New Recycling Boxes On The Way

(Lib Dem Executive Member for Neighbourhood Services Cllr Ann Reid with the new boxes)

Over the coming 5 months, City of York Council will be delivering new kerbside recycling boxes to 66,650 homes across the city.

You will receive two new boxes to go alongside your existing green box. One new box will be used for glass and the other new box will be for paper and cardboard. Your existing green box is to be used for plastic bottles and cans.

In order to cut down on the problem of paper blowing across the streets on windy days that many of you have contacted me about the new boxes come will complete with lids. You will also receive a net to use on your existing recycling box.

Having recycling sorted into three boxes will make collection quicker and easier for our crews and the efficiency savings this will generate will allow us to roll out kerbside recycling to those areas of the city that currently don’t have a collection.

York’s recycling rate has increased from 12% in 2003 to more than 45% in 2009, saving the city millions of pounds in landfill taxes and reducing the impact on the environment.

Delivery of the new boxes will be in two phases, phase one begins later this month and runs until the end of July. The second phase runs through September and October. No new boxes will be delivered during the school summer holidays to avoid any problems with people being on holiday and boxes being left out.

Delivery of the boxes in Westfield is spread over both phases one and two. You will receive a letter a few weeks before your box is delivered to tell you when to expect delivery. You can also check the delivery date for your street on the City of York Council website here.

The assisted service for those who have difficulty carrying their boxes to the front of the property will continue.

If you have any questions about the new boxes you can read a list of frequently asked questions here or call York Customer Contact Centre on 01904 551551

One way system backed for Gladstone Street and Milner Street

Residents responding to our door to door survey have endorsed the idea of having a one way system in Gladstone Street and Milner Street. The proposal will now be considered by the Council on 6th July.

Residents in Beaconsfield Street and School Street opted to retain 2 way working.

The majority were also opposed to introducing alleygating.

However residents in all streets supported the idea of having a 20 mph speed limit.

The most mentioned issue concerned the new waste collection arrangements.

Please don’t forget to give your opinions on waste collection at the drop in session on Tuesday 25th May in The Gateway Centre (8:00am to 7:00pm)

Coalition policies backed by Westfield residents

Residents living in the Green Lane, Milner, Gladstone, School and Beaconsfield Street areas have given their views on national and local priorities.

Asked to rate the key policies emerging for the new Coalition government residents rated the following as the most important policies:

1. Workers earning up to £10,000 will not pay any income tax (gradual introduction).

2. Increase basic state pensions from April 2011 with a guarantee that they are raised by the higher of earnings, prices or 2.5%.

3. Real terms extra money for the NHS each year

4. Scrapping plans requiring people to carry ID cards

Asked about local investment priorities, the 3 most popular were:

1. Repairing roads and footpaths

2. Reopening the Barbican concert hall

3. Providing more affordable housing

NB. A decision on the future of the Barbican auditorium will be made in the autumn. Negotiations with potential management companies are currently taking place.

A full copy of the coalition policy prospectus can be found at http://programmeforgovernment.hmg.gov.uk/

Green Lane survey results

We’ve been out this week in the Green Lane area surveying resident’s views on possible changes to traffic arrangements.

With over 50% of forms returned, we had a very good response rate. In summary the results are:

Residents support the provision of a speed indicator sign similar to that provided on Wetherby Road. (see photo)
Resident’s have voted, by a large majority, not to have traffic calming measures installed (either speed cushions or speed tables) on Green Lane.
Residents are also opposed to the provision of an off carriageway cycle path (although this wouldn’t have been practical on most of the length of the lane anyway because of the trees)

It is likely that the sign, together with the provision of an on carrigeway advisory cycle lane, will be endorsed when the issue is decided by the Council on 6th July.

Separately. residents gave the thumbs up to using the Lowfields school site (the footprint of the former buildings) for use as either elderly persons accommodation or a army cadet HQ. Many residents stressed that they wanted the green area to be retained and improved – possibly with part of it being used as a nature reserve. It is likely to be several months before any proposals are put forward for this site.

The issue raised by the largest number of residents concerned poor parking near the Fish and Chip shop. It is likely that there will be more enforcement action taken in the area.

