What’s on – free summer holiday activities for young people

Free outdoor activities for young people over 7 years of age get underway in Foxwood, Woodthorpe and Dringhouses next week.

 

 

 

 

The sessions, which also ran during the Easter and half-term holidays, are organised by the York City Knights Foundation and are funded by the Westfield and Dringhouses & Woodthorpe Ward Committees.

Skate park sessions are taking place on the following dates in July:

  • Monday 23 July, 2pm to 3.30pm – Moor Lane Youth Centre on Wains Road
  • Wednesday 25 July, 2pm to 3.30pm – Foxwood Community Centre on Bellhouse Way
  • Monday 30 July, 2pm to 3.30pm – Foxwood Community Centre on Bellhouse Way

In August, the focus switches to ‘inflatable football’ sessions:

  • Wednesday 1 August, 10am to 11.30am – Foxwood Park on Bellhouse Way / top of Ashbourne Way
  • Friday 3 August, 10am to 11.30am – Woodthorpe Green
  • Wednesday 8 August, 2pm to 3.30pm – Foxwood Park on Bellhouse Way / top of Ashbourne Way
  • Friday 10 August, 2pm to 3.30pm – Woodthorpe Green
  • Wednesday 15 August, 10am to 11.30am – Foxwood Park on Bellhouse Way / top of Ashbourne Way
  • Wednesday 22 August, 2pm to 3.30pm – Woodthorpe Green

 

Developers’ leaflet drop to promote Green Belt grab

Leaflets are being delivered across Woodthorpe by developers who are promoting their ambition to build 500 homes on Green Belt land off Moor Lane.

Barwood Land’s Moor Lane flyer states that “the site was included previously within the emerging City of York Local Plan for up to 500 homes.” It fails to mention however that in the Local Plan that is currently with Government inspectors, the site is proposed to get formal Green Belt protection!

The developers state that they are developing a ‘hybrid planning application’ for the site.

A number of residents who live on Moor Lane and on streets off have contacted us to say that they haven’t received the leaflet, but streets much further away, such as St Helens Road, have received it.

Stephen, Ann and Ashley at the proposed development site

Dringhouses & Woodthorpe’s Liberal Democrat councillors will continue to oppose plans to build on this site.

Dog fouling concerns on North Lane

In response to concerns raised by residents about dog fouling, a sign has been installed on North Lane in Dringhouses reminding irresponsible owners of the penalties of not picking up after their dog.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The sign has been funded from the Dringhouses & Woodthorpe Ward Committee budget.

Councillor calls for early engagement on Askham Bar housing plans

Local Lib Dem councillor Stephen Fenton has called on the council to undertake early and meaningful engagement with local residents on plans to build homes on the former Askham Bar Park & Ride site.

Cllrs Stephen Fenton and Ann Reid at the former P&R site, which is currently used as a pay & display car park

Cllr Fenton spoke at a meeting of the Council’s Executive on 12 July, which approved a proposal to undertake detailed design work to develop and submit a planning application for mixed tenure housing on the former Park & Ride site.

The Askham Bar scheme is part of a wider housing package that will see council-owned land and investment from the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) utilised to directly deliver approximately 550 homes on six sites of which 40% will be affordable housing. This represents 20% more affordable homes compared to the number that would be delivered by the market if they were to comply with planning policy.

Cllr Fenton said “The site is currently an eyesore, and so it is good to see some progress being made on developing the site to provide much-needed new homes.

“But before the planning application is submitted, I want to see meaningful engagement with ward councillors, local residents and other interested parties.

“There are already significant issues in the Askham Bar area in terms of traffic congestion, which has a number of impacts such as on bus timetable reliability. I am keen therefore that we take this opportunity to look at the highways infrastructure and how we might make changes to help improve matters for motorists, cyclists and pedestrians.”

Cllr Fenton also sought clarification that the number of homes planned for the site is in line with the number (60) included in the draft Local Plan. He also asked what was happening with the proposed demolition of garages and construction of six new council homes on Chaloners Road, with a suggestion that the two schemes be progressed together.

