Council officials are recommending to a meeting which will take place on Thursday that the open space in Mayfield Grove is managed by the York Natural Environment Trust (YNET).

The recommendation will come as a surprise and disappointment to the Chase Residents Association who had put forward a detailed plan which would have seen them manage a site which lies at the heart of their community.

Although YNET has experience in managing local nature conservation areas, the proposal does seem to fly in the face of both Council and Government policy which seeks to involve local residents in maintaining neighbourhood facilities.

An officer report confirms that land, to the rear of Hob Moor Terrace which was sold in error by Taylor Wimpey, has now been secured by the Council.

It is to be hoped that a compromise can be found which will utilise the expertise of YNET while fully harnessing the drive and enthusiasm shown by the Chase Residents group.

Thursday’s meeting is open to public who can register to speak if they wish.

Details can be found at http://tinyurl.com/Mayfield-27th-Sept-12

Criminals are living it up at our expense – Why should they?

North Yorkshire Police is launching the 2012 Why should they? campaign today (21 September 2012) with another £25,000 of criminals’ cash up for grabs.

The Police media release reads, “This is the third year in a row that the force has made the cash available to local good causes, having seized it from crooks who have made money from their crimes.

Between Friday 21 September and 31 October 2012, non-profit making organisations, charities, volunteer and community groups whose work makes a positive contribution to reducing crime or anti-social behaviour can apply for up to £3,000 from the fund.

The Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) allows the police to take money and assets from criminals such as drug dealers, fraudsters and thieves if they have gained them as result of their criminal activity.

Over the last two financial years, North Yorkshire Police’s Financial Investigation Unit seized more than £2.3m from criminals under POCA. Some of this money is returned to North Yorkshire Police and other criminal justice partners, and it is by using some of this cash that the Why should they? campaign can help local communities.

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Thanks to a new injection of funding, City of York Council will be running additional ‘noise patrols’ this autumn to establish acceptable noise levels.

Additional funding from the Safer York Partnership is enabling the council’s environmental protection unit to carry out extra noise patrols at the start of the new academic year and during the autumn festivals of Hallowe’en and Bonfire Night.

These additional patrols will operate during Freshers’ Week and enable the Council to provide advice to students on how to control noise and assistance to those affected by noise. Patrols will operate from 10pm-1am in the weeks of 17-20 September for York St John’s University and 8-11 October at the University of York.

It is also planned that extra noise patrols will operate along similar lines and similar hours on Halloween and Bonfire Night to advise on and give support to people enjoying the festivities.

The Noise Patrol’s normal operating hours are from 9pm-3am, on Friday and Saturday nights and can be contacted on (01904) 551555.