Councillors call on Network Rail to pause Moor Lane compound plans

Liberal Democrat councillors for Dringhouses & Woodthorpe have called on Network Rail to pause controversial plans to establish a compound on land on Moor Lane in Dringhouses.

Residents and councillors were notified on Friday 19 February by Network Rail that they planned to establish a compound to support the programme of work on the line between York and Church Fenton from March 2021 to February 2024. Network Rail say that it would be used to provide access to the railway, to store materials and machinery and to house staff welfare facilities.

When asked whether they had secured planning permission for the compound, Network Rail responded that “The Moor Lane construction compound benefits from deemed planning permission granted by virtue of Part 4, Class A of Schedule 2 of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015. Therefore, the compound does not require planning permission from the local planning authority in this instance.”

Network Rail’s plans have already had an impact on the local community. The residents at 21 Moor Lane were due to complete their house sale, however, after informing the buyers of the proposed compound, the buyer pulled out citing this issue as the reason.

Local councillors have demanded a meeting with Network Rail and have called on them to pause their compound plans.

“Residents and councillors are completely in the dark about how this compound will operate. We have no clue how the risk of disturbance to neighbouring properties will be managed, how site traffic will be managed and what other sites were considered before choosing this one” said Cllr Stephen Fenton.

“Network Rail say that they don’t need planning permission, but that is no excuse for riding roughshod over the concerns of the local community. These plans need to be paused so that residents’ legitimate concerns can be addressed.”

New bench hit with graffiti

One of the new benches installed along the footpath beyond the southern end of the Revival estate in Dringhouses has been attacked by a graffiti ‘artist.’

Thankfully the painted metal construction of the benches makes it relatively easy to remove the graffiti, using paint-removing wipes. On his daily exercise, Cllr Stephen Fenton took the opportunity to get some more exercise by scrubbing off the graffiti.

Volunteer effort keeps ditches clear

The efforts of a local volunteer, Michael, are helping to keep drainage ditches in Acomb Wood clear of vegetation.

After periods of heavy rain the ditches through Acomb Wood between Girvan Close and Alness Drive often fill up, and so keeping them clear boosts their capacity and reduces the flood risk to nearby properties.

As well as clearing the ditches of vegetation and leaves, Michael also maintains and improves the area alongside the path through the wood that links Acomb Wood Drive with Alness Drive.

Cllr Stephen Fenton said “For many years Michael has spent a huge amount of his own time maintaining and improving this area for residents to enjoy, His ditch clearing work is particularly important in reducing the risk of surface water flooding.

“Many hands make light work, so it would be great if other local residents could volunteer as much or as little time as they have to help keep our green open spaces in good condition. If anyone can help, please get in touch with me on 787988.”

Views sought on management of Little Hob Moor

The council has delivered a letter to around 500 households in the immediate vicinity of Little Hob Moor, asking for views on the future maintenance and management of the area.

Residents are asked to express an opinion on whether they would support bulb planting, the installation of additional benches, the formal designation of a wildflower meadow area and feedback on the grass cutting regime.

Feedback will help to inform decisions on any future changes.

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Cherry Lane planning application refused

At a meeting of the council’s Area Planning Committee on 20 August, an application for outline planning permission to build five detached homes on land to the south of Cherry Lane was refused.

Councillor Stephen Fenton addressed the meeting to express concerns about road safety at what is already a busy stretch of road. He asked the committee that, if they were minded to approve the application, a condition be added for speed limiting ramps to be installed to slow down traffic coming from Tadcaster Road.

As it turned out, the application was refused on a number of grounds including impact on the green corridor.

Surprise at Sim Balk Lane development plans

Local councillors and residents were taken by surprise when a poster board appeared at the junction of Sim Balk Lane and Tadcaster Road advertising “another development opportunity by Gateway Developments.”

The poster helpfully displays a web address – www.gatewayyork.co.uk

The website of the developers, Gateway, sets out an ambition to develop four sites – two in Dringhouses either side of Sim Balk Lane, and two in Bishopthorpe on Church Lane and Copmanthorpe Lane.

