Labour still peddle 25% City growth as Walmgate scheme produces “361 housing units”

Prominent Labour Councillor Tracey Simpson Laing has announced today that Labour is still going for housing growth of over 20,000 during the next 15 years.

She claims that the figure – published in a draft Local Plan which went out for public consultation during the summer – is necessary to meet “demand in York over the next 15 years”.

Derwenthorpe development

Residents had expected that the Council would carefully consider the responses from the Local Plan consultation before deciding whether this figure was indeed necessary.

Many residents have said that they do not want the City to expand by 25% in such a short timescale.

Others have pointed out that there will be insufficient jobs to sustain such growth while large areas of the City and surrounding countryside would be blighted.

In a separate development the Council has confirmed that the student housing development, on The Press site on Walmgate, which received planning permission last month, will produce 361 housing units against the total annual target of between 800 (old Local Plan target) and 1200 homes (Labours new target). Most will be 2 person flats.

As the accommodation is tied, none of the units will contribute directly towards providing more affordable accommodation in the City.

Gas levels near Newbury Avenue to be investigated

The City of York Council’s environmental protection unit has completed its investigation of the former refuse tips off Foxwood Lane (comprising Acorn Rugby Club, the playing fields off Foxwood Lane and Hob Moor) last year.

In late August / early September 2012, soil and water samples were collected from across the site and sent for laboratory analysis. The waste material buried onsite was found to contain ash and clinker, brick fragments, glass, ceramics, fabric, coal, metal and timber.

Monitoring wells were also installed around the edges of the site to enable the Council to monitor ground gas.

The Council said, “The laboratory analysis results confirmed that the majority of the soil and water samples were uncontaminated. Some elevated levels of contaminants were detected – but a detailed risk assessment has confirmed that these levels do not pose a risk to people, animals or the environment.

Click to enlarge

Ground gas was monitored on a monthly basis between September 2012 and March 2013. The ground gas concentrations and flows were found to be low in most monitoring wells. Although elevated levels of methane and carbon dioxide were found on part of Hob Moor (to the rear of Newbury Avenue) and we intend to investigate this area further.

Please note that the site has not been determined as contaminated land (under Part 2A of the Environmental Protection Act 1990), but further investigation is required in the vicinity of Newbury Avenue”.

The environmental protection unit has now confirmed that it has received a government grant of £35,000 to undertake an additional investigation in the vicinity of Newbury Avenue.

The investigation will involve installing gas monitoring wells in a number of gardens and monitoring the external airbricks of eight properties. They will test the gas levels every two weeks for up to six months, to assess whether the gas levels pose a risk to people, property or the environment.

Residents are being notified of the plans this Friday (6 September). A drop-in session is being held at the Gateway Centre between 10am and 12pm on Monday (9 September) to answer resident’s queries.

The answers to frequently asked questions can be found by clicking here.

Ironically the worst affected area appears to be the site selected by the Council on which to build a block of 9 new Council flats!

Weeds in Foxwood – residents concern

@CityofYork When are weeds going to be cleared from gutters and paths in Foxwood please?

— Foxwood Residents (@foxwoodra) September 4, 2013

Monk Bar traffic lights faulty, traffic congestion on inner ring road

Click to update. Teatime expected to be busy today

Still heavy traffic around St Leonards Place.

Don’t forget that the Council is saying that it will levy £60 fines on those misusing Lendal Bridge from today

Monk Bar Traffic lights are out of order, please proceed with caution

— York Travel (@york_travel) September 4, 2013

Awkward decision by GMB Trades Union for York Labour Leader

The announcement that the GMB is to cut its donation to the Labour party by 90% is slightly awkward for York Council Leader James Alexander.

He is a member of the GMB

The GMB will cuts its annual donation from £1.25 million to £150,000.

As well as bankrolling the Labours local election campaign in 2011, Unions continue to play a part in the activities of York Labour Councillors.

16 of the present 25 York Labour Councillors declare Trades Union membership on the Councils register of interests.

All but 4 admitted on their election expenses returns, submitted in 2011, that their manifesto costs had been at least partly paid for by UNISON.

When an increase in (paid) time off to pursue Trades Union activities was discussed at a Council meeting in June 2011, five Labour members declared an interest as a result of their Trades Union sponsorship.

NB. Councillors are no longer required to declare non prejudicial interests, at Council meetings, which are contained on the register of Interests.

Full list of Labour Councillors Trades Union links click here

Adoption numbers up in York

National data is showing that the number of adoptions in England and Wales increased by almost ten per cent last year compared to 2011.

Figures released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show that there were 5,206 adoptions in 2012 compared to 4,740 in 2011.

The number of children adopted in York has also increased in the same period, with 13 adoptions in 2011/12 and 14 in 2012/13. A total of 20 children are preparing to be placed for adoption during 2013/14, once arrangements with their new families and the courts have been finalised.

The figures from the ONS are made up of adoptions that took place following court orders in England and Wales in 2012 and apply to adoptions by relatives and step-parents as well as adoptions from care. More information is available at http://www.statistics.gov.uk/

For information about how to adopt in York contact the council’s Family Placements Team on 01904 555333 or email adoptionandfostering@york.gov.uk