The work to replace the gas main near the junction of Blossom Street and Holgate Road were completed on schedule. Traffic has been flowing easily this weekend.
Blossom Street road works have been completed
However further road works on Nunnery Lane (and Tadcaster Road) are starting in June prompting calls for the trial lane closure on Bishopthorpe Road to be terminated.
The closure, ostensibly to free space for “social distancing, has prompted opposition from residents who point to higher pollution levels on alternative routes, cyclists who feel their “contraflow” route is unsafe and motorists who have been facing a 1 mile detour plus higher journey times.
Bishopthorpe Road lane closure. Petition calls for lane to be reopened.
Bollards placed along the edge of the footpath have actually made social distancing for pedestrians more difficult in places.
Lack of consultation with residents has been highlighted as a major concern, while the decision to coincide the closure with road works taking place on the detour route caused particular anger.
The scheme has led to a petition being gathered which calls for the scheme to be abandoned. It has already gained 900 signatures.
Some commentators have said that the impulsive decision may put the case for creating a part time foot street at the Bishopthorpe Road shops back by a decade or longer.
Unlawful Lendal Bridge closure cost Council £millions in compensation payments
Public antipathy had a similar effect following the failed Lendal Bridge closure 4 years ago.
The Council persisted with that project long after it became clear that it was ill judged and, indeed, ultimately proved to be unlawful.
Residents have complained bitterly on the “Save Lowfields Playing Field” Facebook page as contractors Wates step up their activities. The main complaints concern noise and dust although the parking of plant on public highways has also been an issue.
Promised repairs to verges have not been completed.
Council has written to local residents
It appears that more disruption is in prospect as a two week closure of the Tudor Road entrance to the site is due to start on Saturday 13th June. Apparently a full closure of Tudor Road will be in place for two weeks during which time a sewer will be diverted from the school site.
Tudor Road will be closed for at least two weeks in June
From Monday 29th June for one week there will be a partial road closure with one lane closed and the road controlled by traffic lights. The closure will affect access particularly to 100-108 Tudor Road. The bus service will be diverted although First York haven’t yet confirmed their diverted route.
During this period heavy plant and deliveries will revert to using the Dijon Avenue access to the site.
The Council has let down the people of Lowfield very badly on this project. They should not be building on playing fields. Any development of the former built footprint of the school, should have been scheduled for completion over a maximum of 24 months.
Now timescales are stretching out with no progress being made on the health centre, “police station”, elderly persons accommodation, self-build, communal living plots or even in providing the promised additional off street parking spaces for Dijon Avenue residents. .
Dijon Avenue site access will be used during Tudor Road sewer works
Progress is being made on providing football pitches and a luxurious clubhouse near Sim Balk Lane – mainly funded by contributions from the Lowfields development.
There seems to be no prospect of the open space and playgrounds being provided at Lowfields unless and until the whole of the development is completed.
Verge damage has not been repaired
That could be 5 years or more away.
The health crisis will affect the housing market in ways that can only be guessed at. It seems possible that the Council may end up being unable to sell the bulk of the 140 homes that it is currently building. Their decision to set up an “in house” sales team already looks suspect (and expensive)
Altogether an ill judged, poorly managed project which reflects no credit on the City of York Council
“Don’t socialise in York City centre this weekend” – York Council
Residents encouraged to keep safe this weekend
With good weather once again forecast for York, City of York Council is encouraging residents to stay safe and follow national guidance to continue to reduce the spread of the virus and save lives.
As indicated by the Prime Minister on Sunday 10 May, the Government have revised national guidance on current lockdown restrictions, which can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus.
With the new guidance in place, the Council is asking residents to prioritise their health and safety this coming weekend by only making essential journeys.
The city centre will be open for essential shopping, but we would urge residents to refrain from using it as an open space to meet people.
Crematorium Chapel to reopen in June
Mourners attending services at York Crematorium are to be allowed inside the chapel, for the first time since the Covid 19 lockdown.
