Three villages circular walk

walkingDate; Tue 18 Aug
Time: 10.20am
Venue: Hallcroft Lane bus stop, Copmanthorpe
Cost: Free

Join in and enjoy a led walk through Bilbrough, Askham Richard and Askham Bryan. You will be taking in a Roman road and surprising views of the Pennines along the way.
Length 7 miles.
Allow 3-3.5 hours.

Suggested bus travel: Coastliner 843.
Depart: York Rail Station at 9.49am
Arrive: Copmanthorpe 10.05am

Depart:  Copmanthorpe 3.31pm
Arrive: York Rail Station 3.53pm

Additional information:
Simply turn up on the day and bring a packed lunch. Children under 16 years old must be accompanied by an adult.

Please check bus times prior to departure and arrive 15 minutes before the walk start time.
Route incorporates stiles and uneven ground which may not be considered to be wheelchair and pushchair friendly.

Contact information:
Gillian Chefrad, Active Living Officer, Sport and Active Leisure, City of York Council, West Offices,Station Rise, YORK, YO1 6GA

T:  01904 553377

E:  gillian.chefrad@york.gov.uk

W: www.york.gov.uk/healthwalks  /  www.itravelyork.info/walking

Housing building sites – more information released on threats to green field sites

Wetherby Road site. Click to enlarge

Wetherby Road site. Click to enlarge

The York Council has released more details of the assessments that it has made of requests by landowners for particular sites to be considered for development.

They include assessments for some sites, which were rejected, and are not being considered at its meetings on the 17th April  and 23rd April 2014

They are relevant though in so far as they provide an indication of the landowner’s development aspirations. They are likely to reappear at the Public Inquiry later in the year when owners will try to have additional development land added to the Plan.

Lowfields school playing fields threat click to enlarge

Lowfields school playing fields threat click to enlarge

39 sites, including one off Askham Lane, were rejected because they failed to respect the natural environment; two were rejected because they were on open space, while 21 had poor transport links and/or access to services

The proposals included the land (site ref 220) on Wetherby Road – near Knapton – originally suggested as a “Showman’s Yard” site. Now the owners want to build housing there. Worryingly the reason given by the Council officials for opposing development is the “lack of public transport”. No mention is made of its green belt credentials.

26 sites failed a “technical evaluation”. These included land to the west of Chapelfields (ref 778) which was rejected on grounds of landscape value and potential archaeology.

Land near Chapelfields under threat of development. click to enlarge

Land near Chapelfields under threat of development. click to enlarge

There is a similar list of sites rejected for Employment/Retail use.

Askham Bryan freight depot click to enlarge

Askham Bryan freight depot click to enlarge

Council officials have reviewed  development boundaries at several sites put forward last year.

Notably a plan by the Council itself to build on the playing fields of Lowfields School (as well as on the previously developed footprint of the school buildings) has been rejected.

Officials point out that the field enjoys a lot of informal recreational use.

They do, however, rather ominously claim that the playing fields may in future be “taken over” by a private sports club!

Officials also rule out the development of even more of the open space between Woodthorpe, Foxwood, Chapelfields and the ring roads (site 791) and the rest of Acomb Moor (site 792) although the partial development of the moor still remains part of the draft Plan.

Approved proposals include a “freight transhipment” and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) site on land between the A1237 and Askham Bryan. Although currently well screened by trees this is an elevated site which would be visible from several miles.