Acomb busy today. Council gives start date for Askham Lane footpath repairs

Acomb car park very busy today. Market and Christmas Fair taking place on Front Street

Acomb market today (Saturday). Lots of stalls and already very busy.

The Council has announced that it will start footpath resurfacing works on Askham Lane near the junction with Ridgeway on 10th December.

The TalkTalk UFO contractors have been undertaking reinstatement work in the Ridgeway area this week. Pressure is growing for a more thorough refurbishment of paths and verges. Some verges badly need edging but the Council are being very coy about what they will do and when

York Council “fouls up” on Newbury Avenue development plans

Parking lay-by location

The York Council is planning to delay the provision of alternative off street parking spaces in Newbury Avenue. The spaces – to be located outside the block of flats containing numbers 10 to 16 – were to have been provided to offset the loss of off-street parking space when the adjacent  garages are replaced with 5 bungalows.

The bungalow planning application was approved – with the parking condition – on 3rd May 2018. Officials are now saying that a Virgin media box, located outside the flats, will have to be moved and that this work could take between 6 and 8 weeks.

However, the junction box was already in place when the Planning committee met. It appears that officials had authorised the cabinet location knowing that there was a proposal to provide a lay-by.

Garages to be demolished

Now they want to demolish the garages before any alternative parking is provided.

The Planning committee’s decision, taken in May, was controversial because the 4 parking spaces proposed were not adequate to meet existing parking demands. Objectors asked the committee to make a Section 106 order requiring the developers to fund alternative, off street, spaces in the Windsor Gath/Kingsway West area.

Unfortunately, the committee failed to do so.

Any proposal to delay proving the planned four spaces would add insult to injury.

Insufficient off street parking space available

The new Virgin telecoms cabinet was provided after the plans for the area were published but before the planning committee made its decision on 3rd May 2018. It seems that the part of the Council which approves the location of footway plant acted without consulting the section of the Council which deals with developments.

Planning Councillor were well aware of he location of the telecoms cabinet before they made their decisions.

Other plans to provide alternative off street parking lay-bys in the area are mired in delay and have been for several years now.

Residents can object to the Councils latest plan.

Objectors should visit the “planning on line” web site click and insert reference 18/00410/GRG3 in the search facility,. Objections must be lodged before 11th December.

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 application reference

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21 Stirrup Close York YO24 3LU

Conditions 3,4 & 5 of permitted application 17/01453/FUL

Ref. No: AOD/18/00322 

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1 Raynard Court York YO24 3GA

Two storey side extension and single storey rear extension.

Ref. No: 18/01932/FUL 

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214 Thoresby Road York YO24 3ER

Installation of satellite dish to rear.

Ref. No: 18/01803/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

Are you being served?

The Council has updated its record of the number of issues raised by Councillors. The figures were supplied promptly this year in response to a Freedom of Information request.

Councillors interpretation of their role – and residents expectations – tend to vary. Those Councillors who regularly conduct door to door surveys and who routinely  “walk their wards” reporting public service issues tend to record the highest number of complaints.

Councillors have other responsibilities such as attending meetings. Details of attendance rates – which generally tend to be high  in York – can be found on the Councils web site (click)

Council elections are scheduled to take place in May 2019

Wetherby Road traffic speed petition handed to Council

Cllr Andrew Waller has today handed a petition to the City of York Council asking them to address speeding concerns on Wetherby Road.

The move comes only a few days before work at the nearby roundabout junction with the A1237 is due to reach its final stages. Residents are concerned that the easier access to and from the roundabout will result in higher speeds in the built-up area.

About twelve months ago a flashing speed warning sign was removed form the road. The petition calls for it to be reinstated and the Police mobile camera van to pay occasional visits to the street.

When the flashing sign was working around 39% of passing vehicles trigger it, suggesting that there was already a speeding issue on the road.

Some residents have suggested that any new sign should display the actual speed of the passing vehicle. This type of sign has proved to be effective in neighbouring counties in reinforcing the speeding message to motorist.

The petition will now be considered by the Council prior to a report and recommendations for action being published.

Wetherby Road roundabout – final resurfacing works due to start next week

Work on Wetherby Road roundabout proceding on schedule

The final stage of the Wetherby Road roundabout upgrade, the first of seven to be upgraded, will begin on Monday 19 November when overnight road surfacing works take place.

