That was the week that was in pictures
Work started on resurfacing Front Street. The road will be closed again tomorrow (Sunday) to permit the completion of the work
Cllr Sheena Jackson has started a survey aimed at finding out what improved leisure facilities youngsters in the Foxwood area would like to see.
Cllr Sheena Jackson has been meeting with the Local Police Community Support Officers to discuss anti social behaviour issues in the area
& a quick litter pick by Sheena in the Tedder Road park
Lack of parking space on Windsor Garth is now a major issue. No sign yet of much needed matrix protection
Developers will take down a section of the railings around part of the Hob Stones development in the autumn. It is being replaced with an (ugly) close boarded fence (which is 4 metres high on the north side)
Unfortunately the Council has not updated the notices displayed on public noticeboards in the Kingsway area. There is a lot going on so this is a missed opportunity.
Road works starting on Windsor Garth link road upgrade on 30th August. Plan shows that speed tables will be repaired.
Deep clean needed on Windsor Garth
Recurrence of litter problems on Kingsway West/Green Lane snicket & kick about area
Bus stop paving on Hamilton Drive West disappearing under verge. Litter reported by Cllr Sue Hunter.
Damaged Gully cover Danesfort Ave to be re-aligned to avoid flooding
Weeds and detritus reported on Gale Lane lay-by. We’ve asked for road markings on the adjacent Stuart Road hammerhead to be repainted
Cllr Andrew Waller has reported an overhanging tree Thanet Road
Litter and detritus on Chesney’s Field snicket
All issues have been reported via https://www.fixmystreet.com/
York Council road works web site “useless”
The York Council has been criticised for not keeping its web site up to date.
Residents wanting to check when local roads may be closed for resurfacing and repair will find that information for 2016 has not yet been updated.
York Council’s road works web site
The web site promises that
Roadwork schemes which are planned for 2016 will be listed below, per ward, once the annual funding and plans are agreed. Where available: clickable reference numbers show the location of the road works on a map clickable street names show further information
However 4 months into the financial year – and with resurfacing works already underway – no information has been provided.
The lack of information has been criticised by local Councillors who were investigating the mysterious appearance of a sign on Windsor Garth indicating a road closure to accommodate much needed resurfacing work.
Carriageways and footpaths in the area have been badly damaged by vehicles accessing the Hob Stones development.
A start on resurfacing work has been expected next week but this seems highly unlikely in view of the most recent planning delays
Windsor Garth roads need repairs
Hob Stones planning application changes now on York Council web site
Details of the proposed changes to the Hob Stones development on Windsor Garth can now be found on the Council’s web site
The planning application can be read by clicking here
An explanation for the proposed changes from the builder can be found by clicking here
Residents have until 9th August to record any objections.
Unfortunately, the applicant appears to have attempted to drown the application in a sea of documentation much of which replicates the papers submitted 3 years ago. Hopefully the Council will reorder the papers to make it clearer just precisely what changes are being proposed.
click to access
Westfield action round up – Some of he issues that we have reported for action this week
Uneven carriageway on Windsor Garth – Longest outstanding issue and may not now be repaired until “Hob Stones” development completed late next year.
Possibly unstable tree on Herman Walk reported for inspection
External lights on during day on some Windsor Garth flats (timing clocks need re-setting)
Dumping reported on Dijon Avenue (and similar on little Green Lane) garage areas still not cleared up.
Drainage channels need sweeping on Gale Lane
https://www.fixmystreet.com/
Only one plot remaining at Hob Moor “Hobstone” development
Only one of the new houses being built on the Windsor Garth development is still for sale according to developers.
The remaining property is a 2 bedroomed house which is listed at £170,000.
14 of the 55 units being built on the site are for sale (the rest will be rented by Yorkshire Housing)
The development has been criticised, not least for it’s high density levels. Originally the site was to have had only 29 units constructed. They would have been restricted to the “footprint” of the old school building.
Completion of the development later this year can’t come soon enough for existing residents living in the area.
They blame construction traffic for damage to local roads, footpaths, verges and the Moor itself.
Damage being caused by Hob Moor building works
Residents have raised concerns about damage to Hob Moor being caused by building works on the former Our Lady’s school site.
Parts of the moor have become waterlogged while local roads and footpaths have been damaged by access traffic.
Several sets of speed humps are now dangerous for cyclists.
Parking on the access road to the site is not possible forcing vehicles onto local residential roads. In turn this has made access for domestic delivery vehicles awkward.
The York council has yet to confirm that roads and footpaths will be included in the forthcoming years resurfacing programme. In the meantime emergency repairs are required.
Development site next to Hob Moor
Parts of Hob Moor now waterlogged and inaccessible
Footpaths and roads dangerous following traffic and utility damage
Our Lady’s school site – now developers want to pull down railings
click for larger map
Developers plan to tear down Our Lady’s housing site railings.
They say it will improve “permeability”
Retention of the railings was considered to be important by local residents, and supporters of the Hob Moor conservation area, as it provided some guarantee that domestic use would not creep onto the moor.
The railings will also provide good quality security for the gardens of the residents of the new homes.
The railings are relatively new and have a longer life than the proposed close boarded wooden alternative.
Details can be found by clicking here
The Council have not given a date by which residents objections must be received although they hope to determine the new planning application (using delegated powers) on 25th June.
Fire at Our Lady’s school
A fire has broken out at the former Our Lady’s school building on Windsor Garth.
The building has been empty for over a year and was due to be demolished this week.
Hob Moor – development work starts on Our Lady’s school site
Our Lady’s school site clearance started
Builders have moved onto the Our Lady’s school site and have started to fell trees.
The Our Lady’s school buildings will be demolished within the next 3 weeks.
School to be demolished in a few days time
Work has already started to provide an electricity power supply to the new housing development.
The whole scheme, which involves the erection of 55 new homes, is expected to take about 12 months to complete.
The building contractors have said that all site traffic will follow the Kingsway West/Ascot Way/ Ashford Place/Windsor Garth bus route to access the site.
Crumbling road surfaces on Windsor Garth
Residents remain concerned about the poor state of the roads on the route, and in particular the rapidly deteriorating road humps, although whether it would be worth completing permanent repairs before the heavy traffic moves on, is open to question.