Verges need major repairs following excavations

Good to see TalkTalk contractors out n the Danesfort Avenue area repairing verges today. The dry weather has made reinstatement to an acceptable standard a challenge.

But residents are less happy about delays in other verge repairs.

Reinstatements on Foxwodo Lane have been outstanding for nearly 6 months

Concrete drives on Kingsthorpe have been repaired but adjacent verges are an eyesore

Verges in Kingsway West are appalling

Another overgrown cul de sac

The cul de sacs on Kingsway West are a particular problem. Overgrown, weed infested with many bare patches

Litter in York: performance stats overdue

The fine weather is likely to mean increased work for York’s street cleaning teams.

Last August the number of reports about street cleansing issues (which includes dog fouling) hit an all time record high.

The Council hasn’t updated its open data page since then, but anecdotal evidence suggests that – at least in some suburbs – problems continue at a high level.

Dumping disfigures countryside entrance to York

We’ve reported dumping on Askham Lane Fly tippers face fines in excess of £500.

Public services in York struggling to catch up with bad weather backlog

Litter and fly tipping on Askham Lane reported

Garage in Bramham Road boarded up. We hope that the Council will act quickly to re-let the unit. There are a lot of people of the waiting list. We’ve asked for the detritus to be removed from the garage area and for local damaged verges to be repaired.

More urged to join Great British Spring Clean

Calling all York “litter heroes”

The Council is asking local residents, businesses and community groups to become ‘litter heroes’ by getting behind York’s annual spring clean event next month, on or around the weekend of 2-4 March.

Part of the Keep Britain Tidy’s ‘Great British Spring Clean’, the event seeks to inspire people to roll up their sleeves and get involved in community litter picks and ‘tidy-ups’ in wards across the city.

Over the course of the weekend, the council will be on hand to lend support to residents in several ways, including collecting extra waste that is in bags printed with a large ‘V’ for volunteer from pre-planned spring clean events and providing equipment to help make jobs quicker and easier.

Cllr Andrew Waller, Deputy Leader and Executive Member for the Environment, said: “The annual spring clean provides a great opportunity for residents, voluntary groups and businesses across York to come together and make a real difference to how our city looks.

“We know that the vast majority of York residents take a real pride in their local area and want to support the work of the council to keep it litter free. If people work together as ‘litter heroes’ we can achieve a huge amount over the weekend and support the work by the council and the Business Improvement District.”

Andrew Lowson, Executive Director of the York BID, said: “The York BID has a remit to work with stakeholders and improve the appearance and environment of York city centre. We all know how important it is to keep the city clean for the businesses who operate here, the residents who call it home, and the millions of visitors we host every year.

“The York BID are happy to support and endorse the Great British Spring Clean on behalf of the businesses we represent. By providing two operatives every day of the week to enhance the work of the council, we are proud to be part of a wider team that aims to keep York as clean and attractive as possible.”

To get involved, to request help, or to register your event with the council email environmentandcommunity@york.gov.uk. For more information visit www.york.gov.uk/environmentandcommunity call 01904 551551 or follow @cityofyork on Twitter.

Littering fines to rise to £100 in York

Car parking charges up

Councillors are expected to day to confirm increased charges for many York Council services.

There is an eyewatering 33% increase in the fine level for anyone found littering the streets They will pay £100 a time (early payment discount £75-00) Unfortunately very few fines have been issued in recent years and litter remains a problem in parts of the City

The Council is also hiking the rent for garages. This despite many having been left empty. The Council could bring in more income by actively marketing the vacancies. Filling the garages would also reduce on street parking problems in some suburban estates. Council tenants will pay £7-43 for a garage while private individuals may rent one for £8-92. There are higher charges for high demand are while areas with a low demand attract discount rates

Car parking charges are increasing by 10p per hour. 5 hours parking at a short stay car park will cost £11-50

No elasticity of demand analysis is included in the Council budget papers. In recent years the Council has rarely achieved its budgeted income from parking charges

A list of the new charges can be found by clicking here

Weather has impact on services in York

High winds have been blamed for he increase in litter seen today. Insecure recycling has been blown around many suburbs with the Council struggling to catch up on their collection schedules post New Year.