Some surprises as Chapelfields residents give their views on public services
Younger residents want better play, sports and youth club facilities
A door to door survey of residents views, undertaken by the Westfield Ward Councillors and helpers, has revealed the top priorities of Chapelfields residents. 170 households completed questionnaires with the top priorities for local improvements being:
- Better parking facilities
- The reinstatement of a regular skip service (halted by the council in April) and
- Better maintenance of trees/bushes & verges.
:There were a lot of concerns about security. 38% of residents described policing in the area as “poor”.
For the first time the survey included a separate section aimed at finding out the priorities of younger people.
The responses revealed that listening to music and watching TV were the most popular current pastimes.
Many respondents wanted to see better sports facilities with a usable football pitch a high priority.
The Grange Lane Park and Playground “needed an uplift” being described as “dirty and insecure”.
Some wanted to see more events at Sanderson House – the local community centre.
One child – with a more down to earth priority – said that she wanted to see the “ice cream man visit the estate earlier in the day”
All respondents gave a high priority to providing funding from the Ward Committee budget for younger persons activities.
71% of respondents rated the Acomb Explore Library as good or satisfactory with 57% giving similar support to the Energise leisure centre.
For the first time in the annual survey the bus service was the top rated public service 97% rated it as good or satisfactory.
A full analysis of the Chapelfields Residents survey can be downloaded by clicking here
The residents survey now being extended to cover the Kingsway West area
Latest planning application for the Westfield Ward
Below is the latest planning application 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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51 Kingsway West York YO24 4RD
Erection of single storey extension extending 4.818 metres beyond the rear wall of the original house, with a height to the eaves of 2.21 metres and a total height of 3.52 metres
Reference 17/01052/LHE
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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/
The Council now no longer routinely consults neighbours by letter when an application is received
Lincoln Court garden gets volunteer uplift
Council agrees to improve refuse collection at elderly persons flats
Residents at the Lincoln Court elderly persons accommodation on Ascot Way recently asked local Councillors to sort out some issues for them. The issues were (with the Councils response in brackets where it has been received):
- Arrange, when the season is right, for the hedge on the boundary of the Lincoln Court gardens and Hob Moor School to be substantially reduced in height. Residents like to feel involved in the community and a view of the school playing fields reduces the sense of isolation. The hedge – which used to be trimmed regularly – also restricts the amount of natural light which Lincoln Court enjoys
- Arrange for the recycling bins to be emptied more frequently that the current 4/6 weekly cycle (Council has said that they will be done fortnightly in future)
- For the car park to be swept
- For weed killer to be applied where necessary. Residents say that they could help with this.
- For additional parking space to be provided next to Windsor House. The Lincoln Court car park is frequently filled with vehicles not associated with the sheltered housing scheme. This makes it difficult for people visiting residents.
- Arrange for the gutters on the building to be cleared of debris. A particular problem on the conservatory roof. (The Council has said that the gutters will be cleared before the end of June)
Meanwhile the Council reports that, to begin a summer of gardening in national Volunteer Week, a group of young people who have experienced homelessness brushed up the Lincoln Court garden on Thursday..
The tenants at Lincoln Court, a City of York Council sheltered accommodation scheme in Acomb really value their garden, especially in the summer where it’s a great place to meet up with friends and have a chat.
So a year after a group of young people supported by staff spruced up the outdoor space, the Enable team has returned in national Volunteer Week (1-7 June) to maintain its good work and continued goodwill.
Enable is a collaboration between the council’s 60+ housing specialist service, Homebase and SASH, a supported lodging scheme for young people who have experienced homelessness.
Generously supported by Homebase which kindly supplies materials,over the past two years, Enable has made a real and lasting difference to the lives of older people with its 13 makeover challenges. These have included decorating, landscaping, weeding and planting; all designed to give the young people the skills they will need when they move into their own place.
Besides cutting back an undergrowth of ivy with the help of a resident, the team tidied up a wooden sitting arbour and laid bark and paving stones around it.
Martin Farran, corporate director of health, housing and adult social care at City of York Council, said: “Enable is an ingenious intergenerational skill share, where older and young people are brought together to benefit the community, share skills and get to know each other.
“Residents of our sheltered accommodation schemes benefit as do local young people and our thanks go out to them all for taking part and making these improvements.”
Gary Hogg, SASH active project co-ordinator, said: “We are very proud of Enable and the 14 projects that we have completed to date with Homebase and the council. It is a simple idea of people coming together to help each other. In doing so our young people are given the opportunity to learn new skills, increase their confidence and self-esteem, forge new friendships and be involved in the local communities in which they live. Homebase’s generosity in providing materials ensures this programme continues and we’re very grateful for their support.”
Mathew Brown, deputy store manager at Homebase, York, said: “Homebase York is very happy to support the great work done by SASH and will continue to do so into the future.”
What’s on in York: Soft play and toy library play
York Explore Library :
Mon 5 Jun :
10.00am – 12.00pm & 2:00pm – 2:30pm
Free
Come and celebrate National Bookstart Week at York Libraries.
In this session we will listen to the National Bookstart Week book “Everybunny Dance” by Ellie Sandall, enjoy soft play and play with toys from our toy library.
Free drop in.
For more information please call York Explore Library on (01904) 552828 or york@exploreyork.org.uk.
Mixed news in Foxwood as vandals strike
What’s on in York: Acomb Market on Saturday
Latest planning applications for the Westfield Ward
Council try to avoid producing Environmental Impact Assessment for Lowfields school site.
Below is the latest planning application 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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Former Lowfield School Dijon Avenue York
Screening opinion in respect of the demolition of the existing building and proposed mixed use development
Ref. No: 17/01139/EIASN
NB The Council is now talking about building a total of 191 dwellings on the site. It appears that they had not included the self-build and communal living properties in their last proposal which was for a maximum of 135 dwellings. This number of dwellings on a restricted site could only exacerbate parking problems in the area
This application seeks confirmation that a full EIA will not be required for the development. It singularly fails to recognise the amount of wildlife supported by the site, nor the fact that public access to the playing fields was restricted by the Council in 2011 on a temporary basis to avoid vandalism problems. Ironically restricting access has allowed wildlife to flourish.
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5 Askham Croft York YO24 3FD
Single storey side and rear extension
Ref. No: 17/01131/FUL
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17 Osprey Close York YO24 2YE
First floor front extension
Ref. No: 17/01071/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/
The Council now no longer routinely consults neighbours by letter when an application is received