Continuing green waste bin emptying problems.
Today staff shortages meant that Woodthorpe, Copmanthorpe, Dunnington, Osbaldwick, Naburn and Wheldrake were missed.
More missed bin collections today (Tuesday)
Missed bin collections a problem again this week
After catching up with the backlog of full bins on Saturday, vehicle failures meant that garden waste collections were missed in Dringhouses, Woodthorpe, Wheldrake and Copmanthorpe yesterday (Monday). The Council has promised to try to empty the bins today.
The Council web site also reports isolated cases of roads being missed because of poor parking and road works
There is still no word from the Council on when new, more reliable, vehicles will be rolled out.
Nine payphone kiosks to be removed
List of payphones in York which may be removed
BT has applied to remove 9 payphone kiosk from streets in York.
The Copmanthorpe, Strensal, Dringhouses and Westfield areas are affected
None of the iconic “red” K6 kiosks are on the list although there has been criticism recently about the state of repair of some of them. Several of these are “Listed” buildings.
Some of the kiosk listed have been a magnet for drug users, vandalism and anti social behaviour. Their removal is likely to be supported by neighbouring residents.
The use of public payphones has dropped to near zero over the years as mobile phone ownership has increased
So who will win the York Council elections?
Clifton & Copmanthorpe reviewed
Clifton is home to 10,007 residents. Average incomes are lower than the City average. 51% of residents own their home. 744 people are Council tenants. 1.7% are out of work. Crime levels are above average. 85.7% of residents are satisfied with their local area as a place to live (York average 86.8%). 31.6% believe that they can influence decisions in their local area (City average 25.7). Source
Elections
The 2015 elections were held on the same day as a General Election. Hence the turnout was almost double the number usually voting at a Council poll. Voting patterns did not mirror the General Election result particularly in the York Central Constituency where Labour had a big parliamentary vote but, following a poor performance when in control of the Council, found ballot box support collapsing. A reduced turnout is expected on 2nd May.
Labour have won the Clifton ward for a number of elections. It is as long ago as the 1980s that the Tories last seriously challenged in the area.
In 2015 two former Labour Councillors (David Scott and Ken King) stood in the ward as Independents. They had quit the Labour group in response to a number of calamitous decisions taken by the then party leadership. There was a considerable fall in Labour support although they held on to both seats. Neither of the former Councillors are standing this time.
Both the current Labour Councillors work for MP Rachel Maskell. One chooses not say if she lives in the area.
None of the opposition parties have established themselves as the natural alternative to Labour so it looks like there will be no change.
Prediction
2 Labour seats
Copmanthorpe
The Copmanthorpe ward is home to 4115 residents. It was split from the Rural West Ward as recently as 2015. Average incomes are higher than the City average. 87% of residents own their home. 1.4% are out of work. Crime levels are below average. 92.8% of residents are satisfied with their local area as a place to live (York average 86.8%). 28.6% believe that they can influence decisions in their local area (City average 25.7). Source
Elections
The 2015 elections were held on the same day as a General Election. Hence the turnout was almost double the number usually voting at a Council election. Voting patterns did not mirror the General Election result but, following a poor performance when in control of the Council, Labour found ballot box support collapsing. A lower turnout is expected on 2nd May.
This is another seat where a former Tory Councillor is standing as an Independent. David Carr was actually the Leader of the Council when, following an ill judged attempt to smear two of his LibDem coalition partners with what turned out to be bogus allegations, he was forced by his colleagues to quit.
As a well known Parish Councillor David Carr may fancy his chances of success.
He is opposed by a Tory who has been “parachuted” into the area from another part of York.
The LibDems have a well known local candidate (Richard Brown) who came second in 2015. It is unclear how effective Richard Browns campaign has been but if the Tory vote splits then he might be the beneficiary.
Another former Councillor, the Green party’s Lars Kramm who currently sits for Micklegate, is also contesting the election. He has recently moved into Copmanthorpe Ward..
This is a difficult result t to predict but if the expected Tory vote meltdown occurs then the LibDems could be the winners
Prediction
1 LibDem seat
Road works on A1237 and in Copmanthorpe from next Monday
From Monday 7th September City of York Council will undertake routine maintenance work on the whole of the A1237 outer ring road.
