Acomb War Memorial restoration – deadline looms

Acomb War Memorial – Civic Trust notice

According to the York Civic Trust, restoration of the stonework on the Acomb War Memorial should be completed next week.

They promise, in a poster attached to the (ugly) security barriers which currently protect the monument, that their work will be completed “before the middle of October”.

They promise that a remembrance ceremony will take place on 11th November – the 100 year anniversary of the end of the First World War. St Stephen’s Church confirm that they will be holding a service of remembrance, part of which will be held at the Acomb War Memorial on 11th November.

Progress on other commemorative work in the memorial gardens has been slow.

The Westfield Ward Committee promised to fund the provision of a path, from the entrance to the memorial, in an attempt to make access for disabled people and wheelchair users easier. The work has not yet started.

The Ward Committee also promised to fund “crown thinning” of some of the trees on the site in an attempt to encourage flower growth. Reducing the amount of vegetation would also have the effect of improving visibility into the gardens, making anti social behaviour less likely.

The Council sign – which prohibits alcohol consumption on The Green – is only just coming back into view as the leaves fall.

Sadly the rotten fence posts which were left in the gardens a few weeks ago are still there despite being reported to the council for removal.

So a lot still to do.

Dumped rotten fencing in memorial garden

Well camouflaged alcohol prohibition notice

Weeds over grow path in Windsor Garth

Weeds growing through footpath on Windsor Garth near Sandown Close. We’ve reported the problem but it seems to be another area that has been missed off this years treatment programme

Time of year gullies need to eb checked fro blockages. We’ve asked for those on the little Green Lane footpath to be cleared of leaves

We’ve asked for the Gale Lane/Holgate beck to be cleared of detritus and undergrowth before the winter

UFO are behind schedule in reinstating concrete drives on Stuart Road

Verge and path on Foxwood lane still showing signs of damage following broadband excavations near 12 months ago

One bonus has been the renewal of the flagstones at the Hamilton Drive West bus stop. We asked for these to be done on safety grounds last year

New litter bins have been rolled out to several streets including this one on Kingsway West

We’ve asked for the garage area off Windsor Garth to be tidied up.

 

Weeds on some lanes now at head height in York

 

Beaconsfield Street back lane weed now 6 foot tall. No treatment this year by Council

Severus Street

School Street

Milner Street back lane

Hedge on Foxwood Lane obstructing public footpath

Sevral snickets are overgorwn with weeds

Some good news with the weeds which disfigured the offices on the Front Street link road having been cleared of weeds.

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Flower bed in Foxwood gets make over from “Good Gym”

The flower beds in Corlett Court in Foxwood were refurbished earlier in the year. Unfortunately, during the recent dry spell,  one bed was taken taken over by a particularly pernicious form of weed. The weeds had strangled growth of the Lavender plants that had been cultivated.

Thanks to “Good Gym” for removing the weed then replanting the lavender and other low level plants.

18 bags of weeds were removed together with a bag of rubbish.

Great work by “Good Gym” who make a real difference to the appearance of our City

 

Acomb War Memorial challenge

The York Civic Trust have confirmed that the restoration work that they plan to do on the Acomb War Memorial will be restricted to repairing and cleaning the stonework. Some of the lettering on the monument will also be repainted. The work is partly being sponsored by the Trust with a contribution from the City of York Council. The work is being managed by volunteers.

The scope of the refurbishment falls short of level of work which residents had hoped could be achieved before the Centenary of the end of WW1 which takes place on 11th November.

The original specification for the upgrade had included items like;

  1. Lopping some of the overhanging tree branches to allow more sunlight into the area (and thereby encourage plant growth)
  2. Extending the paving (which currently ends near the entrance) so that wheelchair users could access the memorial
  3. Provision of an interpretation board
  4. The possible provision of a commemorative public seat ( https://www.davidogilvie.com/ww1-seat )

The “Friends of Acomb Green” are hoping to have a fund-raising event shortly but, if more work is to be commissioned, in the time available, it is likely that Council and Ward committee funding will be required.

Two years prison for developer who defrauded £50,000 from flood victims on Huntington Road

A property developer who fraudulently took almost £50,000 from victims of the 2015 floods has been sentenced to 24 months imprisonment at York Crown Court yesterday (7 August 2018).

Owen Danter, aged 40 of 78 Munstead Way, Welton Brough, East Yorkshire, was the sole director of OTD Development Ltd before he voluntarily liquidated the company on 20 April 2017.

He was sentenced to 24 months imprisonment in relation to the 12 charges of Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading for which he had previously pleaded guilty on 19 June 2018.

The charges related to building work by the defendants at two neighbouring addresses on Huntington Road, which both suffered extensive flooding in December 2015.

Both properties had to be vacated by the owners due to the extent of the flood damage.

In June 2016, Mr Danter was employed to carry out the required repairs at both addresses, and by agreement, some additional building work.

At both properties goods were paid for but not supplied. At one property Mr Danter issued nine invoices with a total value of £35,063.82 and to the other he issued four invoices with a total value of £14,483.

On four occasions Mr Danter requested payment be made into a different bank account, because he claimed, hiis bank account had been hacked. He provided alternative bank account details which were his mother’s. The bank confirmed there was no such hacking incident.

By late February 2017, the work was not finished, despite completion dates of November 2016 and December 2016 being previously given, leaving both properties uninhabitable.

In December 2016, Mr Danter disappeared for several days, claiming to have suffered exhaustion and a breakdown, but returned to work.

In February 2017, Mr Danter left the addresses for good, claiming he had suffered a complete breakdown. Between June 2016 and February 2017 both consumers were invoiced and paid for goods and services which did not materialise.

When Mr Danter was challenged about it he gave a variety of reasons – that the articles had been ordered, or that the articles had been paid for or that the articles had been delivered and were in his storage facility.

At interview with Trading Standards officers, Mr Danter admitted his management of the company was poor and that he had taken on too much work and had been involved with four other neighbouring properties. He also explained he had been suffering from depression and was dependent on medication.

Cllr Nigel Ayre, executive member responsible for Trading Standards, said: “Deliberately taking people’s money and not carrying out the work would have a significant impact on most people. But to knowingly inflict that on residents who were in a vulnerable situation following the 2015 floods is far worse. This prosecution shows that we will do our utmost to protect residents from unscrupulous traders.

“Anyone wanting to report poor quality work or unfair trading practices should call the Consumer Helpline on 0345 4040 506.”

HHJudge Hickey told the court: “The deception period was 28 August 2016 to 10 February 2017. The victim personal statements and photos of dilapidation make sober viewing.”