Many people will come to a conclusion over the next month about whether the part time closure of Lendal Bridge to general traffic has been a success. You will find a survey to answer on this web site (see left)
Residents protest as another Labour transport initiative causes distress
Waste collection changes in York from 9th September
The Council have issued a media release confirming the cuts that it is making to waste collection arrangements.
They say that “less then 10 per cent of all households will see significant changes to the day and time that their rubbish and recycling is collected, but the review has contributed towards significant savings of £300,000 in 2013/14”.
New rubbish and recycling calendars will be sent to households citywide from today (Tuesday 27 August) with new collections to commence from Monday 9 September.
The majority of households (72,000 homes) will continue to receive their normal collections on the same day on a fortnightly basis. The time of their collection may vary and residents are advised to ensure they present their rubbish and recycling before 7am on the day of their collection.
Further to the introduction of the new rubbish and recycling collections, changes to garden waste will also take effect from 9 September. The Council will introduce “an annual subscription charge for additional garden waste and not collect waste during the winter months”.
Amongst the controversial changes being introduced by Labour Councillors is a charge of £35 to cover 12-months will come into effect for households with more then one garden waste bin.
No garden waste will be collected during the winter months of November to March.
For full details of the changes to rubbish and recycling collections, or if residents would like to subscribe to the garden waste service, please call 01904 551550.
The Council also says that can look up their collections by postcode by clicking this LINK
Lendal Bridge in York closed to general traffic
Council staff tell drivers to U turn or risk £60 fine
Traffic on Lendal bridge after closure
Mid morning congestion on St Leonard’s Place
Signs changed 60 minutes after closure
Traffic congestion in York
Congestion map 1300 hours Tuesday 27th August 2013. Click to update
There is more traffic congestion in York today. This is partly blamed on the closure of Lendal Bridge but also on the temporary closure of Green Dykes Lane.
Hull Road, Paragon Street and Tower Street are particularly busy.
Buses using Hull Road are subject to delay.
Click on map for latest update.
York Council facing £3.7 million over spend on this years budget
The Council’s first review of its expenditure this (financial) year suggests that it is heading for an over spend of £3.7 million.
Such a forecast is not without precedent and tends to reflect the most pessimistic view of trends.
However the nature of the possible over spend is important and here £1.1 million is put down failures in social services. Essentially, more and more people are arranging their own care packages and receiving direct payments from the council.
A £227,000 shortfall in car parking income is being reported, although this is offset by fewer pensioners using bus services in the City.
For the first time York will be able this year to keep the Business Rates that it generates within the City.
After adjustments to reflect relative prosperity, the City is forecasting that it will receive £23.2m. Part of any income above this figure will be kept by the Council (although Labour have agreed to pay the “surplus” into a West Riding “rates pool”).
The Council has discontinued its policy of reporting on public service performance indicators. So it will be another 3 months before the scale of the decline in service quality becomes public.