. Our latest assessment of these classified 30% as poor, 40% as moderate and 30% as good.

> Bath and North East Somerset Council produced 589.0 kg/household of residual household waste in 2009/10 which was the second lowest to be produced in the West of England Counties.

> 1,116 million vehicle kilometres were made in Bath and North East Somerset authority area in 2009.  This was the fifth lowest recorded by a unitary or county council, accounting for just 2.3% of the regional total.

> Between 1993 and 2009, the total number of vehicle kilometres travelled within Bath and North East Somerset area increased by 13%.

> Bath and North East Somerset Council produced 588.99 kg/household of residual waste in 2009/10. This was the second lowest to be produced in the West of England Counties.

> Bath and North East Somerset Council in 2009/10 against the other South West Councils, was in the top half of the recycling league table with 42.5%. 

> Bath and North East Somerset Council landfilled 50,141 tonnes, which was the fifth lowest amount of tonnes landfilled in the South West. However, they were also the eighth highest percentage landfilled (56.38%) in the South West.

> The population of Bath and North East Somerset was estimated to be 179,700 in June 2010, 3.4% of the South West’s total population of 5,273,700.

> Between 2008-2033, the number of households in Bath and North East Somerset are predicted to increase by 27%.

> Bath and North East Somerset is covered by the Bristol Avon, Axe and North Somerset Streams CAMS.

> In 2006, Bath and North East Somerset had an eco footprint of 4.85gha. This was the second lowest in Avon, but the thirteenth highest in the Region.

> Bath and North East Somerset had an allocation of 39,604 tonnes and only landfilled 36,604 tonnes (92.4%)  of their Biodegradable Municipal Waste. 

West of England (showing North Somerset, Bristol, South Gloucestershire, Bath and North East Somerset)
West of England (showing North Somerset, Bristol, South Gloucestershire, Bath and North East Somerset)
North SomersetBristolBath and North East SomersetSouth Gloucestershire
Act to reduce climate change and its consequences

CLIMATE CHANGE

  • The council of Bath and North East Somerset, have a Sustainable Community Strategy 2009-2026 which has actions relating to climate change. Please click here for more information.

CARBON DIOXIDE - END USER

  • Bath and North East Somerset produced 1,058 kt of end user CO2 in 2008.
  • Between 2005 and 2008, end user CO2 emissions decreased from 1,126 kt to 1,058 kt.
  • The highest proportion of end user emissions in Bath and North East Somerset in 2008 came from domestic sources with 40.8% (423 kt), closely followed by industry and commercial with 34.2% (362 kt).
[ Zoom ]
CO2 Levels 2005-08: Bath and North East Somerset
CO2 Levels 2005-08: Bath and North East Somerset
  • Bath and North East Somerset residents were responsible for a total of 6.0 tonnes of CO2 per capita in 2008, 23% higher than the South West 7.8 tonnes per capita. This was the second lowest recorded by a local authority in the West of England (after the City of Bristol) and the tenth lowest in the region.
  • Between 2005 and 2008 per capita emissions reduced in Bath and North East Somerset from 6.5 t to 6.0 t.

Please note - we are reporting on end user CO2 emissions, which are used as the National Indictor for Sustainable Development for the UK. An alternative measure of CO2 is available from the Stockholm Institute. As the data presented is from 2008, the local authority comparisons for the South West include district authorities in Cornwall and Wiltshire which have now been replaced by Unitary Authorities.

 Source: Sub-national energy consumption statistics, DECC

ENERGY CONSUMPTION

  • There were 77,700 domestic electricity meter points in Bath and North East Somerset in 2009, 3% of the regional total of almost 2.4 million.
  • An average of 4,343kWh of electricity was used per consumer in Bath and North East Somerset during 2009, 2% (105kWh) lower than the regional average of 4,448kWh and 5% (191kWh) higher than the Great Britain average of 4,152kWh.

Source: AEA for DECC
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Energy Consumption 2005-09: BANES
Energy Consumption 2005-09: BANES

TRANSPORT

  • 1,116 million vehicle kilometres were made in Bath and North East Somerset authority area in 2009.  This was the fifth lowest recorded by a unitary or county council (behind Isles of Scilly, Torbay, Bournemouth and Poole), accounting for just 2.3% of the 48,588 million km total for the region as a whole.
  • Between 1993 and 2009, the total number of vehicle kilometres travelled within Bath and North East Somerset area increased by 13% (133 million km).  This was lower than the percentage increase within the South West (26%), over the same period.
[ Zoom ]
Vehicle kilometers in Bath and NE Somerset 1993-2009
A graph showing estimated traffic volume in Bath and NE Somerset 1993-2009
Source : Department of Transport

COMMUTING

  • Driving to work is the most popular way to commute. In Bath and North East Somerset 54.3% commute by car compared to the South West average of 58.7%. The figure for Bath was lower than the UK average of 54.9%.

