Dropped kerbs have been installed to make it easier for cyclists and users of mobility scooter users to get around the local area.
Along Lomond Ginnel some dropped kerbs have been installed to create better access to and from this busy cycle and foot path from streets such as Girvan Close (pictured below), Dalmally Close and Helmsdale.
In addition, a dropped kerb has been installed at the end of Nevis Way to enable easier access through to Cairnborrow.
The work has been funded from the Dringhouses & Woodthorpe ward budget.
Liberal Democrat councillors representing the Dringhouses & Woodthorpe and Westfield wards are seeking an urgent meeting with the Managing Director of First York to discuss a sudden reduction in the frequency of some key services.
In a briefing note from the City of York Council’s Transport team, councillors were informed on 23rd August that First is making temporary ‘emergency’ service reductions on routes 1, 4, 6 and 12 from Saturday 28th August. The move has been prompted by a severe shortage of qualified driving staff due to the effects of Covid and Brexit.
The briefing note suggests that these emergency service reductions will be for 3 to 4 weeks initially, but adds that “even with First’s recruitment drive, the time taken to train new driving staff makes it likely that staff shortages will persist well into the autumn/winter, so this issue is likely to remain problematic beyond the initial 3-4 week timescale.”
The worst affected service will be the number 12, which connects Foxwood, Acomb Park, Woodthorpe and Askham Bar with the city centre and then on to Monks Cross. It will run every hour, rather than every 35 minutes. The frequency of the number 1 (Chapelfields to Wigginton) will reduce from 12 to 15 minutes Monday to Saturday daytime, with minor reductions to early morning and evening journeys. And the number 4 (Acomb to the city centre) will run every 20 minutes Saturday daytime, rather than every 15 minutes.
Stephen Fenton, Lib Dem councillor for Dringhouses & Woodthorpe, has written to First York MD Ian Humphreys asking for an urgent meeting to discuss the situation.
Stephen commented: “The number 12 provides a vital service for many residents in Woodthorpe, Acomb Park and Foxwood. Many users of the service are elderly residents, key workers and students who have no realistic alternative means of getting to shops, work or school. And with Woodthorpe’s GP surgery currently shut, the bus is a vital link for residents who are having to travel to the York Medical Group’s surgery in Acomb.
“We all know that the driver shortage, caused by Brexit and Covid, has had a severe impact on many sectors such as logistics and waste collections, and it is good to hear that First are taking steps to recruit new drivers. But I am concerned at the suggestion that residents are likely to face a much diminished bus service for many weeks – possibly months.
“At a time when we need to encourage more people to choose sustainable transport options, I fear that the loss of bus services will make this shift even more difficult to achieve and will hit hardest those residents for whom use of a private car just isn’t an option.”
Seating has been installed at two bus shelters in Woodthorpe served by the number 12 service. The shelters are on Moorcroft Road (near the shops) and on Ryecroft Avenue (opposite Carrfield).
York City Knights Foundation will be running some free outdoor activity sessions for local young people in west York over the half-term holiday. The dates and times are listed below.
Processes are in place to make the sessions Covid-compliant with spaces limited to meet current Government and RFL guidance, and as such booking is essential with limited availability. Once booked on, parents/ carers of participants are asked to download the Clubforce App which will help the Knights to follow Covid- 19 protocols.
Local councillors are lobbying the owner and leaseholder of the land around the Moorcroft Road shops to make some much-needed improvements.
The potholes in the car park at the rear of the shops are getting deeper and pose a real hazard to pedestrians, particularly during wet weather.
Residents have expressed concerns about uneven and rocking paving stones in the area outside the Dick Turpin pub, and the latest problem emerged on 25 September when high winds caused a number of branches to fall from the pine tree, with some others hanging precariously.
A resident has kindly put up some tape to secure the area. Cllr Stephen Fenton has contacted the landowner and leaseholder to request that they arrange an urgent inspection of the tree and for the hanging branches to be removed.
Stephen hopes to meet on site with the landowner and leaseholder in early October.
For some time the council has been giving consideration to measures to tackle inconsiderate and irresponsible parking on Moorcroft Road near to the GP practice and the dentists, which often leads to the number 12 bus getting stuck.
In February proposals for double yellow lines on both sides of Moorcroft Road were published and formally consulted on. The extent of the restrictions that were proposed is set out on the map below.
Council officers have reviewed the feedback received through the consultation exercise, and as a result are recommending a revised scheme that would see double yellow lines installed on just one side of the road, between number 34 and the GP surgery.
