We’ve been asked to nominate important Local Green Spaces in Oldfield Ward which would help protect them from future development. Allotments are already designated under existing local plans, but other areas would you like to be included?

Possible Local Green Spaces are shown in the drawing and include the centre of The Oval, the Moorfields Rec and the Sandpits

Will, David and Shaun would like you to let us know what you think and why these spaces are important to you. Please email us at oldfieldbath@gmail.com

Click for larger image

We are asking residents and businesses what they think of proposals to improve the centre of Moorland Road at its busy junction with Herbert Road and Livingstone Road.

The proposals are:

1. Resurface the whole junction in buff coloured tarmac (same sort as you see around traffic lights).

2. Widen the uncontrolled pedestrian crossing on Herbert Road.

3. Shorten the white zig-zag outside Busy Fingers to create 2 additional parking spaces for shoppers.

Cllr Will Sandry said: “If local residents and businesses approve of these proposals, I’m confident that the visual appearance of the junction will be improved and crossing Herbert Road will be easier for pedestrians.

I’m delighted that the proposals include two additional on street parking spaces. Cllr Dixon and I know how important parking spaces are to the Moorland Road Traders and their customers.”

Improvement works to the public toilets at the Sandpits play area off Monksdale Road are scheduled to start next Monday, 23rd June.

Here are some of the key features:

• There will be two self-contained cubicles with the toilet and handwash facilities within each one, and large enough for a parent with a couple of small children and a pushchair to use together.

• One of the toilets will be DDA compliant, and both will have babychange facilities. A payment system will be on each door, requiring 20p to access (as with the existing Automated Public Toilets).

• There are no moving parts within the toilet, and the controls, eg flush and handwash are non-touch sensors. The inside is resistant to vandalism and misuse with an easy clean tiled interior and hard-wearing fittings.

• The doors are linked to both the lights inside, as well as a 15 minute timer, meaning that the toilet lock will open after a verbal warning and 15 minutes occupation (deterring misuse).

• There will be remote monitoring systems detecting and reporting problems back to Healthmatic enabling rapid response by their engineering, maintenance and cleansing teams, as well as a 24 hour telephone service line.

Open letter by Cllr Will Sandry:

The Moorland Road shopping area has 65 shop units; there are a few people who are worried that Moorland Road is doomed now we have six charity shops– they’re wrong!

Moorland Road continues to thrive and has done so throughout the recession. With a current shop vacancy rate of 6% – half the national rate – we have no fewer than 20 excellent independent shops including butcher, barbers, bookshop, bathrooms, beauty, cupcakes, carpets, curtains, cards and chemist.

Moorland Road’s also got a pub, two banks and two bookmakers, three cafes, a curry house, five hairdressers, the largest co-op supermarket in Bath, Polish and Mediterranean mini marts and for takeaway food there’s a chip shop and two Chinese options.

You’ll also find DIY, fireplaces, greeting cards, gifts, glaziers, health food, library, pets and vets, an optician and newsagent.

The Doom Sayers proclaimed the end of Moorland Road when Woolworths changed to Sainsbury’s Local, but that change improved the street. Sainsbury’s gave the other chains competition and instead of being open 8am -8pm all convenience stores are open from 7am – 11pm. This means that now the Post Office has moved in to McColls, 95% of Post Office services are available from the McColls retail counter from 7am; and after the Post Office closes at 5:30pm until 11pm every day of the week.

With free parking on Moorland Road and the surrounding streets it’s not surprising that Moorland Road is not only amazing, but also the heart of the south of Bath.

Due to today’s Mayor Making Ceremony at Bath Abbey, Cllrs David Dixon and Will Sandry will be holding their monthly advice surgery on Moorland Road next Saturday, 14th June between 11:30 and 12:30.

If you need to contact us before then our details are above.

20mph speed zones are being installed in all our residential streets and should be completed by the end of May.

Cllr Will Sandry said: ” The vast majority of residents in Oldfield Ward have told us they want traffic speeds reduced outside their homes, schools and parks. This brings to an end a long campaign on behalf of the community and I am delighted that the Council is implementing this scheme.”

Locally, Liberal Democrats have campaigned for 20 mph zones for many years. Since the Liberal Democrat Group took minority control of the Council in 2011 20mph zones have been introduced across Bath. These have been implemented  in a phased way to tackle the areas with the highest levels of recorded pedestrian injury first – and to manage Council budgets.

Early on in the campaign – The photo shows Cllr Will Sandry and his former colleague Shaun McGall in 2008 on Englishcombe Lane.

Follow this link for the “20 is Plenty” story in Oldfield Ward

The Post Office has confirmed that Moorfields Post Office on Moorland Road will be moved in to the McColls store.

The current branch will close at 17:30 on Thursday 22 May 2014, with the new branch opening at McColls, 46 – 48 Moorland Road at 13:00 on Thursday 5 June 2014.

Commenting Cllr David Dixon said: “Both Cllr Will Sandry and I were determined that we kept a Post Office on Moorland Road. We are delighted that this has been agreed and we are pleased by the extended opening times and improved accessibility that the new branch will offer our community.

More information about the new Post Office in McColls:

The Student Community Partnership will be hosting a Family Funday at Oldfield Park Baptist Church from 12pm- 3pm today (5th April). All are welcome, and entry to the event is free!

Bring along cakes for Oldfield Park’s very own Bake-Off with an additional special round for children under 12! Bring your cake by 12:30pm ready for the Judging. Prizes will be awarded at 1:30pm.

Children’s Bouncy Castle, Performances, Badge-making, Craft, raffle, circus skills and local Councillors and lots more!

Foodbank will also be there so come to find out more about the fantastic work they do. You can also bring donations of food with you too.

The Post Office is consulting about moving the Moorfields Post Office from its current location to McColls on Moorland Road. The proposals are:

• Opening Hours – Mon – Sat  – 0900 – 1730 (Closed Sunday)
• No change to the current range of products and services
• Some Post Office services will be available also be available from the McColls counter from  0600- 0900 and 1730-2300 daily.
• Accessibility: The current step access to McColls will be modified to install a permanent ramp. A low level service counter and hearing loop will be installed for those who need these adaptations.

Cllr Will Sandry said: “David and I would like to hear what the community thinks about these proposals. Our primary goal is that a Post Office remains on Moorland Road”

The consultation is now open and runs until 21st March. If implemented, the Post Office would move to McColls in May 2014.