Residents are increasingly being forced to take direct action to cut back the weeds and branches that are impeding roads and footpaths in York.
Some Parish Councils are planning to spray or otherwise remove the weeds that have have blighted many parts of York this summer.
The Kexby Parish Council are understood to be considering paying a local farmer to spray the paths and gullies on the A1079.
Weed growth near Kexby has prompted action from the local parish Council and City Councillor Mark Warters
In parts of west York, which don’t have Parish Councils, residents associations are forming action groups aimed at getting the streets cleaned up.
Weeds on back Beaconsfield Street/Front Street were reported 3 months ago. They have not been treated and have grown to the point where they are obstructing access.
Some of the weeds have been cut back but they have revealed a major accumulation of rubbish. The Council has been asked once again to clear the vegetation and detritus
Insecure rubbish storage arrangements exacerbate the problems on back Front Street.Thorn bushes obstructing the Tithe Close snicket were reported to the Council 3 weeks ago. No action was taken.A residents action team have trimmed back the hazardous branches from the footpath. Again though the Council needs to have the snicket thoroughly swept. A similar situation is developing on Dickson park where bushes are now obstructing footpaths.
Local Rugby League side York Acorn, who play their matches on the Thanet Road Sport area, have won promotion to the National Conference Premier League.
They secured their place in the top flight with a 88 – 0 win yesterday against Dewsbury Moor.
A set of goal posts have disappeared from the playing field to the rear of Westfield Place.
Only one set of goal posts on Westfield park
The removal follows a series of actions by the York Council which has seen sports facilities eroded in what is York’s poorest neighbourhood. The sports field at Lowfields has been built on, the multi user games area closed and a (private) bowling green sold for housing.
No consultation took place before the set of goalpost were removed.
One set remains. The ward committee had been expected to arrange for the posts to be repainted, and the pitch remarked, before the start of the football season.
Sorry to see that the beacon support post on the Gale Lane zebra crossing have been vandalised. Electricity supply cables exposed. We’ve reported the problem to the Council who we hope will respond promptlyAlso on Gale Lane the detritus build up around traffic build outs has now reached record proportions. Clearly not been swept for months. Another issue for the Council to tackle before winter places extra demands on drainage channelsFull litter bin also reportedand litter near the entrance to the Westfield Place park entrance and around its perimeter
With many eyes on the forest fires
in the Amazon basin, it is perhaps a good time to review the health and extent
of tree cover in and around the City of York.
York lies within the boundaries of the proposed new “Northern Forest”
Northern Forest
By removing carbon dioxide, trees help mitigate climate change. The
shade provided by urban tree canopies can also help minimize the urban heat
island effect.
Trees planted in Kingsthorpe in the 1970’s have now matured into a small wood area.
In addition, trees intercept stormwater, which can reduce flooding and improve water quality, and reduce air pollution, such as ozone, carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, and fine particulate matter. Reductions in air pollution has proven benefits to human health
Not surprisingly in 2019, there is asuite of computer modelsavailable which give use a greater insight into tree cover in particular areas.
Many feel that the key priority –
after the proper maintenance of existing tree stocks – is to maximise the
planting of mature trees which will grow to provide an enhanced canopy.
The models have helped local authorities like Leeds and Wrexham to map their existing tree cover and draw up future planting strategies.
In turn, the work suggest that open spaces – rather than verges – should be the first place to look for new planting sites
There is scope to plant more trees and wildflowers on open areas in York near the rivers.
York has had a voluntary group “Treemendous” which has supported tree planting in public spaces for nearly 10 years.
Some work is already going on at neighbourhood level. The Foxwood Residents Association having already obtained a grant to plant trees on part of the Thanet Road sports area.
Several councillors have now responded to complaints about weeds, detritus and overgrown hedges in local streets.
Front Street
Joining Mark Warters and Tony Fisher, who operate on the east of the City, Westfield Councillor Andrew Waller has pledged to personally remove weeds from the Front Street pedestrian area. The precinct has been weed infested for over 3 months with growth around street furniture and trees a particular problem.
That is a shame because the image of an area – which in recent years has become more economically successful – can be disproportionately influenced by what people see on arrival. Front Street doesn’t have the advantage of the, York BID funded, clean up contractors that have brought major improvements to the York City centre environment.
Elsewhere we have asked for weeds to be treated in several locations. We think it is now time for the Council to give a public commitment to complete a tidy up programme within a specific timetable.
Overgrown thorn like brambles will be a hazard as darker nights approach. We’ve asked for those on the access road to the Thoresby Road garage block to be cut backAnother example – this one on Kingsway West- where basic spraying or strimming of areas around street furniture has not been competed.Contractors should spray up to the edge of the footpathSnickets are particularly vulnerable to weed growth and litterProblem areas are taking weeks, sometimes months, to addressSome footpaths are now being eroded and will be more costly to repair