The City Council has announced that from next month it’s lifting its ban on mourners inside the building during services, imposed to reduce the risk of spreading the Coronavirus and protect staff and visitors.
The restrictions meant bereaved families had to gather in a marquee in the crematorium grounds.
In a statement, City of York Council says:
“As part of these changes and taking into account strict social distancing measures required by Government, and the ever-present risks relating to the spread of Coronavirus, the Crematorium will return to permitting attendance in pre-closure numbers. This allows up to ten close family members in the main crematorium chapel, and five in the small chapel.”
The Council says it’s taken the decision after three tests were passed:
The availability of key worker testing
The provision of adequate personal protective equipment (PPE)
A decrease in the number of Coronavirus infections and deaths
“It is anticipated that by 1 June, the transmission (R) rates will fall, along with a reduction in death rates, although the number of funerals sadly currently remain high. If this proves not to be the case and the three tests are not met, the Council may have to consider adjusting the number of bookings that are taken, or reintroducing some restrictions, in order to reduce the risk to bereaved families, funeral directors and crematorium staff.”
Business recovery meeting
City leaders are urging York’s business community to support the city’s economic recovery by joining sector-focused recovery groups.
The council is developing plans to support the city’s economic recovery, incorporating the priorities outlined in the recent Council Plan, including making York a greener and more inclusive city.
To kick-start this process, a strategic business leaders meeting will be held, chaired by Councillor Keith Aspden, the Leader of the Council, to begin discussions on our local recovery plans. This will follow a similar meeting held with city partners, such as local Universities, discussing how to work in partnership earlier in the week
Businesses who are interested in participating in the roundtable events can contact the Make It York Business team on business@makeityork.com.
City of York Council is getting a £5.592 million grant from the government to be spent on road maintenance. It would effectively double this years resurfacing and repair budget, although the phasing of the grant hasn’t been confirmed.
York residents say the worse public service in the City is road repairs
When the Council published its repairs budget a few weeks ago it attracted criticism as many paths and carriageways – although uneven and potentially hazardous – were omitted from the programme.
The new money should allow the Council to begin to restore the highways network to standards last seen in the previous decade.
How quickly additional resurfacing capacity can be made available by the Council and its contractors remains to be seen.
We hope that the focus will be on large scale patching and complete carriageway resurfacing schemes, avoiding the prospect of hastily filled potholes reappearing when bad weather returns.
Resurfacing works will take place from Wednesday 20 May between 9.00am and 5.00pm, for 4 weeks, working Monday to Friday only.
In order to carry out the work safely, phased lane closures will be in place from the junction of Middlethorpe Drive to the junction of Knavesmire Road whilst works are taking place
James Street
The resurfacing works will take place from Wednesday 10 June for up to 4 nights, working between 7.30pm and 5.00am, Monday to Friday only. A full road closure from, but not including, the junction of Lawrence Street up to, but not including, the junction of Morrison’s will be necessary whilst works are taking place.
In addition to the above, we’ll be carrying out kerbing and drainage works on Monday 1 June for a period of 7 days working Monday to Friday, from 9.15am to 4.00pm. These works will be carried out under local traffic management, will not affect access/egress and the road will be open as normal.
In order to carry out these works safely, a number of measures will be taken.
Staff will use ‘stop and go’ traffic control boards whilst works are taking place to manage lane closures, together with the use of a lead vehicle convoy system to guide traffic past the works at a safe and constant speed. This is to ensure that adequate health and safety is maintained for both local residents, the travelling public and the contractor
Site staff will be on hand to advise and assist residents about any access restrictions once the works are ongoing
All on-street parking in the working area and within close proximity to the works will be suspended at these times, although any specific access requirements may be arranged by speaking to the site traffic management operatives, who will co-ordinate with residents’ and businesses’ requirements around the ongoing construction operations. This will not affect access for residents or businesses and the road will be open as normal
Bus services will be running as normal, and although there may be slight delays as a consequence of the works, this will be kept to a minimum
Emergency services will be permitted through the works at all times. Please note that cyclists are advised to dismount and use the adjacent grass verges.
