ResPark plea for Albemarle Road area

Residents say they want a ResPark scheme on Albemarle Road according to a report being considered by the York Council next week. The move comes in the wake of a move to open up a Multi User Games Area (MUGA) for public use at the nearby Millthorpe School.

Part of the planned restrictions which also affect Philadelphia Terrace and Ovington Terrace

The proposal includes the extension of parking restrictions in the area. As we reported some weeks ago, there is already an issue with the narrow highway being obstructed as a result of parking. It is thought that ResPark would reduce the pressures on the street.

Officials say that they cannot complete the ResPark processes before the MUGA opens in the summer bringing the prospect of increased disruption for at least a limited period of time.

Bishopthorpe Road parking restrictions

The meeting will also hear about representations made regarding the installation of a pedestrian refuge in the Bishopthorpe Road area.

Planned parking Restrictions on Bishopthorpe Road

The original proposals attracted a large number of objections.

The plans include the creation of a “clearway” from the racecourse to Bishopthorpe Village.

More disruption on Bishopthorpe Road as resurfacing works start

City of York Council will be carrying out overnight roadworks to resurface Bishopthorpe Road over two stages.

The first stage will take place over four nights between 30 September and 4 October. The second stage will take place over four nights between 15 October and 19 October (weather permitting) between 7pm till 5am.

For the overnight works on 30 September, crews will be resurfacing of the Bishopthorpe Road / Scarcroft Road junction.

This is following the completion of the junction improvement scheme to replace all the ageing traffic signal equipment, create a new pedestrian crossing, remove the small central triangular island on Bishopthorpe Road and widen/resurface the footway. Find out more about this scheme here: www.york.gov.uk/BishyRd

For the overnight works from 15 October, a temporary road closure from Church Lane to Middlethorpe Hall Hotel will be necessary whilst works are taking place, in order to carry out these works safely.

During this time there will be no access to or from the car park.

A clearly signed diversion route will be set out for through traffic. All on street parking will be suspended at these times but any specific access requirements may be arranged. Any vehicle remaining on the street during the suspension time may be liable to a parking fine and removal costs.   

Household waste and recycling collections will take place as normal.

Bus Service 11 will to divert via Tadcaster Road, Sim Balk Lane, Main Street, resuming normal route at Acaster Lane. Returning to York it would turn left from Appleton Road into Sim Balk Lane rather than continuing along Main St.

In addition to the above, the council will be carrying out kerbing and drainage works on 9 to 11 October working 9.15am – 4pm. These works will be carried out under local traffic management and will not affect access on this road, which will be open as normal.

Emergency services will be permitted through the works at all times. Cyclists will have to dismount and use the footways.

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

For more information about roadworks in York visit: www.york.gov.uk/roadworks

Emergency closure of Bishopthorpe Road at the junction of Bishopthorpe Road and Scarcroft Road

Bishopthorpe Road between the junctions of Bishopthorp Road / Charlton Street and the junction of Bishopthorpe Road / Scarcroft Road will be temporarily closed from 12noon today [16 September].

The juction will be re-opened as soon as possible once City of York Council has carried out investigations and repairs to a sink hole which appeared under the carriageway over the weekend. Until further investigations are carried out it is not known how long the work will take to be completed.

A diversion route is in place for travellers and will follow Campleshon Road / Kanvesmire Road / Tadcaster Road / The Mount / Scarcroft Road.

Bus passengers are asked to visit www.itravelyork.info for more information on how the closure will impact on their journey.

James Gilchrist, Assistant Director of Transport, Highways and Environment, City of York Council, said: “We apologise for the inconvenience this emergency closure will cause. We are working with our contractors to resolve the issue as soon as possible and will update travellers on timescales as soon as possible.”

Traffic congestion caused by sewer repairs on The Mount

Increased congestion on The Mount today as Yorkshire Water repair a sewer pipe near the Holgate Road junction. Work is continuing.
Real time traffic congestion information can be found by clicking this link

Bishopthorpe Road/Scarcroft Road junction improvements

Ageing and outdated traffic signals at the junction of Bishopthorpe Road and Scarcroft Road are set to be replaced next month by City of York Council, as part of a scheme to help improve pedestrian access and ease congestion in the area.

The works will include replacing all the ageing traffic signal equipment, creating a new pedestrian crossing on Bishopthorpe Road, removing the small central triangular island on Bishopthorpe Road and widening/resurfacing the footway.

Works will start on Monday 9 September and are estimated to take around four weeks to complete. The hours of working will be 9.30am – 4.30pm, Monday to Friday and 8am to 4pm Saturdays and Sundays.

In order to safely construct part of the work some evening works may be required. Notification of these will be provided in advance. 

Works will be suspended between Friday 27 and Sunday 29 September due to the York Balloon Fiesta.

The new technology being installed will help to manage traffic in the area and enable the new systems to link direct to the council’s Traffic and Control Centre, so that Network Monitoring Officers can manage the flow of traffic better in busy periods.

The right turn from Scarcroft Road to Bishopthorpe Road will be closed during the works and diversion routes will be in place.

During the works it is anticipated that all bus services will operate as normal, however there will be delays when travelling through the junction. 

The junction will be operating under temporary signals during the works and motorists are expected to experience delays while the works are underway.

