The latest planning applications show that the former HSBC Bank on York Road (junction with Severus Street) will be changed to being into a four bedroom house.  The formal application is for the conversion of the ground floor from the previous bank as part of the overall works.

https://planningaccess.york.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=documents&keyVal=P0JMYYSJ0CD00

Westfield Ward

Ref No: 17/02912/RFPRES
Location: HSBC 19 York Road Acomb York YO24 4LW
Proposal: Change of use of ground floor from bank (Use Class A2) to 1no. dwellinghouse (use Class C3) under Class M(a), Part 3, Schedule 2 of Article 3 of The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 2015
Applicant: Mr D Micklethwaite
Contact Walker Graham Architects
Consultation Expiry Date 5 March 2018
Case Officer: Elizabeth Potter Expected Decision Level

Work has started on electricity cabling in the Front Street, and Green Lane areas to respond to the problems that were experienced recently with explosions from electricity connections at Gateway (October 2016) Sandwich Hut (Dec 2016) and Acomb Explore (June 2017).

There will be three stages (dates are approximate and may be brought forward if progress is made to reduce the amount of disruption)
1. (pink on map) Pedestrianised part of Front Street/Acomb Court 5/2/18-16/2/18
2. (yellow on map) Cross Street to connect to a main cable (this will involve work in York Road out of peak traffic hours) 19/2/18 – 3/3/18
3. (orange on map) Green Lane along to the end of Milner Street 4/3/18 – 4/5/18 this will provide new connections for the terraces which will enable their power supply to be more resilient (residents will remember that they were without power during the October 2016 incident).

The benefits are that this will respond to the problems that have been experienced and it is good to see Northern Powergrid following up on the commitments that they made last September, and that this work has been prioritised following pressure from Andrew to the Director of Safety, Health and Environment, Geoff Earl due to the serious concerns from local residents.

We will also see the council paving slabs in Front Street being reset, and the crews have given a commitment to come back if settling causes any issues (it is worth noting that the area in front of the shops are the responsibilities of the landlords for those buildings)
The work being done at the end of the terraces will ensure that the risk of loss of power is being reduced.

Andrew said “I met with the crews, led by Merlin Kalanovic,  doing the work on Wednesday and they provided details and maps to explain what was happening. I hope that residents will appreciate why this work is being undertaken, and that it is responding to problems that the community has experienced. Communications with Northern Powergrid have improved a great deal since last year when there were delays in getting information from them. I hope that the work proceeds smoothly, and I have contacted Talk Talk to ask that the UFO works on cabling are able to dovetail with this work as residents are facing a large amount of utility work in our community.

See below letter from Northern Powergrid following a meeting in Front Street to discuss the fire that had resulted from the fault in front of Acomb Explore

The Ultra Fibre Optic cabling by Talk Talk will be coming to the following streets ;

If thee are issues then please call the free care line on 0800 542 8073, open 7 days 8am – 8pm where a dedicated team will assist you

WC: 5th February proposed works begin in the following streets:
FIRST PHASE: installing street ports and in some streets cabinets at the same time, road crossings
St Stephens Square
Dijon Avenue
Grange Lane
The Reeves
Barkston Avenue
Bramham Avenue
Hotham Avenue
Parker Avenue
Ridgeway
Rylatt Place
Askham Lane
Thoresby Road
Lowfields Drive
The Reeves
Askham Grove
Robinson Drive
Vesper Drive
Walton Place
Westfield Place
Gale Lane
Barkston Avenue
Bachelor Hill
Kir Crescent

SECOND PHASE: narrow trenching
Lydham Court
Hinton Avenue
Invicta Court
Vincent Way
Walker Drive
Rogers Court
Burgess Walk
Danesfort Avenue
Middleton Road
Stuart Road
Alness Drive
Ganton Place
Eaton Court
Beagle Ridge Drive
Fir Heath Close
Huntsmans Walk
Maplewood Paddock
Slessor Road
Tedder Road
Hatfield Walk
Tedder Road
St Stephens Road

WC: 12th February proposed works begin in the following streets:
FIRST PHASE: installing street ports and in some streets cabinets too, road crossings
Askham Grove
Askham Lane
Branton Place
Bramham Grove
Barkston Avenue
Chapelfields Road
Chapelfields Road
Barkston Grove
Barkston Road
Hammerton Close
Barkston Close
Hessay Place
Grange Lane
The Wandle
Bramham Avenue
Bramham Road
Grange Lane

The Liberal Democrat councillor team have been checking up on roads and the spate of weather induced potholes. A particularly dangerous serious of potholes have opened up on Foxwood Lane these have been reported (see photograph with Cllr Sheena Jackson). The ones reported on Front Street have now been repaired, cycling around the area we spot a large number and make sure that they are filled in to protect cyclists and motorists alike. If you see any that need attention then please let us know.

