Housing Study for County Published

Michelle writes: A major new study revealing the housing needs of North Yorkshire and York for the next five years has been published. I will try to find out some more specific information on Harrogate to post here.

It looks at all aspects of housing – including affordable housing, housing for older people and supported housing for vulnerable people as well as the ‘open’ housing market of homes for sale and rent.  And it says that almost 3000 affordable homes a year are needed across the county to meet the needs of people unable to buy or rent a home on the open market.

The first ever North Yorkshire Strategic Housing Market Assessment commissioned by the North Yorkshire Strategic Housing Partnership, will now be used to help shape housing policies across the county. The findings will support each authority’s Local Development Framework – the development plan for each area used to guide future housing developments.

The report also confirms the challenges for providing homes for the area’s ageing population – with older people living in large family homes finding it difficult to downsize. And it highlights that many young families are struggling to enter the housing market.

“Housing markets and communities’ housing aspirations don’t follow local Council boundaries,” said Councillor Richard Foster, Chair of the Local Government North Yorkshire and York Housing Board.

“This study will help us to understand what type of housing North Yorkshire people require now and in the future, so we can plan properly to meet that need. We will use the research findings to make sure that we get our housing plans and planning decisions in our local areas right.”

The study incorporates the findings of a survey of householders in Craven, Hambleton, Harrogate, Richmondshire, Ryedale, Scarborough, York and the North York Moors and Yorkshire Dales National Parks. A lighter touch review was undertaken in Selby since it only undertook its own detailed study in 2009.

It shows the following key points:

• if North Yorkshire is to meet the needs of all households which cannot afford to buy or privately rent it would need to deliver 2808 affordable homes a year for the next five years
• there is a shortfall of smaller one and two bedroom homes – and larger four or more bedroom properties
• average house prices in the rural areas are £250,000 - £40,000 more than the county average
• affordability is a big issue for people living in the rural areas
• high house prices continue to make it difficult for households with lower incomes to buy a home in the county making the role of the private housing market important
• almost 40% of older people said they wanted to downsize
• the private rented sector is an important source of housing for young single people
• the population is expected to grow increasingly older – especially in the numbers of single and couple households
• it is expected that a greater number of households will have support needs over the longer term, mostly because people are living to a greater age
• the county’s population has risen by 5.7% since 2001 with York, Selby and Harrogate having the highest levels of household growth

Michelle joins Independent Advisory Panel (IAP) for Army Foundation College, Harrogate.

Michelle writes: I have recently been appointed to the IAP for the AFC Harrogate.  The panel’s key role is to advise, challenge, support, and encourage the college staff in their task of transforming teenagers into Junior Soldiers, approximately 1200 every year. The panel meet regularly and undertake individual visits to the college. I am delighted to be joining the IAP and look forward to working with fellow members, college staff and junior soldiers.

To view the AFC Harrogate website and for more information on the panel, click here

Rossett Sports Centre Latest

Michelle writes: Back in December, I explained that Harrogate Borough Council (HBC) planned to pull out of the management of Rossett Sports Centre as of October 2012. We were all unhappy about this prospect and worried by the potential loss of well-used facilities, such as the all-weather pitch used extensively for matches and training by local football teams. HBC were looking to make cost savings for 2012/13 and this proposal contributed to approximately £64,000 of savings over the year.

Jim and I sit on the Overview and Scrutiny Commitee and we played a key role in scrutinising the budget and the proposed cuts. We were passionate about protecting the services and we made the recommendation that the proposal to pull out of the management of the sports centre should only go ahead if there were alternative arrangements made before the council pulled out. We're pleased to say that this recommendation was included.

This means that although ALL Councillors voted to pass the budget, that HBC will not withdraw until a suitable alternative to take over the sports centre management has been established. To this end, HBC have begun talks with Rossett School and the school is giving serious consideration as to how it can continue with giving community access outside of school hours. We're reassured that HBC is committed to seeking alternative arrangements and we'll keep you posted on any future developments. Needless to say, Jim and  will offer support wherever we can be useful.

