Victoria Bridge and a World Record

Victoria bridge is due to re-open late on Monday afternoon. This is great news for the whole community in Bath and will make it even easier for people from Oldfield Park to take part in the World Record attempt on Tuesday in Victoria Park.

The temporary bridge structure has a restricted width and is for pedestrian and wheelchair use only. Cyclists are asked to dismount and walk their bike over the bridge.

Unfortunately the bridge will have to be closed again later in the year so that the final restoration of the bridge can take place. The Council is due to make a decision on how this will happen later in the summer.

It’s still not too late to register to become a World Record holder and be one of 5000 people needed to form the Olympic rings in front of the Royal Cresent at about lunchtime on Tuesday 22nd May. Click here to sign up.


Is your landlord legal?

If you live in a shared home in Oldfield Park with 5 or more occupants and three or more storeys your landlord should have a licence to operate the property. The Council will prosecute any landlord who doesn’t have a licence. If the prosecution is successful, the tenants can apply for a rent repayment order and potentially get up to 1 years refund of the rent they have paid.

A home that needs a licence must have 5 or more occupants sharing a bathroom and kitchen and three or more storeys, for example a landlord would need to have a licence if 5 students were sharing a house with a loft conversion.

Cllr Will Sandry said: “I urge anyone living in this type of accommodation to check it is licensed. The Council will prosecute the landlord, and you could apply for a refund of up to 12 months of your rent payments.

Licensing is not the same as the voluntary Accreditation Scheme and is a legal requirement for this type of property.

If you think your home should have a licence, phone the Council’s Housing services team to check it out on 01225 396444.

See also:-

Recent news story when local Landlord was fined

Student Community Partnership accommodation advice

Open Letter to Oldfield Park Estate Agents

Property Sales and Property Prices

I am aware that in recent years it has become custom and practice for some local estate agents not to freely advertise local homes that come on to the market. I know that this is because some estate agents have a list of investors who are happy to make an immediate purchase to convert the property in to a home in multiple occupation (HMO).

Despite there being many residential buyers, this practice has led to a rapid change of tenure in my community in recent years and driven up house prices beyond both national and local averages.

Oldfield House Prices 1995-2011 (Click here for PDF)

As you will be aware, Bath and North East Somerset Council will be consulting on introducing an Article 4 direction and planning policy to prevent the conversion of properties when a threshold of 20% HMO is reached in any area in the City. The final decision is due by March 2013, and I realise that this will temporarily increase demand from investors.

I assert that all estate agents have a social responsibility to openly advertise every property they are asked to sell and I hope that your organisation will confirm that you do this.

Yours faithfully,

Cllr Will Sandry

Good news on Recycling!

Cllr David Dixon - Photo from Bath Chronicle

Over 52% of Household waste in Bath and North East Somerset is now recycled. This is an increase of 6% on last year.

Cllr David Dixon, in his role as the Council’s Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods said:

“The council’s investment in providing food waste collections is a key factor behind this latest success. We are pleased with the high participation rate and welcome people’s enthusiasm for the service. But we recognise there are still around 30,000 households not taking part and we will be doing more work to encourage higher participation.

“High recycling rates cut the amount of waste going to landfill. Not only does the level of harmful gases released into the atmosphere reduce, but the council’s landfill tax charge bill is cut, meaning more money is available to protect frontline services.”

Read the Bath Chronicle‘s coverage of this story here or in their print edition available in the shops on Moorland Road.


Sand Pits Litter Pick

Seven members of the community came to lend a hand at our litter pick around the Sand Pits play area this morning. Between us we collected 17 bags of litter, plus a child’s bike, various bits of metal and a parcel shelf.

David Dixon who wants the Sand Pits to be the most loved play area in Bath and North East Somerset said: “This was a good way to spend a Saturday morning. Will and I are really grateful to the members of the community who were able to support us with their time.”

Sand Pits Litter Pick

Will with other members of the community - Previous Litter pick

On Saturday 21st April 10am – noon, David Dixon and Will Sandry will be leading a community litter pick to clean up the Sand Pits, and if time allows, a quick once over of the Linear Park around the new bridge.

David said: “There can be a litter problem after a busy day in the Sandpits, but I particularly want us to tackle the bank behind the shelter where there is a lot or hard to reach litter.

Please come and join us at 10am at the Sandpits on Monksdale Road at 10am, bring stout footwear and gloves – litter picking tongs and bags will be provided.”

Our Lady and St Alphage’s Church

This Thursday marks the millennium of the martyrdom St. Alphage, who was the Archbishop of Canterbury.

The Oldfield Park church dedicated to him will commemorate this event at a solemn mass.

To coincide with the millennium, St. Alphage’s Parish has published a book about the church which is nationally noted for being designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott – best known for his design of the UK’s famous red telephone boxes.

Will said: I’ve always loved the architecture of the church; the new book by Caroline Shaw  is a delightful review of the building and its place within our community.”

Our Lady and St. Alphage, Bath (Sir Giles Gilbert Scott’s ‘Little Gem of a Church’) is available direct from the Parish or at the Oldfield Park Bookshop on Moorland Road.

Monksdale Road Bridge Open

Monksdale First Light - by Mark Annand - www.twotunnels.org.uk

The new bridge opened quietly on the afternoon of Thursday 5th April. This fantastic photo shows members of the community using the bridge in the morning light on Friday.

Will said: “The Two Tunnels project, Sustrans and the contractor; Hydrok have done a grand job for us. This is a great enhancement for the much loved Linear Park.

I’m pleased to see that there has been a massive amount of tree planting and even some semi-mature trees have been planted to help screen the closest properties.

It doesn’t quite beat Beechen Cliff, but there’s a great view over Oldfield Park and into the City and Lansdown from the bridge.”

You can view all our historical coverage of the Linear Park – Two Tunnels story by clicking here.

Oldfield Community Projects

from freefoto.comSo far Will and Dave have been able to support three local projects through their Ward Councillor funding. These are:

– A local Arts and Crafts Group which meets at Hillside Hall.

– For new mobile story boards

-To plant on the Moorfields Estate

If you are a small community group based in Oldfield Ward we may still be able to help you with a small grant of £250-£500. Please contact us directly to discuss your application, but be quick funds are limited!

Housing Quality on the Agenda

The standard and quality of some Homes in Multiple Occupation has been a concern for some time.

Whilst many landlords are good and responsible, not all are. Usually poor living conditions come about when landlords do not invest in the property.

As well as introducing an Article 4 Direction to cap the numbers of HMOs in the City, the Council is considering an additional licensing scheme to drive up the quality of homes in the private rented sector. This may also be an opportunity to prevent the conversion of detached garages in to bedrooms.

The Council’s Housing Policy and Scrutiny Panel meets on Tuesday to discuss additional licensing. Click here for the agenda (Item 11).

Will, who is a member of the committee said: “I am fed up of seeing students and other young people in my community in sub-standard accommodation, with bad landlords who do not invest in the property. An additional licencing scheme for HMOs has the potential to improve the quality of accommodation in the private rented sector.

If used imaginatively, the scheme could also reduce the running costs of the homes for the residents by making requirements for energy efficiency and  insulation, in addition to the more standard fire safety, decorative order, and waste management requirements”