Travellers, whose caravans appeared on a field at the top of Moor Lane, have been served with a ‘Direction to Leave’ notice which expires on Monday 10th August.
If they have not gone by then, the matter will be escalated to the Magistrates court.
Fresh controversy over plans for Monk Stray
York Council is using a “planning loophole” from the 1960s to host camping on Monk Stray for July’s Tour De France just weeks after its original proposals for the site were rejected.
Monk Stray
In March Labour run York Council was forced to scale back its plans for Monk Stray. Nearly 300 residents had opposed proposals to stage events serving alcohol on the Stray on 14 days in any year. The council’s cross-party Licensing Committee decided to grant a one day only licence for July’s Tour De France and said that there could be no camping allowed on the licensable area as part of this.
However, council officers have confirmed that a deal has now been agreed withthe Caravan Club to manage camping on the site for the Tour De France. Planning legislation from the 1960s allows the Caravan Club to organise the camping without a planning application. York Council has also submitted a planning application for a new gate to access Monk Stray (from Stockton Lane) after the authority was told that it could not use an access gate on a nearby private road.
Local residents have consistently raised concerns over plans to turn Monk Stray into a ‘Spectator Hub’ for July’s Grand Départ amid worries over access to the site, parking, traffic, noise, litter, surface water and anti-social behaviour.
Tour de France – York campsite update
The Council has now announced two further campsites on its web site.
They will be at Millennium Bridge and the Designer outlet.
Again no consultation has taken place with affected residents and the information has yet to appear on the official TdF website
Official “all day” car parking is being offered at the “old” Askham Bar Park and Ride site for £8. By June this car park will have closed as the new adjacent site will have been brought into use. People will be expected to walk from there to the Knavesmire.
Mystery also surrounds the costs of repairing highways on the TdF route. No provision has been made in the Councils budget for essential repairs although the whole of the highways network is in increasing need of major investment.
All decisions on the organisation of the TdF locally are being taken behind closed doors.
Tour caravan woe for Monk Stray?
Caravan and camping site planned
Monk Stray
It appears that the York Council are going to approve the use of Monk Stray as a huge camping and caravan site to service the needs of Tour de France visitors.
Although there has been no consultation with local Councillors or residents, notices posted in the area suggest that the facility will be open for around a month.
The actual TdF start event in the City lasts only 2 days.
Most had expected camping facilities to be located closer to the Knavesmire where the start takes place.
Meanwhile the Council is remaining tight lipped on how it proposes to recoup at least some of the £1.6 million that it is putting into the event. At the last Council meeting, details were promised in “January” but they have not emerged.
The York Council taxpayers subsidy is the largest agreed by any Local Authority in the region.
The official Tour web site is markedly silent on issues like car parking and sponsorship.