Fresh witness appeal for York collision

North Yorkshire Police are renewing their appeal for witnesses after the death of a man who was seriously injured in a road traffic collision near York.

It occurred at 3.50pm on Monday 2 July 2012, on A19 outside the Fairfield Manor Hotel in Skelton.

The collision involved a dark grey Ford Focus travelling from the A1237 towards Skelton and an 80-year-old man, from Helmsley, who was crossing the road walking towards the hotel.

The pedestrian was taken to Leeds General Infirmary by air ambulance, where he sadly died on Thursday 5 July 2012.

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Ouse will be 2 metres above normal levels In York but escapes worst of rainfall

York has escaped the worst of the flooding seen in the region and is expected to attract large numbers of visitors over the weekend.

Check out the current river level position on this Kings Staith web cam http://www.farsondigitalwatercams.com/live-webcams/north/Ouse/York/#

Visit the Environment Agency web site at this address for more information on flood risks in the region http://tinyurl.com/flood-warnings-York

Westfield PCSO wins Safer Neighbourhood award

North Yorkshire Police Authority last week celebrated the work of Police Officers, Police Community Support Officers and Volunteers in the North Yorkshire’s Safer Neighbourhoods Awards 2012.

At the presentation evening last Friday (29 June) PC Ray Milligan from York was named as the North Yorkshire Police Officer of the Year 2012, with PCSO Stacey Taylor named the Police Community Support Officer.

Both PC Milligan and PCSO Taylor work in the York Safer Neighbourhood Command Area.

Flooding & driving

York is expecting very heavy rainfall today. Here are some tips on driving in potentially flooded areas. You can register to receive flood warnings from the Environment Agency here https://fwd.environment-agency.gov.uk/app/olr/home

Eight things to think about…
•Flash floods can come rapidly and unexpectedly. In the UK they are usually cause when rivers break their banks.
•You may not have warning that a flash flood is approaching.
•Never attempt to drive through a flood that you couldn’t walk through and be aware that water hides dips in the road. Worse still, there may be no road at all under the water. Flooding can wash away the entire road surface and a significant amount of ground beneath.
•Just six inches of water will reach the bottom of most passenger cars; this depth can cause loss of control or possible stalling as water is sucked into the exhaust or washes into the air intake.
•If negotiating a flooded section of road, drive in the middle where the water will be at its shallowest.
•Consider other drivers – pass through flooded sections one car at a time, don’t drive through water against approaching vehicles.

•Many cars will start to float in as little as one foot of water – this can be extremely dangerous because as the wheels lose grip, you lose control.
•Two feet of flowing water can sweep away most vehicles — including large four-wheel drive cars. Don’t try driving through fast-moving water, for example approaching a flooded bridge – your car could easily be swept away.

Negotiating floods

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Steve Redgrave visits Westfield

Olympian Steve Redgrave at Energise sports centre

Olympic legend Sir Steve Redgrave visited York High School yesturday.

Sir Steve Redgrave is one of an elite group of only 5 athletes in history to have achieved 5 gold medals in consecutive Olympic Games.

Steve is without doubt Britain’s greatest Olympian and indeed one of the greatest Olympians the world has ever seen. Steve led a motivational and inspirational school assembly about his career and later watched as pupils joined in sports activities. Steve also offered interactive rowing tips to York High pupils.

Charter Weekend in York : what to see and where to see it

Charter Weekend – celebrating exactly 800 years since York was granted its Royal Charter by King John on 9 July 1212 – is here. There are many special events in York from Saturday 7 to Monday 9 July for residents and visitors alike.

These are the details of the weekend programme:

Saturday 7 July

NEW A taster from Ebor Vox in Dean’s Park at 13:00 (behind the minster)

‘Flash’ choirs will be springing up in the city centre at cafes, shops and visitor attractions between 2 and 5 pm

• MOR Music Festival: Parliament Street : 800 minutes of live music of many different types, from 10.30 am to midnight. Full details of the schedule are on www.mormusic.co.uk

Meet the King: Clifford’s Tower : meet King John in full regalia, ready to receive his subjects and anyone who wishes to petition him. 11am -5pm. Normal admission charges apply.

York Minster: tower trips from 9.30am to 5pm, and the York Minster 8 Wonders Tour : 2.30 pm.

Sunday 8 July

Simply Vintage Market: Parliament Street : from jewellery to furniture, from vinyl to hair makeovers, clothing and more, plus vintage lambrettas : 10am to 5pm.

Choral evensong: York Minster : a special evensong to celebrate York 800 : 4pm.

Monday 9 July

York 800 market: Parliament Street : specially decorated stalls and traders in celebratory attire: 10am to 6.15 pm.

York 800 cake giveaway: Parliament Street : a free treat of tea and cake made by students at York College : 3pm until they’re gone!

• Clifford’s Tower: late opening until 9pm. Normal admission prices apply.

• Ebor Vox (the voice of York) present ‘This York’: choirs will process from York Minster (leaving at 6pm) to the Eye of York (near Clifford’s Tower), accompanied by drummers. The city centre streets will be alive with music. Hundreds of singers will reach the Eye of York at 6.30pm, joined by hundreds of schoolchildren, giant puppets, dancers and the Shepherd Group Brass Band. They will perform ‘This York’, written by Benjamin Till and directed by Stephen Burke. The evening will finish at approximately 8pm.

Full details of the weekend’s events are on www.york800.com