If anyone has any comments, please do get in touch.

Harlow Hill Methodist Church

Michelle writes: Jim and I were delighted to be invited by Charlotte South to see the new porch and improvements to the front area of Harlow Hill Church. It's the only church in the local area with an important community space; we're supporting it and we hope that you will too.

Charlotte South has made this contribution to explain more:

It was a pleasure to welcome our local councillors Michelle Woolley and Jim Clark to visit the Church last week and to see for themselves the significant improvement that has been made to the building by the completion of a new entrance porch at the front of the Church. 

The development at the Church has generated significant local interest and now completed makes a really big difference to the appearance of the building but is also practically much more useful in that it has created a small room for meetings etc. The Church currently comprises of a well-used community hall which some 13 groups use on a regular basis. This room is also available for hire for parties or other one off events. In addition there is a large comfortable room on the second floor available to hire and the Church itself now that this can be accessed from the new porch. Toilet facilities are available on both floors and there is a new kitchen with hot water boiler.

Members at Harlow Hill Methodist Church would really like to welcome members of the community to use our building and would like to encourage anyone to get in touch with us who might like to book any of the facilities we have. For full details contact Lorna on 521086. Church services are held each Sunday at 10 am and children are welcome. More activities for children are being planned for the forthcoming year and your support would be much appreciated.

The porch development has cost a significant amount to complete and during the year it is hoped that local residents will support various fund-raising initiatives to be held. The first Saturday of the month is always used to run a coffee morning from 10 am – 12 noon with cake stall, jigsaw and book club. On Saturday 18 February members will be running the refreshments at Wesley Chapel in Harrogate. The grand opening of the new porch will take place over the weekend of Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 when several events are being planned. Also on the list for this year are a concert, auction or promises and sponsored walk. If anyone feels they can help us by donating an item or skill for the auction or would like to get involved in any other way, please contact Charlotte on 563502.

Young and talented? Know someone who is...?

Lynne Mee

Date press release issued: 10 January 2012 CASH AVAILABLE FOR TALENTED YOUNG PEOPLE ASPIRING sporting stars and artistes of the future are being invited to apply for a grant from Harrogate Borough Council’s Centenary Grants Project. This project was set up

10:29

Michelle writes: Aspiring sporting stars and artistes of the future are invited to apply for a grant from Harrogate Borough Council’s Centenary Grants Project.

This project was set up to celebrate the council’s centenary in 1984 and since then over 500 talented young people have benefited from the fund.

The council is seeking nominations from sporting or artistic young people who are 18 or under and live in the Harrogate district, who compete or work at a regional level or above. Many of those who have received grants have gone on to national or international level.



Calling all young, talented under 18s...

Last year 32 talented young people received grants totalling £3,500. The disciplines ranged from swimming and violin, ballet and climbing, to taekwondo, cycling and flat green bowls.

The closing date is 29 February 2012. Applications forms and reference forms are available at: http://www.harrogate.gov.uk/pages/harrogate-1801.aspx or by contacting Lindsay Spicer, Sports Development Officer, on 01423 556725 or email lindsay.spicer@harrogate.gov.uk  

Police Training College Future Plans

Michelle writes: Jim and I recently met with Ciaran McGuigan, Head of Centre at the National Policing Improvement Agency (NPIA) Harrogate on Yew Tree Lane to be briefed on the future of the NPIA and its 145 permanent staff and 31 contracted facilities management staff.



The NPIA on Yew Tree Lane

The NPIA will be phased out and will no longer exist in its current form after December 2012. However, many of the functions currently based at the site are critical to support policing nationally and cannot simply be disbanded. Therefore, many of these functions are likely to transfer into a number of newly created organisations that were announced by the Home Secretary earlier in the year and as recently as December.  These include; the National Crime Agency, a Police Professional Body and an Information and Communications Technology Company. 

