Builders have closed Ascot Way forcing a bus diversion. The road has been closed by builders working on the Lincoln Court/Windsor House site.
A pedestrian route has been maintained but vehicles including buses and cyclists face a detour.
Ascot Way closed
The Council had previously claimed that the Centre for the Disabled, being built on the site of the former Windsor House home, would be completed in June. Work on this project, and the adjacent upgrade of the Lincoln Court apartments , looks to be some way from completion.
The Kingsway area has had more than its fair share of disruption in recent years. There is only one access road open and it has born the brunt of heavy vehicle operations. First there was the Hob Stone development – which dragged on for three years, then the Council development in Newbury Avenue to be quickly followed by the work now going on in Ascot Way.
Local residents are looking forward to the end of the disruption, the restoration of lost amenities plus urgently needed repairs to roads.
The same report provides an update on the Lincoln Court redevelopment
Ascot Way building site
“The Older Persons’ Accommodation Programme is currently
working on site to refurbish and extend the Lincoln Court Independent Living
Community in the Westfield Ward.
Once complete the building will have 35 one bedroomed
apartments, communal lounges, laundry facilities, a salon and a communal
kitchen.
Work is progressing well on site, with the development
due for completion in late spring 2020.
The tenants who have expressed an interest in moving back
into the new development have now had the opportunity to choose their kitchen
and bathroom fittings, as the “tenants’ choice” works have been included in the
contract”.
Work on site is indeed progressing although whether Lincoln Court could be re-occupied before the development (on the adjacent Windsor House site) of a disabled centre is complete, is open to question.
It is likely to be 12 months before the Centre of Excellence for Disabled Children is commissioned for use.
The development has involved some noise, parking and traffic issues for nearby residents.
Non-material amendment to permitted
application 18/00586/FULM – Plot 4 repositioned; retaining wall structure to
rear gardens amended (on the east side of the site); changes to external
elevations including addition of canopies. and bay windows.
Residents have called on local Councillors to intervene to ensure that weeds growing on local paths and gutters are cleared. Today’s weather, damp and warm, is likely to see the problem get worse over the weekend.
Weeds are obstructing footpaths, gullies and garage areas in the Westfield Ward
In the little Green Lane garage area grass is now growing through the recently resurfaced forecourt. It is a similar situation in Windsor Garth
The weather also means that hedges will be growing more quickly. We’ve reported this bramble bush which is obstructing the public footpath near the entrance to Hob Moor school Although the Council says that they have removed litter from the Tithe Close snicket, this doesn’t seem to be the case. Similar situation on The Reeves snicketThe only thing that the Council seems to be doing quickly this summer is knocking down parts of west York. This is all that is now left of the Windsor House elderly persons home. There is some mud on local roads which needs to be monitored. Still no sign of the replacement for the children’s games area at Hob Moor. Contractors using the old all weather games area for storage are at least polite!
The Westfield Councillors are right to insist on more information being provided on building works in the area, when they meet tomorrow (Wednesday)
However, they will be meeting only a few metres away from the spoil heaps and site compound which has been constructed on the Council owned land to the rear of the Library.
Large spoil heap on Council land at the Acomb Library
Some explanation for the decision to allow the contractors to use this Council owned site will be expected. It is an issue that is not likely to go away.
Some residents still hope that Council will offer some sort of compensation for the problems that have been caused by the use of the compound
Elsewhere, the Lowfields development saga continues.
There has still not been any explanation about how the York Council came to mislead residents about the inclusion of a “police station” and health centre/GP surgery in the original consultation plans.
Both these promises turned out to be bogus. It is unclear what will happen to what, otherwise, will be unused plots on the east of the site.
The Kingsway West carriageway is already breaking up
On Ascot Way, access arrangements, for the heavy plant needed to complete the demolition of Windsor House, remain unclear. It seems that access for the plant will be via Kingsway West and Ascot Way It is clear that the roads are too narrow in the area to avoid major damage to adjacent verges and paths. A “one way” system has been suggested but not confirmed.
There are real concerns that the bus route will be obstructed by the likely congestion
The original hope had been that more parking lay-bys would have been provided by now.
…..and the problem of the promised replacement for the all weather games area seems to be no closer to resolution. The existing MUGA has already been converted into a building compound.
Games area is now a building compound. No alternative provision for children has been provided
There is no word about the proposed alternative site on the Thanet Road Sports Area although officials were asked to follow this up 3 months ago.
Residents will no doubt be hoping that some answers emerge from the meeting
Spoil heaps dominate neighbouring properties on Lowfields Drive
Council blames the “complexity” of the selected design for the
increase.
