After many representations by residents, supported by local Councillors, the little Green Lane garage area forecourt and access road has been resurfaced.
The area now looks quite tidy, although it will be important to ensure that there is no more fly tipping and that undergrowth is cut back from the boundaries.
Before access road
Before
after forecourt
After parking area
After access road
The Council is asking local residents, businesses and community groups to become ‘litter heroes’ by getting behind York’s annual spring clean event next month, on or around the weekend of 2-4 March.
Part of the Keep Britain Tidy’s ‘Great British Spring Clean’, the event seeks to inspire people to roll up their sleeves and get involved in community litter picks and ‘tidy-ups’ in wards across the city.
Over the course of the weekend, the council will be on hand to lend support to residents in several ways, including collecting extra waste that is in bags printed with a large ‘V’ for volunteer from pre-planned spring clean events and providing equipment to help make jobs quicker and easier.
Cllr Andrew Waller, Deputy Leader and Executive Member for the Environment, said: “The annual spring clean provides a great opportunity for residents, voluntary groups and businesses across York to come together and make a real difference to how our city looks.
“We know that the vast majority of York residents take a real pride in their local area and want to support the work of the council to keep it litter free. If people work together as ‘litter heroes’ we can achieve a huge amount over the weekend and support the work by the council and the Business Improvement District.”
Andrew Lowson, Executive Director of the York BID, said: “The York BID has a remit to work with stakeholders and improve the appearance and environment of York city centre. We all know how important it is to keep the city clean for the businesses who operate here, the residents who call it home, and the millions of visitors we host every year.
“The York BID are happy to support and endorse the Great British Spring Clean on behalf of the businesses we represent. By providing two operatives every day of the week to enhance the work of the council, we are proud to be part of a wider team that aims to keep York as clean and attractive as possible.”
To get involved, to request help, or to register your event with the council email environmentandcommunity@york.gov.uk. For more information visit www.york.gov.uk/environmentandcommunity call 01904 551551 or follow @cityofyork on Twitter.
The Council has cut the hedge back from the corner of Osprey Close and Acomb Wood Drive.
The hedge had grown on “no mans land” over the years to the point where it was obstructing access along the footpath in summer.
The street name plate was also obscured.
Nearby, work on lopping trees in Acomb Wood near Hawkshead Close is due to take place during February and March. The programme of works, which were agreed with local residents last year, is expected to take 6 days to complete.
Before
After
After
Electric buses have been introduced in York
Proposals for York’s first Clean Air Zone, the first in the UK, are due to be considered by the Council’s Executive on the 25th January.
The Clean Air Zone, or CAZ, will seek to reduce emissions from buses in the City and further tackle poor air quality in York and include a single ultra-low emissions standard for the majority of vehicles operating on local bus services.
Furthermore, within the CAZ are measures to deter drivers who leave their engines idling in the City centre and potential enforcement options to back this.
Plans to fine drivers £20 if they leave their vehicle engines running are likely to be unpopular.
The Liberal Democrats have been continuously working to tackle the issue of poor air quality in York for many years and with Liberal Democrat input, the Clean Air Zone will also seek to recognise and address particulate pollution caused by tyres and break pads – An issue recently raised by the Government’s top environment adviser, Professor Frank Kelly.
To kick-start it’s implementation, a consultation is being requested from Executive, with aims to introduce the CAZ by 2020. Furthermore, the Executive are also to consider the inclusion of an improved single ultra-low emissions standard for the majority of vehicles operating on the City’s local bus services.
Cllr Andrew Waller said:
“In the Clean Air Zone, we will be targeting the most frequent buses coming into the city centre to reduce nitrogen dioxide but also looking at ways to build on the work done to reduce emissions from other vehicles.
This is the first Executive report which recognises the issue of particulate matter caused by tyres and break pads which is increasing in public awareness.
With its inclusion, the Clean Air Zone, if approved, will produce a more comprehensive plan to reduce pollution in the City centre and York can truly lead the fight against poor air quality. It builds on the work done during York’s participation in the first national Clean Air Day, which was held on June 15th this year and promoted sustainable transport and tackling idling engines.
The Liberal Democrats will continue to monitor the development of a Clean Air Zone for York and champion a better local environment for all.”
Organised by One Planet York- a network of organisations working to make York a more sustainable, resilient and collaborative ‘One Planet’ city – the free event will be held at FortyFive Vinyl Cafe, 29 Micklegate between 7pm and 9pm.
Organisations, including Planet South Bank, will be sharing tips and hints at the informal event.
For more information visit www.facebook.com/oneplanetyork
There are still too many blocked drainage gullies in parts of York. This mornings rain demonstrated the scale of the problem with flooding at the bottom of Hamilton Drive East a particular hazard. There were similar if less spectacular problems on Nigel Grove and Foxwood Lane. All have been reported for attention
Work on levelling footpaths on Front Street has started. A Ward Committee funded scheme aimed at providing level access from the Gale Farm Court area into the shopping area for those using disability scooters.
Litter at the top of Foxwood Lane has been reported
& the weather inevitably means that vehicles parking on verges will damage them. We hope that work on providing a lay-by on Askham Lane will start shortly
Shocking pictures of dumping to the rear of shops on Front Street. Cllr Sue Hunter is following up the issue.
Complaints are increasing about lack of maintenance of the Leeman Road Nature Reserve. There has been a lot of dumping, tree detritus blights surrounding streets and some public footpaths are obstructed.
Hob Moor entrance October
Six months ago we reported that work needed to be done to ensure that the access to Hob Moor (Micklegate Stray) from Holly Bank Grove was useable in wet weather.
The path (which is a non statutory right of way) has deteriorated over the years. Residents had put down some wooden boards last year but these had proved to be inadequate.
Jan 2018 Mud now blocks access
At the time we hoped that the Holgate Ward Councillors would take the hint and install a soft landscape path of the type successful constructed at access points in Acomb Wood and on Bachelor Hill.
Sadly that hasn’t happened and the footpath was effectively impassable yesterday (Sunday).
We hope that the Councillors for the Holgate ward will now get the message and ensure that – as a minimum – some wood chippings or bark is put down to soak up the water.
NB. Ward Committees have been allocated a delegated budget by the Council to deal with issues like these.
A lot of footpaths in the city are icy today.
If your local salt bin is not full please ask your local Councillor to arrange for it to be refilled. Alternatively report “on line“
Salt bin locations can be found by clicking here
The lid missing from the salt bin in Woodford Place is to be repaired by the York Council
Recently Westfield Councillor Andrew Waller asked for bins to be refilled at the following locations
