Community centre in Chapelfields organises post flood clean out

The incredible generosity of residents immediately after the Boxing Day floods in the City has left a storage headache for some voluntary groups.

floods childs toyMore material was donated than could be used by victims and much of it has remained in storage for the last 6 months.

The materials issue parallels a similar situation with financial donations. The York (Floods) Disaster Fund has still to allocate to victims over half of the funds that have been donated to it. 

Most organisation are now trying to move on although for some – such as the still closed Jorvik centre – recovery may still take many more months

Space is needed at the Sanderson Community House in Chapelfields where officials say the time has come for a final clear out and an attempt to return the centre to its normal day to day use.

They have set a date for the clear out as tomorrow MONDAY 18 JULY from 8am until 4pm.

A message says, “We are Inviting community groups and charities to pop along and collect any of the following items:

  • Cleaning materials (Bleach, clothes, mop buckets, mops etc.)

    Sanderson House community centre

    Sanderson House community centre

  • Bedding
  • Tinned foods and cooking sauces
  • Drinks
  • Cereals and biscuits
  • Pasta, pot noodles
  • Baby products (Baby food, Nappies, wipes)
  • Toys and books
  • Toiletries

We are also looking for volunteers to help on the day, whether you are available for a couple of hours or the whole day your time will be appreciated.  Tasks will include; moving items, transporting boxes to venues across York and cleaning up the centre.

If you want to collect some of the items listed above or volunteer on 18 July, please contact Charlotte on charlotte.hadden@york.gov.uk or for further information call 07850 001 002.

For all those volunteers you will be plenty of refreshments and snacks to keep you going“.

An inquiry team is currently looking at all aspects of the flooding crisis which hit the City over the Christmas period.

Several organisations, including the Council and some charities, were criticised at the time for being slow to respond, leaving the gap to be filled by willing – but largely uncoordinated – volunteers.  It is this state of preparedness that should be one of the major issues under the Inquiries spotlight.

We hope that the materials donated and money collected will all now be put to good use. 

 

Have your say on York’s future housing, jobs and growth

Residents, businesses, developers and landowners are being encouraged to help shape one of the most important strategies of our generation, by having their say on the Local Plan sites consultation.

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.

The eight-week consultation runs from Monday 18 July until 5pm on Monday 12 September on the Local Plan Preferred Sites document, which outlines revised figures for housing, employment and sites.

The council has provided a choice of ways for people to have their say, including joining officers at a number of drop-in events across the city, where they will be on hand to help answer any questions:

Acomb Explore Library

Acomb Explore Library

  • 3 August – West Offices
  • 9 August – Osbaldwick Sports Centre
  • 11 August – Dunnington Reading Room
  • 16 August – York Sport
  • 18 August – Acomb Explore Library
  • 24 August – Tesco Tadcaster Road
  • 24 August – Oaken Grove Community Centre, Haxby

The proposals include several controversial proposals including a plan to overdevelop the Lowfields school site.

On the other hand the Plan would safeguard land lying between the Westfield ward and the northern by pass from the threat of development
Football gala at Lowfields playing fields. The latest plan threaten to build on the green spaces in the area.

Football gala at Lowfields playing fields. The latest plans threaten to build on this green space.

From next week, every household in York is being sent a copy of a special edition of the council’s newsletter Our City, which provides lots of ways they can feedback during the consultation, including a freepost address.

For further opportunities to feedback, or to find out more information:

Go online: www.york.gov.uk/localplan to complete the survey and to find a full copy of the Local Plan Preferred Sites document

Pop into: any of York’s local libraries/Explore centres or the council’s West Offices to see the proposals throughout the consultation period

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

To find out more about the Local Plan proposals read our news article here

Executive snubs Lowfields residents

The York Council is to consult residents on a plan to build on most of the former Lowfields school site.

Former Lowfields School

Former Lowfields School entrance

Last night members of the committee and officials refused to acknowledge the concerns about the plan which were tabled by local Councillor Andrew Waller.

The committee had been told of the results of a survey undertaken in the area over the last week (see foot of page).