The work will take place between 8pm – 6am, to minimise disruption to residents any work close to housing will be carried out before 11pm.
The work will include hedge cutting and road gully / channel clearance to help improve visibility, redefine carriageway boundaries and resolve flooding problems.
Work will start at Hopgrove roundabout and progress anti-clockwise along the A1237. The work is scheduled to be completed by Saturday 3 October. Traffic lights will be used when work is taking place to ensure the safety of operatives.
As with any maintenance work on roads, there is likely to be a certain amount of disruption. Residents are assured that everything reasonably possible will be done to keep this to a minimum; however motorists should expect some delays and plan their journey accordingly.
For travel information in and around York visit www.itravelyork.info
The work will aim to reduce the amount of ‘overshoot’ accidents where drivers on Hallcroft Lane may not realise they are approaching a crossroad junction and fail to give way to traffic on Manor Heath. This has lead to a number of serious incidents at the junction.
The work will see the Hallcroft Lane section of the junction widened to allow a pedestrian island to be included. Coloured surfacing will also be used to help road users differentiate between the major and minor roads. Signage in the area will also be improved.
The work is scheduled to take three weeks to complete, with work starting on Monday 7 September. Work will take place Monday to Friday between 8.30am – 4.30pm during the first two weeks. Traffic will be managed by stop/go signals with no alterations to the bus service. This will be carried out by City of York Council.
During the third week whilst resurfacing is taking place a temporary full road closure will be in place on Hallcroft Lane from the Horseman Lane junction to the Manor Heath junction. The road will be closed between 9:15am and 4:15pm. An alternative route for diverted traffic will be signed via Horseman Lane, School Lane, Manor Heath.
Additionally to carry out the surfacing work at the junction of Manor Heath / Hallcroft Lane and Hagg Lane a temporary full road closure will be in place at the junction between 6:00pm and midnight on Wednesday 23 and Thursday 24 September. An alternative route for diverted traffic will be signed.
(more…)
Now York Council misplaces horse and cart
Second worst in region for data breaches
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
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:
- The final terms of the sale – for £3 million – of Oliver House to developers McCarthy and Stone (NB. This had been discussed publicly at the last Executive meeting)
- A decision to close the Bishopthorpe Road car park on 20th September
- Agreement to safety improvements at the Manor Heath/Hallcroft Lane junction in Copmanthorpe
Essential resurfacing – School Lane, Copmanthorpe
City of York Council will be carrying out essential resurfacing works on School Lane, Copmanthorpe from 15 June.
The work is expected to take one week, finishing on Friday 19 June. Work will take place between 8am and 5.30pm.
In order to carry out these works safely, a temporary road closure of School Lane will be in place. Residents are advised there will be no access or egress for vehicles during working hours except in emergencies. There will be no on-street parking during these times. Residents who require vehicular access are asked to inform operatives onsite to ensure safety. Vehicular access will only be allowed if it is safe to do so. Pedestrian access will be available at all times.
As with any construction work, there is likely to be a certain amount of disruption. Residents are assured that everything reasonably possible will be done to keep this to a minimum, however motorists should expect some delays and plan their journey accordingly.
The contractor carrying out the work will be responsible for safety.
Bin emptying chaos not confined to Copmanthorpe – LibDems call for early Council statement
Bin emptying chaos. Not just Copmanthorpe missed yesterday. Unaffected streets also missed off collection route. Need Council statement ASAP
— York Central LibDems (@LibDemsYork) September 10, 2013
New bin emptying arrangements – first complaints of non collection. Public explanation and apology expected?
As we forecast on Friday, it looks like the new bin emptying schedules are proving to be a major challenge for the Council.
In parts of Copmanthorpe reports are coming in of un-emptied bins.
Disquiet on “twitter”
The complete list of affected properties can be viewed by clicking here. It is in alphabetical street order. These are the arrangements publicised by the Council. Hopefully they will issue a statement on Tuesday explaining what has gone wrong
Alternatively, you should also be able to check out the day that your next collection is due by entering your postcode at this web location Last week the Council issued a media release which quoted the wrong web link)