TalkTalk has published a timetable setting out when tarmac strips across concrete driveways will be replaced with concrete, and other repairs made to footpaths and verges following the UFO cable installation work.
Dates correct as at 31 May 2018
Lib Dem councillor Andrew Waller met with representatives of TalkTalk and contractors FNS on Friday 1 June to visit locations across Westfield and Dringhouses & Woodthorpe wards where there are concerns about the reinstatement works done so far.
Post Office Ltd has confirmed the opening times for Dringhouses Post Office, which will re-open on Friday 13 April.
Here is a copy of the statement issued by the Post Office confirming arrangements.
The playgrounds at Woodthorpe Green and Nelsons Lane have re-opened after improvement works were completed.
£30,000 has been spent at Woodthorpe Green to install new swings, adventure equipment and a zip wire. £17,000 came from City of York Council central budgets, with £11,000 from the Ward Committee and the remainder from development funds. In addition, the Woodthorpe York Community Group secured a Yorventure grant of £12,000 for the installation of an accessible roundabout.
At Nelsons Lane £32,000 has been spent, which includes a donation from local children’s nursery Little Green Rascals.
Ann, Ashley and Stephen at Nelsons Lane…
…and at Woodthorpe Green
Local Lib Dem councillors Ann Reid, Ashley Mason and Stephen Fenton worked with the Woodthorpe York Community Group and Chase Residents Association to engage with residents to determine the priorities for the revamps, and then young and old alike were asked to vote for their favourite designs.
Lib Dem councillor Stephen Fenton said “There has been a bit of a wait whilst snagging issues were resolved, but it’s wonderful to see the enjoyment that children and their families are getting from the revamped playgrounds.”
“Local residents’ involvement was key to realising these improvements, and it’s another example of where Ward Committee funding is making a real difference to our communities.”
Brand new litter bins are being installed by City of York Council in the Dringhouses area. The new dual use litter / dog waste bins replace old bins which were on their last legs. Nine bins on Tadcaster Road have been replaced so far.
New bin outside Dringhouses library
Across the city old bins are being replaced with the new-style bins.
A date has been announced – 13th April – for the planned re-opening of Dringhouses Post Office on Tadcaster Road.
The branch closed in November 2017, and shortly after the Mace store in which it was based also closed.
In an e-mail to local Lib Dem councillor Stephen Fenton, a representative from Post Office Ltd said:
“I can confirm that the branch is scheduled for re-opening on 13th April. The new operators of the business are attending training prior to this and they will also receive onsite support from 13th – 20th April. We do understand the importance of Post Office services within the local community and hope that this information will ease any further cause for concern.”
Cllr Stephen Fenton has welcomed the news: “Many residents have contacted me asking for information about when the Post Office will re-open, so it is great to have a proposed re-opening date. I am sure that the Dringhouses community will support the new business owners as they embark on this new venture.”
Funding from the Dringhouses & Woodthorpe Ward Committee continues to make a difference to our area.
On the Revival estate, off Tadcaster Road, there are four grit bins which were installed when the estate was first built. Local Lib Dem councillors have been trying to find out who is responsible for them, but it seems no-one is!
We have therefore stepped in and have agreed that the Ward Committee will ‘adopt’ these grit bins. They have all now been re-filled (paid for from the ward budget) and two have been relocated to ensure a more even distribution across the estate.
Further up Tadcaster Road, Brunswick Organic Nursery has delivered two wheelchair-accessible raised beds to Dringhouses library. The beds have been funded from the ward budget, and are a further addition to the wonderful revamped patio area at the side and rear of the library.
The Co-op has closed another of its food stores in west York, with the closure of its Tadcaster Road shop.
This latest closure follows the recent sale to McColls of the former Co-op store in Woodthorpe. It also comes hot on the heels of the sudden closure of the nearby Dringhouses Post Office and Mace store, with still no news as to when those will re-open.
A phone call from Cllr Stephen Fenton to Co-op HQ revealed that the Tadcaster Road store will re-open on Thursday 1 February as an ‘Applegreen‘ petrol station. On their website, Applegreen say this about their retail offer:
“It’s not just our well stocked and conveniently organised shops catering for the myriad needs of today’s motorist but also our partnerships with top food and beverage outlets such as Costa Coffee and Subway which underpin our commitment to providing a consistently high quality offer to our customers.”
