Badger Hill primary school wins money for buildings

Liberal Democrat Schools Minister David Laws MP has today announced government money to rebuild Badger Hill school in York.

The money will come from the Priority Schools Building Programme, a £2bn government scheme spearheaded by the Liberal Democrats to rebuild those schools across the country suffering most from wear and tear. A full list of benefiting schools can be found by clicking here

Schools included in the programme are now able to start developing detailed plans, and are expected to be completed in the next few years.

Liberal Democrat Schools Minister David Laws MP said:

“I am delighted to be able to announce money that will allow Badger Hill to make badly needed improvements to their building.

“School buildings that aren’t up to scratch unfairly hold our children and young people back. Every child deserves the opportunity to achieve their full potential, and improving Badger Hill will make sure that many more children in York receive a good education.”

Local Liberal Democrats say,

“Last week the Conservatives set out plans to cut school budgets if they are in power by themselves after the election. We am proud that Liberal Democrats are continuing to make the case and win more investment for local schools.

Elsewhere in the city, work on new primary schools for Carr Infants in Acomb and Lord Deramore’s in Heslington are both due to begin later this year. Already set to be expanded in the City are St Barnabas and fellow PFI- primary, St Oswald’s CE in Fulford, where there has been increased demand for pupil places.

Only a few weeks ago figures were released which revealed that York faced a major shortfall in school place availability over the next few years.

The Priority School Building Programme (PSBP) was established in 2011 to address the needs of those schools in the worst condition across the country.
The list of 261 successful schools for the first phase of the programme was announced in May 2012. Significant work on those projects is already underway. As of 26 January 2015, 15 school buildings are already open, a further 72 have contracts signed and the remaining projects are well into in the development or planning stages.
In May 2014 the Coalition Government announced a further £2 billion for the second phase of the programme. A list of the schools to benefit from the second phase of the PSBP has been published today, here
The government has also today announced £4bn of school maintenance funding to be shared by local authorities across England.
This week David Cameron set out Conservative plans to cut school budgets by up to 10% in real terms, if his party wins an overall majority in this year’s general election. Liberal Democrats have protected schools spending in this parliament, and are committed to protecting schools, early years and 16-19 education budgets in real terms in the next parliament.

Modern York City centre flat for sale for only £110,000

Hungate flat available on “shared ownership” basis

Estate agents Churchills are offering a rare opportunity to buy a 56% share in a modern two bed roomed flat in the new Hungate development.

The property is offered for sale through a Yorkshire Housing Association Scheme with the full purchase of 56.72% of the property.

The scheme does have conditions and can only be bought by an owner occupier who has local links to the area either currently working or living locally or has family in the area.

The Lease/Service Charge is £447 per quarter.

Latest Planning applications Acomb and Westfield Ward

Below are the latest planning applications received by the York Council for the Westfield ward.

Full details can be found by clicking the application reference

——————–

Acomb

Location: Papa John’s Pizza 54 York Road Acomb York YO24 4LZ

Proposal: Display of 1no. external fascia and 1no. external hanging signs

Ref No: 15/00079/ADV

Applicant: Mr Stephen Russell Contact: Mrs Michelle Crossley Consultation Expiry Date: 2 March 2015 Case Officer: Sharon Jackson Expected Decision Level: DEL

————–

Location: 71 Danebury Drive York YO26 5EJ

Proposal: Single storey side extension

Ref No: 15/00118/FUL

Applicant: Mr Stuart Walters Contact: Mr Paul Martin Consultation Expiry Date: 2 March 2015 Case Officer: Carolyn Howarth Expected Decision Level: DEL

——————-

Westfield

Location: 55 Foxwood Lane York YO24 3LQ

Proposal: Variation of condition 2 of permitted application 07/02498/REM to amend approved landscaping scheme

Ref No: 14/02676/REM

Applicant: Foxwood Properties Ltd Contact Mr Jake Stentiford Consultation Expiry Date 2 March 2015 Case Officer: Sharon Jackson Expected Decision Level DEL

—————————

Location: 75 Gale Lane York YO24 3AD

Proposal: Hip to gable side roof extension including rear dormer and single storey rear extensions

Ref No: 14/02689/FUL

Applicant: Mr John Weldon Contact Mr Neil Conway Consultation Expiry Date 2 March 2015 Case Officer: Neil Massey Expected Decision Level DEL

————————-

Location: 39A York Road Acomb York YO24 4LW

Proposal: Display of internally illuminated collar around proposed ATM

Ref No: 15/00048/ADV

Applicant: Bank Of Ireland Contact Mrs Gillian Bentley Consultation Expiry Date 2 March 2015 Case Officer: Sharon Jackson Expected Decision Level DEL

———————

Location: 107 Bellhouse Way York YO24 3LW

Proposal: Erection of dwelling to side of 107 Bellhouse Way (amended scheme)

Ref No: 15/00158/FUL

Applicant: Miss Carolyn Rennie Contact Kevin Bristowe Consultation Expiry Date 2 March 2015 Case Officer: Hannah Blackburn Expected Decision Level DEL

———————

Representations can be made in favour of, or in objection to, any application via the Planning on line web site. http://planningaccess.york.gov.uk/online-applications/

The Council now no longer routinely consults neighbours by letter when an application is received.

New threat to Foxwood and Chapelfields bus services?

Now First start consultation on “low usage” bus services

Just a few weeks after the York Council withdrew its threat to withdraw subsidies from bus services like the number 12, it seems that First themselves are now planning cuts.

Their web site says

“We’re undertaking some face-to-face consultation events and running an online survey to seek your views on services operating in the South West of York covering Acomb to Copmanthorpe as well as Haxby in the North.

Some services operating in these areas are experiencing low levels of usage which we’d like to address, to ensure that our buses go to the right places and that the levels of service meets the demand.

Our survey asks for feedback on your travel choices made within your area as well as ways to improve or amend our existing services.

It’s hoped that this feedback will assist in the development of the network to improve usage and long term viability of these services.

Come and meet us face-to-face at these events:

Thursday 12 February 1000-1300 Explore Acomb Library Learning Centre
Thursday 12 February1400-1600 Copmanthorpe Youth Club, School Lane
Friday 13 February 1430-1730 Snow Room G035, City of York Council Offices
Tuesday 24 February 1230-1530 Haxby & Wigginton Methodist Church Hall

If you’re not able to see us at one of these events, we still want your views – please let us know what you think by completing our online survey which is open until Saturday 28 February”.

The main concerns relate to possible reductions in the frequency of the number 1 service which serves Chapelfields and the number 12 service which provides a link for Foxwood and Woodthorpe. The future of the popular number 4 service is also understood to be under review.

We hope that First will provide quickly much more detail on what they regard as “low usage” services, and also state precisely what changes they are thinking of making!