The Yorkshire Marathon will be taking place on Sunday 9th October starting at 9:30am. The route will start and finish at the University of York and complete a loop through York City Centre, Stockton on the Forest, Upper Helmsley, Sand Hutton, Gate Helmsley, Stamford Bridge, Dunnington, Holtby, Murton and Osbaldwick.
Full information on road closures and the route can be found by clicking this link: Yorkshire Marathon Road Closure Poster
Speed humps have been repaired in Danesfort Avenue and Kingsway West. Updated signs have been put up for the closure of Windsor Garth which will now happen between 30th August and 14th October. The road which has deteriorated with the Hob Stone Development in recent years is now to be brought back up to standard, something that your Lib Dem councillors have been pressing for since their election in 2015. There is already a shortage of parking in the area, and even construction vehicles have been using the verges, so we have asked that whilst the roadworks are being done that additional parking (like the existing matrix covering used on Ascot Way is rolled out to this area) is put in to the area to help the situation after the Hobstone development is occupied.
We have asked that the operator for the number 24 service makes it clear when the bus will be re-routed, and that the bus stop is marked out again outside Radford House.
Residents contacted Andrew to sort out repairs to the speed humps on Kingsway West close to the chicane, and on Danesfort Avenue. These have now been completed.
Before on Danesfort Ave
After repair Danesfort Avenue
Kingsway Road hump before repair
Repaired Speed hump
We have taken up residents ‘ request for the bus stop markings to be repainted.
On Windsor Garth signs have gone up to indicate no through road from 15th August, for road resurfacing connected to the Hobstone development however, having checked with the council’s Highways Teams this is premature. It seems that this may be the case from the end of the month, and so we have asked for more accurate signage, and clarity on what will happen to the number 24 bus route. This has is in the past been re-routed through Ascot Way (but bus users need to know when so that they can be on the right road). We have also asked why it is taking 6 weeks, when we find out we will post this.
Liberal Democrats have launched a campaign against the undermining of council housing by Central Government which could cost York £455 million.
The Conservative Government, under the recently passed Housing and Planning Act, will force higher-value council homes in York to be sold-off in order to fund national policies. Research from the charity Shelter estimates that 1,432 houses in York (18.3% of the total stock) could be sold under this policy with the majority of the sale receipts being passed to the Government.
Earlier this year, City of York Council officers said the sell-off and other national reforms could mean income for the authority will over the next 30 years “at best be reduced by £340m, and at worst £455m…..(and as a result) It is likely that any future building programme for new council homes will need to be significantly reduced or ended completely”.
York Lib Dems are calling on the recently appointed Housing Minister, Gavin Barwell MP, to rethink the plans, and have launched a petition which can be found at: www.yorklibdems.org.uk/housing. In 2011, Liberal Democrats in York ensured the building of the first council houses for two decades and will continue to argue that there is a future for social housing going forward.
Cllr Stephen Fenton, Liberal Democrat Councillor for Dringhouses & Woodthorpe, said:
“The Conservative Government is intent on destroying social housing. Over 1,000 homes could be sold-off in York under these reforms, without the guarantee of building new ones to replace them. This will hit people on waiting lists, in desperate need of a home.
“The reforms could also cripple the council’s finances. As council officers warned earlier this year, this could make building new homes practically impossible as well as make looking after existing homes harder and harder in the coming years.
“Liberal Democrats believe that access to decent and affordable housing is a fundamental right. We are calling on the newly appointed Conservative Housing Minister to rethink the plans and protect council housing in York. We have launched an online petition at: www.yorklibdems.org.uk/housing.
“We will continue to fight to get the best outcome possible for the city. Tenants will want to know what the impact of Government policy will be so that they are fully informed on how future finances could look. As Lib Dem councillors, we believe that any possible changes resulting from this in the way that council housing is managed in York should only go forward with the agreement of tenants.”
Front Street is getting some resurfacing work on 14th, 15th and 21st August (technically large patching) soon in two parts over three separate days. There will be a road closure (rather than one way working with lights). Your ward councillors have been pressing for this work to take place for some time as the road surface has been very uneven.
However, officers have tried to limit the closures so access to Front Street is maintained for residents and businesses. A signed diversion will be in place during the hours of the works for through traffic.
