Oldfield – Residents Parking?

We have had a number of contacts from residents who have been frustrated by the lack of parking in recent weeks.

In response, we have added a new page to our website about Parking.

It summarises the results of previous resident surveys, outlines the future pressures on parking in our community and gives an idea of what kind of scheme could operate in our area.

Click here for the Parking page or use the Parking Tab on the main menu above.

As soon as details of the Council’s next formal community consultation on parking is available we will let you know.

In the mean time please complete our informal survey on the right hand side of this website, or add your comments to our Parking page.

Tetrapak Recycling

It is now possible to recycle tetrapak cartons through the household recycling collection.

Please note that tetrapak cartons need to be put with your cardboard recycling on your normal collection day.

Tetrapak recycling has been introduced by Cllr David Dixon in his role as the B&NES cabinet member for Neighbourhoods.

To Let signs – Open Letter to Bath Property Agents

It is rare for an issue to unite a community, but the excessive number of “To Let” signs some property agents put up at at this time of year does so.

The community in and around Oldfield Park does not like them. This is because:

•    The signs clutter the streetscape;
•    They remind longer term residents of the rapid change of tenure in recent years;
•    They advertise that there are multiple high value portable electrical items in the property.

The properties are mainly (and sometimes exclusively) marketed to students in our community.  Students and property agents alike have the internet available for finding and advertising property, and additionally have access to the Accommodation Service at both universities.

As you will be aware, the Council can take action to prevent all advertising in the area. If introduced, this would apply to all advertising boards all year around. It would not distinguish between “To Let”, “For Sale”, or any other type of advertising.

The community pay Council Tax; your businesses pay business rates. If the Council implements a formal policy to restrict the use of advertising boards, the cost will be met you, me and all other local tax payers.

I note with gratitude the restraint shown by some Agents this year, but unfortunately not all Agents have shown the same respect to the community.

I say to all property agents advertising in Oldfield Park at the moment: Please do our community a service and take your “To Let” signs away now.

Yours faithfully

Cllr Will Sandry
Member for Oldfield Ward  – Bath and North East Somerset Council

c.c.
B&NES Cabinet Member for Homes and Planning;
B&NES Divisional Director of Planning & Transport Development

Double Yellow Lines for Oldfield

Monksdale Road, Junction Road, Englishcombe Lane and Third Ave/King Edward Road are all due to have small sections of double yellow line added to prevent inconsiderate parking and improve visibility for road users.

These proposals are the result of Oldfield residents telling us that that double yellow lines were needed at these locations.

You can see the plans by clicking on the links below:

Plan 14, Englishcombe Lane, No Waiting At Anytime (In front of the Tesco Express)

Plan 15, Monksdale Road, No Waiting At Anytime (Opposite 1-11 Monksdale Road)

Plan 16, Junction Road, No Waiting At Anytime (Between Winchester Road and Lower Oldfield Park)

Plan 17, Third Avenue & King Edward Road, No Waiting At Anytime (Third Ave / King Edward Rd Junction)

Phone Mast Installed at The Oval

Last week the much opposed phone mast was installed at The Oval.

The planning application had originally been refused by the Council on visual impact and highway safety grounds, but Inspector who overturned the Council’s decision said:

“I consider the proposed slimline pole to be a relatively simple and uncluttered structure particularly as the antennae would be shrouded. It would be only marginally more visually intrusive within the street scene than the street lamps and would not result in an unduly significant increase in clutter in the area. It would be higher than the nearby street lamps and telephone poles, but would generally be seen against the background of the trees on the bank and the pollarded trees planted along the verge…

…For the reasons given above, I conclude that the proposal would not result in an unacceptable, visually obtrusive feature in this location.

Do you think the planning inspector was right?

Bath Two Tunnels – Monksdale Road Bridge

Works to start constructing the bridge over Monksdale Road on Linear Park will be commencing on Monday 16th January. The works are anticipated to take no more than 12 weeks.

During the works one lane of Monksdale Road directly outside Linear Park will be closed to traffic and a traffic management system will be put in place to allow two way traffic movement on the road.

In approximately 10 weeks time the road will be closed for a maximum of two days to allow installation of the bridge itself (the main bridge structure will be constructed off site and delivered in two halves which will then be lifted into place). When we have a firm date for this to take place we will let  local residents know.

Sustrans (who are doing the work) have sent a letter outlining the above to residents of Monksdale Road. Please don’t forget that some trees are due to be cut down for the bridge to be installed, but they will be replaced!

http://www.sustrans.org.uk/what-we-do/connect2/schemes/south-west/bath-two-tunnels

Houses in Multiple Occupation in Bath

Oldfield RooftopsA study considering the options open to the Council for regulating and controlling the future growth of Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMOs) within the City of Bath (including university student house shares) has been undertaken.

We know that many people have questions about the potential impact of such controls so we have prepared a HMO Questions and Answers section on this website.

A range of options have been identified by the Council which include:

  • Planning Controls to curb the increase in Houses of Multiple Occupation. Including the use of an ‘Article 4 Direction’ to trigger the need for a planning application when changing use from a family home to a small House in Multiple Occupation (with 3-5 unrelated people living together). A new Planning Policy would need to be introduced alongside this.
  • Extension of licencing by Housing Services to increase regulations and standards existing and future Houses in Multiple Occupation.

The Council has held a Stakeholder workshop in October 2011, click here to view a report of the workshop.

The issue has been considered by the Policy Transport & Environment Policy Development & Scrutiny Panel Report on 6th December 2011, click here to view the report.

Both the Development Control Committee and Cabinet are due to consider the options in March 2012. As always, please let us know your views on this subject.