In Dringhouses, the developers have identified 25 hectares of Green Belt land either side of Sim Balk Lane, highlighted in red on the map below, which they claim is suitable for “mixed use development comprising of residential, care home, hotel and leisure.” Neither site is earmarked for development in York’s emerging Local Plan.

The developers envisage that these two sites could accommodate 247 new homes, or could lend themselves to a mixed-use development, claiming that “this site would offer a great opportunity for a hotel in close proximity of the sites next to the college, similarly providing scope and expansion of the college facilities.”

The developers state that “the site, due to its current land uses, does not have an effect upon the historic visual character of the city of York and will enhance the surrounding developed sites with employment opportunities and facilities.”

No mention is made of the impact that any development would have on an already congested highways network in this part of the city, or how these impacts might be mitigated.

Local councillors will update residents as and when we learn more about the developers’ plans.

Victory! Askham Bog appeal dismissed

Local Liberal Democrat councillors have welcomed the decision made by the Government’s Planning Inspector to reject the appeal against the council’s refusal to grant planning permission to build 516 homes on land next to the Askham Bog Site of Special Scientific Interest.

The application had been refused by City of York Council’s Planning Committee in 2019 on the basis that the proposed development, on land off Moor Lane in Woodthorpe, was inappropriate due to the impact on Askham Bog and local infrastructure. The developer then appealed against that decision, which led to a public inquiry being held.

Cllr Stephen Fenton said: “I am delighted that Askham Bog has been saved – this is a real victory for our community. Local Liberal Democrat councillors have fought this development for years and I hope that we can finally put this issue to rest. The threat of development on this site has been hanging over the community ever since the then Labour-run council identified the land for housing in their draft Local Plan.

Councillors Stephen Fenton, Ashley Mason and Paula Widdowson at Askham Bog in 2019

“Today’s news will come as a huge relief for local residents who had considerable concerns about the impact that this number of homes would have had on local infrastructure such as roads and healthcare services which are already struggling.

Councillor Stephen Fenton at Askham Bog in 2018 with Louise Wilkinson and Alastair Fitter from the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust

“It has been an incredible community effort, with residents rallying to the cause and the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust collecting over 7,000 petition signatures. I would like to thank everyone who has been part of this campaign.”

Further details announced on tip opening

The Hazel Court Household Waste Recycling Centre will re-open on   Monday 11 May. In anticipation of high demand, there is a booking system in place, which can be accessed on the council website HERE

The booking system matches the registration number to the vehicle, if they do not match you will be turned away from the site. Social distancing measures will be in place at the tip, which means that staff will not be able to assist residents unload waste from their vehicles, so please ensure you are able to do so.

Government guidance advises that journeys to tips must only be            undertaken if your waste or recycling cannot be stored at home safely or disposed of safely by other means.

Dates set for tip to re-open and green waste collections

City of York Council has announced that Household Waste Recycling Centres will re-open on Monday 11 May (with a booking system in operation) and garden waste collections will get underway from Monday 18 May.

In a statement issued on Tuesday 5 May, Cllr Paula Widdowson outlined the plans:

“Today we have agreed changes which mean:

– Household Waste and Recycling Centres will reopen from 11 May by appointment only to residents and commercial waste customers for essential use.
– Bulky waste collections will restart on 11 May
– Garden waste collections will start on 18 May.

“The decision we took back in April wasn’t one we took lightly, however it was crucial we were able to keep residents and staff safe. I would like to thank residents for their understanding and also our incredible staff who have continued to collect household waste and recycling in these challenging times.

“The wellbeing of residents and our staff has been our number one priority and following resident feedback, we explored options to restart all waste collection services, including garden waste collections. In addition, these services can now be opened safely as staff absences have stabilised and we have developed new ways of working.

“Following my letter to the Secretary of State seeking further support and guidance to resume our services as soon as possible, the government released updated guidance today. The guidance advises that journeys to tips must only be undertaken if your waste or recycling cannot be stored at home safely or disposed of safely by other means.

“The household waste and recycling centres will also have social distancing measures in place in addition to our booking system. We will announce further details of the changes, including the booking system tomorrow (Wednesday 6 May).”