Map of Front Street for road repairs
Over 800 residents have signed a Liberal Democrat petition calling for action to fix pavements in Front Street to help those who use wheelchairs and mobility scooters get to the shops.
Westfield Lib Dem Councillor Sue Hunter launched the petition in March after concerns about uneven and damaged paths on Front Street in Acomb. Cllr Hunter says there is a patchwork of different surfaces and levels with a number of broken flagstones and kerbstones. This is causing particular issues for elderly residents and those who use wheelchairs, pushchairs and mobility scoters.
Much of the pavement is privately owned, so the campaign has been calling on local business landlords to work alongside City of York Council. The petition is part of a wider campaign by Westfield Lib Dem councillors to support Front Street and help regenerate the area. 822 residents have signed and the petition will be presented to Full Council this Thursday by Cllr Hunter.
Cllr Sue Hunter, Liberal Democrat Councillor for Westfield, commented:
“I have been overwhelmed by the reaction to this petition and would like to thank all those who have signed. The response shows how big a problem the paths are and how vital it is to get something done. The response also reveals how much residents and local businesses care about Acomb and want Front Street to thrive.
“I have spoken to a number of local people who have suffered falls because of the poor condition of the paths and struggle with wheelchairs, mobility scooters or walking frames. I hope all groups can now work together to take action.
“Improving the paths is part of a wider campaign to support Front Street and encourage residents to shop locally. The work of the traders group Acomb Alive is continuing, including organising the successful Acomb Market last month. We are aiming to create a real buzz in the area to rebuild the community life that Acomb village once had and the area could have again.”
New children and family centres will be set-up to improve support across York under plans to be discussed by the Executive next week.
In recent years there has been more support for families in our area which don’t take place in Children’s Centres (such as groups for parents and toddlers at Foxwood Community Centre and Sanderson House). Also the council has since April taken on responsibility for health services to pre-school aged children, and so is making sure that these services are linked in to supporting local families.
The proposals could also help Westfield School to make more use of the buildings of the current Westfield Children’s Centre.
The Executive paper brought forward in March 2016 set out the principle of a wider remit for children’s services and early intervention, to be underpinned by the development of place based teams, working across York, to bring together a range of joined-up family services, in addition to the statutory requirements of traditional approaches. The consultation programme, which ran from the 18th of April to the 25th of May 2016 asked residents for their input on how best to:
The end result, following the input from almost 1,000 residents, will see three Local Area teams based at the council’s nine current children’s centres, but reaching beyond these centres to deliver services to families. Under the plans:
The council’s provision for older children and adolescents will see a revised offer with Local Area Teams working alongside Adult Services and Community and Voluntary Sector partners. In order to ensure that this remains city-centre based, services including counselling will be relocated from Castlegate to Sycamore House. Capital investment is planned for the Clarence Street site as well as the principle of additional reinvestment of any capitol receipt from Castlegate.
Cllr. Ashley Mason, Liberal Democrat spokesperson for Education, Children & Young People, said:
“After listening to the results of the public consultation, we think these changes will improve the range of support services on offer to children and families across York. The new centres will be able to offer a more joined-up approach and develop a wider range of family and community activity in each local area. We are committed to working with partners to ensure that all children and young people can get the best start in life and are able access to the support they need. This is why enhancing the 9 local centres and maintaining the city-centre offer for young people are both so important.”
The paper is due to come before the full Executive on the 14th of July.
There are a large number of activities going on at Acomb Explore for children this summer, and the Summer Challenge 2016, will be celebrating 100 years of Roald Dahl
https://www.exploreyork.org.uk/children/summer-reading-challenge/
Here are some of the events happening;
Residents living the former Lowfield School site had been interested to find out on 25th May that the Tees, Esk and Wear Valley Trust had included the site as one of 12 potential locations for a new Mental Health Hospital for the city.
As councillors had not been informed about this Cllr Andrew Waller wrote for further clarification from the Trust, and the response was given that “we would be happy to discuss this in more detail with your and your colleagues if the site does become a shortlisted option. We anticipate that the public consultation process will be considered by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee in July with a detailed consultation plan included as part of this process.”
The Westfield Ward Team will keep residents posted as there will separately be a report coming to the City of York Council Executive on 14th July with proposals for the site.
