York footpath and road resurfacing programme – supplementary list finally published

The York Council has finally published the list of streets that will be repaired from its supplementary funding programme this year.

The programme restores investment to the level that was being achieved by the Liberal Democrat led Council in 2011.

Streets in the Westfield ward which will receive attention this year are:

  •  Fir Heath Close £5,350 (Footway)
  •  Huntsmans Walk (part) £43,000 (Footway)
  •  Tudor Road (part) £4,200 (Footway)
  •  Vesper Drive £24,000 (Carriageway)
  •  Front Street / Green Lane (part) £282,000 (Carriageway)

This is in addition to the roads scheduled in December for repair.

Footpath Green Lane (Part) £10,750
Footpath Wetherby Road (Part) £15,000
Footpath Cornlands Road (Part) £24,000

Click here to download the complete supplementary list

The list should be read in conjunction with the base programme of works which was published in December.

 

More traffic light failures

Press 17th Oct traffic lights

As we reported 6 months ago the reliability of traffic signals in York has plummeted in the last couple of years.

The Council have not yet published a root cause analysis of the failures which – today – again brought traffic chaos to the City centre.

Signals on the Fishergate loop were responsible for the problems.

Its about time the Council got to the bottom of these problems.

Gypsies, Travellers and Showpeople – new sites in York identified

Secret report reveals Labour plans

One of the most controversial aspects of Labours Draft Local Plan for York was the propsed provision for Travellers.

Last year, some landowner’s spotted the opportunity to identify land for use by caravan dwellers but later withdrew them when the “Green Belt” designation of the sites had been undermined.

This happened at both Wetherby Road/Knapton (Showpeople) and Dunnington (Travellers).

The York council was then left with a shortfall of around 60 pitches. If they do not identify sites for them, it is likely that their Plan will not be supported by an Inspector at a Hearing in Public later in the year.

Behind closed doors logo The Labour Councils response was, typically, to table a report at the last minute at a Cabinet meeting held earlier in the week. The highly contentious proposals were not made available to the all party working group which met the previous week, effectively ruling out any chance of consensus on the issue.

Labour propose to establish new traveller sites at:

  • Osbaldwick – East of Metcalf Lane ST7
  • Huntington – North of Monks Cross ST8
  • Rawcliffe – Clifton Moor ST14
  • Heslington/Wheldrake – Whinthorpe ST15

All these are Green Belt sites.

The principal of housing development on them will be bitterly contested by residents at the public inquiry.

Even if one or two are approved (they don’t need to be as York has more than enough brownfield land to satisfy demand for the next 25 years or more) developers have said that the viability of these huge new housing estates would be jeopardised by the inclusion of traveller camps.

The Council should have included the new industrial areas that it has identified as potential sites for 2 or 3 small caravan sites. Travellers, perhaps more than any other group, typify the need for “live/work” units. Many are involved in salvage or surfacing work which is a use more appropriate for industrial areas. Others may require good access to schools. Essentially these communities need to have a choice of location to meet their differing needs.

The York Council has made a major blunder by slipping its proposals into the public realm in such a way as to avoid any debate.

The decision sheet from the meeting earlier in the week has been published.

The traveller paper was noticeable by its absence. (It has now been added but is very difficult to find and is not included in the “Newly Published” list).

Residents have a right of access to important papers like these.

It is another example of the Council ignoring its constitution and adopting a secretive, bunker mentality.

In the interests of openness you can download a copy of the paper from our web site by clicking here.