The survey results – covering over 300 households – revealed that the community was dismayed at some of the remarks contained in an officer report.

In particular:

Labour first suggested building on football pitches in 2012

Labour Councillors first considered building on the football pitches in 2012. 

  • The suggestion that any development should be “piecemeal”. Residents have no desire to see construction traffic accessing the site over an extended period of time and are fearful that the maintenance standards that will apply to any undeveloped plots will be inadequate. They want to see an early completion of the whole of the site
  • The inclusion of any “hospital”, police depot or GP surgery all of which would have an impact on 24/7 traffic volumes, put more pressure on parking spaces and bring noise and disturbance to what is otherwise an entirely residential area.  Residents say that any “hub” facilities – such as a police desk – should be located at the Library on Front Street (where there is adequate expansion potential to the rear of the existing buildings)
  • The reduction in open space to less than ½ the area of a football pitch is unacceptable.  Residents want green space and want part of it to be allocated as a site for a nature reserve (lack of maintenance had de facto already effectively turned parts of the site into a wild life area over the last decade). Several have said that they would like to see a play park established.
  • Building high density houses would exacerbate parking problems. Such problems are acute at the quoted paradigm comparator location (the top of Tedder Road). Bungalows and older persons (downsizing) apartments would be more acceptable as the number of vehicles owned by occupants of this type of property is likely to be low,

Many residents say that they hoped that the Council would agree to honour its historic commitment to the local community and restrict development to a 6.5 acre site.

Lowfields survey results

Action on problems reported in the Westfield area

A tree in Cedarwood Close has been lopped by the Council following action by Cllr Sheena Jackson. Keeping trees and bushes away from the publc highway has been problematic this summer.

Cedarwood Close tree with Sheena 6th July 2016 Tree Cedarwood Grove

Elsewhere highways staff are to inspect the trees in Burgess Walk which are overgrowing the footpath. The Council claims the trees are in private gardens and it is for the owners of the houses to lop the trees. There are increasing concerns here because of the size of some rotten branches which are falling onto public areas.

Trees on Burgess Walk

Trees on Burgess Walk

On Osprey Close a hedge in now overgrowing the footpath. The street sign has almost disappeared. This is a longstanding problem as the hedge is in  “no mans land”. Apparently it was neither sold to the adjacent land owner when the estate was developed nor transferred to the Council for maintenance purposes.  The hedge really needs to be removed.

Osprey Close Acomb Wood Drive overgrown hedge 27th June 2016

Osprey Close

The second phase of the weed killing programme has started. We have mentioned several areas which need attention including Kitemere Place, Waterman Court and Walton Place.

Kitemere Place weeds

Kitemere Place weeds

Cllr Andrew Waller has reported problems with weed growth on Waterman Court

Cllr Andrew Waller has reported problems with weed growth on Waterman Court

Seems the weed growth on footpaths in Walton Place hasn't received attention yet. We've asked for the weedkilling team to return

Seems the weed growth on footpaths in Walton Place hasn’t received attention yet. We’ve asked for the weedkilling team to return

Andrew has also reported problems with dumping in the Lowfields Drive area

Andrew has also reported problems with dumping in the Lowfields Drive area

A team of volunteers will be out and about in the Lowfields area over the next few days surveying residents views on public service standards in the area.

What’s on in York: Sophie Franklin – Charlotte Bronte Revisited – a view from the twenty-first century

York Explore Library :

Mon 11 Jul :

6.30pm – 7.30pm :

£4 (£3 with a York Card)

July 11_Sophie Franklin _ImageEverybody knows Charlotte Bronte. World-famous for her novel Jane Eyre, she’s a giant of literature and has been written about in reverential tones in scores of textbooks over the years. But what do we really know about Charlotte?

In this bicentennial year,Charlotte Bronte Revisited looks at Charlotte through 21st-century eyes.Discover her private world of convention, rebellion and imagination, and how they shaped her life, writing and obsessions – including the paranormal, nature, feminism and politics. It’s a celebration of all things Charlotte Bronte, and emphatically shows why she’s as relevant today as she ever was.

