What's on in #York: Community Fun on Sunday at Homestead Park with @jrf_uk and @theJRHT https://t.co/31JjSivFXt https://t.co/zQdBXXQadw

What’s on in York: Community Fun Day 21st July

Bootham Park Masterplan published

City of York Council has today published a draft masterplan for the Bootham Park Hospital site, following the public consultation which took place last year.

The masterplan, developed jointly between the York Council and the York teaching Hospital NHS Trust, proposes “a viable option for the development of the site, one that meets the needs of York residents by providing care accommodation, public open space, key worker housing and more”.

The key features of the plan include.

A Nursing home included on YTHT land (part of former nurse’s accommodation site).
Residential development aimed at the senior living market to the
east of the chapel.
Child care nursery located on northern edge of YTHT land –
directly accessible to the York Hospital site
The main former hospital building to be converted to extra care
apartments (potentially incorporating step down care linked to
York Hospital). Unlisted elements to be removed and a new block
built to the north east in order to provide a viable number of units.
Unlisted and some grade 2 listed elements to the west
removed in order to accommodate a Medical Training and
Research Centre of Excellence with associated Key Worker
Accommodation (medical staff).
A linear ‘’atrium’’ provides a main access and control point but
also visually separates the form of old and new elements.
Landscaped area to the north redesigned to provide a semi
private garden and courtyard space in the centre of the listed
building group reinstated as landscape open space.
Unlisted cottages off driveway entrance from Bootham removed and replaced with apartments.
Existing listed gatehouse reinstated as residential accommodation.
Potential café/pavilion proposed adjacent to reopened pedestrian access off Bootham.

The plan involves building on the Union Terrace car park. The coach park would be retained with a multi storey car park, constructed above it,containing 250 spaces. It is claimed that this change will improve access to the hospital site from the south and provide a better “gateway” appearance for a key route into the City centre.

The Council says, “York residents will now be invited to contribute further to the development of the masterplan, by giving their views on the proposals so far.

The Bootham Park Masterplan Consultation will launch in September 2019″.

NB. NHS Property Services have recently engaged in a failed commercial sale and continue to re-market the site.

A copy of the draft masterplan can be downloaded by clicking this link

“

What’s on in York: Family Fun Day on Saturday at St James the Deacon on Sherringham Drive

What’s on in York: Try tennis free of charge at Energise

Four men found guilty of urinating in public fined £1800

York Magistrates have ordered four men to pay total costs of £1773 for urinating in public in York.

On Tuesday 16 July 2019, York Magistrates heard that Luke Beaumont (aged 20 of Southwold Close, Scarborough) was found by a police officer, urinating against the wall of St. Martin Le Grand Church on Coney Street, York, at 7.25pm on Sunday 21 April 2019.

Mr Beaumont, who apologised for his actions during the incident, pleaded guilty by post and was fined £81, ordered to pay costs of £264 and a court surcharge of £30.

Jordan Haigh (aged 21 or The Willows, Thirsk) was seen by a police officer, urinating against a wall on Lendal, York, around 1.50am on Sunday 24 March 2019. Mr Haigh fled the scene however was located shortly after and admitted the offence.

Mr Haigh pleaded guilty by post and was fined £133, ordered to pay costs of £264 and a court surcharge of £30.

York Magistrates (16 July 2019) also heard that Paul Peacock (aged 44 of Boulmer Lea, Durham) was seen by a York BID Ranger, urinating on a ramp between Boots and WH Smiths on Coney Street, York, at around 8.40pm on Saturday 27 April 2019.

Following the assistance of North Yorkshire Police Officers, Mr Peacock’s identity was confirmed. He pleaded guilty by post and was fined £163, ordered to pay costs of £264 and a court surcharge of £30.

Jack Pearson (aged 23 of Kitchener Street, York) was found by a police officer, urinating against a wall at the rear of Coney Street, York, at 2.50am on Saturday 30 March 2019.

Mr Pearson failed to attend court of submit a plea and was found guilty in his absence. He was fined £220, ordered to pay costs of £264 and a court surcharge of £30.

Independent report into housing in York published

Local Government Association (LGA) report says the house-building rate in York is comparable to rest of the country.

The net new supply in York increased the existing housing stock by 1.5% during 2017/18.