  • Walking to work in Bath and North East Somerset with 15.07% is slightly higher than the South West average of 12.1%, and much higher than the UK average of 10.0% of commuters.

Source : Office of National Statistics

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Commuting in Bath and NE Somerset
A graph comparing methods of travelling to work in Bath and NE Somerset, the SW, and UK (2001)
Protect and improve air, land and water quality

AIR QUALITY

  • There are two Air Quality Management Area in Bath and North East Somerset. Theses are in Bath and Keynsham.
  • Please click here for more information

Source:DEFRA

WATER QUALITY

  • There are 10 river water bodies within Bath and North East Somerset. Our latest assessment of these classified 30% as poor, 40% as moderate and 30% as good.

  • The main reasons for less than good status include higher levels of nutrients e.g. ammonia, phosphate.

[ Zoom ]
WFD water bodies from West of England
A map showing Water Framework Directive (WFD) water bodies from West of England

  • For information on the activities taking place to help your local river improve, please see the EarthChattering pages for an interactive map and much more information.

Please note - Water bodies do not fit exactly within local authority boundaries. The figures have been derived from those water bodies whose centres are within the district in question. If all water bodies within a district had been included, double accounting would have taken place. Some water bodies have yet to be classified. For the purpose of this exercise, these have been removed from the figures published.

Source: Environment Agency  

LAND USE

  • In 2005 both the South West and the UK, the largest landuse came from Green Space with 90.7% and 87.5% respectively. The next largest area of land cover came in the form of domestic gardens with 3.07% in the South West, and 4.3% for the UK average.
  • In Bath and North East Somerset, the two largest landuses are the same, however domestic gardens is significantly higher with 6.1% and green space is lower with 85.4%.
[ Zoom ]
Landuse in Bath
A graph showing the Landuse in Bath (2005)
Source : Communities and Local Government

QUALITY OF LIFE

 

~ Overall Standards within England remain the same as last year, with no change in the Cleansing Index score, which is 76, out of a possible 100.

~ 63% of standards for all LEQ indicators were either Good or Satisfactory.

~ The South East joins the South West as top performing region overall, for the first time this year.

~ The South West has been either the top performing region or joint top performing region since the 2007/08 Survey. 

Source : Keep Britain Tidy

NITRATE VULNERABLE ZONES

  • Nitrate Vulnerable Zones (NVZs) are areas of land that drain into waters polluted by nitrates, such that the ecosystem is at risk of being disturbed, or the water is likely to exceed 50 milligrams of nitrate in each litre.
  • Within Bath and North East Somerset Council, there are a number of areas designated NVZ with no areas of deferred slurry storage.
  • NVZ regulations come fully into force on 1 Jan 2012, except in deferred Slurry storage areas which have until 1 Jan 2013.
  • For more information on NVZ, please see Environment Agency pages.
  • For detailed maps relating to NVZ areas, please see source pages.

Source: Environment Agency

[ Zoom ]
Bath NVZ areas (2010)
Bath NVZ areas (2010)

CATCHMENT SENSITIVE FARMING

  • Catchment Sensitive Farming (CSF) gives advice on dealing with diffuse pollution from agriculture and the impact on water courses. 
  • CSF is a voluntary initiative, where as NVZs is a statutory obligation. CSF looks at: best practice on manure and pesticide usage; Promoting good soil structure; protecting watercourses from run-off and best practice on stock management.
  • There is one Catchment Sensitive Farming project in Bath and North East Somerset. This is the Somerset Levels and Bridgewater Bay, which covers an area of 2,535km2.

Source: Environment Agency

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Catchment Sensitive Farming projects in Bath and North East Somerset
A map showing the Catchment Sensitive Farming projects in Bath and North East Somerset

SOIL

  • In a broad landscape context Bath and North East Somerset has a varied mosaic of soil types.

