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Home , Aldwark (York), Lawrence Street (York), Layerthorpe, Marygate, The Groves

OCTOBER 2017 guildhall GREENlight SERVING , , , THE GROVES, WIGGINGTON ROAD, ROAD, , HUNTINGTON ROAD, LAYERTHORPE, FOSS ISLAND, THE CITY CENTRE, , , TOWER STREET, /NAVIGATION AND AREAS. Mid-Term Report to Guildhall Ward Residents Q & A with Denise Craghill, Green Party councillor for Guildhall ward Q. ‘It’s a bit past halfway through your on city wide issues that affect everyone. Secondly – term in office with the next Council Some problems can be sorted quickly, taking a lead on promoting consultation elections set for May 2019 – how do others can take a very long time, which with residents. is frustrating for residents and councillors you think you’re doing?’ I organised the well-received Ward alike! I don’t think I’ve done everything right A. ‘I was very honoured to be elected as Walkabouts Guildhall councillors did last but I have learned an awful lot and keep the first Green Party councillor for Guildhall year, partly to get feedback on how to learning all the time. I like to think I don’t ward in May 2015. I’ve been working hard to spend our ward highways budget. respond to local queries and get progress give up and will keep coming back to some knotty issues until progress is made.’ Even though getting the Council to implement the ideas is very slow going – Q. ‘What 3 things are you most I raised this delay at the last Full Council proud of so far?’ meeting in July – this was a good way to A. ‘Firstly – building up a picture of have conversations with residents. We are what is going on and what is needed now promised some more progress soon! in the ward, helping to share ideas and putting active residents in touch I have also taken the lead on a consultation with each other. with residents in the Walmgate/ Navigation area about proposals for new For example the Spark: outdoor gym equipment for adults & young business start-up initiative people – and I’m supporting a better way set to open on in of doing planning consultation through FRACKING IN NORTH November now plans to include facebook.com/groups/MyCastleGateway Very sadly, Third Energy began the first stages an urban garden and edible of its fracking operation at Kirby Misperton near beds, as well as providing free Thirdly – promoting the idea of using Flamingoland on 19th September. or cheap meeting space. This some of our ward budget to fund door to The Green Party, including co-leader Jonathan will be available for use by the door work in the Groves area by OCAY Bartley, joined many local residents in (Older Citizen’s Advocacy York) to reach opposition. new Walmgate Community Association, which I have vulnerable older people who are lonely, To keep up the protests against this dirty and‘Frack dangerous industry join Facebook groups and been actively helping to get isolated and slipping through the net. I , ‘Frack Free Ryedale’ Free Kirby Misperton’ off the ground. hope that we can do more on this.’ or contact York Green Party. ‘Frack Free York’ around the ward Since 2015, Denise has been one of the three councillors for Guildhall Ward (out of the 47 across the whole of York). She is one of York’s four Green Party councillors. There are around 6,000 households in the ward and nearly 10,000 people live here!

