Agenda item

·       Introductions

·       Selection of the Micklegate Planning Panel

·       Update on  York Station Gateway scheme

·       Update on York Walls in Bloom scheme

·       Have your say

1.    MAIN MEETING – WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS (19:00)

The meeting was chaired by Councillor Crawshaw who welcomed everyone and set out the housekeeping rules followed by the agenda. He also reminded residents that the meeting was non-political. He then introduced Jim Hill, Secretary of Micklegate Ward Planning Panel. 

 

2.    SELECTION OF MICKLEGATE WARD PLANNING PANEL (Jim Hill)

Jim Hill then provided a brief overview of the Micklegate Planning Panel.  The Panel consists of local volunteers who meet at West Offices on Mondays at 16:30 on a three-weekly basis to discuss and respond to local planning applications.  Anyone living or working within Micklegate Ward could become a member of the Panel and no expertise in planning is required. Planning applications vary in number and are generally circulated the previous Friday to allow members sufficient time to examine them prior to the meeting. 

 

There are four possible response options for the Panel:

 

·       Support

·       No objection

·       No objection (but additional comments made)

·       Object

Planning Panel does not get involved in lobbying by applicants and their comments are made based on the consensus view of the Panel. Panel members generally take it in turns to record comments and submit them to the Council. The responses are then recorded on the applications files and included in the Planning Officer’s report. Planning Panel Secretary however wasn’t sure how much notice the planning officers take of the Planning Panel comments.

In parishes the parish councils are statutory consultees on planning applications.  Planning panels were set up to give Wards in the city an opportunity to look at planning applications in a similar way, although Planning Panel comments are made in an advisory capacity. The existing members Jim Hill, Peter Thompson, Gill Dronfield, Helen Roberts, Tina Funnell, Nick Kay, Phil Joyce, John Cooke and Paul Hornby would like to continue in their role as Micklegate Planning Panel members. Jim stated that being a member of the Planning Panel is a great way to see what is happening in the ward and invited anyone interested in joining to speak with him directly, Ward Councillors, or the Community Officer.

Cllr Crawshaw thanked Jim and other Panel members for their work and added that it is very helpful to have input from them, as they look at issues from the local resident perspective.

 

3.    Clements Hall Local History Group

Councillor Crawshaw invited a member of Clements Hall Local History Group to give an update on their recent work and plans for the next year. The group meets at Clements Hall on a Friday evening every two months. The next meeting is planned for 24^th of January 2025, 7:30pm and will focus on discussion about history of Micklegate. The group will be gathering stories associated with Micklegate street in order to write a piece for inclusion in the local history book.  The group is looking for a treasurer and membership secretary to join the committee. Their meetings attract between 60 and 70 attendees and membership is only £5 per annum. Printed programme of meetings and talks over 2025 was shared with the meeting.

 

4.    Update on York Station Gateway Scheme (Murtaza Khaliq)

The Project Manager provided an update on the York Station Gateway scheme, the aim of which was  to create a new and improved gateway to the city. Recent project milestones include installation of piles and capping beams, demolition of remaining bridge structure, and completion of majority of drainage and groundworks. Work on aboveground features has commenced recently. Photographs on the PowerPoint show stone batter and capping beams that will later be covered with topsoil; kerb installation where the new cycle lane will be located and groundwork for new bus laybys. New bus stops will be completed before moving into areas with existing bus stops to facilitate their relocation. Two-way traffic will be maintained at all times during the works.

Once section 7 shown on the plan is complete, traffic will be redirected to this area, allowing work to commence in Section 11.

The following will take place before Christmas:

·       completion of gas diversion and decommissioning of the Gas Governor;

·       Yorkshire Water to carry out sewer works in mid-December;

·       continue with remaining groundworks;

·       completion of above-ground features, including kerbs and paving;

·       installation of street furniture such as lighting columns, bus shelters, ticket machines etc.

 

Works on footway down the side of Delrio’s Restaurant will commence in February 2025.

