Labour go ahead with threat to end meals for elderly

Lunch off menu at Gale Farm Court

Westfield Residents have lost out again from cavalier council.

Meals at sheltered housing in Gale Farm Court were axed by the council on 1^st October despite protests by residents that the council had not given time for alternatives to be worked through.

Gale Farm Court

Residents had been led to believe that the council was sorting out a better contract for the meals – but on 3^rd September a letter was sent by the council to say that the meals were being stopped on 1^st October

Residents do not have kitchens – indeed residents took on their flats on the understanding that they would have communal meal arrangements.

The letter had followed months of consultation where residents were led to believe that the council was simply sorting out a better provider- following complaints about the quality and unreliability of orders. The Council leader James Alexander had been approached in February at the “Westfield Community Conversation” event and had claimed that he wanted to sort the problem out!

Andrew Waller has been working with residents and companies who want to provide a service which means that residents don’t need to eat in isolation in their own flats. On behalf of the residents he wrote to Cabinet Councillor Lindsey Cunningham Cross to request that the old system continued until there had been a new one developed – in response she said that she would not comment on whether the scheme would or would not cease on 1^st October…. until the 16^th October.

Residents found out the hard way that the council was not going to budge.

Some taster sessions have been run by companies who want to bid for the work, but these have taken place after the council had stopped the communal meals. Andrew will be pressing with residents that a sustainable solution is brought forward.

Andrew said “The treatment of the residents of Gale Farm Court has been shocking. The axing of the service came out of the blue, and it seemed like the council had already written off the prospect of a replacement even before they sent out the letters at the beginning of September. I know that Cllr Lynn Jeffries had been working with the residents for months to get better meals.

Residents in council sheltered schemes deserve to be treated with respect by the council. They should have worked to provide a new solution before axing the old. It seems that the council is saying that it is trying to tackle social isolation in the area .. but actually does the opposite in practise. I am pleased that the residents have not taken this lying down, and have been pressing for a solution that they are able to choose a solution”.

First aid training should be part of the national curriculum– say York Lib Dems

York Liberal Democrats have backed calls for first aid training to be part of the national curriculum in schools in the city.

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Latest Planning applications Acomb and Westfield Wards

Below are the latest planning applications received by the York Council for the Acomb and Westfield wards.

Full details can be found by clicking the application reference

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Acomb

Location: Site To The Rear Of 32 Carr Lane Rosedale Avenue York

Proposal: Erection of two storey dwelling following demolition of existing garages

Ref No: 14/02066/FUL

Contact: Mr David Chapman Consultation Expiry Date: 13 October 2014 Case Officer: Victoria Bell Expected Decision Level: DEL

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Location: Site To The Rear Of 32 Carr Lane Rosedale Avenue York

Proposal: Erection of a two storey dwelling incorporating a basement following the demolition of the existing garages

Ref No: 14/02067/FUL

Contact: Mr David Chapman Consultation Expiry Date: 13 October 2014 Case Officer: Victoria Bell Expected Decision Level: DEL

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Location: Home Brew Online Ltd 6 Pyramid Court York YO26 5NB

Proposal: Change of use from business (use class B1) to general industrial (use class B2) to allow for the repair, maintenance and MOT of vehicles (retrospective)

Ref No: 14/02068/FUL

Contact: Miss Jane Wildblood Consultation Expiry Date: 13 October 2014 Case Officer: Kevin O’Connell Expected Decision Level: DEL

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Westfield

Location: YMCA 41 York Road Acomb York YO24 4LN

Proposal: Internal and external alterations including new internal walls, installation of air conditioning and works to shop front

Ref No: 14/01673/FUL

Applicant: Ryan Weaver Consultation Expiry Date 20 October 2014 Case Officer: Victoria Bell Expected Decision Level DEL

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Location: YMCA 41 York Road Acomb York YO24 4LN

Proposal: Display of 2no. externally illuminated fascia signs

Ref No: 14/01674/ADV

Applicant: Ryan Weaver onsultation Expiry Date 20 October 2014 Case Officer: Victoria Bell Expected Decision Level DEL

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

NB. The Council now no longer routinely consults neighbours by letter when an application is received.

Acomb Wood meadow dumping reported to Council

There as been a lot of dumping recently on the land to the rear of Bellwood Drive/Acomb Wood Drive shops.

Dumping in Acomb Wood Meadow nature reserve

The Council resolutely refuses to acknowledge that their waste collection policies – and the closure of the Beckfield Lane tip – are partly to blame for the problems.

Andrew Waller has asked for the rubbish to be removed.

Not for the first time we have reported a full “poop scoop” bin in Oldman Court.

Childrens Trust hold successful event at Foxwood Community centre

Click for details

The Childrens Trust held a successful fund raising event today at the Foxwood Community Centre.

It is a great shame that the Council decided to withdraw their financial support from the community centre earlier in the year

Hopefully whoever is elected to represent the area on the Council at the by election on 16th October, will make one of their first priorities getting the grant – which paid for a part time caretaker- restored.

Marygate car park barrier problems to be questioned.

With the barriers at the Marygate car park apparently out of action again, Liberal Democrat Councillor Keith Hyman has tabled two questions for the Council meeting on Thursday.

