Don Foster MP joined us for our usual monthly surgery on Moorland Road yesterday. We focused our surgery on the independent businesses and other key facilities which help keep Moorland Road Amazing!

Will and David were pleased to be able to show Don the newly resurfaced pavements with the set back kerb (which makes the double kerb easier for those in our community with poor mobility) and of course the works underway to the zebra crossing at Livingstone Road which is due for completion within the next few weeks.

Don Foster with the always friendly team at Panahar

Don also called at the Moorland Road Libary, Park Pets, Polski Sklep, The Cobblers, Hippieshake, The Bath Bakery, Stokes, Francis DIY, Velo Lounge, and our newest shop Nada Mart on Third Avenue – which sells Mediterranean and North African foods.

Don said: “The range of shops and services available on Moorland Road is Amazing. It was wonderful to see the strength of the local community’s ongoing support for Moorland Road and its independent businesses.”

Don will be visiting Moorland Road today from about 11am and will join Cllrs David Dixon and Will Sandry at their monthly advice surgery at the Co-op Scala (Shaftesbury Road entrance). No appointment needed – just come and say hello.

The Spring 2012 edition of our Focus community newsletter is currently being delivered throughout Oldfield Ward; including the Moorfields Estate, The Oval and parts of Englishcombe Lane and Stirtingale Road.

Click here or on the graphic for the full PDF copy of the newsletter.

We are grateful to our network of volunteers who help us deliver the Focus newsletter. If you could help deliver on your street in the future, please let us know.

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Following complaints about waste and refuse starting to collect in the gardens of some properties Cllr David Dixon has asked Environmental Health Officers to visit homes in Oldfield Park after the bank holiday.

Initially the occupants will receive a letter with advice to improve the condition of the garden; if this advice is not followed, the occupants will be fined. If the fine is not paid, the occupants will be taken to Court.

Cllr Will Sandry said: “Almost without exception it is the gardens of homes in multiple occupation (HMOs) which have waste and refuse collecting within them.

This is dissapointing as both Student Unions (with the support of the Council) have been fantastic at promoting good  household waste management to their members who live in private rented accomodation in the City. See our previous blog post.

The vast majority of people living in HMOs are mindful of the needs of the community in which they live. Unfortunately a relatively small number of households let the community down and tarnish the reputation of others.”
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We hope that all the residents of Oldfield Park have a really enjoyable and fun Jubilee Weekend!

We are really grateful to the Moorland Road traders for the wonderful job they have done dressing the street in Red White and Blue – It looks fantastic!

As it’s the first Saturday of the month we’ll be holding our surgery as usual tomorrow. Find us at the Scala from 11:30, then out and about on Moorland Road.

However if you’re looking for even more fun further afield how about:

Illuminate Bath – All evenings 10pm onwards

A trip to Peasdown St John’s Jubilee Party in the Park on Monday from 11:30

The Dimaond Jubilee Picnic in the Park – Victoria Park on Tuesday from 10:00 – 20:00

Best wishes,

Will and David

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

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.