As part of the transition into the different bodies, NPIA needs to reduce the spending on their national estate by 50%, so it has accepted the need to move away from its Harrogate site. The agency is now exploring the possibility of disposing of the site. It is also looking into the feasibility of moving the training activities to other NPIA sites and finding alternative locations in the area for the other national police work currently done there.

The main reason for the decision to relocate the existing functions is specific to NPIA needing to rationalise and make savings on its estate rather than the functions and services it provides to policing or the number of staff needed to deliver these. No decisions have been made about staff currently working at Harrogate but as the NPIA is due to be phased out by the end of 2012, it is impossible to give guarantees about the future of any of its staff but they will be doing everything possible to minimise redundancies.

Although no definite decisions have been made about the future of the site, the NPIA have applied to Harrogate Borough Council for a change of use, so it may be that part of the existing developed brownfield site could be used for housing while retaining the green surrounding spaces of the college too.

Councillor Michelle Woolley says, “It’s very good news that redundancies will be kept to a minimum and that a part of the site may be considered for housing, relieving some of the pressure to build on Special Landscape Area beyond Cardale Park. “

Councillor Jim Clark says, “Local residents will be sorry to see the NPIA leave as they have been very good neighbours. Residents must be consulted on how the site will be used next.”

Formerly Pannal Ash College, the NPIA premises were purchased by West Riding County Council in 1945 for use as a training college for police recruits. Staff located at NPIA Harrogate is responsible for providing a range of national products and services, for example: national police recruitment, examinations and promotion processes, design of national learning and development programmes, delivery of training programmes, accreditation and quality assurance services, Police Forensic 21 Programme and the Information Technology Helpdesk team. 

Housing Minister urges rural communities to learn from Harrogate

Policies created by Harrogate Borough Council to provide homes in rural areas have been set as an example to other rural councils by the Communities Minister, Andrew Stunall.

Full statement from Andrew Stunall here

Merry Christmas

Michelle and Jim wish everyone in Rossett and across the Harrogate district a very merry Christmas and a happy new year. We look forward to working hard for you in 2012.

MPs Attack Key Planning Reforms

MPs attack key planning reforms

Rossett Sports Centre Future Concerns

Michelle writes: Yesterday, Jim and I became aware of Harrogate Borough Council's proposals to discontinue the operational management of Rossett Sports Centre in order to generate efficiency savings for 2012. If this were to happen, the running of the sports centre would have to taken over by an other organisation, such as a school, a community group or a private company. At this stage, it is still a proposal, however to all of us in the Rossett Ward and across Harrogate, it's both shocking and inconceivable that these facilities could be in jeopardy.

Jim and I will be fighting to keep funding from HBC for Rossett Sports Centre and we want you to share your views. Please post your thoughts and comments on this. How do you use Rossett Sports Centre? What does it mean for you as a facility? What do you think of the council's proposals to withdraw funding?
We will keep you updated on any new developments.

Read an article abouth this in the Harrogate Advertiser - Vow to keep Rossett Sports Centre open
Read an article on this in the Yorkshire Post - Council set to axe sports hall funding

Arthurs Avenue North/South Divide Parking Update

Jim writes: At a meeting last Thursday, North Yorkshire County Councillors decided to revoke the parking controls on Arthurs Avenue. This means that in the new year the parking bays will be removed. Since the bays were introduced in 2008, the situation has improved for residents at the Otley Road end of the street (North) but has meant major problems and safety concerns for those living further up the avenue (South). Also a large proportion of the bays were not used and there was increased movement of traffic due to the time restrictions.

Myself and Michelle are going to meet Sixth Formers next week at the Grammar School to discuss the new arrangements with students and encourage a more responsible attitude to parking to benefit both residents and students. We will also raise the subject of alternative means of travelling to and from school rather than using individual cars, which is neither good for the environment or the wallet.

