Oldfield Snow Advice

SnowIn bad weather please check out these links for advice and local information:

Schools

Any school closures are listed on the Council Website – follow this link.

Travel

Keep updated

Check BBC Radio Bristol and The Bath and North East Somerset Council web-page for current updates.

Good Neighbours

Please call on elderly or vulnerable neighbours to check whether they need any help with snow clearing , shopping or collecting medication. Elderly and vulnerable people are eligible for a free home warmth check from the Council.

Waste and Recycling Collections

In the event it is not possible for the household waste and recycling collection to take place, please take your bins off the pavement (so they don’t cause an obstruction). Store them and put them out for next week’s collection.

Universities and Colleges

Any campus closures will be announced on the websites of City of Bath College; The University of Bath; and Bath Spa University.

The Bath Student Rip-off

Some students in Bath will pay up to £150 more than others in letting agent fees this year.

Figures compiled by Oldfield Liberal Democrats show that many letting agents charge exorbitant fees to process applications by students to live in shared accommodation in the City.

Cllr Will Sandry said: “The student house hunt for Autumn 2013 starts this week and, I urge students to check out the non-refundable fees charged by the different letting agents in the city. You could end up paying £150 more than you need to.

To my mind these administration fees are hard to justify as most Agents charge the landlords for processing student applications too.

Sharing a home for the first time should be fun and exciting, but to avoid the common pitfalls, be sure to check out the information on house sharing produced by the Student Community Partnership.”

Related Story: Cllr Will Sandry calls for a national regulation scheme for Letting Agents.

Students – Rate your rental

RATE-YOUR-RENTAL The Student Unions at Bath and Bath Spa Universities are running a survey which asks students in private rented accommodation to rate their experience.

Cllr Will Sandry said: “I very much support this survery. The quality of some private sector home rentals in Oldfield Ward is poor and anything that helps highlight bad landlord practices is a good thing.”

The survey is open until 3rd February and can be found here:   https://survey.bathstudent.com/rateyourrental/

Further background information is available here: http://www.bathstudent.com/rateyourrental/

First Avenue goes “one way”

First Avenue googleFrom January 7th 2013, First Avenue will be one way (towards St. John’s School) on a temporary basis.

Late last year essential gas main replacement work in King Edward Road meant an increase in traffic on First Avenue which resulted in damage to a number of parked vehicles.

Following a number of representations from residents of First Avenue, Cllr Will Sandry has worked with B&NES Council’s Highways team and Wales and West Utilities to make First Avenue one way for the second phase of the works which start on 7th January and will last about 7 weeks.

Will said: “I am pleased that Wales and West has been so responsive to the community. A number of residents of First Avenue believe that a one way system should be permanent so this temporary scheme will provide a good test of that idea.”

The roadworks will involve both closures and partial closures of Oldfield Road between King Edward Road and Bloomfield Road. Wales and West’s information leaflet about the works is available here: WWU Oldfield Park Bath Newsletter

Free warmer home check-ups for elderly and disabled

Click to Visit Website

Click to Visit Website

A brand new service provider funded by Bath & North East Somerset Council offering practical services supporting elderly, disabled people of any age, and vulnerable people to support them to live in warm, safe, and secure homes is offering free home check-ups in the run-up to Christmas and into the New Year.

 

West of England Care & Repair is now providing Home Improvement Agency services to residents in partnership with the Council in an initiative funded by the Department of Health. They offer practical help services such as small repairs, minor home adaptations and housing related advice including support to make choices about where to live.West of England Care & Repair can help on most housing issues from repairing a leaking tap, to replacing a bath with a walk-in shower to re-wiring your house.

Residents can also find out more about help available to keep warm at home and prepare for severe winter weather by contacting the Council Home Energy Team on 0800 082 2234.

Advice and support on applying for grants and benefits for housing work and help fundraise for clients on low incomes is also available on 0300 323 0700 or visit www.wecr.org.uk

Pedestrian Safety Improvement – Oldfield Lane

We are very pleased to announce that a “Give Way” has been added to Oldfield Lane at its junction with Walnut Drive and that a “false pavement” has been painted to improve safety for pedestrians and drivers on this narrow road.

Cllr David Dixon who developed the improvement in conjunction with the Council’s Highways officers said: “A pedestrian improvement here was a clear community priority. I was pleased to have been able to use some of my Ward Councillor’s Initiative funding to make this simple but effective improvement.”

Last chance to have your say on Housing

The two consultations being run by the council about Homes in Multiple Occupation in our community close on Friday 30th November.

Consultation 1 – Planning Policy – Whether 25% of HMOs should be the maximum permitted density in any given area. You need send an individual, personal email mailto:hmo_spd@bathnes.gov.uk

Counsultation 2 – Licensing Existing HMOs – Should the Council make landlords have a licence for small HMOs with 3-5 occupants? Complete the consultation online here: http://tinyurl.com/cabh7fl

Further information available about both consulataions: at www.bathnes.gov.uk/hmo

Moorland Road Christmas Lights 2012

This year the lights will be officially turned on by local 4 year old Seb White – star of this years’ M&S Christmas catalogue and TV adverts.

The switch on will go ahead this Saturday 24th November at 4:30pm outside Sainsbury’s.

Father Christmas is due to arrive in style with Seb at 3:00pm and will be giving Christmas presents to children under 8 years old.

This year, due to the rain, Father Christmas will be in his all weather grotto in the new dance studio above the Co-op Scala.

Raffle tickets, sold to support the lights will be avaibale all day on Moorland Road.

Please come and support Seb and the wonderful independent shops on Moorland Road. It’s the heart of the south of Bath!