Council misled Lowfield residents

Two virtually identical planning applications were dealt with by Council officials last week.

Both concerned details of the current development taking place at Lowfield.

Both related to “alterations to bedrooms, house types, elevations, roof mounted PV, masterplan revisions, finished floor levels and boundary treatments”

*2019 proposal was withdrawn on Tuesday. The 2021 proposal was approved on Wednesday*

The second application additionally extended the permitted hours of working to include Saturday afternoons.

The first application (originally submitted in 2019) was withdrawn on Tuesday.

On Wednesday the new application was approved by officials using delegated powers.

The applications had been described as “non material amendments”. Given that the applicant, and the planning authority, were both the York Council, this give rise to claims of unfairness.

It is unlikely that affected neighbours understood what was going on behind closed doors.

Apart from the Saturday working proposal, the biggest concern relates to the the boundary fencing arrangement. Most residents had originally expected that the existing railings – which are in good condition and date from the time that the site was a school – would be retained.

The Council then proposed to remove the railings and substitute a close boarded fence.

Many neighbours feared that the removal of the railings would damage their adjacent gardens.

*Rubbish accumulates between different fence layers*

The latest plan involves the retention of the railings with a close boarded fence also being erected on the development side.

Double (or triple) fencing has not been a success elsewhere.

Maintenance is difficult.

Close boarded fences are an obstacle for wildlife.

They also squander the opportunity to use natural hedging which has environmental benefits.

The double fencing idea is, of course, also more expensive. Those facing a £295,000 bill for a three bedroomed semi might well have preferred the option to have a discount (and a boundary hedge).

Sadly this is another example of poor public relations on a controversial development which is now hopelessly behind schedule.

The damage to roads and verges in the existing Lowfield area is appalling while the noise nuisance now seem likely to extend into more of the weekend.

The issues are known to local Councillors.

The Lowfields Facebook page can be accessed by clicking here

Coronavirus York updates; 28th February 2021

Deaths

No further hospital deaths have been announced today

Test results

TWELVE positive test results announced today. That is the lowest figure for several days. It brings the cumulative total number of cases to 11.853

As expected, the latest rate /100k population figure has spiked at 81.67. This is the highest figure since 14th February.

This represents an increase in case numbers from 163 to 172

However, on current trends, it is likely that the rate will fall below 80 tomorrow and could edge down to 65 by the middle of the week

Comparing current trends with the similar period in December, the current infection rate is higher.

There is a reasonable expectation that the current number of infections will fall this week, preparing the way for a safer return to school on 8th March.

The number of cases reached a pre Christmas low on 8th December. The rate gradually increased after that.

For the first time this month, York now has a higher infection rate than North Yorkshire. It remains below the regional and national rates.

Neighbourhoods

The increase in case numbers has been spread around the City with no obvious connections

Vaccinations

Vaccination centres are moving on to the 60 -64 age group this week

Tests

4396 PCR tests were conducted in York during the week ending 23rd February

Of these, 3.8% were positive. That represent an increase from the previous days figure of 3.6%

597 lateral flow tests were conducted on 27th February

COVID restriction enforcement

North Yorkshire police are stepping up attempts to enforce COVID restrictions. The move comes after warmer weather increased the numbers on the City’s streets.

It also coincides with a two week high in positive test results.

City was busier on Saturday

Shops are expected to reopen on 12th April. Before that, from 29 March, the Rule of Six will return outdoors. Groups of larger than six from a maximum of two households will also be allowed to meet, although travel restrictions will still be in place.

There seems to be a pent up demand for travel and York is likely to be a magnet for many. Whether the authorities will be able to control access, and sustain hygiene standards, will tell us a lot about whether the further easing of restrictions will follow along the proposed timetable.

Road works set to continue on Tadcaster Road

Road users face several more months of congestion on one of York’s main arterial routes.

We commented on Friday that it seemed that gas main works at Micklegate Bar would not be finished by todays deadline.

Gas main replacement work on Tadcaster Road 27th February 2021

Further down the route gas main laying is edging forward but with no end in sight.

Work at the St Helens Road junction is due to start tomorrow.

Now the Council has said that it will also start drainage testing, cleaning and improvement works on the section from the A64 to the Askham Bar roundabout.

The work is expected to last for 5 weeks. (This is the section of carriageway which wasn’t resurfaced last year). Most of the work is expected to take place in the late afternoon or overnight.

When this work is completed, works are planned for the section between Askham Bar and Blossom Street.

The improvements are expected to cost around £5 million.

While we think that the Council is right to get as much work done, on well used roads, while traffic levels are relatively low, we are not convinced that the last years work, and this years projects, could not have been better coordinated.

Latest planning applications for the 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.

—-

12 Beaconsfield Street York YO24 4ND

Erection of single storey extension extending 3.19 metres beyond the rear wall of the original house, with a height to the eaves of 2.7 metres and a total height of 3.66 metres

Ref. No: 21/00234/LHE

—

Christines Nail And Beauty 21 Front Street York YO24 3BW

Three storey rear extension to 21 Front Street to create 1 no. dwelling.

Ref. No: 20/02155/LBC

Christines Nail And Beauty 21 Front Street York YO24 3BW

Three storey rear extension to 21 Front Street to create 1 no. dwelling.

Ref. No: 20/02154/FUL

The above two applications concern a proposal to extend a Grade 2 listed building.

A small cottage would be added.

Planning permission had previously been given for an extension but was never implemented.

There may be an element of controversy as the application would involve felling several mature trees.

—

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

NB. The Council does not routinely consult neighbours by letter when an application is received

York Council’s Green Belt submission

City of York Council has submitted more information about the definition of the city’s green belt to the Planning Inspector examining the local plan.

The council submitted the explanation of how it defines the outer boundary of the green belt, with explanations of other green belt boundaries set to follow. Officers also issued the timetable to deliver all the remaining additional information requested by Government inspectors by the end of April.

Having received the bulk of this information in December and January, inspectors have previously indicated that the examination is likely to progress to online consultation over the new information, followed by further hearing sessions, most likely to be held in summer at the earliest.

The council has published the submitted evidence on its key decisions page, which will be added to the latest correspondence on the examinations webpage www.york.gov.uk/localplanexamination shortly.