Electric buses finally make it onto York streets.

Poppleton Bar park and ride site

Poppleton Bar park and ride site

The Council are claiming that battery powered buses will run from the Poppleton Park and Ride site from Sunday.

If they do, then it will be due to the efforts of workers on the car park and Poppleton roundabout improvements which were still far from finished earlier today.

Battery powered buses were first proposed by the, then LibDem controlled, Council in 2010.

The introduction of seven zero emission buses on the new park and ride route now is due to a grant from the coalition government.

It is a step in the right direction.

However, there will be some concern that the new service is being introduced before works at the car park site (opposite the Wyevale garden centre) and on the A59/A1237 junction have been completed.

The new service needs to be a showpiece for the City – not just in terms of appearance, but also in providing a swift journey across a junction which has often been congested in the past.

We seem to be some days away from being able to guarantee that kind of improved visitor experience.

The new Park and Ride site at Askham Bar seems to be further advanced and should be ready for service on Sunday.

Approach to A59/A1237 roundabout

 

Long term empty property finally back in use

9 Bradley Drive

9 Bradley Drive

A small house on Bradley Drive – site of one of York’s longest running empty homes wrangles – is finally ready for re-occupation.

The, privately owned, singe bedroom property, had been empty for over 6 years and had been due to be brought back into use in 2011.

Unfortunately, at that stage, the newly elected Labour Council interrupted the legal process that would have allowed the property to be sold.
9 Bradley Drive bathroom

9 Bradley Drive foreplace 2

The property has finally been restored. It now features modern heating, cooking and bathroom facilities.

Local residents have welcomed the improvement to the neighbourhood that the renovation work has brought.

 

LibDem local appointments

LibDem tieThe York Liberal Democrat Council Group has revealed their policy spokespeople following the start of the council’s 2014/15 civic year.

The Lib Dems, who are the joint largest opposition group on Labour run York Council, unanimously re-elected current leader Cllr Keith Aspden and deputy Cllr Ann Reid at their recent AGM, but have made a number of changes elsewhere.

New roles will see Group Leader Cllr Keith Aspden focus on community engagement, Cllr Keith Orrell lead the campaign to Save York’s Green Belt, Cllr Lynn Jeffries take on health and adult social care, and Cllr Ian Cuthbertson lead on Culture, Tourism and Leisure. (more…)