Bishopthorpe News and Views

Yesterday   - New Year's Day - this site recorded its ten thousandth visitor to the home page.

Happy New Year to all its Readers!  

Those of you who enjoy the racecourse, have you noticed the barriers leading towards the finish line? These are to 'encourage' us not to walk or run (as I do) where the horses run, to avoid 'damage' to the course. I know this as I have spoken to the head groundsman. What a cheek! I know that I have size 11 feet, perhaps if I was size 20 then they would have a point.....talking of damage to the racecourse...what about the TARMAC track they are building around the inner edge of the course?? In my opinion this will vandalise the racecourse. I wonder what Bishopthorpe Parish Council think?

Phil

City of York Council has made the TV headlines with its current consultation on how to make cuts in its budget from this April.

It has provoked a number of reactions - it does not matter what we say; where is the background information needed in order to make a judgment; what a good idea; and, we elected councillors to make these decisions and if they can't they should resign!

You may get a questionnaire through the door, or you can look at it online starting here. What it says is that the Council has a shortfall and it proposes a number of new things to spend money on or to make savings on. We are asked to choose from the options presented, and give some reasons.

It is not made clear at all what the information will be used for, and you can see that it would be perfectly possible to organise a number of response from like minded individuals that might give a false picture. Our answers cannot be considered a scientific response, but will perhaps show councillors what might be least popular (when it comes time to vote).

For Bishopthorpe residents there are ideas that will affect some but not all, and have a local impact or not. Its tough making decisions so how do we judge what is best? Christmas lights and a firework display - or more recycling and money for voluntary groups?

York is one of the worst funded councils in England, and it still needs to reduce by £1 million. This is driven by central government, that also wants us to have a bigger say in local affairs. On their terms it seems.

Forget waterworld and head for the SWIMfold here in Bishopthorpe. A great place to meet and swim with your friends.

On a more serious note though, what has happened here? Was drainage part of the planning process or is the drain just blocked?

Phil

Signs have gone up announcing the closure of Bishopthorpe Road this Sunday from 10.00 to 10.30.

This is to accomodate the Brass Monkey Half-marathon that is organised by the Knavesmire Harriers.

Traffic in to the city will be diverted via Church and Sim Balk Lanes and up Tadcaster Road.

The one affectd bus will be diverted into town from Main Street thence via Church Lane to Sim Balk Lane and up Tadcaster Road. The incoming bus will follow a similar route via Church Lane to Acaster Lane. All normal stops will be covered.

Bishopthorpe has a slightly above average number of elderly residents, and with increasing life expectancy this will grow.

Age Concern commissions research and reports on all sorts of topics for older people, and one of its recent interests covers the issue of neighbourliness in communities. Bishopthorpe has been said to be a friendly and neighbourly place, and some of the research information was gathered here.

Two meetings were held, one with a group of older folk at Vernon House, and one with a group of other residents brought together through local contacts (another was held in Shipley too). Now the resulting overview has been published as An enfolding community? neighbourliness and older people.

It says for instance that 

Local policies - for instance in the provision of amenities or the design of streets – which are not ... older-person friendly, are unlikely to be conducive to neighbourliness. 

More creative thought needs to be given to the ways in which older people can be needed in neighbourhood roles.

All neighbourhoods need neutral or ‘third’ spaces – community centres; micro-parks; benches; street corners that are clean and safe to stand and chat; bus stops; the ground floor lobby area and dedicated community rooms in a tower block; coffee shops, libraries and post offices – places that are safe for lingering or resting, which are ‘escapable,’ but where people may be more prepared to hover in conversation, and connections with others can be lightly refreshed and maintained.

We can't find the report on the Age Concern web site so you can download a copy of the report from here.

At present (18th January) the C1 bus service (Askham Bar Tesco to Tadcaster via Bishopthorpe) cannot follow its normal route because of flood obstructions near Bolton Percy Cricket Club and between Bishopthorpe and Acaster.

From Bishopthorpe towards Acaster, the route is as normal until Acaster Lane. The C1 enters Acaster Lane, turns right either into Montague Rd. or Ramsay Avenue and continues via Maple Avenue. It then travels via Appleton Rd. to Acaster.

From Bolton Percy, it goes via Colton to the A64, and thence to Tadcaster.

Keble Park residents should be aware that the C1 does not pass Keble Park along Acaster Lane so long as the flood signs are displayed.

Ian   

For some time, with the support of Councillor John Galvin, I have been pressing for improvement to Bishopthorpe bus stops. New stop signs were erected but until now the timetable cases on most stops remained blank.

I am grateful to First York, who have now put timetables for the No.11 service into the cases.

Several stops still need C1 timetables, but Harrogate Travel may be reluctant to do anything until they know whether this useful but subsidised service is to continue beyond April. 

We have at last received Questionnaire copies (see Martin's earlier entry about this) and have the opportunity to press the City Council for subsidised services to continue. 

As well as all C1 journeys, Evening and Sunday buses on the No.11 service depend on City Council subsidy.  

Ian 

The annual run through Bishopthorpe celebrated its 25th year last Sunday. Sadly I could not be there to take some pictures for Bishopthorpe.net.

But I did Phil - 

http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/audiovideo/sport/display.var.1980059.0.0.php

There is also a video to watch,

http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/audiovideo/sport/index.var.15853.0.0.php

Perhaps I will enter next year!

Phil

I could not help but feel better as I walked down Sim Balk Lane this morning with the sun shining!

But what effect does the sun and different weather conditions have on our lives? After a little Internet research, apparently...

Our bodies can react differently to the weather depending on our age, sex and how fit and healthy we are. This is all linked to our 'endocrine' system, the system of glands, which are part of our hormones linked to pain, stress and the weather. One in three people are thought to be sensitive to different weather conditions. The old, young and the chronically ill suffer more, and women are generally more sensitive than men.

Taken from http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/weatherwise/living/ 

Phil

Each year the City wards get a small amount of money to spend on local schemes. Hitherto these have been put forward by individuals and groups and appear annually on a 'voting' form distributed with the ward newsletter.

The current year's schemes were debated at a meeting in February last year, and it is worth noting what has been done specifically in respect of Bishopthorpe.

• A speed restriction  (to 20MPH??*see below) - or perhaps a speed restriction sign for Ferry Lane - is still in the pipeline (although if we are to consider the need for this, perhaps we should be having a blanket 20 MPH throughout the village).
• The Scouts have received £2000 for a vehicle trailer.
• A lighting design from Bishopthorpe village across the bridge up to York College site boundary on Sim Balk Lane is 'ongoing'.
• A feasibility study into improving and extending the existing path from Bishopthorpe Village to the junction of Sim Balk Lane and Tadcaster Road for cyclists and pedestrians has been completed.
• Capital fund to carry out work on Sim Balk Lane as recommended by above schemes is described as 'ongoing'.

For next year more schemes have been recommended: they include  pathway improvements, lighting, a bin, cycle stands and a bus shelter, and a substantial in Ward terms grant to the tennis club for re-surfacing.

All of this can be talked about at the next Ward meeting on 12th February at Wheldrake (perhaps we can have a Ward-funded minibus to get us there and save on carbon!). For example, just what is a Neighbourhood Action Plan, how is it made and by whom?

It is worth noting that that the City council is currently consulting on a new set of proposals for the Ward Committee Application process. Again it would be worth asking what any proposed changes will mean in practice.

* 20 MPH - see a story here.