Weed treatment on hard surfaces starts in York?

UPDATE: The Council has clarified that the request for no weed treatement on Ascot Way relates to the area outside one dwelling only. The rest of the street, including hopefully the garage area, will be treated

The much delayed weed control programme has started in the City according to Council officials. They have sent a schedule of works to local Councillors. Earlier in the year the Council decided to reduce the number of sprays on gutters and paths to two (from 3)

Some Councilllors have shared the treatment programme with local residents. Most haven’t!

They have also provided some background information on their interpretation of the situation. Residents who have noted a marked deterioration in public service quality this summer may have differing views

The Council says, .

Weed Spraying

Weed spraying commences from Monday 17^th June 2024. The spraying is scheduled to take place between Monday 17^th June and Tuesday 4^th July. The contractor’s schedule is attached for your information. Please note there is a programmed and completed box against each ward but these dates may be subject to change depending on weather conditions and resources. 

I have also attached the list of streets/areas put forward by members as exclusions from weed spraying (see below). Please note that the contractor has received all maps of areas to be sprayed as well as all of the exclusion areas. 

Rural Grass Cutting

The rural grass cutting commences from Monday 17^th June 2024. The contractor will start on the West side of the city and work their way Eastwards. Cutting will take approximately three weeks but may need to be adjusted depending on weather conditions. This is line with previous years and the Councils stated approach which can be found at https://www.york.gov.uk/ReportGrass#rural

Buzz About York

The team have done a fantastic job planting up some trial beds on Station Rise, Duncombe Place/Blake Street and at the memorial on Skeldergate Bridge. The beds are filled with sustainable planting in a move away from the more traditional summer and winter bedding that was in place previously. We will evaluate how these beds perform with a view to making further changes in the future. I have attached a picture from a few weeks ago that you may have seen in the local media.

City Centre

The city centre cleansing team have taken delivery of a new electric Goupil vehicle. This has provided the team with greater flexibility and the means to perform more tasks through their daily work. The vehicle has been in operation for a couple of weeks now and has proved extremely useful.

Officials have provided a list of streets where local ward members have asked for no weed control activities to take place. We very much doubt whether residents on all these streets were consulted. On some, the stability of buildings may be at risk if no control of dominant weeds is undertaken.

The excluded list is

Weed Control Contract 2024 – Exclusion Areas (No Spraying) as requested by local ward Councillors

• Holgate Ward
  • Watson Street
  • Watson Terrace
  • Cecelia Place
  • St Paul’s Square
  • Enfield Crescent
  • St Paul’s Terrace
  • Railway Terrace
  • Upper St Paul’s Terrace
  • Cleveland Street
  • Wilton Rise
  • Playground area including Holgate Community Gardens
• Fulford and Heslington Ward
  • Prospect Terrace
  • Palace View
• Copmanthorpe Ward
  • No spraying of wildflower meadow where Horseman Lane meets Horseman Drive
• Westfield Ward
  • Ascot Way
• Osbaldwick and Derwent Ward
  • No spraying alongside the village greens in (i) Osbaldwick (ii) Murton or (iii) Dunnington Villages.
• Wheldrake Ward
  • No spraying in Elvington
• Fishergate Ward
  • New Walk
  • Farndale Street
  • Hartoft Street
  • Grange Street
  • Lastingham Terrace
  • Levisham Street
  • Rosedale Street
  • Grange Garth
  • The alleyway between Gordon Street and Wolsley Street

Wilton Rise area weed growth two weeks ago. It is a hazard for pedestrians but apparently it will not be treated by the York Council

No doubt the first sighting of a quad bike will be made shortly. It will then become clear whether the treatment schedules have been adjusted to include the various areas which seem to get missed each year.

It’s likely to be a couple of weeks after teatment before die back will become evident

Local Councillors in several wards have some explaining to do.