A message from Cllr Kevin Guy, Leader of Bath & North East Somerset CouncilIt was very welcome news this week about the funding for the Bristol to Portishead railway line, paving the way for work to begin this summer. This is an excellent example of what collaborative working across authorities can achieve to tackle this challenge. The West of England Combined Authority is set to contribute another £27m to this important railway scheme, with North Somerset looking to provide the remaining £3m. The additional funding from WECA is set to be ratified at the March committee meeting with North Somerset Council's contribution to be approved at its Council meeting this month. In my view though this should just be the beginning of improvements to rail services service our area, with more stations and more frequent services needed. The mayor has made a very welcome commitment to explore work on new stations including Saltford. I very much welcome this and look forward to this being progressed. This week marks the official completion of our £2.39m investment to create a fantastic public space in the heart of Midsomer Norton town centre together with an accessible bus interchange. Thank everyone for their patience while the work was carried on the new Market Square which has modernised the layout of The Island. Cabinet meets tonight to discuss our budget proposals which have set out additional investment plans over the next five years to improve infrastructure, including more than £70 million for house building as well as investment in active travel and transport improvements. Details of our budget plans are on the council website or you can follow the cabinet meeting from 6.30pm on our YouTube channel. Looking ahead I want to take the opportunity to highlight a concert of Ukrainian music and visual art being held to mark the third anniversary of the Russian invasion. The concert is on Monday, February 24 at 6.30pm at Bath Abbey, and has been organised by The Friends of Oleksandriya. Prior to the event I will be welcoming the deputy chief of mission at the Embassy of Ukraine, Eduard Fesko, to the Guildhall. We continue to defend democracy and stand in solidarity with Ukraine and its people. I am looking forward to welcoming Mr Fesko to our city as a symbol of our ongoing support for Ukrainian people. As we approach a well-earned half-term for students and staff, I want to thank the 200 children from local primary schools and the Voices for Life Bath Children’s Choir for an amazing concert a couple of weeks ago which was featured on BBC Newsround to mark Children’s Mental Health Week. It’s great to see the positive impact of singing on children’s mental health.
Have a good weekend. | 