Blue Bridge repairs to start next week
Refurbishment and maintenance works are scheduled to take place on Blue Bridge, over the River Foss, from Monday 18 May for up to eight weeks.
This will include general painting and repairs to the bridge parapet railings, the removal of old paintwork and steelwork repairs. In order for these works to be done safely, the bridge needs to be removed from the site.
A temporary scaffold walkway and bridge will be installed to allow pedestrian and cyclist access whilst the works on Blue Bridge are being undertaken.
There will be two brief closures (of up to 15 minutes each) during this time, to allow the bridge sections to be lifted out and returned into position. This will take place towards the start of the project and towards the end.
The width and overall length of the temporary bridge will be similar to the existing Blue Bridge. We’re asking residents to allow plenty of space between themselves and others in order to reduce the possibility of groups meeting along the restricted width of the temporary walkway.
The works themselves will take place between the Blue Bridge Lane and New Walk (i.e. along the River Ouse riverbank side).
It is possible to avoid this area by traveling via Fishergate for both pedestrians and cyclists.
The width dimensions of the temporary bridge will be similar to those of the existing bridge, but with a ramp to access the bridge from one side. Cyclists will be able to use the temporary bridge which will be flat, unlike the existing bridge which rises to a peak.
The River Foss navigation will not be available for access to river craft for the duration of the works.
With the Blossom Street gas main repairs due to be completed tomorrow (Friday) the expectation was that congestion levels in the area would reduce. This despite the reluctance of the Council to reopen the southbound carriageway on Bishopthorpe Road.
Blossom Street
It seems that problems may only just be beginning.
Resurfacing works on Nunnery Lane will take place from Monday 15 June for seven nights, working between 7.30pm and 5am Monday to Friday only.
A full road closure from, but not including, the junction of Tower Street up to, but not including, the junction of Blossom Street will be necessary whilst works are taking place.
Cyclists will have to dismount and use the footways/grass verges. Pedestrians and dismounted cyclists will be free to use the footways at all times.
In addition to the above, the council will be carrying out kerbing and drainage works on Monday 8 June for a period of one week working 9.15am – 4pm. These works will be carried out under local traffic management, will not affect access/egress and the road will be open as normal.
The diversion for Nunnery Lane from City Centre end will be: Queen St -> Station Rd > Rougier St -> Bridge St -> Clifford St -> Tower St and vice versa.
The diversion for Nunnery Lane from Bishopthorope Rd end will be: Scarcroft Rd -> The Mount -> Blossom Street -> Queen St -> Station Rd > Rougier St -> Bridge St -> Clifford St -> Tower St and vice versa.
So it looks like 24/7 inconvenience for people living in South Bank (at least) if the southbound Bishopthorpe Road carriageway closure continues.
The Council has said that it has now processed 766 grants totalling £738,539 for micro businesses. There is a budget ceiling of £1 million on this scheme.
It also says that it is still awaiting further guidance from the government over the discretionary grants – aimed at local businesses, small charities, B&Bs and market traders – and “we will open up applications as soon as possible”.
The Council has issued a statement saying that building work is recommencing at Lowfield and at the Lincoln Court/Disabled centre on Ascot Way.
in reality work never actually stopped!
Deaths & paitient numbers
ONE more patient with coronavirus has died at York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, taking the total number of Covid-19 related fatalities to 186.
SEVEN further cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in the City of York Council area, taking the total number to 427.
The Council has issued a media release today saying that it will extend the network of hubs set up to counter the Coronavirus emergency. The 10 hubs formed part of the governments contingency -plan to get essential supplies to those who were being shielded from the virus.
