Where’s the nearest salt bin?

The York Council publishes an interactive map which  indicates which roads are de-iced first and where local “self help” salt bins are located. Click on the image below to access it.

Salt bin locations and gritting routes as at February 2019. Click

Although the weather forecast suggests that temperatures will rise later this week, it is a good idea to check that your nearest salt bin is full.

If it is not then please email details to ycc@york.gov.uk or your local Councillor

Last year, of coures, the worst winter weather came in March, so it will be some time before we can be confident that the salt will no longer be required.

Snow in Deangate March 2018

“Resurface our roads” say York residents

£8.4 million budget allocated but disappointment for sub-urban areas

The York Council has announced which roads and footpaths will be resurfaced during 2018/19.

There is good news for Askham Lane, Middlethorpe Grove, Skelton, Marygate and the national cycle route 66 (which will get a £1/4 million resurface).

Much of the rest of the budget is taken up by the continuing street light upgrade programme, with £100,000 to be spent on remedying fibre excavation reinstatements  and £400,000 on City Walls repairs (up by 25%)

School Street – City’s worst carriageway?

The Council says that the priorities were determined following surveys.

“In order to produce the programme of highway works for each year, information is drawn from a number of sources:

· Visual safety survey of all our roads and footways.

 · Digital condition survey of all our roads and footways

· Detailed condition survey of all our roads and footways.

 · United Kingdom Pavement Management System (UKPMS) visual and machine surveys

The survey records five condition categories, being grade 1 (very good), grade 2 (good), grade 3 (fair), grade 4 (poor) and grade 5 (very poor).

The City of York Council commission the service of Gaist Solutions Limited who carried out a detailed video survey of the whole of the council adopted highway network. The survey was utilised to assess the condition of all parts of the network.

Poor roads and footpaths that didn’t make the resurfacing list

 Each road and footway is assessed and given a ranking (score) based on a range of criteria, all metrics of the network were collated and a treatment solution was determined.

The Council goes on to say that further assessments will be undertaken to identify the impacts that have arisen from the long spells of freezing conditions during winter 2017/18. Where necessary works programmes may be amended to address any change in risk arising from reductions in highway asset condition because of this

Nevertheless some residents may be bewildered when they find that their local footpath has not been included in the programme. Path surfaces in streets like St Stephens Square and Ridgeway are now very uneven.

Probably the worst carriageway in the City is School Street in Acomb which doesn’t get a mention.

There will be pressure for the council to publish the “score” that each road received when surveyed.  

Snow! How was it for you?

With the snow now finally – apparently  – at an end, Liberal Democrats have launched an “on line” survey aimed at finding out how local public services coped this winter.

Residents are being asked to give their verdict on a number of issues including salt bins, school closure information, gritting schedules, bus services and the effectiveness of the “snow warden” volunteer programme.

The survey can be completed “on line” by clicking here 

 

Big increase in potholes as ice takes its toll

Some of the worst potholes have appeared on the Castle car park,. They are a hazard for pedestrians and could damage vehicles. The Council needs to take swift action to fill them in.

Councillors have been out and about reporting highway defects like this one on Askham Lane. Cllr Sheena Jackson has reported potholes on Walker Drive

Sheena has also been engaged with Talk Talks broadband installation programme. There has been more surface damage to roads and footpaths than was expected in some areas.

Team work beats worst of bad weather in York

Cllr Sheena Jackson joined York’s volunteer snow warden network

City of York Council volunteer snow wardens were quick to respond to the snow and icy conditions across the city, rural areas and villages.

Volunteers have been clearing vital footpaths and roads, making sure residents can access local shops and facilities.

Phil McBride, snow warden from Woodthorpe, said: “I’ve been a snow warden for five years and regularly watch weather reports to know where and when to clear. Today, I’ve been clearing the paths around Woodthorpe focusing on those residents who can’t get around so easily. “

It’s important to report empty salt bins although we hope that they won’t be needed again this year

The council’s volunteer snow warden initiative has grown from strength to strength, with 211 volunteers ready to respond to wintry weather. These hardy volunteers are residents who give up their time to clear snow during bad weather. They help out with clearing snow and sprinkling grit on pavements, with Bishophill and Dunnington volunteers coordinating their efforts and operating as a group.

The council provides snow wardens with training and safety advice, together with boxes of salt to use on public footpaths and streets. They are also issued with a snow shovel and a fluorescent ‘snow warden’ jacket.

Cllr Waller, acting leader for City of York Council (and volunteer snow warden) said: “Our snow wardens are a great example of the community coming together to help each other. They go out in cold and icy conditions to clear paths and help some of our most vulnerable get out and about. We’re really grateful for the work they do.

“If anyone would like to be snow warden, please contact 01904 551550 or visit www.york.gov.uk/info/20073/volunteering/894/volunteer_snow_wardens. In the meantime, during weather like this, please carry on looking out for each other.”

Access to Hob Moor now impassable because of mud

Hob Moor entrance October

Six months ago we reported that work needed to be done to ensure that the access to Hob Moor (Micklegate Stray) from Holly Bank Grove was useable in wet weather.

The path (which is a non statutory right of way) has deteriorated over the years. Residents had put down some wooden boards last year but these had proved to be inadequate.

Jan 2018 Mud now blocks access

At the time we hoped that the Holgate Ward Councillors would take the hint and install a soft landscape path of the type successful constructed at access points in Acomb Wood and on Bachelor Hill.

Sadly that hasn’t happened and the footpath was effectively impassable yesterday (Sunday).

We hope that the Councillors for the Holgate ward will now get the message and ensure that – as a minimum – some wood chippings or bark is put down to soak up the water.

NB. Ward Committees have been allocated a delegated budget by the Council to deal with issues like these.

Slippery footpaths today

A lot of footpaths in the city are icy today.

If your local salt bin is not full please ask your local Councillor to arrange for it to be refilled. Alternatively report “on line“

Salt bin locations can be found by clicking here

The lid missing from the salt bin in Woodford Place is to be repaired by the York Council

Recently Westfield Councillor Andrew Waller asked for bins to be refilled at the following locations

  • Outside 190 Askham Lane
  • Bottom of hill Parker Avenue
  • Bachelor Hill
  • Beechwood Glade (junction with Huntsman’s Walk)
  • Kingsthorpe

 

More roads to be salted in York?

 

de-icingThe Council has not said why it is set to discuss the issue halfway through winter or why the plan had not been included on its “forward plan” of decisions.

According to the Press, it says it will pay for any changes using “contingency” funds (which have been available since last April).

The decision to salt the 24 bus route will be welcomed. It was a major bone of contention in 2013. 

The Council have been lucky that in the intervening period the City has enjoyed relatively mild winters.

We can’t expect that to continue.