Death toll reaches 150 in York & Scarborough
HE number of people with coronavirus that have died at hospitals within the York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust has reached 150
The latest figures show that there are 348 confirmed cases in York, and 1,073 in North Yorkshire.
Waste tips to reopen. Green bin emptying and bulky waste removal services also to restart
Cllr Paula Widdowson, Executive Member with responsibility for waste services said: “I’m pleased to announce that all of our waste services will resume over the next two weeks.
“Today we have agreed changes which mean:
• Household Waste and Recycling Centres will reopen from 11 May by appointment only to residents and commercial waste customers for essential use.
• Bulky waste collections will restart on 11 May
• Garden waste collections will start on 18 May.
“The decision we took back in April wasn’t one we took lightly, however it was crucial we were able to keep residents and staff safe. I would like to thank residents for their understanding and also our incredible staff who have continued to collect household waste and recycling in these challenging times.
“The wellbeing of residents and our staff has been our number one priority and following resident feedback, we explored options to restart all waste collection services, including garden waste collections. In addition, these services can now be opened safely as staff absences have stabilised and we have developed new ways of working.
“Following my letter to the Secretary of State seeking further support and guidance to resume our services as soon as possible, the government released updated guidance today. The guidance advises that journeys to tips must only be undertaken if your waste or recycling cannot be stored at home safely or disposed of safely by other means.
“The household waste and recycling centres will also have social distancing measures in place in addition to our booking system. We will announce further details of the changes, including the booking system tomorrow.”
Confusion over grants to micro businesses
The City of York Council says it is gearing up to deliver a new government grant scheme aimed at local businesses, small charities, B&Bs and market traders.
It is unclear whether the grants will be in addition to any made under the Council’s own micro business grant scheme launched on 3rd April. The Council has not said how much of the £1 million, that they said they had put aside for those grants, has actually been spent.
York is set to receive around £2.2 million to support small and micro businesses that do not qualify for the existing grants or the self-employed income support. Council staff will work to ensure that the grants are received as rapidly as possible once details of the scheme are announced.
The figure represents the 5% ‘uplift’ promised to councils on the amount received through the coronavirus grants for small businesses and those in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors.
Local authorities have to wait for final details from the government but the scheme aims to help:
It is available to businesses with fewer than 50 employees and facing ongoing fixed building-related costs. Applicants must have been trading since before 11 March, and able to demonstrate that they have suffered a significant fall in income due to the Coronavirus outbreak.
Councillor Andrew Waller, executive member for the economy and strategic planning, said:
These are extremely challenging times for the people who run York’s businesses.
“From day one it’s been our priority to get relief into business’ bank accounts as securely and quickly as possible, with over £105 million distributed in a matter of weeks, nearly 90% of previous grant announcements. We’ll do the same with these grants, and are working with neighbouring councils to make sure that, as resources allow, there is as much consistency as possible.
We hope that the Government will provide regulations to councils quickly so that we can announce details of how to apply early next week.”
Because the scale of the financial award to local authorities has been fixed, but the number of qualifying businesses and charity properties will emerge and vary, the council cannot immediately say how much each grant will be worth.
Full details of the scheme are expected to be announced by the Government later this week. Grants will be distributed by an application process. It is acknowledged that it will take a little time to set up this process to ensure all the correct checks are made.
Almost 90% of previously announced grants have now been processed with City of York ranking 12 out of 314 local authorities for the quickest payments to local businesses. Officers are continuing to work through these, as well as the micro grants.
Further to yesterdays story, about the Council/BID project which will see £700,000 spent on new City centre direction signs, planning applications have now started to appear on the Council web site.
This one is for two “finger” signs on Ouse Bridge
There is a backlog of controversial planning applications building up at the Council. Normally they would be dealt with at public planning committee meetings.
We understand that a meeting may be scheduled in a few weeks time to discuss an application at the hospital. In the interim, the best that objectors can hope for is that “on line” remote meetings will be scheduled.
The Council has today issued a media release claiming that the £20 million Guildhall project, “has managed to progress whilst implementing government social distancing restrictions and the team has achieved 90% of all scheduled work on site in the last month”.
That is good news. Earlier in the year long delays had been forecast
The Councils performance in allowing the listed building to slip in a shocking state of disrepair was disappointing. The conservation work needed to be completed and the letting of a repairs contract, after so many delays, was broadly welcomed.
Unfortunately the Council also agreed to embark on, what some viewed as, a financially reckless bid to provide more offices and a “business club” on the site, with part of the work being paid from rent generated by a large restaurant. Last year the Council let a £16,000 contract aimed at attracting a restaurant operator
The mix of uses always looked risky. The private sector declined to take on any of that risk. The business case looks even less convincing in the light of the recession that will grip this country over the next few years.