These changes will not address the problem of parents of children blocking drives and inconsiderate behaviour when picking up and dropping off children .We will continue to discuss this with the school.

Speeding surveys have been carried out during November and we will have the results shortly. Myself and Michelle are in favour of a 20mph limit for Arthurs Avenue.

Questions about road and footpath gritting?

Michelle writes: Now that the winter has descended upon us rather abruptly, it's time to think about keeping safe on the roads and footpaths.

North Yorkshire County Council (NYCC) places a very high priority on its winter maintenance service and has protected the funding for it despite the current severe financial challenges.  Due to the size of the County and the resources that NYCC have available to clear snow and ice, it is not possible for the County Council to treat all roads and footways in North Yorkshire during severe winter weather conditions. However, the County Council does routinely treat 50% of the road network, which is the largest proportion of any local highway authority in England.  Resources are focussed on the higher priority routes of our network in line with our winter maintenance policy and some lower priority roads and many footways are therefore not able to be treated.  In severe conditions local farming contractors form an integral part of our snow clearing operations.

NYCC currently have 55,000 tonnes of salt stored mainly in 12 salt barns across the county.  These are located at Richmond, Leyburn, Thirsk, Stokesley, Whitby, Seamer Carr (will be complete by February 2012), Kirby Misperton, Skipton, Ingleton, Boroughbridge (shared facility with the Highways Agency), West of Harrogate and Selby.  

In widespread freezing and wet conditions NYCC salt 2300km of priority 1 routes which include the major traffic routes connecting or passing through towns and other major centres of population and these should be treated by 7.00am. When conditions dictate, NYCC will move the gritters on to the 2100km of priority 2 routes which generally provide access to local communities and these should be treated by 10.00am.  Generally treatment does not take place between 11.00pm and 5.00am; however specific conditions may require us to do so.

Priority 3 routes which include the remaining 4500km of roads in housing estates and country lanes will not normally receive treatment unless NYCC know freezing conditions are likely to persist for more than 72 hours. Priority three routes will be treated, as resources permit, but with preference to priority one and two routes. 

Footways in busy shopping areas will be treated in snow conditions before 9am. Normal overnight frosty conditions will not warrant treatment of footways. After snow fall, busy shopping streets and main pedestrian footways will be cleared before other footways. In ice and snow conditions remaining footways will be treated in priority order subject to available resources.

Last winter NYCC also successfully trialled a winter maintenance volunteer scheme with a small number of Parish and Town Councils.  NYCC have now set up a new voluntary scheme that offers Parish Councils, Town Councils and other community groups the opportunity to deliver an enhanced level of winter maintenance service in the local area.  Take up of the new scheme has been encouraging with in the region of twenty parishes taking part.  

Parish and town councils who volunteer to join the scheme will play an important role in assisting with winter maintenance across North Yorkshire to benefit residents in their local community by providing a service that is in addition to the normal winter service.   

How do I get my road gritted? 

The schedule of treated roads has been developed over a number of years and is approved annually by the Council.  Whilst it is unlikely that any additional roads will be added to our current schedules, if you feel you have an exceptional case for amending, you should contact the Council. Any submission would benefit from having the support of your Parish/Town Council or the support of your local County Council Member.  Any additional requests that come in will be looked at in a preseason review. 

Can I request an additional salt bin? Parish councils and community groups/ resident organisations can acquire and maintain additional salt bins at locations that do not meet the County Council's criteria. In these circumstances a 200kg green (or yellow) bin will be provided at a cost of £50.  An annual maintenance charge of £75 will be applied to each bin to cover the cost of two salt replenishments. A further charge may be levied if additional fills are required. 

You can find more frequently asked questions and further details on our gritting operations, mapping and camera images on the website http://www.northyorks.gov.uk/

Essential Needs - Re-use Furniture Project

Michelle writes: This morning I had the pleasure of visiting Essential Needs - an independent charity who provide low cost furniture and household items to single people and families on low incomes or in receipt of income based benefit. Esssential Needs do a wonderful job by helping people to gain stability and comfort in a house of which they can be proud. Added to that, they minimise waste by recirculating furniture and household items!