Work will move to the southbound side outside the Portico (Section 11) in March 2025.

Unfortunately, delays are unavoidable with projects of this magnitude with design issues and unforeseen buried services impacting on the project delivery timeline.

 

Residents were then invited to ask questions or make comments.

 

A resident asked when roads will be completed?  The Project Manager advised that efforts will be made to accelerate the works with completion expected in summer 2025.

 

A resident asked what material will be used to cover capping beams shown on the photograph.  The Project Manager advised that they will be covered with topsoil.

 

No further questions were asked.

 

At this point Cllr Crawshaw added that the round black plastic planters located by the bus stops will be relocated to the Nunnery Lane estate to provide facility for residents to grow herbs and flowers to brighten up the area.

 

5.    Update on York Walls in Bloom project (Liam Dennis)

The Project Manager outlined the scheme being jointly funded by the Green Corridors Project, the National Lottery Community Fund and sponsorship from local businesses. The aim of Walls in Bloom is to create more natural environment, improve pollinator habitat, increase sustainability, and offer stunning visuals.

Partnership with St Nicks enabled us to see how city wall ramparts can be managed in more sustainable end environment friendly way adapted to the changing climate.

The Station Road section of ramparts is most visible and undergone several changes over centuries from providing defences to grazing cattle, to floral display.  Industrial revolution had seen rail tracks being built alongside city walls to accommodate cargo carriages. In 1970’s the ramparts were reinstated with shrub arrangements which then evolved into amenities planting. Recent exploration of more sustainable options led to replacing sections of turf with wildflower mix creating pollinator friendly habitat that will provide floral display from April until September. The project in York emulates the Superbloom at the Tower of London. Over the summer months grass was allowed to grow tall to enable identification of existing plant species. The results show that the existing floral value is low which enabled the project to move forward. High non-native species wildflower mix had to be selected for the nutrients rich soil. In time and with regular cutting and arisings removal regime nutrients levels in soil will decrease enabling more native perennials to grow.

Native species plug planting is being introduced at Victoria Bar and along Lord Mayors Walk. From next year we will look at other sections of wall ramparts, including the area around Red Tower.

 

Residents were then invited to ask questions or make comments.

 

A resident asked how plug plants will be protected from foot traffic damage. The Project Manager explained that long grass will provide some protection as it is unlikely that people will walk in tall grass and hopefully stay on the paths. 

 

A resident wanted to know if daffodils will be removed. The Project Manager confirmed that this is not the case, and daffodils are to remain. 

 

A resident enquired what is being done about invasive species such as Japanese Knotweed which have been spotted on site of the former Willow House off Walmgate. Another resident mentioned Himalayan Balsom on the side of Scarborough Bridge. The Project Manager advised that where invasive species such as Japanese Knotweed are identified close to the city walls actions are taken to eradicate them. 

 

Councillor Crawshaw asked how the wildflower planting adds to the daffodils that are in bloom for around 5 to 6 weeks. The Project Manager explained that the Walls in Bloom seeks to extend that flowering period with different plants flowering at different times between May and September and height of bloom between June and July.

 

Councillor Crawshaw received feedback from a resident who commended recent wild garlic planting at Victoria Bar as they use it as staple in their cooking.  The Project Manager confirmed that wild garlic and other native plug planting that took place earlier this year was part of Walls in Bloom undertaken in partnership with York Cares and St Nicks.

 

No further questions were asked.

 

6.    HAVE YOUR SAY

Councillor Crawshaw then asked residents if they had any questions or comments in relation to other local issues.