Stephen has asked Applegreen whether they plan to stock a similar range of groceries and household goods to the former Co-op store.
Local Lib Dem councillors are continuing to press Post Office Ltd for answers on when Dringhouses Post Office will re-open.
As we reported last November, the Post Office have apparently failed to adhere to their own Code of Practice, which applies to “the handling of the localised changes that can and do happen across such a large network for all sorts of reasons. When these changes do happen, whether they are planned or whether they occur without warning, we will always ensure that the minimum access criteria outlined by the Government are met and that the needs of customers are taken into account as much as is possible.”
The Post Office’s most recent statement is as follows: “We sincerely apologise to customers for any inconvenience caused by the continued temporary closure of Dringhouses Post Office. We understand and appreciate how much communities rely on our services and would like to reassure customers that we are working hard to restore services to the community as quickly as possible.”
Cllr Stephen Fenton has again written to Post Office Ltd to demand answers, and request an urgent meeting.
To make matters worse, the Mace store has closed. A spokesperson for Mace said: “The vast majority of our stores are owned by independent retailers, as was this store on Tadcaster Road. Unfortunately the owner has taken the decision to close the store and at present we are unable to confirm whether it will reopen.”
The store’s closure means that the Tadcaster Road area has no newsagent which delivers newspapers, which is a blow to many residents.
Plan ahead for a happy holiday!
City of York Council has “got Christmas all wrapped up and we’ve pulled our festive information into one place to help residents plan ahead”.
The customer centre will close over the festive period.
It will shut at 4pm on Friday 22 December and then re-open on Wednesday 27 December running normal opening hours except for on Friday 29 December when it will close at 4pm.
The customer centre will then re-open in the New Year on 2 January when normal opening hours will start.
We remain open for all social care, housing and homelessness emergencies. In addition, the team will carry out urgent assessments of adults or children and can provide advice or guidance over the phone. Emergency contact info can be found at www.york.gov.uk/emergencies
For more information about opening times, contacting us, waste and recycling and other festive Council services, visit www.york.gov.uk/FestivePeriod
Finally, with so many people alone this Christmas, remember to pop in to check on vulnerable friends, neighbours or relatives to make sure they are warm, healthy and happy.
Mary Weastell, City of York Council chief executive, said: “York has recently been voted the most festive cities in the country and I hope residents and businesses continue to enjoy all this great city has to offer over the festive period.
“I would encourage people to be prepared for the holidays. We’ve put on an additional bin collection to help and there’s much you can do to get ready. Whether picking up medical prescriptions in good time, checking waste collections or calling in to check on a vulnerable friend or elderly neighbour. Although our customer contact centre is closed, our emergency teams are always on hand if needed. ”
Residents are advised to follow our social media accounts @cityofyork, @yorkgritter and facebook.com/cityofyork for up to date information over the festive period. Happy holidays!
All households will get extra household waste collections (grey bins/black sacks) during weeks commencing 18 December 2017 and 2 January 2018… Put your waste out by 7.00am for collection!
CHECK YOUR COLLECTION DAY/DATES: WWW.YORK.GOV.UK/REFUSELOOKUP
Published Wednesday, 20th December 2017
s part of work to increase levels of physical activity across the city, City of York Council has produced a directory of York’s community sports clubs.
The directory includes information and contact details for 115 voluntary sports clubs in the city offering a range of sporting and physical activity opportunities from angling to walking.
There is something for everyone with activities for all ages and abilities seven days a week, all-year round.
5,000 copies have been printed and are being distributed to schools, libraries and community centres across the city. The guide is also available to view online at www.york.gov.uk/communitysportsclubs.
In addition to this directory, the council’s Yorwellbeing service also offers support to local sports clubs through the Yorwellbeing club development offer. The service offers support on a variety of areas such as; funding applications, national governing body accreditations, facility development projects and community engagement.
For more information on the sports club directory or the club development offer please contact yorwellbeing@york.gov.uk or call 01904 553377.
Clubs who aren’t included within this year’s edition of the directory are asked to get in touch with the Yorwellbeing service so they can be incorporated into future publications.