Tudor Road parking concerns and petition

Westfield Liberal Democrat Councillors have been pressing council officers to ensure that Tudor Road residents do not lose out any more than they need to when the council builds a link road to access the Lowfield Playing Fields Housing Estate.

A planning application has been lodged by the council for the new junction which will lead to the loss of the current three car parking bay. The application will create two parking areas behind 108 and 110 Tudor Road. However, councillors have pressed the council to ensure that there is no net loss as Tudor Road is a clearway and has  no on-street parking options.

Details of planning application

Proposed junction

Cllr Sue Hunter at the current parking bay

In response to the pressure from councillors council officers have today announced that they are looking to create three new single bay parking areas further along Tudor Road. These are dependent upon finding locations away from trees, utilities and other restrictions. So far other departments within the council have not objected but there have been instances of long delays on other parking bays in the ward and so councillors are being vigilant.

Proposed replacement parking (salmon coloured sections)

 

Residents will have the opportunity to see these plans at a Drop In Session which has been arranged following requests from Ward Councillors. This will take place at the Gateway Centre, Front Street on 5th March between 4pm and 7pm.

Councillors have launched a petition following requests from residents that there are improvements to the Tudor Road area and in particular the junction with Gale Lane where crossing is already difficult and will be made more so with the increased traffic from the new estate.

Open public meeting on proposals for the developments at Lincoln Court and former Windsor House

 

Residents are invited to attend a drop in session to discuss the proposals for the Lincoln Court enhancements, and the development which has been proposed on the former Windsor House site with a centre for Disabled Children and their families. The session runs from 4pm to 7pm on the 19th April to allow residents the time and access to attend. However, if any resident is unable to attend and has questions then these can be passed through to Cllr Andrew Waller (tel 337757)

 

Meeting to discuss Fracking

Many residents will have become interested in the prospect of fracking or shale gas extraction coming close to York. The Government have divided the areas of the country where the geology is appropriate into licence areas (PEDL).

As there have been a large number of questions put to Cllr Andrew Waller as Executive Member for Environment for this subject a meeting was held with INEOS on 28th February with Tom Pickering (Operations Director) and Gordon Grant (Regional Stakeholder Engagement Manager) with a council officer present. There is currently an Inspector reviewing the Minerals and Waste Strategy for York and North Yorkshire which will partly govern the operation of this activity – although the Government has legislated for this to be “permitted development” and so only limited powers exist for local authorities in terms of Planning.

PEDL Licence areas

 

The meeting was a follow up to one in November 2016 at which the programme for activities were discussed, and the way in which the public would see planning applications, and activities on the ground.

In the draft Minerals and Waste Strategy (as part of the Local Plan) a buffer of 500m between fracking and housing has been proposed the discussions indicated that this is going to be a subject of discussion at the Inquiry. Some residents have asked for a greater distance.

As York’s surrounding countryside is relatively flat there are concerns that in the Green Belt that fracking construction would be more visible. The response was that in the lifetime of a well the rig would be present for 3 months or so, the longer lasting equipment would be less intrusive. There will be a debate at the inquiry about what is acceptable on the skyline.

Some residents have asked what the gas will be used for, with some suggestion that this will be linked to plastic production – the answer was until the test drilling is done the composition of the gas is uncertain. A methane only gas supply would be most often used for electricity generation, with only ethane and butane being potential for plastics.

Residents are concerned about water use and outputs. The response was that the initial uses would be for cooling and lubrication and so would be carried away by tanker. It would only be in the long term future that it might be carried by underground pipework for treatment. The need for additional treatment plants to the existing one in Leeds would be driven by the scale of the operation.

In terms of the length of time after the test drilling that the public would see an application for the next stages the processing of data, and baseline monitoring before activity there might be a period of 6 months to a year before a full application was made into the local authority planning process. This may be for an application for vertical and horizontal drilling at the same time to prevent the need for a subsequent application.

There have been questions raised about the number of fracking pads in a 10 km square, and the proposed limit of 10 pads in this area will be something which will be a subject of discussion during the inspection.

In terms of the PEDL area which includes Strensall it was agreed that a statement will be prepared by Gordon Grant. The area which includes the Minster and large built up areas is not being progressed.

Work continues with the old Coal Board Surveys which will be supplemented where necessary with seismic surveys to gain an evidence base. The public applications are expected to be applied for before August 2018 depending on other work around the country which is being done at the same time.

