York police have released a CCTV image of a man suspected of stealing a bike.

The image shows the suspect stealing a silver Raleigh mountain bike from the rear yard of the British Heart Foundation shop on North Street sometime between 11am and 5pm on 21 September 2011.

Officers are appealing to anyone who recognises the suspects to get in touch.

PC David Scaife, of York police, said: “The suspect can be seen on CCTV cutting a phone cable which the bike was locked to and riding off with the lock still attached to the bike.

“I am appealing to anyone who can help us identify him to contact the police or Crimestoppers with information.”

Anyone who can help the police with their enquiries is urged to contact North Yorkshire Police on 101 – select option 2 – and ask for PC David Scaife or York police.

Alternatively, Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111, quoting reference number 12110161122.

City of York Council is reminding residents that the closing date for Yorkshire in Bloom entrants is Tuesday 31 January.

Possible entrants have until next week to take part in the Yorkshire in Bloom competition and could be someone who works in their local neighbourhood to create lasting environmental improvements or someone who just Loves Where They Live*.

Yorkshire in Bloom is part of Britain in Bloom, the largest horticultural campaign in Europe, which seeks to improve local neighbourhoods through the competition fostering a sense of civic pride and community spirit involving local organisations such as schools, voluntary groups, businesses and residents.

York in Bloom has entered the city category. Other entries so far from York include Low Moor Community Kids’ Allotment, Fulford in Bloom, Upper and Nether Poppleton in Bloom, Coppergate Centre, York St John University, Dunnington, Dringhouses and Woodthorpe Primary School and the Royal York Hotel.

Liz Levett, head of Environmental Enforcement and Parking Services, said: “This is a great way for us to celebrate and recognise our community efforts. The York in Bloom committee is happy to give help and support to individual entries. It is easy to enter – just go to the Yorkshire in Bloom website www.yorkshireinbloom.co.uk.”

The York Council is being urged to submit a bid to the better bus fund. All Local Authorities can bid for a maximum of £5million from the £50million fund. The investment is to support improvements to the bus network which will deliver “benefits for the bus passenger and economy and reduce carbon emissions”.
All bids must be submitted by 24th February 2012 and can be made up of capital, revenue, or a combination of the two.

The Liberal Democrat led Council initiated the trial use of low emission buses over 12 months ago and use of the fund could have helped to introduce such vehicles into the City on a permanent basis.

Bids need the support of key bus operators. Proposals that receive the support of all bus operators in the area will be preferred and proposals must not favour one particular bus operator.

Whilst match funding is not a prerequisite, preference will be given to bids which have an element of match funding either from the Local Authority or bus operators.

It is understood that the Council propose to undertake works on a spine route that has been highlighted by operators as a location of “unpredictable delay”, namely Stonebow-Pavement- Coppergate, linked to the adjoining stretch of Clifford Street- Ouse Bridge-Micklegate-George Hudson Street-Rougier Street-Station Avenue.

The Council says it proposes to work with operators to identify improvements in the following areas:
• reliability of traffic movements
• restriction and enforcement
• highway and waiting facility/interchange improvements
• carbon/emission improvements

“Strategic modelling work is being undertaken that will identify traffic redistribution patterns as a result of restrictions and highlight junctions where improvements will be required in order to support the alterations to the spine”.

In other words, they area intending to go ahead with their plans to ban cars and trucks from most of the City centre. Ironic in the extreme given that Labour in 2003 opposed more pedestrianisation because of its “knock on” effect it might have on alternative routes such as Kingsway North.