“Snow wardens” in York

An extra 40 volunteer Snow Wardens have signed up this year, meaning a total 294 volunteers are supporting the city this winter.

This extra offer comes as residents are volunteering to support essential activities more than ever, and at a time when they’ve been never more needed.

The wardens help keep local pavements gritted and clear of snow. This year, they are also helping people make their essential journeys and take their daily exercise more safely. During lockdown, snow wardens are supporting the NHS by alleviating pressure on A&E services with people slipping on ice and being injured.

Volunteer Snow Wardens are given a health and safety induction and public liability insurance, as well as all the support and kit they need including, of course, a snow shovel. We also deliver grit to their home and send weather forecasts when the temperatures are set to drop.

Volunteers from community groups are also supporting this work, including GoodGym members who are gritting paths to keep West Bank Park safe and open.

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After the snow may come the floods

Forecasters are saying that it will get warmer next week.

With the thaw will come rain and concerns about flooding.

The worse floods in York have usually occurred when the ground has been saturated, where there has also been rapid snow melt upstream and when this has coincided with heavy rain.

We hope this doesn’t happen next week.

Meanwhile we have had some rare winter views to enjoy in and around the City over the last few days.

Salt bin locations

With icy weather likely to continue for a few more days, just a reminder that there are self help salt bins located around the city.

Click on the graphic below to see a location map.

If any bins are empty – or damaged – please report them to either the Council via this link or to your local Councillor

The same map provides details of approved gritting routes.

Ice gone, potholes appear, flood warnings

The ice and snow has largely disappeared from York today.

In its place are a new – and not so new – crop of potholes.

Please help to make the City safer by reporting any that are a danger to road users.

Potholes on Foxwood Lane are multiplying.

The next problem we are likely to face is flooding. Three Flood Warnings are already in place for the City.

It will be two or three days before the snow melt in the Dales & Moors catchment areas reaches the City.

Progress can be viewed by clicking the image below.

Surface water drainage seems to be less of a problem at the moment.

The Knavesmire flood works seem to have reduced the standing water problem which was a feature of most winters until recently.

Impromptu village pond appearing on Little Hob Moor. Knavesmire largely clear.

We’ve reported some rubbish which was revealed as the snow melted, including this black bag on Hob Moor.

Weather – risk of ice

Although rain and snow falls are forecast to die out today, freezing temperatures may return tomorrow morning.

It is possible that the slush will then turn to ice.

So it may be a good time to check that your local salt bin is full?

For bin locations and details of gritting routes click here.

Then tick “street care” and the tags for salt bins, primary and secondary gritting routes.

Ice taking its toll on local roads

The current icy spell is taking its toll on poorly maintain road and path surfaces. The Council recently agred to undertake some repairs on teb potholed – and well used – section of Foxwood Lane near the sports area. The work has yet to be completed and the potholes continue to pose a hazard particularly for users of two wheeled transport.

Foxwood Lane potholes are a safety hazard

The Council promised to repair damaged roads, paths and verges when the building works on Newbury Avenue and Ascot Way were completed. There is little sign of progress.

Kingsway West traffic cushions now breaking up

Kingsway West- Newbury Avenue verge has been damaged by delivery vehicles

Footpaths on the even numbered side of Kingsway West are also in poor condition. Subsidence means that they lean at an angle, adding to problems cause by numerous reinstatements.

Not for the first time, we have reported poor rubbish storage, and some fly tipping, to the rear of the Front Street shops.

Winter woes – time to report problems with ice

The arrival of icy weather will put additional pressures on some public services.

*Snow brings problems as well as scenic relief*

The recent snowfall, and subsequent icy road and footpath surfaces, means the the gritters have been out working full time.

There was even a promise from the Council this year that cycle path would be salted but so far this seems to have been sporadic. The Tadcaster Road cycle path, for example, was icy earlier this week.

*Click to access map of gritting routes and salt bin locations*

Some Councillors have reported that they have been out checking local salt bins. They have found some empty, some “solid” & some contaminated with rubbish

We’re not sure that this audit has been completed everywhere though.

With Council resources stretched by the pandemic, this is an activity where residents can help by checking their local salt bin and by removing any litter.

Please let your local Councillor know if a bin needs filling.

Ice and frost will also have a major impact on poorly maintained road and footpath surfaces.

We’ve recently reported potholes on Askham Lane (near the A1237 roundabout) and on Foxwood Lane (near the Thanet Road Sports Area).

There are likely to be many more examples around the City. The sooner the potholes are filled in the less damage will occur (and the safer our roads will be).

We urge residents to use the 24/7 “report it” system (click) to highlight any concerns to the Council

Big pothole on A64 near North Lane junction reported

It isn’t just the York Council that is struggling to keep on top of the pothole problem. A large pothole has opened up on the eastbound carriageway of the A64 trunk road near its junction with North Lane.

This has been reported to the Highways Agency via the useful “Fix My Street” web site https://www.fixmystreet.com/

Meanwhile we have been able to report some other issues via local Councillors

Missing play equipment on Chesney’s Field
Damaged fencing in the same area

Winter bring its usual problems.

Residents urged to check local salt bins

As we wait for the inevitable icy weather residents are being urged to check that their local salt bins are full and free of litter.

Salt bin locations on “Local View” web site

Salt bin locations are plotted on the Street View services map Click here to access. Look under “street care” then “salt bins funded by CYC”. Councillors should have completed their pre-winter checks by now, but some may have been missed.

Another recurrent problem that will arise, as wetter weather becomes more frequent, is damage to grass verges. This is sometimes caused by poor parking but also is prevalent on street corners where large vehicles leave the carriageway.

Some wards make use of a delegated budget to provide off street “eco grid” style parking lay-bys.

Others use the option of hardening vulnerable areas like road junctions. Again matrix surfacing conserves green space and good drainage while protecting verges from damage.

Large scale building works have made verges in the Kingsway West area particularly vulnerable to vehicle run over damage this year

Warden of the North

Initially we thought this was a joke but apparently not.

The York Council is now seeking volunteer “Leaf Wardens”. Their job will be to sweep up fallen leaves from (Council owned) public places including highways.

Now we know that many residents do try to keep the area outside their homes clean and tidy. Many will pick up litter, remove weeds and even mow verges.

Some may sweep up fallen leaves while others may clear snow.

The motivation for most volunteers is to improve the appearance of their neighbourhood over and above what is possible using the resources available to the local authority.

But it is what the label suggests – a voluntary action prompted by community pride.

In our view, the Council is now trying too hard to institutionalise and exploit that goodwill

So we now have “snow wardens”, “flood wardens” and “litter pickers” all kitted out by the Council.

The collapse of the weed killing programme this summer, footpaths blocked by overgrown trees/ hedges and, most recently, a sharp decline in the reliability of the bin emptying service should have acted as a “wake up” call to the Councils leadership.

What residents first want to see – before they are asked to do a second job as well as their day job – is the Council delivering good quality public services at street level on a consistent basis.

No one expects leaves to be swept up immediately the first bad weather of autumn arrives. But they do expect to be told what the Council will do, when and to what standard.

The council should publish revised “customer contracts” or “Service Level Agreements” and report back regularly on improvement plans.

They should then consult Parish Councils, Councillors and residents associations before they offer any patronising training on how to sweep up leaves.