What’s on – Fundraising Fashion Show on 27th June

The Woodthorpe Community Group does a lot of good work locally, and they are having a fundraising ladies fashion show and pop-up shop to help raise money for the popular summer fun day and other local activities.

The fashion show is on the evening of Thursday 27th June at Dringhouses Sports & Social Club on St Helens Road, and all ages, shapes and sizes are welcome! And it’s only £5.

It should be fun night, so if you’d like a ticket please e-mail woodthorpeyork@gmail.com

Chaloners Road parking suspension

Parking will be temporarily suspended on Chaloners Road – from Eason View to Moor Lane – to allow for improvement works to be undertaken by the council.

During the parking suspension road markings will be re-painted, pot holes will be repaired, the carriageway will be mechanically swept and road gullies (drains) will be cleaned.

The suspension will be in force from Monday 17th to Wednesday 19th June from 9am to 3pm, though it is hoped that the suspension will not be needed for three days.

During the parking suspension road markings will be re-painted, pot holes will be repaired, the carriageway will be mechanically swept and road gullies (drains) will be cleaned.

Dringhouses braced for concert traffic impact

Dringhouses residents are braced for the impact of increased traffic associated with the Rod Stewart concert taking place on the Knavesmire on Saturday 1st June.

It is hoped that measures put in place will help to avoid a repeat of the traffic chaos that accompanied the Balloon Festival in September 2018. On that occasion residential streets were often impassable due to a large amount of inconsiderate parking.

Irresponsible parking meant that the exit from Whin Road onto Bracken Road was blocked

The council’s Transport team have issued the following statement to ward councillors for Dringhouses & Woodthorpe, Micklegate and Bishopthorpe wards:

“It is anticipated that 30,000 people will be attending which could lead to up to 7,500 cars parking in the car parks off Knavesmire Road, Campleshon Road, and Bishopthorpe Road. Bearing in mind the impact of the Balloon Festival last year a Traffic Management Plan similar to a busy race day arrangement, but enhanced to cover the increased number of vehicles, will be in place. Timeline:

  • Traffic management in place from approx. 14:00
  • Car Parks open at 16:00
  • Event Performance ends at 22:30
  • All traffic management removed by 01:00 Sunday

  Key Elements:

  • Main Car Parks will be off Knavesmire Road, Campleshon Road and Bishopthorpe Road.
  • Traffic generally directed to access the event off the A64 via Tadcaster Road/ Sim Balk Lane/Bishopthorpe Road.
  • Knavesmire Road to be one way towards Tadcaster Road 14:00 to 01:00
  • A section of Bishopthorpe Road (Middlethorpe Hall to Access to Racecourse Car Park) to be one way northbound 14:00 to 20:00.
  • Shuttle buses will run between the Station and Racecourse.
  • Temporary traffic signals will be in place at key junctions and access points to manage traffic.
  • Civil Enforcement Officers will be available for parking issues. Parking Hotline 0800 1381119 – (08:00 – 21:00)
  • Signs indicating ‘Residents Access Only No Event Parking’ will be placed on access points to residential areas.
  • Route 21 and 11 buses will be diverted around the traffic restrictions on Knavesmire Rd and Bishopthorpe Rd.

Travel advice will be provided on the itravelyork website at https://www.itravelyork.info/events/rod-stewart-concert-at-york-racecourse  

Traffic levels are expected to be very high with significant delays anticipated. Residents are advised to follow the diversion signs, allow more time for their journeys and use alternative routes away from the Knavesmire area if possible.”

Applications for ward funding invited

Local voluntary and community groups are being invited to apply for funding from the Dringhouses & Woodthorpe Ward Committee.

In recent years funding has been awarded to a range of groups who are working to make Dringhouses & Woodthorpe a better place to live. For 2019/20 the ward budget has been set at £19,585. There is a separate ward highways fund of £13,991.

Further information is available on the ward page on the council website at https://www.york.gov.uk/info/20155/wards/127/dringhouses_and_woodthorpe_ward

Petition to reinstate Post Office services for Woodthorpe

Local Lib Dem councillors have launched a petition calling on Post Office Ltd to reinstate Post Office services for Woodthorpe residents as quickly as possible.

The Post Office shut on 13th May, leaving residents with a trek to Acomb or Tadcaster Road to access Post Office services

Post Office Ltd have failed to engage with local councillors or residents about the closure. They did issue a statement a few days after the Woodthorpe branch closed. It said:

“We are currently investigating the options available which will enable us to reinstate a Post Office service to the local community. In exploring this, it is important that any future service is sustainable for the person operating the service, and for Post Office Limited. Future provision will reflect customer numbers and usage and we may take the opportunity to establish an alternative type of service. This may be a new style local branch which run alongside an established retail shop in newly refurbished premises and creates a more modern and convenient experience for customers.”

Stephen, Ashley and Paula are calling on local residents to sign the petition, which is online at https://www.yorklibdems.org.uk/post_office_petition

Stephen commented “It is important that we show Post Office bosses how much we value our local services.”

A PDF petition form can be downloaded hereDownload

Post Office respond to resident outcry over branch closure

Post Office Ltd have belatedly responded to the outcry from residents about the closure of Woodthorpe Post Office.

They have issued a statement on their website setting out the current situation. It states..

“I would like to assure you that we are currently investigating the options available which will enable us to reinstate a Post Office service to the local community. In exploring this, it is important that any future service is sustainable for the person operating the service, and for Post Office Limited.

Future provision will reflect customer numbers and usage and we may take the opportunity to establish an alternative type of service. This may be a new style local branch which run alongside an established retail shop in newly refurbished premises and creates a more modern and convenient experience for customers.”

Somewhat confusingly, an e-mail from Post Office Ltd to Cllr Stephen Fenton boasts that “Customer information materials will also be available in branch”!

Break-in at Dringhouses Primary – UPDATED

There was a serious break-in at Dringhouses Primary School overnight on Friday 10 / Saturday 11 May. Council officers and the Police are supporting the school leadership team.

There will be communication to parents once there is clarity about the possible impact on use of the school next week.

If anyone has information about the break-in, please call the Police on 101 and quote ref NYP-1105-2019-0225.

The school issued the following statement at 12.35pm today: “The safety of the children and the staff is our number one priority and therefore the school will not be open tomorrow (Monday 13th). We will contact Year 6 parents to discuss SATS arrangements shortly.”