Lendal bridge – figures begin to trickle out

Lendal bridge - always been busy at 5;00pm

Lendal bridge – always been busy at 5;00pm

Liberal Democrat Councillor Paul Firth managed to squeeze the following information out of the Council at its last meeting.

“During the closure period on Lendal Bridge, what will be the average increase in:
• Mileage
• Journey time
• Cost
for private car drivers who otherwise would have used the bridge?”

The answer was:

Your question cannot be answered with certainty – that is why we are undertaking the trial.

However the worst case scenario from the modelling work that was undertaken, which ignores, positive transfers to alternative forms of transport that we and coalition Government policy supports, shifts in times of travel, etc., indicates a 0.82% increase in km travelled, but is based on 2010 traffic levels which are higher than current flows.

For the 630 motorists currently continuing to make cross river journeys by car in the hour over lunch,

The average increase in mileage = 1.3 miles

Journey time to do this extra 1.3 miles = 5.7 minutes

Additional cost = 37 pence

However if there was an 11% shift of drivers from cars to buses, cycles and walking, the average traffic reduction in a study of similar measures across Europe referred to in the previous Cabinet paper, there would be a reduction in distance travelled (pcu/km) of 10.3% within the simulation network (roughly the CYC boundary).

There would also be an improvement in driving conditions with an increase in average speed from the current 17.4 kph to 17.8 kph in the Inner Ring Road and Water End cordon area (it would go down to 16.9 kph without any overall traffic reduction), an increase of 2.3% in average speed.

The figures are similar to those that we published last month.

They reveal huge potential increases in journey times and costs for residents living in the City centre.

The Council has now set the bridge closure date for 27th August

York schools big spend on supply teachers

The Council has revealed how much each school in the City has spent on supply teachers .

supply teacher

Supply teachers are brought in to cover staff vacancies and sickness. In some cases the school sources the supply teacher themselves whilst others use agencies.

In total several million pounds is spent on employing supply teachers in York each year

Highest spending secondary school was Huntington at over £160,000.

In the primary sector Poppleton Road paid out £73,000

Locally York High spent £26,000

Dringhouses Primary spent just over £36,000w while Woodthorpe spent over £66,000.

A full list can be found by clicking here

Meanwhile York’s Liberal Democrats have welcomed an £880,200 increase in funding to York Primary Schools from the Pupil Premium in 2014/15.

This increase represents a £400 rise for every qualifying child and is the largest ever increase in the Pupil Premium for primary schools.

The Pupil Premium is a major Lib Dem priority being delivered by the Coalition Government.

It ensures that extra money is targeted at schools depending on the number of pupils who have been registered for Free School Meals at any point in the last six years.

Schools also receive funding for children who have been looked after continuously for more than 6 months, and children of Armed Forces personnel.

 

Cheaper bus travel for 11 to 18 year olds this summer

York’s 11 to 18 year olds will get cheaper bus fares throughout August.

anti_smoking_cartoon bus

The All York Young Person’s Day ticket will cost just £1.30 – £1 cheaper than the normal price – for unlimited travel anywhere, all day, within York’s boundaries. 17-18 year olds will also see a huge savings of £3.70, from their normal standard fare of £5.

Tickets will be available to anyone between the ages of 11 -18 (the normal age is 11- 16), and will be subject to suitable proof of age. Tickets are valid at any time of day (9am weekday restrictions normally apply) and any time at weekends and bank holidays.

For more details please visit www.york.gov.uk/allyork

All York tickets can be purchased from the driver on board any of the participating companies’ buses: (more…)

Labour reduce waste services while increasing charges

Changes to the service will take effect later this month and include amending Towthorpe Household Waste Recycling Centre’s opening hours.

Starting on Wednesday 31 July, Towthorpe Household Waste Recycling Centre (HWRC) will remain open six days a week and will close on Wednesdays throughout the year.

Hazel Court recycling centre
Alongside this, new charges will be introduced at Hazel Court HWRC on Monday 29 July for York residents disposing of brick, rubble, gas bottles, plasterboard and bonded asbestos.

Non-York residents can also take waste to the site but this will be subject to a charge of £10 per visit in a normal family car. Payment must be made at Hazel Court HWRC at the time of tipping using either a debit or credit card only.

