Agenda and minutes

1.1       Residents had the opportunity to talk to Cllr John Galvin, Cllr Christian Vassie, Cindy Benton and James Hunt (Neighbourhood Management), Michelle Watling (Street Environment), Richard Beale (Planning and Sustainable Development), Howard Watson (Highways Development) and the Safer Neighbourhoods Policing Team.

2.1    Cllr John Galvin welcomed residents to the meeting.

2.2    The minutes of the last meeting were agreed and signed.

2.3    It was agreed to take the item on Terry’s planning application before the Safer Neighbourhoods Team update.

A revised planning application has been submitted for the development of a mixed use scheme on the former Terry’s factory site and there will be two representatives from the council to discuss the proposals and answer any questions.

Richard Beale talked through the revised planning application and pointed out its main features to the residents. He also explained where copies of the application are available for viewing (Internet, council office and A3 fact sheets).

There was then a long discussion concerning traffic, the main points being:

3.1             A computer modelling system had run a series of predictions to establish projected increases in traffic levels.

3.2             Projected figures still need to be signed of by City of York Council.

3.3             Residents concerns were noted about the impact of traffic on the local infrastructure.

3.4             Concerns were raised about parking allocations and the likelihood of overspill onto residential streets.

3.5             Richard Beale stressed the point that York is trying to become a green city and that parking and traffic levels had specific policies that applied to try and encourage the use of public transport.

Questions were then raised about road use and planned routes for traffic to the Terry’s site.

Q. How will this route be policed?

Cllr. Galvin: You can’t really enforce a route on someone. However this is not the developers fault this is the responsibility of the local authority.

Q. In 2021 the junction of Church Lane and Bishopthorpe Road will be over its capacity to manage traffic. Will a round about be put in when the Terry’s site is developed or will the local authority wait until the problem has happened?

A. We have not heard about this, perhaps you could contact highways to discuss this.

An update on policing within the ward and an opportunity for residents to raise issues and ask questions.

Sgt Andy Haigh gave an update on Crime and Community Safety issues in the ward.  The following points were noted:

4.1             Overall in Bishopthorpe crime was up, actual figures a rise from 90 crimes to 111.

4.2             Auto crime has risen from 4 to 21, this was due to one man breaking into 7/8 cars in one night. He has subsequently been arrested and sentenced.

4.3             Burglary dwelling is down from 6 to 4.

4.4             Burglary other is down from 13 to 12.

4.5             Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) is up from 100 to 108.

4.6             Overall Bishopthorpe and Wheldrake are low crime and ASB in comparison with the majority of York.

Sgt. Haigh then went on to talk to the residents about making official statements and reporting crime to the Police. Sgt. Haigh used a recent example from Bishopthorpe where a woman agreed to give a statement and the suspects were arrested charged and prosecuted. Sgt. Haigh stressed the importance of being willing to stand up to ASB and petty criminals and giving evidence against them.

Q. Was there an arrest over the fire on Ferry Lane?

A. No, sadly there was not enough evidence.

Cllr. Galvin: At the end of the day unless there is real and strong evidence nothing  will happen, you must be prepared to stand up and give statements.

Sgt. Haigh: We can impose strong conditions on bail and convictions i.e. banning someone from the area, putting them on curfew etc.

Q. What progress is there with policing speeding and using speed cameras?

A. None, filling the 95 alive forms and send them in.

Q. We have been told to stop sending them in because they have too many, who are we supposed to listen to?

A. Head Quarters prioritise areas for speed enforcement. We are only allowed to use our speed guns in those areas and Bishopthorpe is not one of them. The only way this can be influenced is through the forms.

Residents asked Sgt. Haigh to pass on their concerns.

It was also noted that in some towns and villages the road markings are  selectively not painted back on the roads. This creates uncertainty for the driver and they automatically slow down.

Q. In the paper it mentioned responsible citizens being trained to use speed guns and record number plates. Would that happen in this ward?

A. We are not aware of this and from personal experience know there is a great deal of bureaucracy and red tape around being trained to use speed guns.

Q. Re you not allowed to pull into lay-bys and do random speed checks anymore then?

A. No we’re not, we can only police speed in areas designated by HQ.

Q. Following on from the article in the newspaper we were asked quite a while ago to forward names of responsible citizens to the Parish Councils and then onto the Police for training in the use of speed guns, what is happening with that process?

A. It has been  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

This is your opportunity to find out more information about the scheme suggestions included in the Your Ward newsletter. If you have made a suggestion that is included in the list this is your opportunity to make sure everyone has the information they need to make an informed decision.

Cllr. Galvin asked for support, views and opinions on the proposed scheme suggestions.

Representatives of the following schemes spoke:

1,6,7 and 14

Q. There are a number of scheme suggestions for young people but little happens in Acaster Malbis, where can I get funding to pay for activities?

A. Contact the Neighbourhood Management team at City of York Council and they will help you find funding for projects.

Cllr. Galvin: Bishopthorpe Parish Council funded the URBIE bus this year, so speak to Acaster Malbis Parish Council and they may be able to help.

Cllr. Vassie: Wheldrake shared the cost of Street Sport York sessions with the Parish Council and it proved highly beneficial.

This is your opportunity to discuss local issues and concerns with your ward councillors.

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