Sophie Franklin is forging a successful academic career studying the lives of the Bronte sisters and their literary works. She has worked in an editorial capacity for a small publishing house and in bookselling, and is currently at the University of Durham, working towards a PhD on aspects of Charlotte Bronte’s writing. This is Sophie’s first book.

Tickets can be bought online at www.feelinginspired.co.uk or at any York library.

There are a maximum of 50 tickets available.

 

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Surprise news as Lowfields development takes a step forward

Council confirms that it wants to build on football pitches
Lowfields care village 2011 plans - now substantially changed

Lowfields care village 2011 plans – now substantially changed

It looks like an elderly persons care home could still be built on the Lowfields school site. In the latest of a series of policy changes the Council is now being recommended to allocate 3 acres, of the 13.4 acre site, for a private sector care home. This compares to the 6.4 acres allocated 6 years ago for the construction of an elderly persons “village”. Only the footprint of the old school would have been developed under the old plan. That scheme was eventually dropped when the Council decided to concentrate investment on the east of the City at Burnholme.

We welcome the decision to provide more elderly care facilities on the west of the City. The former school site is ideal being conveniently located for the full range of amenities which can be found in the Front Street area.

The rest of the site – including most of the open space/football pitches – would have houses built on it. Currently the football pitches are used by a local team. There is a shortage of pitches (and open space) on the west of the City, although the Council hopes to find a new pitch for the team in the Tadcaster Road area. (A football pitch takes up about 2 acres of land).

The Council plans to divide up the use of the Lowfields site as follows:

  • Care Home and health 3 acres (22%)
  • Housing 9 acres (67%)
  • Open space 1.4 acres (11%)

In total 137 homes would be built. This compares to the 210 homes in the existing Lowfields estate. Officials say that the homes would be “high density” quoting the top of Tedder Road as an example of similar recently constructed houses. Those homes, although popular, do suffer from some issues such as the lack of car parking space. Some are three storeys high.

Officials promise a mix of housing types including “starter homes”, bungalows (like those in Regent Street) and apartments targeted at older people “downsizing” to smaller accommodation. Some land may be allocated for “self build” homes. Access to some of the homes would be from Tudor Road (meaning a road link between numbers 108 & 110). The footpath/cycle link to little Tudor Road would also be reopened.

The report talks of providing health and wellbeing facilities and hints that the Priory Health Centre on Cornlands Road may close and move onto the site.

There is talk of some police activities transferring from York Road to the site. It is now clear that the police intend to sell off the Acomb police station.  If this facilitated the provision of a police desk on Front Street at the library, then that may be regarded as a step forward. Especially so if the derelict land to the rear of the library were developed as part of the project.

Site has been unused since 2007

Site has been unused since 2007

Putting a police office in the middle of an elderly person’s development could be viewed as a strange move increasing as it would the amount of traffic and noise in the area. (There is a similar criticism of the NHS proposal to establish a mental health hospital on the site).

One particular concern likely to be raised by local residents is that officials want to see the development of the site on a “piecemeal” basis. That could mean building works (and the associated heavy traffic) being a burden for local residents for many years. It would seem to be more sensible to agree a blue-print for the whole of the site and then sell it on the basis that completion must be achieved within an agreed timetable.

At the moment the opening date for the care home is put at 2019.

When consulted in 2010 local residents were strongly in favour of restricting development to the footprint of the school. Most wanted the open space to be preserved although there was support for a nature reserve and/or allotments on part of the site.

So there is mixed news here. The future of the Lowfields site may finally be determined and the preferred use – supported by residents responding to surveys in 2010 – of a development aimed at older people achieved.  But the Council, in a bid to increase the value of the site to £3.8 million, seems prepared to jettison some of the assurances it give when the school closed in 2007.

