That was the week that was in pictures

*New COVID restrictions introduced today. Local testing is now available in Foxwood*

*We’ve asked the Council to speed up the replacement of snicket fencing, vulnerable to vandalism, with more robust railings. These were promised over 2 years ago*

Work continues at Lowfields. We’re pressing the Council to allow prospective occupiers to have a choice of a living boundary hedge instead of a close boarded fence. A Freedom of Information request is outstanding. It asks when work on the communal facilities and the Yorspace section of the site is expected to be completed.

*We’re urging Council estate managers to keep and eye on garage forecourt areas. These are too often forgotten and are subject to fly tipping.*

*The first weed control treatment should have taken place by now. We hope that Councillors will keep an eye over the summer on known problem locations such as back lanes and garage areas*. Weeds and overgrown hedges are a problem most years

That was the week that was in west York in pictures

Several suburban shopping streets need a tidy up. We asked for bins at Foxwood to be emptied but the Council now needs to provide more support for businesses that “soldiered on” during lock-down providing lifeline services for some.

Still too much graffiti on utility boxes in the area. Two more reported in the Dijon Avenue area this week

Rain and wind have brought detritus down blocking some drainage channels. We’ve asked for those in Kingsthorpe to be swept.

The footpath at the high numbered end of Tudor Road has been levelled. It had been damaged by tree roots. We expect that the problem will reoccur

However the nearby footpath on Tudor Road is still blocked by overrunning Yorkshire Water works

A major problem across the whole of the City are rapidly growing weeds. The Councils contractors have been seen out spraying but they will have been hampered by wet weather.

As a result many back lanes, footpaths, snickets and cycle paths are now obstructed.

This can be a hazard particularly for the partially sighted.

Hopefully residents, who see an issue near their home or business, will deal with it themselves.

Weed growth and other issues can be reported 24/7 via the Council web site ” click “Report it”

That was the week that was in photos

Unusual to see full bottles dumped next to the bottle bank at Acomb Car park!

Sadly still some dumping next to the bins. it has been suggested that the larger amenity sites like Hazel Court should reopen to residents. They have remained open for the disposal of trade waste. With green and bulky waste collection suspended, this would make sense provided social distancing can be maintained. We think that use levels could be controlled if specific days were allocated to individual neighbourhoods – possibly using a colour codes system. Real time “on line” monitoring of queue lengths – also suggested for supermarkets – would also help.

We’ve reported the full litter bin (and dumping) at the Acomb Car park

On the other side of the City, local Councillor Mark Warters has brokered an agreement with B & Q (which has now re-opened) aimed at avoiding HGVs blocking the access road. They will in future move straight into the delivery yard.

Elsewhere the recent mix of rain and sunshine has resulted in a rapid growth in weeds and hedges. Some are now blocking paths

Snicket still accessible on Wetherby Road but has been a problem in the past

Nettle growth at the entrance to the Westfield park has caused problems in the past. It should be on the new weed control programme but there is no evidence of “die back”

Nettles can also be a hazard when they reduce the width of public footpaths

We’ve asked for detritus to be swept from the Chesney Field snicket …..

& from the drainage gulleys in The Green area

An accumulation of litter on this snicket in Foxwood. Generally, though, the estate has been much cleaner recently.

The section of Gale Lane from St Stephens Road to Foxwood Lane which will be resurfaced this year.

Unfortunately there are many potholed carriageways which don’t appear in the Councils programme. This one is in Foxwood.

….and still no action to repair the poor road surface on Lowfields Drive

Uneven footpaths in Chapelfields have also not made it into the Councils repair programme

There was some hope that the budget delegated to wards specifically for improvements for pedestrians would lead to hard core being put down on part of the Grange Lane park access path. No programme of work has been published by the Council although the funding has been available for nearly a year now.