  • Soil type is a major factor in determining the type of agriculture that can be supported. Generally medium textured soils support mixed farming while clay rich heavy soils underlie dairy pasture. The light textured soils support cereals and horticulture while shallow chalk limestone soils support grazing and cereals.
  • The latest detailed DEFRA data (2007) on the number of holdings (farm types) within Bath and North East Somerset shows over 50% of farms support lowland grazing (sheep and beef), with15% cereals and 13% dairying.

Source : DEFRA

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Bath and North East Somerset
A map showing Bath and North East Somerset soils

POLLUTION INCIDENTS

  • For the period April 2005-March 2010, there were no incidents of major impact on land, air or water in Bath and North East Somerset. For the same period there were 4 incidents of significant impact on water, and a further incident of significant impact on land and water.

  • For the period April 2010- March 2011 inclusive, there were no incidents of major impact in Bath and North East Somerset Council.

  • For the same period, there was 1 incident of significant impact to land, and a further incident of significant impact to water.

Source : Environment Agency

FLYTIPPING

  • During 2009/10 there were 522 reported incidents of flytipping in Bath and North East Somerset. This was a 46% increase from 358 incidents in 2008/09.

Source : DEFRA

Please note: incidents of fly tipping are reported differently by each council. One may log black bin bags out on an incorrect day as a fly tipping incident where another council do not log this. Please be aware of these reporting discrepancies on Flycapture when looking at the data in comparison to other councils.

MUNICIPAL WASTE

  • Bath and North East Somerset Council was not in the top ten highest producers of residual waste produced however were in the top half of the league table in the South West, with 588.99 kg/household. This was the second lowest to be produced in the West of England Counties.

  • In 2009/10, South Hams had the lowest level of residual waste in the South West with 341.04kg/household. The highest in the South West was Isles of Scilly Council with 1,452kg/household. 

[ Zoom ]
Recycling in the South West (2009/10)
Recycling in the South West (2009/10)

  • Recycling and composting has increased significantly in the South West, from 14.9% in 2000 / 2001 to 43.5% in 2009 / 2010.

  • Bath and North East Somerset Council in 2009/10 against the other South West Councils, was in the top half of the recycling league table with 42.47%. 

  • The highest rate of recycling in the SW was Cotswold District Council with 60.4%,  and the lowest rate in the SW was Isles of Scilly with 18.9%.

Source : DEFRA  

TOTAL MUNICIPAL WASTE LANDFILLED

  • Bath and North East Somerset Council landfilled 50,141 tonnes, which was the fifth lowest amount of tonnes landfilled in the South West. However, they were also the eighth highest percentage landfilled (56.38%) in the South West.
  • Bournemouth Borough Council landfilled the least percentage waste in 2009/10 (37.8%). Plymouth City Council landfilled the largest percentage of waste in 2009/10 (64%).  Devon County Council however landfilled the largest amount in tonnes with 194,720 tonnes. 

 

Source : Environment Agency

[ Zoom ]
Waste disposal 2009/10 in Bath and North East Somerset
Waste disposal 2009/10 in Bath and North East Somerset
Put people and communities at the heart of what we do

POPULATION

  • The population of Bath and North East Somerset was estimated to be 179,700 in June 2010, 3.4% of the South West’s total population of 5,273,700.
  • Of this population, 16.6% were aged under 15, 65.7% were of working age (16–64), and 17.6% were of pensionable age (65+).
  • Bath and North East Somerset had a higher proportion of it’s population of working age, than in the South West, or England.

Source : Office of National Statistics

[ Zoom ]
Population Growth in the South West: 2008-2033
Population Growth in the South West: 2008-2033

NUMBER OF HOUSEHOLDS

  • Between 2008-2033, the number of households in Bath and North East Somerset are predicted to increase by 27% from 74,000 to 94,000. This is lower than the 30% increase predicted for the Region, and higher than the 21.1% increase predicted for England.
[ Zoom ]
Household Estimate and Projections 1991-2033: Bath and North East Somerset
Household Estimate and Projections 1991-2033: Bath and North East Somerset

Please note - Figures to 2008 are based on ONS mid-year population estimates and projected rates of household formation from trends in Census and Labour Force Survey data. All projections are 2008-based. The 2008-based household projections are linked to the Office for National Statistics 2008-based Population Projections, and are not an assessment of housing need or do not take account of future policies. They are an indication of the likely increase in households given the continuation of recent demographic trends.

