Balanced Communities & Studentification

I attended the Councillors Campaign for Balanced Communities Conference in Nottingham on 13 March 2008.

At this conference, the National HMO Lobby launched its new publication, “Balanced Communities & Studentification”. This booklet follows publications by universities and by students on students and communities – but this time, it puts the community’s point of view. It does three things in particular:-

# it explains what a balanced community is (and why it matters);

# it explains what studentification is – and why it is such a problem for communities; and

# it suggests a Ten Point Plan, which should be adopted by local councils and other stakeholders, to tackle the root problem of studentification.

The booklet is available on the Lobby’s website at http://hmolobby.org.uk/39articles.pdf Please take a look and let me know your views on this important topic for the future of Oldfield Park and the wider city of Bath.

PACT meeting – Wednesday 5th March 2008

Around 20 local residents and owners of business from Moorland Road attended the recent Partners and Communities Together (PACT) meeting on the 5th March 2008.

These residents and local business leaders spoke about their concerns and issues in Oldfield Park.

The panel members of your local councillors, the local Police team, a representative of Somer Community Housing and an officer from the Council listen to the comments and suggestions for the priorities that should be taken up.

Cllr Shaun McGall had also emailed all Cllr Sandry’s and his local residents contacts to ask them for them priorities. Over 20 residents used this opportunity to voice their priorities, which were added to those who were able to attend.

The resulting priorities were:

1) Tackling general misuse of the Shaftesbury Road Memorial Gardens;

2) Reviewing parking and driveways on the Moorfields Estate; and

3) Providing facilities, such as youth clubs for children and teenagers in the area.

The previous public priorities were:

1) Levels of car crime – criminal damage to vehicles in Monksdale Road;

2) Litter – increase road sweeping;

3) Speeding in Third Avenue, Monksdale Road and Hillside Road.

All the partners are now working on how these issues can be tackled and resolved.

Currently no date has been set for the next meeting but it will take place again at 7:00 p.m. at St Alphages Church, Oldfield LaneOldfield Park, Bath.

All members of the public are welcome to attend the next meeting.

Brougham Hayes: Tempoary prohibtition of left turn on to Lower Bristol Road

The Council has given notice that it intends to make an order the effect of which will be to prohibit any vehicle to make a left turn manoeuvre into Lower Bristol Road from Brougham Hayes.

This order is required because works are to be executed on or near the road consequent upon gas mains replacement works and will be operative from the 7 April 2008 for a maximum period of two months. However, the restriction may not be effected for the whole of the period but it is anticipated that the road will be closed as and when traffic signs are in position and only for so long as is necessary to execute the works which it is anticipated will be for FOURTEEN DAYS.

Balanced Communities & Studentification

I attended the Councillors Campaign for Balanced Communities Conference in Nottingham on 13 March 2008.

At this conference, the National HMO Lobby launched its new publication, “Balanced Communities & Studentification”. This booklet follows publications by universities and by students on students and communities – but this time, it puts the community’s point of view. It does three things in particular:-

  • explains what a balanced community is (and why it matters);
  • explains what studentification is – and why it is such a problem for communities; and
  • suggests a Ten Point Plan, which should be adopted by local councils and other stakeholders, to tackle the root problem of studentification.

The booklet is available on the Lobby’s website at http://hmolobby.org.uk/39articles.pdf

Please take a look and let me know your views on this important topic for the future of Oldfield Park and the wider city of Bath.

PACT meeting – Wednesday 5th March 2008

Around 20 local residents and owners of business from Moorland Road attended the recent Partners and Communities Together (PACT) meeting on the 5th March 2008.

These residents and local business leaders spoke about their concerns and issues in Oldfield Park.

The panel members of your local councillors, the local Police team, a representative of Somer Community Housing and an officer from the Council listen to the comments and suggestions for the priorities that should be taken up.

Cllr Shaun McGall had also emailed all Cllr Sandry’s and his local residents contacts to ask them for them priorities. Over 20 residents used this opportunity to voice their priorities, which were added to those who were able to attend.

The resulting priorities were:

1) Tackling general misuse of the Shaftesbury Road Memorial Gardens;

2) Reviewing parking and driveways on the Moorfields Estate; and

3) Providing facilities, such as youth clubs for children and teenagers in the area.

The previous public priorities were:

1) Levels of car crime – criminal damage to vehicles in Monksdale Road;

2) Litter – increase road sweeping;

3) Speeding in Third Avenue, Monksdale Road and Hillside Road.

All the partners are now working on how these issues can be tackled and resolved.

Currently no date has been set for the next meeting but it will take place again at 7:00 p.m. at St Alphages Church, Oldfield Lane, Oldfield Park, Bath.

All members of the public are welcome to attend the next meeting.

PACT meeting – Wednesday 5th March 2008

Partners and Communities Together (PACT) gives you a chance to meet the team and influence priorities in your neighbourhood.

Current public priorities were established on 17th December 2007.

1. Levels of car crime – criminal damage to vehicles in Monksdale Road.

2. Litter – increase road sweeping.

3. Speeding in Third Avenue, Monksdale Road and Hillside Road.

Next public meeting: 5th March 2008 at 7:00 p.m. at St Alphages Church, Oldfield Lane, Oldfield Park, Bath.

All members of the public are welcome to attend…

Locally schools in top 10 nationally

It’s official, our local schools are in the top 10 local authorities for its outstanding Key Stage 3 results.

Cllr Sandry and Cllr McGall are thrilled that we are joint 3rd ranking for science, 8th position in English, and joint 9th in mathematics.

Some three quarters of all 14-year-old pupils in Bath and North East Somerset (actually 76%) attained level 5+ in both English and mathematics in 2007, this is a new measure of achievement and ranks Bath & North East Somerset Council in 8th position, nationally.

Well done to the hard work and dedication of the students, their teachers and families.

Locally schools in top 10 nationally

It’s official, our local schools are in the top 10 local authorities for its outstanding Key Stage 3 results.

Cllr Sandry and Cllr McGall are thrilled that we are joint 3rd ranking for science, 8th position in English, and joint 9th in mathematics.

Some three quarters of all 14-year-old pupils in Bath and North East Somerset (actually 76%) attained level 5+ in both English and mathematics in 2007, this is a new measure of achievement and ranks Bath & North East Somerset Council in 8th position, nationally.

Well done to the hard work and dedication of the students, their teachers and families.

All you ever wanted to know about Lib Dem Policy but were afraid to ask!?!

Please find below a link to the Liberal Democrats 2008 Pocket Guide to Policy.

This document summarises the party’s key policies at a page per portfolio, and would be useful for local residents wanting to find out more about what the Lib Dems stand for nationally.

This is a public document and is now on the party website. Feel free to forward the link to anybody you think would benefit from it.

Lib Dems press for stronger carbon emissions targets

Liberal Democrat energy spokesman Lord Redesdale moved an amendment to strengthen the Government’s Climate Change Bill. The Bill sets out a target of reducing CO2 emissions by 60% by 2050. Lord Redesdale proposed raising this target to 80%.

Lord Redesdale argued that this was needed to reflect the responsibility of the UK as one of the first industrial nations and to provide an opportunity to gain a technological advantage in modern technologies.

Moving his amendment, Lord Redesdale said:

We should not look at moving up to an 80 per cent level as a problem; it is an opportunity. If we are to move to a low-carbon economy, we must look at adapting all our technologies. If every country in the world were also honour-bound to meet those obligations, it would give us a position in the market place that would be extremely helpful. We need only look at the Danes taking on the wind turbine industry to see that we missed out significantly in that area.