The council is holding a public drop in session for the development of the Lowfield Care Village land and Playing Fields Housing Estate at Acomb Explore on 7th February between 4:30pm and 7pm.

Residents surrounding the site should have received the letter below detailing the event, along with a letter regarding tree felling. Please let us know if yours has not arrived.

The Westfield Councillor team have put questions to officers following enquiries by residents from the surrounding area;

Question 1. We would be grateful to understand what is being planned for the public meeting ?
This will be an informal drop in event held on 7th February at Acomb Library with the project team comprising of CYC, project managers from Turner & Townsend, Lead Architect from BDP & the enabling works contractor, NMCN). This event is an opportunity for the project team to discuss the enabling works which we expect to commence mid-to-late Feb with local residents and allow them to meet the contractor and discuss any queries they may have. In summary the enabling works will comprise of the following: tree maintenance and removal (duration 2 weeks commencing mid-to-late Feb), site clearance and the crushing of existing school foundations (duration 4-6 weeks March – early April), formation of the Tudor Road access & widening of Dijon Avenue (duration 6 weeks April – late May).

Question 2. As the nesting season is mentioned in one email, details of the work involved with hedge and tree removal?
All works to trees are hedgerows are to take place in February prior to nesting season. The works will take place in accordance with the Arboricultural Method Statement and Tree Protection Plan. In preparation for the start on site the arboriculturist will meet with the enabling works contractor (NMCN) on site and clearly mark trees for removal.

3. Will the provision of replacement parking in Tudor Road (to compensate for the loss of parking due to the additional entrance to the Playing Fields Estate) be discussed ?
Yes, we are currently working with the design team to agree the location of replacement parking spaces that will be lost by the formation of the Tudor Road access. We aim to have the detailed design drawn up in the next 4 weeks to enable us to seek planning permission for these additional spaces. Our aim is to have these in place prior to the formation of the Tudor Road junction (expected April 2019) so residents do not suffer a loss of parking spaces. We have also submitted an application for 2 additional spaces to the rear of 108-110 Tudor Road and have kept residents informed of this work.

4. Will the provision of parking alleviation in Dijon Avenue be discussed as the large vehicles will simply not be able to get into the site without there being targeted work to tackle bottlenecks ?
We will discuss access into site for the enabling works. For site clearance works access will be via Dijon Avenue. Wherever possible all materials from the site clearance will remain on site until the Tudor Road junction is formed to minimise traffic through Dijon Avenue. The enabling works contractor NMCN is drafting a Construction Environmental Management Plan. This will detail the size of vehicles accessing the site via Dijon Avenue and will be approved by Planning prior to start on site. We are in regular contact with the Planning Officer regarding this. There will be no contractor parking on Dijon Avenue or any other surrounding roads during these works. All parking will be within the site boundary.

5. Will the procurement of the Care Home be detailed as it is anticipate that that would start next month ?
No this will not be discussed at this event however we will get an update from Vicky Japes prior to the event.

Councillors are very concerned that there is not an inclusion of the work on the Care Home as that had been the basis for the 2010 project to reuse the footprint of the Lowfield School with bungalows around whilst retaining the open space of the playing fields for recreation. Equally the land which in the planning application had been allocated for a Police Station is not going to see that use, as had been proven by correspondence with the Police and Crime Commissioner.