Busy week in west York – in pictures

The week started with a “Funday” at the Foxwood Community Centre. Here Andrew and Sheena visit the police and fire displays

Andrew and Sheena visit the children’s bouncy castles

Sheena, here with Dringhouses Councillor Stephen Fenton, launched her survey of local youth facilitiers

Sheena, here with Dringhouses Councillor Stephen Fenton, launched her survey of local youth facilities

LibDem Councillors at last Sundays Acomb Green Fair

We reported lots of issues not least this bin on Cheney’s Field which had been overturned

We’ve asked for the full bin on Bellhouse Way to be emptied

We’ve asked for weeds and moss to be cleared from paths in the Otterwood Lane area

The payphone kiosk in Cornlands Road is in poor condition. No sign of cleaning or maintenance by BT

Damaged gulley cover on St Stephens Road

Detritus build up on Tennent Road snicket

We’ve asked for a spring to be fitted to the railings which protects the play area in the Cornlands Road park from dogs

We understand that an application for funding, which would see another parking lay-by constructed in St Stephens Road, has been successful.

The week concluded with volunteers planting a Bluebell wood near the community centre on Bellhouse Way. Here Andrew Waller leads the work. Unfortunately weather conditions meant that an additional planting session will be needed later

Cornlands Estates – residents rally behind “tidy up” campaign

The campaign to have the Thoresby, St Stephens, Cornlands and Tennent Road estate given a “make over” has gained substantial support from residents.

The main areas for improvement so far identified include:

Gulleys need clearing

Gates and fences need repairing

Garage areas need cleaning and resurfacing

Snickets need resurfacing

Pathways blocked

Vandalism at parks

Dumping on snickets

Damaged verges

1. Repairs to verges and protective posts (or selective bitmacing)

2. Verge trimming

3. More car parking.

4. Weed removal.

5. Repairs to gates and fencing.

6. Snicket and other resurfacing

7. Gulley cleaning

8. A major spring clean of communal areas, garages, snickets, forecourts including painting street furniture, replacing notices etc etc.

9. Trees/hedges cutting back from paths and boundaries.

Housing is the one area where there haven’t been any cuts.

Over £13 million is held by the Council in reserves(!)

Yet this decline happens?

More off road car parking needed

Residents seek extra car parking space in Westfield.

Car parking problems growing in Westfield area

Drivers living in the Kingsway West, Windsor Garth and St Stephen’s Road areas have started a campaign aimed at persuading the Council to restart its car park provision programme.

The programme, which provided dropped kerbs/verge crossovers and parking lay bys, was a victim of Labours cuts to ward committee budgets in 2011.

Although some work has continued using tenants estate improvement budget funds, provision has fallen behind demand.

Some spaces intended for residents use on Ascot Way are being monopolised by visitors.

Now additional pressure is being felt by on street parking spaces as the Council moves to redevelop garage areas while parking restrictions, on the link access to the new development on the Our Lady’s school site, seem inevitable.

In the meantime some drivers are parking on grass verges causing considerable damage and disfiguring the neighbourhood.

Residents sign petition asking for salt bins and de-icing to be retained in the St Stephens Road/Cornlands Road area

49 residents have signed a petition asking the Council to think again about reducing ice clearance activities in the Cornlands Road area.

Residents are particularly concerned about the Councils proposal to stop de-icing St Stephens Road – which is a bus route.

The Council is set to agree to continue to salt the bus route in Hollybank which has a similar frequency service.

The petition has been sent to the Council for consideration at its “decision” meeting which is taking place on Wednesday.

Sacks of salt were deployed by the then LibDem controlled Council during icy weather in 2010

The Council proposed cuts would leave the area without a salt bin. The bin near the shops on Cornlands Road was heavily used during the last bad winter weather which occurred in 2010.

Residents may attend and speak on the proposals at the meeting which is taking place at West Offices on Toft Green on Wednesday starting at 4:00pm click here for details

You must register to speak before the meeting. The deadline for registering is 5pm on Tuesday 8th October 2013. Telephone – (01904) 552062 Laura Bootland.

Written representations must be made by 5pm on Monday 7th October 2013. They should be E-mailed to laura.bootland@york.gov.uk