New proposals to ban dogs in some parks; make dogs be kept on leads in other open spaces; and to fine dog owners who do not “scoop the poop” £1,000 are open to public consultation.

In and around Oldfield Park the proposals are that dogs would be banned from:

The Shaftesbury Road Memorial Gardens; The Sandpits & Monksdale Road Allotments, Moorfield Road Allotments; Hillcrest Field (Play area only) Bloomfield Road Open Space (play area only); and all school grounds.

Dog owners would be required to keep their dogs on leads (not more than 4m length) in: The Linear Park and  The Dartmouth Avenue Open Space.

It would also be an offence for dog owners not to clean up their dogs’ poo throughout Bath and North East Somerset. The maximum fine would be £1000. There are of course exemptions for those who are registered blind, who use an assistance dog or have mobility problems.

Click here for the full consulation (including all the other areas in the district) -  all consultation responses should be sent to: DogControlOrders@BATHNES.GOV.UK

It is now possible to recycle tetrapak cartons through the household recycling collection.

Please note that tetrapak cartons need to be put with your cardboard recycling on your normal collection day.

Tetrapak recycling has been introduced by Cllr David Dixon in his role as the B&NES cabinet member for Neighbourhoods.

It is rare for an issue to unite a community, but the excessive number of “To Let” signs some property agents put up at at this time of year does so.

The community in and around Oldfield Park does not like them. This is because:

•    The signs clutter the streetscape;
•    They remind longer term residents of the rapid change of tenure in recent years;
•    They advertise that there are multiple high value portable electrical items in the property.

The properties are mainly (and sometimes exclusively) marketed to students in our community.  Students and property agents alike have the internet available for finding and advertising property, and additionally have access to the Accommodation Service at both universities.

As you will be aware, the Council can take action to prevent all advertising in the area. If introduced, this would apply to all advertising boards all year around. It would not distinguish between “To Let”, “For Sale”, or any other type of advertising.

The community pay Council Tax; your businesses pay business rates. If the Council implements a formal policy to restrict the use of advertising boards, the cost will be met you, me and all other local tax payers.

I note with gratitude the restraint shown by some Agents this year, but unfortunately not all Agents have shown the same respect to the community.

I say to all property agents advertising in Oldfield Park at the moment: Please do our community a service and take your “To Let” signs away now.

Yours faithfully

Cllr Will Sandry
Member for Oldfield Ward  – Bath and North East Somerset Council

c.c.
B&NES Cabinet Member for Homes and Planning;
B&NES Divisional Director of Planning & Transport Development

On Thursday 26th January, between 11am & 12 Reporters will be at the Velo Lounge to meet Bath Chronicle readers from in and around Oldfield Park.

Maybe you have some views and comments on local issues, or a new local story for them? If so Paul Wiltshire and Felicity Crump will be there to hear  from you.

Our latest e-news was published over the weekend with a local news round up; an opportunity for local groups to apply for additional funding for their group; and recent local planning applications.

Click here for a copy, but please let us know if you would like to join our mailing list.

Monksdale Road, Junction Road, Englishcombe Lane and Third Ave/King Edward Road are all due to have small sections of double yellow line added to prevent inconsiderate parking and improve visibility for road users.

These proposals are the result of Oldfield residents telling us that that double yellow lines were needed at these locations.

You can see the plans by clicking on the links below:

Plan 14, Englishcombe Lane, No Waiting At Anytime (In front of the Tesco Express)

Plan 15, Monksdale Road, No Waiting At Anytime (Opposite 1-11 Monksdale Road)

Plan 16, Junction Road, No Waiting At Anytime (Between Winchester Road and Lower Oldfield Park)

Plan 17, Third Avenue & King Edward Road, No Waiting At Anytime (Third Ave / King Edward Rd Junction)

Last week the much opposed phone mast was installed at The Oval.

The planning application had originally been refused by the Council on visual impact and highway safety grounds, but Inspector who overturned the Council’s decision said:

“I consider the proposed slimline pole to be a relatively simple and uncluttered structure particularly as the antennae would be shrouded. It would be only marginally more visually intrusive within the street scene than the street lamps and would not result in an unduly significant increase in clutter in the area. It would be higher than the nearby street lamps and telephone poles, but would generally be seen against the background of the trees on the bank and the pollarded trees planted along the verge…

…For the reasons given above, I conclude that the proposal would not result in an unacceptable, visually obtrusive feature in this location.

Do you think the planning inspector was right?

Works to start constructing the bridge over Monksdale Road on Linear Park will be commencing on Monday 16th January. The works are anticipated to take no more than 12 weeks.

During the works one lane of Monksdale Road directly outside Linear Park will be closed to traffic and a traffic management system will be put in place to allow two way traffic movement on the road.

In approximately 10 weeks time the road will be closed for a maximum of two days to allow installation of the bridge itself (the main bridge structure will be constructed off site and delivered in two halves which will then be lifted into place). When we have a firm date for this to take place we will let  local residents know.

Sustrans (who are doing the work) have sent a letter outlining the above to residents of Monksdale Road. Please don’t forget that some trees are due to be cut down for the bridge to be installed, but they will be replaced!

http://www.sustrans.org.uk/what-we-do/connect2/schemes/south-west/bath-two-tunnels