Planning committee set to approve elderly persons home in former Terry’s building

The Planning Committee taking place on 22nd October will be asked to approve 4 major developments in the City.

One of the most significant applications would see the delightful but deteriorating Terry’s HQ office building brought back into use as a care home.  While changes to the layout of the Listed building are proposed, developers face a challenge in meeting modern expectations in a building of this age and layout.

Terrys Site

  • Former Terry’s Offices, Bishopthorpe Road, York, YO23 1DE (15/01623/FULM) A major full application for the conversion of former Terrys headquarters building to a care home with 82 care bedrooms and 8 care apartments with rooftop extension and car parking  plus (15/01624/LBC) A listed building consent application for internal and external alterations in connection with the conversion of the former Terry’s headquarters building to a care home with rooftop extension.  The Terry’s Headquarters Building comprises a Grade II Listed brick and stone built former office block to the east of the former entrance to the Terry’s chocolate manufacturing complex dating to the early 1920s. The site also lies within the Terrys/Racecourse Conservation Area. The premises have been vacant and deteriorating since 2011 when after chocolate manufacture at the site ceased, the subsequent office tenant vacated the premises. Planning permission is now sought for conversion of the premises into an 82 bed care home with 8 extra care apartments. The proposal includes a single storey roof level mansard extension. The application is recommended for approval
  • Land to the North of Avon Drive, Huntington, York (15/00798/OUTM) A major outline application for the erection of 109 houses. The application includes 1, 2, 3 and 4-bedroom houses. 30% of all house types would be affordable. The development would be bounded to the north by a landscaped buffer between the housing and the ring road. Two access points would be created via two vacant plots on the north side of Avon Drive. A new internal loop road within the development would link the two accesses. However the site is in the Green Belt and its development is therefore inappropriate  The application is recommended for refusal
  • Grantchester, Stripe Lane, Skelton, York, YO30 1YJ (15/01659/FUL) A full application for the use of land for a 20 pitch touring caravan and camping site. The site has recently been granted a 5 caravan and 10 tent certification by the caravan and camping club and is being operated within the parameters of this licence. A small building has been constructed on the south side of the plot which provides toilet facilities and water and emptying points are located towards the northern boundary. The proposal is to increase the use of the site to accommodate up to 20 caravans or tents. The application is recommended for approval
  • Plot 7, Great North Way, Nether Poppleton, York (15/01307/FULM) A major full application for the erection of a motor vehicle dealership, sales and servicing buildings with outside vehicle parking areas. Planning permission is sought for the construction of a Arnold Clarkcar dealership with associated facilities including car servicing, valeting and used car sales within a 3014 sq metre building employing 45 full time staff. The site has been notified as a SINC or Site of Interest for Nature Conservation on the basis of its calcareous vegetation and a colony of Great Crested Newts which have subsequently been “trans-located” (!) The application is recommended for approval

Now York Council misplaces horse and cart

Second worst in region for data breaches

Data breach report Aug 2015

Data breach report Aug 2015

A report published today reveals that in Yorkshire only Doncaster (106 cases)  had more breaches of data protection rules than the York Council.

A report by “Big Brother Watch“  says York had the second highest number of incidents in the region with 73.

72 of these did not result in any disciplinary action.

The Council declined to provide details of the individual incidents. 

Nationally many cases resulted from the loss or theft of laptop computers

There were also 33 breaches in Kirklees, 26 in the East Riding and 12 in Wakefield.

The North Yorkshire County Council declined to respond to the FOI request.

Meanwhile more “cart before horse” secret decisions are taken

cart before horse

Before the horse slipped out of the York Council stable, there was  time for more decisions to be taken without any prior notice. 

These have included, so far, this week:

Alley closed, parking restrictions, ResPark etc – Summary of recent Council decisions

Click heading for more details

Nunmill Street Bishopthorpe Road

Introduction of alley gate

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Osbaldwick Lane (school  entrance)

Enforcement action on parking on zig zag lines

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Malton Avenue and Irwin Avenue

Proposal to introduce a Residents Parking Scheme

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Newborough Street

Introduction of no waiting at any time restrictions on Newborough Street associated with the Burton Green Development.

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Nunthorpe Drive, Nunthorpe Crescent, Nunthorpe Gardens and Nunthorpe View

Introduction of a Resident Parking scheme

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Huntington Road

Action to prevent parking on the footway adjacent to the zebra crossing at 197 – 215 Huntington Road. Option A – Agreed to advertise a proposal to prohibit waiting on the verge/footway for the full length of the zig-zag carriageway marking with limited parking for the lay-by area.

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Back lanes in Bishopthorpe Road area to be “gated”

Back lane gate locations. click for larger plan

Back lane gate locations. click for larger plan

The Council has agreed to put security gates on the following back alleys

  • Millfield Road/Thorpe Street
  • Thorpe Street/Russell Street
  • Russell Street/Scott Street
  • Scott Street/Nunmill Street

The change means that refuse will in future be collected from the front of properties.

The proposals were controversial but objections were overuled last week by the Cabinet member (Cllr Merrett)

The plan is expected to cost around £18,000 to implement and should improve security for properties backing onto the lanes involved.

The Nunmill Street/Bishopthorpe Road alleyway will remain open.