Council officials are recommending no action on a petition which was collected requesting the night time closure of two snickets leading from Spindle Close and the Foxwood Park to Ashbourne Way.

The proposal was made following problems with anti social behaviour.

The officers report – which will be considered at a meeting next week – can be read by clicking here.

Only the Liberal Democrat Councillor for Woodthorpe (and the Green Party Leader) have responded to a request for their views.

The Labour Councillors representing the two wards affected have chosen to remain silent.

Residents are able to make written representations to the decision meeting which is taking place on Thursday 18th April.

Residents can also choose to attend and speak at the meeting if they give the required notice.

The Council is conducting one of its periodic surveys to discover whether there is any unmet demand for taxis in the City.

The City currently has 183 taxis and 576 private hire vehicles.

Although the Council points to poor air quality standards as being partly the result of the use of diesel engines in the City Centre, most of these emissions can be traced to commercial vehicles and buses rather than taxis.

However there is a growing demand from some residents who want to have the option of using a low emission Prius + type hire vehicle.

They are an increasingly common sight on the streets of New York

In York, getting a taxi at peak times can be difficult. However, taxi owners point to periods of the day when they are lucky to get a fare of any sort.

You can take part in the survey by clicking here

The Council has provided the following background information
(more…)

The election of a LibDem led Council in 2003 seemed finally to have removed the threat that meant that large areas of York’s (draft) Green Belt would be built on.

Labour Councillors had previously advocated large scale expansion of the City meaning that most land lying between the ring road and the present urban boundary could have been developed.

The supply of development land was adequate to meet the historic building profile in the City (around 650 new homes per year).

Campaigns – led by Liberal Democrat Councillors – to protect Green Belt land had been successful in 2009 (see left).

So by 2011 a Local Development Framework (LDF) had been agreed which protected the draft Green Belt.

Development was concentrated on sites such as York Central (land behind the station), Germany Beck in Fulford and Derwenthorpe in Osbaldwick.

Most house building would be on previously developed commercial sites such as British Sugar, Terry’s and Nestle south.

In 2011 planning permissions for nearly 4000 new homes were outstanding. Enough to satisfy demand for over 7 years.

When Labour regained control of the Council in May 2011 they first tinkered with the LDF and then abandoned it altogether.

Building rates fell to an all time low in 2012 with onerous planning conditions and poor mortgage availability blamed.

The vacant land with planning permission was still there. But development was, and remains, very slow.

The Labour Council has spent the last 12 months asking landowners whether their green field plots should be built on.

Farmland which gains planning permission can increase in value by a factor of 100x so not surprisingly there has been a rush of willing sellers.

Labours plans are due to be published on Friday (12th April).

We have little doubt that many controversial green field sites will be identified for potential development.

We will publish details here when we have them and will vigorously oppose any attempt to destroy the City’s green belt setting.