 

A resident raised a concern about number 11 bus service which in their view became fragmented and asked how improvements could be made. Councillor Kilbane said that he and his colleagues have been receiving feedback and complaints from residents about the issues with number 11 missing out parts of the South Bank route i.e. Queen Victoria Street. The most recent reported instances were on 12^th and 13^th of November. Councillor Kilbane then outlined the recent contractual arrangements with bus companies and First York in this instance. The Local Authority can only see reports on services that we subsidise, but no information is disclosed on commercial services. The longer-term plans of York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority is to take over operating of bus services. We now have an option to be able to do that via setting up a bus franchising scheme, however it will take time to work out the practicalities. Recent conversations with the Minister for Transport were promising and they were supportive of the idea in principle. Although nothing has been agreed yet, we hope to be able to take over bus services operation within the next two years. Once under the Combined Authority control bus services will be easier to scrutinise and improvements to be implemented for the benefit of service users.  Councillor Kilbane encouraged residents to report instances of the bus missing parts of the route, being late, or other issues directly to First York and/or other respective operator and copy him in.

 

Further discussion about buses ensued and reference to a recent meeting in Bishopthorpe in relation to number 11 bus was made.

 

A resident suggested trialling a one-way traffic system on Queen Victoria Street, where cars parked on both sides of the road can make it difficult for larger buses to navigate. Councillor Crawshaw said that he and his colleagues would be happy to have consultations about how bus service operates in South Bank. Traffic surveys indicate that vehicle speeding tendency is more likely on one-way streets as opposed to streets with two ways traffic. Removing parking bays could be considered as an option, however doing that in an area where there are a lot of terraced houses would create insufficient parking problem. Residents Parking review is underway, and Movement of Place Plan is being created, however no easy solution presents itself at this moment and the picture is complicated for the reasons outlined above. The Movement of Place Plan for the city takes in consideration potential impact and consequences of an intervention at one location on other areas of York. The Plan looks at the city in a holistic way, as a place where we live, work, shop, play, entertain etc. An example of putting the blossom back on Blossom Street was given as an example of feedback received under the Plan. We would like to hear your opinions on how we could move away from individual car usage in favour of increased public transport usage.

 

A discussion about former Terry's car park site ensued.  Henry Boot Developments, the present landowner has been granted a planning permission to build four storey extra care facility featuring a two-level car park. McCarthy and Stone have been appointed as the property developer; however, it is understood that in the eyes of Henry Boot Developments the property developer had failed " to perform" on the planning approval and the owners decided to release the land back up for sale. It is understood that the land is being sold with the present planning permission however it is hoped that an alternative development could be negotiated, perhaps and improved health care facility for the Ward? From the Planning Authority perspective, it does not matter who builds on the land if the developer fulfils conditions stated on the Planning Permission. The developer must start building within three years from the time of obtaining the Planning Permission and if they do so the development timeline can be open ended.

Johnny Hayes, Chair of Friends of Nun Ings then raises the Friends perspective on the matter, that a possible better use to the oversized "extra care" facility that gained planning permission is explored. Mr Hayes would support creation of a health facility for the local community and hoped that this ambition could be pursued and shared by Ward Councillors with Henry Boot Developments. This is a possible opportunity for something better to be built on this sensitive site, the land that FONI would like to retain as the city’s greenbelt.

 

A resident stated that health services across the city are terrible and asked whether an attempt could be made to improve the quality of community-based services and involve the local MP? Councillor Kilbane responded that the Integrated Health Board is looking at the improved health centres plan and that it is worth putting the matter on the agenda with the caveat of all the difficulties that are being faced.

 

Jim Hill, the Planning Panel Secretary added that when the Planning Application was being considered by the Planning Panel it was felt that only a small number of apartments with extra care facility was to be provided, with the rest of the development being apartments for able bodied over 60-year-olds. Sometimes developers try to dress something up as a specific facility, but then try to sell it as something else and this can result in dangerous situations.

 

A resident asked what was included in the Planning Permission in respect of sewage and water. Councillor Crawshaw said that Yorkshire Water is a statutory consultee in the planning process, and should the developer want to do something against Yorkshire Water viewpoint it would need to be approved by the Secretary of State. It is believed that rerouting of the sewage is included in the Planning Permission.

 

As no further queries were raised, Councillors thanked everyone for their contributions and closed the meeting at 20:30.