Damaged fence on Lowfields Drive reported

Finally we hope that the local Councillors will get round to publishing a neighbourhood list of takeaways which are continuing to provide a delivery service for the local community. Many have gone to great lengths to observe “social distancing” guidelines. We need these local businesses to survive the current lock-down difficulties. They deserve the support of the Council and local residents. At the very least the Council should maintain an up to date list of the food delivery services available within each local community. The list should be publicised on local noticeboards and on social media. Ideally it should be included on a leaflet delivered to each home. (The leaflet that the Council recently delivered only included about 20% of the suppliers still operating in the Acomb/Foxwood/Woodthorpe area).
We are compiling our own list which we hope to publish here next week.

That was the week that was in York in pictures

York Council needs to have a plan to remedy high profile problems.

“Bottle” bridge is back

Fresh set of bottles and cans disfigure Ouse Bridge in York. It should be possible to fine the culprits, there are CCTV cameras in the area.

Nearby this years crop of parapet weeds are now in flower. No attempt has been made by the Council to remove them despite fears that they may affect the structural stability of the bridge. The issue was first reported in May but the Council has still not responded

We’ve some sympathy with the Council’s grass cutters who have struggled with wet weather this week. Means that several verges, like this is Kingsthorpe, are now overgrown

The grass cutters task isn’t made any easier if garden waste and other material is dumped on verges!

A lot of highway trees are now showing signs of “sucker” growth round the lower trunks. These can cause a problem with sight lines.

Easier to control is weed growth around street furniture. Many lampposts haven’t been strimmed or treated with weed killer this summer.

Footpath widths are gradually being reduced following the failure of the Council to undertake any edging work over the winter period. There are calls now for the weed control function to be taken back “in house” by the Council next summer. The staff employed could be used on verge edging and tree maintenance work during the winter period.

Narrow footpath width and poor surface on Kingsway West forcing pedestrians to walk on verge

Thanks to the Councils Community Safety Unit at the York Council who agreed on Thursday to have the accumulated rubbish in the little Green lane garage area removed.

It’s not just in west York that problems with weed growth on traffic islands is a significant issue. Above from Cllr Mark Warters illustrates the problem on the A166.

Time for a post festive clean up in Westfield

We’ve been out and about checking and reporting on public service standards in the Westfield area over the last few days. Perhaps not surprisingly litter and dumping are the major issues.

Dumped artificial Christmas trees in Thoresby Road garage area

Full litter bin Dickson Park

Full litter bin Cornlands Road

Tithe Close snicket badly littered

Dumping next to Foxwood Lane bus stop reported by Andrew Waller

Graffiti at Ridgeway bus stop reported by Andrew Waller

Litter at Foxwood Lane bus stop (shops) later cleared up by local residents

That was the week that was in west York in pictures

As the Council has stopped edging verges some paths are now gradually disappearing. Short sighted policy. Several residents in Ridgeway have signed a petition asking for action on this issue.

Also in Ridgeway there are problems with deteriorating footpaths. They could get pretty dangerous after frost gets to work this winter.

Nearby, this is a section of the Askham Lane path which will be resurfaced before the end of the year

Unfortunately parking on verges in Ridgeway is making a mess of the newly reinstated verges. Leaf fall is also a hazard.,

Problem with leaf fall on Askham Lane footpaths as well. We have reported the problem to the Council for attention

We’ve also reported litter in the planted areas in Dickson Park

To end with some good news. The Christmas lights in Front Street are brightening up the area. Good work by the Acomb Alive traders again this year.

That was the week that was in west York in pictures

Work on the Acomb War Memorial is continuing. We hope all will be competed before local centenary events, marking the WW1 armistice, start on Thursday.

Nearby we hope that the Council will remove the weeds from Acomb Green steps. We reported the need for weedkiller at the beginning of October.

We’ve asked for the signage at Gale Farm Court to be cleaned or repainted.

The self closing gate mechanisms at the Cornlands playground have stopped working. They are intended to prevent loose dogs entering the play area. We have asked for repairs

Its the time of year when leaf fall can become a problem. The Council clears the leaves systematically but it does take several weeks. It any pose a particular hazard then we recommend that residents report them