Ultra Fibre Optic – work plan for 20 November to 3 December

The work to install Ultra Fibre Optic cable across west York continues, with the following streets due to be visited between 20 November and 3 December for ‘advanced civils’ and ‘narrow trenching’ work:

Advanced civils: North Lane, Eason Road, Eason View, Thanet Road, Chaseside Court, Moorcroft Road, Glenridding, Moor Lane, Grassholme

Narrow trenching: Chaloners Road, Thanet Road, West Thorpe, Sandcroft Road, Farmlands Road, Highmoor Road, Wains Road, Acorn Way, Bramble Dene, Windermere, Glaisdale, Arundel Grove, Overdale Close, Moorcroft Road

 

Councillors demand answers on Dringhouses Post Office closure

Local Lib Dem councillors are demanding answers from Post Office Ltd on the sudden closure of Dringhouses Post Office on Tadcaster Road.

The Post Office is located in a Mace convenience store, and whilst the shop remains open, all Post Office services have ceased ‘indefinitely.’

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In a Twitter exchange with a local resident, Post Office said “this branch has been closed temporarily due to unforeseen circumstances”,  and that they will “try to appoint temporary cover…providing it is possible for us to do so.”

Cllr Stephen Fenton has asked Post Office Ltd to explain how they have adhered to their own Code of Practice in this situation. The Code applies to “the handling of the localised changes that can and do happen across such a large network for all sorts of reasons. When these changes do happen, whether they are planned or whether they occur without warning, we will always ensure that the minimum access criteria outlined by the Government are met and that the needs of customers are taken into account as much as is possible.”

Stephen said  “This Post Office provides a very valuable service for the community, and its loss is a huge blow, particularly for elderly or vulnerable residents who rely on having access to services close to home. The timing couldn’t be worse – many people wanting to send Christmas cards and parcels to family and friends at home and abroad will now have to use other Post Office outlets if they are able to.

“I am very disappointed at the lack of communication from Post Office Ltd. Their Code of Practice talks about communicating with local authorities and others where there are changes to service provision, but this sudden closure has taken everyone by surprise. As far as I am aware, there has been no notification to the council, and there has certainly been no approach to local councillors.

“I have asked Post Office Ltd for an urgent conversation to get answers to the questions that I and other residents have about the future of this Post Office.”

Call for action on coach parking

Dringhouses & Woodthorpe Lib Dem councillor Stephen Fenton has called for action to stop out-of-town coaches from clogging up suburban streets.

The start of the St Nicholas Christmas Fair has seen a surge in coach parties coming to the city. The influx of visitors is a welcome boost to the local economy, but some coach firms are failing to make use of the parking facilities provided by Make it York.

Photographed below is a coach that was parked up on The Horseshoe, off Tadcaster Road, on Saturday 18 November.

Stephen Fenton said  “When there is ample coach parking being provided, it is unacceptable that some coach firms are choosing to clog up residential streets that cannot cope with such large vehicles.

“I have raised this with Make it York, and they have confirmed that there are spaces available for coaches at the designated parking places.”

A Make it York spokesperson commented “We operate a booking system for the weekends of the Christmas Market, which involves managing a couple of sites with a team of stewards to welcome the coaches and help park. We work with Parking Services and the Highways department to ensure the huge demand for coach parking has little impact on the local infrastructure (we currently have over 400 coaches booked in over the period which is approx. 22,000 visitors). It’s disappointing that this coach company has avoided the booking system – we had space available.”

 

Have your say on York’s libraries!

The council has launched a 14-week consultation with residents about library services in the city. In 2019 the council is due to enter into a new contract for library services and wants to hear from residents about their future needs to help inform the contract.

Residents can take part in the survey online at www.york.gov.uk/consultations , or can pick up a paper form at their local library.

Dringhouses library

The survey is seeking feedback on the proposed vision and the range of library buildings to meet residents’ needs. In addition, the council wants to understand future needs, gauge volunteer capacity and ask whether or not people want to see other services co-located in libraries.

Have your say!

Councillor Ann Reid, interim executive member for culture, leisure and tourism, said: “It is important that we really understand what residents would like to see for the future of their library services and whether our vision for the service and the buildings is on the right lines. I would urge everyone to take this chance to let us know their views.”

Liberal Democrats on City of York Council recently secured support for a motion aimed at securing existing library services in York. The motion, which was backed by Green and Labour councillors, called on the Executive to consult on a proposed vision for the future that includes the provision of locally-based and sustainable library services that meet residents’ needs and a commitment that there will be no reduction in the total number of staffed libraries across the city.

Conservative councillors opposed the motion.

Six new council homes planned for Chaloners Road

At a meeting of the council’s Executive on Wednesday 15th November councillors will be asked to approve a proposal that would see six two-bedroom council homes built on Chaloners Road in Dringhouses. The homes would be built on council land currently occupied by garages.

Planning approval for six apartments and two houses was granted for the site on Chaloners Road in August 2014, following earlier Cabinet approval to include the site in the wider new council housing build programme. However, in June 2016, the contractor appointed to deliver the scheme advised that they no longer wished to undertake the development. This was prior to work starting on site and has led to a re-appraisal of the development proposals.

With the building contractor withdrawing from the project, the opportunity arose to look again at local housing priorities and the site suitability for a small development of houses. There is a significant need for two-bed family housing, and the Chaloners Road site lends itself well to this.

Ultra Fibre Optic – work plan for w/c 13 November

The work to install Ultra Fibre Optic cable across west York continues, with the following streets due to be visited during the week commencing 13 November for ‘advanced civils’ work:

  • Wordsworth Crescent
  • Acorn Way
  • Allendale
  • Sandmartin Court
  • Foxton
  • Chantry Close
  • Deepdale
  • Carrfield
  • Summerfield Road
  • Ryecroft Avenue
  • Lowick
  • Grassholme
  • Heron Avenue
  • Sherringham Drive

In addition to the streets listed above, ‘narrow trenching’ work will be undertaken on Leeside, Swale Avenue, Don Avenue and Eason View.

UFO works planned for w/c 13 November

Controversial Tadcaster Road planning application approved

A controversial planning application to demolish two homes on Tadcaster Road and shoehorn 11 properties onto the site was approved by members of City of York Council’s Area Planning Sub Committee on 9 November.


The plans attracted overwhelming opposition from local residents and ward councillors, but officers recommended approval. Cllr Ann Reid spoke at the meeting to highlight the reasons why the application should be refused, one of which was the impact of adding another junction into what is already a very busy stretch of road.

Six members of the committee supported the recommendation to approve the application and four were opposed, so the application was approved. It was agreed however to add as a condition for approval that the narrow track connecting the site to Mayfield Grove should be restricted to pedestrian and cycle use only.

Local volunteers making an impact

Volunteers in the Dringhouses & Woodthorpe ward continue to make a significant impact in making the area cleaner, greener and safer.

Recently the informal community noticeboard opposite the shops on Moorcroft Road has been re-vamped by volunteers to make it more attractive and to provide more space for local groups to publicise their activities.


On Tadcaster Road, a local volunteer has come forward to overhaul the wooden planters between York College and the Askham Bar roundabout. The first tub has been cleared and planted up. The local Tesco store is doing its bit by helping to dispose of the removed vegetation.