Chapmans Pond lease agreed

At a public decision session today (Friday 23 September) Cllr Nigel Ayre (Executive Member for Leisure & Culture) agreed to transfer the management of the Chapman’s Pond site to the Friends of Chapman’s Pond on a trial basis, to improve the long-term care of the site.

Chapmans Pond Summer Fair 2016

Chapmans Pond Summer Fair 2016

The paper that was discussed at the decision session is available here.

Chapman’s Pond is a 2.6 ha site off Moor Lane in Dringhouses. The pond itself covers roughly a third of the site with other habitats including woodland and meadow. It is currently managed by the Council with the assistance of the Friends of Chapman’s Pond.

The Friends are a long running group and have over the years carried out practical maintenance tasks and conservation enhancements. They have also assisted with fund raising, in particular for the circular path in 2011/12 and, for the last three years, in partnership with Love to Eat Café, a summer fair has taken place on site.

Local Lib Dem councillors support the lease arrangement. Cllr Ann Reid commented

“The reinvigorated Friends Group has really got to grips with the management of the pond and addressed some long standing issues. It has now become a very pleasant place to visit and spend time and looks well cared for.    This helps to discourage some of the anti social behaviour and vandalism that has happened in the past.
“Granting the lease will help the Group pursue its programme to improve the area and manage the fishing more effectively. Representatives of the Friends Group attend our Ward Team meetings, are part of the community and are very supportive of other community groups.”

 

Survey camera ‘mystery’ solved

Residents may have noticed near the junction of Tadcaster Road and St Helens Road the appearance of a small box and a camera.
This equipment relates to the ‘Traffic Signal Asset Renewal’ (TSAR) project which is focused on replacing life-expired traffic signal installations. The junctions that are to be treated will be prioritised based on their age and condition, with the oldest and most unreliable junctions treated earlier in the programme,
 
The aim is to replace old equipment, not to revisit the fundamental operation of junctions or make significant changes to their operation.
 
The survey cameras are collecting traffic information so that when the new equipment is installed, the traffic plans can be implemented using up to date information.

Pothole blitz underway

We have reported a number of potholes across the ward that need filling in, most of which have now been logged for action by the council.

We are keen to get this work done before the winter frost and ice sets in, which tends to make already weak road surfaces even weaker and leads to further erosion. The potholes to be filled in are listed below. Others have reported and we await confirmation that they will be fixed also.

Pothole montage

There are a number of streets in the ward that are in desperate need of resurfacing or large patching, including West Thorpe, The Horseshoe and Hillcrest Gardens.

 

Local Plan consultation – have your say before Monday!

The council’s consultation on the draft Local Plan close at 5pm on Monday 12 September. We would urge all residents to have their say on the proposals, and in particular to support the proposal to designate land off Moor Lane as green belt land protected from development.

Extract from the 'Our City' newsletter

Extract from the ‘Our City’ newsletter

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Moor Lane site was referred to in previous drafts of the Local Plan as site ‘ST10’.

Information on how to take part can be found on the council website at http://york.gov.uk/localplan

 

New cycle path takes shape

Progress is being made with the construction of the long-awaited cycle path linking the Revival estate (on the old College site) with the green lane path. The new path, which will run alongside the College playing fields, will provide residents with quicker and safer access to Bishopthorpe and the Knavesmire.

Nearly there!

Nearly there!

Construction of the path could not begin until the local newt population had been trapped and relocated.

Tadcaster Road footpath obscured

We have asked that the trees that are obscuring the footpath on Tadcaster Road, opposite The Square, are cut back as soon as possible. Council officers have responded to say that the work should be done during the week commencing 12 September.

Tadcaster Road tree in need of a trim

Tadcaster Road tree in need of a trim

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In better news, the hedges that were severely narrowing the footpath and cycle track at the junction of Moor Lane and Tadcaster Road have been cut back (pictured below). This has however revealed a lot of litter that had been lurking in the hedge, so we will be doing a litter pick blitz in this area at the weekend.

Moor Lane hedge looking trimmer

Moor Lane hedge looking trimmer

Woodthorpe Family Fun Day success

The first ever Woodthorpe Family Fun Day, held on Saturday 13th August, was a huge success. The event was organised by the Woodthorpe York Community Group, with funds raised in support of St Leonards Hospice.

There was live entertainment and a range of stalls run by local community groups, plus plenty of activities for children.

Woodthorpe fun day

Stephen and Ann gathered views from young people on what they like best about local play areas, and what improvements they would like to see made. The comments received will support our bid for funds from the council to improve the play areas at Woodthorpe and on Nelsons Lane.

Tidy-up needed at city entrance

We are calling for action to improve the appearance of one of the main southern entrances to the city.

Motorists coming off the A64 onto the A1036 Tadcaster Road are currently greeted by overgrown weeds on land around the new Askham Bar Park & Ride site. We have contacted City of York Council officers, and First York who operate the Park & Ride site, to try to get some action taken to make the area look more presentable.

Exit from the Park & Ride site

Exit from the Park & Ride site

Cyclists travelling into the city also face problems navigating bushes which are overhanging the path opposite the Sim Balk Lane junction.

Cycle path obstruction

Cycle path obstruction

 

We have also asked that weeds are removed from the ‘Welcome to York’ sign and flowerbed at that junction.