Oldfield public toilets to remain open

Loo roll websiteThe automatic public toilet on Shaftesbury Road (just off Moorland Road) will remain open.

Cllr Will Sandry (pictured) said: ” The usage at this public toilet is very low, which makes it very difficult for the Council to justify the expenditure.

It’s great news that the toilet will be provided for free by the Council’s new Operator, Healthmatic. This will mean that those people who use the toilet can continue to do so, albeit for a small fee.”

The current charge to use the toilet is 20p and will remain at that rate for the time being. The net cost to the Council was previously in excess of £12,000 a year.

Cllr David Dixon added: “The toilets at the Sandpits play area on Monksdale Road was never considered for closure and will be refurbished in due course.”

 

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.”

Sandpits Grafitti – Restorative Justice

The offensive graffiti on the shelter in the Sand Pits play area has been removed by the Council.

Our local Police have identified the perpetrator and due to his age, he is eligible for the restorative justice programme. He will be spending time cleaning off graffiti in our local community under the guidance of the Council’s Youth Offending Team.

Local residents will remember that the shelter was provided for the whole community because it was identified as a priority by local residents.

Will commented: “Like many in our community, I was upset to see this abuse of the shelter. I am however pleased that a young person has the opportunity to understand what he did was wrong and avoid a criminal record on this occasion.”

Sand Pits get a lick of paint

Last Thursday, staff volunteers from Bath and North East Somerset Council, and local students through the Student Community Partnership came together to give the older play equipment in the Sand Pits a much needed coat of paint.

Will and David at the Sand Pits

The old play equipment had been looking a bit drab since last summer when new equipment was installed beside it. Cllr David Dixon said: “Play areas are vitally important to our communities in Bath and North East Somerset. The Sand Pits will never compete with the size of the Victoria Park play area, but I want the Sand Pits to be the most loved play area in Bath.”

David wants the Sandpits to be the most loved play area in Bath

Cllr Will Sandry said: ” I was delighted that Council Staff and the Student Community Partnership came together to arrange this painting session. It was great that passing members of the community pitched in and lent a hand on the day.”

Our manifesto – responding to our community

We’ve had such a warm welcome on the doorstep in recent weeks and months and an overwhelming response to our survey.

We have analysed the results and have come up with four key areas you have told us we should focus on.

1. Improve Housing and Sense of Community

You’ve told us that there’s a good sense of community, but we want to:

  • Stop any more houses becoming homes in multiple occupation (HMOs);
  • Continue working with the Universities and Letting Agents to upgrade the standard of existing HMOs and promote a balanced and diverse community;
  • Support community initiatives such as litter picks, winter gritting and new Community Groups.

2. Work to improve Transport, Parking and the Environment

This is a challenge, but we want to:

  • Improve Home to School Transport options;
  • Support and protect the existing 10 and 17 bus services and Oldfield Park Station;
  • Continue to enhance Linear Park as an important local community space by promoting the new path;
  • Try to improve the parking arrangements in our area;
  • Reduce speeding along Englishcombe Lane and the “Rat Runs” through Moorfields.

3. Maintain Moorland Road as the heart of the South of Bath

Moorland Road is amazing, but we want to:

  • Improve the layout of crossings for pedestrians and fix the sunken pavements;
  • Secure the future of the Christmas lights;
  • Support the Post Office and Library and ensure that it remains a shopping street.

4. Tackle Crime and Anti Social Behaviour

We have some problems with crime and anti social behaviour so we want to:

  • Campaign for more visible police presence in our community;
  • Maintain the improvements made at Memorial Gardens and Sand Pits;
  • Continue working with SOMER and the Police to reduce the public presence of day time drinkers, and ensure that support is available to the people who need it.

Click here to read the Liberal Democrats Manifesto for the whole of the Bath and North East Somerset area.

Sandpits covered seating underway

The new community seating in the Sandpits is now well underway and should be complete by the end of this week.

The idea for an area of covered seating came from young people in our area at a youth PACT meeting in 2008. Both Will Sandry and Shaun McGall were happy to support the idea, providing there was comprehensive community consultation.

The covered seating has been now been widely discussed by the community and the chosen design and location were the preference of the majority.

People consulted have included the Police, the Youth Service, local residents and park users of all ages.

The seating has been funded from money made available to your Ward Councillors to improve the area.

Sandpits play equipment nearing completion

The new play equipment has now almost completely been installed – with the exception of a water pump which is due soon.

The new equipment, including a bank slide, pod swing and new stream crossings are already proving very popular with children and young people.

The photo shows Shaun trying out one of the new crossings! (Again – yet to be added! I (Shaun) must get better at added pics to our website!)

An official opening party is planned for the new equipment, but as yet a date has not been confirmed.

Planning application for phone mast at The Oval / Hazel Grove

Local residents will be very interested and concerned to learn that a Vodafone has submitted a planning application to erect 12.5m telegraph pole with ground based cabinets and ancillary development thereto at junction of The Oval/Hazel Grovefor the erection of 13 no residential apartments with parking and shared grounds.

Details of the application can be found below:

Ward: Oldfield
App Ref: 10/01108/FUL
Registered: 24th March 2010
Expiry Date: 19th May 2010
Location: Street Record, Hazel Grove, Moorlands, Bath.
Grid Ref: (E)373536 – (N)163599
LB Grade: N/A
Proposal: Erection of 12.5m telegraph pole with ground based cabinets and ancillary development thereto at junction of The Oval/Hazel Grove
Officer: Hazel Short
Applicant: Vodafone Ltd
Vodafone House
The Connection
Newbury
Berkshire
RG14 2FN
Agent: Mono Consultants Ltd
Office 1
Patchway Hall
The Common
Patchway
Bristol
BS34 6AS

Covered seating for the Sandpits?

It’s great that the new play equipment is being installed this month, but there is now the opportunity for some new covered seating to be provided too!

We’ve done some initial consultation (with some park users and local residents) and there is a generally positive response, but a few people have raised concerns about any potential misuse of the community seating area. As a result Will and Shaun have got the local Police on the case along with Sam, the Council’s Outreach Youth Worker and the Parks Department.

So far we have spoken with over 40 adults and young people but we’re adding some consultation to the start of the Oldfield / Moorfields PACT public meeting this coming Wednesday. We don’t know exactly what the seating area will look like yet or where it will be, but it could look like any of these:

three-pics-of-covered-seating.jpg

The doors open at 6pm to get your views about where seating could be put and what it could look like. The main PACT Meeting starts at 6:30 on Wednesday 10th March at Moorland s Infants. This is not part of the consultation, but to find out more about the regular PACT public meeting click here.

If you can’t make the meeting, please let us know your views (good or bad) about what the seating could look like and where it could be. Please email: oldfieldbath@googlemail.com