This is much higher than the England average of 0.9%, suggesting the level of local supply is unlikely to be an issue. The Government’s national target of 300,000 homes per year is equivalent to 1.3%.

Population growth in York is set to average 686 people per year from 2020 to 2041, with projected average annual household growth of 430 households over the same period. This is significantly lower that the Council is forecasting in its draft Local Plan

According to the report, which was published this week, the average house price in York in 2018 was £254,000. The median ratio of house prices to local earnings is 8.8. This is higher than the England average of 8.0, suggesting high house prices are likely to be an issue for some

Private rents in York in the 12 months to September 2018 ranged from £565 per month for a lower quartile one bed to £2,058 for an upper quartile four (or more) bed property. The overall median private rent was £745, which is approximately the same as the England average of £690, suggesting that high private rents may also be an issue.

House prices in York in December 2018 are higher than their 2007/08 peak by 25.4%, compared with England at +27.3%.

Employment in York improved from 75.3% in 2014/15 to 78.7% in 2017/18; unemployment changed from 3.6% to 3.1%; and economic inactivity changed from 21.7% to 19.4%.

Gross domestic household income in York was £18,070 per person per year in 2016, compared with £14,133 in 2006. By comparison the figure for England changed from £15,349 to £19,878 over the same period.

The overall population in York changed by +0.6% due to migration in the 12 months to June 2017: +0.2% from domestic sources and +0.4% from international.

By age, the largest single contribution to growth was from 19-year olds.

The average life expectancy for people born in 2015-17 in York is 80.2 years for men and 83.5 years for women.

The equivalent national figures are 79.6 and 83.1 respectively.

The report confirms that second home ownership, empty homes and inward migration numbers are not significant issues for the City compared to the rest of the country.

The full report can be read by clicking here

Renewed appeal after 87-year-old cyclist dies following A1237 crash near Woodthorpe

Police have renewed their appeal for witnesses and dashcam footage after an 87-year-old cyclist injured in a collision in York has sadly died

The collision happened on Saturday 13 July at around 2.30pm on the on A1237 between the Copmanthorpe and Woodthorpe roundabouts.

It involved a bright blue BMW travelling towards Clifton Moor and the pedal cyclist who was crossing the road.

The cyclist, an 87-year-old man from York, was airlifted to hospital with multiple serious injuries but died in hospital on Monday evening (15 July).

The driver of the BMW, a 60-year-old man also from York, was uninjured.

Police would like to speak to anyone who witnessed the collision itself or saw either vehicle prior to the collision, particularly anyone with dashcam footage.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact Steven James in the Major Collision Investigation Tadcaster either via email; Steven.James771@northyorkshire.pnn.police.uk or by calling 101 quoting reference; 12190126860

If you wish to remain anonymous you can contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or online at crimestoppers-uk.org

Please quote reference number 12190126860 when passing information.

Labour wants to plunge York further into debt

£75,000 salary for “Children’s Commissioner”

A huge increase in borrowing is proposed in a Labour party amendment to the York Councils budget plans.

£2.5 million extra will be borrowed with more being taken from reserves currently earmarked to provide additional social housing.

They say, most of the extra money will be spent on reducing “damp” in Council housing. The Council had already let a contract for £2 million to address this issue on 11^th May.

The Council has record debt levels with over 22% of what a resident pays in Council Tax set to be spent on interest charges by 2022.

Plans for a “Children’s Commissioner” on a fat cat £75k salary, appear to be equally misguided. The Council has a well-paid Executive Councillor with responsibilities in the same area.

Labour also plans to cut £1/4 million from the “safer communities” crime reduction budget. This is an extraordinary misjudgement of the problems that exist in parts of the City with anti-social behaviour, drug misuse, graffiti and vandalism on the increase.

Instead money would be spent on two additional talking shops; a “Human Rights Commission” and a “Carbon Neutral City Citizens Assembly” are proposed.

The only part of the Labour plan which might gain some support is a proposed investment of £40,000 in reducing, to one day, the target time taken to remove “fly tipping”. Some may, however, feel that the first step should be to improve bulky waste collection arrangements and reintroduce regular visits by “skips” to key estates.

The Council’s revised budget proposals will be debated tomorrow (Wednesday)

Steve Galloway

A Liberal Democrat view of life in the City of York. This website is edited by Steve Galloway who represented the Westfield area on the City of York Council between 1973 and 2011.