Council U turn on housing policy sees them set to buy new Council homes on open market

It looks like the York Council will finally take our advice and buy flats on the open market to increase the availability of Council homes in the City.

We have long advocated using the substantial surplus that the Council holds on its revenue account to buy empty properties on the open market. Labour has resisted this over the last 3 years but finally seem to have some to their senses.

They paln to buy eight two-bedroomed and six one-bedroomed flats which are being constructed on Lindsay Avenue. The flats will have easy access to shops, bus routes, GPs and a Post Office. The Council says that the homes will be offered as downsizing opportunities for tenants aged over 55.

However over 50% of the people on the housing waiting list are single people seeking one bedroomed accommodation.

The Council should buy existing empty properties on the open market to help these residents (many of whom live in larger social housing properties which would be freed up for families).

Under the last Labour Government Council house building reached a, post second world war, low.

Under the last Labour Government Council house building reached a, post second world war, low.

Other downsizing schemes with housing association partners include those in Tang Hall, Huntington and Acomb, plus a further scheme completing in June 2014 at Water Lane, Clifton. This is in addition to a new council house building programme, of which sites at Beckfield Lane, Chaloners Road, Fenwick Street and Newbury Avenue are proposing apartments for people downsizing.

This new site on the corner of Lindsey Avenue and Sowerby Road has been marketed since summer 2012 as a development opportunity. With no interest expressed in running the former public house as a business, or the site as a commercial development opportunity, the site was auctioned in September 2013 and was purchased by York-based RHW Developments which has experience in delivering affordable housing.

The planning application was submitted in late March 2014, the outcome is expected in June 2014 with building work to start this summer with the completed homes ready in the summer 2015. If approved, the acquisition price would be paid in stages during construction.

The Council has declined to reveal how much it is paying for each property.

York footpath and road resurfacing programme – supplementary list finally published

The York Council has finally published the list of streets that will be repaired from its supplementary funding programme this year.

The programme restores investment to the level that was being achieved by the Liberal Democrat led Council in 2011.

Streets in the Westfield ward which will receive attention this year are:

  •  Fir Heath Close £5,350 (Footway)
  •  Huntsmans Walk (part) £43,000 (Footway)
  •  Tudor Road (part) £4,200 (Footway)
  •  Vesper Drive £24,000 (Carriageway)
  •  Front Street / Green Lane (part) £282,000 (Carriageway)

This is in addition to the roads scheduled in December for repair.

Footpath Green Lane (Part) £10,750
Footpath Wetherby Road (Part) £15,000
Footpath Cornlands Road (Part) £24,000

Click here to download the complete supplementary list

The list should be read in conjunction with the base programme of works which was published in December.

 

More traffic light failures

Press 17th Oct traffic lights

As we reported 6 months ago the reliability of traffic signals in York has plummeted in the last couple of years.

The Council have not yet published a root cause analysis of the failures which – today – again brought traffic chaos to the City centre.

Signals on the Fishergate loop were responsible for the problems.

Its about time the Council got to the bottom of these problems.

Gypsies, Travellers and Showpeople – new sites in York identified

Secret report reveals Labour plans

One of the most controversial aspects of Labours Draft Local Plan for York was the propsed provision for Travellers.

Last year, some landowner’s spotted the opportunity to identify land for use by caravan dwellers but later withdrew them when the “Green Belt” designation of the sites had been undermined.

This happened at both Wetherby Road/Knapton (Showpeople) and Dunnington (Travellers).

The York council was then left with a shortfall of around 60 pitches. If they do not identify sites for them, it is likely that their Plan will not be supported by an Inspector at a Hearing in Public later in the year.

Behind closed doors logo The Labour Councils response was, typically, to table a report at the last minute at a Cabinet meeting held earlier in the week. The highly contentious proposals were not made available to the all party working group which met the previous week, effectively ruling out any chance of consensus on the issue.

Labour propose to establish new traveller sites at:

  • Osbaldwick – East of Metcalf Lane ST7
  • Huntington – North of Monks Cross ST8
  • Rawcliffe – Clifton Moor ST14
  • Heslington/Wheldrake – Whinthorpe ST15

All these are Green Belt sites.

The principal of housing development on them will be bitterly contested by residents at the public inquiry.

Even if one or two are approved (they don’t need to be as York has more than enough brownfield land to satisfy demand for the next 25 years or more) developers have said that the viability of these huge new housing estates would be jeopardised by the inclusion of traveller camps.

The Council should have included the new industrial areas that it has identified as potential sites for 2 or 3 small caravan sites. Travellers, perhaps more than any other group, typify the need for “live/work” units. Many are involved in salvage or surfacing work which is a use more appropriate for industrial areas. Others may require good access to schools. Essentially these communities need to have a choice of location to meet their differing needs.

The York Council has made a major blunder by slipping its proposals into the public realm in such a way as to avoid any debate.

The decision sheet from the meeting earlier in the week has been published.

The traveller paper was noticeable by its absence. (It has now been added but is very difficult to find and is not included in the “Newly Published” list).

Residents have a right of access to important papers like these.

It is another example of the Council ignoring its constitution and adopting a secretive, bunker mentality.

In the interests of openness you can download a copy of the paper from our web site by clicking here.

Police hunt for wanted York man

York police are asking for the public’s help to locate a wanted man.

 Daniel Pullman, 23, is wanted for recall to prison as he has failed to comply with the terms of his release licence.

He was sentenced to four years imprisonment following the aggravated theft of a vehicle in York, in November 2012. He was released from prison on Monday 25 March 2014.

Daniel Pullman Displays a larger version of this image in a new browser windowPullman is described as white, 6ft 2in tall, with a broad build and fair hair.

Although it is not known where Pullman is, officers believe he is in the York area.

More

Murders, sexual offences and violence on the increase in York

Cyber-Crime

The latest figures published by the ONS confirm that there was an increase in the number of homicides in York last year. There were 3 murders in the City last year compared to 1 in each of the two previous years. The numbers are still small though and do not necessarily represent a significant trend.

The number of sexual offences is also up from 190 in 2011 to 193 last year.

The third category to show an increase was crimes of violence where the victim did not sustain an injury (up from 781 to 844) although there was a similar reduction in cases where the victim was injured.

Overall crime numbers were down from to 15199 to 11291 – 26% over 3 years.

The biggest falls by crime category came in non domestic burglary, possession of weapons and robbery.

The full York crime figures for the last 10 years can be downloaded from here.

York remains one of the safest City’s in the country in which to live.

9 Bradley Drive – Renovation starts

More vandalism reported on 9 Bradley Drive on 11th March

More vandalism reported on 9 Bradley Drive on 11th March


23rd April work starts on renovating 9 Bradley Drive

23rd April work starts on renovating 9 Bradley Drive

We last reported the decaying condition of – long term empty property – 9 Bradley Drive in March.

There has been a catalogue of delays in bring the singe bedroom property back into use but we understand that the Council have now finally gained possession of the property.

The house contents have been removed and the property has been screened against access. New windows and doors are to be fitted.

It is expected that tenants choice contractors will start work before the end of the month with a new tenant likely to move in towards the end of May.