Residents urged to report footpath obstructions

“Adopt an island” idea

Three weeks after local residents sprayed weed killer onto an overgrown traffic island on Northfield Lane die back has been limited. Further investigation revealed that around 4 inches of silt had accumulated around the island. Moss is a major problem on this and other similar islands

The area in question is important because it is immediately adjacent to the Councils Poppleton Park and Ride site. It is one of the first (and last) neighbourhoods that tourists are likely to see. Neglect is not a good selling point for a City with an economy dependent on visitor income

The nearby A59 is worse with weeds around 1 metre high.

While we don’t advocate residents taking matters into their own hands unless it is safe to do so, there are some roads where relatively little local effort could produce a startling improvement.

In every problem location we do ask residents and visitors to report obstructions – including excessive weed growth, overhanging hedges and trees – to the York Council.

This can be done via their “on line” web site which is available 24/7. https://www.york.gov.uk/reportproblems

We understand that a Councillor plans to raise the issue of failures in this years weed control contract at an executive meeting which is taking place on Thursday. Despite there being 300 pages of reports to the meeting, they fail to review the Councils performance on key street level public services. The Councillors responsible for street public services are likely to come under increasing pressure to issue a public statement, and initiate a recovery plan, aimed at restoring acceptable standards.

York annual weed growing contest off to a good start

We’ve asked residents to nominate the highest growing weeds on public highways in the City.

These are roads, footpaths , bridges etc which should by now have been treated for weed growth by the York Council.

If left untreated the weeds will gradually break up the surface of the highway causing additional expense when remedial work is undertaken.

The weed control programme is normally sub contracted by the Council. Residents may have seen (or not this year) quad bikers in some streets spraying weed killer

Weeds in the Leeman Road area. Currently about 1 metre high but growing strongly

Weeds higher than 1 metre at the A59 junction near Poppleton. Gives a poor first impression of the City for visitors accessing the nearby Park and Ride site.
A long time problem location with weeds now nearly 2 metres high on the parapets of the Ouse Bridge. Happens every year but no weed killer is applied by the Council.
This year the weeds have been supplemented by a strong growth in tin cans (licet stagni)
In the right place, wild flowers can make a positive contribution to the local environment. These are outside the Foxwood Community Centre. They help to sustain bee populations as well as supporting bio diversity more generally..

Long Ridge Lane, Poppleton being resurfaced next week

City of York Council will be carrying out essential resurfacing on Long Ridge Lane, Poppleton from Monday 27 June.

The work is expected to take ten days to complete, weather dependant. Work will take place between 9.30am-4pm.

In order to carry out the work safely Long Ridge Lane will be closed to through traffic during working hours. The closure will be localised and residential access using alternative routes will be maintained throughout the closure.  (more…)

New car dealership set to open in Poppleton

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A development site that has been derelict for many years may now be developed as a new car dealership.

Planning permission has now been sought for the construction of a 1863 square metre car dealership building with ancillary servicing and valeting functions and external car parking.

The site is next to the East Coast railway line and the application will be considered by the York Planning committee on Thursday.

There have been problems on this industrial estate with inadequate car parking arrangement leading to safety issues.

More recently traveller caravans have appeared on an area near Great North Way & Rose Avenue

Clothes recycling unit set to be axed at Poppleton garden centre

Meanwhile an application to regularise the use of a portable unit, which is currently used to collect clothing for recycling, is being opposed by York Council officials. The unit is located in the car park of the Wyevale Garden Centre at Poppleton. Details of the application and the officers recommendations can be found by clicking here. The unit is being opposed on the ground that it is in the “Green Belt”.

NB. The Council, recently built a park and ride facility on adjacent green field  land (which is much bigger and deeper into the Green Belt)

 

Poppleton trampoline centre set to get planning go ahead

Mega jump trampoline

A warehouse on the York’s Business Park at Nether Poppleton is set to become a trampoline centre with a café. 

The site is located on Rose Way. It is was last occupied by US tech company Nanometrics  which abandoned the site over a year ago.

The maximum number of trampoline users at one time would be 75, most sessions would be 1 to 1.5 hours in length and sessions would start every 15 mins. The proposed development would create 20 – 25 full time positions and 35 – 55 part time positions. There would also be a re-organisation of the car park to create 75 spaces.

The development is understood to be backed by David Lloyd who already runs a successful fitness centre in the City.

