£100m plans at Bath Uni

The University of Bath has announced plans to build more accommodation and academic space at its Claverton Down campus. The plans include an additional 700 study bedrooms.

Cllr Will Sandry said: “I understand that the University needs to improve its academic space to remain a world class institution and I believe it to be in the City’s best interest that the University continues to succeed.

The proposed 700 study bedrooms on campus are helpful, but I would like to see more. The University has placed a huge strain on housing availability in the City over the last decade; it cannot continue consuming family housing in the City.

Irrespective of these plans, the University has a responsibility to our community to plan future increases in student numbers in a way that both the University and the City can accommodate.”

Click here for an overview of the plans

Click here for the full University Masterplan

Overwhelming Support

More than 200 local people have written to the Council in support of introducing rules to limit the further growth of HMO’s in Oldfield Park.

This is an unusually high response to a local government survey. It is understood that by contrast there were a very small number of responses against new rules being introduced.

Cllr Will Sandry commented: “Local people want a mixed diverse community and that includes people living in HMOs. The balance has to be right and these rules will help deliver that balance.

I hope that Bath University and the Student Unions at both universities reflect on this response from the communities in which they are welcomed.

It is important to remember that these rules will not remove any existing HMOs. The rules will mean that planning permission will be required to convert a family home into an HMO in the future. The planning process will enable local people to have their say about what is and isn’t the right balance in their community.”

The Council intends to introduce planning restrictions which will see planning permission required for future changes of use from family houses into small HMOs across the City from 1st July 2013. It is also proposing that HMO landlords in areas with a large number of HMOs should be required to apply for a licence to help curb management and housing quality issues.

Next steps

  • Public consultation on the detail of the additional HMO licencing scheme is due to be released in September 2012 for public consultation.
  • The detail of the planning controls is due to be considered by Cabinet in October and launched for public consultation in October.
  • A series of briefings and drop-in events open to the public on these HMO controls are planned for October 2012.

Walkabout Surgery

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.”

Letter to Oldfield Park residents

Have your say on Shared Housing in our community

The Council has published its intention to introduce an “Article 4 Direction” to limit the further increase in the number of HMOs in our community. Unfortunately, it is not a “done deal” that the Direction will be implemented and is subject to public consultation – and then consideration by the Council’s Cabinet.

The Student Unions at both Universities have indicated that they will oppose the introduction of an “Article 4 Direction” because they feel their members should have as much choice about where they live as possible.

It is vitally important that responses are made to the Council Consultation. I know that the vast majority of Oldfield residents think that an “Article 4 direction” is needed and is in fact long overdue – but we must tell the Council that this is the case.

The Council has published a webpage with information about what an “Article 4 Direction” actually means – at www.bathnes.gov.uk/hmo

Please could I ask you to register your support for the implementation of an Article 4 Direction by writing an email of support to: Planning_Policy@bathnes.gov.uk The email does not have to be long and is best in your own words. You can also ask to be kept informed of developments as the policy progresses.

If I can assist you in any way or answer any questions you may have please contact me on willsandry@blueyonder.co.uk or phone 07786 830900.

Cllr Will Sandry

Oldfield Spring Focus – Out now



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.

e: Oldfieldbath@gmail.com

Garden Conditions


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.”

Have a great weekend!

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

Bath Parking Survey Out


The Council has launched its major parking survey and most households and businesses in Bath (except Combe Down and Odd Down) should have received a letter in the post. The information is also on the Council’s Website.

This survey’s purpose is to understand how the parking available can be best managed as the Council’s vision is for 5,700 new jobs and 6,000 new homes across the city (including the Western Riverside) by 2026.

Parking (and parking schemes) are an emotive subject for many people and resident’s opinions differ individually and on a street by street basis. For residents and businesses in Oldfield Ward we have prepared a Parking Information page. Click on this link or the tab in the page top bar.

Cllr Will Sandry said: “This is a genuine consultation and it is vitally important that the community responds to the survey. The Council will be making decisions about parking and parking schemes based on the responses received.”

Moving out 2012


The  summer 2012 campaign to advise students in our community about managing their waste and recycling before they leave for the summer has been launched.

Will who is Chairman of the Student Community Partnership said: “All too often landlords use waste left behind as a reason to withhold the deposit – even though they are slow to then deal with the problem themselves.

This initiative gives students in our community straightforward, practical advice before they move out for the summer. It helps students get their deposits back, and means that there is a lower likelihood of gardens being filled with refuse after the students have moved out.”

Follow this link to the Student Community Partnership – Moving Out information or click on the poster.