York Council schedules meetings to discuss controversial issues

Lendal bridge fines and Hob Moor development proposals on the agenda for two meetings

  • The special all party meeting – which will review the Labour proposal not to notify drivers that they may be entitled to a refund of fines paid on Lendal bridge – will take place on Wednesday 27 August at 5pm (the agenda will be published on Monday 18 August).
  • New proposals which would see a significant change to the building plans on the former Our Lady’s school site are being discussed at a Planning Committee meeting being held on 21st August. The proposals involve raising the height of the site to facilitate better drainage. The plans have raised concerns about the effect that they may have on Hob Moor, existing properties and roads in the area. Click here to see the papers

Call for York Council to publish information on blocked drains

Freedom of information request lodged

Woodthorpe Shops

Woodthorpe Shops

Following a couple of weeks of heavy rain problems with the City’s drainage systems have become more obvious. While most publicity has centred on roadside gullies, the lack of regular cleaning of channels in pedestrian areas, on footpaths and in car parks is also a concern.

Bracken Road

Bracken Road

Bracken Road

Bracken Road

North Lane

North Lane

North Lane

North Lane

As we reported earlier this month, the Council has discontinued the routine “emptying” of gullies. They rely on residents to report blockages. In turn, this depends on the Councils – sometimes creaking – customer contact systems.

As the photos show, even after the rains stops, it takes too long for some areas to drain.

Several problems were reported by Liberal Democrat campaigner Stephen Fenton (pictured) yesterday.

The Council has in the past taken some action to alleviate longer term problems. The then LibDem led Council introduced almost a decade ago a programme aimed at dealing with blocked drainage pipes.

In some cases this meant digging out compacted earth while in others concrete run off had blocked some drains. Some roads had to be re-profiled to provide a better run off.  Yorkshire Water – who are responsible for sewers – occasionally have to power wash out their systems, with carelessly discarded cooking fat often blamed for blockages

There has been a move away from non permeable surfaces with new parking areas on many estates now using a matrix style surface to allow natural soak away.

There have been no reports on the quality of drainage systems made to Council committees recently.  Quality of service data is hard to come by.

A Freedom of information request has now been submitted to the Council asking about the number of outstanding drainage complaints and the number of known long term blocked gulleys where significant engineering work is required to remedy the problem.

The Council is being asked how much it will cost to clear blocked gulleys and the timetable for so doing.

The Council has 28 days in which to respond to the information request.

 

 

York taxis to give better service for dementia sufferers

People living with dementia will find it easier to travel around the city thanks to specialist training undertaken by local taxi drivers.

Dementia Forward -a registered charity which provides a fully integrated service to people living with dementia – has run three free training sessions for drivers and staff at York’s Fleetways Taxis. The company has subsequently joined York Dementia Action Alliance, a group of organisations and businesses committed to changing the lives of people living with dementia in York.

The initiative is part of a citywide campaign to encourage residents and businesses to become more dementia aware, helping York to become a dementia friendly city.
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Giraffe seeks license on Tadcaster Road!

Two premises licenses have been received by the York Council.

One seeks to establish a new restaurant at the Tesco store on Tadcaster Road

Date of

Application

 Premises Applicant Brief Description of Application Last date for reps
31/07/14

 

CYC 023866

 Giraffe (Tesco Extra Store)

Askham Bar

Tadcaster Road

York

YO24 1LW

 Giraffe Concepts Ltd Application for the grant of a premises licence to allow for

i) Late Night Refreshment

Mon – Sun

23:00hrs – 24:00hrs

ii) Supply of Alcohol

Mon – Sun

07:00hrs – 23:00hrs

iii) Opening Hours

Mon – Sun

07:00hrs- 24:00hrs

 

 28/08/14
25/07/2014

CYC 023831

 McDonalds Restaurant

Monks Cross Drive

Monks Cross

York

YO32 9GW

 McDonalds Restaurant Limited Application for the grant of a premises licence to allow for

i) Late Night Refreshment

24 hours

ii) Opening Hours

24 hours

 

 22/08/14

All applications can be viewed in full at the council offices with prior notice.  Contact the licensing section on 01904 552512 for an appointment to view.  Representations must be made in writing in the timescale indicated on the notice and sent to the Licensing Office, Hazel Court EcoDepot, James Street, York YO10 3DS.

Representations must relate to one or more of the 4 licensing objectives of the Act namely, prevention of crime and disorder, public safety, prevention of public nuisance and the protection of children from harm.

 

A64 eastbound carriageway closed following road traffic collision

Emergency services are currently at the scene of a road traffic collision on the A64 near Tadcaster.

Collision

The eastbound carriageway is currently closed after a Renault Clio overturned at around 3.25pm today (11 August 2014).

Three people were in the vehicle at the time of the collision. The extent of their injuries are not known at this time.

The westbound carriageway will also be closed to allow the air ambulance to land at the scene.

The eastbound carriageway is expected to remain closed for a number of hours.

Any witnesses to the collision are urged to contact North Yorkshire Police on 101 – select option 1 – and pass information to the Force Control Room.

Latest Planning applications Dringhouses and Woodthorpe Ward

 Below are the latest planning applications received by the York Council for the Dringhouses and Woodthorpe ward.

