The Council has announced its Christmas 2013 waste and recycling collection dates. A summary is below, with full details on the Council Website. All households will receive a hard copy of the leaflet in early December.
Moorland Road Christmas Lights 2013
The Moorland Road Christmas Lights switch-on is this Saturday, 23rd November 2013.
Timetable of events:
3pm: Father Christmas arrives outside Sainsbury’s with presents for Children aged 8 or under
4:30pm: The Lights will be switched on by the Mayor of Bath
Charity Collection: The Moorland Road traders will be collecting in aid of the Christmas Lights at 3pm
Be sure to look out for Ted the RUH Forever Friends bear who will also be visiting Moorland Road in the afternoon.
This year Will and David have used some of their Ward Councillor Initiate funding from the Council to provide the new larger lights. The organisers are particularly grateful for sponsorship from Oldfield Electrical Services who installed the lights.
Moorland Road Christmas Lights 2013
The Moorland Road Christmas Lights switch-on will be at 4:30 pm on Saturday 23rd November 2013.
More details about this annual community event will be issued shortly.
Linear Park – Do we need a code of conduct?
A code of conduct is proposed for users of the Two Tunnels route; part of which runs though Linear Park. Please let us know what you think:
The path offers a great way for walkers, cyclists and the less mobile to get between Bath and Midford and destinations in between. Many young, elderly and disabled people benefit from the path which provides a traffic-free environment to relax and unwind. We all have responsibilities for the safety of others, and if we each follow a few simple rules everyone can enjoy it.
Mobility scooters may use the path. Motor cycles and horses are prohibited.
All Users
- Keep to the left
- Leave no litter
- Respect the privacy of adjoining properties and landowners
Cyclists
- Cyclists tend to be the fastest movers on the path, which is not suitable for high speeds. If you wish to travel quickly or train for fitness this is better done on quiet roads.
- Take particular care when heading north from Devonshire Tunnel where the path heads downhill and it is easy to pick up excess speed.
- Give way to pedestrians and wheelchair users;
- Be courteous and patient with other path users who are moving more slowly than you;
- Do not startle other people, particularly those who are frail or who have reduced sight, hearing or mobility;
- In the tunnels the path width reduces; slow down if space is limited or if you cannot see clearly ahead;
- Be particularly careful at junctions, or any other ‘blind spots’ where people could appear in front of you without warning;
- Carry a bell and use it to avoid surprising people;
- However, don’t assume people can see or hear you – remember that some people are hard of hearing or visually impaired;
- In dull and dark weather make sure you have lights so you can be seen.
Dog Walkers
- Please keep dogs under close control and clear up after your dog
Remember – Share the path so that everyone can enjoy it!
See also Cllr Will Sandry’s comments before the opening of the route.
Is your home secure?
We’re fortunate to have low levels of crime in Oldfield, but as the nights draw in we should all take a moment to think about our home security. There’s a short home checklist available which can be download by following this link.
For 1-2-1 advice, on Saturday 12th October – between 1pm and 4pm the Police will be holding a Beat Surgery in the Co-op Scala car park. All members of the community are welcome to meet Oldfield’s Police team and register their high value electrical items free of charge.
More advice about crime reduction is available on the Police website.
Good Neighbours
In and around Oldfield Park this week most of us – long standing residents and new members of the community alike have new neighbours nearby.
We live in a diverse community and the vast majority of neighbours get on well. Sadly at any time, and in any community there can be misunderstandings between neighbours about issues such as noise, bins, trees, hedges and parking to name but a few.
We’ve set out our top tips for getting on well with your neighbours, with advice in the unlikely event things don’t go as smoothly as you might want.
Introduce yourself to your new neighbours:
- Take a moment to think about what the needs and expectations of your neighbours might be.
- You don’t have to become best friends (or fall in love), but starting out on good speaking terms will set the foundation for a happy home for each household.
- If you’re new to the area use the opportunity to ask your neighbours their advice about the local community – waste and recycling days, local shops, takeaways, or going out recommendations.
If you believe your neighbour’s behaviour is anti-social – and it stops you enjoying your home:
- Speak with your neighbour.
- Explaining the issue and why you are not happy is always the best plan.
- Wait and see what your neighbour does to put things right, but if you’re not happy…
Speak with your neighbour again
- Keep calm, try a different approach, and explain why you’re still not happy.
- Wait and see what your neighbour does to put things right, but if you’re still not happy…
Contact Council Connect
- Tel: 01225 394041 (office hours service) or email council_connect@bathnes.gov.uk
- Explain the problem. Council Connect will direct your call or email to a department who should be able to help.
- If you are a student living in the area; or you believe that the neighbour being antisocial is a student please mention this to Council Connect. Council Connect are able to ask the Student Community Partnership‘s Community Co-ordinator to advise and assist you both.
Let’s enjoy Oldfield Park’s fantastic community, this year, next year, every year, and all year round.
Extra Dog Poo Patrols for Linear Park
Will and David have received complaints from members of the local community about recent heavy dog fouling in specific areas along the Linear Park.
Cllr David Dixon has asked the Council’s Dog Warden service to increase their partols in the park.
Notices have been put up to remind dog walkers to be responsible whilst using the park and to provide all residents with contact details for the Dog Warden.
You can learn more about the Council’s Dog Warden service by following this link.
Reporting back to you
Will Sandry and David Dixon are now half way through their four year term as your elected Councillors.
They have produced a summary of their achievements in this time and an update on other projects they are still working on on your behalf.
A new dawn
From today it becomes illegal to convert a family home in to a Home in Multiple Occupation (HMO) within the City of Bath without planning permission.
The Council has set a planning policy which means that if there are already 25% of homes in an area in use as a HMO, planning permission will be refused. In practical terms this means there can be no new HMOs in Oldfield Park.
Cllr Will Sandry said: “This is great day for our community. A strong, sustainable community that can grow and flourish needs a mix of housing types and tenure; one type of use must not be allowed to dominate.
This brings to the end a long campaign to protect the community where I love to live. Cllr David Dixon and I have worked hard on this issue, as did former Councillor Shaun McGall. I must also thank all Liberal Democrat Councillors on B&NES Council – without their support this new policy would never have been delivered.”
For detailed information about this new policy please visit the Council Website: www.bathnes.gov.uk/hmo
To review all the news stories for this long running campaign please visit: http://oldfield.mycouncillor.org.uk/categories/HMO%20Housing%20Issues/
Top Tip for Students
University of Bath and Bath Spa University students can now use their NUS card to access the Council’s Recycling Centres instead of getting a separate Recycling Centre Resident’s Permit.
Cllr David Dixon said: “I want to make it as easy and straightforward as possible for students to manage their waste and recycling as they move away for the summer. When the Vice Chancellor’s office at Bath Spa University contacted me via twitter about this, I was keen to implement immediately. This simple measure reduces administration for the Council and enables students as easy access to the recycling centre as all other B&NES residents.”
Cllr Will Sandry who is also Chairman of The Student Community Partnership (SCP) said: “This initiative is very welcome; many landlords use waste left behind in properties as a reason to withhold student deposits. Being able to use their NUS cards to access the recycling centres is a great benefit to the students in our community. It builds on the work of the SCP who are just completing their summer moving out campaign to help students best manage their household waste and recycling.