UPDATE – Network Rail agree to pause compound plans

Following Cllr Stephen Fenton’s meeting with representatives on 24 February, Network Rail have confirmed that they intend to pause their Moor Lane compound plans until 19 March to allow for meaningful engagement and dialogue with residents.

It is not clear what form this engagement will take, but this is a welcome move. We will share further information as and when it is available.

Network Rail to consider plea to pause Moor Lane compound plan

Cllr Stephen Fenton met with Network Rail representatives on 24 February to ask them to pause plans to establish a compound on land off Moor Lane until February 2024.

News of the proposed compound location came as a surprise to residents who received a letter from Network Rail on Friday 19 February. When asked whether the compound needed planning permission, Network Rail confirmed that it does not. They said:

“The Moor Lane construction compound benefits from deemed planning permission granted by virtue of Part 4, Class A of Schedule 2 of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015. Therefore, the compound does not require planning permission from the local planning authority in this instance.”

In response to the request for a pause, the Network Rail representatives at the meeting wouldn’t commit to this but said they would consider this request internally and come back with a response, hopefully in the next few days. Stephen said that he would be happy to meet Network Rail again at a time of their choosing.

Network Rail expressed a willingness to undertake more meaningful dialogue with local residents and Stephen suggested that the proposed pause would enable them to have these conversations and address issues of concern.

Network Rail committed to providing contact details for a senior colleague who will be able to liaise with the residents at 21 Moor Lane whose almost-completed house sale was scuppered by news of the compound plans.

During the meeting, Stephen was able to obtain some details of the proposed compound’s layout and operation.

  • The proposed compound is one of a number that Network Rail have established or are planning to establish to support the line upgrade work. Ideally they need to be no more than 1.5km apart. To the north of Moor Lane they will have a compound at the Model Railway site off North Lane, and to the south they will have a compound off Tadcaster Road near Copmanthorpe
  • The compounds all need to be on the same side of the tracks, as it is the two lines nearest to the field that are being upgraded. This is why Network Rail discounted using land near the new Askham Bar P&R site, as it would be on the ‘wrong side of the tracks’
  • Network Rail said that that they have been in touch with Yorkshire Wildlife Trust about impacts on Askham Bog
  • Network Rail is setting up a ‘logistics hub’ elsewhere at which as much of the ‘build’ work will be done as possible, with materials then being transported to their compounds
  • The compound surface will have a stone dressing and will be surrounded by a two-metre high metal fence
  • Trackside work will be done during daytime and at night, for which they will use ‘task lighting.’ This work will include ‘sheet piling’
  • The compound will be lit with ‘tower lights’ with hoods, multi-directional lighting will not be used
  • There’ll be parking on site for up to 15 cars
  • The Network Rail representatives at the meeting weren’t aware of any traffic safety impact assessment having been undertaken, but said they would come back on that point

Separately, Stephen has contacted the council’s Public Protection team to alert them to residents’ concerns about the potential for nuisance and disturbance to be caused by the compound’s operation.

Councillors call on Network Rail to pause Moor Lane compound plans

Liberal Democrat councillors for Dringhouses & Woodthorpe have called on Network Rail to pause controversial plans to establish a compound on land on Moor Lane in Dringhouses.

Residents and councillors were notified on Friday 19 February by Network Rail that they planned to establish a compound to support the programme of work on the line between York and Church Fenton from March 2021 to February 2024. Network Rail say that it would be used to provide access to the railway, to store materials and machinery and to house staff welfare facilities.

When asked whether they had secured planning permission for the compound, Network Rail responded that “The Moor Lane construction compound benefits from deemed planning permission granted by virtue of Part 4, Class A of Schedule 2 of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015. Therefore, the compound does not require planning permission from the local planning authority in this instance.”

Network Rail’s plans have already had an impact on the local community. The residents at 21 Moor Lane were due to complete their house sale, however, after informing the buyers of the proposed compound, the buyer pulled out citing this issue as the reason.

Local councillors have demanded a meeting with Network Rail and have called on them to pause their compound plans.

“Residents and councillors are completely in the dark about how this compound will operate. We have no clue how the risk of disturbance to neighbouring properties will be managed, how site traffic will be managed and what other sites were considered before choosing this one” said Cllr Stephen Fenton.

“Network Rail say that they don’t need planning permission, but that is no excuse for riding roughshod over the concerns of the local community. These plans need to be paused so that residents’ legitimate concerns can be addressed.”

Network Rail to establish compound on Moor Lane

Local councillors have received an e-mail from Network Rail advising that they are to establish a temporary compound on land off Moor Lane next to the railway line, which will be in use from March 2021 to February 2024.

Compound location

The compound will be used to support the programme of work on the line between York and Church Fenton, which relates to the Transpennine Upgrade. This will provide more capacity and faster journeys between Manchester Victoria and York, via Leeds and Huddersfield.

The site will allow Network Rail staff safe access to the railway and will also be used to store materials, machinery and essential welfare facilities.

Network Rail is sending letters to nearby residents in which they state that whilst measures will be taken to keep noise to a minimum, some level of disruption will be unavoidable. Network Rail has committed to keeping disturbance levels as low as possible.

Local councillors have requested a meeting with Network Rail to get more detail on the measures that will be put in place to minimise the impact on neighbours.

Winter weather impacts on road surfaces

The winter weather has taken its toll on a number of local roads, where potholes and deteriorating road surfaces present a hazard to all road users.

