Good work by volunteers has seen attractive flower beds established at the Foxwood Community Centre. The beds are “bee friendly”. Residents are being urged to recognise the needs of pollinators when selecting their border plants this year. Lists can be found on the RHS wen site and can be downloaded from these links;
Most garden centres have now reopened. In addition the Poppleton Community Railway Nursery charity is continuing to offer a service click for their catalogue There will be someone on the nursery at these times Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9.30 to 3.30. and Thursday 9.30 to 1.00. To avoid disappointment you can ring the nursery mobile 07800 501382 or the land line 01904 797623
Flower beds at the Foxwood Community Centre
The Bad
Less impressive has been the response in dealing with obstructions to foot and cycle paths. The Tadcaster Road cycle path has been reported on several occasions. As a result of weed and hedge overgrowth, it has now been reduced to less than 1 metre wide in some places (making “social distancing” more difficult).
Tadcaster Road cycle track obstructed.Similar problem on another main access route into the City. The path on the A59 near Poppleton is obstructed forcing users to walk or cycle on the highway.
The Ugly
Sadly there has been an increase in fly tipping. Below is a country lane near Tadcaster photographed today (Monday). The tipping has been reported to the Selby District Council.
Resurfacing works will take place from Wednesday 20 May between 9.00am and 5.00pm, for 4 weeks, working Monday to Friday only.
In order to carry out the work safely, phased lane closures will be in place from the junction of Middlethorpe Drive to the junction of Knavesmire Road whilst works are taking place
James Street
The resurfacing works will take place from Wednesday 10 June for up to 4 nights, working between 7.30pm and 5.00am, Monday to Friday only. A full road closure from, but not including, the junction of Lawrence Street up to, but not including, the junction of Morrison’s will be necessary whilst works are taking place.
In addition to the above, we’ll be carrying out kerbing and drainage works on Monday 1 June for a period of 7 days working Monday to Friday, from 9.15am to 4.00pm. These works will be carried out under local traffic management, will not affect access/egress and the road will be open as normal.
In order to carry out these works safely, a number of measures will be taken.
Staff will use ‘stop and go’ traffic control boards whilst works are taking place to manage lane closures, together with the use of a lead vehicle convoy system to guide traffic past the works at a safe and constant speed. This is 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
All on-street parking in the working area and within close proximity to the works will be suspended at these times, although any specific access requirements may be arranged by speaking to the site traffic management operatives, who will co-ordinate with residents’ and businesses’ requirements around the ongoing construction operations. This will not affect access for residents or businesses and the road will be open as normal
Bus services will be running as normal, and although there may be slight delays as a consequence of the works, this will be kept to a minimum
Emergency services will be permitted through the works at all times. Please note that cyclists are advised to dismount and use the adjacent grass verges.
Blue Bridge repairs to start next week
Refurbishment and maintenance works are scheduled to take place on Blue Bridge, over the River Foss, from Monday 18 May for up to eight weeks.
This will include general painting and repairs to the bridge parapet railings, the removal of old paintwork and steelwork repairs. In order for these works to be done safely, the bridge needs to be removed from the site.
A temporary scaffold walkway and bridge will be installed to allow pedestrian and cyclist access whilst the works on Blue Bridge are being undertaken.
There will be two brief closures (of up to 15 minutes each) during this time, to allow the bridge sections to be lifted out and returned into position. This will take place towards the start of the project and towards the end.
The width and overall length of the temporary bridge will be similar to the existing Blue Bridge. We’re asking residents to allow plenty of space between themselves and others in order to reduce the possibility of groups meeting along the restricted width of the temporary walkway.
The works themselves will take place between the Blue Bridge Lane and New Walk (i.e. along the River Ouse riverbank side).
It is possible to avoid this area by traveling via Fishergate for both pedestrians and cyclists.
The width dimensions of the temporary bridge will be similar to those of the existing bridge, but with a ramp to access the bridge from one side. Cyclists will be able to use the temporary bridge which will be flat, unlike the existing bridge which rises to a peak.
The River Foss navigation will not be available for access to river craft for the duration of the works.
York got its first “social distancing” footpath widening on Bishopthorpe Road today. Southbound vehicles now face a 1 mile detour via Nunnery Lane and Blossom Street. It is said that this will allow those queuing outside the butchers shop to have a 2 metre social distancing space.
Maybe so.
But the execution of the project does suggest planning based on impulse rather than the result of a more considered approach.
Northbound cycle lane closed
Not least this is because the alternative route is itself obstructed this week as extensive water company road works are take place on Blossom Street.
Blossom Street impeded by roadworks this week
Still it is even more good news for street sign manufacturers. In a week where we have seen £700,000 allocated to new City centre direction signs and a, largely unnecessary, lamppost replacement programme eroding highway maintenance budgets still further, we now see what can only be described as a confusing forest of road closed signs appearing on Bishopthorpe Road.
