CLLR WILL SANDRY AND CLLR SHAUN MCGALL - REPRESENTING OLDFIELD WARD IN THE HEART OF THE CITY OF BATH Weekly Advice Surgeries: First Saturday of the month, 11.30 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. In the foyer of the Co-op Scala, Shaftesbury Road, Oldfield Park. No appointments needed, just turn up and we'll try and help...

31 May 2007

St John's RC Primary School - Public Meeting

Many thanks to all the local residents near the poposed St John's RC Primary Site on Oldfield Lane for responding to our recent Focus newsletter about the potential traffic proposal associated with the planning application for St John's RC Primary School.

We will be forwarding your comments on to the appropriate officers / department within the Council.

You will almost certainly be aware that The Council agreed in 2006 that the preferred site for the new replacement St John’s Catholic Primary School is the existing school site in Oldfield Lane.

A planning application will be submitted shortly by the architects acting on behalf of the school.
Through discussion with Council Officers we can now anounce that there will be a public meeting, so that residents in the area have an early opportunity to see and comment on the proposals prior to the formal planning consultation process.

The Public Meeting is to be held at:

St Alphege’s Parish Hall on June 7th between 5.30 pm -7.30pm.

We hope as many local residents and represenatives from the Wansdyke Business Units will be able to attend to ask questions of the Officers from the Council, and the School and their Developers.

Cllr McGall will be attending the meeting (unfortunately Cllr Sandry is unable to due to a prior committment) and he keen to reflect the views of local residents and businesses who have concerns and questions about these proposals.

We hope that you will be able visit the display but if not you can see and comment on the planning application through the Council’s website when it is submitted in early June.

Response forms for comments will be available at the parish hall.

Comments can also be sent to:

Schools Capital & Organisation Team
Bath & North East Somerset
PO Box 25, Riverside, Temple Street
Keynsham, Bristol BS31 1DN

If you have access to e-mail you can also send your comments to: stjohn’s_bathpublicviews@bathnes.gov.uk and we would appreciate you copying your replys to both Cllr McGall, shaun_mcgall@bathnes.gov.uk and Cllr Will Sandry, willsandry@blueyonder.co.uk .

Labels: , , , , , , , , , ,

Forthcoming Roadworks in Oldfield Park


To find out more about forthcoming roadworks in the Oldfield Ward please click here.

Labels:

26 May 2007

Planning Applications in Oldfield Ward w/c 25/05/07

All representation must arrive no later than the 22nd June 2007.

Ward: Oldfield
App Ref: 07/01316/FUL
Registered: 14th May 2007
Expiry Date: 9th July 2007
Location: 37 Moorland Road, Oldfield Park, Bath. BA2 3PN
Grid Ref: (E)373751 - (N)164296
Proposal: Change of use from retail (Use Class A1) to cafe snack bars and restaurants (Use Class A3) and change of use of highway to public highway and siting of tables and chairs
Planning Case Officer: Lewis Cook
Applicant: Mrs Licia Accorsi, Del Sole, 37 Moorland Road, Oldfield Park, Bath. BA2 3PN
Agent: No Agent

To find out more about this application click here.

All representation must arrive no later than the 22nd June 2007.

Ward: Oldfield
App Ref: 07/01577/CLEU
Registered: 16th May 2007
Expiry Date: 11th July 2007
Location: Stokes Masonry, The Smallholdings, Claude Avenue, Oldfield Park, Bath. BA2 1AF
Grid Ref: (E)373535 - (N)163870
Proposal: Certificate of lawfulness for the continued use of land as a stone masons yard (Resubmission)
Planning Case Officer: Lewis Cook
Applicant: Stokes Masonry (Bath) Ltd, Moorfield Yard, Rear Of Claude Avenue, Oldfield Park, Bath. BA2 1AF
Agent: Mr Michael Swinton, 11 Kingsmead Close, Holcombe, Bath. BA3 5DR

To find out more about this application click here.

All representation must arrive no later than the 22nd June 2007.

Labels: , , ,

Dyson School of Design Innovation

We have been contacted by Bruce Austen, the Project Manager of the Dyson School of Design Innovation.

He notes that Oldfield Ward lies within the general area surrounding the proposed School and reminds us that they have submitted our planning application and we aim to open the School in September 2009.

They are keen to meet community groups in Oldfield Park who may like the opportunity to meet the Project Team face to face, to allow local residents to ask questions, raise concerns and hear more about the rationale for the School, the design and perhaps also offer suggestions about the way in which the School can create, develop and maintain links with the local community.

