Councillors demand answers on Dringhouses Post Office closure

Local Lib Dem councillors are demanding answers from Post Office Ltd on the sudden closure of Dringhouses Post Office on Tadcaster Road.

The Post Office is located in a Mace convenience store, and whilst the shop remains open, all Post Office services have ceased ‘indefinitely.’

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In a Twitter exchange with a local resident, Post Office said “this branch has been closed temporarily due to unforeseen circumstances”,  and that they will “try to appoint temporary cover…providing it is possible for us to do so.”

Cllr Stephen Fenton has asked Post Office Ltd to explain how they have adhered to their own Code of Practice in this situation. The Code 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.”

Stephen said  “This Post Office provides a very valuable service for the community, and its loss is a huge blow, particularly for elderly or vulnerable residents who rely on having access to services close to home. The timing couldn’t be worse – many people wanting to send Christmas cards and parcels to family and friends at home and abroad will now have to use other Post Office outlets if they are able to.

“I am very disappointed at the lack of communication from Post Office Ltd. Their Code of Practice talks about communicating with local authorities and others where there are changes to service provision, but this sudden closure has taken everyone by surprise. As far as I am aware, there has been no notification to the council, and there has certainly been no approach to local councillors.

“I have asked Post Office Ltd for an urgent conversation to get answers to the questions that I and other residents have about the future of this Post Office.”

Have your say on York’s libraries!

The council has launched a 14-week consultation with residents about library services in the city. In 2019 the council is due to enter into a new contract for library services and wants to hear from residents about their future needs to help inform the contract.

Residents can take part in the survey online at www.york.gov.uk/consultations , or can pick up a paper form at their local library.

Dringhouses library

The survey is seeking feedback on the proposed vision and the range of library buildings to meet residents’ needs. In addition, the council wants to understand future needs, gauge volunteer capacity and ask whether or not people want to see other services co-located in libraries.

Have your say!

Councillor Ann Reid, interim executive member for culture, leisure and tourism, said: “It is important that we really understand what residents would like to see for the future of their library services and whether our vision for the service and the buildings is on the right lines. I would urge everyone to take this chance to let us know their views.”

Liberal Democrats on City of York Council recently secured support for a motion aimed at securing existing library services in York. The motion, which was backed by Green and Labour councillors, called on the Executive to consult on a proposed vision for the future that includes the provision of locally-based and sustainable library services that meet residents’ needs and a commitment that there will be no reduction in the total number of staffed libraries across the city.

Conservative councillors opposed the motion.

Dringhouses & Woodthorpe Ward Directory hits the streets

A Ward Directory for Dringhouses & Woodthorpe has been produced and will be delivered to every home in the ward.

The printing and distribution of the eight-page booklet is being funded through Ward Committee funds. It is intended to be a brief guide to activities in the ward, local groups from nature to musical and everything in between.

The Directory is available in PDF format on the Ward page of the City of York Council website online Here, and updated and expanded editions of the Directory will be published here in due course.


Residents decide on playground proposals

A large number of children and adults came along to the drop-in sessions at the Woodthorpe Green playground on Friday afternoon and Saturday morning to see the options for improving the play area.

Everyone was asked to vote for their first and second preferences out of the four plans on display.

Braving the rain on Friday afternoon

Great turnout despite the rain

Sunnier on Saturday!

There will be another chance to vote at the Ward Committee meeting on Tuesday 26 September from 6.30pm at the indoor bowls club on Thanet Road, and at the McMillan fundraising coffee morning at St James the Deacon on the morning of Saturday 30 September.

All four plans are set out below.

Plan A

Plan B

Plan C

Plan D

Ashbourne Way/Acomb Wood Close footpaths to be resurfaced

The City of York Council will start work week commencing 18th September 2017 to reconstruct some of the footways shown on the plan below.  This scheme is programmed to take 2 weeks, weather permitting.

The work consists of excavating the current tarmac surfacing, laying two new layers of tarmac and replacing road kerbs within vehicle crossings.

Residents are being offered a discount on any new driveway requirements that they may wish to commission while plant is in the area.

Dementia activity sessions get underway

A Woodthorpe-based charity is to run themed activity sessions for people living with dementia. The first session, on the theme of ‘A day at the seaside’, is on Thursday 6 July from 1.30pm to 3.30pm at St James the Deacon church hall on Sherringham Drive – see poster below for details.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dementia Yorkshire has received a grant from the Dringhouses & Woodthorpe ward committee to help support these monthly sessions. We wish them every success.

Abbeyfield extension plans – drop-in session for residents on 25 April

There will be a drop-in session on Tuesday 25 April from 3pm to 7pm at St Edwards Church for local residents to learn about a proposal by the Abbeyfield Society Ltd to extend the Abbeyfield extra care home on Regency Mews, off Tadcaster Road. The society has been awarded a Homes & Communities Agency grant to support the provision of a 25 home extension to the scheme.


This is a ‘pre-planning’ public engagement aimed at getting feedback before a formal planning application is submitted. Details of the proposals will also be on display at Dringhouses Library and comments invited.

Woodthorpe free Sunday bus link to Askham Bar will run until end of January

First have announced that the trial bus which links Foxwood, Woodthorpe & Bishopthorpe with Tesco and Askham Bar will continue to run until the end of January 2017.

The services will also run on:

  • Tuesday 27 December 2016
  • Bank Holiday Monday, 2 January 2017 as well as
  • Sundays 8, 15, 22 and 29 January 2017

Download Service 500 timetable

The free service, numbered 500, runs with an electric bus, subject to availability, to reduce noise and emissions. It was due to finish on 18th December

500-bus-service

Be ready for wintry conditions – “on line” map gives local salt bin and gritting details for York

It looks like we may get our first freeze of the winter shortly so we hope that residents will check that their local salt bins are full (and free from litter).

Its also a good idea to know which local streets are routinely de-iced by the “gritting” lorry.service-map

 

Easiest way to find  out where your local services are is by accessing the above map which can be found at:

 http://localview.york.gov.uk/Sites/TranStreetCare/

Click i to see where your nearest salt bin issalt-bins-gritting-routes

Then click the fourth symbol along.

This will allow you to tick a box next to “primary” and” secondary” gritting routes. The primary gritting routes include most bus routes and are salted as a precaution when weather forecasts predict icy conditions.

You can find out whether the gritters are working by “following” them on twitter @yorkgritter