New card payment option for parking

New ticket machines have been fitted in the Piccadilly car park. The new system is proving to be popular with 14% of transactions already being made by either a charge or credit card.

It is likely that the equipment will be rolled out to other car parks in the City.

The service was launched with Adam Sinclair who chairs the City’s Business Development Forum

New Foxwood Playground Launched

Foxwood Playground

Assistant Chief Constable Tim Magwick joined local residents and Council staff at the launch of the new playground on Foxwood Lane today. The equipment is already proving to be very popular with children with an estimated 500 having already visited the playground. It is hoped that a similar facility will be provided on the Grange Lane park later in the year.

Local Councillor Steve Galloway said, ” The playground is proving to be very popular with children. Working with the local Neighbourhood Policing Team, the Council is trying to provide facilities which address some of the boredom issues raised by younger teenagers. I am grateful to the staff who have worked very had to provide this new facility which has the advantage of being both robust and challenging for active youngsters”

New Neighbourhood Policing team/Opening hours of Acomb Police office

Residents can contact the local Police team at the following Email addresses:

Sgt

lindsey.robson

PCs

mark.antonelli
paul.maloney

PCSO

chris.upton
jan.overhill
chris.simpson
matthew.cockerill
grace.holohan
laura.nunnen

…@northyorkshire.pnn.police.uk

They can, of course, also be contacted via 0845 60 60 24 7

The newly re-opened Acomb Police Station on York Road is available as follows:

Monday / Saturday 10am to 12 noon
Tuesday / Friday 2pm to 4pm
Wednesday / Thursday 6pm to 8pm

Local Roads & Footpaths Included In 2010/11 Resurfacing Programme

Last night the list of roads to be resurfaced by City of York Council over the next year was agreed by Liberal Democrat Executive Member for Neighbourhood Services, Councillor Ann Reid.

The list was boosted by an extra £1m investment in resurfacing that was agreed as part of the Liberal Democrat budget last month. The extra money was invested following the results of the public consultation which showed that the condition of roads and footpaths was the top priority for residents.

A number of roads and footpaths in Westfield have been included on the list, they are:

Roads
Hamilton Drive/Tudor Road Roundabout

Footpaths
Queenswood Grove(part)
Ridgeway(part)
Tithe Close
Parker Avenue
Hotham Avenue

It was also agreed that investigative work will take place with a view to carrying out surface water drainage improvements near the shops on Cornlands Road and on The Green (near Weatherby Road).

The programme, which was also included in the Lib Dem budget, has been ongoing for the last two years and aims to make minor improvements to drainage to help cut down on flooding caused by heavy rain.

Once details of when the work will take place are available I will post them here.

York To Have Lowest Charge For Council Services In Yorkshire

Once again York residents will pay less for Council services than anywhere else in Yorkshire. The Council element of Council Tax (i.e. the amount set by the Council, not including Fire and Police Authority charges or Parish Council precepts) for an average Band D property in York will be £1091, compared to £1236 in Ryedale and £1277 in Harrogate.

The table below shows the levels of Council Tax set by Councils in Yorkshire for 2010/11.

Local Authority	Band D Council Tax for 2010/11 £
Sheffield	1283
Harrogate	1277
Scarborough	1268
Richmondshire	1246
Ryedale	1236
Rotherham	1230
Calderdale	1227
Kirklees	1219
East Riding	1216
Selby	1216
Craven	1210
Barnsley	1201
Hambleton	1146
Leeds	1123
Doncaster	1102
Wakefield	1101
Bradford	1094
York	1091

New Vehicles Set To Boost Dial & Ride Service

City of York Council’s popular Dial and Ride services is set to benefit from two brand new vehicles later this year after the decision was taken to allocated extra funding to the scheme.

The Dial and Ride service provides a door to door service to a variety of locations across the city including Clifton Moor, Monks Cross and the city centre, as well as providing transport to the new Energise swimming pool and sports centre.

The new buses (which will be similar to the one pictured above) offer better access for disabled people with a single low step entry and a ramp to the side door, which provides easier access compared to a rear wheelchair lift.

Read the rest of this entry.