New trees take root in Dringhouses

Local Lib Dem councillors have supported the planting of new trees with £1,000 of ward committee funding.

New trees have been planted on Tadcaster Road, The Horseshoe, Southfield Crescent, Chaloners Road and in Chaloners Road park.

In all cases the trees have been planted near to where trees have fallen or been felled.

Tadcaster Road

The Horseshoe

Southfield Crescent

Chaloners Road

Chaloners Road park

Great British Spring Clean comes to Dringhouses & Woodthorpe

Keep Britain Tidy’s ‘Great British Spring Clean’ runs from Friday 2nd to Sunday 4th March, with three events planned in Dringhouses & Woodthorpe ward:

  • Friday 2nd at 3pm – Litter pick on Hob Moor. Meet on Little Hob Moor at the yellow railings at the underpass entrance
  • CANCELLED Saturday 3rd at 11am – Litter pick and path clearance in Acomb Wood. Meet at the entrance to the wood from the Quaker Wood car park
  • CANCELLED Saturday 3rd at 3pm – Litter pick in the Askham Bar area. Meet in the old Askham Bar Park & Ride car park

Everyone is welcome!

Askham Bar flytipping investigated and goes to court

In August 2017 Cllr Stephen Fenton took a photo (below) of flytipping at the Askham Bar recycling banks and reported it to City of York Council’s Neighbourhood Enforcement team. They investigated, and a case went to the Magistrates Court on 2nd January. The defendant failed to attend and so the Court issued a warrant for the person’s arrest.


It’s good to know that these cases are pursued where evidence can be found. Flytipping can be reported to neo@york.gov.uk for investigation.

Great British Spring Clean coming to York on 2nd March 2018

Wildflower planting also gets a boost

Local Community Groups will again be participating in the Great British Spring Clean (GBSC) in 2018

On the weekend of the 2-4 March 2018, GBSC want you to get outdoors, get active and help clear up the rubbish that lies around us.

Join the growing army of #LitterHeroes who have had enough of other people’s litter and are willing to do something about it.

Register today for the Great British Spring Clean 2018 and together we can make a difference.

Click to register

Click for details

Separately another opportunity to improve the local environment has been announced.

Grow Wild: Funding from Kew for community groups to plant wildflowers.

There is a lot of scope in the west of the City for more wildflower beds.

Let us know if you plan to do anything in your area and we will give it some publicity.

Cllr Stephen Fenton raises Woodthorpe drainage issues

On the 4th December, Cllr Stephen Fenton spoke at a council meeting to highlight local concerns regarding the risk of flooding from overflowing drainage ditches.

On Boxing Day in 2015, homes on Coeside and Nevis Way in Woodthorpe narrowly avoided being inundated with water, gushing from an overflowing ditch at the back of the properties – pictured below.

Since then, work has been carried out to clear drainage ditches downstream and it is hoped this will result in quicker and more effective drainage of the ditch behind the houses.

Stephen spoke at a Decision Session for the Council’s Executive Member for the Environment on 4 December, at which a Gulley Management Strategy Review was discussed. He circulated photographs taken in September (see below) which show the ditch choked by vegetation, raising concerns that when it dies back, it will settle on the floor of the ditch and reduce capacity.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stephen said  “I want to highlight the importance of drainage ditches in the ward and I am keen to ensure that their maintenance is not overlooked as the council decides how to prioritise the resources that it has available.

“I am grateful to Council staff for the investment already made in clearing out the drainage channels downstream from the ditch that overflowed in 2015. I am also pleased that we were able to dedicate some Ward Committee funds to help pay for some digging out of the ditch to be done.”

 

 

Tree felled in Chaloners Road park

A tree has been felled in Chaloners Road park after the trunk split in half, causing branches to block the footpath.

The damaged tree was reported by Cllr Stephen Fenton on Sunday 29 October, and later that day council staff made it safe and cleared the footpath.

On Monday the tree was removed completely.

The damaged tree in Chaloners Road park

All that remains

Weekend tidy-up

The area in front of the Moorcroft Road shops in Woodthorpe was blitzed at the weekend by volunteers from the Woodthorpe Community Beds group and the Woodthorpe Community Group. The area is looking good in readiness for the Family Fun Day to be held on Woodthorpe Green on Saturday 12 August from 12 noon to 6pm.


On the area of Askham Lane near to the A1237 roundabout, Stephen did a litter pick, collecting various items that some people think it’s OK to lob out of car windows (most of which were from McDonalds, KFC, Costa or Burger King, with the obligatory lager and soft drink cans and bottles). As noticeable as the litter were the frightening speeds which some motorists think are appropriate in a 40mph zone. What chance North Yorkshire Police deploy a mobile speed camera here?


Weed spraying gets underway

Due to very good recent growing conditions, council officers have decided to bring forward by one week the second application of herbicide to control weeds along kerb lines, footpaths and back lanes. So the spraying started on Monday 3rd July, rather than 10th July as had been planned.


Over the coming weeks we will monitor the impact of the spraying and highlight any areas that may have been missed.