York pull out from Britain in Bloom – the mystery deepens

It appears that the decision that York would not enter the Britain in Bloom contest this year was only taken in July.

Front Street flower tubs 2007

The City has already been entered into the competition.

The decision was taken in private with no report on the implications being published.

Neither residents nor those involved in Britain in Bloom at a community level were consulted.

The village and neighbourhood entrants are however understood to continuing with their entries. Judging is underway.

Offers of voluntary help to organise the City’s entry were snubbed.

The late withdrawal meant that no other Yorkshire City was able to enter to represent the county.

It appears that the decision was a panic move taken only days before the Britain in Bloom judges were due to visit the City.

Although the Council says it may enter again in the future, it could take 5 years or more to build up the momentum needed to be awarded the Britain in Bloom City title.

Meanwhile the decision to squander £75,000 a year on advertising at Leeds Bradford Airport has been “called in” for reconsideration. The review meeting will take place on Monday 16th September. The agenda can be found by clicking here.

York Council waste collection changes –

The York Council is introducing new waste and green recycling collection timetables from next Monday (9th September).

Some households will receive recycling for the first time and others may have changes to what day of the week their rubbish, recycling or green waste is collected

About 10% of properties will see a change to their collections days.

The Council says that it has written to every affected household explaining the new collection days.

Given the past record of the York Council with communications, we are sceptical about whether everyone will have had, and understood, their communication.

A complete list of addresses (10639 of them) were sent out to ward Councillors as late as 2:00pm today Friday 6th September.

That is less than 1 working day before the new arrangements are due to be introduced.

The complete list of affected properties can be viewed by clicking here.

It is in alphabetical street order.

Alternatively, you should also be able to check out the day that your next collection is due by entering your postcode at this web location http://tinyurl.com/York-bin

The are few changes to arrangements in the Dringhouses and Woodthorpe area

The Council says, “It is important to continue to ensure that your rubbish, recycling and garden waste are presented before 7am on the day of collection”.

York Council now spending £1/4 million each year clearing fly tipping

Dumping and litter on Tithe Close snicket1400 hours 23rd Aug 2013

The York Council has admitted that it is costing taxpayers £250,000 a year to clear fly tipping in the City.

7 people are employed full time on the task.

They use 3 specialist vehicles.

The Council was heavily criticised last year when it closed the recycling centre in Beckfield Lane.

Residents forecast that fly tipping would increase.

The Council claimed then that the closure would “save” £40,000 a year.

Other contributory factors to the problem with fly tipping can be traced to the decision to stop the provision of mobile skips in some neighbourhoods.

Many litter bins have also been removed, while this winter there will be no green bin collections over a period of nearly 6 months.

The Council has also claimed that it no longer gets any income from the sale of materials returned to Hazel Court for recycling.

Waste collection cuts and changes from 9th September

The Council have issued a media release confirming the cuts that it is making to waste collection arrangements.

Green_waste_family_89__1

They say that “less then 10 per cent of all households will see significant changes to the day and time that their rubbish and recycling is collected, but the review has contributed towards significant savings of £300,000 in 2013/14”.

New rubbish and recycling calendars will be sent to households citywide from today (Tuesday 27 August) with new collections to commence from Monday 9 September.

The majority of households (72,000 homes) will continue to receive their normal collections on the same day on a fortnightly basis. The time of their collection may vary and residents are advised to ensure they present their rubbish and recycling before 7am on the day of their collection.

Further to the introduction of the new rubbish and recycling collections, changes to garden waste will also take effect from 9 September. The Council will introduce “an annual subscription charge for additional garden waste and not collect waste during the winter months”.

A charge of £35 to cover 12-months will come into effect for households with more then one garden waste bin.

No garden waste will be collected during the winter months of November to March.

For full details of the changes to rubbish and recycling collections, or if residents would like to subscribe to the garden waste service, please call 01904 551550.

The Council also says that can look up their collections by postcode by clicking this LINK

LibDems back new save our countryside campiagn

Green Belt map of England

Green Belt map of England

York’s Liberal Democrat Council Group Leader says a new national campaign to protect the countryside supports the approach his party has taken to controversial housing plans.

Last week the Lib Dems submitted their objection to Labour run City of York Council’s Draft Local Plan, which proposes building 16,000 houses on Green Belt land over the next 15 years. In recent months the Lib Dems have been leading the fight to protect York’s Green Belt, including organising a petition signed by nearly 2,500 local residents. The party has said that new housing should be focused on brownfield sites before the countryside surrounding York is developed.

Now a national ‘Save our Countryside’ charter launched by the CPRE (Campaign to Protect Rural England) has highlighted the threat of developing Green Belt land and called on councils to develop brownfield sites first. The CPRE has said that current policies mean the countryside is “being destroyed unnecessarily” and a ‘brownfield first’ approach should be adopted.

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Concerns for Hob Moor as new development plans revealed

We understand that a leaflet is to be circulated in the area near Our Lady’s school on Hob Moor giving details of the planned development there.

Residents, who were expecting to see a plan for 29 new homes (as included in the Councils new draft “Local Plan”) now find that 56 units are proposed.

That’s represents a 93% increase

Proposed layout Click to enlarge

Proposed layout Click to enlarge

Even a casual glance at the plans suggests that the homes are being shoehorned into the site. High density developments like these tend to bring their own problems resulting from neighbour disagreements.

A very liberal interpretation of the “footprint” of the existing (school) buildings is also being taken.

There are some big issues here with the impact of the “big growth” option having on local roads, sewers and other public services.

Another concern would be the impact on the neighbouring Hob Moor stray.

The problem is exacerbated by the Council’s plan to build on the nearby Newbury Avenue garage site.

House profiles click to enlarge

House profiles click to enlarge


The exhibition of the proposals will take place between 3pm – 6pm on Tuesday the 30th July, 2013 at: Acorn ARL Sports and Social Club Thanet Road YO24 2NW

All the homes will be for rent with most social housing (Yorkshire Housing Association)

The notice being given to local residents is also very short given that we ware entering the major holiday period.

No planning application has, as yet, been submitted.

Scrubber comes to York

City of York Council is harnessing the latest cleaning technology to help keep the city looking its best.

A new suction sweeper has just hit the streets. Maneuvered by an operator walking behind it, the machine pulverises and compacts waste by two thirds, and is nimble enough to use on busy streets. While it might tackle extra waste following busy days in the city centre, equally it can suck up and squash autumn leaves, giving it year-round functionality.
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Bold vision to make York the ‘Greenest City in the North’

The Liberal Democrat Group has outlined ambitions plans to make York the greenest city in the north of England.

The Group will ask City of York Council to back the vision at a ‘Full Council’ meeting on the 18th July. If passed, the plans would see a commitment to achieve the highest recycling rates in the region, an ambitious carbon reduction programme implemented, and work undertaken to explore setting-up a doorstep food recycling service and a council-owned renewable energy company.

Green Bin

The Liberal Democrat Group will move the following motion at a meeting of City of York Council’s ‘Full Council’ on Thursday 18th July at 6:30pm at the Guildhall:

Make York the Greenest City in the North of England Council motion

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