Cllr Sheena Jackson with potholes near Acorn Rugby Club on Foxwood Lane. A large number from the shops to this stretch have been reported.

Front Street deep pothole repaired

Repair complete by Acomb Explore Library

Following the recent issues with regards to pressures at York Hospital which has been similar to the situation at others up and down the country Cllr Andrew Waller, Interim Deputy Leader of City of York Council has been following up what role the council can do to help the  situation as a key partner. Some local residents in Westfield were caught up in the postponing  of some operations in January which resulted from these pressures.

York Hospital

Cllr Waller said;

“I have discussed the situation with the Chief Executive and Chief Operating Officer of York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust with regards to joint working to overcome the barriers and challenges in our local health and social care system which have been particularly apparent in the well-documented pressures experienced this winter. There are services and areas which must be included in the Council Budget for us to play our part.”

“Winter Pressures have resulted in some operations being postponed for January, and delays in discharges with people staying longer in hospital when they could be at home with care and support. This is a national situation but we must demonstrate local solutions which will provide lasting solutions for future years.”

The meeting at Hob Moor School on the evening of 15th January to start the public consultation on the proposals for a Centre of Excellence for Disabled Children saw presentations on how  the local  development could support the local community. The proposals are very much supported by Hob Moor School, and staff, governors, and parents were in attendance to detail how this would help to support the work of Hob Moor  Oaks Special School (although the age range for users of the facility would be up to 18). The decision will be going to  the Executive meeting on 25th January (with the report being published on 17th January).

Residents were also able to see the plans for the five bungalows which will be the subject of a planning application for the current Newbury Avenue garage area (this had been reduced from overdevelopment of the site with a three storey 9 flat apartment block).

A meeting with residents of Lincoln Court will be taking place on Thursday, and concerns have been raised by Liberal Democrat Ward Councillors to ensure that the deferred repairs and maintenance (particularly to windows) are implemented along with a clear plan to move the boiler system from Windsor House into  Lincoln Court. Concerns  were raised about making sure that the pressures on parking in the area are not made worse with the new development.

Concerns were also raised from residents in Woodford Place about ensuring that the building works did not coincide to put even more pressure on the narrow road network.

The centre will replace the current facility “The Glen” and two parents explained how that service had helped them and their children and how parents and future users of the centre had been involved in developing the plans (even before a specific location had been identified).  There would be 8 care beds in the new centre compared to previously 28 occupants at Windsor House – in answer to questions raised by residents about additional traffic movements.

Newbury Avenue bungalows plans

Presentation on proposals for Centre for Disabled Children and their families

Cllrs Andrew Waller and Sue Hunter

Location for the new building which would not be as close to Ascot Way road and would  move back into part of the school field (only a very small section would be built on with the majority of the area being open space) Architect design for the new building which would be mainly single storey

Repairs and new windows needed in Lincoln Court

The Westfield Lib Dem Ward Council team have been out checking salt bins in the area to make sure that they are ready should there be future snow and icy spells this winter. We have reported a number to be refilled (more than half were still full or had recently been refilled). Some salt bins which had been axed under Labour were brought back through ward committee funding – such as those in Front Street – are paid through the Ward Funding and others are refilled  through central budgets. We have reported the bins pictured below in Beechwood Glade, and Kingsthorpe and also in the following locations;

Parker Avenue at the bottom of the hill

Bachelor Hill (empty)

Outside 188/190 Askham Lane junction with Cornlands Road

Ward Funded salt bins

Front Street outside of  Acomb Explore (this had been replaced by the Ward Committee after the previous one was damaged during the electrical fire in the pavement)

Front Street – junction with Grove Terrace leading up to St Stephens’ Church

Outside Westfield School (jointly run with the school)

(Please  get in touch if there are any which have become empty since our inspections)

During the recent snow we did support the residents at Gale Farm Court who are currently without a warden by clearing a path in the snow  and putting down grit salt.

Gale Farm Court