Next Thursday, as well as voting for the Bath and North East Somerset Council Elections, there is a referendum about changing the way MPs are elected to Parliament. We know from the doorsteps that some people are confused by the different messages from the Yes and No campaigns.
This video, from the Electoral Commission explains the two systems in an unbiased way:
This video is of Paddy Ashdown speaking in Bath earlier this month, and putting forward the reasons to vote YES on May 5th:
There will 
be a community party to celebrate the Royal Wedding on 29th April at St Bart’s Church Centre and Grounds on King Edward Road.
Moorland Road
In response to the Royal Wedding, the shops in Moorland Road will be decked in Union Flags for the whole of this week.
Like all Lib De
m Councillors, we work hard for our community all year round, and enjoy the challenge of election time.
For us it’s the time we try to knock on every door in Oldfield at least once in the month before election day. That’s about 2,400 homes.
We’re not just asking people to vote for us, but listening to our community and asking you what your priorities are for our area. This is much like the time between elections, but this month we work flat out to get to every doorstep. The Spring weather certiainly helps.
We’ve had a great response and we know what you want us to do if we are re-elected to represent you on May 5th. It’s been great to speak with you about our Record of Action and Manifesto for Oldfield – both of which have been based on your feedback.
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:
2. Work to improve Transport, Parking and the Environment
This is a challenge, but we want to:
3. Maintain Moorland Road as the heart of the South of Bath
Moorland Road is amazing, but we want to:
4. Tackle Crime and Anti Social Behaviour
We have some problems with crime and anti social behaviour so we want to:
Public Consultation - Monksdale Road Bridge
The application to reinstate bridges over Monksdale Road and Dartmouth Avenue have been approved by the Council’s Planning Department.
The bridges are part of the Two Tunnels Project and will provide a continuous and flat route for cyclists, walkers and the mobility impaired along the Linear Park.
Sustrans consulted local residents in the autumn of last year about the planning application and the vast majority of the community were in favour.
Will, Shaun and David, who are long time supporters of the Two Tunnels Project are delighted with the decision. We understand that construction of the bridges will commence this autumn (subject to confirmation).
You can read the Council’s decision notice and view the plans on the Council’s Planning portal by following this link: http://idox.bathnes.gov.uk/WAM/showCaseFile.do?appNumber=10/04378/FUL
Election nominations have been validated by the Returning Officer and there are seven candidates standing in Oldfield Ward at the election on Thursday, May 5th.
Cllr Will Sandry and Cllr David Dixon are your Liberal Democrat candidates for the two places available.
Our community e-news readers will have already seen our “four on the Door” mini manifesto for Oldfield Ward. If you’re not yet a community e-news subscriber please email us to join our mailing list, otherwise look out for us and our manifesto coming to your doorstep over the next few weeks.
Will and David are both committed to listening to, and representing the residents and community of Oldfield Park, the Moorfields Estate and Englishcombe Park for the next four years.
In the spirit of democracy and local debate we wish the other candidates good luck during the next month. You can read the full list of people nominated on the Council’s Website (Scroll down to Oldfield Ward).
Oldfield Park Community History Exhibition is now open at the Museum of Bath at Work, Julian Rd, Bath BR1 2RH. 01225 318348. Open 7 days a week from 10.30 – 5pm,
Regrettably there’s no disabled access to that part of the museum. If that prevents anyone from seeing it, please let the museum know as they are looking into the possibility of bringing the exhibition to Oldfield Park itself for a weekend after it finishes at the museum in November.
Two months ago Cllr Will Sandry attended a briefing from BT about their plans to bring superfast broadband to parts of the City, including Oldfield Park. BT have now submitted planning applications to add a new fibre optic mini exchanges in cabinets beside roads across the City.
In our area, an application has been submitted for the cabinet to be installed on Livingstone Road at its junction with Arlington Road, by the co-op car park.
You can read about the planning application here: http://planning.bathnes.gov.uk/PublicAccess/tdc/DcApplication/application_detailview.aspx?caseno=LII9BBCT0M900
And what BT says about its superfast broadband here: http://www.openreach-communications.co.uk/superfast/default.htm
If you have comments about this planning application, or any other planning application, please contact us.
Cllr Shaun McGall has announced that he will not be seeking re-election in Oldfield Ward on 5th May 2011. He will however remain Mayor of the City of Bath until Saturday 4th June when a new Mayor will be elected.
Shaun was first elected as a Councillor in May 1999 and has represented Oldfield Ward for all those 12 years. During his time as a Councillor, Shaun has campaigned for the community, particularly to limit the impact of Homes in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) and to improve the quality of housing for those who live in HMOs.
Shaun plans to take a break from local politics to concentrate on his full time job at the University of Bath and to consider other projects in his spare time.
Cllr Will Sandry said: “Shaun has been a great representative for Oldfield Ward for 12 years and I very much admire him and his commitment to the community. Most recently we’ve shared him with the City and he has been a fantastic ambassador by fulfilling the role of Mayor.
I am sad to lose him as a colleague, but delighted that Cllr David Dixon has been selected to stand with me as the two Liberal Democrats Candidates for Oldfield Ward in the May election.
Cllr Dixon has been a Councillor in Walcot Ward for nine years, he is an experienced community councillor and has been assisting me and Shaun in Oldfield for the past six months. He knows the issues and lives locally.”
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.