York City centre flood monitor click to enlarge
The Ouse is now reaching peak levels and is expected to fall gradually over the next 24 hours.
The Foss is already returning to more normal levels.
In both cases the levels seen early today were close to the highest ever recorded (12 years ago). It was a closer call for the York community than the Council seemed to be prepared to admit on Tuesday.
Useful web site list
It’s perhaps not surprising that, when on Tuesday a Labour Councillor took the decision, not to fill many of York’s salt bins this winter; he remained safely “behind closed doors”.
When the Council’s new culture of secrecy was introduced in the spring, residents were told that matters of public interest would continue to be debated in public.
There is nothing of more interest to people than being able to get around safely in icy conditions, especially if we have a poor winter.
But no agenda was published for Tuesdays meeting and the officer report has only just being made public 2 days after the decision was taken (http://tinyurl.com/York-salt-bin-policy-2012)
Council report. click to enlarge
The report reveals that Labour plan only to fill the 199 bins provided through the “highways budget”. The remaining 170 were filled using funding provided by Ward Committees (following the annual ballot of resident’s priorities).
Residents, of course, make no distinction on the Councils internal budget arrangements. It is all taxpayer’s money either way.
In many wards, when the Ward Committee ballot was last conducted in autumn 2011, Labour Councillors took the option- of sustaining local salt bins – off the ballot list.
It is now clear why they did so.
Bizarrely, in Westfield, Labour allocated the money, that could have been used to fill the bins, to a project to “purchase new pantomime costumes”.
Possibly one of the costumes could be made available for the Cabinet member who took this extraordinary decision? (A former student leader from Heslington called Levene)
Many of the salt bins – that are now being left out all year – are already in poor condition. Some have been vandalised, while the salt in some has congealed making them unusable.
Yet the new policy would see these bins retained (empty) on our streets -monuments to a more sensible policy
Time to think again on this one.
And hopefully rookie Cabinet member Levene will leave the safety of his ivory tower and ensure that , in future, important decisions on street level services are taken openly and only after residents have had an opportunity to give their views.
Stoptober’s challenge for York
A national campaign is calling for all smokers in York to join a 28-day quitting challenge.
During October, smokers in York are being encouraged to take part in the first ever mass quit attempt launched by the Department of Health – Stoptober.
We know that if you can stop smoking for 28 days you are five times more likely to stay smokefree, and Stoptober leads smokers through a detailed step-by-step programme to help them achieve this goal.
Many famous faces, organisations, employers, City of York Council and North Yorkshire NHS Stop Smoking Service are supporting the brand new stop smoking campaign in a bid to get people to quit.
The new campaign includes a preparation pack, 28-day Quit Calendar and Health & Wealth wheel. Smokers will also receive support and encouragement through a daily messaging service, inspiration from celebrity mentors, and expert advice via:
• Stoptober app (available via Smartphone)
• Motivational text messages
• Facebook page.
