Sustrans, who manage the York – Selby cycle path, are consulting on the work that they they hope to undertake on the trees and bushes which are adjacent to the path.
Already some work has started on removing invasive and self seeded trees the roots of which have damaged the adjacent cycle path.
Work has already started next to the track near Riccall.
The consultation takes a deeper look at the future of the green corridor.
Invasive Himalayan balsam would be removed while an effort would be made to introduce tansy into the grassland sward to support the tansy beetle.
Near Bishopthorpe, some fruit trees may be planted.
Click for details of what is planned.The consultation closes on 1st January 2021
We think that most cycle path users will welcome this initiative from Sustrans.
We only hope that repairs to the surface of the cycle path will start quickly now.
Too many sections of the route have been made hazardous by root damage.
No news yet on when the promised improvements, to the York Council maintained section of the cycle path between Tadcaster Road and the A64, will start. Improvements were promised as part of the plan to provide a new clubhouse and pitches for Bishopthorpe FC.
The clubhouses itself – although currently mired in mud – is making progress but no start date for the promised path upgrade has been given.
Building works near Sim Balk Lanestarted over 12 months ago.
This section of track is also now subject to tree root damage.
Still no environmental or economic impact assessment
Knapton Forest land
The Council has published a report on its plans to establish a new 50,000 tree forest on land near Knapton.
The scheme had been criticised as “impulsive” with taxpayers believing that economic and environmental assessments of the effects of losing such a large area of good quality farming land – located near to potential consumers – should have been completed first.
No such evaluations, or a cost benefit analysis, have been published in the latest papers.
The project – which does have some merits – will disappoint many Liberal Democrat voters who were promised that accessible public open space would be provided to offset the loss of green fields, to new developments, in the Westfield area.
Other open spaces and footpaths have recently also been sealed off by landowners, making informal leisure options even less accessible for many thousands of residents.
The report reveals that “£1.65 million was used in the land purchase in West York and a further £400,000 was approved for the purchase of adjacent land subject to negotiations with the current landowner (ongoing). Council also allocated £25,000 revenue funding (2020- 2021) rising to £50,000 in 2021/22 and 2022/23 to support woodland creation and this budget sits within the CSCP budget”
The Council says that it is still trying to access “external funding” to offset the costs of the project.
We will see.
No update is provided on the promise to purchase more potential woodland in “an area near to the inner ring road”.
There are many other sites in the City – already in public ownership – where more trees could be planted.
Existing tree stocks have been neglected in recent years with many “highway trees” now needing either crown reduction or crown lifting work. The Councils budget allocation for tree maintenance work has been inadequate for many years.
NB. The report lets slip that the completion of the land purchase was announced in a “LibDem media release in October”. At that time, the restrictions on revealing the site location – imposed by the Councils Executive at a formal session – had not been formally lifted. It is without precedent for a major Council decision to be formally announced by a political party in advance of the Council itself issuing a progress statement. Those concerned will no doubt be hoping that no one reports this indiscretion to the Standards Committee!
A new council report says that the City will have to invest between £1.1 and £2.3 billion to become “Carbon Neutral” by 2030.
It is the first time that a figure has been put on the ambition to reach net zero carbon within 10 years.
A meeting next week will also consider an academic reportinto climate change issues in the City.
The report claims
“that York could close the gap between its projected emissions in 2030 and net zero emissions by 47% purely through the adoption of cost-effective options in houses, public and commercial buildings, transport and industry”.
“The most carbon effective options for the city to deliver these carbon cuts include improved deep retrofitting of heating, lighting and insulation in houses, cooling and insulation in offices, shops and restaurants, and a range of measures across the transport sector including mode shift to non-motorised transport and the wider up-take of electric vehicles”.
The report accepts that these initiative alone would not be sufficient to achieve the target with another 31% reduction needed from “more innovative interventions”.
The report is likely to be met with some scepticism. The recent lockdowns have told us more about what is possible and what is likely to happen.
On the positive side, more people are working from home eliminating one source of transport emissions. Air quality in the City is now better than has previously been recorded in modern times.
The numbers of electric vehicles being purchased is also increasing.