The £100,000 scheme was controversial from the start with no provision being made for card payments.

Currently the barriers are raised allowing free car parking.

It is unclear what damage this is doing to the Councils income or whether Labour Councillors will be forced to increase charges at other car parks to make up for any deficit.

The two tabled questions read:

(xxv) “How does the income derived from the Marygate car park, since it had a barrier system installed, compare to the equivalent period last year?”
(xxvi) “How many faults have occurred on the new barrier/ticketing installation at Marygate car park and does the Cabinet Member judge the barrier system to have been a success?”

The same cabinet member will be asked to reveal how many drivers have taken advantage of the “free” parking made available, on 3 mornings a week, at some of York’s car parks.

Morning congestion levels have increased recently on routes such as Water End and Fulford Road, with the Councils decision to encourage more rush hour car journeys using the free parking incentive being partly to blame.

It is hoped that the impact on other car parks – and Council income – will be revealed.

Roman artefacts found during Guildhall community archaeology project

Thanks to a huge public response to the archaeological excavation undertaken close to York Guildhall this summer, the first stage of the project is now complete and has unearthed artefacts from the Roman period.

Guildhall dig

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Work gets underway to create new cycle/pedestrian bridge in the North of York

Works will get underway from next week to construct a new cycle/pedestrian bridge over the York to Scarborough railway line in Haxby.

This will complete a new safe off-road shared cycle and pedestrian route along the A1237 outer ring road, between the Haxby Road roundabout and the B1363 Wigginton Road roundabout, connecting over 15,000 people living in this area of York.

The contractor PBS Construction (North East) Ltdwill fabricate the main bridge structure off-site, and then plans to lift it into place over the weekend of 15/16 November.

The works were originally planned to commence in 2013, but have been rescheduled to accommodate an alternative design to address ground condition problems, and to meet Network Rail’s requirements to enable contractors to have access to and work close to the railway line.

Works to complete the approach cycle paths will start soon after in late November as well as the installation of a new Toucan crossing on Haxby Road. The new path is planned to become fully operational in early 2015.

Unfortunately cracks have appeared in the section of the cycle track west of the railway line which was completed last year. These appear to be due to the dry summer causing ground movement in some isolated areas.

The council is currently assessing its options to address this problem, which may involve relaying some areas of the path surfacing and filling/sealing the cracks.

Neil Ferris, Assistant Director for Transport, Highways and Fleet, said: “This is one of the largest investments in York’s cycling infrastructure since the introduction of the Orbital Cycle Route in 2011 and will invest £925,000 from the government funded i-Travel, and Local Transport Plan (LTP) funding.

“We’d like to thank those living and working nearby for their patience throughout the period of the works and for the unforeseen delays that we’ve experienced. We are looking to find a solution to address the current issues that will be both long lasting and cost effective. In the meantime we have put up signs that say the footpath is closed to deter people using it in the unfinished state, and while the overall route is not available.

“We would urge parents not to allow their children to walk or cycle along this path until the full route is open.”

The measures also include links with Haxby Road near to the roundabout, as well as approach ramps on the existing embankments to the new bridge and an additional crossing point on Wigginton Road to safely connect with Clifton Moor.

In addition to main bridge works, and the construction of the link paths, the council is also planting a new hedge alongside the A1237, next to the new fence line that has been established as part of the scheme. This planting is expected to happen in October/November.

The council intends to also amend the Public Right of Way across an adjacent field just west of the railway, with a view to improving access and reducing potential conflict between pedestrians, cyclists, and agricultural vehicles in this area.

The provision of an off-road route/safe link opens up access (sustainably, via cycling and/or walking) between Haxby, Strensall, Huntington, Earswick, New Earswick and to the retail, leisure and employment destination of Clifton Moor as well as students attending Joseph Rowntree School.

The new cycle route will be the flagship scheme of City of York Council’s four-year i-Travel initiative, made possible by £4.6 million of government funding which the council successfully bid for in 2011.

The Clifton Moor retail, leisure and employment area attracts around 6-million visitors every year and supports 6,000 employees.

In addition to the new cycle route, the council has also addressed the lack of good pedestrian and cycle routes within the Clifton Moor retail / leisure area itself by investing almost £100,000 of government funding in 2013 on new pedestrian and cycle crossing facilities, cycle lanes, and measures to slow traffic speeds, by introducing easier and safer access for pedestrians and cyclists.

To find out more about the new cycle route and bridge visit: www.york.gov.uk/haxbytocliftonmoor

Carr Lane closed (again)

Carr Lane closed between York Rd and Rosedale Ave from 00:01hrs 06th Oct till 24:00hrs 24th Oct due to sewer repairs.

— York Travel (@york_travel) October 3, 2014

Decisions affecting traffic in every part of the City taken in private session by Labour Councillor

Traffic and parking decisions nodded through at behind closed doors session.

The man responsible for the secrecy was Labour Councillor David Levene.

Over 50 proposals for changes to parking restrictions and other local traffic management measures were decided last week.

Residents had no opportunity to influence the decisions with papers only being published on the Councils web site AFTER the meeting had concluded.

Labour Councillors representing areas like Westfield failed to make any representations on the plans which potentially affect dozens of local residents and hundreds of drivers.