 

 

Letter from INEOS

Latest Planning Applications for Westfield

Westfield

Applications which are current are available via https://planningaccess.york.gov.uk/online-applications// for residents to comment upon

Ref No:      17/00039/FUL

Location:   7 Kir Crescent York YO24 3DF

Proposal:   Single storey front, side and rear extensions

Applicant:  Mr John Langley

Contact      Mr Andy Sykes

Consultation Expiry Date     13 February 2017

Case Officer:      Elizabeth Potter  Expected Decision Level     Delegated to Officer

Ref No:      17/00050/GRG3

Location:   Westfield Primary School  Askham Lane York YO24 3HP

Proposal:   Erection of cycle shelter

Applicant:  Mr Richard Corner

Contact      Property Services

Consultation Expiry Date     20 February 2017

Case Officer:      Sharon Jackson Expected Decision Level     Delegated to officer

 

 

Latest Planning Applications for Westfield Ward

Westfield

Weekly list of planning applications received between 2nd – 6th January 2017
Ref No: 16/02830/FUL
Location:      176 Gale Lane York YO24 3AE
Proposal:      Single storey side and rear extensions
Applicant:      Mrs Tina Woof
Contact Mr Mark Druery
Consultation Expiry Date        30 January 2017
Case Officer:  Carolyn Howarth Expected Decision Level (Not given)

Ref No: 16/02845/FUL
Location:      131 St Stephens Road York YO24 3EE
Proposal:      Conversion of dwelling into 2no. dwellings (retrospective)
Applicant:      Mr Antony Mason
Consultation Expiry Date        30 January 2017
Case Officer:  Heather Fairy  Expected Decision Level (Not given)

 

Comments from residents can be made online

https://www.york.gov.uk/info/20050/planning_applications/93/search_planning_applications

Progress with Lowfields Carehome but concerns over open space continue

At tonight’s Executive meeting http://democracy.york.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=733&MId=9308 of the council there was progress made towards the provision of a Carehome on the former Lowfield School along with homes for elderly residents which have been called for by Westfield Ward Councillors in response to local residents’ requests. The proposed development on the school field has been of concern to local residents, along with a proposed new junction coming in off Tudor Road.

Pressure has been made for more information to be made available to residents in relation to the Police office, GP surgery, and Self Build proposals. The Westfield Ward team will be following this up.

All proposals would still need to go through the planning process which will give a further opportunity for residents to make representation.

Cllr Waller has represented Westfield residents views tonight and made the following comments;

Speech to Executive on 7th December 2016

Reference to Lowfield Development

The provision of elderly care and housing for older people on this site on the footprint of the school is not in question – this has been welcomed and I am pleased that representations made to the Calling In Committee on 16th March 2015 claiming that this location was unsuitable for this scheme has been reversed.

This proposal does at least redress the previous imbalance of provision which was weighted towards the East of the city with the Burnholme site.

However, during the consultation many concerns were raised about many other aspects of the plans. This is reflected in the petition we have received which many local residents have signed which has asked for consideration of the local plan revisions when reviewing the development of the former school field.

After lobbying from myself and my ward colleagues, the report now attempts to address a few of these issues. The changes are highlighted in Recommendation B.

It is important that there is consideration of the way that the development is laid out, especially as there are many more houses on this than consulted on in the local plan. This follows significant concerns from residents in Dijon Avenue.

I am very surprised that I have had to give stronger representation of residents’ concerns about the need for  a clear commitment tonight that the plans will prevent a ‘rat run’ being opened up between Tudor Road and Dijon Avenue.

I would also like to see further information provided on self-build housing – the report includes extra information, but this needs to be communicated to residents. We need to be clear to them that this will not be a building free-for-all. We have all seen the ongoing problems with the 2 years of development in the Our Lady’s School site which has seen a disregard for limits on delivery times, pressures on narrow roads and a number of issues which still need sorting out. This is not the only regard with which this development appears to mirror what happened over the Our Lady’s School site.

As one of the ward councillors, my aim over the coming weeks will be to make sure that the extra work promised in this report is delivered.  There will also need to be clearer description on what the Police office move will have.  Equally residents will want clarity on what is happening with the GP practice and offices.

The proposal still needs planning permission – and this will provide residents with another chance to have their say on the final site layout. I will encourage them to do so.

As an Executive we need to listen, and we need to make sure that while delivering a scheme that brings citywide benefits, we also deliver a scheme that local residents can support, and that there are new safeguards on the actual process of development as this is causing a great deal of anxiety in the area.