Please let us know if your community group would be interested in taking this opportunity.

Labels: ,

Local Policing update - 21st May 2007

The local police Chief Superintendent , Olivia Pinkney, now writes to local Councillors monthly updating us on issues locally. Cllr Sandry and Cllr McGall will now publish a summary of her letter on our blog. For updates on Oldfield Ward issues click here.

Update - 21st May 2007

End of your year crime and disorder statistics which give the context of our local position:-

B&NES Recorded Crime - Apr-Mar 2007
(Type of crime - No. of crimes - % Change on previous year - +/- No.of victims)

Theft of M/V: 587, -1%, - 4.
Theft from M/V: 1234, +13%, + 143.
Robbery: 103, - 10%, - 11.
Violent Crime: 3254, +3%, + 108.
Burglary Dwelling: 561, +32%, + 136.
BCS Comparitor: 9147, +7%, + 586.

All 41 Police Community Support Officers for the B&NES area have been appointed.

The first PACT (Partners and Communities Together) meetings have taken place and priorities agreed. (The one for Oldfield Park is yet to be organised). Local Councillors are crucial to helping shape the success of this new process with the initial PACT meetings being very well attended with meaningful decisions reached.

Over the last few months there has been considerable investment from the Constabulary-wide Operation Atrium team. Nine key individuals from Bath have been charged with supplying class A controlled drugs. Whilst this is good news for our city, it is also good to know that crack cocaine was not readily available in Bath. With our partners, I am determined to work to keep the situation that way.

The City Centre has seen two very violent assaults in recent weeks – with unusual levels of violence for our area. Offenders have been brought to justice for both.

The Strategic Assessment for all Community Safety issues is published via the Community Safety and Drugs Partnership. It can be accessed via the CSDP website and details current and emerging threats for our local area. This Assessment is used to prioritise resources and activity across the entire Community Safety agenda.

Kind regards,

Olivia Pinkney
Chief Superintendent

Labels: ,

Two Tunnels Project - Update

The Two Tunnels Project has recently had their fifth Steering Group meeting, which is chaired by the Gitte Dawson, who has been a Lib Dem Cllr for Bathavon South.

Two Tunnels is now firmly part of the Sustrans Connect2 programme – the subject of a £50m Big Lottery Living Landmarks bid to be decided in a TV programme with televoting at the end of the year. The list of 70+ projects was finalised in March 2007.

Click here to find out more about Connect2 (and to pledge your support if you wish), and here for details of the Two Tunnels Greenway project itself.
A Lottery visit to Sustrans will happen in May – or has already happened – to confirm Connect2’s place on the six shortlisted Big Lottery pot projects. Following this, we will all be able officially to canvas support for the televote later in the year.

The Planning Application was submitted in mid-February and is now being evaluated. You can find out more here.

The document “Notes and Proposals” listed in fourth place amongst the associated documents gives you a good description of the route and what is involved. Paper copies are available from Sustrans. The application has attracted numerous comments – 135 comments in support of the proposal but also 35 raising concerns. Highways, Urban Design and Landscape officers have commented fully, requiring a great deal more information. Access to Western Riverside and the Bath-Bristol cycle route urgently needs to be considered. This is not part of the planning application as it is totally within BathNES’s remit. The Two Tunnels Group have evaluated and documented various options and a meeting is to take place between Highways, Planning and the Two Tunnels Group to decide on the best route, then safeguard it somehow from development until it can be implemented.

Fundraising
At least a further £400,000 needs to be found from sources other than the Lottery and the Council, and work has started on identifying possible sources for grants and finding a way of accepting donations whilst not being able to guarantee the success of the Connect2 Bid. Also, some fundraising events and possibly a membership scheme. Many ideas have already come forward.

The Two Tunnels Group are planning regular route walk/rides for anyone interested. They hope to do these at two-monthly intervals – dates as follows: 21st July; 22nd September; 24th November (and possibly Boxing Day). This is not through the tunnels but looking at the routes to the tunnel entrances – and demonstrating what steep hills will be avoided by opening the tunnels up.

Sustrans celebrate their 30th anniversary this July and are planning a huge cycle ride on 6th July (this one already fully booked however); on 7th July they are hoping to organise a walk/ride through Combe Down tunnel. This should be an exciting event, ending in a party in the city centre. More details nearer the time.

The next meeting is due to take place on Monday 9th July at 10:15a.m. at the Guildhall.

Labels: , , , , ,

Forthcoming Roadworks in Oldfield Park


To find out more about forthcoming roadworks in the Oldfield Ward please click here.

