York Council tackles nettle threat

The Council has acted promoted to remove nettles which were impeding Foxwood Lane. Reported on 2nd October the nettles were removed today.

Nettles removed from Foxwood Lane Not so good is the entrance to Hob Moor from Holly Bank Grove. It’s only October and the path is nearly impassible for pedestrians because of boggy ground. The Holgate Ward committee should take a leaf out of their counterparts in Westfield who arranged for improvements to a similar footpath access, to Acomb Wood from Hawkshead Close, over the summer.

We hope that the contractors, currently working on putting in new Toucan crossing signals at the junction of Kingsway West and Thanet Road, will take the time to resurface the carriageway hammerhead while plant is is the area. The surface is dangerous for cyclists

The same contractors may also be responsible for vehicle damage to the Thanet Road sports area. Bulbs were planted in the grassed area by residents groups over recent years.

Speed check results for St Stephens Road

Speed checks have been carried out on St Stephens Road following complaints from local residents.

The road has a 20 mph speed limit.

The checks revealed a mean (average) speed of 23/21 mph.

The “85%ile” speeds were 27/26.

(The “85%ile” removes the highest 7.5% and lowest 7.5% of speeds recorded and is generally thought to be the speed limit that a typical driver will respect).

Although the speeds are above the current limit they are fairly typical of sub-urban roads. As we have seen elsewhere, the 20 mph limit has had little impact on driver behaviour.

The mean speeds of course may disguise a small number of drivers who may be exceeding the speed limit by a large margin, but the police do not have the resources to routinely deploy to address this possibility.

The authorities say that the street may be suitable for use of “Community Speed Watch”. This is a system operated by local residents, but it would require suitable volunteers to come forward.

 

 

Advanced warning of Askham Lane/The Green road closure to allow for resurfacing work

Much needed repairs on the link from Askham Lane to The Green are scheduled to take place on 16th/17th October

Askham Lane/The Green roadworks planned

Meanwhile, not for the first time, we have reported excessive litter near the Foxwood shops bus shelter (below).

Foxwood Lane bus shelter 28th September 2017

Delays in building Oakhaven care home replacement.

The Council are saying that the opening of the replacement for the Oakhaven care home on York Road will be delayed until the end of 2019 “at the earliest”.

The existing home was closed in 2015 and most recently was used as a homeless hostel.

Bed availability trends

A Council report reveals that there will still be a shortfall in residential care places for the elderly of 654 by 2020. This is slightly down on the inherited shortfall of 701.

“Extra Care” facilities – like those planned for Oakhaven – should reduce the excess of demand over supply from 330 to 9 by 2020.

The number of care beds available has remained fairly level over recent years while the number of delayed discharges from hospital (so called “bed blocking”) remains high as the winter approaches.

The report blames the Councils “partner” for the delays at Oakhaven.

“The delivery of this scheme is running later than originally planned as this procurement was launched later than anticipated due to lengthier examination of the procurement and legal options associated with the plan.

Further delays have occurred as Ashley House develop their design.

At present, we would expect completion of the building, subject to grant of planning permission, in Q3 2019 at the earliest”.

On the Lowfields Plans the report says,

“Plans for the development of a care home, health hub, homes (including bungalows and apartments for the over 55s) and public open space at Lowfield Green, in their final draft form, were the subject of further public engagement in July.

Engagement has shown support for the proposed development.

Lowfields school site is overgrown

However, there is strong objection to the development from the Save Lowfields Playing Field Action Group.

We will be ready to submit the planning application for this proposed development in September 2017.

Later in the autumn Executive will be asked to decide if we are to build the new homes ourselves or sell the land so that another developer can do so”.

NB. Opposition to the development at Lowfields centres around the houses planned for the playing field. The elderly persons accommodation proposals enjoy broad support as they are to be built on the “footprint” of the old school buildings.

High rise fire risk worries in York

The York Council says that it does not know whether there are any private sector flats in York which may have an increased fire risk of the type that led to the Grenfell Tower disaster.

Although Council owned properties have been inspected and given a clean bill of health, the Council does not hold any information on approximately 40% of similar properties in the private sector.

The anomaly comes because these developments were supervised by private sector “Approved Inspectors” rather than the Councils own building regulation staff.

A report to a meeting taking place next week explains why no central register is available and hints that private inspectors may have slightly different interpretation of building regulations

“In terms of assurances that can be given on whether non-council owned high rise residential buildings in York meet existing and future fire safety building regulation, the picture is unclear as the council is not the only provider of building regulation services. Currently CYC supervises 60% of construction within the authority boundary with 40% being provided by private service providers (Approved Inspectors (AIs)).

 This means that on approximately 40% of developments, CYC will not have access to any constructional information, and therefore can provide no assurances about fire safety regulations in place, if they are not the appointed building regulation service provider.

Approximately 10 -15 different AI companies work within council’s area at any given time, each providing differing interpretations of the building regulations.

The council could consider whether it should contribute to the Hackitt review in light of this issue”.

The issue has been revealed following a request for a report from Environment Chief Cllr Andrew Waller.

The meeting will also be updated on plans to install sprinkler systems in vulnerable public buildings in the City

“Meet on the bridge” plan as Councillors seek residents views on Green Lane trees

A few weeks ago Westfield Councillors asked residents to fill out a short survey. The survey asked about attitudes to the height and width of the trees which grow in the verges in (little) Green Lane.

While there was a mixed response, the vast majority of residents asked for at least some maintenance work to undertaken on the trees.

There were complaints that the trees blocked both natural and street lighting or interfered with communications wires.

Some residents pointed to excessive leaf fall in the autumn. Some felt that this was responsible for blockages on the street drainage  systems.

To make progress on the matter local Councillors have organised a public “on site” meeting.

It will take place on the bridge near the school entrance at 5:45pm on Tuesday 26th September.  The results will be discussed at the meeting which is taking place later the same day at which a tree expert will be present.

The Council will be undertaking some work on trees on the west of the City during the autumn and the Ward committee has a small budget available which could be used to supplement this programme

 

Residents reject plan to fence off Chesneys Field

Chesney’s Field development plan

A Council proposal, that part of the Chesney Field amenity area should be fenced off, was criticised at a meeting of the Foxwood Residents Association last night.

Of those attending the meeting, only Council officials spoke in favour of the plan.

Now a formal representation has been made to local Councillors in the hope that the scheme can be quickly dismissed as an option.

This would allow other aspects of the project to move forward. These may include the provision of a trim track or “outdoor gym”.

Residents urged the football club that wants to erect the fencing and a storage container, to look to an arrangement with the Acorn Ruby Club who operate on an adjacent, and secure, site already.

The matter is likely to be discussed again at a Ward Committee meeting which is taking place next Tuesday at the Bowling Club (7:00pm)