The York Council has released, under Freedom of Information legislation, copies of correspondence its Labour Leadership has had on the subject of Fracking
The Emails can be read here:
York Environment Forum policy statement
Local Plan Minerals policy extract
York Council internal briefing on Fracking
The Labour Leadership have yet to make clear their policy on the use of fracking techniques in the York area
The Press are reporting that traces of asbestos have been found on land near Kingsway West.
Householders have been warned “not to dig down more than 12 inches” in their gardens.
We reported last year that a former landfill site in the area was being investigated.
Now it seems that there is some residual contamination but it is largely inert and unlikely to be a factor in existing residents everyday lives.
The Council – which is behind schedule in submitting its planning application for the Newbury Avenue garage site – now has another issue to address if it decides to go ahead with its controversial building plans.
Another batch of trees funded by The Galtres Festival Charitable Foundation will soon be planted in York, under the festival’s partnership with Treemendous.
The Foxwood area of York has been chosen as the location for this latest planting project, where it is hoped new trees will line public paths and form new areas of woodland.
Ticket-buyers for the annual Galtres Parklands Festival are encouraged to contribute to the event’s plant-a-tree scheme, which Galtres has set up as a voluntary carbon tax – and this week £1425 has been channelled to the city’s Treemendous initiative.
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City of York Council is reminding residents that all households must place their new garden waste sticker on the lid of their green bin by Monday 5 May to ensure continued collections.
New figures reveal that Labour run York Council overspent this year’s winter maintenance budget despite it being one of the mildest winters on record.
The council’s 2013/14 winter budget, which funds gritting and salt bins, was £107,000 in the red despite the city seeing no significant snowfall or prolonged frosts this winter. This has led to concerns that recent cuts by Labour have left the budget dangerously low and if next winter sees more typical weather there will be major disruption in York.
Labour has cut the winter maintenance budget every year since coming to power in 2011, and last year took 30 miles of road off the priority gritting list while cutting two-thirds of the city’s salt bins.
Cllr Ann Reid, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Environmental Services, commented:
“It is extraordinary that despite it being the fifth mildest winter since national records began the Labour Council has still overspent its budget.
“Cuts by Labour have reduced gritting routes and salt bins across York and therefore reduced the city’s capacity to cope with bad weather. If we have a more typical winter next year then the budget is just not there to ensure roads and paths are gritted and residents are kept safe.
“Liberal Democrat budget plans called for an extra £30,000 to be put into winter services and an extra £500,000 to be given to communities for local priorities such as extra salt bins or gritting. This would ensure that the resource was there to cope with bad weather.
“Labour got lucky this winter. However, the policy of spending money on city-centre vanity projects like Kings Square instead of on frontline services like gritting roads will catch-up with them.”
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Acomb Alive, the voluntary committee which is driving the regeneration of the Front Street area, have published a new newsletter.
Page 1 click to enlarge
Page 2 click to enlarge
In it they reveal plans which could lead to a street market being established in part of the (pedestrianised) section of Front Street.
This was the idea put forward a year ago by the Liberal Democrats, residents and traders but which received only half hearted support from the Council.
The present Council’s continuing antipathy towards Acomb is evident from the latest plans which show only a handful of stall spaces being made available.
Front Street market plan click to enlarge
What the area needs is a sustained boost to “footfall” figures if it is to benefit for the current improvement in the economy.
NB. An Easter Fair will take place on Saturday 19th April between 9:00am and 4:00pm at the Working Mens Club.
The fair will include an Easter bonnet competition.
Chapelfields Petition
Poor street sweeping
Verge damage
Blocked footpaths
Poorly maintained garage areas
Blocked drainage gulleys
Poor road surfaces
Misaligned street signs
Weed growth next to traffic islands
Residents were out and about planting wild flowers and poppies on Foxwood Lane yesterday.
The poppy seeds have been donated by local residents as a way of commemorating the start of the First Wold War.
The project formed part of a series of events aimed at brightening up the neighbourhood.
Extensive tidy up work has also taken place in the Foxwood Park.
It also builds on the success that the community had in the Britain in Bloom contest last year.
NB. The Foxwood Residents Association is holding its AGM on Wednesday. Click below for details.
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Over 100 bags of litter have now been collected during the first two weeks of the Smarter York Spring Clean campaign to spruce up areas of York.
The campaign, now half way through, has been carried out by volunteer residents together with York and North Yorkshire Probation Trust’s Community Payback team. They have been busy litter picking, planting, weeding, edging and painting and new volunteers are now being sought to continue the great work achieved so far.
Foxwood residents were joined by Bootham School pupils this after noon as the clear-up of the Foxwood Park continued.
Work concentrated on the overgrown areas.
Further work is planned later in the year
