The York Council is seeking volunteers to join its Citizens “Talkabout” Panel

They say;

“Talkabout – York’s Citizens’ Panel has been inviting residents to give their views since 1996. Most panelists are randomly selected from the electoral register. We now want to give more people the opportunity to take part in discussion groups, online surveys and postal questionnaires.

A Citizens’ Panel is just one of the ways we find out what people think and need. It is a large group of residents that give a small amount of time to take part in surveys and discussions about local services and issues that affect where they live. You can decide whether or not you want to take part in any opportunity we offer you, usually two or three per year.

Who can join and how?

If you are at least 18 years old and live in the City of York Council area, we’re interested in hearing from you. You can leave the panel at any time and would not normally remain on the panel for more than three years”.

For more information please click here and if you would like to take part please fill in the recruitment questionnaire click here and return to business.intelligence@york.gov.uk by 8th April 2013 “.

City of York Council and local bus operators say that they are encouraging commuters, residents and visitors to join a new bus user group to become involved improving travel in York

Certainly York needs a group which would allow operators to more fully understand the views of passengers. Some of the current routes ignore passengers needs.

We hope though that it will not just be another attempt by the Council to blame others for their ineffectiveness. They have still to confirm whether they have successfully submitted a bid for “Green Bus Fund” support. Applications had to submitted last week.

The organisers say, “the new Bus User Group is looking for new members who either have an interest in bus travel or use services across the city, to help to shape future investment for the bus network in York”.

It will be know by the slightly uncomfortable anagram BUSUG!

“Meetings will be held at different times throughout the year to accommodate work commitments, and members of the group will also be asked to provide feedback online, on the phone or by completing questionnaires.

(more…)

Nestle, North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue and North Yorkshire Police have backed a new campaign to make York’s roads safer.

Nestlé, one of York’s largest employers, is set to endorse a new campaign to be launched by the City’s road safety team today (Friday 5 April).

I-Pledge asks people to sign a pledge to show that they care about their community and city. All the pledges are then uploaded onto an interactive map so that they can see just how much of the community or area they live in have signed up to respect others on the roads.

Non York residents can also pledge and the interactive map is live now on http://www.itravelyork.info/ so that people from across the country can sign up and show their support.

All of Nestlé’s employees and visitors are being asked to sign to up to i-pledge and consider all aspects of safety in everything they do, even considering things like not using a mobile phone when walking about the plant.

The pledge gives people the option to pledge to one or all of the following:-
• Respect all road users
• Stay within the speed limit
• Not use a mobile, when using the road
• Always wear a seat belt
• Not drive under the influence of drink or drugs

Anyone who would like to sign up to the pledge can click here or email road.safety@york.gov.uk

For those in the community who would be interested in promoting the pledge in their area there is a specially designed ‘Community Champion Pack’, which includes information and a number of pledge cards and can be requested from the road safety team at the above e-mail address.