High growth of weeds and hedges but damaged verges still stubbornly bare!

The expectation was that the reinstatement of verges in the City following the UFO broadband works would have seen grass growing back by now. Recent rain has provided ideal growing conditions but there is little sign of life so far!

Dust bowl verges on Gale Lane. Still no grass

Tithe Close snicket has been cleared of litter and graffiti

Litter a problems on several snickets at present like this one on The Reeves.

More hedges blocking public footpaths

Hedge stops passengers waiting at Askham Lane bus stop from seeing approaching buses

Nettles another threat for bus passengers. No sign of the Council treating weeds so far this summer

Trolley area on Acomb car park needs a good clean up

Yorkshire day tomorrow. “Forgotten corners” deadline set

the York Council says, “Tell us what you love about York and help us improve forgotten corners” #YorkshireDay #LoveYork

To celebrate Yorkshire Day, City of York Council wants everyone to share what they love about York.

On the 1 August, the council will encourage everyone to share their favourite places, images, videos and stories through its social media channels including Twitter, Facebook and Instagram through #LoveYork #YorkshireDay

The aim of the campaign is to promote the amazing and beautiful places people visit in York, and at the same time highlight a new project which aims to transform areas of neglect so that they can once again be loved by many too.

The Forgotten Corners project is offering a share of £100,000 of funding to community groups so that they can help improve areas of green space across the city.

Cllr Andrew Waller, Deputy Leader and Executive Member for the Environment, said: “Yorkshire Day is a great way to celebrate what we all love about York. We want to hear from you! Share your favourite places to visit, your stories or photos with us on social media. Let’s get everyone talking about why our city is so special.

“At the same time, let’s not forget about areas which could be improved. Our Forgotten Corners project is about giving communities the chance to transform areas so that they can once again be loved by many. Let’s put these forgotten corners back on the map.”

For more information about the project www.york.gov.uk/forgottencorners

The closing date for expressions of interest is 22 August 2018.

The aim of the fund is to:

  • transform forgotten corners within York so they are attractive green spaces, accessible to residents and visitors
  • increase community involvement in maintaining and improving these areas
  • improve the quality of life for residents of York through promoting access to forgotten corners and increasing volunteering within these areas
  • create landscapes within forgotten corners which are low maintenance

Projects must be practical, leading to the creation of an accessible green space, with improvements being sustainable.

Applications can only be made by representatives of the following groups or organisations:

  • registered charities
  • not-for-profit organisations (including social enterprises)
  • community, neighbourhood or voluntary groups
  • faith groups delivering community work
  • schools, colleges or universities
  • Parish Councils

Delays in getting litter removed in suburban areas

We reported several problems with litter and dumping last Wednesday expecting that they would be cleared in a couple of days. Sad to say most haven’t.

The recent rain plus continuing warmer weather is likely to see hedge and grass growth. We’ll be reporting any on public spaces which block footpaths

Branches dumped in Tedder Road park

Still large amounts of litter on the Tithe Close snicket 3 working days after having been reported.

Recent rain has brought down a lot of tree detritus onto the footpath in St Stephens Square

Litter, litter everywhere

Rowntree Housing (JRHT) have agreed to organise a clean up of the play area on Teal Drive on Friday. The area – like many public open spaces during the current period of hot weather – has suffered badly from litter. Residents also plan a follow up over the weekend

Teal Drive playground with litter

Tedder Road park litter

 

Thoresby Road snicket

The Reeves snicket

Tithe Close snicket

 

 

Dumping blights back lanes in York

We were sorry to see that rubbish is piled in some terraced streets in the City. Nothing depresses an area more than fly tipping so the Councils robust level of fines are probably justified – albeit sparingly used.

In the Green Lane area yesterday we found two examples of dumping. The area now has 100% wheeled bin operation which has reduce litter drift. But, since the closure of the local recycling centre on Beckfield Lane 6 years ago, problems with dumping have increased. They are exacerbated by relatively high charges levied by the Council for removing bulky waste  

Regular visits by skips to estates were stopped about 2 years go. This decision has also impacted on how tidy our streets are

So something needs to change.

Recycling pont in Acomb Car park needs a “makeover”

Poor commercial storage arrangements at back of Front Street

Rubbish accumulating in Gladstone Street back lane

Rubbish in Howe Street back lane

 

Latest TalkTalk UFO broadband programme published

There is still some concern that verge reinstatement’s which are being reported as “complete” are actually quite unsightly. In part this may be put down to the recent very dry weather.

However, the local community should not have to put up with dust-bowl verges like those on Foxwood Lane – near Chesney’s Field – which were first dug up about 6 months ago.

Foxwood Lane

Foxwood Lane

York Council seeks views on new “Clean Air Zone” for York’s city centre

Fuel cell bus under test in London. Zero tail pipe emissions. Still no sign of the technology reaching York

City of York Council is seeking views on the proposed introduction of a Clean Air Zone in York’s city centre, to help tackle traffic pollution which can be harmful to people’s health.

As part of this consultation, a drop-in event is taking place on Monday 23 July between 3- 6pm at West Offices, where officers will be on-hand to answer any questions and provide more information about the proposals.

Unlike other parts of the country where a Clean Air Zone is a mandatory requirement, the council is proactively looking to introduce the new zone.

This will help to reduce the amount of traffic pollutants in York’s city centre, which are mainly caused by diesel vehicles.

The council is looking at many ways to improve air quality in the city centre. One of these options is by working with bus operators to apply the proposed Clean Air Zone to local bus services.

The authority knows (through York’s Third Air Quality Action Plan) that local bus services make up three per cent of the traffic but cause 27 per cent of the main pollutants in York.

The survey is available to complete at www.york.gov.uk/consultations. Alternatively  ask for a paper copy at West Offices.

To find out more about which bus services could be affected, or for more background on this proposal, visit: http://democracy.york.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=733&MId=10195

Those reading the background  reports may be disappointed by the lack of information on pollution trends in the City (Euro 6 standards are already prompting improvements) while auto idling devices are fitted to all new vehicles.
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New flytipping task force formed in York and North Yorkshire

A brand new fly tipping task force named Operation Eyeball has been formed to tackle fly tipping in rural parts of North Yorkshire and the City of York.

Bringing together North Yorkshire Police with landowners and district and unitary councils will allow the sharing of intelligence and information to tackle the crime. A key element will be planned and targeted enforcement action days.

North Yorkshire County Council, Network Rail, the NFU and the Environment Agency, as landowners, are also involved. Along with City of York Council, all seven North Yorkshire local authorities who have enforcement powers for this crime are also involved in the operation: Selby District Council, Ryedale District Council, Hambleton District Council, Harrogate District Council, Craven District Council, Scarborough Borough Council and Richmondshire District Council.

North Yorkshire Police will be gathering and sharing intelligence around fly tipping hot spots, suspect vehicles and waste carriers.

Supt Paula Booth, of North Yorkshire Police, said: “Fly-tipping is a selfish crime that blights local environments and spoils people’s enjoyment of our towns and countryside. It is a source of pollution, a potential danger to public health and a hazard to wildlife. It also undermines legitimate waste businesses who operate within the law.

“By working together, we can tackle this issue. We also need help from the public – if you find or witness fly-tipping, wherever it is, record as many details about the incident and the waste as you can, and report it to your local authority or via the gov.uk website. This will help the authorities take action against those responsible and stop them fly-tipping in the future.”

Anyone who witnesses fly tipping should report it to their local authority.