Nestled beneath the expansive canopy of a centuries-old London plane tree, Kingsmead Square is a lively commercial hub in the heart of Bath. This Georgian square delights visitors with its pastel-coloured bunting, vibrant buskers, and benches filled with people admiring the city’s architectural splendour.
The area thrives with a diverse mix of businesses and patrons. Young professionals and students indulge in £6 lattes from Starbucks, while Dough offers innovative pizzas featuring seaweed, turmeric, and hemp bases. Bath Bus Station Fruiterers, a family-run business for nearly 50 years, provides fresh produce with a welcoming smile. Notably, Kingsmead Street Bottle was recently named the best bar in Bath, adding to the area’s growing reputation.
However, despite these positives, Kingsmead Square is not without its difficulties. Anti-social behaviour (ASB) has been a persistent issue for over a decade. Last summer, Avon & Somerset Police implemented a weekend dispersal order to protect residents and visitors from such disturbances. More recently, a man was arrested on suspicion of robbery in the square, highlighting ongoing safety concerns.
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Local greengrocer Conor, aged 30, who represents the longstanding family business, shared his perspective: “Only for the last 15 years! Every single day for years and years and years they’ve been coming here, they sit on the benches, they drink the majority of the day. It’s not ideal for any business to see this there. There’s kids. There’s families. And one of them lit a spliff just five minutes ago and I could smell it instantly.”
A shopper nearby echoed these concerns, recounting her own experiences with drug use and soliciting around the area. She noted, “This is a beautiful place but would I sit here with my kids? No.”
The writer of this article also recounts a personal encounter involving a woman who sought money under dubious pretences, illustrating the complex social issues underpinning ASB, such as poverty, mental illness, addiction, and unresolved trauma.
Despite these challenges, it is important to acknowledge that Bath remains one of the safest cities in the region, boasting a crime rate 16% higher than the national average but still ranking as the safest major town in Somerset. Nevertheless, no place is without its difficulties, and Kingsmead Square appears to be the focal point of such issues in the city.
The impact on local businesses can be significant, disrupting trade, while visitors may feel intimidated or unsafe. This situation also highlights the stark social divide within Bath: while some residents enjoy grand Georgian townhouses along the Royal Crescent, others face homelessness or hardship on the city’s streets.
Councillor Manda Rigby, cabinet member for communication and community, acknowledged the situation, stating: “Bath is a fantastic and vibrant city, which we all know attracts many visitors. In fact, it has recently been voted the best, and the happiest city in the world, in two Time Out surveys. It is a place we want everyone to enjoy and feel safe in but, like all city centres, we know there is often an element of anti-social behaviour which we don’t want to see.
“The council works closely with the BID and the police to manage this. We encourage anyone feeling unsafe to report anti-social behaviour and you can find useful links on our website.
“We are currently consulting on a Street Strategy looking at a number of areas including setting out a clear and co-ordinated approach to make sure public spaces are safe and accessible, so please take part and have your say.”