Perhaps you have some items to donate or are in need of some furniture or household items yourself. You can find all the information you need by visiting their website http://www.essentialneeds.org.uk/ or telephoning 01423 870040. A big thank you to Martin, John and Nick who took the time to show me round the store, which is based on Back Gladstone Street, just off Leeds Road.

Waste Collection Review

Michelle writes: In mid 2012, Harrogate Borough Council will be changing the way they collect our domestic rubbish. Most homes across the district will be allocated a new wheelie bin and will move to a collection every two weeks, with the opportunity to recycle more, including cardboard and plastics.

Some streets will remain on a weekly black sack collection and the reason for this is the size of the collection vehicle and poor access to narrow streets. Such is the case potentially with Wharfedale Place, Crescent, Avenue and West Lea in the Rossett ward.

The whole district has recently been surveyed in terms of how the rubbish will be collected under the new scheme, and I have asked the Cabinet Member, Michael Harrison, to pay special attention to these roads so that the correct decision is made. We will know more next year.

If any residents have any comments from the Wharfedales or West Lea on this matter, please get in touch.

Urban Areas Consultation - advice on filling in the response questionnaire

Michelle writes:
I promised I would post again, following on from the RASH meeting, about a modified Option 2 or Option 3 if you prefer to refer to it as that.


I would highly recommend visiting the Duchy Residents Association website for further information about the urgan areas consultation and proposed housing options.


http://www.duchyresidents.co.uk/


Scroll down the homepage and click on 'Suggested response' (Item 10). This links to an example filled-in questionnaire, offering suggestions for alternative areas that could be further developed rather than the large number of houses proposed for the West of Harrogate at Cardale Park. Very useful if you are looking for words or help with filling in the form.


Deadline for the response is 4th November so please try to get your responses back by then. The more residents that respond, the stronger our voice to preserve the West of Harrogate.

Winter Preparedness - advice for residents from Yorkshire Water

Last  year  was  one  of  the  coldest  to hit Yorkshire for some time with temperatures in parts of our region reaching -19C. Thousands of people were left  with  frozen  private  supply pipes and no water and as a result this year Yorkshire Water have launched a new ‘Wrap Up’ campaign to help residents get their homes prepared for winter.

The  campaign  provides residents in the region with help and advice around how  to  protect  their pipes, how to defrost their pipes and what to do if they have a burst.

This year Yorkshire Water are determined to help and ensure everyone in Yorkshire is well equipped with all the information, tools and know how to make sure that  when the snow strikes again, they will be in a much better position to cope with it.

www.yorkshirewater.com/wrapup

Today, Michelle has been...

...speaking at the Harrogate Borough Council Planning meeting on behalf of the residents of Redfearn Mews about the proposed White Rose Court Development of 10 houses at the BT training site. The plans can be viewed here: http://tinyurl.com/69x4gmu 


This application was recommended for approval and although there was some opposition  from 5 members and 1 abstension, this development was approved by members and will be referred to the Head of Planning(to be verified.)


This is what I had to say...

My name is Michelle Woolley and I am the local member for the Rossett Ward. Thank you to the Chairman for allowing me the opportunity to speak today about the White Rose Court development, which is part of the larger BT training site.

Residents of Redfearn Mews will be directly affected by 10 more houses and the opening up of the cul-de-sac to form a continuation road to the BT private road, and they have already expressed their concerns about this development.

Indeed, this committee has on two previous occasions refused planning permission, and it’s only because of a successful appeal by the developers that this is before you today.

