Police appeal for information about Woodthorpe burglaries

North Yorkshire Police have issued the following call for information via their ‘Community Messenger’ service after two daytime burglaries in Woodthorpe.

“We have received the following two reports of burglaries in Woodthorpe in York. Between 13.15pm and 18.15pm on Wednesday 20th November a property has been broken into on Deepdale and items taken. If you have any information that could assist officers with their enquiries can you please call 101 and quote incident number 12190213779.

Between 10.20am and 14.20pm on Wednesday 20th November a property on Ryecroft Avenue has been broken into and items taken. If you have any information that could assist officers with their enquiries can you please call 101 and quote incident number 12190213583.

Can we ask you to please be vigilant and report any suspicious behaviour straight away. If you need further security advice please visit our website https://northyorkshire.police.uk/staying-safe/home-security/

Residents have their say on Number 12 bus woes

Local Lib Dem councillors have delivered a leaflet across Woodthorpe, Acomb Park and Foxwood asking residents for feedback on the number 12 bus service.

We have received a large number of e-mails and phone calls from residents who are exasperated by the increasing unreliability of the service. Many have noted that more people would be inclined to use the service if they could rely on it.

We are compiling all of the responses received and will be discussing with First and Transport officers at the council what can be done to improve the situation.

Update on number 12 bus service

At the beginning of September some changes were made to the number 12 bus service which meant that from early evening it no longer served Alness Drive / Acomb Wood Drive / Bellhouse Way, but instead turned around in the layby on Moor Lane.

A further revised timetable was published recently which was due to come into effect from 29 September. This would have seen the Alness Drive / Acomb Wood Drive / Bellhouse Way section of the route removed altogether. It would also have seen some Monday to Friday peak time journeys operate as the service 12A, with these journeys not serving Askham Bar Tesco.

These route changes will not now go ahead, following discussions between First, local councillors and council officers and as a result of additional funding being made available via an Officer Decision.

In addition, the evening number 12 service for Alness Drive / Acomb Wood Drive / Bellhouse Way has been restored.

The economic viability of the Alness Drive / Acomb Wood Drive / Bellhouse Way part of the route will be kept under review, and local efforts will be made to encourage more residents to use the service.

A new timetable for the number 12 service will come into effect from 29 September, and it is available HERE  

The number 12 service will continue to go around the ‘Woodthorpe loop’ (Moorcroft Road / Acorn Way / Ryecroft Avenue / Grassholme) on both the outward and return journeys.

Another change coming into effect is that the 500 Sunday service between Woodthorpe and the city centre via Bishopthorpe is being re-named the 11s.

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.

Fresh hope for Woodthorpe Post Office

The Post Office has announced its intention to open a branch in the McColls store on Moorcroft Road, a few doors down from the former Post Office branch which closed earlier this year

The proposal is now out to consultation Here, with a closing date of 18th September.

News of the relocation plans will come as a boost to local residents who have missed having this local facility. Over the summer local Liberal Democrat councillors collected a petition calling on the Post Office to reinstate counter services.

‘Handyperson’ sought for Woodthorpe shops area

The owner of the area at the front and rear of Woodthorpe shops on Moorcroft Road is looking for a handyman or woman to keep the area tidy. This is a paid position.

Initially because the area is in need of quite a bit of attention, there would be a few days work up front. It would then need a couple of hours every week or fortnight to sweep and keep on top of the weeds.

If anyone is interested, please contact Cllr Stephen Fenton on 07751 963215 or email cllr.sfenton@york.gov.uk and he will pass your details on to the landowner.

What’s on – York City FC kickabout for Woodthorpe youngsters on 24 July

Woodthorpe youngsters are encouraged to come down to the Green on Wednesday 24th July for a kickabout with the York City FC Foundation.

The 10-11am session is for boys and girls aged 6 to 9 years and the 11-12 session for those aged 10 to 13 years.

This is the first of a number of sessions that are being funded by the Dringhouses & Woodthorpe and Westfield Ward Committees.

Moor Lane housing application – planning officers recommend refusal

City of York Council planning officers are recommending that the application to build 516 homes on Green Belt land off Moor Lane in Woodthorpe is refused.

The recommendation will be considered at a meeting of the council’s Planning Committee on Thursday 11 July at 4.30pm at West Offices. Members of the committee will decide whether or not to accept the officer recommendation for refusal. Members of the public can attend the meeting in person and it will also be webcast.

The planning officer’s report recommending refusal is published on the council’s website HERE

The report concludes that the proposal by reason of its location within the Green Belt would constitute inappropriate development in the Green Belt as set out in Section 13 of the National Planning Policy Framework.

It notes that the proposal would result in a detrimental impact on the rural landscape, harm to the Askham Bog Site of Special Scientific Interest, impacts on education provision in the city and potential for significant impacts on  the transport network and highway safety.

It states that the benefits put forward by the applicant  do not either individually or cumulatively clearly outweigh the totality of this harm and therefore do not amount to very special circumstances necessary to justify the  proposal for the purposes of the National Planning Policy Framework.

On Tuesday 9 July at 10.15am Planning Committee members will visit the new Askham Bar Park & Ride site (west / railway side) from where they will view the application site and Askham Bog. Residents are welcome to attend the visit if they wish.