Labours traveller sites revealed

Secret report reveals Labour plans

One of the most controversial aspects of Labours Draft Local Plan for York was the propsed provision for Travellers.

Last year, some landowner’s spotted the opportunity to identify land for use by caravan dwellers but later withdrew them when the “Green Belt” designation of the sites had been undermined.

This happened at both Wetherby Road/Knapton (Showpeople) and Dunnington (Travellers).

The York council was then left with a shortfall of around 60 pitches. If they do not identify sites for them, it is likely that their Plan will not be supported by an Inspector at a Hearing in Public later in the year.

Behind closed doors logo The Labour Councils response was, typically, to table a report at the last minute at a Cabinet meeting held earlier in the week. The highly contentious proposals were not made available to the all party working group which met the previous week, effectively ruling out any chance of consensus on the issue.

Labour propose to establish new traveller sites at:

  • Osbaldwick – East of Metcalf Lane ST7
  • Huntington – North of Monks Cross ST8
  • Rawcliffe – Clifton Moor ST14
  • Heslington/Wheldrake – Whinthorpe ST15

All these are Green Belt sites.

The principal of housing development on them will be bitterly contested by residents at the public inquiry.

Even if one or two are approved (they don’t need to be as York has more than enough brownfield land to satisfy demand for the next 25 years or more) developers have said that the viability of these huge new housing estates would be jeopardised by the inclusion of traveller camps.

The Council should have included the new industrial areas that it has identified as potential sites for 2 or 3 small caravan sites. Travellers, perhaps more than any other group, typify the need for “live/work” units. Many are involved in salvage or surfacing work which is a use more appropriate for industrial areas. Others may require good access to schools. Essentially these communities need to have a choice of location to meet their differing needs.

The York Council has made a major blunder by slipping its proposals into the public realm in such a way as to avoid any debate.

The decision sheet from the meeting earlier in the week has been published.

The traveller paper is noticeable by its absence. (It has now been added but is very difficult to find and is not included in the “Newly Published” list).

Residents have a right of access to important papers like these.

It is another example of the Council ignoring its constitution and adopting a secretive, bunker mentality.

In the interests of openness you can download a copy of the paper from our web site by clicking here.

Latest Planning applications 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

—————-

Location:       154 Wains Road York YO24 2UD

Proposal:       Replacement garage

Ref No: 14/00826/FUL

Applicant:      Mr Thomas Nowell        Contact Mr Thomas Nowell        Consultation Expiry Date        13 May 2014 Case Officer:   Carolyn Howarth Expected Decision Level DEL

——————

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

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

York Council publishes Local Plan objections

Largest ever response by residents and businesses

The scale of the opposition, to Labours plan to increase the size of the City by 25% over the next 15 years, is now apparent as all the objections registered have been published on the Councils web site.

It would take someone weeks to read through even the summaries which have been provided.

These include sections on the proposed Moor Lane development, land to the rear of The Square and at the stables on Tadcaster Road. Dozens of objections have been lodged including one from English Heritage.

In addition to individual responses 21 petitions were submitted by residents.

Some commentary has been provided by officials but it remains unclear when Councillors will get the opportunity to debate the issues raised and, indeed when objectors will get the chance to make representations in person prior to the next draft being published.

The draft plan has already been undermined by the revelation a few days ago that, over the last 18 months, most planning permissions in the City have been granted on brownfield sites not identified for housing development in the Draft Local Plan published last year.

Chaloners Road development plans revealed

Chaloners Road development layout click to enlarge

Chaloners Road development layout click to enlarge

The York Council’s controversial plan to develop the garage area on Chaloners Road has taken a step forward with layout plans having been published.

The plans show a 3 storey block containing 6 flats, plus two houses, on the site.

The main criticism of the Councils plan had been its impact on the availability of parking spaces in the area, increased traffic, the dominating effect that a 3 storey building would have and its impact on the adjacent Hoggs Pond nature area.

The plans show an allocated parking space for each new property with one visitor space. No measures to address the needs of drivers displaced from the garages have been announced.

On street parking space in the area is very limited. and the dropped kerb and layby provision programmes have both stalled recently.

The plans suggest that 8 mature trees will be felled. A significant amount of land is allocated as a “compost area”.

A planning application is expected to be submitted and determined in May. Residents will be able to object to the proposals and are permitted to address the Planning Committee before a decision is made.

Chaloners Road development plans click to enlarge

Chaloners Road development plans click to enlarge

Breaking News – York Council abandons Traveller and Showman’s site proposals

 

The York Council is withdrawing its proposals to establish traveller sites at Dunnington and on Malton Road.

The Council is, therefore, still looking for sites for 59 pitches.

It has also confirmed that it will not allocate land on Wetherby Road (near Knapton) for use as a Travelling Showman’s Site.