Labels:

Litter drops across Bath and North East Somerset


The amount of litter across the area has been dramatically reduced over the last 12 months, but we must continue to improve and tackle outstanding areas of concern.

The amount of land found to have an unacceptable amount of litter on it was just six per cent, down from 9 per cent in 2006, and 27 per cent in 2003.

This means Bath & North East Somerset Council is one of the top performing local authorities in the country on dealing with litter. The reduction in litter managed by Lib Dem Cllr Gerry Curran, now must be maintained by the new minority administration on the Council.

The new figures come from the latest cleansing survey. Throughout the year, every ward within Bath and North East Somerset is carefully inspected and the results verified by inspectors from the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

When the survey started four years ago, 27 per cent of land was found to have litter on it. Since then, the Council has increased efforts to keep the area clean.

These measures include:

• targeting areas which the survey shows as requiring extra attention;
• working with local Councillors to ensure local litter problems are kept to a minimum;
• supporting education campaigns that encouraged people to take a more responsible attitude to litter; and
• pro-actively tackling environmental crimes, such as graffiti and fly-posting, through Environmental Action Days, which involve a number of agencies, including the Police, working together to ‘deep clean’ an area and deal with any problems. This has led to the prosecution of offenders through the courts.

The survey also checks for fly-posting and graffiti. The Council takes a robust approach to the graffiti ­- its specialist cleaning team offers a unique free of charge graffiti removal service to residents and businesses, and aims to remove all new graffiti from public buildings within 48 hours. This is now recognised nationwide as an example of best practice.

Bath & North East Somerset Council has also recently won funding to carry out two-day cleansing ‘blitzes’ of areas where the need is greatest.

To report litter, graffiti, fly-posting or other problems, please contact Council Connect on 01225 394 041 or contact Cllr Sandry or Cllr McGall

Labels: ,

Planning Applications in Oldfield Ward w/c 18/05/07

All representation must arrive no later than the 11th June 2007.

Ward: Oldfield
App Ref: 07/01432/FUL
Registered: 4th May 2007
Expiry Date: 29th June 2007
Location: Baskervilles Gymnastics & Fitness, Englishcombe Court, Englishcombe Lane,Bath.
Grid Ref: (E)373868 - (N)163355
Proposal: Erection of a single storey extension to provide office
Planning Case Officer: Lewis Cook
Applicant: Mr & Mrs R Baskerville, 30 Byfield, Combe Down, Bath. BA2 5JD
Agent: Mr David Minnett, Quarry Rise, Wolfridge Lane, Alveston, Gloucestershire. BS35 3PG

To find out more about this application click here.

All representation must arrive no later than the 11th June 2007.

Labels: , ,

Important changes to Shopmobility in Bath


Shopmobility, which offers electric scooters, help and other mobility aids to residents and visitors to Bath, has moving to a new location.

The move is necessary because the building that Shopmobility currently operates from will be demolished as part of the redevelopment of Southgate.

The current Shopmobility office on Railway Place is now close but the new office, at 7-9 Lower Borough Walls is now open.

When the work is completed, in about four years’ time, Shopmobility will return to a unit in the new Southgate development.

While the new location is further away from the train and bus stations, it is the nearest suitable building available in that part of the town centre. For further details please contact Council Connect on 01225 394 041.

Labels: , ,

"Velo Lounge Cafe/Bar" applies for "Sale of Alcohol" licence

The new cafe/bar, Velo Lounge, has applied for a licence to sell alcohol under the Licensing Act 2003. Local residents have until the 8 June 2007 to write in with their comments. The Council must consider each representation on its own merits and would have to take into account the substance of the comment / objection when determining whether the resident was close enough to the premises to be affected.

Reference: 07/01781/LAPRE
Premises: 30 - 31 Moorland Road, Oldfield Park, Bath. BA2 3PW
Details of application: New
Date received: 11 May 2007
Last date for representations: 8 June 2007 (28 days from date received)
Activities:

Sale of Alcohol - Every Day 10:00 - 23:00
Performance of Recorded Music - Every Day 09:00 - 23:00

You can complete the form online here... Or you can down load the form from here...
For further information please contact:

Burniece Brown
Team Administrator
Licensing Services
9-10 Bath Street
Bath BA1 1SN
Telephone: (01225) 477531
Email: licensing@bathnes.gov.uk

Labels: , ,

Planning Applications in Oldfield Ward w/c 04/05/07

All representation must arrive no later than the 27th May 2007.

