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.
Kingsway West
Chaplelfields Road
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.
(NB. First time we have seen a proposal, to change a domestic appearance frontage into a shop window, for some years. Trend in recent years has been to convert display windows to restore domestic use)
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.
It looks like many highways defects have been left waiting for attention for so long that expensive remedial works are now needed.
Many carriageways which needed patching in the summer and autumn were ignored. Now some are worn down to the hardcore base while others have multiple surface defects. Several represent a hazard for two wheeled transport users.
We have reported the following streets (but these may just be the tip of the iceberg).
Walker Drive
Vincent Way
Gladstone Street
Hotham Avenue
Lowfields Drive
School Street
There are also some problems also with leaf and tree detritus. We’ve reported two areas
Green Lane
Kingsthorpe
Finally builders waste has been dumped in the little Green Lane garage area. We’ve asked for it to be removed.
Work on two house building sites in the Westfield area is continuing despite the problems with COVID and, more recently, wet weather.
On Gale Lane the much delayed redevelopment of a site opposite the end of Cornlands Road is now underway. The site had been the subject of several different planning applicationsover the years.
61A Gale Lane
Elsewhere a further infill development is underway on Green Lane
Green Lane
The Green Lane site is close to the location of the bungalows which are due to be built on the Lowfields Site
Work on building bungalows on the Lowfields site has started.The site reserved for “Yorspace” communal housing remains unoccupied.
Police are appealing for witnesses to a serious assault which left a man with significant facial injuries, to contact them.
At around 10pm on Thursday 10 September 2020, the victim, a 44-year-old man from York, left the Clockhouse Pub on Kingsway in Acomb with one other male. The victim was wearing a dark coloured jumper and dark tracksuit style bottoms.
As the victim was walking down Green Lane, he was approached by an unknown male who was seen to speak to the victim and then subject him to a serious assault. The unknown male then left the scene.
The victim was taken to York District Hospital with significant facial fractures. He currently remains in hospital in a stable condition.
A dark coloured vehicle, believed to be a SAAB, was seen in the area shortly before the assault. Officers are particularly keen to trace this vehicle as the occupants may have important information which could assist their enquiries. Members of the public who were travelling in the area at the time of the incident, who may have captured dash cam footage are also encouraged to come forward.
Anyone who witnessed the incident, or who has any information which would assist the investigation is asked to contact North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option 2 and ask to speak to DC 1798 CAREY. You can also email paul.carey@northyorkshire.pnn.police.uk. Please quote reference 12200159013.
If you wish to remain anonymous, Crimestoppers can be contacted on 0800 555 111.
UPDATE: WE HAVE HEARD FROM FIRST THAT THEY INTEND TO REVIEW THE WORKING OF THE NEW ROUTE IN SEPTEMBER.
Everyone knows that usage of bus services has reduced since the start of the pandemic. Some services are recovering passenger numbers more quickly than others.
Earlier in the week the York Council decided to continue its subsidy payments for concessionary travel (elderly and disabled passes) at historic levels despite the drop off in use.
That is the right decision if public transport is ever to become the first choice travel option for York residents
First York need to make their strategic intensions clear.
About 2 months ago they changed the route of the number 4 service on the Acomb village loop. For some time the service had used Gale Lane , Front Street, Green Lane and Tudor Road on a one way basis.
This is the route still currently shown on the First York web site timetable map (click)
First York web site map 29th Augst 2020
The alternative loop involves providing a two way service on Tudor Road/Green Lane. This is what is still in operation today. This route misses out the top section of Gale Lane.
However the flags at the bus stops in Tudor Road (east bound) do not show the number 4 stopping there. We think that is just an omission,.
Generally the return of a two way service in the Tudor Road area has been welcomed by local residents.
First should now confirm that the change will be permanent and that timetables, maps and bus stop signage will be amended accordingly.
We hoped that we had seen the last of the damaging weed growth that threatened to wreck footpath and forecourt surfaces last summer.
The Council’s weed control programme failed last year but there are hopes that things will be better this year.
We were advised that a first application of weed killer to paths and gutters took place in April.
Recent damp but warm weather has encouraged plant growth and the inevitable appearance of weeds. There seems to be little evidence in some streets and back lanes of “die back” from the application.
However weed control operatives have been seen in various parts of the City so it may be too early to draw conclusions.
One worrying trend has been the reappearance of tough weeds like “Horses/Mares Tail”. There have been sightings of this pervasive and destructive weed in several locations including Windsor Garth, Green Lane, Kir Crescent and Marston Avenue. In each case damage is being caused to footpath or road surfaces. This is likely to be expensive to repair.
There is a proprietary “diamond” weed killer which eliminates weeds like this as well as nettles and thistles. It is not clear whether the Council has specified the use of this product in problem areas.
If it hasn’t then it needs to get a move on with applying the chemical quickly to avoid further damage and expense.
Kir CrescentLittle Green Lane garage areaWeeds growing on back lanesAnother problem location near Sandown Close
Although we will continue to report routine issues with local public services over the next few weeks, we don’t expect some to have any priority for the use of resources if the CV virus debilitates the Councils workforce.
Clearly the most important services are those that maintain the safety of the local community.
We’d like to see the Council appoint local coordinators so that the vulnerable have someone to turn to. We recognise that valuable resources like the local “hubs” will have to close but they need to be replaced with technology based alternatives. We look forward to hearing more about the Council’s plans
The Friday Hub at the Foxwood Community Centre has already been suspended.
Local residents groups and Councillors are actively supporting residents.
Hopefully those who are responsible for the graffiti that blights the neighbourhood, those who drop litter and those who allow their dogs to foul footpaths will now change their ways.
Full bin at Foxwood Shops
Graffiti Green Lane
Graffiti Windsor Garth
Dumped Lidl trolley Bellhouse Way
Full bin Foxwood Park
Broken glass Cornlands Road
NB. The Great British Spring Clean – which relied on volunteer litter pickers – has been postponed until the Autumn.
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