We are pleased to invite residents from the Moorfields Estate to plant a free tree in their Garden!

Cllr David Dixon said: “The Estate is now more than 50 years old and many of the original flowering cherry trees are past their lifespan and have been cut down.

Will and I have used our Ward Councillor funding to work in partnership with More Trees for Bath and North East Somerset to provide a variety of new trees for the community.”

Please click on the image for further details of how to register and collect your tree.

Tomorrow the Council will decide whether to go ahead with a public consultation about introducing a policy to stop any further increases in the number of Homes in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) in areas of Bath where there is already a concentration of more than 25%. Click this link for the full set of Council papers (Agenda Item 15 – better quality map).

Cllr Will Sandry commented: “I very much hope this consultation goes ahead and that many members of the community have their say. The majority of long term residents believe that a restriction is right, and in fact overdue. I do however recognise the concern of some members of our community who live in HMOs that the restriction may not benefit them.

It is important that those with concerns note that the proposed policy would not remove any existing HMOs even in areas with existing concentrations above 25%. The Policy would just mean that no new HMOs could be created in those areas highlighted red on the map.”

Future reductions in Bath’s community housing pressures will come from:

• 2000 homes at the Western Riverside (under construction)
• 600 Study bedrooms at Bath Spa University’s Newton Park Campus (planning permission granted)
• 700 Study bedrooms at Bath University (application submitted)
• The former MoD sites (in consultation)

Additional infomation:

• Our HMO Page
• Council Cabinet Papers for 10/10/2012
• Council HMO webpage

Will Sandry recently attended the Liberal Democrat Conference in Brighton where he spoke in a policy debate about housing.

Will spoke in favor of the new Lib Dem Housing Policy which includes a mandatory scheme of regulating all letting agents (at present it is not necessary to have any qualifications or meet any national standards to be a letting agent).

The policy would also make it easier for local councils to introduce targeted licensing schemes in areas with high concentrations of poor quality private lets.

The Policy also includes:

• Building up to 300,000 new houses by supporting investment and giving local authorities and social landlords more freedom to build
• Increasing protection for private tenants by promoting longer tenancies and cracking down on rogue landlords
• Giving local authorities more power to control second homes and bring empty homes back into use.

Click here for the full text of Will’s speech: Decent Homes for All

All households in Oldfield Ward should have received a survey from the Council asking whether local residents would support all residential streets in the ward becoming 20mph zones.

From speaking with local residents we know that there is widespread support for introducing a 20mph speed limit, but residents need to have their say formally.

Cllr Will Sandry said: “This is a proper consultation, so if you are in favour or against make sure you have your say. Please complete and return the survey in the free-post envelope supplied.”

One of our manifesto commitments to our residents was to tackle poor quality housing in our community.

Oldfield has a high number of small HMOs available for rent. Some of these properties are poorly managed and maintained, meaning that the occupants are living in sub-standard, and sometimes unsafe accommodation.

On Monday 17th September 2012, the Council is launching a consultation about introducing an Additional Licensing scheme for small HMOs in the Ward. Click on the link for details: http://www.bathnes.gov.uk/services/housing/landlords-and-tenants/additional-licensing

Cllr Will Sandry commented: “The standard of some homes that Oldfield residents have to live in are of great concern to me. The proposed licensing scheme is a great opportunity to improve the management and maintenance of those properties.

The scheme also has the potential to reduce the running costs of the home by requiring energy efficiency measures such as loft insulation. It is important that people who live in HMOs respond to this consultation; and that other members of the community share their views too.”

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The consultation is open until 30th November 2012.

Gas Mains on Third Avenue, King Edward Road and Oldfield Lane are due to be replaced through the Autumn. This will require temporary road closures at different phases of the project.

• A road closure will be required on Third Avenue (between Shaftesbury Road and King Edward Road) commencing from 10^th September to 26^th October 2012.
• King Edward Road will also require a road closure which will be in place from 22^nd October until 21^st December 2012.
• Temporary two-way traffic lights will be required on Oldfield Road.

Bus Routes

Unfortunately, bus routes will be affected, details of which can be obtained from First nearer the time. Please see: http://www.firstgroup.com/ukbus/bristol_bath/travel_news/service_updates/

Why are the works required?

The works are required to ensure the continuing safety of the gas supply network, and have been phased to move the works away from Moorland Road in the run up to the Christmas trading period.

Wales and West are writing to all households on the streets effected to pre-notify residents. Click here for their newsletter about the works: WWU Oldfield Park Bath Newsletter

Both Herbert Road and Cotswold Road could benefit from new traffic calming measures drawn up by the Council. These are not yet agreed and are subject to public consultation, so please let us know what you think.

1. Herbert Road

The proposal is to install a raised table on Herbert Road at it’s Junction with Moorland Road between Herbies and Nat West bank. This is intended to slow traffic on the approach to Moorland Road.

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2. Cotswold Road

The unfunded proposal is to install a build out to make Cotswold Road single track at its junction with Willow Green and Hillside Road to make it easier for pedestrians to cross. This will slow traffic and make it easier for parents and their children to cross between St John’s School and Moorlands School.

Click for larger image