The circus is in town … and don’t we know it!

fly posters Fun fair junction box Posters next to 104 Askham Lane telephone kiosk Cornlands Road 28th Aug 2016BT kiosk Kingsway WestProblems with fly posting (and graffiti) have been under control in York until quite recently.

A crackdown 6 years ago resulted in a general agreement that posters would be restricted and would be removed within 2 days of an event having taken place.

Space might be made available, for worthy causes, to use public noticeboards while the growing number of web sites – like this one and that of the Council – offered modern, free publicity alternative for charitable events.

Unfortunately more posters have been put up recently which breach those guidelines.

In some cases the publicised events have already taken place. Many posters disfigure telephone kiosks & telecoms cabinets while some have even been put on boards and fixed to lampposts.

The Council has previously said,

“We expect officers from the Community Safety Hub will take steps identify perpetrators and write to them requiring that posters are removed within two days. If a follow-up visit shows they are still there, the posters will be removed and the perpetrators will be sent a bill for council time, along with a letter explaining that any repeat offences will be prosecuted under the Town & Country Planning Act.

Legally permitted posters include those the council is authorised to display such as dog fouling warnings and planning notices.

Graffiti non offensiveFor organisations which have exemptions – such as local charities or community events – they will be reminded of the guidelines. These specify that exempt organisations are allowed posters not more than 0.6m2 (approximately A2 size) which are permitted 28 days prior to the event and 14 days after. If these guidelines aren’t followed, action will be taken, starting with a bill for their removal”.

Meanwhile there has also been an increase in graffiti in the Gale Lane area.

All cases that we have seen have been reported but we urge residents to use https://www.fixmystreet.com/ to highlight any continuing problems

 

Property still selling well in west York

According to the Mouseprice index there have been a lot of house sales in west York recently.

These include:

14, Tedder Road, YO24 3JB £174,000 15 Jun 2016 3 bed semi-D
50, Tedder Road, YO24 3JB £220,000 15 Apr 2016 4 bed terraced
218, Thoresby Road, YO24 3ER £146,500 11 Mar 2016 3 bed semi-D
102, Cornlands Road, YO24 3EA £163,000 24 Jun 2016 3 bed terraced
115, Askham Lane, YO24 3HH £375,000 27 May 2016 4 bed detached
54, Lowick, YO24 2RF £159,500 23 May 2016 2 bed terraced
20, Lowick, YO24 2RF £163,500 23 May 2016 2 bed terraced
20, Askham Grove, YO24 3HE £215,000 24 Feb 2016 2 bed detached
11, Chantry Close, YO24 2SJ £180,000 16 Jun 2016 2 bed semi-D
87, Wains Road, YO24 2UB £199,000 20 May 2016 3 bed semi-D
2 bedroomed flat in Aldersyde House on Tadcaster Road can be bought for £329,995

2 bedroomed flat in Aldersyde House on Tadcaster Road can be bought for £329,995

Larger properties on the market range from a 3 bed terrace in St Josephs Court  at £200,000 to a 4 bed detached in Beagle Ridge Drive which is being marketed at £299,950

On the rental market is a 1 bed flat in College Court for £400 pcm a 2 bed flat in Aldersyde Court at £775 and a 3 bed semi in Beech Grove at £1000.

Properties without a chain and available for immediate occupation include a 1 bed flat in Vyner House on Front Street at £105,000  and a £300,000 4 bed property in Orrin Close.

West York – The week in photos

Cllr Sue Hunter is encouraging residents to adopt local verges and amenity area and plant flowers. Grants may be available from the local Ward Committee for bulbs and containers

Lowfields verge flowers

Lowfields verge flowers

Windsor Garth

Windsor Garth

The Ward committee will be balloting residents shortly on their priorities for using the delegated budget. Among ideas put forward by residents are plans to lop trees and overgrown hedges.

Next Ward committee newsletter will include ballot paper

Next Ward committee newsletter will include ballot paper

Overgrown trees on Kingsthore reported by Andrew Waller

Overgrown trees on Kingsthorpe reported by Andrew Waller

More overgrown trees this time on Grange Lane

More overgrown trees this time on Grange Lane

Trustees have now signed a formal lease for the Foxwood Community Centre. It means that the centre will be largely free from Council control but will have to raise most of its income from lettings. It is now run entirely by volunteers.

Community Centre lease signing

Cllr Stephen Fenton Dringhouses ward (extreme left*) and Cllr Sheena Jackson Westfield Ward (extreme right*) and Trustees sign the Community Centre lease on Wednesday. (*not politically!)