Newbury Avenue Bungalows decision approved

The plans by the previous Labour administration to push a three storey development block onto the garage area off Newbury Avenue have been replaced following consultation with local residents by the new Council administration which is joint between the Liberal Democrats and Conservatives. Instead the Executive agreed tonight that 8 bungalows will be constructed (which will require to go through the planning process following the tendering for developers) This will assist people who want to ‘downsize’ whilst remaining in the area. Improvements to parking in the area is needed already, with the impending impacts of the 55 Hobstone homes.

At tonight’s Executive Meeting Cllr Waller said;

Newbury Avenue Garage areas

I am grateful for the time that the Leader, as Executive Member for Housing has put in to helping to progress this situation with council officers by meeting with residents with me as ward member.

Local residents felt that their views had been entirely disregarded by the previous council.

Across the ward I am frequently asked about options to move into bungalows so that people can stay in the area as they downsize, this will answer this concern and bring family homes into use.

It has utilised experience from the Discuss Bungalow replacement project in the East of the City which was a strong example of working alongside communities to develop a solution which has answered many housing needs, and I would like to pay tribute to Steve Waddington for his work in making sure that project continued at a time during the early credit crunch when others schemes were grinding to a halt.

The area has some three storey blocks of flats, and high density semi detached housing, but this is balanced by open areas, and in this case a low rise group of garages. Putting in a three storey block was overdevelopment, and this was recognised by the residents, and I hope by the executive.

Now whilst there has been some understanding of the need to provide housing, it does need to be considered in the context of being close to the Hobstone/Our Lady’s School development which seems to be a never ending building site.

There does need to be very careful consideration of how the development would be managed to ensure that there is not a repeat of the disruption that has been endured nearby are not repeated.

It is important to resolve the shortage of parking in this area, which will not be helped by the loss of these garages. The matrix parking system has been used in other parts of the estate, and with the restoration of the Estate Improvement Grant together with some of the ward funding which has been allocated for communal parking.

Getting this in at the beginning would enable residents to park whilst there is development work happening in this narrow road. Given the problems that have been generated by the Hobstone Development it is important to get this right , and as Newbury Avenue is a very narrow road it is worth doing this at the beginning of the process.

 

 

Planning Applications

Westfield  Ward list of planning applications received between 6th – 17th July 2015

Ref No: 15/01417/FUL

Location:       7 The Knoll York YO24 3EB

Proposal:       Single storey rear extension

Applicant:      Mr Tom Adie

Contact Mr Andy Sykes

Consultation Expiry Date        3 August 2015

Case Officer:   Sandra Duffill  Expected Decision Level DEL

 

Ref No: 15/01418/FUL

Location:       275 Chapelfields Road York YO26 5AE

Proposal:       Single storey rear extension

Applicant:      Mr And Mrs Dave Paine

Contact Mr Andy Sykes

Consultation Expiry Date        3 August 2015

Case Officer:   Carolyn Howarth Expected Decision Level DEL

 

Ref No: 15/01411/FUL

Location:       6 Lowfields Drive York YO24 3DG

Proposal:       Replacement shed

Applicant:      Mr Michael Mchaffie

Consultation Expiry Date        10 August 2015

Case Officer:   Carolyn Howarth Expected Decision Level DEL

 

Ref No: 15/01558/FUL

Location:       23 Gale Lane York YO24 3AB

Proposal:       Single storey front, side and rear extensions

Applicant:      Mr And Mrs Brian Henderson

Contact Mr Ian Dykes

Consultation Expiry Date        10 August 2015

Case Officer:   Carolyn Howarth Expected Decision Level

 

 

Letters are not automatically sent out to all surrounding properties

Planning Applications for Westfield Ward in the past two weeks

Planning Applications received in the last fortnight in Westfield Ward

Ref No: 15/00934/FUL
Location: 1 Barkston Close York YO26 5AX
Proposal: Two storey side extension and porch extension to front
Applicant: Mr And Mrs Pool
Contact Mr Jake Clay
Consultation Expiry Date 13 July 2015
Case Officer: Elizabeth Potter Expected Decision Level DEL

Ref No: 15/01229/FUL
Location: 51 St Stephens Road York YO24 3EH
Proposal: Erection of shed to rear (retrospective)
Applicant: Mr James Gumley
Consultation Expiry Date 13 July 2015
Case Officer: Carolyn Howarth Expected Decision Level

Ref No: 15/01286/FUL
Location: 90 Barkston Avenue York YO26 5BB
Proposal: Two storey side extension
Applicant: Mr John Campbell
Contact Mr Chris Allan
Consultation Expiry Date 20 July 2015
Case Officer: Elizabeth Potter Expected Decision Level DEL

Letters are not automatically sent out to all surrounding properties