Six new council homes planned for Chaloners Road

It is anticipated that the design and planning of the Askham Bar scheme will begin this summer, with a view to getting on site in Autumn/Winter 2019.

 

Askham Bar sports pitch application approved

On 11 July members of the council’s Planning Committee voted unanimously to approve plans to establish new sports pitches on land off Tadcaster Road.

Concerns raised by some residents about the impact on wildlife were addressed in the officer report on the application:

“The site provides good habitat for a range of species including foraging and commuting bats, hedgehogs and nesting birds. The ecology surveys did not find evidence of great crested newts or water voles. Hedgehogs are known to be present on site which is used as a release site for a local hedgehog rehabilitator. Hedgehogs are a species “of principal importance for the purpose of conserving biodiversity” covered under section 41 (England) of the NERC Act (2006). Hedgehogs are nocturnal animals and it has been confirmed that the pitches will not be used after dark, with no floodlighting. The hedgerows and boundary scrub on site that would be used for daytime shelter and hibernation will be retained.”

 

Askham Bar sports pitch plan to be considered by Planning Committee

At its meeting on Wednesday 11 July, the council’s Planning Committee will consider an application for sports pitches to be created on land off Tadcaster Road, behind the BP garage. The application is described as follows:

“Change of use from agricultural holding to natural turf sports pitches including erection of changing facilities, installation of sub surface land drainage and associated soft landscaping and formation of emergency/maintenance vehicle access road”

The officer report recommends that “Delegated Authority be given to Officers to approve the proposal subject to an acceptable agreement being reached in respect of the provision off-site car parking and subject to any additional conditions that may be required to secure this provision.”

 

 

Security patrols get underway in Woodthorpe

Local Lib Dem councillors have welcomed the start of daily security patrols in the Ashbourne Way / Summerfield Road area, following concerns from residents about anti social behaviour.

Cllr Ashley Mason with the patrol vehicle on Summerfield Road

The Dringhouses & Woodthorpe ward budget is being used to fund a six-month trial of daily visits by a Gough & Kelly security patrol with body-worn cameras. The aim is to gather evidence of the nature of the problems, with a view to informing a decision about whether a fixed CCTV camera would be beneficial.

Residents are being encouraged to take part in a survey, which has been set up by Gough & Kelly. It can be accessed at  https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/TH7XT3Q

 

New threat emerges to Moor Lane Green Belt

Dringhouses & Woodthorpe Lib Dem councillor Stephen Fenton has expressed concern at the submission of an application for a ‘scoping opinion’ on proposals to develop land off Moor Lane in Woodthorpe that has been earmarked as Green Belt.

The application refers to plans to build 500 homes on land adjacent to the Askham Bog nature reserve, along with a school, sports facilities, allotments and public open space. It is believed to be a precursor to a more detailed planning application being submitted.

The red line marks the area for which an application has been made for a ‘scoping opinion’

Developers have previously set out their desire to develop the site, most recently in 2016 when they published a brochure setting out an aspiration to build 1,250 homes:

Moor Lane green belt plans challenged

Commenting on the new application, Cllr Fenton said “This application for land that has been earmarked as Green Belt is unwelcome, and will be resisted.

“Throughout the various stages of consultation on York’s Local Plan, residents and local councillors have been firm in their opposition to the development of this site, which is right next to the Askham Bog Site of Special Scientific Interest.”

Following the submission of York’s Local Plan to Government on 25 May 2018, Planning Inspectors have been appointed to conduct an examination as to whether the Plan is ‘sound.’

Traffic survey on Thanet Road gets underway

A seven-day video traffic survey on Thanet Road has got underway, designed to gather evidence to support decisions on possible measures to improve road safety.

The survey has been prompted by residents’ concerns about speeding, damage being done to parked cars and lack of off-road parking.

Two cameras have been installed, between the junctions at St James Place and Jervis Road, which will operate for seven days.

 

The footage will then be studied to identify what traffic calming or other measures might be effective and appropriate.

The survey is being funded through the Dringhouses & Woodthorpe Ward Committee budget.