Ouse Bridge 7th August 2014
A couple of months ago we reported that public service standards in the City had declined.
Ouse Bridge York June 2014
One particular problem was weed growth – with Ouse Bridge badly affected.
The weeds were not only a potential threat to the integrity of the bridge but were an eyesore in a particularly sensitive area.
So it is disappointing to find that two months later no action has been taken to address the issue.
Following on from hundreds of York residents saving money by signing up to a free service last year, even more York residents can now benefit from big savings on their gas and electricity bills by switching tariffs.
87% of residents saythat they would like to see the Woodlands play area off Bellhouse Way reopened at least during day light hours at weekends.
The equipment has been unavailable for several months now because of health and safety fears.
However many residents have pointed out that young children trying to climb the 2 metre high railings, which surround the play area, are probably at greater risk
The Joseph Rowntree Housing Trust has now responded to the local Residents Association promising that – following some minor works – the area will be reopened within a couple of weeks.
Elsewhere in the Woodlands estate, survey respondents were critical of the mowing arrangements for verges. They had been left uncut for so long that, after cutting, the area resembled a hayfield.
A site meeting to discuss the problem has taken place.
The Trust also plan to do some maintenance work on their shrub beds.
In 2010/11, the last year of Liberal Democrat control of the council, there were 38,000 gulley cleans. In 2013/14, after cuts by Labour in 2012, this was reduced to 20,664. The reduction has been blamed for increasing problems with so-called ponding and minor flooding on some local streets. Labour has cut the budget for gulley cleaning by £100,000 or 40% since coming to power, and reduced frontline staff.
Cllr Ann Reid, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Environmental Services who challenged the Labour Cabinet Member responsible at July’s meeting of York’s Full Council, commented:
“The halving of gulley cleaning is another example of Labour’s cuts to basic frontline services in York. The issue is not glamorous and there are few photo opportunities in it for Labour councillors, but it is a basic council service which matters to local residents.
“I know last autumn and winter particularly there were incidents of flooding on local roads as water was not draining away properly. Regular cleaning of the road gullies helps stop this by ensuring that they efficiently drain water off the road surface and minimise the pressure on the drains. This is not happening due to Labour’s cuts.
“Labour should stop wasting money on city-centre vanity projects and restore funding to basic services for residents like street and gulley cleaning, grass cutting, litter bins and tackling potholes.”
NB Problems caused by inadequate gulley cleaning have been blamed for issues across York, including in Fulford last September when a blocked drain outside the ‘Sir John Hunt Memorial Homes’ caused considerable disruption. Please find attached a photo of Fulford Councillor Keith Aspden at the scene.
Cllr Reid asked the following question at July’s Full Council:
(xxii) To the Cabinet Member for Environmental Services, Planning and Sustainability from Cllr Reid:
“How many Full Time Equivalent (FTE) staff did the council have working on gulley cleaning in each of the last 4 years, how many vehicles are used for this purpose, and how many and what proportion of gullies were/are routinely cleaned in each year since 2010?”
Answer:
· 2010-2011, 4 no FTE, approx 38000 scheduled gully cleans
· 2011-2012, 4 no FTE, approx 39000 scheduled gully cleans
· 2012-2013, 4 no FTE, approx 20664 scheduled gully cleans
· 2013 -2014, 2 no FTE on 8 + 8 hour shift system rotation, approx 20664 scheduled gully cleans
A report to a Council meeting next week, from the Safer York Partnership, confirms that there have been 24 deaths by drowning in York’s’ rivers over the last 15 years.
There were more deaths in the river Foss (14) than the river Ouse (10)
Of 6 deaths in the Ouse in the City centre area, 4 have been treated as accidental.
The report comes at a time when many young people are risking their lives by jumping off City centre bridges (see above).
The report says,
“Between 1999 and April 2014 there have been 24 deaths connected to rivers within the York district. Of the 24 deaths that have occurred 10 of them went into the River Ouse in York and 14 of them went into the River Foss in York.
Of these 10 deaths connected to the River Ouse, 4 of them did not enter the river in the City Centre and 6 of them did enter the river in the City Centre.
Of these 6 deaths that were within the city centre connected to the River Ouse; 2 are believed to have entered the river accidentally; 2 are believed to have committed suicide and 2 climbed barriers to jump in and drowned accidentally.
Between May 2013 and April 2014 there were approximately 35 other reported incidents to North Yorkshire Police that were connected to the river that involved some from of possible harm.