Few takers for implied southbound contra flow cycle lane
The big potential losers are those who depend on two wheeled transport. The northbound cycle lane has been scrapped while an ambiguous sign on the southern approach implies that a contraflow lane is available. Not surprisingly few cyclists were today prepared to risk riding against the traffic flow on the improvised – and relatively narrow – new central carriageway. There are safer routes available via St Benedict’s Road or the Darnborough Street/Vine Street loop.
So – just as with the Lendal Bridge closure fiasco of a few years ago – the law of unintended consequences has set in on this well intentioned initiative.
Elsewhere, there are easier gains to be had. Cycle paths (and some footpaths) are once again being overgrown by weeds and bushes. A few pounds spent there would produce a better return than is evident on Bishopthorpe Road.
A trial pedestrianisation of this shopping area may well be worth considering when traffic flows have returned to normal. But everyone needs to accept that less traffic here will mean more passing vehicles in other residential areas.
The Council should spend more time ensuring that cycle paths are free of obstructions. This one on Tadcaster Road is gradually being eroded by weed growth
Thankfully the Council has put on hold its plan to stop traffic using The Groves area as a short cut. Critics of the plan pointed out that it could mean gridlock for Lord Mayors Walk with serious implications for emergency vehicle response times together with a knock on effect on public transport. Trial road closures, in the current unique circumstances, wouldn’t prove anything.
It is another scheme that needs to be re-evaluated as and when the City’s economy – and the Councils finances – return to more normal levels.
We’ve reported obstructions to the Tadcaster Road/A64 cycle path. In both cases there were problems with hedge overgrowth which is making “social distancing” more difficult.
A few weeks ago we reported that a part of a tree had fallen onto to he York – Selby cycle path. It was blocking part of the path and posed a potential hazard at night.
The Council told us that they couldn’t do anything about it so today we trimmed it back
Likely that this peaceful route will become popular with “self isolators” undertaking some unaccompanied exercise over the next few weeks.
Tree branches impeding cycle track
Cut back today and safer now
We’ve also reported broken glass on the cycle path on Tadcaster Road near Tesco. Hopefully the Council will also sweeping detritus from the adjacent area
Rivers seem to be peaking in York at about the same level as last week. They are forecast to gradually decline over the next few days. A Red Flood Warning remains in place.
The weather has also impacted on other public services. We have reported several problems.
Large potholes are appearing on some roads like this one in Wharfe DriveMajor ponding problem on Tadcaster Road on SundayThe ground is saturated and this may hinder building operations at several sites over the next few days. Mud on the road could be a problem for some.
The Council has now replied to our complaint about inadequate weed control on public areas this summer.
They candidly accept now that the spraying has not been satisfactory.
They are now commencing a re-spray. The spray will include a colouring agent which will show which areas have received attention.
Weeds on the A59 have not been treated
This will be supplemented by Council staff who will work on areas not included on the contract. The areas near Poppleton on the A59 are a high priority.
Another problem has developed with obstructions to public cycle and footpaths.
Again the path on the A59 is one that is blocked
Path near Poppleton is still blocked
Brambles over growing the cycle path on Tadcaster Road may become a safety issue with darker nights coming.Bushes are impeding access to the Hob Moor cycle trackHedges blocking the cycle path at the rear of Hob Stones still haven’t been cut backSomeone has spent some time on this graffiti near the southern by pass But less time on this!
The cost of the pavilion is controversial because it is being partly funded from monies generated by building on playing fields at Lowfield.
More modest changing facilities would have allowed the surplus to be used to provide an all-weather games area to replace both the facilities lost at Lowfields and also the Kingsway West children’s games area which the Council demolished earlier in the summer.
The Council has still not made any public announcement about the replacement games area which could be located on Thanet Road.
2.9 miles from Lowfields to “replacement” football pitch
In a planning committee report, officials are still claiming that the Woodthorpe Wanderers Football team will relocate from the Lowfields sports field to a new pitch being created on the Green Belt near London Bridge on Tadcaster Road.
Residents had understood that this had been ruled out as too remote and lacking in perimeter security. The Club does have access to the nearby college pitch.
The London Bridge field may, however, meet the needs of the Bishopthorpe football club.
The fate of the Lowfields football pitch is central to plan to build houses at Lowfields.
The Sports Council have objected to the loss of the facility.
The Council has now said that they will consider the planning application at their August meeting, well ahead of the start of the Public Inquiry into the York Local Plan.
There have been a lot of objections to the Local Plan relating to the development of the playing field.
Not surprisingly local amenity bodies are crying “foul” over the timing of the planning applications. The Lowfields Action Group have updated their Facebook page.
A few months ago the Action Group published an alternative layout for the Lowfields site which would have ensured that the pitch was retained while also providing space for 200 homes.
Alternative proposal for Lowfields tabled by residents
There are some serious implications for existing Council tenants within the “housing development programme” published by the Council today. We’ll comment on these later in the week.