Residents wanting to dispose of large amounts of DIY related waste materials should consider hiring a skip, using a private waste collection company or buying a skip bag from DIY stores, builders’ merchants or garden centres

For more information about the changes to waste and recycling visit www.york.gov.uk/waste or call 01904 551551.

Firms in York encouraged to take advantage of funding opportunities

City of York Council is actively encouraging firms in York to take full advantage of funding opportunities in the Leeds City Region by placing a bid for investment.

The Leeds City Region Local Enterprise Partnership is currently offering grants of between £10,000 and £1m to businesses who are looking to make capital investment in land, buildings, plants, machinery and equipment, or towards research and development projects which will lead to new products and job creation in the Leeds City Region, including in York.
(more…)

Council asked to set-up cross-party Welfare Reform Group

City of York Council should set up a new cross-party working group to review the effect of welfare changes in the City and their impact on anti-poverty initiatives, Liberal Democrat councillors have said.

A question put to the Council Leader at Thursday’s Full Council meeting called for a panel of councillors and council officers to look at how new rules on benefits, spare bedrooms and other changes brought in by the Government have affected residents.
(more…)

Police and crime update for York

Police seek youths following a small fire on York Knavesmire

York police are appealing for information to help identify a group of youths following an arson incident in the city. It occurred at 9.45pm on Thursday 11 July 2013, on the Knavesmire, when a number of portable toilets, used at York racecourse, were set alight, causing around £400 worth of damage. More

Workman’s wallet stolen from van in York

York police are appealing for witnesses to come forward after an electrician’s wallet was stolen from his van.
The victim, a 51-year-old local man, was working on traffic lights at the junction of Poppleton Road and Boroughbridge Road at around 12pm on Thursday 11 July 2013, when his wallet was taken from his works van which was parked next to him. More

Views needed on changes to Firearms and Explosives Licensing services

North Yorkshire Police and Julia Mulligan, the county’s Police and Crime Commissioner, want feedback on planned changes to the way Firearms and Explosives Licensing services are accessed across the county.
Following national eCommerce guidance, applications and renewals for Firearms Licences will soon be available online.
This means customers can log onto the North Yorkshire Police website at any time to fill in their forms rather than having to fill them in by hand and send them to the police. More

Concerns for Hob Moor as new development plans revealed

We understand that a leaflet is to be circulated in the area near Our Lady’s school on Hob Moor giving details of the planned development there.

Residents, who were expecting to see a plan for 29 new homes (as included in the Councils new draft “Local Plan”) now find that 56 units are proposed.

That’s represents a 93% increase

Proposed layout Click to enlarge

Proposed layout Click to enlarge

Even a casual glance at the plans suggests that the homes are being shoehorned into the site. High density developments like these tend to bring their own problems resulting from neighbour disagreements.

A very liberal interpretation of the “footprint” of the existing (school) buildings is also being taken.

There are some big issues here with the impact of the “big growth” option having on local roads, sewers and other public services.

Another concern would be the impact on the neighbouring Hob Moor stray.

The problem is exacerbated by the Council’s plan to build on the nearby Newbury Avenue garage site.

House profiles click to enlarge

House profiles click to enlarge


The exhibition of the proposals will take place between 3pm – 6pm on Tuesday the 30th July, 2013 at: Acorn ARL Sports and Social Club Thanet Road YO24 2NW

All the homes will be for rent with most social housing (Yorkshire Housing Association)

The notice being given to local residents is also very short given that we ware entering the major holiday period.

No planning application has, as yet, been submitted.

Over £400,000 in car parking fine income for Council

A Freedom of Information request has revealed how much income the York Council gets from parking fines.

How many parking tickets did you issue in total in the 2012-13 financial year? This question relates to all parking tickets including car parks.

14,010

How much money was raised in total from parking tickets in the 2012-13 financial year? This question relates to all parking tickets including car parks.

£414,268

Duncombe Place - parking fine gold mine for York Council

Duncombe Place – parking fine gold mine for York Council

Please name the road where the highest number of parking tickets were issued during the 2012-13 financial year.

Duncombe Place.

How many tickets were issued in that road?

363

How much revenue was raised from that road in the 2012-13 financial year?

£12,754