Council officials are recommending no action on a petition which was collected requesting the night time closure of two snickets leading from Spindle Close and the Foxwood Park to Ashbourne Way.

The proposal was made following problems with anti social behaviour.

The officers report – which will be considered at a meeting next week – can be read by clicking here.

Only the Liberal Democrat Councillor for Woodthorpe (and the Green Party Leader) have responded to a request for their views.

The Labour Councillors representing the two wards affected have chosen to remain silent.

Residents are able to make written representations to the decision meeting which is taking place on Thursday 18th April.

Residents can also choose to attend and speak at the meeting if they give the required notice.

The Council is conducting one of its periodic surveys to discover whether there is any unmet demand for taxis in the City.

The City currently has 183 taxis and 576 private hire vehicles.

Although the Council points to poor air quality standards as being partly the result of the use of diesel engines in the City Centre, most of these emissions can be traced to commercial vehicles and buses rather than taxis.

However there is a growing demand from some residents who want to have the option of using a low emission Prius + type hire vehicle.

Prius taxi

They are an increasingly common sight on the streets of New York

In York, getting a taxi at peak times can be difficult. However, taxi owners point to periods of the day when they are lucky to get a fare of any sort.

You can take part in the survey by clicking here

The Council has provided the following background information
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The election of a LibDem led Council in 2003 seemed finally to have removed the threat that meant that large areas of York’s (draft) Green Belt would be built on.

Labour Councillors had previously advocated large scale expansion of the City meaning that most land lying between the ring road and the present urban boundary could have been developed.

In 2009 Westfield Liberal Democrats successfully campaigned against the development of land between Chapelfields and the ring road

The supply of development land was adequate to meet the historic building profile in the City (around 650 new homes per year).

Campaigns – led by Liberal Democrat Councillors – to protect Green Belt land had been successful in 2009 (see left).

So by 2011 a Local Development Framework (LDF) had been agreed which protected the draft Green Belt.

Development was concentrated on sites such as York Central (land behind the station), Germany Beck in Fulford and Derwenthorpe in Osbaldwick.

Most house building would be on previously developed commercial sites such as British Sugar, Terry’s and Nestle south.

In 2011 planning permissions for nearly 4000 new homes were outstanding. Enough to satisfy demand for over 7 years.

When Labour regained control of the Council in May 2011 they first tinkered with the LDF and then abandoned it altogether.

Building rates fell to an all time low in 2012 with onerous planning conditions and poor mortgage availability blamed.

The vacant land with planning permission was still there. But development was, and remains, very slow.

The Labour Council has spent the last 12 months asking landowners whether their green field plots should be built on.

Farmland which gains planning permission can increase in value by a factor of 100x so not surprisingly there has been a rush of willing sellers.

Labours plans are due to be published on Friday (12th April).

We have little doubt that many controversial green field sites will be identified for potential development.

We will publish details here when we have them and will vigorously oppose any attempt to destroy the City’s green belt setting.

A council official has now admitted that they took down the safety barriers next to the Spar shop on Acomb Road.

Council consultation map Poppleton Road Holgate Road area. click to enlarge

He claims that it is part of the improvements being made to the route linking the new A59 park and ride site with the City centre.

However residents were consulted about proposals for The Fox junction several months ago. The plans can still be found on the council’s web site.

They give no indication that it was proposed to remove the safety railings.

The official also claims that the removal forms part of the Councils “de-cluttering” policy. This was the policy to remove railings, street signs and other street furniture in the City centre conservation area.

That the strategy now seems to be spreading across the whole City will come as news to many and – where children’s safety is concerned – will be a source of anxiety.

Councils consultation plan for Acomb Road junction

Nor have any local residents been consulted about the removal plans. They were given no notice of the work starting.

Even now they have no idea when the scheme will be completed.

The railings were provided about 25 years ago following complaints about children leaving the local shop and stepping straight out onto the busy highway junction.

A decision to remove this safety feature is most definitely one that local residents should have the final say in.

We’ve reported that the bollard which was located at the junction of Huntsman’s Walk and Fir Heath Close in Foxwood Hill has been damaged.

The bollard was apparently hit by a lorry last week. It is not the first time that this has happened.

We reported the issue using the “My Council” mobile phone app which can be found by clicking here.

The consultation meeting, which was to have taken place on 4th March and which was cancelled by the Council at short notice, will now take place at Heslington Church on Wednesday 10th April between 7:00pm and 8:30pm

The swimming pools at Energise on Cornlands Road are likely to be closed until Monday afternoon

A Freedom of Information request has shed some light on the Councils future intentions regarding the management of Extra Care sheltered accommodation units like Gale Farm Court.

As we previously reported, the 2014 budget agreed by Labour included provision for “market testing” the management of the sheltered housing with extra care service.

A cut of over £300,000 in the budget for the service was agree by Labour at the budget Council meeting held in February (click here to see our reaction).

The FOI request – in its final question – asks the Council to specifically rule out letting a contract for the management of the service in future.

The Councils response pointedly fails to do so.

Email from Labour Councillor

Meanwhile residents tell us that a bizarre message – from Labour Cllr Laing who is responsible for the privatisation initiatives in Social Services – has been pinned to the notice board in Gale Farm Court.

Her claims, that no changes are planned, looks increasingly disingenuous now that the Warden Call service is being outsourced and some charges doubled.

Cllr Laing’s email could get her into hot water as Councillors are not supposed to use Council facilities for political campaigning.

Detectives in York are investigating following a serious assault in the city.

It occurred shortly before 9pm an Friday 5 April 2013, in a house in the Upper Poppleton area.

As a result of the incident an 81-year-old man suffered serious head and chest injuries and was taken to York District Hospital were he remains in a serious condition.

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