Bishopthorpe News and Views

Any improvements to the village are good news. The people who spend their own time to improve life for us all have to be praised. However, what about the pinfold and the state it is still in? My point here is that any project has to be thoroughly thought through and planned properly to save something like this happening again. Regarding pavements, at least the Sim Balk Lane pavement is safe and away from the road. The pavement leading away from St Andrew's Church is narrow and slopes towards the road. Cars drive fast and close towards you. I wonder if anybody who actually makes decisions in Bishopthorpe has walked down this path with a buggy?

All very interesting but my first question is who is “The Newshound”? It may be a personal preference but I think putting a name to an article always makes it more credible! So as Chairman of Bishopthorpe Parish Council let me put my point of view: 1. “Wards get a small amount of money to spend on local schemes” This is perfectly true – but it is your money paid for by your Council Tax. This money is allocated to the whole Ward and therefore people who live in Bishopthorpe may not get their proportion back – it could be spent in Wheldrake or elsewhere in the Ward. At least with your Parish Precept you know the money will be spent for the benefit of your village! 2. What has been done specifically in respect of Bishopthorpe? Good question – but unfortunately the answer is as far as the Ward Committee is concerned NOT A LOT! especially when the best you can achieve is: 2.1. “still in the pipeline” speed restriction for Ferry Lane; 2.2. a “lighting design” for the part of Sim Balk Lane outside the village boundary is “ongoing”; 2.3. a “feasibility study” on Sim Balk Lane, again outside the boundary, to improve the perfectly good path for cyclists and pedestrians; 2.4. a Capital Fund to complete the above is “ongoing” – part of this was to ask the Parish Council for up to £10,000 – We could not see the benefit and refused. 3. All in all just as well the Scouts got their £2,000. They had of course previously received £1,000 from the Parish Council and £4,000 from the Millennium Trust towards the purchase of a minibus. 4. As far as the Parish Council is concerned we have spent over £11,000 on projects in Bishopthorpe during the last 12 months – over and above our routine expenditure to improve and maintain the fabric of the village. This includes: 4.1. Over £4,000 on improving and promoting Sports and Leisure activities; 4.2. £2000 on installing the Speed Warning signs; 4.3. Over £1,500 refurbishing the War Memorial; Down to 4.4. £120 on Christmas Lights and; 4.5. £70 on Flower Baskets. 5. So looking towards next year: 5.1. The Parish Council have committed the money towards a new Litter Bin outside the Pinfold if the Ward Committee turns down the request. 5.2. The Parish Council have commissioned Cycle Racks for the shops on Acaster Lane and also installed one at the Village Hall. 5.3. The Parish Council have also pledged £3,000 towards the Tennis Club for resurfacing work following their agreement to offer free practice sessions to the young people of the village. But good luck to them in the bidding for a further £3,000 – the tennis club play a vital part in providing sporting facilities for all in the village. 6. I agree it may be useful to go to the meeting at Wheldrake - there could be a discussion on the usefulness of Ward Committees and perhaps ultimately a reallocation of their money to the respective Parish Councils! 7. But if you really want to save on your carbon footprint come along to any Parish Council meeting – on foot of course! You will hear discussions about our commitment to: 7.1. refurbish the Village Hall; 7.2. structural alterations to the Sports Pavilion to accommodate the Playgroup; 7.3. improving the flood defences to protect the village; 7.4. providing a play area for the young of the village. Parish Council meetings are held on the fourth Tuesday of every month in the Village Hall when you will be welcome to contribute your views and ideas. Part Two! Phil thanks for the compliment! I think you will find that the Pinfold was a thoroughly thought out project or the Millennium Trust would not have got the full backing of the Heritage Lottery Fund. However, we discussed the current situation at the last Parish Council meeting and have decided to cordon the area off until we replace the damaged seats and investigate the drainage problem. If the seats had been treated with a little respect in the first place we would not have the problem but we are where we are! As far as the drainage problem is concerned you must admit we have had more than our fair share of rainfall lately and with a combination of the low lying surrounding area and foliage falling from the trees the drains need a thorough clean. Are you sure you weren’t at the last PC meeting? Because as I reported earlier we have refused to part fund improvements to the adequate footpath on Sim Balk Lane. However, we have written to City of York Council recommending that they use the funds to improve the footpath and include a cycle path form Main Street to join up with the one at the Law College. We have also requested that they fully extend the cycle path to meet up the one outside the racecourse. We believe there is currently confusion in this area and if the path was cleared back to the hedge it could easily accommodate both pedestrians and cyclist. Stewart Harrison

