Dog walkers arriving at the Foxwood park will get a reminder from the Residents Association that they must clean up using a poo bag.
In an innovative move, spare poo bags are being provided at the entrance to the park with a request that dog owners replace any they use when they next visit.
The schedules were introduced 6 months ago. They rationalised existing routes with the Council claiming that operatives would spend longer in each street but would, in some cases, visit less frequently.
The Council report claims that the number of reports (706) about cleanliness standards were similar during the 6 months of the trial compared to the 704 in the equivalent previous period.
Lack of litter bin at bus stop on Askham Lane
Various issues were raised with the Council by residents. Not least was confusion about which areas would be swept with some snickets and Council garage areas apparently omitted from the routine visit schedule.
Several before and after photographs are included with the report (above).
Our observation is that, where cul de sacs have had a thorough clean, the standards achieved have been higher. Investment in new machinery appears to have been effective.
Litter accumulation on Grange Lane snicket
However some areas continue to be a problem with tree detritus and litter drift a continuing issue
Residents in Westfield have expressed mixed views on the new schedules.
In Chapelfields 62% of respondents to our survey have rated the street cleaning service as “satisfactory”. 23% said it was “poor” and 15% rated it as “good”
In a separate Focus survey, asked whether there was “less litter on local streets since the new cleaning rounds were introduced a couple of months ago“, 50% said there wasn’t.
There is better news on the response by the Council to litter complaints.
Those reported, via the improved “on line“ service, usually generate a speedy response.
Complainants are also now told when an issue has been remedied.
A big step forward
The problem is likely to get worse as the summer approaches. Not only is there no local recycling centre on the west of the City, but the regular skip visits, funded by the Council on many estates, ceased suddenly on 1st April.
These are some of the areas that we have reported recently
Foxwood park dumping
Acomb Wood Meadow dumping
Acomb Wood Meadow tree cover being eroded
Westfield Fen woodland covered in litter
Remains of a bonfire adjacent to Westfield bog
Some residents are now saying that the boundaries of nature areas should be secured – with access allowed only under supervision – at least until the areas have had a chance to regenerated.
Areas like the Foxwood Park are, however, widely used for other leisure activities and here enforcement of anti dumping laws appears to be the only way forward. The Council may install CCTV cameras to catch dumpers.
Fly tipping fines can now be as much as £400.
The Foxwood Residents Association is starting discussions with Accent Housing which is the landlord of some of the proprieties which border the threatened areas. They will be asking for their help in funding improvements along the boundaries together with regular clean ups.
In addition it will be suggested that skips visit the estate regularly to allow tenants to dispose of unwanted items.
Wildlife is,however, thriving on the Lowfields playing fields the boundary of which is normally secured.
Ironically this is an area that the Council hopes to develop.
Work has stared on providing a dry access point to Acomb Wood. The work is being funded by the Westfield Ward Committee
Earlier in the winter residents resorted to duckboards to maintain the public right of way access from Hawkshead Close to Acomb Wood
Some of the trees in the Council owned section of the wood are showing signs of their age. More proactive maintenance is required
But the bluebells are out providing a unique backdrop in the spring sunshine
5 bags of rubbish have been collected from the Tedder Raod park this morning by Foxwood Residents Association volunteers.
It was the latest in a series of litter picks staged by the RA following the successful participation in the Great British Spring Clean last month
A couple of dog owners who pleaded guilty for the noise nuisance their dogs created, were yesterday (12 April) given fines totaling £1,039 by York Magistrates Court.
A couple of dog owners who pleaded guilty for the noise nuisance their dogs created, were yesterday (12 April) given fines totaling £1,039 by York Magistrates Court.
Wilfred Weston and Audrey Weston both of Burton Green, York were each issued with a noise abatement notice in 2012 because of their dogs’ howling and barking at their address.
Both Mr and Mrs Weston were each ordered to pay a £138.00 fine, £30 court surcharge and £351.85 costs each.
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Cllr Sheena Jackson has reported dumping problems
Local Cllr Sheena Jackson has called for action as more dumping has taken place this week.
One vehicle targeted a public litter bin which was filled with domestic rubbish before a black sack was also dumped next to it.
