As well as keeping in touch with residents through our regular FOCUS newsletters, we are also now posting local news stories on our Facebook page rather than via this website.
You can keep in touch with us via Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/WestfieldWardLibDems
You call call us on 01904 337757 or email the team –
At this time there are many residents who will be concerned for their own situation, and also nearby people and businesses. Please contact your neighbours if you have not already done so, respecting that some may already be self-isolating and so initially by phone or letter.
If you are not already part of a group involved in the response then you can volunteer by emailing volunteering@york.gov.uk or telelphoning 01904 551550.
Those vulnerable residents who do not currently have any access to support, but who need help because of impact of COVID-19, are asked to email our Community Support Coordinators at covid19help@york.gov.uk or call 01904 551550 for assistance.
Updates are regularly being posted onto the Council’s website
https://www.york.gov.uk/coronavirus
The council is seeking to maintain essential services, although there may be changes to the way that the council operates in response to staff shortages due to self isolation or sickness. Please check the council website for more information or email
Cllr.awaller@York.gov.uk Tel01904 337757
Cllr.shunter@York.gov.uk
Cllr.Sdaubeney@york.gov.uk
There will be a report to the Executive Councillor for Economy and Strategic Planning on 14th August which is an information report on the current systems for business rates and the support for small businesses, charities and sports/community groups (e.g Scouts) who get business rates relief. More information is available via the link to the council website.
https://democracy.york.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=735&MId=11427
There has been regular discussions in the city from various groups and businesses on changes which might be made, and any comments that businesses would like to make would be welcome as part of a longer process leading into the council budget process for 2020/2021. Some changes that might be wanted would require national government to change the regulations.
Council officers have indicated that the £200,000 programme for part of Gale Lane to be reconstructed will take place in November. It is currently programmed to take place on 18th Nov – 22nd Nov 2019 working 9.15am – 5.00pm under a full road closure with diversions in place. Civil engineering and drainage works will take place the week prior and will be carried out under local traffic management with the road being open to traffic. Councillors are continuing to press for the whole road to be ultimately reconstructed as it is in poor condition across the whole length.
We are also seeking confirmation that the council will take this opportunity to reinstate the pedestrian crossing island at the end of Tudor Road at the junction with Gale Lane as this is a very wide road to cross which will become busier once the new housing on Lowfield is constructed. This was the subject of a petition from local residents which Cllr Andrew Waller handed in at the March Full Council meeting.
Due to the amount of construction work going on within the ward the next Ward Committee will focus on enabling residents to get an update and to pass on any issues arising from the works from Lowfield, Newbury Avenue, Lincoln Court, Windsor House/Centre of Excellence. The session from 6:30pm will be an opportunity for residents to speak on a one to one basis with councillors, officers or the police before the meeting starts at 7pm.
After two delays (caused by poor weather) to the work, repairs on Wetherby Road started on 20th June with the worst affected parts of the road (mainly the sections at the side of the carriageway) being tackled. There will be further road closures (weather permitting) for surface dressing on 23rd and 24th June (09:00 – 16:00) which will finish the planned £52,0000 work. Westfield Ward Councillors will continue to take up residents concerns about the need in the long term for full reconstruction of the road (as will be happening later in the year in parts of Gale Lane) due to the amount of heavy lorries which use the road.
Work has started on the Ascot Way developments at Lincoln Court and Windsor House/Centre of Excellence this weekend. Ward Councillors Simon Daubeney and Andrew Waller visited the site on Saturday to see the work in progress and speak to the team from Sewells. The first phase is to build the connecting road tarmac road and temporary car park (surface to be made from crushed rubble) next to the Multi Use Games Area (MUGA) with the portacabins shortly going on the MUGA. This should mean that all parking connected to the construction is on site, and not on surrounding roads, we will be watching for this as it had been a major headache with the Hob Stone Development which had not been thought through before embarking on the project.
A letter should have been received by nearby residents (see below) with similar letters going to parents of Hob Moor Primary and Hob Moor Oaks Schools. We have already been in touch with the council project team and the Sewells Team to establish links for future questions.
Councillors asked for additional information to help residents understand what is going on. This is summarised in the multi coloured chart which shows that there should not be any noisy works on Sunday, and no work on Monday. Councillors will be checking and have spoken to nearby residents.
The school holidays had been selected for this work, and there is some other works going on with an electricity cable on the school fields near the Moor for which we have asked for more information.
Regrettably we understand that large plant will be coming in from Gale Lane along Kingsway West which as there has not been the work to provide parking laybys to open up the narrow roads for this work is not what was asked by councillors when the petition was presented to Full Council. Having seen the damage to verges in Newbury Avenue and Dijon Avenue due to council led developments we are pressing for a change of approach now that there is a new administration.
Please get in touch if there are any issues.
There are free activities at St Aidan’s Church on Ridgeway for young people and families. From a successful launch the new timetable has been released by St Stephen’s and St Aidan’s Parish.
Why not try it out ?
Cllr Hunter has reported the water leak on Gale Lane/Thanet Road near to the pedestrian crossing at the closed end of Kingway West. There is a large amount of bubbling out and accumulating close to the junction.
The Liberal Democrats return 3 councillors for Westfield !
Many thanks to everyone who supported the Liberal Democrat team in the recent elections (York counted on Friday and we were in the later section of the count which is why it has taken so long – but it was worth the wait with an increase in our share from 47% to 57%). Great to see so many people come out and brave the rain. We are working out way through all the issues taken up during the campaign ! We will be in touch soon.
Westfield Ward
Liberal Democrats (Votes)
Andrew Waller 2048
Susan Hunter 1870
Simon Daubeney 1653
Labour 945, 870, 836
Independent 316
Green 288, 245, 226
Conservative 178, 174, 144
Turnout 35.3%
