City of York Council “U turn” on admission arrangements for Olympic Torch event on 19th June.

Free tickets released to “allow a bigger Torch celebration event”

City of York Council has issued a statement saying that the Olympic Torch celebrations “at York Racecourse from 2.30pm on 19 July will become ticketed, to allow more people to join in the highly anticipated event”.

Anyone arriving at the Racecourse on “19th July” is likely to be seriously disappointed as the event is, of course, taking place on 19th JUNE

The FREE tickets for the events can be obtained from Visit York’s Visitor Information Centre on the corner of Museum Street and Blake Street, or from any York Explore Library Learning Centre, Acomb Explore on Front Street, Acomb, or Tang Hall Library on Fifth Avenue, Tang Hall. They will be available from 2pm on Friday 8 June.

Tickets will be limited to six tickets per applicant, all young people aged 14 years or under must be accompanied by an adult and admission will be by ticket only. (more…)

Petition being collected against blanket 20 mph speed limit in York

A petition is now available on the Council’s web site http://tinyurl.com/No-to-20-mph-limit-in-York which can be “signed” by those opposed to a City-wide 20 mph speed limit.

The new limit was agreed by Labour Cabinet member Dave Merrett at a recent meeting. Initially it is to be rolled out across the west of the city.

The Liberal Democrat Council Group produced a critique of the plans which can be found here http://tinyurl.com/LibDems-20mph-in-York

Warnings from the local Lib Dems and others that money and effort would be better spent on tackling known speeding hot spots have been ignored.

The local media and transport experts have also criticised the plans.

Under Labour’s plans, 20 mph signs would be erected at the entrance to each street with repeater signs every 300 metres. The costs of the scheme are put at £500,000 with an extra £100,000 allocated for more traffic calming.

The proposed blanket limit is being opposed by LibDem and Tory Councillors. Green, and many Labour, Councillors are so far supporting the new limit.

Future of City Archives survey

YORK GATEWAY TO HISTORY PROJECT – SURVEY

York Libraries are inviting residents to comment on the access arrangements for the City Archives.

They say, “the aim of the Gateway to History project is to improve the city’s Archive and Local History Service. The project includes the refurbishment of the existing local history library at York Explore, the creation of new spaces to provide additional facilities and services, and the provision of a new programme of activities, both at York Explore and across the city”.

The project will:
• Merge York’s internationally important city archives and local history library and store it in one conservation-grade premises at York Explore
• Provide an extensive programme of activities including exhibitions, displays, walks, group visits and learning sessions tailored to a wide variety of audiences from all backgrounds and interest levels
• Deliver archive and local history services to residents of York in their own community by using the City of York Council’s network of Explore Centres and branch libraries

You can access the survey at http://tinyurl.com/yorkarchive

Eight pupils at York High School selected as an Olympic Guard of Honour.

Students from the York school are going to line the way to the Olympic Opening Ceremony.

That’s a line that maps the route for the athletes as they head to the Olympic Stadium.

School children from 20 Get Set network schools in Yorkshire and Humber will form a Guard of Honour to line the route as athletes make their way through the Olympic Park into the Olympic Stadium, for the London 2012 Olympic Games Opening Ceremony. (more…)