Roadworks to take place in February and March

Hamilton Drive East affected from Monday

Two men wearing bright orange safety clothing stand behind a road maintenance truck, smiling at the camera

City of York Council will be carrying out essential roadworks on key roads in York including Hamilton Drive East, Huntington Road and Haxby Road throughout February and March.

The following works are being undertaken:

Hamilton Drive East:

Works will take place overnight on Monday 8 February (weather permitting) between 7.30pm to midnight.

In order to carry out the work safely, the road will need to be closed for the duration of the works from, but not including, the junction of Holgate Road up to, but not including, the junction of Barbara Grove. The road will be fully open outside of works times.

Huntington Road:

Works will start from Monday 8 March for a period of two weeks (weather permitting) between 7.30pm to 5am.

The works have been split in to two phases to minimise disruption:

Phase 1 – Road closed from, but not including, the junction of Ramsey Close up to, but not including, the junction of Fossway / Haley’s Terrace. This work is scheduled Monday 8 March until Friday 12 March.

During phase 1 Bus Service 14 will divert via Heworth Green, Dodsworth Avenue and Fossway in both directions.

Phase 2 – Complete closure of the junction of Huntington Rd / Haley’s Terrace and Fossway. Somerset Road will also be closed. This work is scheduled Monday 15 March until Friday 19 March.

During phase 2 Bus Services 5/5A will divert via Haxby Road and Link Rd in both directions (not serving Haley’s Terrace or Huntington Rd). Bus Service 14 will divert via Heworth Green, Malton Rd, Elmfield Ave, Monkton Rd and Byland Ave in both directions (not serving Huntington Rd between Monkgate roundabout and Byland Ave junction).

In addition to the above, kerbing and drainage works will take place on Monday 1 March for a period of five days working 9.15am – 4pm. These works will be carried out under local traffic management, will not affect access/egress and the road will be open as normal. Parking will be suspended in sections to enable us to carry out the works.

Haxby Road:

Works will start from Monday 22 March for a period of five nights (weather permitting) between 7.30pm – 5am.

In order to carry out the work safely, the use of a full road closure from, but not including, the junction of Walpole Street up to, and including, the junction of Rose Street will be necessary whilst works are taking place.

The bollards at Fountayne Street and Vyner Street will be removed during the hours of works to allow residents access and egress via Wigginton Road.

Bus Services 1, 5 and 5A will divert via Lord Mayor’s Walk, Monkgate and Huntington Road.

In addition to the above, kerbing and drainage works will take place from 15 February for a period of five days working 9.15am – 4pm.

During all of the above schemes, road closures may be necessary to ensure that adequate health and safety is maintained for both local residents, the travelling public and the contractor. Site staff will be on hand to advise and assist residents about any access restrictions once the works are ongoing.

If on-street parking is suspended residents have been notified in advance. Parking may be suspected during the hours of the works for the full duration, but specific access requirements can be arranged by speaking to the site Traffic Management Operatives, who will coordinate with residents (and business requirements) around the ongoing work operations.

The contractor will be operating under social distancing guidance wherever possible due to the current Covid-19 restrictions.

Emergency services will be permitted through the works at all times. However, please note that cyclists will be required to dismount and push their bikes along the footways.

As with any construction work, there is likely to be a certain amount of disruption and inconvenience to the public. However, the contractor will at all times try to keep any disruption to a minimum.

For more info about current roadworks in York visit our website.

New zebra crossing to improve safety near children’s playground

City of York Council is installing a new zebra crossing on Haxby Road next week to make it safer for children and families to access the play facilities in Clarence Gardens.

The council says that it has listened to requests from residents, who called for a new crossing to be placed on Haxby Road, between the Stanley Street and Neville Street junctions. This will improve access to and from the playground, Clarence Gardens, nearby bus stops, Park Grove Primary School, the Groves, York Hospital and local businesses in the area.

Works will take place from 13 to 24 July, between 8am and 5pm, Monday to Friday only. In order to carry out the work safely, temporary traffic lights will be installed.

Drivers are advised to plan ahead and if possible avoid the area when the works are taking place, to avoid congestion.

For more details about roadworks in York, visit www.york.gov.uk/roadworks

Indoor tennis centre seeks planning permission in York

York St John University is seeking planning permission to replace the existing two outdoor tennis/netball courts with thee indoor tennis courts at the Mille Crux Sports Park at Haxby Road.

The application site comprises of an area occupied by two macadam surfaced outdoor courts to the east of the existing Hub building and sports hall. The courts are used for netball and tennis and are enclosed by 3m fencing and illuminated by 6 floodlights on 10m high masts. The site also includes a strip of playing field to the south of the courts and a section of the footpath to the north of the courts.

