That was the week that was in pictures

*New COVID restrictions introduced today. Local testing is now available in Foxwood*

*We’ve asked the Council to speed up the replacement of snicket fencing, vulnerable to vandalism, with more robust railings. These were promised over 2 years ago*

Work continues at Lowfields. We’re pressing the Council to allow prospective occupiers to have a choice of a living boundary hedge instead of a close boarded fence. A Freedom of Information request is outstanding. It asks when work on the communal facilities and the Yorspace section of the site is expected to be completed.

*We’re urging Council estate managers to keep and eye on garage forecourt areas. These are too often forgotten and are subject to fly tipping.*

*The first weed control treatment should have taken place by now. We hope that Councillors will keep an eye over the summer on known problem locations such as back lanes and garage areas*. Weeds and overgrown hedges are a problem most years

March of the mattresses

We seem to have a blight of fly tipped mattresses in west York.

We reported one that had been dumped behind the railings on the Kingsway West/Green Lane snicket a few weeks ago. It’s still there as the Council claim that it is on “private land”. It’s actually on land that has traditionally been maintained by an internal drainage board. The authorities need to come to an agreement on how the “public realm” will be kept tidy in future.

Elsewhere a mattress appeared on Foxwood Park and was subsequently set on fire.

And another has been duimped on the Chapelfields Road – Wetherby Road snicket.

We think that it is about time manufacturers to come up with an accessible recycling system for bulky items like these.

Litter shame on A64

The pile of litter continue to grow next to a layby near Tadcaster. Problems on the A64 were reported several weeks ago but without any lasting improvement.

Deliberate fly tipping has now added to the woes.

Its a real shame that people don’t take their litter home with them and that enforcement action is rarely effective.

It is a shame as this is the first sight that some visitors will get as they approach York.

Elsewhere we have re-reported two fly tipping and leaf detritus issues in the little Green Lane area.

Graffiti on utility boxes in Windsor Garth has been reported.

Reports are coming in that 8 trees, planted by volunteers in Dickson Park during the summer, have been vandalised. The incident is being investigated by the local residents association.

Good news and the..

*Crocus are adding a splash of colour to the Foxwood Lane area. All have been planted by volunteers over the last decade.*

*Fly tipping near Hob Moor beck may reflect the difficulties the York Council has been having with capacity issues at its recycling sites.*

Keeping York tidy

The Council have told us that they won’t be clearing the fly tipping and rubbish from the rear of the Front Street shops.

It is located on private land.

Nevertheless the Council does have a responsibility to make sure that the City is safe and tidy.

This may mean using enforcement powers.

Maybe not a top priority at the present time but this is an issue that has rumbled on for several years. It is now in the hands of local Councillors to follow up.

We were also disappointed to see that fly tipping on the snicket entrance to the Cornlands Park – reported before Christmas – has still not been removed.

This despite a message from the Council saying that the matter had been closed on 30th December.

Elsewhere we have reported fly tipping and litter on the snickets which link The Reeves, Tithe Close and Tedder Road

Given the pressures on Council services at present, we would ask everyone to ensure that no litter is dropped and that all waste is kept in a secure location

Ice taking its toll on local roads

The current icy spell is taking its toll on poorly maintain road and path surfaces. The Council recently agred to undertake some repairs on teb potholed – and well used – section of Foxwood Lane near the sports area. The work has yet to be completed and the potholes continue to pose a hazard particularly for users of two wheeled transport.

Foxwood Lane potholes are a safety hazard

The Council promised to repair damaged roads, paths and verges when the building works on Newbury Avenue and Ascot Way were completed. There is little sign of progress.

Kingsway West traffic cushions now breaking up

Kingsway West- Newbury Avenue verge has been damaged by delivery vehicles

Footpaths on the even numbered side of Kingsway West are also in poor condition. Subsidence means that they lean at an angle, adding to problems cause by numerous reinstatements.

Not for the first time, we have reported poor rubbish storage, and some fly tipping, to the rear of the Front Street shops.

Post late for Christmas?

Apparently Royal Mail have now said that the pillar box on Beagle Ridge Drive, which has been out of use for about 2 months, cannot be repaired. Previously they had said that it needed a new door.

The box is the most conveniently located in the Foxwood area and its loss in the busy run up to Christmas has been a disappointment to many people.

The Post Office have not said when a replacement box will be installed.

Meanwhile we have report fly tipping next the recycling banks on the Acomb Wood Drive shopping area car park.

Public service standards improving in York

Good to see that some street level public service standards are improving in west York. As we observed some months ago, the health crisis caused a rethink on street cleansing with a neighbourhood management approach producing better results. This has improvement has generally been sustained

The York Council had a challenging time in 2019 when parts of the City were blighted by weeds following the award of a poorly specified treatment contract. This year the streets have been largely clear of weed growth following the award of a new £58,000 contract to Munro Weed Control.

There are still some problem areas (snickets, back lanes, garage forecourts) but generally standards have improved.

Routine weed treatment has worked well in most areas although some snickets and garage forecourts still aren’t routinely treated

Some progress seems to have been made on long term, seemingly intractable, problems such as rubbish storage and fly tipping in the Front Street back lane area. Notices have now been displayed indicating the penalties for fly tipping. Most rubbish storage areas are now tidier although there are some exceptions

Front Street/Beaconsfield Street tidier but not yet perfect

Less good news on highways maintenance. There are still too many uneven road surfaces including long outstanding problems in the School Street area in the Acomb. White line repainting is also behind schedule.

The Councils new graffiti removal service has been successful although utility boxes and some private boundaries are still subject to attack. The utilities in particular take a long time to clean their boxes. We’d like to see the Council team undertaking this work and more effort being made to fine those who are responsible.

Utility boxes and private boundaries stills subject to attack

Good to see local bus shelters have been repainted. Missing or damaged perspex panels need to be replaced at some locations

Anti social behaviour has been an increasing problem in some neighbourhoods recently

Fly-tipping blight near York

About 20 tyres have been dumped at the side of York Road mid-way between Askham Richard and Healaugh. The issue has been reported to the Selby Council. Another unnecessary blot on the rural landscape.

Fly tipping still a problem

Still too much fly tipping around York particularly in rural areas. We understand that the York Council now has surveillance cameras which can be deployed at hotspots.

Incident below is in the Selby DC area on Catterton Lane.