The Council’s “Cabinet” will decided tomorrow (Tuesday) whether to demolish the garage block in Newbury Avenue and replace it with a block of 9 flats.

Residents are likely to make representations on the controversial plan.

There are major concerns about the impact that the scheme will have on disabled residents who rely on the garage area for access.

Parking problems in the area would also increase.

If approved, the scheme would still require planning permission.

The site did not feature as a housing site in the Local Plan which was announced by Labour 4 weeks ago.

Meanwhile The Press has published details of a public meeting which has apparently been scheduled to discuss the design of Council houses which “will be built on the former Beckfield Lane recycling centre site”.

The article says that a “drop in” event will take place on Wednesday at Carr Junior School from 4:30pm to 8:00pm.

This demonstrates the arrogance of the present Council Leadership.

A decision in principle whether to build 30 new homes on the site is not due to be taken until Tuesday evening’s “Cabinet” meeting!

Yet it appears that the housing scheme has already been designed!

So much for democracy and resident involvement.

The meeting is also being asked to delegate power to a Labour Councillor to vary the sites that the planned 60 Council houses could be built on.

The Council has refused to name the other sites which have been considered. We do know that two of them were also garage blocks in the Kingsway West area.

If the delegation is agreed, then the only notice that residents might get of any change would be when a planning application was submitted.

However, as the Council no longer issues routine consultation letters to any neighbours affected by a planning application, they would only have to put a notice on a lamppost to fulfill their legal responsibilities

NB. A list of planning applications received for the Westfield Ward is published each week on this web site.

In response to an Freedom of Information (FOI) request, the York Council has admitted that it is considering ending the Toy Library Bus programme sooner than it had previously publicised.

Labour Councillors had voted in February to end the service in 2014.

Now it seems that an earlier decision on its future is planned.

The current programme of visits extends only into May.

The response to the FOI request says,

“However, due to on-going pressures on the 13-14 budget, officers are also reviewing the operation of the vehicle and its current viability. Consultation will take place with service users in May. Any subsequent decision will be taken by the elected member in public”

The North Yorkshire Trust’s Community Payback team will kick off a clean up on 7 May

The first project on the teams list is the overgrown field behind Westfield Primary School where the team will tidy up the area so it can be used by local residents. Residents are invited to nominate any spaces they think could do with a spruce up by the team.

Any suitable work that is put forward by residents that is not completed in May will be completed in the coming months.

Residents can nominate an area they think is in need of a spring clean by calling 01904 551551 or emailing ycc@york.gov.uk or download the Smarter York mobile phone application from all app stores.

(more…)