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.”

Moving out this summer? – Help and advice for students

Will and Shaun have both campaigned for the Student Community Partnership to run an awareness campaign to inform students about the ways they can manage their waste and refuse as it comes to the end of the Academic Year.

We hope that there will be few repeats of front gardens pilled up with rubbish as has happened occasionally in recent years.

We are also checking that the Council has plans to put on extra collection lorries to avoid scenes from last year when the refuse collection failed due to the huge number of bags that were put out. The photo shows Shaun picking up rubbish last summer which had been strewn all over Herbert Road following the Council’s lorries being overwhelmed with the vast amount of moving out waste. (Yet to be added to this story – sorry! Shaun)

Threat to Moorland Road Christmas Lights

In recent years Christmas lights on Moorland Road have always been provided by the Moorland Road Association, but unfortunately the MRA ceased to exist earlier this year, throwing the Christams lights in to doubt.

Moorland Road is the only shopping centre in Bath and North East Somerset that doesn’t get its Christmas lights provided by the Council.

Will has already been in contact with Council Officers who have now persuaded the Council’s contractor to provide lights under the existing contract, but the existing lamp posts on Moorland Road need to be modified at a cost of £500 each. Will said:

The total cost for the street will be about £6,000 and the Council says it doesn’t have the money for this. We will continute to campaign for the Council to fund this, but we want to hear from residents and businesses who whould be interested in coming together to raise some money to make sure we get Christmas lights on Moorland Road this year.

Secondary School Consultation – Bath (and Keynsham)

The consultation on proposed changes to secondary schools in Bath (and Keynsham) was launched on 31st March. Copies of the consultation documents have been distributed to parents/ carers in all primary and secondary schools in Bath and Keynsham. All other schools in Bath & North East Somerset have also received copies of the documents.

The documents which set out the strategy, proposals for change, and details of consultation and decision making process and timetable are now availble on the council website and can be found via the following links:

Proposals and consultation documents for Bath Secondary Schools can be found here: http://consultations.bathnes.gov.uk/gf2.ti/f/201218/3740517.1/pdf/-/Bath%20%20Consultation%20Document.pdf

Proposals and consultation documents for Keynsham can be found here: http://consultations.bathnes.gov.uk/gf2.ti/f/201186/3740485.1/pdf/-/Keynsham%20Consultation%20Document.pdf

Bus Station Florists Proposed New Pitch At Moorland Road – Refused

Unfortunately, at the Licensing Sub Committee hearing held on 6 April 2010 to determine the proposed new pitch on Moorland Road by the Bus Station Florists, the decision of the Committee was to refuse the application under the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982 – Street Trading.

Cllr Sandry and McGall are very disappointed by the decision of the Committee, and hope that a further application may be made in the future. Should you require any further information please contact us or Licensing Services:

Licensing Services

Bath & North East Somerset Council

Tel: 01225 477531

Fax: 01225 477596

Email: licensing@bathnes.gov.uk

www.bathnes.gov.uk

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

Gambling Act 2005 – Applications to run a Casino in the city open

Previously the Council, as a licensing authority, agreeded to issue a single one premises licence for a small casino within its area pursuant to Part 8 and Schedule 9 of the Gambling Act 2005 and the Categories of Casino Regulations 2008 (SI 2008/1330).

As part of this process the Council has produced a draft application pack for prospective applicants. The purpose of this application pack is to inform potential applicants of the rules and procedures applicable to the application process. It will be published to conform with the requirements set by Parliament and the Secretary of State, and to ensure an application process which is both transparent, and fair. Copies of the documents can be seen on the Council’s web site .

These documents will also be available for viewing at the Council offices at 9-10 Bath Street, Bath during the hours of 8:30 am to 5:00 pm Mondays to Thursdays and 8:30 am to 4:30 pm on Fridays.

Please make your comments on the proposed application pack by Tuesday 6th April 2010.
Following this consultation, a report will be taken to the Council’s Licensing Committee for it to consider any proposed amendments and to adopt the documents.

Please send any comments to:

Mr Andrew Jones,
Environmental Monitoring and Licensing Manager,
Environmental Services,
Bath and North East Somerset Council.
9-10 Bath Street,
Bath, Somerset.
BA1 1SN

Email: Andrew_Jones@bathnes.gov.uk

Secondary School proposals go out to consultation

Following a review of all secondary schools in the local authority, a secondary school strategy was unanimously agreed by Full Council and Cabinet in 2008. The strategy identifies Keynsham and Bath as the areas where changes need to take place. The Council is consulting on these proposals, and will make a final decision on changes in July.

The public has already told the Council they want more co-education places and improved facilities. Although we already have some of best Schools in the country, we must continue to improve of school buildings and give our young people the best possible environment in which to learn.

What this means for Bath(proposals for Keynsham are at the end of this post)
In Bath, the proposal is to further raise standards and improve the quality of schools buildings, reduce the number of schools with surplus places and create the right size schools which are educationally and financially viable. The proposal will increase the number of co-educational places available. Steps will also be taken to make sure there are sufficient church school places and that parents still have the option to send their child to a single sex school.

No changes are proposed to Beechen Cliff and Hayesfield Schools which will provide the choice of single sex boys and girls places for parents. No changes are proposed to Ralph Allen and St Gregory’s Catholic College.

To achieve the overall strategy for Bath, Oldfield, Culverhay and St Mark’s will be closed and two new schools will be opened.

Information on the counsultation process can be found below:
Read the rest of this entry.

Guildhall welcomes Olympic champion – Amy Williams

Amy Williams with the Mayor and Chair

The Chairman of the Council and the Mayor of Bath welcomed Winter Olympic champion Amy Williams to the Guildhall after her open top bus tour organised by the Bath Chronicle and BBC.  Thousands of people from across the area gathered on the streets of Bath to  celebrate her achievement. The event was supported by the Council whose highways, buildings, and health and safety staff worked extremely hard to make the day possible alongside Avon & Somerset Police. Councillor Bryan Chalker, Chairman of Council, said,

The achievement by Amy Williams is truly exceptional and it’s great for the whole district to have an Olympic champion born and bred here. Bath & North East Somerset Council was delighted to play a significant part in supporting the Bath Chronicle and BBC to help organise the event.

Read the rest of this entry.

Next PACT meeting – 10th March 2010

Partners and Communities Together (PACT) gives you a chance to meet the local Police team, your local councillors, Will and Shaun, and influence priorities in our neighbourhood.

It will be held at Moorlands Infants School, Moorfields Road, and start at 6.30pm. Please come along to discuss any issues of concern you may have in your community.

Current public priorities were established on 4th November 2010:

1. Problems with residents of the flats on Poplar Close and Monksdale Road;
2. Street Cleansing, state of the pavements;
3. Speeding on First, Second and Third Avenues, Oldfield Lane, and King Edward Road. Potential implementation of a One Way system?

If you are untable to attend, but want to voice your local priorities or issues, please email us at: oldfieldbath@googlemail.com