Local councillors are lobbying the council’s Highways team to fill in the multiple potholes that have appeared on Alness Drive after an initial response stated ‘no action required.’ Some potholes have since been marked for repair, but others have not.

Alness Drive potholes

It is a similar story on Moor Lane between Cairnborrow and Eden Close, where there has been a dramatic deterioration in the road surface over recent months. As well as potholes, large sections of the highway previously ‘surface dressed’ have crumbled, leading to a thick layer of debris accumulating by the kerbside. This poses a particular hazard for cyclists.

Moor Lane potholes and crumbling road surfaces

Councillors will continue to undertake regular inspections of roads and footpaths and report repairs where they are needed. We would encourage residents to notify us of any we may have missed.

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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22 Highmoor Close York YO24 2UG

Erection of detached dwellinghouse following demolition of existing attached garage to 22 Highmoor Close

Ref. No: 20/01338/FUL 

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10 Miterdale York YO24 2SX

Single storey rear extension

Ref. No: 20/01341/FUL 

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7 Eden Close York YO24 2RD

Two storey side extension and single storey rear extension and new 1.8m high boundary fence to side boundary with Spey Bank.

Ref. No: 20/01349/FUL 

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86 Middlethorpe Grove York YO24 1JY

Single storey rear extension

Ref. No: 20/01324/FUL 

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105 Middlethorpe Grove York YO24 1JX

Two storey side extension

Ref. No: 20/01299/FUL 

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61 Moor Lane Acomb York YO24 2QX

Erection of single storey extension extending 4.0 metres beyond the rear wall of the original house, with a height to the eaves of 2.7 metres and a total height of 3.0 metres

Ref. No: 20/01108/LHE 

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

The Council now no longer routinely consults neighbours by letter when an application is received

Clarification over Moor Lane road works

City of York Council has clarified that Moor Lane in Woodthorpe will NOT be closed whilst works are undertaken to remove cats eyes and apply a surface dressing.

A sign had appeared at the roadside suggesting that the road would be closed on Tuesday 28 April between 9am and 7pm. This is not correct and the sign is to be amended.

Incorrect sign

The council has now confirmed that the cats eye removal work will take place on Tuesday 28 April between 6pm and 9pm, and that the road will not be closed. In order to carry out these works safely, the use of ‘Stop / Go’ traffic control boards will be used whilst works are taking place to manage lane closures, together with the use of a lead vehicle convoy system to guide traffic past the works at a safe and constant speed.

A press release issued by the council stated that ‘resurfacing works’ would be undertaken on Sunday 3 May between 9.30am to 11am. The nature and extent of the works has now been clarified following a request from ward councillors. We are advised that a ‘surface dressing’ will be applied to the road surface. ‘Stop / Go’ boards will again be in use.

We have asked that whilst these works are being done, the opportunity is taken to sort out the very deep potholes on Askham Lane just before the A1237 roundabout.

Resurfacing boost for Moor Lane

City of York Council has announced that the stretch of Moor Lane from the ring road roundabout to Cairnborrow is to be resurfaced in November.

The news comes after residents and local Lib Dem councillors raised the deteriorating state of the road, particularly on the bend.

The works will commence on 25th November for a period of 3 nights (weather permitting) and works will be carried out between 7.30pm and 5.00am.   In order to carry out these works safely the use of a temporary road closure from the ring road to the junction with Cairnborrow will be necessary. A clearly signed diversion route will be set out for through traffic.

Update on Moor Lane housing appeal

Further details have been made available about the appeal against the council’s refusal of planning permission for 516 homes to be built on land off Moor Lane next to Askham Bog.

The Appellant has submitted further information for consideration by the Planning Inspector in the form of an Addendum to the Environmental Impact Assessment, which can be viewed on the council’s website HERE

Planning officers at the council have confirmed that all of the comments and objections submitted by residents earlier this year will be forwarded to the Planning Inspectorate so that they can be considered by the Inspector when determining the appeal. So there is no need for residents to resubmit the same comments previously submitted.

Any residents who want to modify or add to their earlier comments can do so online HERE before 2nd October. All representations must quote reference APP/C2741/W/19/3233973.

The Inquiry will begin on 12 November (venue to be confirmed) and is scheduled to sit for 12 days.

Moor Lane applicant appeals against planning refusal

City of York Council has received notification from the Planning Inspectorate that the applicant for the Moor Lane planning application (18/02687/OUTM) has appealed the Council’s decision to refuse the outline permission for up to 516 residential units.

The Planning Inspectorate has notified the Council that the Inquiry will start on 12th November 2019 and it is anticipated that the Inquiry will sit for 12 days.

The Council will send notification of the appeal to any person who was notified or consulted about the application and any other interested persons who made representations.

If however the representation was part of a petition, each individual on the petition will not be notified by the Council.

Cllr Stephen Fenton at Askham Bog with YWT’s Louise Wilkinson and Alastair Fitter

Cllr Stephen Fenton commented “This is disappointing news, but not surprising. The application was refused by the Planning Committee unanimously on the basis of a very thorough report which set out clearly why the proposed development is completely inappropriate due to the impact on Askham Bog and local infrastructure.”

“The Yorkshire Wildlife Trust mounted a fantastic campaign to save Askham Bog which attracted over 7,000 signatures. The campaign will go on until the threat to this site is defeated once and for all.”