September 2022 Issue No 30
Email: chair@cwra.co.uk
If you are not already a member of the Chocolate Works Residents’ Association (CWRA), please go to cwra.co.uk and click on Join Us. It is currently free and guarantees you get our Newsletters. At present we have some 200 active members. Your contributions and feedback are invaluable in helping us identify which issues are of most concern to residents.
Co-op
The lead contractor working on the Co-op store informs us that it is expected to launch on 16 October 2022. Residents may wish to take advantage of savings and offers by becoming members of the Co-op at www.coop.co.uk/membership. We understand the new store will offer a full range of products including an in-store bakery, an ATM, takeaway coffee, and Amazon lockers. It will clearly be a much welcomed addition to our local community.
It is also worth noting that the Co-op appealed to increase the opening hours, which residents had initially successfully objected to. The appeal was upheld, resulting in the shop now opening from 7am to 11pm. In addition, the planning application for new signage was approved without amendment.
Liquor Store
We have been informed that the plan for the lowest floor of the liquor store will be a cafe/deli in the daytime. There will also be (eventually) an upmarket deli style shop selling pastas and fine wines. Going into the evening it will operate primarily as a wine bar and there will be a stone baked pizza oven, cheeses, charcuterie and small plates.
Again, this will be a welcome resource and it will be great to see the once derelict building being put to good use. However, it is worth noting that the licensing hours in the application are later than initially expected and residents in close proximity may have concerns about noise. The licensing application has been posted for the new Liquor Store Café and Wine Bar on behalf of Ebor Holdings as detailed below:
- Live Music (indoors)
Monday to Friday 12:00 to 23:00 hrs. Saturday and Sunday 10:00 to 23:00 hrs to allow provision for occasional live, mainly acoustic music as ambience rather than an event. - Recorded Music (indoors)
Monday to Thursday 09:00 to 23:00 hrs. Friday and Saturday 09:00 to Midnight. Sunday 09:00 to 23:00 hrs. New Year’s Eve 09:00 to 01:00 hrs. Background music, not dance floor or loud, for restaurant ambience. - Supply of Alcohol (on/off sales)
Monday to Thursday 09:00 to 23:00 hrs. Friday and Saturday 09:00 to Midnight. Sunday 09:00 to 23:00 hrs. New Year’s Eve 09:00 to 01:00 hrs. - Opening Hours
Monday to Thursday 09:00 to 23:30hrs. Friday and Saturday 09:00 to 00:30 hrs. Sunday 09:00 to 23:30 hrs. New Year’s Eve 09:00 to 01:30.
- Live Music (indoors)
If you wish to make a comment please email licensing@york.gov.uk before the 3rd October 2022.
York Racecourse Offer
York Racecourse again offered a generous 50% reduction for all CWRA members to attend the recent Family Day on 4th September. It was a great event, and we hope enjoyed by all those who took advantage of the offer.
Currently, we are meeting with the racecourse to discuss opportunities for 2023.
Improvements to Bayldon Square Planting
Watson are currently reviewing quotations for landscaping to Bayldon Square, to mirror the existing scheme around the statue on the opposite side of the central footpath to include drainage, planting and a circular bench. We have requested this scheme be completed without further delay.
It is our intention, in conjunction with Watson, to provide constant incremental improvements to ALL areas of The Chocolate Works on a rotational basis.
Final Snagging – including landscaping
We have compiled a detailed final consolidated development snagging list of over 50 items which has been sent to DWH by Watson for consideration and comment. This includes a comprehensive list of all planting gaps and dead trees as well as signage, uniform Visitor parking signs and replacement of loose paving blocks.
Watson have met with DWH and have been asked to submit a quotation (which DWH will pay) for the replacement of all dead trees in the boundary area, including planting two new fir trees behind Thistle House where the gates have been removed. Also, to remove the dead laurel hedge, but not replacing it as DWH planted it as a goodwill gesture.
In addition, to provide a further quotation for turfing the area at each side of the footpath to the right-hand side of Thistle House. DWH are checking plans for the area directly behind Thistle House to establish the finish specification, prior to completing further works. This area, plus the area adjoining the wall around the Care Home will not be handed over until DWH brings it up to the standard required.
DWH have advised they do not plan to replace the dead trees on Bayldon Square as the area was handed over to Watson some four years ago. Watson and CWRA are not accepting this and we await further discussions.
CWRA continues to work with the landscapers to ensure there is continued improvement.
Road Adoption
City of York Council Planning Officers have confirmed that, in consultation with David Wilson Homes, they are finalising plans to adopt the roads. We have no timescale for this and cannot predict whether it might be months or more than a year before this process is concluded.
We do know that they cannot adopt visitor or resident parking spaces since these are leased to residents. These will remain managed by Watson, through Bay Sentry, and there will be no change to the current parking monitoring which is built into the covenants.