Residents on Redfearn Mews (consisting of 38 houses and 6 flats) are rightly concerned that 10 more houses will cause unacceptable traffic congestion both in Redfearn Mews itself and the top end of Hutton Gate. Currently, residents from Hutton Gate are already forced to park their cars on Redfearn Mews as there is insufficient parking, causing congestion at the junction with Hutton Gate.

Furthermore, Hutton Gate was deemed too narrow for a bus and the public service vehicles have difficulty negotiating it.

Aside from the dangers relating to traffic and parking congestion with the development of 10 houses, the bigger picture also needs to be taken into consideration. As I mentioned this site is part of the larger BT site, which is earmarked for 90 houses as seen in the Council’s urban areas consultation, I am referring to area H39. Therefore, opening up the cul de sac for the development of White Rose Court will eventually give access to these 100 houses via Redfearn Mews;  a situation that gives serious cause for concern in terms of the amount of traffic being routed through a narrow road and subsequent parking congestion.

I would prefer to see White Rose Court developed with the future of the whole BT training site in mind, instead of developing it prematurely and in isolation.

I would be grateful if you would take these points into consideration when making your decision. Thank you.

RASH Meeting - Say YES to modified Option 2.

It was brilliant to see so many people at the Residents Against Spoiling Harrogate meeting at Ashville College on Tuesday - approximately 200 attended to hear what RASH had to advise on the proposed  Harrogate housing plans.


Key Messages:


Just saying 'NO' to Option 1 & 2 is not the best approach, we have to consider what is best for Harrogate, Knaresborough and Ripon as a whole and feedback constructively on the questionnaires.
Most people agree that some level of development is to be expected and can have a positive impact and offer opportunity when carefully controlled and considered. However residents strongly object to the disproportionate amount of housing proposed at Cardale Park (Option 1 H3008 1825 homes and Option 2 H32(2) 770 homes).


The advice from RASH is:
Say No to Option 1
Say Yes to modified Option 2, which demands a fairier distribution of houses across the district.


I will post again about modified Option 2 in more detail shortly, can I suggest you contact Rosemary 01423 562480 rcarnaghan@yahoo.com for an example completed questionnaire in the meantime.


The closing date for comments is 4.30pm Friday 4 November 2011

Please send your form to: FREEPOST HG11, Dept of Developmenttal Services, Harrogate Borough Council, West Grove Road, Harrogate, HG1 2ZR.

 

Further Information:


The RASH panel was made up of:

• Rosemary Carnaghan (Chairman of the Duchy Resident's Association)
• Terry Byrne (Chairman of the Harlow and Pannal Ash RA)
• Mike Clarke (representing Beckwithshaw Parish Council)
• Peter Whittle (Duchy RA)
• Roy Osbourne (Chairman of Queen Ethelburga's RA)

Full minutes are available from Rosemary rcarnaghan@yahoo.com but the concerns raised included:

• Poor infrastructure, how will the Otley Road cope with police station traffic, increasing visitor numbers to Harlow Carr RHS gardens and up to 2000 new houses.
• Empty offices at Cardale Park, so why is more land reserved for business development?
• Significant impact on the village of Beckwithshaw, the rural consultation did not highlight the additional housing proposed for the West of Harrogate
• Clogged up rat-runs along Lady Lane, Howhill Lane through to Burn Bridge and Pannal.
• Construction traffic, years of continual house building, noise and disruption.
• The land is designated as Special Landscape Area and is recommended to stay as this.
• Flooding
• Dependency on North Yorkshire County Council for roads, schools, health services and facilities.

The campaign against the proposed housing gathers momentum...

Meet your PCSO at Rossett Sports Centre Friday 21st October

Michelle writes:

Natalie, your local, friendly PCSO will be at Rossett Sports Centre on Friday 21st October 5.30 - 7.30pm. This is an opportunity for you to have a chat with your local PCSO, and raise any issues you may have. It's more of a drop-in session than a formal meeting. It's important for Natalie to hear your concerns as she can feed these back in order to help set policing priorities for the area.

Michelle and Jim will also be there.