The latest Westfield ward profile figures which can be downloaded by clicking here, shows that the area has the largest number of people living on Job Seekers allowance.
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329 residents (3.4%) are claiming job seekers allowance, the highest in York Most workers continue to be employed in the retail and social care areas. The figure reinforces the views of those who believe that the area has been neglected by the Labour Council during the last 3 years. There is a need for more investment in the area including a major regeneration of the Front Street area. Life expectancy in the ward for males is significantly below the City average. The figures do show that by 2010 (when census data was taken) people living in the area had much better educational; qualifications than a decade earlier. |
York Council confirms poor turn out for “Community Conversation” meetings
The Council have released their “official” attendance figures for the meetings set up to improve communications between its “Cabinet” and residents.
As expected, the numbers attending the meetings have been low, reflecting a general cynicism about the sincerity of the Council leadership.
The number of residents attending – according to the Council – was:
1. Haxby and Wigginton – 61 (including 20 or so children)
2. Westfield – 15
3. Hull Road – 26
4. Clifton – 16
The meetings replaced the quarterly Ward Committee meetings which had a higher attendance level.
The cost of the “community conversations” so far is put at £772.25.
The new Council, when it is elected in 2015, will need to be much more sensitive to public opinion if it is to regain the trust of York residents.
Hotel boom ahead of Tour De France?
It seems that some local businesses are taking the Councils advice seriously and are trying to make the most of the weekend of the Tour De France Grand Depart.
On Thursdays the Council Leader said that “our main objectives are to ensure local businesses benefit hugely”.
So how much can visitors expect to pay for their trip to Yorkshire on 5th and 6th July? (comparative prices for other summer weekends taken from trip advisor)
- Cedar Court £302 per night (£243)
- Park Inn £170 pn (£169)
- Hotel Noir £236 pn (£161)
- Royal York £983 pn (£983)
- Elmbank £123 pn (£117)
Many other York hotels are now fully booked. However many are also fully for most weekends during the summer period!
So there is little evidence to suggest that the kind of excessive price hikes, seen at other major sporting events world wide, are taking place in York
What about camping?
Monk Stray is the only long term (9 days) option still being advertised by Visit York
- Monk stray will cost £24 a night for a 4 person tent.
- Parking for a motorhome will cost you £31 a night.
- The Millennium Bridge site is a little more at £26 a night
- 5 nights at the Designer outlet will cost £175
Parking is now advertised at £8 per day.
You can buy a Tour T shirt for £13.
Library IT events for over 50’s start tomorrow
click to enlargeLibrary events for over 50’s start tomorrow
Tour de France “App” launched
Amidst growing concern about the escalating cost of staging the Tour de France start in York, the Council has launched a new mobile phone “app”.
It is called Cycle Yorkshire Ride The Routes.
Enabling cyclists to experience the Tour de France route from their mobile, the app is designed around the Yorkshire stages of the Grand Départ and encompasses information on the routes, hints and tips on how to cycle specific sections and general rural cycling road safety advice.
The information is presented in short videos on the app and text (for areas where mobile signal is limited). The film clips show Jamie Sharp (Semi pro rider for Team Hope) cycling each section with Jonathan Cowap (BBC York Radio Presentator) providing the advice and information in the voice over.
The app has been created as part of an ongoing Regional Safer Cycling Project that is the work of a Partnership Team, made up of representatives of every Yorkshire & Humber Road Safety Partnership.
Lead by City of York Council on behalf of the region. Kathryn Mackay, Road Safety Project Officer at City of York Council, said, “The app is aimed at all those cyclists and groups who are coming to Yorkshire to ride all or part of the Grand Départ routes like their professional heroes.