Taxpayers already face paying a £574,000 a year subsidy – mostly for interest charges – on the project. Office rent income of £549,000 a year is assumed. If any of the latter doesn’t materialise, then the operating deficit will have to be paid for by cuts in other pubic services in the City.
In seeking to let the office and start up space, the Council will in effect be in competition with itself as there is spare accommodation at the Community Stadium, at the eco small business centre and, potentially, on Piccadilly.
Even the Councils own offices may soon have spare space as more staff find it possible (and desirable) to work from home – one of the possible positive benefits of the current health crisis. (To see other empty property click)
Against that background, residents would have expected the Council to undertake a “root and branch” reappraisal of all aspects of the project.
Instead they seem to be adopting an “it’ll be alright on the night” approach.
In this case, as with several other projects, it most certainly won’t be alright, unless the Council comes up with and implements a convincing economic recovery plan.
NB. Separately it appears that the new £700,000 City centre “direction signs” project is set to go ahead. 50% is being funded by the York BID.
Leaving aside the controversial appearance of the signs, this is surely expenditure that could have been delayed at least until an economic recovery is well underway and tourists are returning to the city in larger numbers.
Takeaways and food deliverers in Westfield, Foxwood and Woodthorpe
| Salsa Pizza takeaway | Foxwood Lane | Tel.(01904) 788888 |
| Butlers fish and chip shop | Foxwood Lane | Tel (01904) 783378 |
| Mr Greek Restuarant | Acomb Wood Drive | Tel. 07960 920979 |
| Bonjiouno Restaurant | Acomb Wood Drive | tel. 07985 797754 (Takeaways) |
| Bengal Lounge Indian takeaway | Acomb Wood Drive | Tel 796666 (takeaways only) |
| Woodthorpe Spice | Moorcroft Road | Tel. 01904 700070 (takeaway & deliveries) |
| Pizza Palace | Moorcroft Road | 01904 709777 |
| Belly Buster | Green Lane | 01904 782244 |
| Handi Indian | Cornlands Road | 01904 787500 |
| Magic Rainbow Chinese | Cornlands Road | 01904 793825 (reopening 6th May) |
| Gale Lane Fisheries | Gale Lane | 01904 793511 |
| Harry’s Fish and Chips | Front Street | 01904 784739 |
| Chips and things | Front Street | 01904 791655 |
| Indian Ocean | The Green, Acomb | 01904 789816 (takeaway) |
| Papa Johns Pizzas | York Road, Acomb | 01904 793456 (takeaway) |
| Pizza Hut | The Green Acomb | 01904 606222 (deliveries/card only) |
| Pizza Pan | Gale Lane | 01904 793363 (deliveries/card only) |
Deaths & Recoveries
FIVE more patients with coronavirus have died at hospitals run by York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. The additional fatalities takes the total number of deaths at York Hospital and Scarborough Hospital to 129.
The York Hospital and Scarborough Hospital Trust said that more than 235 coronavirus patients have been discharged from its hospitals following treatment.
Local cases in York
Access is available to a map which shows how many coronavirus deaths there were in different neighbourhoods in the City during the first part of April. It is assembled on census data boundaries NOT wards. click
Half of York’s 36 care homes have reported coronavirus outbreaks since the pandemic began, according to the latest figures.
Volunteers waiting
Millions of vulnerable people and their families are now able to directly call on the army of NHS Volunteer Responders across York, North Yorkshire and the East Riding. The NHS and Royal Voluntary Service have announced you can now phone on this number – 08081 963646
Relatively little use has been made so far of the services of the many York residents who responded to the call for volunteers last month.
City of York Council is providing more safe spaces for residents to walk and cycle during the Coronavirus pandemic.
In light of the renewed importance of walking and cycling, it’s recognised that there is an opportunity during this crisis to support walking and cycle routes in the city.
York has been highlighted nationally as one of the best cities whose residents and businesses have most adhered to social distancing [according to data from Google].
Some locations with narrow footpaths or areas where there are queues of people outside shops are making it difficult for some residents to social distance safely though. The council has taken on board this feedback and is making changes, where possible.
Bishopthorpe Road is one example of this where additional space has been provided for pedestrians by widening the footway with cones, with further measures now under active consideration, details of which will be announced shortly.
Another route to benefit includes Castle Mills Bridge. The west bound lane over the bridge has been coned off to enable cyclists to use this dedicated space on the road. This provides an enhanced alternative route to the riverside path over Blue Bridge for cyclists.
Cllr Andy D’Agorne, Executive Member for Transport, said:
We know that our residents are doing what is practically possible to follow the national guidance, which has been designed to keep us all safe and slow the spread of the virus.
“We’re hearing from some residents and local businesses that they are finding it hard to stick to social distance guidelines at certain locations in the city, particularly on some narrow footpaths.
