Footpath faults fixed

We recently reported that Cllr Stephen Fenton had undertaken a survey of footpaths around Woodthorpe and identified faults that needed fixing. We are pleased to report some early successes.

A raised metal cover which posed a trip hazard at the junction of Ryecroft Avenue and Chantry Close has been rectified (pictured below).

A section of pavement on Annan Close which was badly cracked has been resurfaced (pictured below);

Two trip hazards identified on Carron Crescent have been marked up for repair (pictured below).

Also in Woodthorpe, some much-needed repairs have been carried out on a crumbling section of the Alness Drive road surface (pictured below).

Thank you, Network Rail!

We are pleased to report that Network Rail have taken prompt action to paint over the graffiti that had been daubed on the St Helens Road railway bridge.

Before

After

The initial response from Network Rail suggested that this would be a low priority, so it is pleasing to see that it has been prioritised for action.

Celebrate ‘National chocolate week’ at Goddards

National chocolate week is being celebrated with a variety of activities at Goddards on Tadcaster Road, between 14th and 18th October from 11am to 5pm each day.

Goddards is the family home of Noel Goddard Terry, owner of the famous chocolate-making firm Terry’s of York. The house was designed by architect Walter Brierley in the Arts and Crafts style and is complemented by four acres of gardens. It is managed by the National Trust.

Activities include:

Follow the trail each day
Turn your hand to chocolate box making
Challenge your tastebuds on the daily blindfold tests
Join a talk at 2pm & 3pm on Saturday 17th

For further details, see http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/goddards/things-to-see-and-do/events/

Woodthorpe pavements audit

Cllr Stephen Fenton undertook an audit of pavements in the Woodthorpe area at the weekend. With the cold weather approaching, the freeze / thaw action can mean that already weak areas can deteriorate rapidly. By reporting trouble spots now, remedial action can be taken before winter sets in.

Deveron Way footpath patched up

Some of the worst areas of pavement on Deveron Way have been patched up following action taken by Cllr Ann Reid last month.

Stephen has reported a number of issues in need of attention, including on Annan Close, Spey Bank, Ryecroft Avenue and Silverdale Court, pictured below.

An area of pavement on Annan Close is badly cracked and uneven

Pavement needs to be patched up around a raised utility cover on Spey Bank

Crumbling footpath on Silverdale Court

Raised ironwork at the junction of Ryecroft Avenue and Chantry Close

Fly posting dealt with

We are pleased to report that the six-a-side football poster boards that had been put up on council property, without permission, have been removed from a number of sites in the Dringhouses & Woodthorpe ward – Chaloners Road, Thanet Road and Tadcaster Road.

Direct action has taken care of these tacky posters

Revival double yellows

Local Lib Dem councillor Stephen Fenton has welcomed action taken to enforce parking restrictions at the entrance to the Revival estate off Tadcaster Road. More double yellow lines are planned to be installed following a recent public consultation. The measures are in response to dangerous and inconsiderate parking.

Stephen is also in touch with council officers, who are in turn in contact with the developers and management company, about the irresponsible parking in front of the emergency access gates in the corner of Masters Mews.

Co-op car park clean up

We are pleased to report that following action by local Lib Dem councillors, the items that had been flytipped in the car park at the rear of Woodthorpe Co-op have been removed.

Bin bags dumped in the corner of the car park

What appears to be a pool table and a settee

As was reported recently in Woodthorpe FOCUS, Cllr Stephen Fenton has met with the Co-op estates team to discuss much-needed improvements to the area around the shops. Stephen has received assurances that this work is scheduled, and will make sure that this commitment is followed through.

And although the fly-tipping has gone, the car park needs a thorough clean, as it is being gradually overgrown by weeds, pictured below.

Some weed killing and clearing is in order

Residents Association re-launch meeting

The Dringhouses community is invited to the re-launch meeting for the Dringhouses West Residents Association on Tuesday 6th October at 7pm at West Thorpe Methodist Church.

West Thorpe Methodist Church – venue for RA re-launch meeting

The meeting will elect a new committee to run the Residents Association, and discuss future plans.

We would encourage all those with an interest in improving the Dringhouses area to come along and get involved!

Call for action on bridge graffiti

Local Lib Dem councillor Stephen Fenton has asked Network Rail to clean up the graffiti that has appeared on the St Helens Road railway bridge.

Graffiti has been daubed on both sides of the road

The response received from Network Rail is somewhat disappointing:

“This graffiti however is neither racist nor shows offence so will be given a very low priority, it will be passed onto our maintenance team to look at with a view to it being programmed in as ongoing works.”

It is hoped that Network Rail will take as prompt action at this site as they did when we asked for the Hob Moor underpass graffiti to be cleaned up.

Stephen commented “I appreciate that Network Rail have a thankless task, but the graffiti on the bridge is very prominent and if it left as it is it could act as an encouragement for other vandals to attack this and other sites.”

Posters prompt complaints

Local residents have raised complaints with local Lib Dem councillor Stephen Fenton about posters which have been erected – presumably without permission – on council property across Dringhouses. Two have appeared on Chaloners Road and one on Thanet Road on the Hob Moor fence.

The posters advertise a six-a-side football competition which takes place on Monday evenings at the Burnholme sports pitches in Heworth.

Stephen has asked council officers to take steps to have the posters removed.

Cllr Stephen Fenton, Cllr Ashley Mason & Cllr Paula Widdowson

Dringhouses and Woodthorpe Liberal Democrats