Thursday 18 October 6pm – 7pm, Rowntree Park Reading Cafe.

Celebrate the opening of Rowntree Park Reading Cafe and explore the life of Joseph Rowntree and why he would approve of this innovative library model.

This local history talk with Nestle Archivist, Alex Hutchinson, will give an introduction to York’s world famous, Rowntree Family, in particular focusing on the life of Joseph Rowntree, his passion for reading, libraries and learning, and his desire for Rowntree Park to aid the citizens of York of all ages towards a healthier and happier life.

Tickets cost £4 and are available online from the http://tinyurl.com/Rowntree-18th-Oct-12 or from Rowntree Park Reading Café tel: (01904) 551489 .

An urgent item has been added to a council meeting which is taking place on Thursday.

If approved it would see works start almost immediately on the bus priority measures recently consulted on which affect the Boroughbridge Road areas of the Holgate and Acomb Wards.

Dozens of objections were raised by residents during a recent consultation process on the section of Boroughbridge Road between Grantham Drive and The Fox roundabout.

There were fewer objections to the proposals for the Water End to Carr Lane section.

The report and list of objections can be found here http://tinyurl.com/Boroughbridge-Road-27th-Sept-1

Although residents have the right to attend and register to speak at Thursday’s meeting, it is unlikely that many will even know that the bus lane and parking changes are being discussed!

The NHS North Yorkshire and York board was meeting today and was being asked to approve a range of cuts to NHS services in the region. The cuts result from budget mismanagement over several years.

Unlike some York Council meetings, the NHS Board do at least hold their meetings in public and they publish agendas and background papers in advance.

Those for today’s meeting can be found here: http://tinyurl.com/NHS-25th-Sept-12

However anyone seeking a detailed list of the cuts to be made will be disappointed.

The Board said at their last meeting that “we may not take everyone with us, we are committed to ensuring that, whilst they may not agree with the decisions we have to take, the public will be fully aware of the challenges we face and the reasons behind the decisions we take”.

Strange therefore that the Board did not publicise in advance of the meeting the measures that they intended to discuss let alone take the opportunity to give residents, patients and staff the chance to make representations.

The NHS PCT Board is being wound up early next year.

1600 update. Flood warnings have now been issued for river front properties in York as river levels continue to rise.

1400 – It looks like record high levels are being reached on the Swale (Catterick Bridge), Ure (Ripon) and Nidd (Gouthwaite). http://tinyurl.com/Ouse-catchment

All this water will be heading for York so it’s mildly reassuring that neither the Council nor emergency services seem to be concerned enough to issue high level warnings or put their contingency plans into gear?

A lot, of course, depends on when it stops raining.

These are the direct links to the Environment Agencies water level monitoring stations for York.

They give the current river levels and compare them to historical records.

Levels are all now in the range where some flooding is possible and the Agency is forecasting further rises in the levels later today.

Holgate http://tinyurl.com/Holgate-beck-level

City centre http://tinyurl.com/York-City-centre-river-level

Foss barrier http://tinyurl.com/Foss-Barrier-river-level

New Earswick http://tinyurl.com/New-Earswick-river-level

Skelton/Poppleton http://tinyurl.com/Skelton-river-levels

Update 1300: A1 north & south blocked near Darlington. East Coast main line services to and from the north suspended.

Mid day Update: St George’s Field car park in York is beginning to flood. City of York Council ask any motorists parked there to return to their cars

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

It the water level rises above the top of the “no entry” sign then some properties are likely to flood.

You can register to receive flood warnings from the Environment Agency here https://fwd.environment-agency.gov.uk/app/olr/home

Energise on Cornlands Road are saying, “The fitness suite will be closed on 11th and 12th October for the completion of the new extension. All the new equipment will be installed ready for full opening on 13th October”.

The AA are seeking volunteers to help with a detailed survey of highway conditions across the country.

They say,

“Each year AA Streetwatch volunteers help us check out the state of the nation’s neighbourhood roads and pavements. Our 2012 Autumn survey will commence on the 6 October and once again I am seeking your help with our simple survey.

We ask our volunteers to take about thirty minutes to stroll around their local area noting the number of various defects, such as potholes, that we have listed. It can be carried out on a day and time to suit you during the two weeks after 6th October. Surveys like Streetwatch are vital to the AA’s role as the motorists’ champion.

This time we are also asking whether any of the defects you see would be hazardous for cyclists. We will provide guidance, a checklist to take with you and tell you how to submit your results in a further e-mail to you once you have registered here http://tinyurl.com/AA-survey-2012

When completed your survey will provide valuable data that we can share with the highway authorities. Last year the information you provided was published in a report commissioned by the (LibDem) Transport Minister Norman Baker”.

Given the deteriorating condition of Yorks roads we hope as many volunteers as possible will help with the survey.