Full details can be found by clicking the application reference

———-

Location:       33 Dringthorpe Road York YO24 1NF

Proposal:       Two storey side, single storey rear extensions and dormer to rear

Ref No: 14/01779/FUL

Applicant:      Mr Sean Moyser  Contact Mr J Funnell    Consultation Expiry Date        1 September 2014 Case Officer:   David Johnson   Expected Decision Level DEL

——————–

Location:       35 Ashbourne Way York YO24 2SW

Proposal:       Reduce branches back to boundary from 21 Spindle Close. Oak (T73),protected by Tree Preservation Order No 26

Ref No: 14/01892/TPO

Applicant:           Contact Mr Sham Bose   Consultation Expiry Date        1 September 2014 Case Officer:   Esther Priestley        Expected Decision Level  DEL

—————-

Location:       2 Mayfield Grove York YO24 1HL

Proposal:       Erection of single storey extension extending 3.2 metres beyond the rear wall of the original house, with a height to the eaves of 3.0 metres and a total height of 4.0 metres

Ref No: 14/01638/LHE

Applicant:      Mr Kenneth Logan        Consultation Expiry Date        19 August 2014 Case Officer:   Carolyn Howarth Expected Decision Level DEL

——————

Location:       31 Orchard Way York   YO24 2NY

Proposal:       Two storey side and single storey rear extension

Ref No: 14/01732/FUL

Applicant:      Mr And Mrs Milner       Contact Mr John Whittlestone    Consultation Expiry Date        25 August 2014Case Officer:   David Johnson   Expected Decision Level DEL

—————

Location:       20 Ashbourne Way York YO24 2SW

Proposal:       Erection of single storey extension extending 6 metres beyond the rear wall of the original house, with a height to the eaves of 2.1 metres and a total height of 3.1 metres

Ref No: 14/01728/LHE

Applicant:      Mrs Hill        Contact Mr Jeff Carrington      Consultation Expiry Date        22 August 2014Case Officer:   Carolyn Howarth Expected Decision Level DEL

————–

Location:       Tesco Supermarket Askham Bar Tadcaster Road Dringhouses York

Proposal:       Display of illuminated fascia signs and freestanding model giraffe

Ref No: 14/01579/ADV

 

Applicant:      Tesco Stores Ltd     Contact Matthew Stevenson       Consultation Expiry Date        18 August 2014Case Officer:   Heather Fairy (Mon – Wed)       Expected Decision Level DEL

———————–

Location:       9 Helmsdale York YO24 2XW

Proposal:       Erection of detached dwelling with associated garage and parking

Ref No: 14/01608/OUT

Applicant:      Mr L Harrison   Contact Mr Paul Butler  Consultation Expiry Date        18 August 2014Case Officer:   Heather Fairy (Mon – Wed)       Expected Decision Level DEL

——————–

Location:       53 Hunters Way York YO24 1JL

Proposal:       Two storey extension to side

Ref No: 14/01651/FUL

Applicant:      Mr David Baynam Contact Howard Berry    Consultation Expiry Date        18 August 2014Case Officer:   David Johnson   Expected Decision Level DEL

————————

Representations can be made in favour of, or in objection to, any application via the Planning on line web site.  http://planningaccess.york.gov.uk/online-applications/

NB. The Council now no longer routinely consults neighbours by letter when an application is received.

Lendal Bridge refunds report “called in”

“Congestion Commission” shelvedtraffic

The Cabinet decision on how refends should be offered to motorists fined for driving over Lendal bridge has been “called in”.

This means that an independent scrutiny committee will decide whether the Cabinets proposals should go ahead (relying on motorists to find out themselves that the refunds are available) or whether the Council should write all who have paid fines offering a refund.

The Scrutiny Management Committee is next scheduled to meet on 8th September

NB. Labour have quietly abandoned their proposal to establish and all party “congestion commission”. The proposal was due to be discussed at a meeting taking place on 9th September. It has now been withdrawn for the agenda with no new date set for its consideration

York Council urged to publish information on effects of 20 mph speed limit roll out

Study in London finds wide area 20 mph limits have led to an INCREASE in average vehicle speeds

click to enlarge

click to enlarge

Hot on the heels of revelations that accident rates have increased in some City’s where wide area 20 mph speed limits have been introduced now comes news that average vehicle speeds may also be increasing.

The main objection to the York Councils £600,000 programme of 20 mpg speed signs has been that it would have little, if any,effect on driver behaviour.

If the effect is neutral then there would be little point in throwing good money after bad next year when a new Council would have to decide whether to pay for the signs to be removed (other than from accident blackspots and locations like school entrances where there is a higher risk of an accident)

If any of the following tests are not satisfied the – post Labour – Council would have little option than to consult residents about changing the speed limits back to the default 30 mph

  1. If accident levels on areas, with the new limit, increase
  2. If vehicle speeds on the roads increase
  3. If police enforcement time is diverted way from other locations with a higher accident potential.

The York Council has been reluctant to report on the effects that the wide area speed limit in the Bishopthorpe Road area have had.

A Freedom of information request will reveal whether average speeds have reduced and to what extent.

Residents will also want to know whether any of the, increased number of, serious accidents which occurred in the City last year took place on roads with a 20 mph limit. (Most accidents in the York area occur on trunk roads or are slow speed impacts in the City centre).

All in all it seems to be time for the Council to provide residents with more feedback on their controversial project..

Make your home BurglarProof with new app

North Yorkshire Police has launched an online app to help you make sure you don’t become the victim of burglars.

NYP App Store

BurglarProof is a quick and easy step-by-step guide to help you assess your home’s security.

A quarter of all burglaries are carried out by opportunist thieves taking advantage of an unlocked door or window.

Homes that don’t have basic security devices, such as window locks and sturdy door locks, are far more likely to be broken into.

BurglarProof features:
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