Council claims that the Clifton Moor – Haxby Road cycle path is finally useable

An embarrassing 18 months behind schedule, the £1 million cycle track linking Clifton Moor to Haxby Road has finally been declared officially “open”.

The Council says that, “the scheme has created a safe off-road shared cycle and pedestrian route along the A1237 outer ring road between the Haxby Road roundabout and the B1363 Wigginton Road roundabout, connecting over 15,000 people living in this area of York.

The measures also include new links with Haxby Road near to the roundabout, a new bridge over the York to Scarborough railway line with approach ramps on the existing embankments and an additional crossing point on Wigginton Road to safely connect with Clifton Moor.

The provision of an off-road route/safe link opens up access (sustainably, via cycling and/or walking) between Haxby, Huntington, New Earswick and to the retail, leisure and employment destination of Clifton Moor as well as students attending Joseph Rowntree School“.

The delays to the completion of the scheme – which was scheduled to start in 2013 – have been put down to “poor ground conditions”

New central heating contract awarded by York Council

“Helplink” have been awarded a contract to install up to 500 central heating systems in York Council houses each year.Behind closed doors logo

The change of contractor follows the decision by the existing provider to relinquish the contract

The Council decision papers suggest that the new contract is cheaper than the old one.

No reason was given for the withdrawal of the original contractor.

 

York unemployment down by 14% during March

There were 1048 people claiming job seekers allowance in York in March.

This was down by 168 compared to February. 

The York job seeker rate fell to just 0.8%

The UK figure was 2% and the regional figure 2.7%.

The unemployed figure contained 692 men and 358 women.

National employment rate at a new record high

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New figures show that the rate of employment is at a new record high of 73.4 per cent.

In the last three months, the number of jobs created increased by 248,000.

During the quarter youth unemployment fell by 21,000 and 151,000 on the year.

Commenting on the figures, Liberal Democrat Business Secretary Vince Cable said:

“Employment levels have hit new records today, with almost three quarter of working aged people now in work.

“Youth unemployment has continued to fall over the year and our successful apprenticeship programme, which the Lib Dems have prioritised in government, will help that improve yet further.

“With wages now rising continuously faster than inflation, living standards are rising too.

“The role of the Liberal Democrats in government has been crucial to promoting economic stability and a strong recovery.  And the work I have led to deal with abuses in zero hour contracts and strengthening the national minimum wage, will help ensure the recovery is also fair.”

Labour to stop rubbish skip visits to many York Council estates?

Skips scrapped

The Saturday morning skip visit may be a thing of the past for many York Council tenants.

Officials are understood to have cancelled the skips scheduled to visit the following estates/villages.

They claim that the reason for the cancellation is that there is no “active residents association” in the area.

However, that shouldn’t have prevented officials and Councillors from organising a ballot to find out how tenants wanted their share of the Estate Improvements Budget to be spent.

Many of the areas affected have a high proportion of elderly tenants who are least able to make alternative arrangements (and who, understandably, may not be able to participate in a “residents association”)

The matter was discussed at last nights Tenants Federation meeting.

We understand that all Council candidates are being asked to confirm that they will – if elected – intervene to get the skips restored.

The Liberal Democrats have already announced a widespread estate regeneration programme part of which will include improved waste collection and storage facilities.

The skips are regularly the most popular facility voted for by tenants in the annual ballot on how estate improvement monies should be spent.

There has been speculation that the Council also intend to stop altogether the programme of dropped kerbs/verge crossovers which, until 2011, was gradually reducing the numbers of vehicles parked on estate roads. The programme slowed when Labour took office, but there were hopes that the new Council – to be elected on 7th May – will take urgent action to address escalating parking problems on some streets

The news is the latest of a series of set backs for Council tenants in York. A few weeks ago the Council revealed that it had a surplus of £15 million on its housing account.

Many tenants blame Cllr Tracey Simpson Laing for the deteriorating condition of their neighbourhoods. She has been responsible for housing in York for the last 4 years.

Problems with dumping have gradually increased in west York since the Beckfield Lane recycling centre was closed in 2012.

Coupled with proposed reductions in grey bin emptying frequencies and charges for emptying green bins, the Council is in danger of creating “perfect storm” conditions for the sub-urban environment