The Minstermen Are Back Again For Summer Fun!

Once again, York City FC Foundation is providing free fun-filled football sessions for those aged between 4 and 14 funded by the ward committee. With training from York City’s top coaches for up to 1 hour sessions, your child will be ready to play in the National League in no time! You can book a slot at one of these sessions in advance to secure your place or simply turn up to join in with the fun! Check below to see the closest York City sessions near you with a range of different times and dates:

Woodthorpe Green Fun Fridays:

  • 4-5 and 6-7 year olds: 4th, 11th, 18th August from 10am-10:45am
  • 8-10 and 11-14 year olds: 4th, 11th, 18th August from 11am-12pm

Chesney Fields Manic Mondays:

  • 4-5 and 6-7 year olds: 31st July, 7th, 14th, 21st August from 2pm-2:45pm
  • 8-10 and 11-14 year olds: 31st July, 7th, 14th, 21st August from 3pm-4pm

Don’t worry if you can’t find a session you can attend here as there are many more across York which you can view at this link.

Cherry Lane Planning Decision Appealed

Many residents in the Dringhouses & Woodthorpe ward had expressed their concerns over the proposed size and design of a property on land off Cherry Lane. Whilst outline planning permission was granted, the application which sought approval for the detailed design of the property was refused by City of York Council. That decision is now subject to appeal.

Background Information

Originally there was an application to build five houses on the Cherry Lane plot. This application was refused as it was felt that it would not protect enough of the green space which currently exists. In response, the plans were scaled back and an application was submitted for outline permission to build just one house and a garage on approximately one third of the plot, with the other two thirds being left as a natural green space as shown in the two images below.

This application lacked detail of the design of the property as it was an outline application, but the principle of the development was approved by the council. This approval also included a proposal to improve the junction of Cherry Lane and St Edwards Close, shown below in its current layout.

However, when the applicants later sent in their detailed plan for the estate, the council refused the application, the reasons for which are set out below.

The Head of Planning and Developing Services said the reason why the application was refused was due to:

  • “The proposed dwelling failed to respond positively to the local context in terms of its siting, scale, design and use of materials. The new dwelling is incohesive in appearance with an inappropriate use materials and a significantly overly bulky form and appearance. As a result it would integrate poorly into its wider surroundings, intruding into the landscape setting of the racecourse, and introducing a far more assertive and urbanised form of development into an area characterised by more spacious, lower density development. Overall the scheme represents poor design contrary to Section 12: Achieving well designed places of the National Planning Policy Framework and Policies D1 and D2 of the Submission Draft City of York Local Plan 2018.”
  • “As a result of its proximity, the proposed development would impact detrimentally on a TPO oak tree, which has high public amenity value arising from its prominent location and maturity, and biodiversity value. Additionally, insufficient evidence has been provided to clarify impacts on other trees within and adjacent to the site, particularly the TPO hornbeam at the access point, and also on the overall impact of the scheme and the associated landscape quality of the site. The proposal is therefore contrary to Sections 12: Achieving well-designed places and 15: Conserving and enhancing the natural environment of the National Planning Policy Framework and Policy GI4 of the Submission Draft City of York Local Plan 2018.”

Current situation

Presently, whilst attempting to appeal the refusal of planning permission, a new application has been submitted with revised designs. In this revised design, the buildings on the site are smaller than in the previous application.

To find out more about the background to this matter, please follow the two links below to the City of York Council’s planning portal:

Bus route changes as resurfacing work starts

Moor Lane resurfacing work gets underway on Monday 19 June at 7pm. The overnight closure of the road between Cairnborrow and Eden Close will have an impact on the number 12 and number 14 bus services.

Due to the location of the closure, buses will not be able to operate beyond Grassholme and will instead terminate at Woodthorpe shops.

This means that the stops on Moor Lane beyond Grassholme and on the Alness Drive / Acomb Wood Drive / Bellhouse Way / Foxwood Lane loop will not be serviced after 7pm for the next ten weekday evenings. 

More information is available on the East Yorkshire buses website HERE

Latest planning applications for Dringhouses and Woodthorpe Ward

Below are the latest planning applications received by the York Council for the Dringhouses and Woodthorpe ward.

Full details can be found by clicking the application reference

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43 Pulleyn Drive York YO24 1DY

Variation of condition 2 of permitted application 23/00093/FUL to alter approved drawings 

Ref. No: 23/01085/FUL 

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63 Hunters Way York YO24 1JL

Non-material amendment to permitted application 22/00947/FUL to alter positions of windows/doors and to glaze a previously approved brick infill between the former garage and rear extension 

Ref. No: 23/01084/NONMAT 

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6 Lingfield Crescent York YO24 1EP

Porch to front 

Ref. No: 23/01082/FUL 

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26 Ashbourne Way York YO24 2SW

Single storey rear extension 

Ref. No: 23/01057/FUL 

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9 Eason Road York YO24 2HZ

Dormer to rear and hip to gable roof extension (retrospective) 

Ref. No: 23/01004/FUL 

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Land To The South Of Sim Balk Lane York

Screening opinion in respect of residential development of 114 affordable housing units, public open space, car parking for adjacent football club and creation of new access from Sim Balk Lane 

Ref. No: 23/01101/EIASN 

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Representations can be made in support of, or in objection to, any application via the Planning online web site.  http://planningaccess.york.gov.uk/online-applications/

The Council does not routinely consult neighbours by letter when an application is received

Good news on the way on home improvements?

It seems that good news may be on the way for council tenants in Dringhouses who are waiting for much-needed home improvements.

Tenants were invited to an exhibition at Foxwood Community Centre in July 2022 to select from a range of products and materials to modernise their homes. It had been expected that the improvement works (formerly known as ‘Tenants Choice’) would get underway in the 2022/23 financial year, but this did not happen.

