York Council launches appeal for “estate champions”

The York Council is seeking volunteers who will check the quality of local public services in their local estate or neighbourhood.

Although in much of the Westfield area,  Residents Associations and local Councillors do routinely inspect the quality of public services we think that the more people who are involved the better.

So we hope that some will volunteer and feedback their experiences of getting problems rectified.

The speed of reaction by the Council to problems with dumping and litter has improved recently although there are still problems with some services such as the maintenance of communal garage areas and trimming hedges and trees.

Problems with road and footpath surfaces are a continuing issue as is dog fouling in some areas.

estate-champion

 

What’s on in York: Ann Cleeves’ Murder Mystery Night tomorrow (Sat)

 

Bishopthorpe Library :

Sat 4 Feb :

7.30pm – 9.30pm :

£5 (includes a glass of wine)

Murder MysteryThe Friends of Bishopthorpe Library present a Murder Mystery Night. The mystery was written by author Ann Cleeves in the tradition of the Golden Age detective novel. Actors will present the evidence and the audience will be asked to use their little grey cells to decide who is the murderer and why.

If you enjoy Agatha Christie and understand classic crime fiction, you could be perfectly placed to solve the mystery. The person coming closest to the right solution will win a prize!

The ticket price includes a glass of wine and nibbles. We will also hold a raffle.

For more information or to reserve a ticket please call Bishopthorpe Library on (01904) 552678 or bishopthorpe@exploreyork.org.uk.

What’s on in York: Boccia Club at Acomb Explore library today

Acomb Explore Library :

Fri 3 Feb :

3.00pm – 4.00pm :

Free

BocciaStart the new year with a new activity and the opportunity to make some new friends!

Acomb Explore Library invites you to come and have a go at Boccia! Boccia is an inclusive game that is becoming increasingly popular throughout the country. It is related to bowls and played indoors from a seated position using soft leather balls.

For more information please call Acomb Explore Library on (01904) 552651 or acomb@exploreyork.org.uk.

Empty garages costing York Council £25,500 a year in lost rent

489 registered on waiting list for garages in west York

Figures released by the York Council confirm that there is a high level of demand for Council garages in west York.

There are waiting lists at most blocks with the most popular being at (little) Green Lane where 24 residents are seeking a garage. Ironically this is a garage area which the Council have badly neglected. It suffers from an uneven forecourt, overgrown boundaries and occasional fly tipping.

One applicant for a garage in Dijon Avenue has been waiting since 2009! 

Waiting list

Waiting list

Despite this the Council records that there are 67 garages currently vacant.

One garage in The Wandle has been unused since 2005!

empty-garages-jan-2017

Part of the problem has been a moratorium on the letting of garages in blocks which may be redeveloped.

This has affected 15 garages in Chaloners Road, which have been empty since 2014, while 21 garages in Newbury Avenue have suffered a similar fate with most empty since 2012. The development plans for Newbury Avenue are still in a state of flux so the Council is losing £500 a month in rent from that block alone.

Proposed new charges for garages have also been announced by the Council (see below)

garage-rents

We think that the Council should be much more proactive in trying to let empty garages. In many areas “on street” parking space is very limited and some residents resort to parking on verges. In turn this causes damage which is both unsightly and expensive to remedy.

The Council web site should be updated regularly with a list of garages that are empty, while Councillors should ensure that a list of garages, which are available, is displayed on local noticeboards

NB. The figures provided cover the Westfield, Acomb, Dringhouses and Holgate Wards. There are a similar number of Council garages on the east of the City