Yesterdays steady rain revealed more blocked drains
We’ve reported several but really think that it is time for the Council to reinstate 6 monthly routine cleans.
Failing that, they need to actively clear those drains that have – like the one below in Bellwood Drive – been blocked for months.
If there is large scale ponding on footpaths, then the arrival of icy weather will multiply safety problems
Blocked drain in Bellwood Drive
Westfield Residents have lost out again from cavalier council.
Meals at sheltered housing in Gale Farm Court were axed by the council on 1st October despite protests by residents that the council had not given time for alternatives to be worked through.
Gale Farm Court
Residents had been led to believe that the council was sorting out a better contract for the meals – but on 3rd September a letter was sent by the council to say that the meals were being stopped on 1st October
Residents do not have kitchens – indeed residents took on their flats on the understanding that they would have communal meal arrangements.
The letter had followed months of consultation where residents were led to believe that the council was simply sorting out a better provider- following complaints about the quality and unreliability of orders. The Council leader James Alexander had been approached in February at the “Westfield Community Conversation” event and had claimed that he wanted to sort the problem out!
Andrew Waller has been working with residents and companies who want to provide a service which means that residents don’t need to eat in isolation in their own flats. On behalf of the residents he wrote to Cabinet Councillor Lindsey Cunningham Cross to request that the old system continued until there had been a new one developed – in response she said that she would not comment on whether the scheme would or would not cease on 1st October…. until the 16th October.
Residents found out the hard way that the council was not going to budge.
Some taster sessions have been run by companies who want to bid for the work, but these have taken place after the council had stopped the communal meals. Andrew will be pressing with residents that a sustainable solution is brought forward.
Andrew said “The treatment of the residents of Gale Farm Court has been shocking. The axing of the service came out of the blue, and it seemed like the council had already written off the prospect of a replacement even before they sent out the letters at the beginning of September. I know that Cllr Lynn Jeffries had been working with the residents for months to get better meals.
Residents in council sheltered schemes deserve to be treated with respect by the council. They should have worked to provide a new solution before axing the old. It seems that the council is saying that it is trying to tackle social isolation in the area .. but actually does the opposite in practise. I am pleased that the residents have not taken this lying down, and have been pressing for a solution that they are able to choose a solution”.
The Council has confirmed that no checks on vehicle speeds in West York have been undertaken since the controversial 20 mph speed limit signs were put up.
The lack of monitoring is likely to be raised at the council meeting taking place on 9th October.
It seems strange that, having spent £600,000 on new signs ,the Council has n’tbothered to check whether they have had any effect on driver behaviour
The revelation comes as yet another anomaly with the 20 mph signing has been found.
Drivers coming down Green Lane towards the roundabout are told that the speed limit on one side of the road is 20 mph while on the other it is 30 mph!
Acomb toilet closed again
The exchange of Emails can be viewed by clicking here and here
The project cost £600,000 to implement
The correspondence includes a request from Cllr Anna Semlyen for the use of a police radar speed gun (!)
This was the same Labour Councillor who argued that 20 mph speed limits should be introduced without consultation with residents.
click to enlarge
Former Council Leader and long term Westfield Ward representative, Andrew Waller is the Liberal Democrat choice to contest the Westfield ward by election on Thursday 16th October.
A vacancy was caused by the recent death of Cllr Lynn Jeffries.
The impact of the election is likely to be felt far beyond the boundaries of the Westfield ward with the Council currently tied.
23 Labour Councillors face 23 opposition party representatives since another Councillor quit the Labour Group last week.
Who ever wins the by election will influence whether Labour regain an overall majority or whether opposition groups – when they vote together – will be able to defeat them.
There has been some speculation that a LibDem win would mean the Councils Cabinet being restructured to ensure that all parties have a seat round the table.
In 2011 Andrew Waller came within 140 votes of retaining the seat which had previously been held by the Liberal Democrats.
Andrew, 45, was councillor for the ward until May 2011. Since then he has kept in touch with people issuing a regular FOCUS newsletter. He has kept working for the local community and recently completed a 6000 household doorstep public opinion survey.
Andrew lives in the heart of the ward on Askham Lane, and is Treasurer of Chapelfields Community Association (which runs Sanderson House Community Centre), and a School Governor at both the Westfield Primary and York High Schools.
He has worked for Rowntrees and Great North Eastern Railway in the past.
He jointly set up the Acomb Traders Association (Acomb Alive!) which promotes business in the Front Street shopping area.
He has campaigned on local services, including protecting community centres, and Energise Sports Centre.
A keen cyclist, he is often spotted in his distinctive yellow jacket around the ward recording problems that need sorting out.
A fuller biography is available by clicking here
Woodlands playground refurbished
Hedges next to cycle path being trimmed back
Workers were today putting the finishing touches to the refurbished Woodlands play area on Teal Drive/Bellhouse Way.
Hedges area being cut and all the safety surfaces have been renewed.
Children are likely to attend an “opening” later in the week.
Full marks to Rowntrees for talking to the local Residents Association about the future of the playground which had been locked closed for over 12 months.
Responding to a survey organised by Liberal Democrat Andrew Waller last month, 88% of residents said that they wanted the Woodlands play area to be open at least at weekends.
NB. Part of the overgrown hedge blocking the cycle path has also now been cut back.
Steve Galloway with Lynn Jeffries who was a keen supporter of Green Belt conservation.
We were sad to hear of the death of Westfield Ward Councillor Lynn Jeffries over the weekend.
Lynn had been suffering from an illness for some time.
She was elected to represent the ward in May 2011 and joined the Liberal Democrat team 18 months later.
She was a tireless campaigner on behalf of people with disabilities and readily supported local residents in the Westfield area on a range of issues including conservation of the natural environment.
She had recently been involved in a door to door survey of over 3000 homes in the ward taking up dozens of issues with the Council on behalf of respondents.
Our condolences are extended to her friends and family.