Residents on North Lane, and elsewhere in Dringhouses, have been in the dark about the timing of improvement works

Residents have contacted their local councillors to seek confirmation of when they can expect the work to begin, and Cllr Stephen Fenton has received the following update from the council’s Housing team:

“We have been finalising a procurement exercise to appoint 2 contractors to undertake the works on our Home Improvements Programme (previously named tenants choice) as previous contracts had expired. I am pleased to say that this has concluded and our programme for this year is just about finalised. This will see us make a start on Dringhouses as well as attempt to gain access to the properties which have previously missed out on this work on estates where works have previously been completed. I must stress, not all properties awaiting work or missing out on work previously will commence this year and this is being planned over a number of years. A letter is drafted to send out to all properties in Dringhouses and the list of properties not completed elsewhere to inform them of the approach to the home improvements this year and the names of the contractors appointed and will soon be sent out now the contractors are confirmed.

I understand that expectations may have been raised with an event and there may have been intentions to start before now and if there has been no formal communication to this point, we apologise for that. All tenants affected by works this year will be notified in advance to allow them time to make plans for the works to take place. Once again, I apologise for any lack of effective communication to this point that may have caused distress to anybody living in our properties.”

Stephen has asked for a copy of the letter that is to be sent to residents.

Moor Lane resurfacing dates confirmed

City of York Council has circulated a letter to residents confirming details of the long-awaited resurfacing of the section of Moor Lane between Cairnborrow and Eden Close.

We reported back in March that the then Lib Dem / Green administration had allocated £211,000 for this work.

The Moor Lane road surface has been in a dire state for some time

The letter to residents (copied below) states that there will be a full road closure between 7pm and 2am from Monday 19 June for a period of 10 week nights, weather permitting. It is proposed to stop planing and other activities of a similar noise level by 11pm, however due to the nature of the works, there will still be some noise between 11pm and 2am.

The letter provides no information about what diversions to bus services will be put in place, with the numbers 12 and 14 affected. Cllr Stephen Fenton has asked council officers to provide information on this.

Concern for future of ward-funded activities

Local Liberal Democrat councillors have expressed concern that a ‘ban’ on allocating ward funding could lead to planned summer holiday activities for young people being axed.

Cllr Stephen Fenton at the York Knights session held at York Acorn ARLFC on 30th May

In recent years, Lib Dem councillors in wards across the city have jointly commissioned York Knights Foundation and York City Football Club Foundation to deliver free activity sessions for young people, which also included the provision of drinks and snacks. These sessions are open to all. When the council budget for 2023/24 was passed in February, Lib Dem councillors protected ward funding so that schemes such as these could continue.

Dringhouses & Woodthorpe’s Lib Dem councillors have now been told by council officers that they cannot allocate some of the 2023/24 ward budget to fund activities for young people in the July / August summer holiday period. It is understood that this ‘ban’ has been imposed as the incoming Labour administration plans to propose an ‘emergency’ budget in July, meaning that ward funding is in limbo.

Dringhouses & Woodthorpe councillor Stephen Fenton has called on the new administration to commit to retain the full ward funding allocations agreed in February, so that ward schemes and projects can go ahead.

He said “The summer holiday sessions run by the Knights and York City have been very popular, and at a time when family budgets are stretched, the ability to offer free-of-charge activities is more important than ever. It would be such a shame if we had to axe the planned summer programme because of a ban on allocating the ward funding that was agreed back in February.

“At this time of year, ward councillors would ordinarily be inviting local voluntary and charitable organisations to apply for ward funding to support local projects that benefit the community. It now looks as though we won’t be able to do this, unless there is a commitment from the new administration to protect ward funding.”

Police Commissioner to hold road safety online meeting

North Yorkshire Police, Crime & Fire Commissioner Zoe Metcalfe is to hold an online public meeting on Thursday 25th May on the issue of road safety.

Residents of York and North Yorkshire are invited to join the online meeting which will include allotted time for the Commissioner to ask questions of the Chief Constable that have been sent in by the public.

Questions relating to road safety are encouraged but questions for any area of policing and crime are welcome and should be submitted using the online form on the Commissioner’s website: https://www.northyorkshire-pfcc.gov.uk/YourVoice/

The purpose of these regular online public meetings is to hold the Chief Constable of North Yorkshire Police to account for their delivery of the Commissioner’s Police and Crime Plan, to ensure the force is achieving its objectives and generating positive outcomes in the interests of the public.

The online public meeting will be streamed live on Thursday 25 May at 14:30 and can be accessed via:

  1. Commissioner’s website https://bit.ly/OPM-May-2023
  2. YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3Vl-EHowLfUdwI3GN-wubw/live
  3. or Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/events/1985748441770374

The meeting will also be recorded and become available to watch on the same channels.

Thank You!

We would like to thank Dringhouses & Woodthorpe residents for their support at the local elections held on 4th May. We look forward to continuing to champion the needs and aspirations of local residents.

The full election result is set out below. The turnout was 40.4%.

CandidatesElectedPartyNumber of votes
Timothy John AshmanNoThe Conservative Party403
Stephen Daniel Fenton YesLiberal Democrats Party2,233
Bronwen GrayNoGreen Party253
John David GrayNoGreen Party192
Clive John HibbertNoThe Conservative Party479
Ginevra Claire HouseNoGreen Party247
Samuel KindNoLabour Party880
Ashley Robert Mason YesLiberal Democrats Party1,955
Kataya McKeever-WillisNoLabour Party828
Bob ScraseNoLabour Party840
David Malcolm StuartNoThe Conservative Party405
Paula Maureen Widdowson YesLiberal Democrats Party2,026