On the negative side, there has actually been a drop in the number of people cycling and using public transport. The drop in the use of latter has been dramatic and it remains to be seen how quickly confidence in using buses will return.
The Council proposes to appoint – a slightly pretentiously labelled – Climate Commission.
How a climate change works programme could be funded – given the already spiralling level of debt at both City and national level – remains to be seen.
It appears that the Council has reverted to a reactive litter control policy. This involves two person teams clearing litter when it is reported.
The alternative, which operated for many years in the City, involved an individual worker taking responsibility for keeping specific estates tidy.
This system was reintroduced during the first lockdown with a marked improvement in cleanliness standards.
With fewer people on the streets, litter should be less of a problem at present but in the longer term a system which encourages pride in the City is the best option.
To report a litter problem please use the 24/7 “on line” service (click)
Woodford Place untidy over the weekend. Has been reported
Council has teams on standby to support residents and businesses in a COVID- secure way as river levels set to peak
Minor flooding of riverside paths has occurred over night. (click)
Click for update
City of York Council has front line teams on standby to support residents and businesses as river levels are set to peak on Wednesday 4 November.
The council is working with the Environment Agency and will use the latest advice to identify peak levels and will communicate any potential impacts separately.
Letters are being sent to residents living in homes and properties which might be directly affected by high river levels, which provides advice and support as well as the measures being put in place.
The council is working closely with the York and North Yorkshire Local Resilience Forum, which includes police and fire services as well as North Yorkshire County Council, Met Office and Environment Agency.
View the latest river level predictions and warnings here.
Live web cam at Kings Staithe. Click image to update
Defences are being deployed today/tomorrow at Clementhorpe,Tower Street and Peckitt Street. Rowntree Park will also remain closed tomorrow after closing tonight.
Advice and support:
When there’s flooding in York, the council will provide assistance, practical support and information as soon as it’s safe and appropriate to do so – all in a COVID secure way. Sandbags: If your home/property is at immediate risk of flooding – then you don’t need to contact us. We’ll provide sandbags to communities based on the latest forecasted levels. Rest Centres: We have teams on standby to help provide and support should you need this. Rest centres have been redesigned to ensure they are managed in a COVID-safe environment.
Social care support:
If you know of someone who may be in need of social care and support contact our Adult Social Care Team, email: adult.socialsupport@york.gov.uk or telephone: 01904 555111 (or textphone: 07534 437804, for sensory impaired callers), between 8.30am and 5pm, Monday to Friday.
Emotional support:
The Major Incident Response Team have trained volunteers on hand to provide emotional support to those affected by incidents such as flooding. The team are here to help and you can contact them on mirt@york.gov.uk
The Environment Agency river forecasters will continue to monitor the situation 24/7 and provide further updates. Please keep an eye out for the latest information and alerts from the Environment Agency for updates on river levels in the city.
Drivers, pedestrians and cyclists should not enter or travel through flood water which has risks from hidden obstacles and health hazards.
Concerns have been raised about fires which have been lit near the travellers site at Osbaldwick.
Although we have enjoyed better air quality in recent months, the gains made could be quickly lost of the York Council doesn’t get on top of the problem of uncontrolled burning.
As well as being a threat to health, smoke can cause visibility problems on highways.
Good to see that the litter bin on Tadcaster Road, which we reported last week as being full, was quickly emptied by the Council.
Shame that we are now seeing an increase in other examples of environmental crime
Empty cans blight the cycle underpass at London Bridge despite two litter bins being provided. Graffiti also a continuing problem.
London Bridge
Seat dumped in Acomb Wood. Been a lot of problems with litter there. The wood is maintained by volunteers, is a heaven for wildlife and a popular walk for locals.
Disappointing to see litter bins filled to overflowing on the Tadcaster Road entrance to the City. Also some graffiti. We’ve reported both.
Its also disappointing to see that the cycle path near the golf course still hasn’t received any maintenance.
Given that the Council has been rushing around trying to introduce new cycling facilities it seems strange that those which already exist are so badly neglected. Not the way to get people out of their cars and onto their bikes.
Huge amounts of money are on offer to Councils to get issues like this sorted.
cycle path being gradually overgrown. Surface now breaking up.
