Sue to stand down as Councillor for Westfield

Sue is presented with a limited edition picture of the Minster to commemorate her 32 years as a Westfield Councillor

Cllr Sue Galloway has announced that she will not be seeking re-election when the City Council elections take place on May 5th.

First elected in 1979, Sue has represented the Westfield Ward, without a break, for the intervening 32 years.

During that time she has served on most Council committees and is currently the Councils second longest serving member.

She was the Executive member with responsibility for Social Services during the first Liberal Democrat administration in 2003 and pioneered in 2006 the ”Telecare” system which is now revolutionising how elderly people live safely in their own homes in the City.

She is one of the driving forces behind York’s increasingly successful performance in the “Britain in Bloom” contest.

She also led on the successful “Kingsway Project” – an initiative which has seen unemployment fall in one of the poorer areas of the City and which is now being expanded to include other neighbourhoods.

Sue became Lord Mayor in May 2010 and has already helped to raise over £30,000 for her charities (British Heart Foundation & Our Celebration)

Commenting Sue said

“Obviously, after such a long time, I will be sad to leave the council and in particular to have less contact with residents in the Westfield area.

The City has changed dramatically over the last 30 years. When I first entered politics the Liberal Party had only a small number of Councillors but this grew over the years, until in 2003 we had a landslide victory at the polls.

I like to think that I have made my mark on the City during that time.

The numbers using the Councils Social Services continues to increase and we are lucky to have a dedicated team of carers to look after them.

In my own ward all the local schools have been modernised  

New public transport services,  like that provide by the ftr, were the stuff of science fiction comics in the 70’s.

We should not forget that it is only relatively recently that we got a northern by pass. Until that time HGVs regularly chugged their way through the City centre causing pollution and congestion.

I was delighted when the new Energise sports centre was established on Cornlands Road – and amazed when over 400,000 used it in its first year.

The “Explore” library in Front Street has also been hugely popular and has set new standards for public access which will now be rolled out to the rest of the City.

But the time has come to pass the reins on to someone younger.

I wish whoever is elected as my successor on May 5th every success in representing the Westfield community”

2007 and all that

As we approach the Council elections on May5th , I take a look back at some of the changes that we have seen in the Westfield area since 2007.

So lets start today with a look at 2007.

Spring

Focus reported that a flashing speed sign would be installed on Wetherby Road.

A local MP argued that the Edmund Wilson and Yearsley swimming pools should be closed down and replaced by a large pool at the Barbican. But the Council opted to build a new pool at the Energise sports centre on Cornlands Road and refurbish Yearsley. An 8 lane competition standard pool would be provided on Hull Road near the University.

Lidl were bidding for the land occupied by the library at Front Street but residents backed the alternative new “Explore” library option for the site. A few years later Lidl were to open in Thanet Road.  When the new library opened, the number of users was to treble.

Summer

A revolutionary Telecare system was launched by Sue Galloway. It allows elderly residents to live safely in the comfort of their own homes.

 The first plans for play provision in the Grange Lane park were announced. Plans for a new development off Chapelfields Road were also announced (now The Burn).

Plans for the new York High school were revealed. The school was to operate from Lowfields while building work took place on Cornlands Road.

Work started on the new Askham Lane/ring road roundabout.

Railings were completed around the Tedder Road play ground and plans to build flats on the site of a Chinese restaurant on Gale Lane were announced. The Council stepped up its provision of dropped kerbs/lay-bys to deal with parking problems in the area.

Autumn

A CCTV security camera would be fitted in Front Street. Flower boxes were provided in the same area as Westfield geared up for the Britain in Bloom competition in which it came second. (York was to win 3 years later). Residents on Askham Lane planted dozens of bulbs on a local amenity area.

Reusable jute bags were distributed from local community centres as a campaign against the use of plastic bags got underway.

A 47% drop in crime in the ward was reported but a planning wrangle threatened the new “Energise” swimming pool when Labour Councillors tried to delay the project.

Discovery of a bat haven prompted a small diversion of the approach road to the new ring road roundabout.

A fun day in Foxwood had been voted a big success while railings around the back of the Acomb Wood Drive shops had improved security. Fencing was also provided to stop access to the rear of the sub station on the Tedder Road to Tithe Close snicket.

A new zebra crossing was provided on Gale Lane near the Cornlands Road junction. The York Cares group undertook a project to improve the garden outside the Windsor House home which was now specialising in helping people suffering from dementia.

£153,000 road resurfacing plans

A list of the roads and footpaths to be resurfaced in the Westfield Ward over the next 12 months has been published together with the estimated cost of the work.

Chapelfields Road (Part) £41,250 Carriageway
St Stephens Road (Part) £55,000 Carriageway
Foxwood Lane (Part) £39,000 Footway  
Foxwood Lane (Part) £7,000 Footway  
Huntsman Walk £4,000 Footway  
Bramham Road £7,000 Carriageway

More homes for York

The Joseph Rowntree Foundation have written to me to say, “We are pleased to let you know that David Wilson Homes has been appointed to develop the first phase of Derwenthorpe, a new community to the east of York.
David Wilson Homes is an award-winning house-builder with a track record in delivering high quality homes to exacting environmental standards. Part of Barratt Developments PLC, they are the only major house-builder awarded a maximum five-star rating for customer satisfaction by the HomeBuilders Federation. They will build the first 64 homes on the site, with 25 available through shared ownership or as socially rented accommodation. Work begins in March and is due to finish in summer 2012. David Wilson Homes plans to employ a significant number of local people and to train apprentices on site.
Once completed, Derwenthorpe will provide 540 energy-efficient homes to meet the changing needs of young families, disabled people, older residents and those wanting flexible living/working arrangements. This first housing stage represents an undertaking of £11m. JRHT is working with the City of York Council and the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA), which has provided a grant of £1m for this stage. JRHT will remain commissioners of the Masterplan for Derwenthorpe and long-term stewards of the land.
After many delays, reaching this point is real progress. Our wish has always been to provide much-needed family homes that will benefit generations to come in York. Even in this difficult economic period, York is demonstrating that it can make the most of opportunities to ‘make it happen’”.