Tree issues being addressed by York Council

The Council has acted promptly to fell a “self seeded” tree that was damaging the boundary railings at the Foxwood Lane pumping station.

Earlier in the week the Council announced its most ambitious ever tree planting programme.

£600,000 a year will be invested to enable the purchase land or to utilise pieces of land, already in the council’s ownership, that are suitable for planting trees.

The budget would cover the cost of planting new trees and replacing diseased trees as the council’s contribution to the White Rose Forest initiative.

The White Rose Forest has 3 aspirations: Leadership for sustainable economic development, Social well-being and Facing Climate change.

In Foxwood, the local residents association has suggested several sites for additional tree planting.

These include the Foxwood Park, Dickson Park, the Thanet Road sports area, Chesneys Field, Acomb Moor and the rural part of Askham Lane.

Pedestrian crossings in York – how safe?

Recent accidents at pedestrian crossings in York have prompted one commentator to question whether the low level signs, installed at many crossings over the last 10 years, are the best option.

The more traditional high level “green man” signs located on the opposite side of the road are arguably easier to monitor while walking across the road.

It has also been suggested that countdown clocks – indicating how much time is left for a pedestrian to finish crossing the road – are worth installing as a trial in the City.

They are in use in other areas such as Torquay.

Please report ponding & flooding problems

We see that local Councillors are taking up issues with minor flooding on roads and footpaths.

Today’s poor weather is likely to highlight where the main blockages are.

One resident has used https://www.fixmystreet.com/ to highlight a problem near Lidl.

In some cases the “ponding” results from blocked or damaged drainage gullies.

Damaged gully cover

In others, the carriageway has sunk and more extensive repairs may be necessary.

The Council has allocated over £3.5 million for repairs to drainage channels over the next few years. . A Council report published last week said, “It is calculated that more than £8m of investment will be needed over 12 years to address all defective assets on a priority/needs based approach, and the funding included is based on two additional works gangs and materials”

It is not just gullies that are waterlogged.

Off street paths need hardcore to prevent flooding

Several off road paths – including those linking Acomb Wood, Acomb Moor and the Westfield Park off Grange Lane – are obstructed.

The local ward committee has a delegated budget which is available to address problems with cycle and pedestrian routes. We think it should use some of it to ensure that these paths remain usable in wet weather.

Whatever the issue, residents are strongly recommended to report problems to the Council. The sooner work gets into the forward programme the sooner issues will be resolved. https://www.york.gov.uk/reportproblems

Calling all budding young artists and designers – North Yorkshire Police needs you!

Wondering what to do over the half term break? Don’t want to sit around bored? Well, how about entering our Lifestyle logo competition and having a chance at winning a Sony Cybershot camera?

We’re looking for talented young artists and designers to give our Lifestyle Challenge logo an overhaul.

Just in case you haven’t heard of it, our Lifestyle Challenge is a competition that we run across the summer holidays every year, where we challenge kids across York and North Yorkshire to come up with a great project which benefits their street, their local community or their environment and then deliver it! We then celebrate everyone’s success at a glittering awards ceremony at York racecourse later in the year.

So, we’re currently working away on plans for this year’s challenge, but in the meantime, we think our Lifestyle logo needs a redesign and who better to ask than they talented children of York and North Yorkshire!

A picture of our current logo is below, but we think you can come up with better.

You can use any colour, design, font or typeface you like. The only thing we ask is that you include the words – “LIFESTYLE – make a difference in your community!”

Once you’ve created your design, take a picture of it, or if you have created it digitally, send it as a PDF attachment to lifestyle@northyorkshire.pnn.police.uk by Tuesday 31 March 2020.

The winning design will receive a fantastic Sony Cybershot camera which will be presented at the Lifestyle Awards ceremony later on this year.

So get creating – we can’t wait to see what you come up with!!