Trampoline parks have proved to be a massive success story in the US, which had about 40 such attractions in 2011. The number there has since ballooned to an estimated 300 either in operation or under construction.

The planning application is recommended for approval at a meeting taking place next Thursday

Planning committee set to approve elderly persons home in former Terry’s building

The Planning Committee taking place on 22nd October will be asked to approve 4 major developments in the City.

One of the most significant applications would see the delightful but deteriorating Terry’s HQ office building brought back into use as a care home.  While changes to the layout of the Listed building are proposed, developers face a challenge in meeting modern expectations in a building of this age and layout.

Terrys Site

  • Former Terry’s Offices, Bishopthorpe Road, York, YO23 1DE (15/01623/FULM) A major full application for the conversion of former Terrys headquarters building to a care home with 82 care bedrooms and 8 care apartments with rooftop extension and car parking  plus (15/01624/LBC) A listed building consent application for internal and external alterations in connection with the conversion of the former Terry’s headquarters building to a care home with rooftop extension.  The Terry’s Headquarters Building comprises a Grade II Listed brick and stone built former office block to the east of the former entrance to the Terry’s chocolate manufacturing complex dating to the early 1920s. The site also lies within the Terrys/Racecourse Conservation Area. The premises have been vacant and deteriorating since 2011 when after chocolate manufacture at the site ceased, the subsequent office tenant vacated the premises. Planning permission is now sought for conversion of the premises into an 82 bed care home with 8 extra care apartments. The proposal includes a single storey roof level mansard extension. The application is recommended for approval
  • Land to the North of Avon Drive, Huntington, York (15/00798/OUTM) A major outline application for the erection of 109 houses. The application includes 1, 2, 3 and 4-bedroom houses. 30% of all house types would be affordable. The development would be bounded to the north by a landscaped buffer between the housing and the ring road. Two access points would be created via two vacant plots on the north side of Avon Drive. A new internal loop road within the development would link the two accesses. However the site is in the Green Belt and its development is therefore inappropriate  The application is recommended for refusal
  • Grantchester, Stripe Lane, Skelton, York, YO30 1YJ (15/01659/FUL) A full application for the use of land for a 20 pitch touring caravan and camping site. The site has recently been granted a 5 caravan and 10 tent certification by the caravan and camping club and is being operated within the parameters of this licence. A small building has been constructed on the south side of the plot which provides toilet facilities and water and emptying points are located towards the northern boundary. The proposal is to increase the use of the site to accommodate up to 20 caravans or tents. The application is recommended for approval
  • Plot 7, Great North Way, Nether Poppleton, York (15/01307/FULM) A major full application for the erection of a motor vehicle dealership, sales and servicing buildings with outside vehicle parking areas. Planning permission is sought for the construction of a Arnold Clarkcar dealership with associated facilities including car servicing, valeting and used car sales within a 3014 sq metre building employing 45 full time staff. The site has been notified as a SINC or Site of Interest for Nature Conservation on the basis of its calcareous vegetation and a colony of Great Crested Newts which have subsequently been “trans-located” (!) The application is recommended for approval

Just when you thought it was safe to enter the ring road

The A59 lane closures continue

Boroughbridge Rd southeast bound closed between A1237 & Beckfield Ln junctions 09:30hrs till 15:30hrs 30th July due to road works.

At the Council meeting on 17th July the Cabinet member with responsibility for transport (Cllr Levene) was asked;

“Who took the decision, and when, to open the new Park and Ride site at Poppleton before work had been completed? (The outstanding works on 9th June included car parking space, signage, traffic signals, road junction layout, layout, A1237 junction improvements etc).

What has been the number of vehicles parked on average each day at the site and how many passengers have been carried by the new buses on each day since 9th June?

 When will all work connected with the Park and Ride site and associated road works be completed?”

He has been unable to answer.

This can mean only one thing.

The road-works at Poppleton will never end!

Poppleton Bar Park and Ride site still not completed

The York Council has missed yet another deadline for the “final” completion of the Park and Ride site at Poppleton.

Poppleton park and ride car park 28th June 2014

The Park and Ride service was opened prematurely by the Council 3 weeks ago although essential signage, traffic signals, parking bays, landscaping  and improvements to the A1237/A59 junction had not been completed.

Not surprisingly, despite the novelty of being able to ride on the City’s first electric buses, user numbers have been very low.

Most bus services are running empty.

By Saturday evening carriageway surfacing had been completed near the roundabout but lane restrictions remain in place as work to access footpaths and the cycle path has yet to be finished.