The problem is likely to get worse if the Council don’t act quickly to restore the regular skip visit service which ended in March.
The Foxwood Residents Association has polled residents on their local budget priorities. The results of the consultation will be discussed at their AGM next week (19th April).
Continuation of the skip service will be a high priority according to residents responses.
Fly tipping in Foxwood Park
More fly tipping
Cllr Sheena Jackson has criticised the Council for failing to clear up fly tipping on the Foxwood Park.
The tipping was reported nearly 3 months ago.
Sheena says she received an email from CYC “confirming it was agreed to be cleared it but it is still there”.
This was disappointing news for the volunteers who work hard to make sure that the park is kept clean.
There has been an outstanding display of daffodils this year and work has been undertaken to reduced ponding at the entrance gates to the field. A set of goal posts are expected to be erected on the field later in the year.
Good display of daffodils in Foxwood Park this year. Most were planted by volunteers
Sheena and the team have been cleaning up the park again this week
One issue being reported are potholes in the surface of the grassed area. It is a particular difficulty for partially sighted users.
A report outlining proposals to “harness the expertise of community groups, provide volunteering opportunities and improve York’s green spaces” will be considered by the executive member for culture, leisure and tourism on 18 April.
The report sets out proposals to allocate £50,000 per annum funding to community projects at five parks in the city. “The proposals follow a wide ranging consultation by York CVS on behalf of the council”.
York CVS engaged with local stakeholders to discover the community needs and the best way for these needs to be fulfilled by local groups through the Growing Green Spaces scheme.
The funding has been specifically aimed towards five sites in the city. Proposals for each site were received by York CVS and have been recommended for approval including:
Around a third of all households in York will see their collection day for recycling changed from this Monday (3 April).
To check when your next collection is, visit: www.york.gov.uk/refuselookup.
You can also get alerts sent straight to your phone to remind you of your next collection day by downloading the free One Planet York app.
As a result of the review, all collection times will now vary. So all households, even if they are not changing day, must present their household waste, green garden waste bins and recycling on the kerbside by 7am on the morning of their collection
Cllr Andrew Waller, executive member for the environment, said: “We have made these changes so that we can give recycling a boost. This will improve how we use our vehicles and ensure our staff have the resources to bring new services for even more residents.
“We have been working with residents in the months leading up to the changes, and have provided free boxes, lids and nets for residents who have requested these, in the areas changing over to help people to do more.
“Improving recycling levels will reduce landfill tax to enable more council funds to be used on frontline services. This will link with campaigns such as the community recycling fund across the whole city to encourage a higher recycling rate.
“We also want to remind all residents, even if they are not changing their day of collection that the time of their collections may alter.”
These changes will make our waste service more efficient and cost effective. By reorganising our collection routes we will be able to include York’s new housing developments and homes without having to allocate additional resources. The service will also save approximately £400k, reduce the amount of waste going to landfill and enable the roll out of recycling collections to rural areas of the city that don’t currently have them.
Rubbish (grey bin/black bags) and garden waste (green bin) collections are not affected by the changes.
In addition to the review in recycling rounds, we will also ensure our kerbside recycling collection service runs at full capacity.
We’ll replace old failing vehicles with new ones, which will reduce the need to mix the contents of the recycling boxes (which happens when we used replacement vehicles). This is known as comingling recycling and in 2015/16 over 2,900 tonnes was mixed, which cost the council around £200k to separate (compared to if it was already separated).
We’ll also ensure waste vehicles in terraced areas are replaced with more economical vehicles. This change means that a much higher proportion of council employees will be permanent and as such more familiar with the collection rounds.
A second phase of the review of waste services will take place next year and will look at rubbish collections (grey bins/black bags) and green waste collections. It will focus mainly on the opportunities we can take following the introduction of the new waste vehicles in 2018/19.
Households affected by the changes were sent new rubbish and recycling calendars in early March – well in advance of the changes taking place. For more information visit www.york.gov.uk.wastechanges
The changes were approved at a council meeting (decision session) on Monday 9 January. To view a copy of the report visit: http://democracy.york.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=870&MId=9761
