Tories announce latest plan to develop Lowfields playing fields.

Tory Councillor Sam Lisle has praised controversial plans to build on the playing fields at Lowfields.

The revised plans see still more of the green field being built on with the nominal “village green” reduced in size to the equivalent of the grassed area on Dijon Avenue.

Lowfields plans 2016

Layout July 2017

He did so on the day that the Council confirmed its plans for an exhibition of the proposals which could see nearly 200 homes (including the rooms in the care home) crammed into the small site. It also revealed that any additional homes built on brownfield former Ministry of Defence land will not be used to offset the pressure to build on green fields like Lowfields.

The Lowfields plans also include relatively uncontroversial proposals for an elderly persons care home and bungalows on the east of the site (on the built footprint of the former school).

The school finally moved its activities from the Lowfield sports field in 2010 although usage by sports teams continues to this day.

The Council says the site, to be known as Lowfield Green, is at the pre-planning stage.

“Suggestions are now invited and comments can be submitted on plans for older people’s accommodation, housing, a health hub and public open space. The latest plans follow on from previous public engagement in October 2016.

The drop-in event this month will be held at the Gateway Centre, Front Street, Acomb YO24 3BZ on Tuesday 18 July from 4:30 – 7pm and is open to all. Invitations have been sent to the immediate neighbours of the site.

At the drop-in event people can see and discuss the plans with officers and learn more about changes to the plans since the last event. Once comments are reviewed and final plans drawn up, the council will submit a planning application this summer.

The proposals for the site include:

  • Over 55’s accommodation including flats and bungalows
  • Family housing
  • York’s first self-build housing plots to be offered by the council
  • Land for community-led housing group, YorSpace
  • A health hub
  • Public open space”.

The Council are coy about a plan to provide a police station on the site. This would have meant the closure of the police depot on York Road and is controversial (although currently located outside the playing field part of the site). Similar unanswered questions remain about the Council ‘s paln to estbalsih a “health centre” on the site with no funding having been allocated for such a function by the NHS.

The Council says that “anyone unable to go to that event can see the plans at a display at Explore Acomb Learning Library Centre, Front Street, Acomb YO24 3BZ from 18 to 28 July 2017, or they can be viewed and commented on at www.york.gov.uk/consultations. (NB. There are no plans on the Councils web site at present)
(more…)

Computer fraud alert by York Police

North Yorkshire Police have been made aware of members of the public receiving phone calls from a male, speaking in a foreign accent, claiming to be from BT advising them that their computer has alerted them to problems in relation to their Broadband/Router.

He claims that it is being heavily infected with a virus and as such BT need to send an engineer to their property the next day.

But beforehand they require the customer to log onto their computer to facilitate a fault report for the engineer.

If the customer refuses to go along with their scam, the male becomes extremely abusive.

If you have been victim to such a phone call please contact Action Fraud on 0300 1232040

Councils seek views on Pharmacies (Chemists)

Councils invite residents to “Have your say” on local pharmacy (chemist) services. .

click

“Tell us what you think about your local pharmacy (chemist).

North Yorkshire County Council and City of York Council are working together to review local pharmacy services in your area.

To do this, we need to hear your views on the pharmacies you use most often. The information you give us is really useful; we want to hear from you even if you do not use your pharmacy very often or are happy with the service. The information you provide will help us to plan future services and make decisions on any changes to pharmacies.

The report will be published online in Spring 2018. You can also see the current report on our website.   

2016 report

To learn how we will use the information you give us you can read our privacy notice. None of the information you give us in this survey will be used to identify you personally.

For more information about this report, or to request a paper copy please contact:  jennifer.saunders@york.gov.uk 01904 565270   Closing date: 28/07/2017″

Musical Connections in Westfield

 

Musical Connections – project funded by Westfield Ward in 2016-17

Musical Connections runs an inclusive, participatory music group open to tenants of Windsor House dementia care home and Gale Farm Court sheltered housing with extra care scheme and members of the surrounding community.

The project received financial backing from the Westfield Ward in 2016-17.

The applicant reported as follows.

”We ran a weekly music group at Gale Farm Court sheltered housing scheme for tenants and local people from the wider community. We also ran a music group at Windsor House dementia care home. During the grant period, the groups:

  • Accessed a wide range of musical genres
  • Worked with suggestions from participants
  • Sang songs from across the world
  • Sang in harmony
  • Explored rhythm
  • Played a range of tuned and untuned instruments

Members of the group at Gale Farm Court also participated in a ukulele workshop with a student from York University, attended a large intergenerational workshop at Hob Moor primary school and went to our Spring Big Sing with York St John University, during which they joined with other adults and children/young people to deliver performances to an audience of sheltered housing tenants and care home residents.
(more…)