Competition open to children in York and North Yorkshire under the age of 18

What weather to expect in York today – real time updates

Radar tracking of Storm Dennis can be found by clicking this link

https://www.wunderground.com/wundermap?lat=53.95&lon=-1.083&zoom=8&pin=&rad=1&rad.type=00Q&wxsn=0&svr=0&cams=0&sat=0&riv=0&mm=0&hur=0

Preparations continue ahead of Storm Dennis

City of York Council and partners are putting in place all the Ouse’s flood defences to protect homes, businesses and keep York open for business as usual ahead of Storm Dennis’ arrival.

With an unusual combination of high rainfall, snow melt and saturated ground, river levels are predicted to rise.

As a result, the council will be putting in place all flood defences along the Ouse over the next 24 hours.

Cllr Paula Widdowson, Executive Member for Climate at City of York Council, said:

“With significant rainfall and strong winds forecast this weekend, and the unpredictable levels of snow melt, we are closely monitoring the situation.

“We are as confident as we can be that our flood defences will protect those homes and businesses at risk. And we’re taking precautions to keep our fantastic city open so residents and businesses can enjoy all York has to offer, including this weekend’s Jorvik Viking festival.

“We are contacting individuals and communities along the Ouse identified as being at risk if river levels continue to rise as expected.

“We’re also closing some car parks to make sure that cars don’t get trapped in any flooding which occurs – but we’re opening up new spaces for visitors, coaches and of course residents in flood zones to move their cars. 

“We ask that people continue to keep an eye out for the latest information and alerts from the environment agency, and look out on friends and neighbours who may need support. And above all, stay well away from the rivers and flood water.

“Huge thanks go to staff and key services who are working tirelessly to keep York safe.”

An amber rain warning is in place from the Met Office, meaning localised surface water could affect roads in the area. Residents are advised to check local travel advice, leave extra space for all types of vehicles and never drive through flood water.

For information on the Viking Festival – and other fantastic things to so in York in wet weather – visit www.visityork.gov.uk

Changes to parking

The council is also closing some car parks which are usually affected by flooding, and providing alternative parking elsewhere in the city.

Esplanades, Rowntree Park and St George’s Field car parks will be closed from today. Anyone already parked in the car parks can continue to park there but must remove their car by the end of the day.

Park and Ride sites remain the best option for day visitors, and the council is opening Moor Lane car park 24/7 primarily for coaches, which will be free of charge until St George’s field coach park is operational. 

Coaches can continue to park in Union Terrace car park as normal.

Any residents in an area along an Ouse flood zone can move their cars into any of the remaining car parks or neighbouring resident parking zones, including businesses but must display their parking so they will not be charged.

Stay up-to-date with the latest storm information related to York at www.york.gov.uk/floods

Trebles all round

Eleven hundred years ago had Eric Bloodaxe sailed up the Ouse and been greeted by the Anglo-Saxon Witan offering rent free accommodation, 24/7 feasting/pillaging and no restrictions on behaviour, he would have been pleasantly surprised.

In his case he might have chosen to take those options anyway, whatever the views of the local population.

Today residents wake up to find that they may have to endure another sea born invasion, as the SPARK container “village” will carry on for another 2 years, courtesy of a compliant York Councillor who yesterday authorised an extension to the lease of land in Piccadilly.

The business will have to gain an extension to its planning permission (and operating license) but this looks like another behind closed doors “done deal”.

So far, the business has failed to implement the planning conditions imposed some 2 years ago which were intended to reduce the visual impact of the sea containers.

Quite simply the development is an ugly carbuncle blotting a neighbourhood which is long overdue for regeneration.

The containers were also sited too close to existing residential accommodation. Metal boxes are inherently noisy and, of course, lack the insulation credentials that a City, which recently declared a “climate emergency”, might expect.

                           Containers arrived in Sept 2017

We don’t know which officials, members and reporters have so far enjoyed the hospitality of Spark.

Whatever that number may be, its “trebles all round” for a business that boasts a £3 million turnover but can find no profit to share with local taxpayers who will be expected to continue to subsidise the operation.