Local Green space protection

Local Liberal Democrats Councillor Sharon Ball & Campaigner Sarah Moore have taken steps to ensure the safety of our Local parks and open Spaces in the emerging Bath & North East Somerset Placemaking plan.

We have requested that the whole of Brickfields, LymoreGardens play area (including the green space adjoining it) and Dorset Street play area (and green space adjoining it) are protected from any future developments.

Councillor Sharon Ball said: "The Emerging Placemaking plan gives us the opportunity to ensure that open space and parks that provide recreation or act as a green lung in our area are protected for future generations".

Please let us know if there are any other areas in the ward that you feel we have missed  and that should be protected.

Green Space Designation - South West Bath

B&NES are currently working on the Placemaking Plan (part two of the new B&NES Local Plan).  The Council recently published the Options document for consultation and is intending to publish the Draft Plan in September 2015.

Cllrs Sharon Ball, Paul Crossley & Dine Romero at Brickfields
with local campaigner Sarah Moore

In terms of the Placemaking Plan there is an opportunity for Parish/Town councils and for resident associations in Bath to identify green areas of particular importance to them for special protection through designation in the Placemaking Plan. Once designated these open spaces will not be developed except in very special circumstances. Local Green Space Designations need to be in accordance with the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) criteria set out below.

National policy also states that designation will not be appropriate for most green areas or open space. The designation should only be used:

  *   where the green space is in reasonably close proximity to the community it serves;
  *   where the green area is demonstrably special to a local community and holds a particular local significance, for example because of its beauty, historic significance, recreational value (including as a playing field), tranquillity or richness of its wildlife; and
  *   where the green area concerned is local in character and is not an extensive tract of land

The Liberal Democrat team in the South West of Bath, including Councillors Sharon Ball, Tim Ball, Gerry Curran, Dine Romero and Paul Crossley together with local campaigner Sarah Moore have decided to submit a request that a number of locations are considered within this area, to include The Brickfields, Hillcrest Field, Roundhill and Innox Park.

Please contact us if you feel there are other areas in the community that you would like to be considered as soon as possible as the deadline for this is 25th February 2015.

Brickfields - more good news

Sarah Moore with newly repaired zip wire

We are pleased to confirm that the zip wire on the brickfields has been fully repaired following the vandalism.

There were a number of children playing on this yesterday when we went to take a look and residents are really pleased that it is back in operation.

by
Sarah Moore

Brickfields Play Area

We are pleased to see that after reporting the burnt and rusted bin on the Brickfields, it has been replaced.

We are keen to ensure the area is kept clean and having usable rubbish bins is vital to this.

If you are aware of any issues with bins in your area, please get in touch.

by

Sarah Moore

Brickfields

Following reports from residents, we are pleased to confirm that BANES sent a team out this week to fill in the number of dips that have appeared across the Brickfields area, making it safer for people walking their dogs, or wanting to take part in sports on the field.

We have also had confirmation that the zip wire that had been vandalised will be repaired shortly.

by
Sarah Moore

The Hollow

We have contacted the cabinet member to request the bin that has been placed at the bottom of The Hollow/top of Lansdown View is moved.

We have requested this bin is placed next to the bus stop, close to the shop, this will hopefully help to reduce the amount of litter that is dropped in this location and also the large amount of litter that regularly accumulates at the entrance to The Brickfields.

We will keep you updated on progress with this request.

by
Sarah Moore

New Year clear up

During a walk around the Westmoreland ward, we noticed a number of rubbish hotspots and have requested that these are cleared up.

We would like to ask all residents across the ward to make 2014 the year everyone of us takes pride in the area we live and help prevent the volume of rubbish that is dumped.  We are all responsible for our own waste and it should be disposed of responsibly.

Full details of what can be collected and recycled from outside your home is shown on the BANES website (http://www.bathnes.gov.uk/services/bins-rubbish-and-recycling).

If you are unsure when you rubbish and recycling is due for collection, please either check the BANES Website or contact us.  

by
Sarah Moore

New Football Posts at The Brickfields

Sarah and Sharon with new goalposts

We are pleased that the football posts that we asked for nearly two years ago have been erected at the Brickfields.

We would like to thank the Council officers that have been working with us on this matter and also extend our thanks to the cabinet member for Neighbourhoods for identifying budgets to make this possible.

The young people in the area will now be able to benefit from being able to play a game of football on these playing fields in the evenings and weekends.

Sarah and Sharon are keen to see more areas improved for young people and will soon announce more improvements that they have been able to achieve through close working with fellow members in the Liberal Democrat run administration who set the budgets for all works carried out in our area.

By Councillor Sharon Ball

Community Clear up - update

Last Saturday, 20th July a group of Liberal Democrat Councillors, our MP Don Foster and local activists and residents spent a couple of hours clearing litter and rubbish from around the Brickfields area.

Above is a picture of some of us, with some of the waste that was collected. 

Councillor Sharon Ball and I go out and about around the Westmoreland ward every Saturday clearing litter on the streets, to help keep the area tidy.  You are welcome to come and join us at any time, if you would like to help do get in touch.

We also arrange regular larger scale group litter picks throughout the South West of Bath.

by

Sarah Moore 

Community Clear Up

Got a few hours to spare this morning then if you have why not come and join us at the Brickfields (Lymore ave Playing fields) where we will be having a community clear up.

Sarah Moore and I carry out many litter picks where we find a hot spot we just clear it.

picture from a recent litter pick on Lower Bristol Road

This morning we have recruited more help as this looks to be a bit of a bigger job and we also need your help if you area able.

The Picture opposite is from a recent litter pick on the Lower Bristol Road, we expect at least the same amount if not more litter this morning.






By Councillor Sharon Ball

Westmoreland Play Areas

After a number of discussions and meetings with the Council, we are pleased to announce we have some updates on improvements we have been working on in the Westmoreland play areas,.

Yesterday we had confirmation that a new set of football goal posts have been ordered to go into the Brickfields on the area below the basketball court.

We are also making progress on works required on the basketball court,  Councillor Sharon Ball said "I have been pushing for improvements to the basketball court since 2010.  I committed some ward initiative money last year towards the resurfacing and repainting of the court."

After already committing ward initiative funds from this year to replace the broken hoop, Sharon has also requested that the court is resurfaced and fenced to enable a proper game of basketball to be played without having to chase the ball down the slopes or retrieve it from the bushes.

We have also been looking the other play areas in Westmoreland, we have been discussing options ranging from repainting through to installing  new equipment.

We will update you as soon as there is further progress.

by
Sarah Moore

New Basket Ball Hoop up

Sarah Moore & Sharon at the Basketball court

I am pleased to see that the second basketball hoop has been erected at the Lymore Playing Fields.

This hoop has been provided from the councillors initiative fund that I had available to spend in the area.

There is an ever growing group of young people in the area who are using the basket ball court at Lymore Playing Fields and with two hoops in place this will become even more popular.

I am pleased to be able to do something for the young people in the area.

If you know of any other items that a small amount of money will help then please let me know.

By Cllr Sharon Ball