Many residents have been making use of wider areas and waiting to allow others to pass. However, to aid residents, we are looking at how we can help residents in adhering to social distancing guidance. In addition to these immediate measures, council officers are also currently exploring how best to respond to these challenges in the medium to long term, and are identifying opportunities to maintain the health benefits of low traffic and improved air quality in whatever the new normal looks like for communities.”
For more general advice is provided by Cycling UK, Sport England and Living Streets
Residents living in new bungalows built by City of York Council, are delighted with their quality and being able to live independently in their own communities.
The five, one-bedroomed homes at Cheltenham Court, Acomb, are now finished and are being let to tenants at social rents. Designed and built with generous space and high levels of energy-saving measures, they offer lower fuel bills and higher levels of comfort. They are also able to be adapted to meet the tenants’ changing needs.
Julie and Jules Barber moved into their brand new bungalow just before the coronavirus lockdown started. Julie said:
Our occupational therapist referred us for one of these bungalows and moving here has been the best thing that could have happened to us.
“I’ve a number of health problems and was finding that the stairs in our old home were very difficult. Now, we’ve no stairs but we’ve got a wet room which is so much easier for me, we are just around the corner from where we lived for 26 years and I’ve no worries at all. It’s a beautiful bungalow: so peaceful and with lovely neighbours. I can’t thank the council enough.”
One of Julie’s neighbours who wished to remain anonymous, said:
I’ve not seen such high-quality design, build and interior finishes for years. This deserves an award.
“The bungalows have been designed really well. I can’t believe how spacious they are, the number of sockets fitted, and the storage: I’ve more here than I had in my old three-bedroomed house. The attention to detail carries on into the outside space with high-quality raised beds and benches. This communal area creates a real feel-good factor which will help bring the community together. The council has raised the bar here.”
To support tenants with different needs, two of the bungalows are fully wheelchair-accessible, and have features including kitchen surfaces which can be raised or lowered and reinforced ceiling joists which can hold hoists if required.
The tenants are being offered technology to enable them to live independently and safely. Depending on their needs, this could include sensors which indicate activity and movement, levels of heat, noise and light in a home, and sensors to prevent falls or alert people if there is a medical emergency and support people in keeping safe at night. These systems can link directly to carers, or family or friends and offer reassurance for both the residents and the people who support them.
The bungalows have south-facing patios overlooking historic Hob Moor nature reserve and stray, and are built around an attractive new open space, landscaped with raised beds and benches for tenants to enjoy. A community event to introduce the new tenants to their neighbours at Newbury Avenue is being arranged when it is safe to do so.
Unfortunately the promise made by the York Council, when the garages that formerly occupied the site were demolished, to provide alternative off street parking space has so far not been honoured.
The broken promise joins a growing list of York Council “let downs” in west York which has seen a local football field, bowling green and an all weather sports area closed during the last 3 years.
Tadcaster Road will be resurfaced
Somewhat later this year, the York Council has published its highways maintenance programme. The list reveals that the Council has cut its repairs budget by £100,000 compared to last year.
In total the Council will invest £12.3 million this year.
Not all will be spent on roads and paths as the budget also covers repairs to the City Walls (£626,000), replacement street lighting columns (£578,000) and drainage/gulley works (£1.7 million).
Most of the budget has been allocated to structural maintenance works.
£700,000 will be spent just filling in potholes as they appear.
The report gives no details of how the £500,000 repairs budget, delegated to wards last year, is being spent.
The details of the allocations – and which streets are affected – can be viewed via these links
School Street misses out on the resurfacing list again
The programme is likely to disappoint some residents. They may have hoped that the new Council would get to grips with the, now huge, backlog in highway resurfacing work needed in the City.
But it seems that many residential roads and paths will not get the attention that they need.
In the Westfield ward only two streets will be resurfaced. A second section of Gale Lane will be resurfaced as will the roundabout at the junction of Askham Lane and Ridgeway.
Badly worn footpaths like this on the odd numbered side of Askham Lane, in Walton Place, on Ridgeway, and on Otterwood Lane, together with the carriageways on Foxwood Lane and School Street, don’t get a mention.
Another hazardous road that didn’t make the cut
There is better news in Dringhouses with a large £1/2 million allocation is included for the resurfacing of Tadcaster Road while several streets in Woodthorpe* will be repaired. Work has already started on resurfacing part of Moor Lane.
The budget allocation predated the current health crisis. Like most of the Council’s expenditure commitments it is likely to be subject to review in the light of falling revenues.
Paradoxically, the current crisis has served to re-emphasise the importance of keeping basic highway surfaces in a condition which does not pose a threat to the safety of vulnerable users like pedestrians and cyclists.
We will be pressing for the details of the “ward resurfacing programme” to be released for scrutiny.
