Monday, 29 September 2008
Highways news
The latest Highways reports for our local area have just been released and if you want to see how these will affect you then please follow the link below
Westmoreland Highway reports
If you know of a problem and want to report it follow this link
Highway Problems
Westmoreland Highway reports
If you know of a problem and want to report it follow this link
Highway Problems
Monday, 29 September 2008
studentification
The Government has finally taken action to control the amount of Student Houses in urban areas.
A full story on this issue has been published on www.readamyday.co.uk
A full story on this issue has been published on www.readamyday.co.uk
Tuesday, 23 September 2008
New Housing Numbers they will affect you
We are writing to discuss the important issue of housing suppply and the government's proposals on this.
Every Council in the Country has to agree with Central Government a document called The Regional Spatial Strategy for the next 20 years.
Put simply, this identifies the number of new houses, jobs, roads, schools and facilities that a Council plans for its area.
The main issues that concern residents are where these houses, roads and schools will be built and the numbers being planned for.
As a Council we submitted a plan to the Region last year that included 15,500 new homes across the area. The Region has increased this to over 18,000 and the Government has since increased the number even further to more than 21,000 new houses in Bath and NE Somerset.
The Council has responded to the Region and the Government but as Liberal Democrats we are planning to submit our own individual response because:
1) The Liberal Democrat Councillors are appalled that the Government should be increasing the number the Council put forward by over a third.
2) We do not agree with the downgrading of environmental standards in the Government response and we are completely opposed to the Government view which would bring forward green belt options at an early stage of the plan. We do not think the case has been made to change our green belt at this point.
3) We think that much more attention needs to be given to the needs of young families and families on low income.
4) We think the Government need to address our infrastructure deficit (road and rail links) as the plan progresses and not at a late stage.
Before we submit our response though we are consulting with residents across Bath for their views. Please attend and give us your views.
Don Foster MP will also be chairing a public meeting
at the Guildhall
on Tuesday 30th this month
in the Guildhall at 7.30 pm.
This meeting will help inform him on views from Bath in advance of his meeting with the Minister responsible planed for early October.
Monday, 15 September 2008
Only Minor works in latest road reports.
The latest Highway reports show only minor disturbances in the Westmoreland area over the next few weeks. If you want to see exactly what is going on and how it may affect you then please follow this link.
Highway reports Westmoreland.
Highway reports Westmoreland.
Monday, 15 September 2008
supported work experience placements to vulnerable adults and young people.
We thought that residents may be interested in the following that is being made available from Bath & North East Somerset Council who are offering supported work experience placements to vulnerable adults and young people
The pilot scheme, which begins Monday 22 September, will involve up to 18 individuals each year.
It is hoped that the supported work experience will help boost the confidence and self-esteem of individuals and enable them to move on to further learning or employment.
The Council currently offers a range of work experience placements. The development of these new supported placements aims to address the existing inequality that results in a small number of adults and young people who are not able to access what is currently available.
Any groups or individuals interested in finding out more about the new supported work experience opportunities with the Council should contact Karen Pollard 01225-832212 or Nora Ryan 01225-824995.Saturday, 13 September 2008
River Bridge Now Open
We know that many residents will be pleased to hear that the footbridge over the River Avon between Fieldings Road & Locksbrook Road is now open five months late.
We promised that we would bring you the response to the questions raised by Councillor Sharon Ball at the Cabinet meeting last week but as these have not yet been published in electronic format we are unable publish them today. We will however publish them in the next few days including the supplementary questions and reply that was given.
We promised that we would bring you the response to the questions raised by Councillor Sharon Ball at the Cabinet meeting last week but as these have not yet been published in electronic format we are unable publish them today. We will however publish them in the next few days including the supplementary questions and reply that was given.
Saturday, 13 September 2008
Home improvement advice and financial help
We thought that this item that was posted on the councils web site might be of help to some of our residents if you think that this may apply to you then do not hesitate but to apply and please pass on the message to friends and family that live in the Bath & North East Somerset council area.Bath & North East Somerset Council can offer financial assistance in the form of low cost or zero interest loans to vulnerable home owners to carry out essential repairs to their homes.