The addition of a (needed) cycle path over the bridge to York College involves I believe a wider marked path and the necessary permissions and I think this is what the City Council is looking at. The extension of a cycle path all the way up Bishopthorpe Road to the crossover by the racecourse would be excellent (look at the work done on the road leading up to the new park and ride on the way to Monks Cross on which I have yet to see a cyclist), and would improve safety for the many cyclists that use this route (given the poor standards of driving over it) and would be welcomed by our post deliverers too!

The Pinfold Re:Phils comments (29/1/08) may I suggest that the assertion that just because a project has not happened exactly as anticipated that it is somewhat the result of bad planning, is perhaps mis-guided. Having been involved in the inception of this project and still being still somewhat unexpectedly involved, I should perhaps make people aware of the facts. The Pinfold, as the centrepiece of stage 2 of the crossroads project, was the subject of widespread consultation with villagers at various events Gala etc and the concept achieved widespread support. Following this, a small but very dedicated team, including relevant professional expertise, as well as others with earlier experience of the Sensory Garden construction, was formed to bring the plan to fruition. This group also liased closely with the relevant departments at York City Council. Numerous meetings were held to discuss how the project would manifest itself with various options looked at focused by the need to keep to a timetable as the Heritage Lottery Fund provided the bulk of the funding. What resulted was I think by common consent a worthwhile enterprise. However what has happened subsequently have been a number of unfortunate circumstances. The first of these was the unexpected fact that it became a haven for anti-social behaviour, which has resulted in significant vandalism. The second related problem has been a very bad litter problem. Finally, there has been a problem with the drainage. If I can take each in turn: The level of vandalism was anticipated by no one, both within and outside the project. Despite much effort on the part of various concerned groups, the police (who in my opinion have done all they can) the Parish Council, other members of the project and unconnected but concerned villagers, no solution has been found. This is no implied criticism of anyone but merely serves to illustrate that it is often easier to outline a problem than solve it. Various solutions are being considered including improved lighting, which I am pusuing, but despite my efforts, I have had no meaningful correspondence back from the City Council. Litter – a bin, which is the obvious solution has been vigorously chased by the Parish Council (since July 2007) and despite being promised by the City Council in September has not materialised and only now is up for discussion at the forthcoming Ward Committee Meeting. In the meantime, I along with other un-named villagers continue to clear up litter there on an informal basis. I would like to thank those who do this unsung work. Drainage – is currently being investigated. However, it has hardly been helped by our record January rainfall, after all much grander organisations than ours have been caught out by this. So I hope that you can see that rather than being some well intentioned but ill thought out effort a great deal of time, planning and effort went into this project and continues to go into it and it will come right! However, I do agree wholeheartedly that the small group of villagers who do help to make our locality a better place deserve great praise. But, their numbers are small and additions are always good. It is hoped that Crossroads 3 will soon materialise, can we look forward to your active participation Phil, which would always be welcomed?

It's great to see a bit of debate on Bishopthorpe.net. Local democracy makes this healthy. A political argument (Ward Committee V Parish Council) makes an interesting read! As for my 'active participation' on the crossroads 3 project Liam - If I were not Vice Chair of Bishpthorpe Infant School then it would have been a yes. Sadly I will have to decline your offer. Phil

Phil Your energy is just what we need on the next phase of the Crossroads. Surely being Vice Chair of the Infant School doesn't preclude you from giving help to the next stage?