We also know that the rest of the highways will be managed in keeping with the original planning applications which aimed to provide a low traffic environment with minimal traffic on the road. The intention is to avoid cars parking on the highway and protect the development from race-day parking, school pick up and drop off parking and commuter parking which badly affects neighbouring streets. This will also provide safer streets with better sightlines and less risk of accidents to children.
It is worth reminding ourselves that the initial plans for this development caused residents of South Bank deep concern when thinking about the impact of traffic from the more than 650 properties on the Chocolate Works and the Residence upon the Bishopthorpe Road shopping area and streets. The system of managing parking and the restrictive covenants on parking are not designed by a malevolent developer but are a direct response to the Council’s desire to minimise the impact of traffic on the neighbouring area and also to the Council’s express aim, through its Local Transport Plan 2011-2031, to reduce traffic emissions which are harmful to health, to reduce car journeys in York and to provide a greener environment.
Another element of this is seen in the Section 106 agreements requested by the Council, whereby David Wilson Homes provided over £250,000 to help provide:
- discount arrangements with Enterprise cars
- funds for bicycle purchase for residents
- funding for a bus shelter on Campleshon Road and passenger information to the bus shelter nearest the Care Home on Bishopthorpe Road
- better signage for the cycle routes at this point in South Bank
- improvements to the cycle path between Bishopthorpe Road and the riverside path
- funding for improvements at the pedestrian crossing at the Bishopthorpe Road and Scarcroft Road junction
- funding for improvements to the Tadcaster Road – St Helens Road junction
- the zebra crossing opposite Knavesmire School
- and funded additional spaces at the Askham Bar Park and Ride.
Requests for inclusion in local residents’ parking schemes
We have lobbied in two directions to try to create additional parking provision at the Chocolate Works:
- We have made frequent representations to the developer to increase the number of visitor spaces. These have been increased by a handful from the original plan.
- More recently we have asked the Council (last year and again last month) if we can be included in the Bishopthorpe Road Residents’ Parking Scheme between Campleshon Road and the Residence, in the hope of providing predictable spillover visitor parking for residents. Sadly the Council has rejected our request and state that we have adequate provision, which they had factored in at the planning stage, and that our inclusion would unfairly disadvantage streets with greater problems.
Parking Signs
It seems that occasionally, residents are unclear about the parking rules and also that there is ambiguity or a lack of clarity about some aspects of the restrictions. Consequently, the parking signs will shortly be updated to include, among other things, restrictions to the parking of commercial vehicles, and the requirement of all visitors, including disabled car badge holders, to phone in. This information will also be circulated by Watson to all households.
Please read this and alert your visitors to reduce avoidable fines.
Keeping vehicle speed down on the Chocolate Works
We are pleased to note that most motorists drive carefully and slowly on the development. However, it has been reported that some drivers are repeatedly speeding along both Clock Tower Way and Robert Street.
The design of Robert Street is a perfect example of how the developer wanted motorists and pedestrians to safely co-exist. It was designed as a Homezone, with no pavements, and an expectation that pedestrians and cyclists would each have priority, and that the brickwork design and chicane patterns would encourage motorists to drive slowly and carefully.
Home Zone signs are to be installed at Robert Street with a 20mph speed limit, plus two 20mph signs are to be placed at the entrance of the development on Clock Tower Way. We hope that all residents will continue to reduce their speed on the development roads and take special care, especially where children may be playing.
The crossroads where Robert Street crosses Joseph Terry Grove near Orange House is a specific concern as currently no right-of-way is indicated, so please take care until signage is installed.
Gates to the undercrofts and courtyard parking areas
Following the installation of manual gates to the resident parking spaces to the top of Clock Tower Way, we understand DWH will be contacting all residents with parking spaces through the undercrofts on the development to establish if gates are required.
If residents do decide to have gates installed, please note the maintenance and repair fees will increase for those residents parking behind the gates.
Bishopthorpe Road – Speed Concern
One of our residents has contacted North Yorkshire Police regarding speeding between Campleshon Road and the Cycle Track (Racecourse) on Bishopthorpe Road. A positive response has been received as an automatic speed logger was deployed, collecting data which indicated vehicles travelling above the speed limit.
As a result the location is considered suitable for Community Speed Watch, a scheme launched by North Yorkshire Police to support local communities and improve road safety. If you are interested in volunteering to assist in this scheme, please forward your details to chair@cwra.co.uk
Made in Clementhorpe
Clements Hall Local History Group is publishing another book this month, the fourth in their award-winning series. These have been researched and published to present aspects of the 19th/20th century history of neighbourhoods within the Scarcroft, Clementhorpe, South Bank, Nunnery Lane and Bishophill areas of York. The book Made in Clementhorpe will be launched at the Slip Inn in Clementhorpe on 20th September and then will be on sale at local pubs and shops, price £8.