This figure is likely to be an underestimate due to difficulties in data retrieval and classification. The following are known about these incidents;
”
York Council are planning to dim streetlights between midnight and 6:00am.
Residents, in part of Council Leaders James Alexander’s Holgate ward, were used as guinea pigs in a trial earlier in the year.
In January 2014 the council installed LED lighting in Hamilton Way, Collingwood Avenue, Stewart Road, and Amberley Street in Holgate with several being operated at 50-60 per cent.
The Council Leadership claims that residents did not notice that lights had been dimmed.
Problem is that there was no consultation and residents were kept in the dark (sic) about the trial.
No data on crime levels was reported by the Council who claim that the programme was agreed by the Councils Cabinet on 1st July as part of its (no irony) “rewiring” project.
In reality only passing reference was made to street lighting in a report which ran to over 100 pages.
The Council says, “No comments or complaints were received on the varied levels of lighting throughout the trial”.
Given the flaws in the Councils customer contact system this is hardly surprising. You can’t even report, through the Councils web site, a faulty street lamp let alone a “dim” one.
The Council says,
“Over 1,500 lanterns in York will be replaced this year with a new ‘white light’ – providing a clearer light, which will help make people feel safer at night.
The LED lantern conversions will be installed over a seven month period until January 2015, predominately in the following areas: Rawcliffe, Clifton, Huntington, New Earswick, Copmanthorpe, Bishopthorpe and Micklegate.
The Wards that have been chosen are areas that house the highest number of 35watt low pressure sodium lanterns (orange light).
The new lighting will also help make significant carbon, energy and cost savings.
In addition to the new LEDS, lights will also be reduced by up to 50-60 per cent on streets between midnight and 6am when the traffic flow levels can be described as quiet. Although the level of lighting reduces this is still within current lighting level standards”.
It is certainly possible to make some savings – and reduce carbon emissions – using more energy efficient systems and lighting cycles.
Such a programme was started by the Council as long ago as 2008.
However, the cost/benefit figures – produced by the Council – now do need further analysis
And, of course, street lighting has a major role to play in tacking crime with back lanes and snickets likely to be particular problem areas when we get to dark winter evenings.
The Council has been secretive in its approach and has played fast and loose with resident’s safety.
They should be more open with their plans in the future.
Barbican development site June 2014
The next Council meeting is likely to debate why a start on building work, on the derelict site next to the Barbican, has been delayed.
Planning permission for a 165 bedroomed hotel was granted in January 2012 with the aim being to provide facilities which would complement the use of the adjacent Barbican auditorium as a conference centre.
Property firm Broadhall was granted permission to build a Hilton Garden Inn on the land. The development was expected to bring at least 200 additional jobs to the City.
Plans to erect nearly 200 flats on another part of the vacant site were submitted last year
A recent major conference held at the Barbican centre was criticised for lack of “break out” space.
Now the site – which used to accommodate a swimming pool – has been derelict for 2 years with gaps in the hoardings affecting the view from the City Walls and blighting one of he key routes around the City.
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Walmgate Bar June 2014
The Council has also been criticised for not starting a permanent repair on nearby Walmgate Bar.
The Bar was shored up following a collision four years ago.
Two years ago the media reported that a start on refurbishment work was imminent.
With the City having a “showcase” opportunity provided by the Tour de France event next month, many had expected the Council to act on unsightly buildings and sites.
Ouse Bridge York June 2014
The Labour Leadership of the York Council has come under attack from visitors and residents alike for neglecting the appearance of the City.
In the City centre, tourists have pointed to Ouse Bridge where weeds are now overgrowing the parapet.
The bridge stonework has deteriorated while failure to control algae and moss growth could lead to major repair costs in a few months time.
No historical evidence of horticulture on Ouse Bridge
The bridge is one of the most used by pedestrians in the City with many visitors photographing the river and banks from it.
Nor is the situation better in the sub-urban areas with some side streets in Acomb covered in foot high weeds.
The Council revealed recently in a response to a Freedom of Information enquiry that it gives a contractor £70,000 a year to control weed growth on local highways and footpaths
The York Council is employing contractors to treat weed growth on highways in the City.
The cost of the contract is around £70,000 a year
Weeds in Beaconsfield Street in Acomb June 2014
The York Council has released, under Freedom of Information legislation, copies of correspondence its Labour Leadership has had on the subject of Fracking
The Emails can be read here:
York Environment Forum policy statement
Local Plan Minerals policy extract
York Council internal briefing on Fracking
The Labour Leadership have yet to make clear their policy on the use of fracking techniques in the York area