The Park and Ride site itself resembles the set of Close Encounters of the Third Kind.

It will present a poor backdrop for the TV pictures of the Tour de France riders who are scheduled to pass the site next Sunday morning.

TV coverage is scheduled to be beamed world wide and was one of the main reasons given by the Council for its £1.6 million investment in the event.

The Council has failed to provide any explanation for the latest delays nor for its decision to open the Park and Ride facility before work was completed.

The failure is the latest in a sting of misadventures which saw that Council forced to abandon plans to turn Monk Stray into a camping site and which has seen very low ticket sales for their highly expensive Grand Departee concert being held at Huntington Stadium on Friday.

They have, however, now added the popular local band HUGE to the concert programme no doubt ensuring that the Council’s propaganda machine will be able to refer to a huge attendance at the event!

Poppleton park and ride road works 28th June 2014

 

 

 

 

3 more weeks of road works at A1237/A59 junction

Council criticised for also closing Leeman Road alternative route from Monday

The York Council has been criticised by motorists for not delaying the start, on the resurfacing the carriageway near the Marble Arch bridge on Leeman Road, until the Poppleton roadworks were completed..

A1237It has now been confirmed that the  work is being undertaken at the same time as severe restrictions on the A1237 northern by pass continue to be applied.

The Council has issued a statement today saying,

“‘Businesses are open’, is the message City of York Council is emphasising whilst contractors complete overnight highways works in the north of the city.

Following the opening of the Poppleton Bar Park&Ride, the focus now moves to completing the highway works along the A59 at the junctions with Station Road, Poppleton and the York Outer Ring Road.

Contactors Belfour Beatty will continue to work at night in the area as follows:

  • · Week commencing 9 June:  working mainly around the A59/1237 roundabout using temporary traffic signals 8pm to 6am.
  • · Week commencing 16 June: working mainly around the junction of the A59 with Station Road, Poppleton using temporary traffic signals 8pm to 6am.
  • · Week commencing 23 June: finishing off the main roundabout surfacing and markings using a road closure of the A1237, for three nights between 23 – 25 June from 8pm to 6am. Surfacing of Station Road using a road closure of the Station Road/A59 junction for one night (planned for 23 June). Final surfacing on the A59 east and west of the roundabout using temporary traffic signals.

(more…)

New Park and Ride service hit by traffic congestion at Poppleton

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click for video

There are two aspects of the new Park and Ride services which the Labour Council Leadership will be keen to avoid discussing over the next few days

The first is the crass stupidity of launching the Poppleton Park and Ride site before road works in the area had been completed. 

Another 2 or 3 weeks and the service could have been sold – to those travelling to the City from the north – as being a quicker, cheaper, congestion reducing and a more environmentally friendly way of accessing the City.

It is none of these things at present with traffic congestion as likely to delay the park and ride buses as those drivers who continue their journeys into the City by car.

This morning (off peak) the electric buses were taking over 5 minutes to exit the site and cross the A1237 junction.

Not surprisingly the buses were empty with only a handful of cars parked at the new centre.

The second policy – now relegated to the long grass – is Labours “Quality Bus Contract” plan.

When In opposition, they were keen to blame all public transport deficiencies in the City on the lack of influence that the Council had on bus fares and routing policy.

Labour’s solution was to introduce what is known as a “Statutory Quality Bus Contract”.

 This, in effect, is a franchising system when bus companies bid to provide services to a contract specification set by the Council.

Labour were warned in 2009 that their plan was impossibly expensive to operate and would only get the go ahead in areas where bus use was falling.

 Decisions taken in 2011 by the new Labour administration – not least scrapping the popular ftr service – meant that bus usage reversed a trend of several years and started to decline.  

However, more recently, timetable changes have reversed the trend again.

In 2010, when decisions on how to take forward a trial of a bus contract system were being considered, the Council agreed to trial the use of the franchise system in part of the City.

The area selected was York north west – essentially the Poppleton/Acomb to City centre quadrant.

One of the options was to integrate the new Park and Ride services with the stage carriage services in the area, providing a more frequent service for some parts of the Boroughbridge Road/Poppleton area.

It was likely that off peak services would have benefited considerably.

After spending hundreds of thousands of pounds on the miscalculated “bus contract” adventure Labour quietly abandoned  their plans some 18 months ago.

Unfortunately they now appear also to have ditched the promised integrated public transport system in north west York!