The Council also asked for volunteer helpers and claimed that over 3000 had stepped forward. It turned out that most of the volunteers were little used while the governments arrangements, for supermarkets to deliver food parcels, meant that fewer than 1000 deliveries of food were organised from the hubs.
The council now says
“Since the helpline and hubs opened on 23 March, over 1,300 calls for help have been answered. These were for a range of support, and includes delivering 850 food parcels, information about food suppliers, prescription collection, financial assistance, information about cleaning and dog walking, and much more.
Staff and volunteers at the hubs have made nearly 5,500 telephone calls to residents to check on their needs and wellbeing, and over 200 residents have been connected to volunteers for ongoing wellbeing calls”.
The Council now says it will be working with communities to “create more drop-in hubs”. (The present hubs are not open to the public)
Hubs are very expensive to run. There is no indication from the Council on how much the existing network is costing, much less who has authorised an expansion. The issue doesn’t seem to have been discussed by any of the Councils decision making bodies.
A “hub” operated at the Foxwood Community Centre before the health crisis forced its closure.
The have, of course, been several neighbourhood hubs operating in the City for over 2 years. These pre-dated the coronavirus scare. Several have been reasonably successful and they do provide a meeting point for the disadvantaged.
However, they have often struggled to attract volunteers and mainly rely on paid staff. Hence they are an expensive option.
The Council says that it wants to mobilise its 3000 strong army of volunteers.
So it should.
First it needs to find out what motivated them to offer to help and whether they will still be volunteers after the health scare has receded.
Many will, of course, be returning to full time jobs over the next few months.
So, there are a lot of questions to be answered before the Council embarks on a programme which, in the stark new financial reality, it may not be able to sustain.
As forecast yesterday, a “remote” planning meeting will determine an application next week which could see the York Hospital extended.
The background papers can be found by clicking here. The application is recommended for approval
The applications says,
Planning permission is sought for an extension to the southern elevation of the hospital to provide a vascular imaging unit (VIU). The proposed development would be 14.2 metres in height and would be sited on land currently used as a car park (resulting in the loss of 40 staff parking spaces) the building would be three storeys internally. The access to the building would be internal and externally from the east elevation. Vehicle access would still be provided between the proposed building and the footpath to the south. The proposed materials will be brick to the south and east elevations and grey cladding to the north and west elevations.
The catchment for the proposed unit would be York District, Selby District. Hambleton, Ryedale and east Yorkshire, Bridlington and Scarborough). The unit would be used by a variety of departments and would be run and staffed by Radiology and its core activity is undertaken by the vascular and cardiac specialists. The type of procedures include: diagnosing problems with blood flow (aneurysms etc), insertion of balloons, stents, pace makers etc. The extension will provide a Hybrid Theatre on the first floor (with associated Post Anaesthesia Care Unit) and Vascular Labs (and ancillary accommodation) on the ground floor to provide solutions for a number of clinical services across Radiology, Cardiology and Vascular Surgery. The existing VIU unit consists of two labs with a shared control room, prep/recovery space, nurse station/reception and ancillary spaces.
The applications will be the first to be held using the Councils “Remote Meeting” protocol. Under this reaction to “lockdown”, only half the planning committee have been invited to attend and vote on the plans. A virtual – on line – meeting will hear any public representations made using a, pre arranged internet based, link.
The Council has been asked to find a more representative, and accessible, arrangement for dealing with future – more controversial – planning applications.
Traffic queues are lengthening on Blossom Street and Nunnery Lane as we begin the first tea time “rush hour” since lock-down restrictions were eased.
Congestion at 5:00pm 13th May 2020
The traffic is tailed back from the British Gas roadworks near the Holgate Road junction.
The Council said they would suspend the road closure on Bishopthorpe Road until the gas main replacement works were completed later in the week. This doesn’t seem to have happened, even when the shops on Bishopthorpe Road are closed.
Most other roads in the City currently have low congestion levels.
Congestion is expected to grow as more people return to work and take government advice to avoid the use of public transport.