The recommendation will go to a Decision Session of the Executive Member for Transport to be held on 21 July at 9.30am. This is a public meeting that will be held remotely. The papers for the meeting have been published on the council website HERE – the recommendations relating to Dringhouses & Woodthorpe are at agenda item 5, Annex C.
At a public meeting organised by ward councillors on 18 February at Moor Lane Youth Centre, a number of suggestions were put forward by residents to help tackle problem parking. These are all being pursued:
– Liaise with the GP surgery and dentist to encourage them to alert their clients to the availability of two hours free parking behind the shops and put them in touch the owners of the car parks behind the shops about permit parking for staff
– Install a dropped kerb outside the GP practice to enable them to create additional parking bays in front of the surgery
– Install a ‘Two hours free parking’ sign on the lamp post at the entrance to the shops car park
– Install white H-Bars across the driveways of the high-numbered properties on Bramble Dene to discourage visitors to the GP surgery and dentist from blocking driveways
The double yellow line recommendations for the Pulleyn Drive / White House Gardens juncton and the Yorkcraft slip road are unchanged from those advertised in February. The proposed double yellow lines for North Lane are not recommended for approval after considerable opposition was expressed, but instead it is proposed to install a white ‘H-Bar’ marking opposite the private driveway leading to four properties.
On the back of some queries about the history of the rock that sits at the centre of the recreation space off Girvan Close, former councillor Ann Reid has provided some helpful background information.
When the nearby housing was given planning permission, this piece of land was allocated as a play area and the developers were supposed to equip it. Nothing happened until the council managed to secure some money from them so that they could do the work.
Objections to the site being fitted with play equipment were raised by residents and so the funds were instead used to landscape the area, fence it off and provide features for imaginative play. Hence the bamboo, the mound and the rock. Originally there were more stones along the ridge that looked a bit like a serpent and provided some seating. It was intended to be a dog free area.
At some point after 2003 ‘the serpent’ was removed following complaints about young people gathering on the seats and causing nuisance. Attempts to remove the rock were resisted as it is a bit of a feature and is not causing any harm.
Heavy rain and strong winds made an impact on Sunday 7th February, with ditches waterlogged and at least one tree down. Thankfully there have been no reports of damage to property.
Fallen tree on Nevis WayDitch at the rear of Coeside, which thankfully did not overtopAcomb Wood, near Acomb Wood Drive entranceAcomb Wood, between Alness Drive and Acomb Wood Drive
Incidents of dog fouling in Woodthorpe seem to be on the rise, despite additional litter and dog waste bin having been installed across the ward.
One resident has made their feeling very clear on one snicket footpath.
City of York Council is asking local communities to get involved in tackling the problem. Set out below is a briefing note which sets out details of a project that groups of residents can get involved with. Ward funding would be available to cover the costs of the project.
Aim of the project
To combat the growing incidents of dog fouling around York, to equip stakeholders and members of the public with information to help raise awareness and the means to report incidents and help tackle the problem at a local level.
Why do we want to do this?
There has been an increase in reports of dog fouling to Neighbourhood Enforcement both from members of the public and via Public Realm.
There is insufficient resource to carry out the amount of patrolling necessary to cover all problem areas and offences often take place at unsocial hours when officers will not be available to patrol.
In addition, patrols alone are not the most effective tool to deter people from allowing their dogs to foul; more local ownership of the problem is required – to be the eyes and ears of the community and make the offence socially unacceptable.
Scope of Project
The project will revolve around a package of information, guidance and free materials for dog owners, aimed at ward councillors, Parish councils, Resident Associations and community groups.
The package will include:-
Advertising Materials and guidance
100 “Its not a game” flyers for door to door delivery
Bespoke flyers/postcards for targeted campaigns by street
Information on School engagement to design a poster
Information on designing their own
Pricing and information for A4 lamp-post mounted aluminium signs
Free Merchandise
Supply of dog poo bags
Supply of hand sanitiser
Spray Paint
Intelligence Gathering
Monitoring report forms for information gathering
Local Maps – on request
Incident reporting booklets
Comprehensive instructions to help identify perpetrators and/or problem locations and times
The pack will provide a six-week campaign brief to help groups take a step by step approach to educating, engaging and enforcing the anti-dog fouling message.
Updated CYC webpages with dedicated info and downloadable resources, links to Keep Britain Tidy website, RSPCA…..
What is required?
Agree budget
Order merchandise
Order spray paint
Complete campaign pack information
Design intelligence reporting form
Design bespoke flyer / postcard
Design bin sticker – any bin will do
Design school poster brief
Create webpage
Decide on Twitter account #tag
Promote use of social media – Facebook and Twitter to raise awareness