Meanwhile Sheena has been out and about in the Foxwood area reporting issues for attention

Obstructed path

Obstructed path

In the Cornlands Road area, while out delivering the latest Focus newsletter, we spotted several issues requiring attention. These included  offensive graffiti on the Tithe Close snicket. Issues have been reported using  https://www.fixmystreet.com/

We'll be keeping an eye on drainage and gutters channel as tree begin to shed their leaves. There is an almost continual problem in St Stephens Road

We’ll be keeping an eye on drainage and gutter channels as trees begin to shed their leaves. There is an almost continual problem in St Stephens Square

It's some times difficult to know whether an item has been dumped or left out for the scrap merchant

It’s some times difficult to know whether an item has been dumped or left out for the scrap merchant

Andrew Waller has commenced a survey of the Askham Lane/Grange Lane area

Survey launched this weekend

Survey launched this weekend

Grange Lane field entrance 2

One of the issues being probed is whether residents would like to see kissing gates installed on the accesses to the local parks and open areas. At present there are problems with motorcyclists riding near where children play

Last chance to have your say on York’s future housing, jobs and growth

There are only a few days left for residents, businesses, developers and landowners to help shape one of the most important strategies of our generation, by having their say on the Local Plan sites consultation.
Developers are eye land at the end of Grange Lane

Developers are eyeing land at the end of Grange Lane

City of York Council is currently preparing York’s Local Plan, which will support the city’s economic growth, protect York’s green belt, address the shortage of housing and help shape future development and employment in York over the next 15-years and beyond.

On the west of the City there are a number of controversial proposals notably the plan to build on the playing fields at the former Lowfields school site.

Residents don’t, of course, know what alternative proposals developers are suggesting although one – development  of the land a the end of Grange Lane – has become public.

Extract from Focus newsletter 1988

Extract from Focus newsletter 1988

Ironically it is almost exactly 28 years to the day since a proposal to develop land near Askham Grange was first mooted.

At that time, local Councillors were able to successfully fight off the threat and the land has remained in the Green Belt ever since.

The eight-week consultation finishes on Monday 12 September at 5pm on the Local Plan Preferred Sites document, which outlines revised figures for housing, employment and sites.

 Go online:  http://tinyurl.com/LPGrange to complete the survey and to find a full copy of the Local Plan Preferred Sites document

Email: localplan@york.gov.uk  

Telephone: 01904 552255

Get involved: on Twitter @CityofYork or Facebook @CityofYorkCouncil via the hashtag #YorkLocalPlan

Write to:  Freepost RTEG-TYYU-KLTZ, Local Plan, City of York Council, West Offices, Station Rise, York, YO1 6GA

Busy week in west York – in pictures

The week started with a "Funday" at the Foxwood Community Centre. Here Andrew and Sheena visit the police and fire displays

The week started with a “Funday” at the Foxwood Community Centre. Here Andrew and Sheena visit the police and fire displays

Andrew and Sheena visit the children's bouncy castles

Andrew and Sheena visit the children’s bouncy castles

Sheena, here with Dringhouses Councillor Stephen Fenton, launched her survey of local youth facilitiers

Sheena, here with Dringhouses Councillor Stephen Fenton, launched her survey of local youth facilities

LibDem Councillors at last Sundays Acomb Green Fair

LibDem Councillors at last Sundays Acomb Green Fair

We reported lots of issues not least this bin on Cheney's Field which had been overturned

We reported lots of issues not least this bin on Cheney’s Field which had been overturned

We've asked for the full bin on Bellhouse Way to be emptied

We’ve asked for the full bin on Bellhouse Way to be emptied

We've asked for weeds and moss to be cleared from paths in the Otterwood Lane area

We’ve asked for weeds and moss to be cleared from paths in the Otterwood Lane area

The payphone kiosk in Cornlands Road is in poor condition. No sign of cleaning or maintenance by BT

The payphone kiosk in Cornlands Road is in poor condition. No sign of cleaning or maintenance by BT

Damaged gulley cover on St Stephens Road

Damaged gulley cover on St Stephens Road

Detritus build up on Tennent Road snicket

Detritus build up on Tennent Road snicket

We've asked for a spring to be fitted to the railings which protects the play area in the Cornlands Road park from dogs

We’ve asked for a spring to be fitted to the railings which protects the play area in the Cornlands Road park from dogs

We understand that an application for funding which would see another parking lay-by constructed in St Stephens Road has been successful.

We understand that an application for funding, which would see another parking lay-by constructed in St Stephens Road, has been successful.

The week concluded with volunteers planting a Bluebell wood near the community centre on Bellhouse Way. Here Andrew Waller leads the work. Unfortunately weather conditions meant that an additional planting session will be needed later

The week concluded with volunteers planting a Bluebell wood near the community centre on Bellhouse Way. Here Andrew Waller leads the work. Unfortunately weather conditions meant that an additional planting session will be needed later

 

Mental health services in Acomb

The future of NHS services in the Acomb area may become a little clearer at a meeting scheduled to take place next week
acombga

Acomb Gables (formerly Garth)

A Council meeting will be told that following a building programme at Acomb Gables on Oak Rise Dementia male beds will be re-provided within this unit.

Meadowfields (York) provides female dementia care.

The change will bring all dementia care within the York locality which will be important due to the connection with the acute hospital and physical healthcare. The transfer of the unit is anticipated during Winter 2016/17.

The Community Mental Health Team currently has office space and a small number of clinic rooms at Acomb Gables. Estate works have been agreed as part of the plans to bring Mental Health Older People beds into this unit. As part of these plans additional clinic space has been developed and will be available from Winter 2016/17.

However there is still no real news on the choice of location at which the City’s new mental health hospital will be built.