Strensall Tannery set for redevelopment?

It looks like redevelopment of the Tannery site at Strensall may shortly get the go ahead.

A plan for the provision of 53 dwellings with associated public open space, access and infrastructure, plus a pedestrian and cycle bridge over the River Foss is set to be considered at the next meeting of the Planning Committee

NB. The Tannery was built around 1805 The Tannery closed down in 2004 and was supposed to be made into a business park with 350 new jobs. Subsequently it was subject to arson attacks and is arguably one of Yorks’ worst eyesores.

Residents have started a petition aimed at persuading the Council to modify the zebra crossing on Haxby Road.

They claim that there have been several “near misses” on the crossing and want to see a speed table introduced and/or the crossing relocated.

The petition can be found by clicking here

The Council have now published more details of the new charges that it intends to introduce for the warden call service.

As our story yesterday explained, major changes to this lifeline service are planned.

Warden Call provides a 24 hour monitoring and response service to approximately 3,150 customers in York. The Telecare service has over 1,650 customers who have at least one piece of telecare equipment installed.

The report indicates that the charge could more than double from £4-25 to £10 PER WEEK if the Council decides to re-coop the full costs of providing the service. A basic Tier 1 service might be provided at a cheaper rate but this would not cover Telecare options.

An additional £5 would be charged where a couple at the same address both have access to the service.

There would be no change for those 1200 customers who currently do not pay for the service as long as they remain in receipt of Council Tax assistance and/or Housing benefit.

The Council will decide in June the final levels of charges which will apply for the service.

It seems clear though that the increase in charges is aimed at facilitating moving the service into the private sector.

A proposal to that effect will be considered by the Labour Cabinet in April.

The Labour Council have gone much further in privatising the delivery of Council services than had ever been contemplated under the former LibDem Council leadership.

A briefing has been issued explaining the new Housing Benefit rules which will apply to those living in social rented accommodation.

It can be viewed here.

Latest returns from our survey of public opinion show that opposition to Labours proposed City wide 20 mph speed limit has increased to 80%.

Many residents are incredulous that, at a difficult economic time when taxes and public service charges are rising steeply, the Council still intends to spend £600,000 on putting up 20 mph signs on lamp posts.

The Council have now issued a media release claiming support from the “Benenden Healthcare Society Limited” and the Police for their plans.

It is astonishing that Benenden – which hitherto has had a largely benign image in the City – have apparently chosen to enter the party political minefield that is speed limit policy in York.

One explanation might be that their “Media Relations Manager” is none other than Labour Councillor Neil Barnes.

The latter might be better engaged in trying to explain his hypocritical change of heart on the need to lock the Hull Road Park at night – a policy that he supported when in opposition but which has now been abandoned when voting for the Labour cuts budget on 28th February.

The Police view is more worrying.

They seem to ignore the emerging evidence from places like Portsmouth where it is becoming clear that having 20 mph speed limits in an unnecessarily wide area actually leads to an increase in the number of recorded accidents.

The York Police have consistently supported the policy of the last York Council (have the most appropriate speed limit on a road bearing in mind its character and accident record).

They only backed 20 mph speed limits when they were “self enforcing”.

In effect this means that areas with road humps and also many short roads – where speed is not an issue – could have the lower limit. But why go to the expense?

The trial in the Grange Street area of Fishergate is an example of a lower speed limit introduced in an area of short cul de sacs where the average speed was well below 20 mph both before and after the limit was changed!

It is time for the Chief Constable and the Police and Crime Commissioner to get a grip on the mixed messages that the force now seems to be sending out.

In the meantime residents will need to consider what action they can take to change the attitude of this beleaguered and short sighted Council

Rubbish skips will be available for use by local residents as follows on

8:30pm Oldman Court (behind parking area) & Kingsway West (opposite 70/72)
10:30 Spurr Court (behind flats) & Stuart Road (outside 65)
12:30pm Bellhouse Way (opposite Community Centre) & Windsor Garth (between Beverley Court & Kempton Close)

On Saturday 23rd March there will be a skip on Thoresby Road at 12:30pm

Notes from the Council
1. Please remember to take your waste to the sites only on the dates and times advertised.
2. If the Skip is full or not on site, please DO NOT leave your waste. This is classed as fly tipping and is illegal.
3. Bulky items including furniture, fridges and freezers are not accepted. To arrange disposal of these items please ring York 551551.

The skips are funded by your local residents association using their Estate Improvement Grant. The skips are removed once they are full so please make sure you arrive in good time if you intend to make use of them.

York has had a warden call service for over 25 years. It can be used by elderly, sick or disabled residents who may need urgent help or re-assurance but who are unable to leave their homes.

The service can be operated through a pendant which can be hung round the customers neck and is linked to the increasingly popular telecare service which was pioneered in the City in 2005 by the LibDem led Council.

Mobile wardens visit those registered with the service which is available 24/7. A small charge of £4-10 a weeks is currently payable although those with limited incomes pay a reduced rate.

Now major changes are planned for this popular service.

On the 22nd March Labour Councillors are proposing an increase in charges.

Their aim is to “create a pricing model that is closer to the actual costs of the service and so reduce the current subsidy”. The report also proposes introducing a charge for couples and to levy a fee for lost equipment.

It is likely that a tiered table of charges will be introduced so that customers can opt for a cheaper, less comprehensive, service.

Further major controversy is likely at a meeting of the Council’s Cabinet which is due to take place on 2nd April. Labour Councillors there will be asked to “approve the Integrated Business Plan for the Community Equipment Loan and Telecare Service (CELTAS) to ‘spin-out’ of City of York Council (CYC) and become an independent social enterprise”.

So another “social enterprise” taking over from the Council with the only way to achieve savings being though increased charges and/or lower staffing costs.

Labour say that the change will save £50,000 a year.

The Press reported on the Warden Call system in 2011 click here to see their story.

Despite a rather awkward interface. a number of electronic petitions, being collected via the Councils web site, are gaining relatively large numbers of supporters.

Currently the numbers “signing” each are:

“Protect our Library and Archives Service” – No to cuts, closures or Social Enterprise Respondents 120 Deadline to sign by 21/03/2013

“Stop the Green Bin Tax” Respondents 130 Deadline to sign by 03/04/2013

“(Save) the toy bus” Respondents 40 Deadline to sign by 05/04/2013

Petition to see a “reduction in chlorine used in water treatment” Respondents 15 Deadline to sign by 14/04/2013

“Protect Towthorpe Household Waste Depot” Respondents 208 Deadline to sign by 1/05/2013

Click here to go to the Council’s petition page