A Council report published today reveals that the cost of the Centre of Excellence for Disabled Children will increase from the originally budgeted figure of £4.3 million (January 2018) to an estimated £5.9 million.
Demolition works have started at Windsor House
This comes after the Council, In April 2018, had agreed to increase
the proportion of the costs which would be funded by borrowing
£1.1 million of the increased costs will come from a Health service
grant with the rest being transferred from the education budget.
It appears that some features of the building are being “value engineered” out of the design.
The centre is being built on the site of the Windsor House elderly
persons home. The neighbouring Lincoln Court independent living building is
also being modernised and extended at the same time.
While both projects have been welcomed, concerns have been expressed about traffic congestion and parking issues in the area.
The impact of the developments on open space and sports facilities in the neighbourhood have also been criticised.
Details of the new budget allocations are being kept secret by the Council. It is unclear whatpromised features in the building may now be omitted.
The meeting to consider the budget increase is taking place on 18th June.
The demolition contractors for the Windsor House/Lincoln Court/Hob Moor school developments have taken over the Multi User Games Area (MUGA) on Kingsway West.
It in no longer accessible for local children.
Councillors have reportedly agreed to it being used as a building compound.
Sections of the fencing around the area have been removed to allow access to a new service road. The entrance used by children has been secured.
While the loss of the play area is not unexpected following a controversial planning decision a few months ago, the failure of the Council to provide updates on when a replacement facility will be provided (and where) is very disappointing. The location favoured by Sports Clubs and local residents, is on the Thanet Road All Weather Sports area near the junction of Gale Lane and Thanet Road.
At one point the Council promised funding for a new facility but all has gone quiet since the LibDems took control of the Council at the beginning of May.
The loss of the sports facility comes in the wake of similar erosion of facilities in the Westfield area with the Lowfields playing field now being developed as is the Acomb Bowling Club.
The Our Lady’s school field was developed about 3 years ago.
Support for the provision of more public open space – possibly in the form of new strays – on the outskirts of the City is growing.
New access road constructed across Hob Moor school playing fieldMUGA entrance sealedAccess road into site compound
Residents warned the York Council that local roads in the Ascot Way/Kingsway West area were too narrow to accommodate heavy construction traffic.
Windsor House construction site
Despite these warnings, the planning committee approved plans for the demolition of Windsor House but failed to specify any highway improvements.
The foolishness of that decision was highlighted on Friday when
two very large trucks made their way from the site onto Kingsway West.
They failed to observe the agreed one-way system forcing other vehicles to mount the footpath and verge.
The traffic plan – regarded by many residents as inadequate – was published on 8th May. (Click here to read).
It was clear yesterday that it will be impossible for
construction traffic and other larger vehicles, like buses, to pass each other
on the twisting roads.
Several other conditions were imposed on activities on the site (click here). Most have still to be implemented.
Car parking is now at an even greater premium with whole of the
Windsor House/Lincoln Court site cordoned off.
The problems have arisen only a few days before residents will
be given an opportunity to quiz contractors on their plans.
The “drop in” meeting will take place at the Hob Moor School Children’s Centre (Green Lane) at 3:30pm on Wednesday 5th June.
There is still no news on the Council’s plans to provide an alternative play facility to replace the Multi User Games Area which will be lost when construction work starts. It had been hoped that by now, permission would have been granted for a new pitch to be provided on the nearby Thanet Road Sports Area.
There is also a major question mark about the costs of the “Centre of Excellence for Disabled Children” which will be constructed on the Windsor House site. A Council meeting on 18th June(click) will hear that additional funds are required to sustain the project.
One way system odged on 28th May 2019Meeting on Wednesday
A full BIFFA bin has been abandoned in the little Green Lane garage area in Acomb. It has been there for over 4 weeks. The bins is stuffed high with black bags.
The garage area is owned by the York Council but is rarely inspected and even more rarely cleaned up.
Hopefully whoever rented this bin will get it removed quickly.
Biffa bin abandoned in Green Lane garage area
We’ve reported black bags left next to the litter big on Hamilton Drive West
Some verges haven’t been cut this year and are looking untidy. We have reported those on Foxwood Lane and Bellhouse WayWeeds are growing on the path and road at the end of Sherringham Drive. The Council has not yet published when it hopes to schedule weed treatments this summer.Work has started on the demolition of Windsor House. There is still a lot of confusion about this project with additional costs scheduled to be discussed at a Council meeting taking place on 16th June. There has still been no update on the plans to relocate the children’s all weather play area.