People over 60 or in receipt of a benefit may be eligible.
If you think the Council could help you or someone you know in this way please call the Housing Improvement Team in Housing Services on 01225 396216, or visit the Council's home improvement pages online for more information.
People over 60 or in receipt of a benefit may be eligible.
If you think the Council could help you or someone you know in this way please call the Housing Improvement Team in Housing Services on 01225 396216, or visit the Council's home improvement pages online for more information.
Monday, 08 September 2008
Moravian Church Dransfield Way Coronation Avenue-Ivy Avenue
The Moravian Church planning application was determined under delegated authority which most people in the area that I spoke to were happy with, but then when Highways put a 106 agreement forward which complicated things as some-one thought this pathway was public right of way and a highway.
I was told years ago then Avon when I was first a councillor that it wasn't highway' and that this was the reason for it was in such a sorry state of repair, that is why some people were delighted when it was tarmaced in 2001 used as a car park and a footpath.
The 106 agreement is what they call a stopping up order which we need to stop the traffic using this as a road, but to put this in place the road has to be opened up for the consultation period which is approximately 5 months so I have written to traffic safety asking them to put a road closure in place while the stopping up order is being sought while the period of consultation is taking place. As people are using it as a road already and there will an accident if it isn't closed.
I have also asked the Ashlar Group who is the consultants that are dealing with this application and alterations to write to the local authority traffic safety who are dealing with this application which they agreed to do and which helps them anyway.
I was told years ago then Avon when I was first a councillor that it wasn't highway' and that this was the reason for it was in such a sorry state of repair, that is why some people were delighted when it was tarmaced in 2001 used as a car park and a footpath.
The 106 agreement is what they call a stopping up order which we need to stop the traffic using this as a road, but to put this in place the road has to be opened up for the consultation period which is approximately 5 months so I have written to traffic safety asking them to put a road closure in place while the stopping up order is being sought while the period of consultation is taking place. As people are using it as a road already and there will an accident if it isn't closed.
I have also asked the Ashlar Group who is the consultants that are dealing with this application and alterations to write to the local authority traffic safety who are dealing with this application which they agreed to do and which helps them anyway.
Tuesday, 02 September 2008
New planning applications
Several new planning applications has been submitted and their details have been published on www.readmyday.co.uk/sharonball
Tuesday, 02 September 2008
Bridge still not Open
Despite promise after promise the foot Bridge over the river Avon at the bottom of Fielding’s road is still not open.
Councillor Sharon Ball is asking the Conservative cabinet member who is responsible for this project the following questions for tomorrow nights cabinet meeting. We will let you know his reply and what excuses that he gives.
1) What is the final cost of the repair to the footbridge repair over the River Avon between Fielding’s Road and Locksbrook Road?
2) What is the length of time over run on this Bridge?
3) Will a full report be made available to Councillors and the Public as to why costs have exceeded the original estimate and to why the project has taken so long?
4) Will the council be issuing an apology to local residents for the amount of inconvenienced they have had to put up with for such a lengthy closure of a bridge that was supposed to be only closed for 3 months as our own estimates tell us this is now nearly 8 months.
2) What is the length of time over run on this Bridge?
3) Will a full report be made available to Councillors and the Public as to why costs have exceeded the original estimate and to why the project has taken so long?
4) Will the council be issuing an apology to local residents for the amount of inconvenienced they have had to put up with for such a lengthy closure of a bridge that was supposed to be only closed for 3 months as our own estimates tell us this is now nearly 8 months.
Tuesday, 02 September 2008
Uncollected recycling in Oldfield Park
Over the last few days we have been contacted by residents that are unhappy about the collection service that they have been receiving this year. It seems from what residents are saying is that the Friday collection has not been taking place regularly, We have made a complaint to the council on this matter and would hope to see this matter resolved.
If other residents are having in similar problems then we would encourage them to contact Council Connect on 394041 or alternatively let you councillors know.
Monday, 01 September 2008
Latest Road works reports
The latest road works reports for the Westmoreland area of Bath show quite a bit of disturbance with Wessex water still carrying out quite a bit of work.
Please follow the link below to see the latest issues that may affect you.
