Leeside playground improvement works completed

The £14k improvement works at Leeside playground are now complete, thanks to funding from the Dringhouses & Woodthorpe ward budget and funds awarded following a successful bid to the council submitted by ward councillors, which was informed by residents’ responses to a consultation in early 2021.

It wasn’t financially possible to deliver all of the new equipment requested by residents – such as a zip wire and roundabout – but there is a new ‘spin-a-bounce’ see-saw, balance beams, new ‘wear pads’ under the swings and ‘Ecotumble’ surfacing (made from shredded recycled tyres) around the new and existing equipment. This is on the back of feedback from residents that making the areas around the equipment free from mud would make a big difference in creating a more enjoyable space for children to play.

Cllr Stephen Fenton commented “Ward funding has been used in recent years to support much-needed investment at the Woodthorpe Green and Nelsons Lane playgrounds. It was about time that Leeside playground benefited from investment and so I’m pleased that we have been able to make these modest improvements.”

Leeside playground improvements to get underway

Improvements to the playground on Leeside in Dringhouses are set to get underway this week.

Cllr Stephen Fenton was contacted on 9 March by Wicksteed (the company that will be doing the work) to say that they plan to start installing the new equipment on Thursday 10th or Friday 11th March. In the interests of safety, the playground will be closed whilst the work is being done. A different team of workers will install the new surfacing, but we don’t yet have a date for when that work will be done.

The £14k improvements are being funded by a combination of Dringhouses & Woodthorpe ward funding and funds awarded following a successful bid to the council submitted by ward councillors, which was informed by residents’ responses to a consultation in early 2021.

FREE summer holiday York City Knights activity sessions

A packed programme of free activities for young people has been arranged by York City Knights Foundation, with the support of Westfield and Dringhouses & Woodthorpe Ward Committees.

There will be weekly sessions at Woodthorpe Green (Mondays from 12 noon to 1.30pm) and at Acomb Green (Fridays 2.30 to 4.00pm) plus extra activity sessions at both venues as well as at Chesneys Field, Westfield Primary School and the Revival estate. Register at www.yorkcityknights.com/future-knights

Details of all of the sessions are shown on the posters below.

York City Football Club kickabout sessions also get underway from 30th July, which will take place at Woodthorpe Green, Chesneys Field and the Knavesmire. Further details HERE

FREE summer kickabout sessions for local young people

Over the summer holidays York City FC Foundation is running a series of free kickabout sessions for young people in west York from 4 to 13 years of age.

The sessions, which are funded by the ward committees of Westfield, Dringhouses & Woodthorpe and Micklegate wards, will be held on Chesneys Field, Woodthorpe Green and the Knavesmire.

Details of the dates and times of the sessions – and links to the websites to use to book a place – are set out below.

Click HERE to book a place at Woodthorpe Green

Click HERE to book a place at Chesneys Field

Click HERE to book a place at the Knavesmire

Half-term activities for local young people

York City Knights Foundation are running free activity sessions for local young people during half-term week.

The sessions will take place on Wednesday 2nd June:

  • 10am to 11.30am – Westfield Primary School
  • 2.00pm to 3.30pm – Woodthorpe Green

The sessions are open to boys and girls aged 5 years and over. Booking is essential with limited availability. For more information and to book go to https://yorkcityknights.com/future-knights/

e-scooters and e-bikes come to Dringhouses

A selection of e-scooters and e-bikes have been installed by the operator Tier on Tadcaster Road, outside the Holiday Inn.

York is currently participating in a 12-month Department for Transport trial which began in September 2020. Initially the e-scooters were rolled out in the city centre and at the University of York, but the aim is to make the e-scooters, and e-bikes, more widely available.

There is more information on the trial at https://www.itravelyork.info/e-scooter-trial

New benches installed

Three new benches have been installed around Dringhouses & Woodthorpe ward, in response to requests from residents for more places to stop for a rest whilst out for a walk.

Two benches have been installed beside the path that links the Revival estate with the Green Lane cycle / footpath. The route has become increasingly popular with walkers since the first lockdown.

And one bench has been installed on Little Hob Moor, further down the hill from the location of an existing bench.

Meanwhile the Woodthorpe Community Group is progressing plans to install benches at locations including outside the shops on Moorcroft Road and outside the playground on Woodthorpe Green.