Source : Communities and Local Government

NEW HOMES ON PREVIOUSLY DEVELOPED LAND

 

  • The proportion of new buildings built in England on previously developed land, rose 23% between 1994-2009. More than half of local authorities in the South West has an increase higher than the English average.
  • Over the same period in the South West, South Gloucestershire had the highest overall increase with 57%, and the lowest was Isles of Scilly with -10%. The second lowest local authority was  jointly Cotswold and Torbay with only a 5% increase over the same period.
  • The increase in Bath and North East Somerset was 48%. This was joint third highest overall increase with North Dorset Council.
  • For the period  2006-2009, only 4 councils achieved over 90% of new dwellings on previously developed land in the South West. These were Bournemouth (97), Poole (97%), City of Bristol (95%) and Christchurch (94%).

Source : Communities and Local Government

FLOODING

  • One in six properties in England are at risk of flooding.  In the South West over 200,000 properties are at risk of flooding from rivers or the sea and around 6,000 properties are at risk from coastal erosion in the South West.

  • The causes of flooding in West of England are varied; rivers, tidal, surface water or combinations of the three, depending on location.

  • There are areas within Bath where there is a risk of flooding.

  • To see locations at risk of flooding in Bath and North East Somerset, please click here for the Environment Agency flood map

Source : Environment Agency

PLANNING APPLICATIONS AND FLOOD RISK

  • The Environment Agency lodged objections to 6,200 planning applications in England and Wales on the grounds of flood risk in 2007/2008 up from 4,750 in 2006/2007. Of these, 1,160 objections were in the South West, accounting for almost 19% of the national total. 

  • An additional 21 applications for minor development were also approved contrary to Environment Agency advice in the South West.  None of these was in this area.

  • In 2008/09, a summary report was published which had no detailed information to local authority level.

  • The number of planning applications to which we objected on flood risk grounds fell slightly to 5,198 in 2008/09 compared to 6,232 in 2007/08, representing 43% of consultations received. This is the first fall in the proportion of consultations objected to since 2001/02.

Source: Environment Agency

Work with businesses and the public sector to use resources wisely

WATER RESOURCES

  • Bath and North East Somerset is covered by the Bristol Avon, Axe and North Somerset Streams CAMS.
[ Zoom ]
Catchment Area Management Strategy (CAMS) for West of England
Catchment Area Management Strategy (CAMS) for West of England

Source : Environment Agency

ECO FOOTPRINT

  • The ecological footprint is an indicator of the total environmental burden we place on the planet. It represents the area of land needed to provide raw materials, energy and food, and to absorb pollution and waste created. It is measured in global hectares (a hectare of land with world average productivity) and is usually expressed as a per person measure. The Stockholm Environmental Institute (SEI) calculate the ecological footprint of consumption activities.
  • One of the main features of an ecological footprint indicator is that it is based on consumption, not just domestic production. It takes into account the impact of all products that are consumed, whether they are produced in the country of consumption, or elsewhere in the world.
  • In 2006, an average UK citizen had an eco-footprint of 4.64gha, which is significantly above the available budget of 1.89 gha. The South West Regional average was 4.74 gha
  • In 2006, Bath and North East Somerset had an eco footprint of 4.85gha. This was the second lowest in Avon, but the thirteenth highest in the Region. The highest and lowest in Avon were North Somerset and Bristol City with 4.92gha and 4.52gha respectively.
  • The ecological footprint of all local authorities in the UK is significantly above the available global budget. If everyone in the world consumed the same as a UK citizen we would need nearly three planets worth of resources.

Source : Resource Accounting

[ Zoom ]
Bath Eco footprint
A graph showing the Bath Eco footprint (2006) by themes

LANDFILL ALLOWANCE TRADING SCHEME

  • In 2009/10 the amount of biodegradable municipal waste (BMW)  landfilled by the 16 local authorities within the South West was 1,032,967 tonnes against their combined allocation of 1,134,910 tonnes.

  • Bath and North East Somerset had an allocation of 39,604 tonnes and only landfilled 36,604 tonnes (92.4%)  of their BMW.

  • Only two councils in the South West exceeded their allocations. They were Gloucestershire County Council and South Gloucestershire Council.

Source : Environment Agency

[ Zoom ]
Amount landfilled in 09/10 within the South West
Amount landfilled in 09/10 within the South West

Downloads

 

Please use these images in presentations/reports, but remember to reference the South West Observatory Environment Module Local Profiles 2011.

 PDF 2011