We’ve reported several issues in the Westfield area.
These include;
North Yorkshire Police is appealing for witnesses and information about an incident that occurred on Askham Lane in York.
It is believed to have happened at around 1pm on Tuesday 8 June 2021, and involved a man in his 80s from York who was seriously injured as a result of the incident. He was taken to Leeds General Infirmary by air ambulance.
The incident is believed to have occurred on Askham Lane, York, between the junctions of Cornlands Road and Tedder Road, which was closed while officers investigated the scene.
The cyclist was found to have fallen from his bicycle. There do not appear to have been any other vehicles involved, although this cannot be entirely ruled out at this stage.
Officers are therefore appealing for witnesses to the incident, or anyone who may have CCTV or dashcam footage, to get in touch as soon as possible to assist the investigation. If you can help, please contact North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option 2, and ask for Chris Storey. You can also email chris.storey@northyorkshire.police.uk. Please quote the North Yorkshire Police reference number 12210135005.
Now that more people are out and about more, its is important that any issues with public service standards are reported to the Council.
The authority offers a 24/7 on-line reporting service
Report problems online – City of York Council (click)
Most routine issues like those below should receive attention within a few days. If not, we recommend that you ask your local Councillors to pursue them.
The Foxwood Residents Association say on their Facebook site that they have responded to a notice placed on a lamppost which advertised plans for double yellow lines on Askham Croft.
They uncovered some maps (below) which give residents more details of what is planned in the Westfield Ward.
It may be that these plans are relatively uncontroversial.
However, it appears that dozens of other changes to parking restrictions affecting the whole City have also been tabled. We doubt whether local communities will read the lamppost notices in their areas and so may be unaware that they only have until the middle of May to register any observations.
We think that, as a minimum, the Council should alert residents to the proposals using their social media channels.
They should also publish a plain English version together with a map on their web site.
Click the graphic below to download a (not very user friendly) list.
The programme of repairs to York’s highways network, that will take place during 2021/22, has finally been published. The programme is usually agreed in February. Work has already started on some of the listed schemes.
There is some mixed news in the report which was approved at a “behind closed doors” meeting apparently held on 23rd April.
The highways maintenance programme (which includes not just carriageway and footpath repairs but also drainage, street lighting, City Walls, flood alleviation etc,) is one of the services which most interest residents, the programme has been delegated for officer determination for some years. Thus, the reports are not subject to scrutiny and alternative ways of allocated the budget are not publicly debated.
One key sentence in the report sums up the dilemma faced by the Council.
“Notwithstanding previous levels of investment the current funding levels are not sufficient to keep all our assets in their current condition”.
In effect, the Council has decided to focus resurfacing works on busy roads. Most side roads are being left to crumble.
Some work scheduled for 20/21, including the whole of the micro patching programme in Woodthorpe, has been delayed into the current financial year.
There is some good news.
Several long term problem locations in west York, including parts of Foxwood Lane, Askham Lane near the A1237 intersection, The Green, Bradley Lane near Rufforth, the low numbered end of Gale Lane and Thanet Road are scheduled to be resurfaced this year.
But there is no allocation for repairs on School Street and the surrounding area behind the Front Street shops, nor at many other sub-urban locations.
No footpaths in the Westfield area will be resurfaced.
There is no mention in the programme of the repairs needed to off-road cycle track infrastructure nor is there any listing of how the £1 million delegated “ward budgets” will be spent.
£877,000 of the latter budget, due to be invested last year, is being carried over into the current year. At the very least residents should be given the opportunity to influence how that section of the budget is spent.
All in all its seems that the decline in maintenance standards is set to continue for another year.
Below are the latest planning applications received by the York Council for the Westfield ward.
Full details can be found by clicking the application reference.
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101 Askham Lane York YO24 3HD
Conservatory to side
Ref. No: 21/00277/FUL
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107A Bellhouse Way York YO24 3LW
Change of use from dwellinghouse (use class C3) to flexible use dwellinghouse and house in multiple occupation (use classes C3 and C4)
Ref. No: 21/00185/FUL
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Representations can be made in favour of, or in objection to, any application via the Planning online web site. http://planningaccess.york.gov.uk/online-applications/
NB. The Council does not routinely consult neighbours by letter when an application is received
Below are the latest planning applications received by the York Council for the Westfield ward.
Full details can be found by clicking the application reference.
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Former Lowfield School Dijon Avenue York
Non-material amendment to permitted application 17/02428/FULM to change HT06 house from 2no. bedroom to 3no. bedroom, amend footprints and window sizes to brick dimensions, change materials and window locations on elevations, install roof mounted PV to apartments and 71no. dwellings, change masterplan setting out, reduce ridge and eave heights to all house types by 50 to 610mm, and change boundary treatments
Ref. No: 21/00205/NONMAT
See separate article for details
Former Lowfield School Dijon Avenue York
Proposed extension of conditioned construction working hours to include Saturday 08.00-15.00.
Ref. No: 21/00097/S74B
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The Gatehouse 6 Westfield Farm Askham Lane York YO24 3HU
Single storey rear and side extensions, wall with railings to front
Ref. No: 21/00164/FUL
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Representations can be made in favour of, or in objection to, any application via the Planning online web site. http://planningaccess.york.gov.uk/online-applications/
The Council now no longer routinely consults neighbours by letter when an application is received.
Traffic lights are in operation on Askham Lane at its junction with Tedder Road. Yorkshire Water are attempting – not for the first time – to deal with a recurrent leak near the bus stop.
The lockdown restrictions mean there is little impact on traffic volumes which are very light (and most buses are running empty).
The arrival of icy weather will put additional pressures on some public services.
The recent snowfall, and subsequent icy road and footpath surfaces, means the the gritters have been out working full time.
There was even a promise from the Council this year that cycle path would be salted but so far this seems to have been sporadic. The Tadcaster Road cycle path, for example, was icy earlier this week.
Some Councillors have reported that they have been out checking local salt bins. They have found some empty, some “solid” & some contaminated with rubbish
We’re not sure that this audit has been completed everywhere though.
With Council resources stretched by the pandemic, this is an activity where residents can help by checking their local salt bin and by removing any litter.
Please let your local Councillor know if a bin needs filling.
Ice and frost will also have a major impact on poorly maintained road and footpath surfaces.
We’ve recently reported potholes on Askham Lane (near the A1237 roundabout) and on Foxwood Lane (near the Thanet Road Sports Area).
There are likely to be many more examples around the City. The sooner the potholes are filled in the less damage will occur (and the safer our roads will be).
We urge residents to use the 24/7 “report it” system (click) to highlight any concerns to the Council
The river Ouse burst its banks this week. It was followed by icy weather. Most people tried to make the best of it!
We’ve reported the footpath on the odd numbered side of Askham Lane. It is unsafe as a result of damage by tree roots.