The application, which is recommended for approval, is being considered by the local planning committee on 5th December

York St John say they will implement a broad ranging Tennis Development Plan that will help support and maximising tennis participation at the facility for University students and local players of all ages and ability. The Plan will ensure the new facility will secure year round benefits to tennis in York across a wide range of areas, including;

A student tennis programme providing sessions for players of all standard from recreational tennis to BUCS team matches

An indoor coaching programme encompassing mini and junior tennis through to adult coaching

Development of effective links with local schools, providing opportunities for children to try tennis, and participate in programmes and competitions

Establishing weekly disability coaching sessions and competitions in connection with the York Disability Tennis Network

Enhance existing tennis programmes/clubs in the area, including the provision of access to local clubs through the winter

Providing an all year round competition venue, giving players within York and the surrounding area more competitive opportunities and providing a central venue for events

Providing a facility to host coaching education courses, and establishing and managing a workforce with the skills to facilitate tennis development

The university have worked in partnership with the Lawn Tennis Association and the scheme has been partially funded by them.

The Council says that it is considered appropriate to attach a condition securing adequate community use of the facilities.

Principal (Royal York) Hotel set to expand

The same meeting will hear an application from the Principal Hotel on Station Road to erect a 4-storey extension to create 45 bedrooms and reception/entrance space, reconfigured car parking and landscaping.

This application is also recommended for approval although the York Civic Trust has recorded an objection

Wigginton Road and Haxby Road junction roadworks

Ageing and outdated traffic signals at the Wigginton Road and Haxby Road junction are set to be replaced next month by City of York Council, in a project partially funded by York’s bus operators.

Works are estimated to take around six weeks to complete and will start on Sunday 19 May.

New, more reliable, traffic signals will be installed on the junction of Wigginton Road and Haxby Road. Layout changes are being made to make the junction work more efficiently, this will include realigning the outbound Haxby Road movement to make it straighter and making the pedestrian islands larger.

The new technology being installed will help to improve bus journey times and reliability on Wigginton Road and ease congestion in the area.

The new traffic signals will also be cheaper to run and more reliable. It will also enable the new systems to link direct to the council’s Traffic and Control Centre, so that the Network Monitoring Officers can manage the flow of traffic better in busy periods by adjusting traffic lights to best suit traffic conditions.

To help minimise disruption work will be carried out from 9.30am – 4pm during the week and also will take place on Saturdays and Sundays from 8am – 3pm. Temporary signals replicating, as closely as possible, the current operation of the junction will be in place throughout the works.

During the works it is anticipated that there will be significant delays when travelling through the junction.

Those using the junction are urged to plan ahead, allow more time for journeys on these routes and to consider alternatives and to use public transport where possible. Bus services will be operating as normal for the majority of the works but passengers are requested to visit www.itravelyork.info/ for more information.

Temporary pedestrian crossing points will be available at all times during the works to ensure that pedestrian facilities are available. Traffic marshals will be on site between 7am and 7pm, to help manage the traffic on site and to assist with pedestrians crossing the road.

To find out more about the scheme visit www.york.gov.uk/HaxbyRd

Huge 258 apartment conversion planned for empty Nestle factory

Nearly 10 years after the Almond and Cream production blocks at the Nestle/Rowntree site fell empty, plans to turn the building into residential accommodation look set to get the go ahead next week.

The planning committee is being recommended to approve the conversion of the building and as action the erection of a nearby “convenience store”. There will be 37 x 1 bedroom, 205 x 2 bedroom and 16 x 3 bedroom apartments.

5 affordable units will be provided (off site)

Imaginative plans would see the Grade 2 listed library building converted into communal use.

The conversion will make it one of the largest brownfield residential development in the city and should reduce the pressure to build on greenfield sites.

However only 173 car parking spaces are being provided meaning many of the flat dwellers will have to forgo private car ownership (or use a car club). With visitor parking also required we do doubt whether this arrangement will work.

Council officials are suggesting that the first occupiers are offered the following measures/initiatives to promote and incentivise sustainable travel whilst also reducing dependence on the private car;

The choice to first occupiers of either a free bus pass or cycle/cycle accessories to the maximum value of £200
A contribution of £200 per residential unit to be used towards the provision of a car club vehicle at the development and incentives including free membership and drive time credits per residential unit.

The Council still talks about the vehicular link from Haxby Rd to Wigginton Rd – of which this projects access road would be part – as a public transport link. Many will feel that such a new link could provide more general congestion and pollution relief for the area.

Nevertheless, it presents a bold move forward in addressing the demand for new housing in the City and one that we hope planners will grasp

Council claims that the Clifton Moor – Haxby Road cycle path is finally useable

An embarrassing 18 months behind schedule, the £1 million cycle track linking Clifton Moor to Haxby Road has finally been declared officially “open”.

The Council says that, “the scheme has created a safe off-road shared cycle and pedestrian route along the A1237 outer ring road between the Haxby Road roundabout and the B1363 Wigginton Road roundabout, connecting over 15,000 people living in this area of York.

The measures also include new links with Haxby Road near to the roundabout, a new bridge over the York to Scarborough railway line with approach ramps on the existing embankments and an additional crossing point on Wigginton Road to safely connect with Clifton Moor.

The provision of an off-road route/safe link opens up access (sustainably, via cycling and/or walking) between Haxby, Huntington, New Earswick and to the retail, leisure and employment destination of Clifton Moor as well as students attending Joseph Rowntree School“.

The delays to the completion of the scheme – which was scheduled to start in 2013 – have been put down to “poor ground conditions”