Ward: Oldfield
App Ref: 07/01215/VAR
Registered: 24th April 2007
Expiry Date: 19th June 2007
Location: 34 Shaftesbury Road, Oldfield Park, Bath. BA2 3LJ
Grid Ref: (E)373824 - (N)164245
Proposal: Variation of condition no 1 of planning permission 04/00803/FUL to allow the sale of hot food takeaway
Planning Case Officer: Neil Harvey
Applicant: Mr Adel Al-Mghadi, 34 Shaftesbury Road, Oldfield Park, Bath. BA2 3LJ
Agent: Neil Chapple And Associates, 33 Millmead Road, Oldfield Park, Bath. BA2 3JP

To find out more about this application click here.

All representation must arrive no later than the 27th May 2007.

Labels: , , ,

Moorland Road Library will temporarily close for refurbishment

Moorland Road Library is currently closed for a eight week period so that it can be refurbished. The improvements will include a new automatic door and disabled ramp ­– making it more accessible for disabled people – plus enhanced lighting and better heating.

The new-look library will reopen on Tuesday 10 July.
A mobile library service will be provided on Moorland Road each Friday and Saturday during the closure. The mobile will be open between 9.30am and 12.30pm and from 1.30pm to 5pm.

All the usual 24 hour renewal options will still be available to people who normally use Moorland Road, either online at http/www.librarieswest.org.uk/ or by calling the local rate phone service on 0845 002 0777.

The closure is part of a rolling programme to refurbish libraries and bring them into line with the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act.

Unfortunately, the Council needs to close the library completely because of the scale of the building work and hope that the mobile library service will help minimise any disruption. Once the new facilities are completed, they will provide much better access for all their customers.

For more information about library services visit www.bathnes.gov.uk/libraries, email libraries@bathnes.gov.uk or call Council Connect on 01225 39 40 41.

Labels: ,

Have your say on the way the Council involves the community in planning issues

People who live or work in Bath and North East Somerset, as well as those who have an interest in the area are being asked for their views on how the Council proposes to involve them in planning decisions.

The Council wants to improve the way it involves the local community in planning. It wants to encourage more people to be involved and to make their involvement as easy as possible.

It has published a policy document that explains how the Council intends to involve the community in drawing up planning policy and deciding planning applications. This document will now be examined by the Secretary of State.

This ‘Statement of Community Involvement’ has already been subject to two public consultations which have influenced and shaped it. Over 170 different organisations and individuals have already been involved, including a range of local and national interest groups, community and voluntary sector organisations and Parish & Town Councils.

There will now be a final period of consultation, which closes on the 6 June 2007.

For more information and to have your say, please visit www.bathnes.gov.uk and click ‘Statement of Community Involvement’ in the A-Z.

Labels: , , , , , ,

25 May 2007

Local Elections - Thank You

Thank you to all that went out on Thursday 3rd May 2007 and voted!

Will Sandry was elected and Shaun McGall was returned as your Councillors for Oldfield Ward.

We knocked on almost every door on the run up to polling day and delivered far too many leaflets, which hopefully local residents have recycled.

The final result was:

Shaun McGALL - Liberal Democrats - 854 Elected

Will SANDRY - Liberal Democrats - 770 Elected

Chris FRY - Independent - 349

Louise WALKER - Conservative - 328

Ian NOCKOLDS - Conservative - 250

Mike COLLINS - Labour -195

Grenville YOUNG - Labour - 172

Across the Council area the Conservative Party achieved a net gain of 5 seats, 5 gains in North East Somerset together with 3 gain in Bath and 3 losses in Bath. They now have 31 seats on the Council, 2 short of the 33 needed to take overall control of the Council.

The Liberal Democrats ended the election with a net loss of 3 seats. We made three gains in Bath (Bathwich x2, and Combe Down x1), but lost three other seats in the city (Weston x1, Lambridge x1 and Widcombe x1). We also lost 3 seats outside the city, namely Keynsham North x1, Midsomer Norton North x1 and Bathavon West x1), leaving us with 26 seats overall.

Labour lost 2 seat and gained 1- a net loss of 1 seat (from 6 to 5 councillors).

There are 3 independent Councillors.

With the Conservatives the largest party, on the night of the Council AGM they tool minority control of the Council.

Will and Shaun as your local Councillors (2007 to 2011) are looking forward to continuing to work with and for the local residents of Oldfield Ward.

We would like to publically thank the hard work and committment that Ruth Griffiths showed to the Ward since she was first elected in 1995, she will be sorely missed by Will and Shaun and by many residents in the local area. We wish her well in her well earned retirement.

Labels: