York Police and crime update

Police investigate Strensall motorbike theft

Police in York are appealing for the public’s help after the theft of a motorbike near the city.

Incident 2

It occurred between 9.30pm on Saturday 8 March and 5.30am on Sunday 9 March 2014, from the driveway of a house on Toby Court, Strensall, where it had been securely chained up.

The Honda VTR SP1 is orange and purple with the registration number W407RNF.

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Custom motorbike stolen in York – can you help locate it?

York police have issued images of a stolen motorbike as they appeal for the public’s help to trace it.

It was taken between 12noon on Saturday 8 March and 1pm on Sunday 9 March 2014, from Huntington Road, where had been secured with a chain.

The Suzuki SJ has black custom paintwork with orange wheels.

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Police investigate York sculpture theft

York police are appealing for information about a theft of a sculpture in the city.

It was stolen between 3pm and 4pm on Sunday 2 March 2014, from the Whitewall Gallery, Davygate.

The limited edition sculpture of a boat measures 9in by 12in, and is valued at £300.

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Nine suspects being questioned after Operation Hawk arrests

Police have made nine arrests as Operation Hawk’s crackdown on travelling criminals continues to have an impact.

Incident

Officers on Operation Hawk patrol stopped a Ford Transit van travelling southbound on the A1(M) near Boroughbridge at around 5.30pm on Wednesday 12 March 2014.

During a search of the vehicle officers found a large container containing what is believed to be stolen diesel.

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Controversial Newgate market plan stumbles forward

From 17 March to 7 April, City of York Council will be embarking on its final phase of consultation on the controversial £1.6 million Newgate Market’s refurbishment, and will be “showing how research and consultation with shoppers, traders and local businesses is shaping the new layout”.
york_newgate_market3

The Council claims, “Using feedback, we have identified the most popular ideas which include creating a new wider ‘street’ from one end to the other to enhance pedestrian flow and open up views into Newgate”.

“We’re also working with businesses in the Shambles on how they could maximise trading opportunities by developing dual shop fronts – one onto the street, another onto the market. Other ideas include looking at creating a weatherproof roof that lets in light, more and different designs for stalls, better signage and a new recreational public space behind the Marks and Spencer store.

Potential to create a lively food court complemented by new kiosks and Shambles businesses opening into the market is being considered for the south eastern edge of the market. Artwork on the walls and lighting installations, café seating, pop-up trading or evening events could be accommodated in this flexible space

The Jubbergate entrance and how it can draw Parliament Street shoppers into Newgate is being considered with ideas including an overhead canopy of lights which double as colourful ‘bunting’ during the day.

This final stage of public consultation will show the latest proposals, developed from workshops and general consultations in the foyer of the council’s West Offices from Monday 17to Monday 24March, in the window of 5 Silver Street, and also online from Monday 17March to Monday 7April at www.york.gov.uk/newgatemarket

Thoughts on what is liked best and what is liked least about the latest proposals will be gathered by questionnaires at the exhibitions and online.

Meanwhile questions are being asked about where the Continental market and Food Festival events will be located while Parliament Street is in temporary use for the regular market stalls.

Schools meal prices to be reduced in York?

It seems that the governments decision to provide free school meals for all under 7 year olds (Key Stage 1) could result in a general reduction in the price of school meals.

Contractors are understood to have said that the larger volume of food being cooked would result in lower unit costs for all meals.

School lunch 2

At present school meals in York at £2-25p (Secondary £2.40) are amongst the most expensive in the country.

As a result school meal take up is relatively low at 38%

It now seems likely that if the cost of meals can be reduced to £2 then an increase to a 55% take up could be achieved.

Of the 64 schools in York, 44 are in the Local Authority’s school meals contract with ISS (Education). In York, all meals are freshly prepared in school except for two small schools. Quality and nutritional value of the meals is good http://www.schoolfoodplan.com/contact/

2503 children in York currently are entitled to free school meals. Schools receive additional funding of £953 per pupil in 2013/14 (rising to £1,300 for primary schools in 2014/15) as a pupil premium from the Government, for every pupil registered for free school meals.

A national Department for Education report (Data source: DWP December 2011) indicated that a further 400 pupils in York might be entitled to free school meals but their parents had not registered and claimed for the benefit. This not only means that those pupils are missing out on a free meal but York schools are not receiving the additional funding per pupil as detailed above.

A report of a Council working group is being considered next week.

Tour de France updates

Community artwork of the ‘Road Through York’ to celebrate the Tour de France

Residents with an eye for the bigger picture are invited to book to join in the  community painting collaboration called the “Road Through York”. The project aims to create an enormous painting in which hundreds of local people have had a hand and which “will help welcome the Tour de France to York”.

TdF

A painting by local artist and art tutor Karen Winship features York landmarks and will be scaled up and broken down into 320 panels. Each metre-squared panel will be painted by individuals joining in the project, who will see their work laid out when the completed montage, totalling 320 square metres, is exhibited on the Knavesmire on 6 July for the aerial cameras to film and relay to the world.

Any individual or any organisation who wants to join in and make its mark on the Road Through York must email theroad@york.gov.uk or call 07990 774 420 to secure a place at a number of painting day s organised throughout the coming weeks. Find out more at http://www.experiencetherace.com/ .

Information Meetings

In the face of bitter opposition from local residents the Council is now saying that  the proposed spectator hub will “be sited at the northern end of the Monk stray near to the A64, away from the majority of residents, with access from Malton Road. It will have a temporary infrastructure of toilet, washing and water facilities and it’s likely to have a food tent offering breakfasts and camping supplies.”

On Thursday 10 April, from 5.30pm at the Rowntree Park Reading Café, there will be a second dedicated TdF information meeting. There, people can expect to find out more about routes and traffic management, about camping and caravanning, plus information on the cultural festival called York: Be Part of It, and plans for the exciting spectator hubs where people can enjoy the celebrations.

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York libraries help older people get connected online

City of York Libraries are holding a series of free taster events to introduce older people to the benefits of being online. These will be held as part of the national Spring Online campaign, which was formerly Silver Surfers Day and which has now grown to an annual week-long event.

Acomb Explore Library

Acomb Explore Library

There are currently around seven million people who have never used the internet and of those around six million are aged over 55 years. These people are missing out on the many benefits that being online offers, such as accessing a wider range of products and services, saving money and being better connected with friends and family.

The local events are as follows:
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