A lot of footpaths in the city are icy today.
If your local salt bin is not full please ask your local Councillor to arrange for it to be refilled. Alternatively report “on line“
Salt bin locations can be found by clicking here
Big programme of highway resurfacing works announced for Dringhouses and Woodthorpe area
The York Council has announced which roads and footpaths will be resurfaced this year. The programme is the biggest for several years with, in total, £8,091,500 is due to be invested.
This represents an increase of 27% over the previous years budget
Around 100 individual roads are listed for resurfacing.
In the Dringhouses area, the programme includes £1/4 million for work on the following roads and footpaths
| Bracken Road | Carriageway | Dringhouses | £81,000 |
| Middlethorpe Grove | Carriageway | Dringhouses | £137,000 |
| Little Hob Moor | Cycle path | Dringhouses | £1,750 |
| Acomb Wood Close | Footpath | Dringhouses | £4,000 |
| Alness Drive | Footpath | Dringhouses | £27,000 |
| Ashbourne Way | Footpath | Dringhouses | £5,000 |
| Deveron Way | Footpath | Dringhouses | £14,000 |
| North Lane | Footpath | Dringhouses | £7,000 |
| Old Moor Lane | Footpath | Dringhouses | £7,120 |
The full list of streets which will receive attention can be viewed by clicking here
Footpath faults fixed
We recently reported that Cllr Stephen Fenton had undertaken a survey of footpaths around Woodthorpe and identified faults that needed fixing. We are pleased to report some early successes.
A raised metal cover which posed a trip hazard at the junction of Ryecroft Avenue and Chantry Close has been rectified (pictured below).
A section of pavement on Annan Close which was badly cracked has been resurfaced (pictured below);
Two trip hazards identified on Carron Crescent have been marked up for repair (pictured below).
Also in Woodthorpe, some much-needed repairs have been carried out on a crumbling section of the Alness Drive road surface (pictured below).
Woodthorpe pavements audit
Cllr Stephen Fenton undertook an audit of pavements in the Woodthorpe area at the weekend. With the cold weather approaching, the freeze / thaw action can mean that already weak areas can deteriorate rapidly. By reporting trouble spots now, remedial action can be taken before winter sets in.
Deveron Way footpath patched up
Some of the worst areas of pavement on Deveron Way have been patched up following action taken by Cllr Ann Reid last month.
Stephen has reported a number of issues in need of attention, including on Annan Close, Spey Bank, Ryecroft Avenue and Silverdale Court, pictured below.
An area of pavement on Annan Close is badly cracked and uneven
Pavement needs to be patched up around a raised utility cover on Spey Bank
Crumbling footpath on Silverdale Court
Raised ironwork at the junction of Ryecroft Avenue and Chantry Close
Pavement progress!
We are pleased to report that the pavement problems that Stephen reported on Aldersyde and Tadcaster Road have been actioned.
The badly cracked paving stones at the corner of Aldersyde and Aldersyde Court have been replaced, and the area is now much safer for pedestrians – see below.
It is also pleasing to note that the badly potholed pavement on Tadcaster Road at the junction with Pulleyn Drive has been repaired.
Labour highways maintenance scam revealed.
Labour are planning a “surprise” announcement next month, when they will “reveal” that they will spend an additional £2 million on highways resurfacing during the next financial year.
Highways expenditure Click to enlarge
The announcement will be in response to the pressure, put on them by residents and the Liberal Democrats, who have criticised the cuts made in road and footpath repairs budgets over the last 2 years.
In total, £4 million has been cut from the repairs budget in an attempt to find funding for schemes like the repaving of Kings Square and the, largely unnecessary, £1 million street lamppost replacement programme.
Now Labour – for one year only – hope to return the budget to the £5.5 million level that they inherited from the last LibDem administration.
However, they intend to pay for the programme by borrowing more money. Already residents are facing over £1 million a year extra in interest payments – making Council Tax rises inevitable.
The figures also reveal that investment on de-icing roads and footpaths has fallen by more than half since Labour took over. Fortunately we have – so far – had a mild winter but we may not be so lucky in future years.
York Council footpath investment down by 40%
New figures reveal that investment, in keeping York’s footpaths in a safe condition, has fallen by 41% over he last 5 years
Expenditure on repairs peaked at £1.8 million in 2009 when the Council was under Liberal Democrat Leadership.
Neglected roads and paths in Kingsway West reported on Saturday
This year only £1 million will be spent. The detailed figures – revealed in response to a Freedom of Information request – are:
• 2009/10 – £1,794k
• 2010/11 – £1,784k
• 2011/12 – £1,667k
• 2012/13 – £1,160k
• 2013/14 – £1,050k
The Council received 48 claims for compensation last year from people who had fallen on badly maintained footpaths. £6,750 was paid out in compensation
The number of complaints about pavements doubled in 2012/13 to 554 from a level of 258 two years earlier.
The Council admits that 5% of its footpaths require resurfacing.
Each year the Council resurfaces less than 1% of the total mileage of footpaths in the City.
The most complained about footpaths are Front Street in Acomb and Coney Street.
NB. The Council are currently spending £500,000 relaying flags in Kings Square. despite the area being in a generally good condition