Diversions to Service 4 to/from University of York … http://t.co/2CjTUapSzc
— First York (@FirstBusYork) October 25, 2013
Local Plan: 14,000 objections to city wide consultation
Thousands of residents and businesses along with other organisations have responded to City of York Council‘s extensive city wide consultation which will help shape the development of York’s future Local Plan.
The figures and initial feedback are outlined in a report to be taken to the Local Plan Working Group on Monday 4 November, available to view click here
The papers list petitions received and these include objections to the development of Acomb Moor as well as opposition to development of land between Wetherby Road and Knapton.
Statutory bodies have criticised the proposal to increase the size of the City with English Heritage saying that they would harm the special character of York while Leeds University says that the growth figures are wrong.
The North Yorkshire County Council is critical, while the Highways Agency records concerns about the impact the plan would have on transport systems.
However most of the individual objections are still being analyzed by Council officials.
Even the Council Leadership have acknowledged that the number of objections are the largest ever received in response to a Council proposal.
York City centre shopper decline started in 2012
York City centre “to let”
The calamitous decline in the number of shoppers in the City centre first became apparent in 2012.
In that year, the new Labour administration increased car parking charges by 20p for residents.
Yearly footfall figures click to enlarge
In 2013 they went up a gain meaning that residents faced a 36% hike in just 2 years.
We forecast that this could have major implications for City centre traders.
The additional traffic restrictions have simply accelerated the downward spiral with “to let” notice springing up all around the City centre as shops pull out.
In the period up to 2011 the, then LibDem led, Council had frozen parking charges.
It had even reduced them at an innovatory “shoppers car park” at Foss Bank.
Footfall figures reveal that for the first 3 years of the recession (2008 – 2011) the numbers accessing the City centre were remarkably stable.
2012 saw a 6% reduction while this increased to 12% comparing September 2013 with the same month in 2012.
Bus Journeys in York Click to enlarge
New traffic restrictions were blamed for the accelerating trend.
Meanwhile the numbers of bus passengers has also fallen away although the Council has so far refused to reveal the 2012 passenger numbers.
As we said yesterday, the Council seems to be frozen into inactivity with no real idea what to do to get itself out of the self created crisis.
Nero showed a greater sense of urgency.
Half term offer – Adults FREE at paper making event next Tuesday
Click to enlarge
Park and Ride site to be used for fireworks display?
The Council has approved a licensing application which could see the Rawcliffe Bar car park used for open air entertainment events.
It transpires that this may include the “Kaboom” fireworks display scheduled to take place on 3rd November.
Why the Council should leave the licensing application, until only a couple of weeks before the event is scheduled to take place, will be a cause for speculation..
Traveller site extension at Osbaldwick gets go ahead; Sessions decision
The planning committee approved an extension to the Osbaldwick caravan site last night. They noticeably failed to impose conditions on how the site would be managed in future despite concerns raised by local residents.
NB. The same meeting approved the high density housing development plans for the old Sessions site
Road safety improvements for Joseph Rowntree School
Pedestrians and cyclists will benefit from works to improve access and crossing points in and around Joseph Rowntree School in New Earswick.
Construction of a new zebra crossing and off-road cycle links to the south of the school will start from Monday 28 October for approximately two weeks. To enable this work to be carried out safely and quickly, there will be a road closure on Sunday 3 November
A key aim of the scheme, part of the wider School Safety Programme, is to facilitate and encourage walking and cycling on school journeys, reduce the number of cars on the network at key times, and promote sustainable travel habits at an early age.