Windsor House to close
Shock as Ascot Way elderly persons home faces early axe
The media are claiming today that Windsor House will be the next home to be closed by the City of York Council.
Although the closure is not unexpected, it had been anticipated that the home would remain open until alternative facilities were provided in the Acomb area.
Originally the plan had been to offer residents places at a brand-new care village which was to have been built on the former Lowfields school site. That project is running 5 years behind schedule and does not yet even have planning permission.
Another option – to replace the facility on the Oakhaven site – also is running behind schedule.
The Council is putting most of its effort and money into the east of the city. The sale of the Windsor House site – and parcels of land at Lowfields – will be used to finance a big home and leisure complex at Burnholme.
Windsor House residents, and their relatives, are likely to be very angry if places cannot be provided in Acomb to ensure that links with families and friends are sustained.
Some of the 34 members of staff at the home may face redundancy although, as there is a chronic shortage of care staff in the City, most will have a choice of alternative jobs should they choose to remain in the sector.
The closure would mean that the last Council run elderly persons home in the Westfield Ward would close. There is a private home on Gale Lane.
The sheltered accommodation at places like Gale Farm and Lincoln Court are not directly affected by the decision.
York Council tackles nettle threat
The Council has acted promoted to remove nettles which were impeding Foxwood Lane. Reported on 2nd October the nettles were removed today.
Nettles removed from Foxwood Lane
Not so good is the entrance to Hob Moor from Holly Bank Grove. It’s only October and the path is nearly impassible for pedestrians because of boggy ground. The Holgate Ward committee should take a leaf out of their counterparts in Westfield who arranged for improvements to a similar footpath access, to Acomb Wood from Hawkshead Close, over the summer.
We hope that the contractors, currently working on putting in new Toucan crossing signals at the junction of Kingsway West and Thanet Road, will take the time to resurface the carriageway hammerhead while plant is is the area. The surface is dangerous for cyclists
The same contractors may also be responsible for vehicle damage to the Thanet Road sports area. Bulbs were planted in the grassed area by residents groups over recent years.
YeeHaw! Line dancers take to the floor in Foxwood
Line dancers at Foxwood Community centre on Saturday
Next up. Health walk from Foxwood Community Centre on 27th October
Latest planning applications for the Westfield Ward
Below is the latest planning applications received by the York Council for the Westfield ward.
Full details can be found by clicking the words highlighted in blue
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83 Tedder Road York YO24 3JE
Two storey side extension
Ref. No: 17/02335/FUL
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158 Thoresby Road York YO24 3EP
First floor side extension
Ref. No: 17/02313/FUL
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Representations can be made in favour of, or in objection to, any application via the Planning on line web site. http://planningaccess.york.gov.uk/online-applications/
NB. The Council now no longer routinely consults neighbours by letter when an application is received
What’s on in York: Silk painting workshop 10th November
Action to tackle fly tipping problems in west York as litter clearing falters
The Council has erected new notices on the Beaconsfield Street area aimed at tackling waste management issues
Meanwhile elsewhere an increasing number of litter complaints seem to be delayed in the Councils system.
The expectation is that litter reports will be addressed within 5 days of being reported but many have exceeded that timescale recently.
It is unclear why this problem has arisen as no Council explanation has been given.
Litter reported on the Tedder Road Park a month ago has still not been cleared
What’s on in York: Acomb Library Fun Palace
Acomb Explore Library :
Sat 7 Oct :
10.00am – 2.00pm :
Free
Come and join Acomb Library Fun Palace, a day of fun and free activities celebrating community, culture and creativity.
Try your hand at flower-arranging, create a giant story-catching web, build a Lego fun palace, find out about family history, learn some basic baby sing-and-sign, and much more!
For more information or to reserve a place on the flower arranging workshop please call Acomb Explore Library on (01904) 552651 or email acomb@exploreyork.org.uk.
Weather prompts action to deal with issues in west York
Councillors and volunteers have been out and about in the Westfield area this week identifying and reporting problems with public services
Westfield School promotes private swimming lessons
The Westfield primary school is writing to parents urging them to take up an offer of swimming lessons at the Energise pool.
The letter reveals that some organised trips to the pool have been poorly supported in the past.
Now the school is offering to subsidise the costs of personal lessons if parents choose to participate.
We hope that the scheme is successful. We have had too many tragedies in a City where there are two rivers, both of which pose an accident risk!
Westfield school letter to parents