To keep disruption to a minimum work will take place overnight from 8pm-6am. The work is scheduled to take ten nights, from 19 – 28 November  including Saturday and Sunday

In order to carry out the works safely the use of a temporary road closure on the A1237 from the roundabout at A59 to the roundabout at Askham Lane and the closure of Wetherby Road from the junction of Beckfield Lane to the junction of Grange Lane will be necessary whilst works are taking place. The road will remain open as normal outside the above hours.

Clearly signed diversion routes will be set out for traffic. The closure is to ensure that health and safety is maintained for everyone.Site staff will be on hand to advise and assist residents about the access restrictions once the works are ongoing.

Emergency services will be permitted through the works in any situation, however, cyclists will be subject to the same traffic management as other vehicular road users.

As with any construction work, there is likely to be a certain amount of disruption and inconvenience to the public, however we will try at all times to keep this to a minimum.

There may be further works following on from this period but these will be carried out under lane closures and temporary signals with the A1237 and Wetherby Road remaining open.

When the roundabout is completed it will be the first of seven to receive three lane entrances and two lane exits as part of a £38m scheme to reduce congestion on the York Outer Ring Road.

The York Outer Ring Road improvements programme is being funded through the West Yorkshire-plus Transport Fund, and the Leeds City Region Growth Deal – a £1 billion package of Government investment through the West Yorkshire Combined Authority and Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership (LEP) to accelerate growth and create jobs across Leeds City Regio

For more information about the York Outer Ring Road improvements visit www.york.gov.uk/yorr (more…)

What’s on in York: Pilates Barre

Nov _11Pilates

York High School :

Mon 12 Nov – Mon 10 Dec :

6.15pm – 7.10pm :

£30

Join tutor Norelle Garlick in an exciting new Pilates and ballet-based class. Using music and choreographed routines, this class will help you to improve your core strength, stamina and coordination. It focuses on alignment, conditioning and stretch and is suitable for everyone. Become aware of your posture whilst engaging in balletic exercises and have fun!

Suitable for anyone aged 19+ years and all abilities. (To take part in the course, you must be comfortable standing)

You will need to bring a towel and a water bottle and wear non-restrictive gym-wear, ballet shoes or bare feet. Learners should arrive for the first class 10 minutes early to allow time to complete the health questionnaire and identify to the tutor any contra indications to exercise. Before starting any exercise programme it is advisable to seek advice from your GP or a health professional if you have any health concerns, such as a health condition or an injury.

To find your classroom, please come to the community entrance at York High School (at the bottom of the drive next to the Energise sports centre entrance) and not the main school reception.

York High School
Cornlands Road,
Acomb,
York
YO24 3WZ

£30 for five weeks. Enrol online at www.yortime.org.uk or phone the York Learning bookings line on (01904) 552806.

Acomb War Memorial work completed

The York Civic Trust has completed its work on the restoration of the Acomb War Memorial on The Green. The Trust has paid for much of the work from their exemplary City Enhancement Fund

The Westfield Ward Committee has funded a new access footpath to the base of the memorial. It is hoped this will make the monument easier to reach particularly for people with disabilities.

There will be a Service of Remembrance at the Memorial on Sunday starting at 10:45am 

Restored Acomb War Memorial rear

Restored Acomb War Memorial front

New monument access path paid for by the Westfield Ward

1922 cutting from local newspaper

Acomb War Memorial shortly after completion in May 1922

Acomb WW1 commemorative events building to Sunday climax

The York Civic Trust have confirmed that the restoration work on the Acomb War Memorial will be completed before the first local armistice commemorative event takes place tomorrow (Thursday). This will be a reading of names from the “Kings Book of Heroes” at the memorial at 11:00am

Acomb War Memorial opening in 1922

The centenary of the end of the First World War has also heightened interest in the background of the 12 servicemen whose remains were laid to rest in the St Stephens Churchyard. Amongst those was a member of the cycling corps – Edward Carlton

Volunteers will be helping to clean up and trim the grass round the 12 graves on Saturday starting at 10:00am

Carlton grave

A wreath laying ceremony will take place at the Acomb War Memorial on Sunday starting at 10:45am