Some reports of highway defects are being knocked back with “no further action required” responses this year.
One of the deficiencies of the Councils “report it on line” system is that no reason for inaction is given. There was a time when a pothole might go unfilled because it didn’t meet what were styled “the Councils intervention level”. Basically they weren’t judged to be deep enough.
Eventually frost damage would, of course, ensure that it did become bad enough to justify filling.
But there are some very uneven roads which are, perversely, being judged as safe these days
Morrell Court access road potholes which are not judged to require attention
Council officials are also reluctant to send warning letters to drivers who have damaged verges, even when it is obvious who is responsible,
Verges need hard-surfacing to prevent damage
One piece of better news, with local Councillors reporting that work on finishing drainage work on the Osprey Close footpath will recommence shortly. The footpath may be diverted around the worst of the mud with further repairs to the land drains taking place when the area dries out.
Public Right of Way blocked at top of Osprey Close
North Yorkshire Police is appealing for witnesses and information about a burglary that occurred in Acomb, York.
It happened at Huntsmans Walk between 1pm and 3.30pm on Thursday 2 January 2020. Items of jewellery were stolen.
We are requesting the public’s assistance to help establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident.
In particular, we are appealing for information about any witnesses that were in the area or anyone who has CCTV in the local area.
Anyone with information that could assist the investigation should contact North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option 2, and ask for PC 41 David Ellison You can also email 000041@northyorkshire.pnn.police.uk
If you wish to remain anonymous, you can pass information to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Please quote the North Yorkshire Police reference number 12200001011.Contact details:Dave Ellison – #0041 000041@northyorkshire.pnn.police.uk | 30041Incident reference:12200001011
Its not just the transport systems that have been under pressure in York this weekend.
People have been pointing to issues with street cleansing in the City centre. Can’t be easy for Council staff and the BID team to keep on top of the problems with such high volumes of pedestrians around (not to mention the security zones).
Even in suburban areas we’ve been finding examples of full bins and badly littered streets. All have been reported for Council attention.
Full bin at Askham Lane bus stopSame issue at the Cornlands Road shopsShops forecourt badly littered
Councillors will consider next week a reportoutlining the achievements of several “community hubs” that were established in the City in 2017.
The hubs are located at Sanderson Court Community House, Foxwood Community Centre, Red Tower and Tang Hall Community Centre. There were similar initiatives in Clifton and Bell Farm.
More recently the Westfield school has announced it is opening a Hub and similar ventures have been promoted by JRHT and local churches.
The aim of the Hubs was primarily to promote financial
inclusion. The project also delivered job fairs, volunteer development programmes
and training and support for residents.
The project claims that the numbers attending a Hub are in the order of 200 a week. It is known that some residents attend more than one Hub. The Hubs are mainly serviced by, hardworking, volunteers.
The project claims to have served 9,000 meals, shared 5,460kg of food from supermarkets and redistributed up to 6 crates of apples and pears a week made available through “Abundance York”.
The CAB says it has directed 200 clients to an additional £210,000 worth of benefits.
The report sets out a bewildering proposal for “accreditation” for new centres. It seems to be a bureaucratic approach to an issue which requires flexibility. We doubt that this part of the plan will be welcomed by many of the volunteers.
The Council could also usefully provide a list of Hubs – with opening hours and facilities available – on their web site. Better use of social media to promote the initiative would be welcomed by many.
The report doesn’t give many clues as to what proportion of the target group has participated. It also singularly fails to mention that the City’s poorest area (Windsor Garth) has no Hub although there is a school building nearby.
Nevertheless, in a modest way – and particularly by providing
a safety net for those suffering food poverty – the Hubs have proved to be a
success and deserve continuing Council support.
Ironically the amount being spent on the Hubs is still less in total than was routinely provided to support Community Centres prior to the Labour Councils grant cuts introduced 8 years ago.
Thanks to JRHT who have cut back the hedges on, and cleared litter from, the Teal Drive pocket park and also Bellhouse Way. Looks much tidier and safer.
Broken glass on Herman Walk footpath reportedAlso dog fouling on a local snicketUnfortunately the volunteer litter pick had to be abandoned today because of wet weather. We hope residents will find time to clean up their own streets over the next few days. We also still need residents to check that any boundary hedges (particularly thorn hedges) are trimmed back from footpaths.
Police are reporting that there was a “sneak in” burglary in Martin Cheeseman Court , Foxwood.
The incident took place yesterday, Tuesday 10th September between 6:00pm and 9:15pm
If you saw anything
suspicious or have any information that will assist the police with their
enquiries please call 101 and state the following incident number – 12190168674
First has reversed its plan to charge £2 for the trip from Front Street to Chapelfields. The price hike from £1 was widely criticised. Although a short distance, the service is well used by those with heavy shopping to carry. The gradient can be a problem for some.
The new fare will be £1-20p
A similar situation exists in other parts of the CVity including Foxwood, although there, the short hop fare to Acomb has yet to be revised.
We have generally been supportive of the improvements that First
have made to their services over recent years.
However, changes to short journey fares seem to be have been
driven more by administrative convenience than passenger needs.
NB. Over 50% of bus journeys are made by pensioners using
their free passes.
Two women sentenced following noise complaints against dogs
Two dog owners in York were ordered to pay a total of £2421.74 by York Magistrates on 7 May after failing to comply with the conditions of a noise abatement notice.
Lesley Smith (aged 62 of Hinton Avenue, Foxwood, York) received multiple complaints from neighbours in 2016 following continuous disturbances from her four dogs in the early hours of the morning.
Ms Smith’s dogs were also left outside for up to two hours on an evening, causing further noise disturbance to the neighbours despite numerous warnings, an abatement notice and a caution being issued.
City of York Council Neighbourhood Enforcement Officers carried out surveillance of a property belonging to Samantha Flower (aged 42 of Lincoln Street, Leeman Road, York), after they received multiple complaints from neighbours in 2017.
Council officers employed noise monitoring equipment and noted over 15 barks in one minute after 11pm during a visit to Miss Flower’s property in February 2019.
Appearing at York Magistrates on 7 May, Miss Flower pleaded guilty to failing to comply with the conditions of a noise abatement notice and was fined £120, ordered to pay costs of £100 as well as a surcharge of £30.
Ms Smith pleaded guilty by post to failing to comply with the conditions of a noise abatement notice and was fined £450, ordered to pay costs of £1676.94 as well as a surcharge of £45.