Some serious consultation with affected residents is now needed.
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£1.5 million cut from York children’s centres as eleven set to close

Westfield axed, Hob Moor retained

The Childrens Centre at Hob Moor school is being retained

The Childrens Centre at Hob Moor school is being retained

The Council is planning to replace most of its children’s centres with mobile support staff following a survey of residents views. The results of the survey – which attracted 981 responses, can be viewed here

A report to a Council committee meeting next week gives more details of the plans

The report says, “These new Local Area Teams would bring together a range of existing services to form a new set of preventative arrangements for families from pregnancy through to adult hood. By working in a more coordinated way with partners and communities, the new arrangements will deliver more effective and efficient ways of whole family and community based working”.

The teams will be based at the three retained children’s centres which will be located at:

  • Hob Moor
  • Clifton &
  • Tang Hall

However, the report does not detail what will happen to the space freed up by the closure of the other centres

The Council faces a dilemma as the government may choose to “claw back” £4.4 million of the grant which was used to establish the centres in the first place.

The Council has also announced that it will close the Castlegate young people’s drop in centre and move it to  Sycamore House on Clarence Street

Children asked to share ideas on playing in York’s parks

Local children and young people are being invited to tell the council what they would like to see and do in their local play parks.

Tedder Rd park playground 4 noon 6th June 2016

Tedder Road playground

The consultation is an important part of the city’s updated play policy ‘Taking Play Forward’ which was approved in May 2016. It is being launched with this summer’s Shine programme of activities for five to 18 year olds and asks young people what they would like to see take place, whether new equipment or other improvements.

The consultation includes City of York Council and Parish Council-controlled play areas and will influence how £265,000 of funding will be spent on playground improvements in 2017/18. Around £30,000 has already been allocated towards the replacement skatepark in Rowntree Park.

Suggestions are invited from children, young people, parents or carers and their ideas will be considered by a multi agency panel, including young people themselves. Photos or drawings are also welcomed. A final list of schemes will be forwarded to the Executive Member for approval and prizes of play and sports equipment to use in outdoor play areas are available for the best ideas.
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Latest planning applications for the Westfield Ward

Below are 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

—–

Acomb Jewellers 10 Acomb Court Front Street York YO24 3BJ

Change of Use of first floor from shop (use class A1) to dwelling (use class C3) and alterations to form new entrance to flat

Ref. No: 16/01497/FUL 

—-

67 Queenswood Grove York YO24 4PN

Erection of single storey extension extending 4.00 metres beyond the rear wall of the original house, with a height to the eaves of 2.40 metres and a total height of 3.55 metres 

Ref. No: 16/01506/LHE 

—–

28 Kingsthorpe York YO24 4PR

Two storey side extension, single storey side and rear extensions and detached garage with garden room to rear 

Ref. No: 16/01499/FUL 

——

36 Queenswood Grove York YO24 4PP

Alterations to roof of existing two storey side extension to form a gable, including removal of existing side dormer 

Ref. No: 16/01390/FUL 

————–

 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

Other planning applications

The planning committee taking place on 14th July will consider

  • Askham Bryan – The college is seeking permission to erect an additional 7 animal shelters. Details can be found by clicking here
  • Poppleton Garden Centre – The centre is seeking permission to use part of its car park for car washing facilities. The application is recommended for refusal although the Council designated the area as a commercial development site as recently as last week! Details here

Other applications being considered by the Committee include:

Construction of two all-weather tennis courts and an all-weather multi-use sports court with associated perimeter fencing and 10 no. 8 m floodlight columns. [Site Visit] [Huntington/New Earswick Ward]

Construction of two all-weather tennis courts and an all-weather multi-use sports court with associated perimeter fencing and 10 no. 8 m floodlight columns.  [Huntington/New Earswick Ward]

Erection of 129 Extra Care Apartments (Class C3B) and 44 Care Suites (Class C2) and play area following demolition of Red Lodge, former library and tennis clubhouse buildings, external alterations to Folk Hall, construction of multi-use games area on recreation ground. [Huntington/New Earswick Ward]

Internal and external alterations including installation of lift and alterations to entrances and ramps.   [Huntington/New Earswick]

Erection of four seasonal tents utilising existing access, the creation and maintaining of a footpath link, and the incorporation of a habitat enhancement plan  [WheldrakeWard]