Regular engagement with Bath’s student community and building on positive relationships with long term residents will be some of the tasks for two new Community Wardens funded by B&NES Council.
Victoria Terrace in Oldfield Park | Photo © ColinPeachey / Shutterstock.com
The wardens will act as ambassadors for the council and the universities across the whole of the city, but especially where there are greater numbers of students in the local community.
Helping to build communication links and being on hand to support all residents if issues arise will be important elements of the role.
The £105,000 funding for the new posts runs from September 2020 for three years and is one of five projects to share more than £500,000 from the Neighbourhood Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) fund.
The levy is a charge the council places on developers to support community improvement schemes such as schools, transport links, open spaces and recreational facilities.
The wardens, who will be based in the Oldfield Park area, will provide a visible presence in areas of Bath that have higher level of students in Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMOs).
They will help resolve issues such as unkempt gardens, waste management and noise, as well as educating and informing tenants about their rights around housing standards.
They will also look to help create new residents’ associations, where they do not already exist in the city and act as a communications link to feed back issues to the local ward councillors, as well as developing a network of voluntary community wardens to support them.
The wardens will look to support the positive activities of the Student Community Partnership and the campaigns that the partnership runs.
Councillor Shaun Stephenson-McGall, Oldfield Park Ward, who has been closely involved in the project said: “We have a thriving Student Community Partnership in Bath that involves the council, Bath University, Bath Spa University, Bath College and Norland College. All within the context of ‘Our Shared City’.
“These new Community Wardens will strengthen these relationships and the community spirit in the Oldfield Park and other areas of the city.
“It is important that we tailor our community engagement in Bath towards local needs.
“This project is designed to bring together greater collaboration between short term and long-term residents across a number of wards in the city.”
Megan Robertson (Vice President Welfare and Community) of Bath Spa Student’s Union and the current Chair of the Student Community Partnership said: “I’m proud of the work of the Student Community Partnership and the vital contributions students make to our shared city.
“I am looking forward to the new Community Wardens building on this work and further developing relationships between all members of our community.”
Councillor Dine Romero, council Leader, added: “Bath is a popular destination for students with two well regarded universities, as well as the world-famous Norland College. Housing the growing numbers of students has created new challenges in our communities.
“I am delighted that we are able to fund these new posts, and so improve community relations in key areas of the city.”
