York Police and crime update

York police are appealing for witnesses and information after a man was knocked unconscious in the city centre.

York man guilty of stealing £4,900 from 87-year-old

A 22-year-old York man has pleaded guilty to stealing £4,900 from an 87-year-old woman.

Activity day at Hull Road Park, York

York police and partners are holding a community fun and crime prevention day at Hull Road Park in York on Thursday 8 August 2013 between 12pm and 4pm.

As well as the many fun activities which local people are invited to take part in, officers will be providing free cycle security marking and general crime prevention advice.
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Information Commissioners report on York Council secrecy expected on Tuesday

We are expecting a response to our complaint about non disclosure of information on York bus services tomorrow (Tuesday).

The case revolves around the York Councils refusal to publish details of subsidised bus ticket sales.

The Council has been heavily criticised over recent months for lack of transparency in its decision making processes

More brownfield sites for homes coming forward in York – Council Green Belt assumptions proved to be wrong

Brownfield sites for nearly 2000 additional homes have already been found since Labour launched its attack on the Green Belt in April.

Many alternatives to green field development were listed in the LibDem response to the Council’s Local Plan which was submitted last week.

Ashbank – will be converted into flats

Even more potential brownfield sites are now emerging with an application being considered on Thursday to provide 9 homes at the former Ashbank care home site on Shipton Road. The property is owned by the Council.

A further application will see 12 homes built on the site of the Yearsley Grove pub on Huntington Road

The same planning committee will consider a proposal to construct 37 new homes on the site of the Burnholme Club in Heworth. This was a site identified for housing in the Local Plan (Ref H17) but for only 19 homes.

Taken with other sites – like Our Lady’s – there seems to have been a systematic and cynical attempt by York Council leaders to deliberately underestimate the capacity of brownfield sites in the City.

In the latter two cases the actual planning proposals almost double the number of units allocated for the sites in the Local Plan.

No explanation has been forthcoming from the Council on these major anomalies.

City centre set for 150 extra bike parking spaces

Over the next couple of months, extra cycle parking will have been put in place in Lendal, Goodramgate, King Street, Library Square and Micklegate.

This comes on top new parking recently installed in Piccadilly and North Street.

This will help to create an extra 150 spaces to add over 1000 spaces already availible within the city centre.

Council opens door to new landlord accreditation scheme

A project to support the improvement of standards in York’s private rented accommodation sector has been agreed by City of York Council.

The new YorProperty scheme is voluntary and landlords and/or agents can sign up for accreditation if they agree to meet certain standards which promote safe accommodation. Once accepted, properties of accredited members will be marketed on a branded website, supported by City of York Council.

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