review of all city centre car parks is promised soon and MARYGATE AND Denise will keep on pushing for BOOTHAM AREA improvements. Marygate car park Scarborough Bridge The Green Party actively supported Denise has been raising questions this long awaited scheme to install about the state of the car park with a new improved pedestrian/cycle broken and rotting display boards, bridge with full ramped access. gillygate AREA overgrown planting and graffiti. Subject to planning permission, This has a negative impact on the completion on the project is expected by Traffic pollution is a major surrounding area. A long overdue January 2019. issue for local residents in the Gillygate area. Denise has been campaigning for If you haven’t filled one in yet you can something to be done to improve the pick up a consultation form from Door street both for residents and traders. THE GROVES/CLARENCE 84 on Lowther St. Further consultation STreet AREA events will follow. The role the street plays in city centre traffic networks is a challenge, but recent Lowther Street progress on (even if the current The Groves Association Denise secured some new drop kerbs trial arrangements may need ‘tweaking’) is a positive sign. Denise has been a member of the on Lowther Street and a request for committee for a number of years, ‘Keep Clear’ signs on Lowther Street is York Green Party pressure on the council playing a key role in originating the currently with the Highways Dept. has put air quality at the top of the Groves Awards. Grove House political agenda in York. The Association has been working Denise has also worked with residents Denise made sure that Tree Protection in the Gillygate area to argue for to tackle issues around waste and Orders (TPOs) were served on the two recycling, improved security in the area, implementation of the city’s anti-idling avenues of mature lime trees at the strategy, with the prospect of some pilot improvements to disabled and pedestrian former Older People’s Home. access and the problems caused by the projects getting underway soon. There are concerns about the current constant stream of through traffic down planning application with an increased Lowther Street. number of flats. New committee members are always These include the impact of a higher welcome – contact GrovesAssociation@ building and potential damage to gmail.com some trees. Making the Groves Better? Revised plans have now been The Council has received Government submitted which will undergo further funding to carry out consultation and consultation. detailed planning for improvements to National Play Day at Door 84 the Groves estate – buildings and all outside areas. on Lowther Street Building a safe, healthy, green ward where everyone can take part and reach their potential. THE CITY CENTRE AND ALDWARK AREA Hambleton Terrace has now been resurfaced and road markings on the WIGGINGTON AND City Centre Cleaning humps repainted. HAXBY ROAD AREA Residents have been concerned Denise asked for 20mph roundels painted recently about the state of Coney on the road too, but it seems that this is The Friends Group need Street with its large number of empty difficult! more support to get established and shops. Following a resident request the uneven Denise suggested holding the 3rd The new Business Improvement District leading to the bus stop opposite October ward event in the area to raise (BID) ‘Rapid Response’ cleansing service the hospital, is being resurfaced.. awareness of the gardens. can be contacted on 01904 866143. Denise supported earlier efforts to set up Please get in touch if you would like to a Friends of Clarence Gardens and the get involved. City centre traffic Council’s Environment and Communities Denise has also been pushing for better Some residents have raised concerns team has supported some great volunteer crossing facilities across Haxby Road to about traffic and parking in Aldwark, work in the gardens. access the gardens. , , Kings Square and also St. Saviourgate. Daytime traffic restrictions on those the outdoor gym equipment proposed for streets are often ignored and not WALMGATE/NAVIGATION the area. adequately enforced. She says “It has been a real pleasure An attempt to tackle this issue has AREA chatting to people about these proposals been promised by the Council for a long Denise has spent some time supporting and to see that most people support the time but so far not seen the light of day. the start-up of a new residents’ idea. Denise is calling on the Council to get on association in the Walmgate/Navigation Many would also like to see more play and work with residents to move towards area, with an Inaugural General Meeting equipment for younger children both a largely car free city centre. planned for Thurs. 12th October. sides of Walmgate – hopefully this This must include provision for deliveries She has also been door-knocking to will follow as some funding is already and residential access with priority for encourage responses to a consultation on earmarked for this via planning gain”. people with disabilities, people with mobility difficulties and pedestrians. Litter in the Foss This will mean tackling difficult issues Many people have voiced MONKGATE/LAYERTHORPE/JAMES like enforcement, disabled parking and concerns about litter in the STreet/FOSS ISLAND ROAD AREA cross centre cycling routes. Foss and asked whether the Council boat tied up near the Foss LAWRENCE Island Nature Reserve could be used Tang Hall Beck more often to clear it. STREET AREA Denise has supported residents The Council take the boat out three times concerned about fly-tipping and litter Denise organised a ward walkabout a year with volunteers from the near the beck and along James Street. Society. in the Lawrence Street area. You can report fly-tipping on the Ward highways money was used to Denise is joining them this October. She Council website via ‘Report Problems’ is looking into looking into whether more contribute to improved parking in front or by calling 01904 551550. volunteers could lead to more outings. of the flats on Bull Lane. She is pushing the Council for a response on how to hotel to be built behind the Black Swan. tackle concerns about speeding there. hungate area Denise has spoken to the city centre Residents have raised issues about police team about extra patrols and the impact of all the new residential Phase 1 Residents Association following her enquiries the Council is developments along Lawrence Street on Denise met a little while ago with starting to look at a CCTV system for parking in the area. residents from Hungate Phase 1 for a the Hungate site, using money allocated Denise has also spoken to officers very interesting discussion. through the planning process. National Play Day at Door 84 and residents about the possibility of a Issues included concerns about security, The construction management plan on Lowther Street residents parking scheme in the area. land and river ownership and the new (CEMP) for the hotel is still to be finalised. your green party councillor working hard for guildhall

Denise would love to visit more residents’ Floods associations around the Guildhall Ward. Please do get in touch if you Update would like to arrange a visit. Students – Welcome Back! Denise says “As 15% of our population, Denise worked hard in students bring vitality, new ideas and a lot of the aftermath of the 2015 skills and knowledge to the city. floods, chasing information and support, delivering “I’m delighted to welcome all students back to updates and talking to the city for the new academic year. residents. “With increasing student numbers, residents She has pushed for a can sometimes feel a bit overwhelmed. Students 3-fold approach to future @YorkFAS (York living off campus for the first time can no doubt flood protection from theFlood Alleviation Scheme). sometimes feel the same! Please consider Foss to include the improved Denise has recently become a member of knocking on your neighbour’s door and saying flood barrier, work upstream the Foss Internal Drainage Board, which ‘hello’, perhaps offering a cup of tea, whether you to ‘slow the flow’ andis responsible for managing drainage and are a student or resident!” additional local measures in flood risk upstream of Yearsley Bridge – useful contacts the Huntington Road and Navigation/ work that has implications for EA plans to Walmgate areas. ‘slow the flow’ in the Foss catchment. You can check out rubbish & recycling on york.gov.uk under ‘Waste and According to Environment Agency officers She has also been keeping in touch with Recycling’. Basic rule – only put your modelling work is currently underway on developing neighbourhood emergency rubbish out the front after 7pm evening additional defences as part of the updated plans in the Navigation and Groves/ before and before 7am on collection York 5 Year Flood Plan and Denise is pushing Huntington Road areas. for more details on this to be shared. day. Emergency planners have been working For info on getting around York without She is seeking a public ward meeting with with local residents and others to develop a car see: www.itravelyork.info the Environment Agency in the coming the plans. These cover more than flooding, months. This would also include updates but naturally flooding is a focus. More Finding all kinds of help when you need on plans for improving defences along higheryork.org/for-individuals/life-in- information on these to follow. it: the Ouse in the Marygate, Kings york/community-life Staithe, Tower Gardens areas. Advice on all practical issues and The EA issues quarterly York emotional support for residents york local plan newsletters - sign up by emailing affected by the floods is still available The current consultation version of York’s Local yorkfloodplan@environment- via Citizens Advice York (CAY). Plan could be the one that finally makes it through! by agency.gov.uk. Email [email protected] york.gov.uk/localplan Read it and respond at They also have a Facebook page or ring 01904 683908 30th Oct. with more frequent updates get in touch cllr denise 07952 120752 @DeniseCraghill craghill @ [email protected]

Promoted by A Chase on behalf of Denise Craghill and York Green Party, all at 15 Priory Street, York YO1 6ET Designed by ME Saltaire, 2 Fern Place, Shipley, BD18 3HB, printed by Leapfrog, 38 Britannia Way, Bolton BL2 2HH