TONIGHT Hungate: history of a community

Date: Thurs 8 May Time: 7pm

Venue: Dunnington Reading Rooms Cost: £5

Discover how York Archaeological Trust together with the local community re-created the hidden histories of the Hungate area across the 19th and 20th centuries. More

Saturday skip programme

10th May 2014	10:30am Bellhouse Way, Community Centre
17th May 2014	None
24th May 2014	8:30am Sanderson House Bramham Road 8:30am Kingsway West (Opp 70) 10:30am Stuart Road (nr 65) 12:30pm Windsor Garth nr Kempton Close 12:30pm Westfield Place
31st May 2014	8:30am Sanderson House Bramham Road 10:30am Bramham Road/Grange Lane junction
7th June 2014	8:30am Dringfield Close 10:30am Ganton Place

The skips are funded by the local residents association using their Estate Improvement Grant. The skips are removed once they are full so please make sure you arrive in good time if you intend to make use of them.
Please remember to take your waste to the site only on the dates advertised
If the skip is full or not on the site, please do not leave your waste. This is classed as fly tipping and is illegal
Bulky items including furniture, fridges and freezers are not accepted. To arrange disposal of one of these items please ring York (01904) 551551.

Several other Residents Associations provide skips in their areas

Cross-party review of Lendal Bridge trial moves a step closer

York Council’s Labour leader has finally backed Liberal Democrat calls for a cross-party scrutiny review of the Lendal Bridge trial, saying “it is the right thing to do”.

The Liberal Democrat Group has called for an independent review of the trial by the council’s cross-party scrutiny committee. The Lib Dems say there are still unanswered questions over the trial, which was abandoned last month after a Government Traffic Adjudicator ruled the Labour run council had no power to issue penalty fines. The Lib Dems say it is essential that lessons are learnt so that future attempts at tackling city-centre congestion are more successful.

At last night’s Cabinet meeting the Council Leader, James Alexander, was challenged on the issue by Lib Dem Councillors Ann Reid and Ian Cuthbertson and admitted that it would be right to hold a review if that is what opposition councillors wanted.Before last night, Labour had failed to support a full scrutiny review of the trial and instead announced plans for a ‘commission’ to look at the more general issue of congestion in York.

Cllr Ann Reid, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Transport on City of York Council, commented:

“I am pleased that the Labour leader has finally appeared to back our calls for a full cross-party scrutiny review of the Lendal Bridge trial. He now needs to ensure that his fellow Labour councillors support the move and play a full role in the process.

“We need a proper review in public to get answers to the questions which Labour have ducked so far. These include how the Labour run council implemented a scheme which was ruled ‘unlawful’, why the signage was so poor that 50,000 motorists were fined, and why there no real public consultation before the trial.

“We also need to understand why in the face of overwhelming opposition from residents and local businesses Labour pushed on with the closure beyond its original six months. And why Labour is using taxpayers’ money to fund its legal battle to now justify the botched closure.

“Only by properly reviewing the Lendal Bridge trial and learning what went wrong can the council hope to be more successful in other attempts at tackling congestion.I recognise that there are serious challenges for the future, but it is crucial that we first learn the lessons from this episode.”

A video of last night’s Cabinet meeting can be found here: http://www.york.gov.uk/webcasts Cllr James Alexander made his statement during the ‘Public Participation’ section in response to Cllr Ann Reid.

The Liberal Democrat Group will formally submit the topic for scrutiny review at next week’s Annual Scrutiny Work Planning Event.

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: 9 Almsford Drive York YO26 5NR

Proposal: Two storey side and single storey rear extension

Ref No: 14/00986/FUL

Consultation Expiry Date: 27 May 2014 Case Officer: Carolyn Howarth Expected Decision Level: DEL Ref No:

Westfield

Location: 10 Dijon Avenue York YO24 3DD

Proposal: Single storey rear extension

Ref 14/00869/FUL

Applicant: Mr & Mrs Sturdy Contact Mr Mark Druery Consultation Expiry Date 27 May 2014 Case Officer: Sandra Duffill Expected Decision Level DEL

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Location: 16A Green Lane Acomb York YO24 3DL

Proposal: Single storey rear extension with alterations to roof to create additional living accommodation and 1no self contained flat.

