Open letter by Cllr Will Sandry:

The Moorland Road shopping area has 65 shop units; there are a few people who are worried that Moorland Road is doomed now we have six charity shops– they’re wrong!

Moorland Road continues to thrive and has done so throughout the recession. With a current shop vacancy rate of 6% – half the national rate – we have no fewer than 20 excellent independent shops including butcher, barbers, bookshop, bathrooms, beauty, cupcakes, carpets, curtains, cards and chemist.

Moorland Road’s also got a pub, two banks and two bookmakers, three cafes, a curry house, five hairdressers, the largest co-op supermarket in Bath, Polish and Mediterranean mini marts and for takeaway food there’s a chip shop and two Chinese options.

You’ll also find DIY, fireplaces, greeting cards, gifts, glaziers, health food, library, pets and vets, an optician and newsagent.

The Doom Sayers proclaimed the end of Moorland Road when Woolworths changed to Sainsbury’s Local, but that change improved the street. Sainsbury’s gave the other chains competition and instead of being open 8am -8pm all convenience stores are open from 7am – 11pm. This means that now the Post Office has moved in to McColls, 95% of Post Office services are available from the McColls retail counter from 7am; and after the Post Office closes at 5:30pm until 11pm every day of the week.

With free parking on Moorland Road and the surrounding streets it’s not surprising that Moorland Road is not only amazing, but also the heart of the south of Bath.

Due to today’s Mayor Making Ceremony at Bath Abbey, Cllrs David Dixon and Will Sandry will be holding their monthly advice surgery on Moorland Road next Saturday, 14th June between 11:30 and 12:30.

If you need to contact us before then our details are above.

20mph speed zones are being installed in all our residential streets and should be completed by the end of May.

Cllr Will Sandry said: ” The vast majority of residents in Oldfield Ward have told us they want traffic speeds reduced outside their homes, schools and parks. This brings to an end a long campaign on behalf of the community and I am delighted that the Council is implementing this scheme.”

Locally, Liberal Democrats have campaigned for 20 mph zones for many years. Since the Liberal Democrat Group took minority control of the Council in 2011 20mph zones have been introduced across Bath. These have been implemented  in a phased way to tackle the areas with the highest levels of recorded pedestrian injury first – and to manage Council budgets.

Early on in the campaign – The photo shows Cllr Will Sandry and his former colleague Shaun McGall in 2008 on Englishcombe Lane.

Follow this link for the “20 is Plenty” story in Oldfield Ward

The Post Office has confirmed that Moorfields Post Office on Moorland Road will be moved in to the McColls store.

The current branch will close at 17:30 on Thursday 22 May 2014, with the new branch opening at McColls, 46 – 48 Moorland Road at 13:00 on Thursday 5 June 2014.

Commenting Cllr David Dixon said: “Both Cllr Will Sandry and I were determined that we kept a Post Office on Moorland Road. We are delighted that this has been agreed and we are pleased by the extended opening times and improved accessibility that the new branch will offer our community.

More information about the new Post Office in McColls:

The Student Community Partnership will be hosting a Family Funday at Oldfield Park Baptist Church from 12pm- 3pm today (5th April). All are welcome, and entry to the event is free!

Bring along cakes for Oldfield Park’s very own Bake-Off with an additional special round for children under 12! Bring your cake by 12:30pm ready for the Judging. Prizes will be awarded at 1:30pm.

Children’s Bouncy Castle, Performances, Badge-making, Craft, raffle, circus skills and local Councillors and lots more!

Foodbank will also be there so come to find out more about the fantastic work they do. You can also bring donations of food with you too.

The Post Office is consulting about moving the Moorfields Post Office from its current location to McColls on Moorland Road. The proposals are:

• Opening Hours – Mon – Sat  – 0900 – 1730 (Closed Sunday)
• No change to the current range of products and services
• Some Post Office services will be available also be available from the McColls counter from  0600- 0900 and 1730-2300 daily.
• Accessibility: The current step access to McColls will be modified to install a permanent ramp. A low level service counter and hearing loop will be installed for those who need these adaptations.

Cllr Will Sandry said: “David and I would like to hear what the community thinks about these proposals. Our primary goal is that a Post Office remains on Moorland Road”

The consultation is now open and runs until 21st March. If implemented, the Post Office would move to McColls in May 2014.

Cllr Dixon with Don Foster on Moorland Road

Don Foster has announced that he will not stand for re-election as MP for Bath in May 2015. Commenting Don said:

“After what will have been 23 wonderful years, this has been a very difficult decision to make. It has been an enormous privilege since 1992 to serve the people of this great city through five parliamentary sessions.

However, my task is not over: there are 17 months before the next election. I have every intention of continuing to do all I can to work with and for local people. I will do my utmost to ensure that Bath continues to grow from strength to strength as a great place in which to live and work.”

In Parliament Don helped our community in Oldfield Park by protecting the pensions of Stothert and Pitt pensioners and lobbying for improved planning regulations. These regulations enabled the Council to better control the number of Homes in Multiple Occupation.

More recently as a Minister, Don worked to improve the standard of rented accommodation and to better regulate Letting Agents.

Cllr Will Sandry said: “Don has been a fantastic representative who is largely respected across party politics. I know so many residents in Oldfield Ward who have benefited from Don’s help over the years. We will all miss having him as our MP after May 2015.”

Cllr David Dixon added: “Knocking doors for Don in the 2001 General Elections is what convinced me to stand for election myself and serve my local community. It was a great honour and has been a joy ever since. I think everyone knows someone who has been helped by Don over the past 22 years”

Cllr David Dixon helps give away new trees for the Moorfields Estate

Do you run a project or event that brings the community together? If you do this in Oldfield Ward we’d like you to invite you to apply for a small cash grant from our Ward Councillor’s Initiative fund.

In the past, Will and Dave have been able to support a number of local projects through their Ward Councillor funding. These include:

• More Trees for Bath -To plant on the Moorfields Estate

• Monksdale Community Plot – Community Garden at Monksdale Road

• The Moorland Road Christmas lights

If you are a small community group based in Oldfield Ward we may still be able to help you with a small grant of £100-£250. Please contact us directly to discuss your application, but be quick funds are limited!

Most households will have now received details of the Council’s full “menu” of recycling options for 2014. If you’ve missed it you can find an online copy on the Council Website.

Why not take a moment to check there’s nothing else you can recycle?

If you are a student at Bath or Bath Spa Universities you can use your student ID card to access the Council’s Recycling Centres without registering separately.