Jungle drums in Otterwood Lane as grass remains uncut

Otterwood Lane “jungle”

The recent improved weather has accelerated the rate of growth of grass and weeds. Some hedges are also now blocking public footpaths

In Otterwood Lane the amenity area has still to receive its first cut of the year. While this area has traditionally not been cut until late May to give the daffodils time to die back, the grass has now reached 2 feet high in some places.

As we warned (see right) the Councils policy of reduced grass cutting will affect the appearance of local neighbourhoods.

Leaking salt bin

Also neglected are the salt bins – left out for the second successive year – which are now eyesores, damaged by vandals or full of litter.

Almost everywhere weed growth is now a major problem in street gutters. Left untreated the weeds will eventually damage the surface of roads, footpaths and drains.

By June each year, the Council has usually announced when the first application of weed killer will be applied. There has been no such information issued to residents this year.

Weed growth in gutters

We urge all residents to report problems to the Council

• email, ycc@york.gov.uk,

• telephone (01904) 551550, Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 5.30pm or

• by using the online servicing facility

Overgrown hedges

There are also options which can be used via a smart phone.

Perhaps the best is a “My Council” app. This allows a large range of issues to be raised with the York (and other) Councils. Click here for details. Issues can be reported either “on line” of via a mobile phone app in “real time”

The well established “fix my street” web site also promises that they will have an app available shortly. In the meantime you can report issues by clicking here

York residents on consultation overload

After 2 years with virtually no consultation with residents, York is heading towards an overdose this month.

The latest is asking about how the City centre should look and be preserved.

Other consultations taking place at present include:

20 mph city wide speed limit. Deadline for receipt of objections 21st June 2013 www.york20mph.org Alternative view

Local Plan & the Green Belt — Deadline 31st July. www.york.gov.uk/local plan Alternative view

New ward boundaries (Boundary Commission). Deadline 5th August http://tinyurl.com/Wards-June-2013 Alternative view:

The new consultation talks about the importance of having a “fully accessible” City. The consultation runs for eight-weeks until Wednesday 31 July.

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Call for city talent for Tour de France cultural festival

York is on the starting line to secure the talents of the city’s arts and cultural groups during the 100 Days Cultural Festival, York. Following the announcement by the Arts Council England to award Yorkshire £1 million funding to support delivery of this county-wide festival in the build up to Le Grand Départ, York is putting out an open call to its creative communities.

York is now asking local cultural organisations and artists to come to an open briefing session on Friday 21 June, 3pm-5pm at York Explore Library Learning Centre on Museum Street.

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Students to help keeping York tidy

City of York Council is teaming up with the British Heart Foundation and students from both the city’s universities to help recycle and reuse household goods from students who are coming to the end of their academic year.

The council will be running two extra waste collections for students who are leaving before their designated collection day. The collections will be on June 15 and 29. Two crews will be circling the main student areas in The Groves and Haxby Road on both dates, and also in the Heslington Road and Hull Road areas on June 29.

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New Foxwood Focus published

Page 1 click to enlarge

Pages 2 and 3 click to enlarge

Page 4 click to enlarge

York Council censors resident’s WiFi and internet access

The York Council has blocked residents from accessing what it considers to be unsavoury internet sites.

These are not the sites that you might expect.

The move is not aimed at hard core porn, gambling or terrorism sites.

The Council has taken the steps to block residents from accessing “payday” loan web sites.

In a media release it says, “In a bid to protect residents from payday loans websites and the risks of spiralling debt from high interest providers, City of York Council has blocked these companies from its staff and public wi-fi and computers and is encouraging use of more reputable financial solutions.

Computers for customer use at all City of York Council libraries and Explore centres and at West Offices now do not give access to payday lender sites, “some of which charge exorbitant interest rates”.

The Council has not published a list of the companies that it considers to be exploitive.

In addition, the council’s extensive free wi-fi provision is blocking these sites at its libraries and West Offices, at Energise and in the city centre around St Helen’s Square and along Coney Street.

Instead, York’s libraries are going to “support promoting of local credit unions which support savers and borrowers who have difficulty accessing high street banking options“.

The North Yorkshire Credit Union, however, went bust last year and its replacement is only just finding its feet in the City.

“In March, the council launched the free ‘Small Changes’ booklet on how to manage money and make it go further. Published in association with York Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) and Aviva, it includes tips on budgeting, ways to cut costs, savings and insurance essentials and hints on how to avoid getting into debt. Also, there are lots of ideas on how to enjoy life in York without having to spend too much money, including low cost family days out, free events and courses”.

As usual there was no consultation with users before the Council took the decision (behind closed doors) to censor the internet access available to its citizens.

Many, while sharing the Council’s concern about unscrupulous lenders, may consider the step to be an unfortunate precedent; bordering on an infringement of civil liberties.

There is a fine line between a genuine wish to ensure that consumers are protected and a patronising, nanny Council, approach.

Foxwood Lane footpath resurfacing starts on 18th June

click to enlarge

The City of York Council will start work week commencing 18th June 2013 to reconstruct the footway shown on the plan. This scheme is programmed to take 3 weeks, weather permitting.

The work consists of fully excavating the current footway, installing pin kerbs or timber edging to the rear of the footway and fully reconstructing the footway in tarmac. temporary traffic lights will be in use during working hours only.

The contractor will be working between 8.00am and 4.00pm Monday to Friday.

Ironically part of this path may have to be torn up to allow access if Labour go ahead with their plan to build on the adjacent field.

National Railway Museum petition

The Press have launched a petition aimed at preventing the NRM from “closing”.

Its future – together with other museums – is under review as part of the government’s attempts to balance the nations books

We think that it is much more likely that the Museum will reintroduce admission charges.

Virtually every other major attraction in the City (and indeed the world) – with the exception of the York Art Gallery which is closed for refurbishment at present – charges visitors, with the Minsters fee of £10 for an adult being about the norm.

Whether York residents would continue to enjoy free admission on production of a YorCard might be more open to question.

The Press petition can be downloaded here

Richard III and York

A year-long programme of events to sift fact from fiction about the life and reign of Richard III has been announced by an eminent group of York-based organisations.

Richard III: Rumour and Reality is a collaborative project inspired by the identification of the remains of England’s last Yorkist king during archaeological excavations, which prompted enthusiastic public interest across the region.

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TEDDY BEARS’ HEAD FOR FOXWOOD PICNIC

Foxwood Residents will be having a Teddy Bears’ picnic at the Community Centre summer fair on Saturday 22 June from 11am to 3pm.

The first 18 children who come along with a teddy bear will get a free goody bag.

There will also be the opportunity to adopt a bear from the teddy bear orphanage and a tombola for the adults.

If you can help on the day, then please contact Shirley on 793437.

Meanwhile local children have been working with the local Police to illustrate how Acomb/Westfield might be improved

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