Ref No: 14/00967/FUL

Applicant: Mr David Ellerton Consultation Expiry Date 27 May 2014 Case Officer: Heather Fairy (Mon – Wed) Expected Decision Level DEL

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Location: 9 York Road Acomb York YO24 4LW

Proposal: Two storey rear etension with dormer window to rear

Ref No: 14/00972/FUL

Applicant: Mr Stephen Kilner Contact Mr Stephen Douglass Consultation Expiry Date 27 May 2014 Case Officer: Carolyn Howarth 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.

A1237 diversion problems

We understand that the A1237 diversion, (implemented from last night) started at the A19 and involved a 4 mile detour.

One motorist described the situation as chaotic.

A1237 from Wetherby Road closed from tonight

@york_travel Furthermore, it is envisaged that the works will only be undertaken overnight between 19:00hrs & 06:00hrs during the closure.

— York Travel (@york_travel) May 6, 2014

Bike sessions for all abilities announced

New and inclusive cycling sessions are starting in May at York Sport Village. A full range of adapted bicycles will be on hand so that everyone will be able to enjoy the one-kilometre track, whatever their age, experience or ability.

The sessions are particularly suitable for those living with a disability or long-term medical condition or older adults who enjoy a slower pace of ride.

There will be three sessions every week and participants can just turn up to any or to all:

· Every Wednesday 5pm to 6.30pm, starting 14 May

· Thursdays 1.30pm to 3.30pm, starting 15 May

· Sundays 12noon to 2pm, starting 18 May.

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Lendal Bridge – what Labour were going to say before their U turn

York Council plans for use of fine income click to enlarge

Details of a draft report on the future of the Lendal Bridge traffic restrictions, which was written before the scheme was abandoned, reveal that Labour had intended to continue with the restrictions.

The report was substantially rewritten when it became clear that the Council had been acting unlawfully in fining over 50,000 motorists who had travelled over the bridge during restricted hours. To make that decision, the Council used an arcane interpretation of its own constitution claiming that the Council Leader “could take any decision which would normally be taken by the Cabinet“.

It is clear from the report that key background information was still not available when the Leader took his decision on 8th April.

Although draft reports are often re-written to improve clarity before they are published, there are some glaring differences and omissions from the report being considered by the Cabinet later today (Tuesday).

Reinvigorate York

The original draft claimed that

“de-trafficking of Lendal Bridge and environs also allows buses to be removed from Exhibition Square and makes it easier to deliver the Reinvigorate York scheme there”. In arguing in favour of the restrictions being made permanent the draft report goes on to say,”

The Reinvigorate York schemes proposed for Exhibition Square and Duncombe Place would be limited in scope, reducing the ability to make significant enhancements to the public realm or attract additional footfall to the city centre. Other transport aspirations could also be curtailed, in particular options for, and the operation of, a public transport interchange at the station and the ability to provide journey time and reliability improvements for public transport”.

The final report fails to mention any dependence the “reinvigorate” programme might have on the Lendal Bridge scheme.

Congestion

The final report plays down the effect that the closure has had on traffic congestion.

The original draft admitted, “During the Lendal Bridge trial additional delay and congestion has been experienced at the Water End junction. Analysis of the TrafficMaster data has identified that during the 4pm – 5pm period some journeys can experience significant extra delay”.

The draft implies criticism of the timing of the trial saying that the A59 road works had made congestion worse. The premature timing of the trail was a criticism made by many residents a year ago.

The draft report in admitting major congestion issues at Water End suggests changes to traffic signals at Salisbury Terrace. “Longer term measures are being investigated should the completion of the A59/A1237 road works not resolve the traffic issues in this location. (Cabinet Member briefing note is available and with alteration could be provided as an annex)”.

No annex was provided in the final report.

Visitor Numbers

The draft report said, “Since 2010 there has been a downward trend in footfall in the city centre, approximately 11% reduction in annual total 2010-2013 (as measured in Parliament St)”. The report was annotated to say “What is happening nationally? City centre/out of town?”

No such information is provided in the final report

Also omitted from the final report, but included in the draft, was the comment

“For most of the trial the number of PCNs being issued has remained at a relatively constant level, rather than reduce and plateau as predicted”

Costs

One of the most telling sections of the draft report (and not included in the public version) was an analysis of the increased costs that the trial had accumulated during its 7 month period of operation.

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