It is still looking for a suitable Showman’s site but has reduced the requirement to 8 plots of which two would be accommodated by expanding an existing site at Elvington.

Details of the changes can be read by clicking here (Para 8)

Concerns still remain for the sites in question as their inclusion for development, in the first Draft of the Local Plan, has brought into question whether they will be retained in the formal “Green Belt” when it is adopted.

Tea rooms plan for Woodthorpe shops

Woodthorpe shops

Woodthorpe shops

Latest Planning applications 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

—————-

Location:       Kate’S Flowers Of Woodthorpe 55 Moorcroft Road York YO24 2RQ

Proposal:       Change of use from retail (use Class A1) to tea room (use Class A3) with tables and chairs to front pavement

Ref No: 14/00617/FUL

——————-

Location:       6 Weddall Close York YO24 1EG

Proposal:       Bay window to front

Ref No: 14/00714/FUL

Applicant:      Mrs Alison Wynne        Contact Howard Berry    Consultation Expiry Date        28 April 2014Case Officer:   Sandra Duffill  Expected Decision Level DEL

———————-

Location:       112 Chaloners Road York YO24 2TG

Proposal:       Single storey front and side extension

Ref No: 14/00768/FUL

Applicant:      Mr Steven Irving     Contact M T S Architectural Services    Consultation Expiry Date        28 April 2014Case Officer:   Carolyn Howarth Expected Decision Level DEL

——————

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

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

Local Plan – developers jumping the gun?

Freedom of Information revelation

The Council has admitted in a response to a Freedom of Information request that it is discussing building on green field sites on the outskirts of York before a new Local Plan has been agreed (or even discussed publicly)

Some of the sites are in the current Green Belt which is protected by a parliamentary directive.

Civil Service sports ground Boroughbridge Road, York

Civil Service sports ground Boroughbridge Road, York

Some applications are proceeding with undignified haste:

Application at Brecks Lane Strensall (now granted planning permission)

Scoping opinion for Monks Cross North

The council has admitted giving pre application advice for the following sites

Land at New Lane Huntington

Land at Church Balk Dunnington

Former Civil Service Sports Ground, Boroughbridge Road/ Millfield Lane –“currently invalid”

The Council now charges for pre planning application “advice”. It says that it does not reveal which sites it is giving “advice” on.

This means that residents and other interested parties are effectively precluded for the process and will only become involved when there is a “done deal”.

The York Councils approach to establishing a new “Local Plan” is little short of disgraceful. Residents who made a record number of objections to Labour’s plan have been kept in the dark about the process for nearly 9 months.

Meetings have been scheduled in April at which the views of landowners are expected to be published.

No timetable for dealing with residents objections has been set.

York Local Plan – confusion increases

No sooner had the agenda for York’s Council meeting – to be held next Thursday – been published, than meetings to discuss the Local Plan have appeared in the Council’s diary of events.

The Council agenda had included several questions critical of the delays, and lack of clear milestones, in the preparation of the Local Plan

Yesterday we reported that the Forward Programme of decisions – a legal requirement for all major issues – did not include any reference to an update of the Local Plan.

Residents protest against Local Plan

Residents protest against Local Plan

So far, residents have not even had an opportunity to speak out about Labours plan – announced a year ago – to increase the size of the City.

Now a mysterious “special” meeting of the Councils “Cabinet” has been scheduled for Wednesday 23rd April. The Councils web site has been amended today to say that;

“During the consultation additional information on sites was submitted by landowners and developers. Before making any final decision on sites to be included in the Local Plan, the Council would like to understand the public views on this additional information. Reports relating to this will be considered at the Local Plan Working Group and a special cabinet in late April and this will be followed by public consultation”.

Whether landowner’s comments will do anything to reassure residents about the Councils expansion plans remains to be seen.

The Council has still not published the 4000+ objections made by residents to the original plan.

Any new information is due to be considered by the (all party) “Local Plan Working Group”, a meeting of which has now been scheduled for Tuesday 22nd April. As this is the day before the Cabinet meeting, it is unlikely that the working groups views – much less any views expressed by residents – would be reported to a meeting which is taking place the next day.

Legally the Cabinet cannot take any decisions on “key” matters – like the Local Plan – without giving 4 months notice in their Forward Programme.

They have still not published a timetable of milestone dates which will lead up to the inevitable Public Inquiry into their plans, which is now unlikely to take place before next year.

Eden Project to discuss neighbourhood plans in York

The Eden Project is setting up camp in York this week to provide a series of sessions for communities that are involved in writing neighbourhood plans for their areas.

Neighbourhood plans are designed to guide new development andgive local communities powers to create their own plans and policies, and are being introduced nationally following new government rules with grants and support provided by Locality and partners RTPI, CDF, The Eden Project and others.

(more…)