Fresh controversy over plans for Monk Stray

York Council is using a “planning loophole” from the 1960s to host camping on Monk Stray for July’s Tour De France just weeks after its original proposals for the site were rejected.

Monk Stray

In March Labour run York Council was forced to scale back its plans for Monk Stray. Nearly 300 residents had opposed proposals to stage events serving alcohol on the Stray on 14 days in any year. The council’s cross-party Licensing Committee decided to grant a one day only licence for July’s Tour De France and said that there could be no camping allowed on the licensable area as part of this.

However, council officers have confirmed that a deal has now been agreed withthe Caravan Club to manage camping on the site for the Tour De France. Planning legislation from the 1960s allows the Caravan Club to organise the camping without a planning application. York Council has also submitted a planning application for a new gate to access Monk Stray (from Stockton Lane) after the authority was told that it could not use an access gate on a nearby private road.

Local residents have consistently raised concerns over plans to turn Monk Stray into a ‘Spectator Hub’ for July’s Grand Départ amid worries over access to the site, parking, traffic, noise, litter, surface water and anti-social behaviour.

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New £1.6 million York market look revealed

Market will look much the same as it does now

new York market plan

City of York Council has presented designs for the refurbishment of Newgate market to market stall holders and will shortly be revealing prototype stalls.

The project is costing Council taxpayers £1.6 million

The Council claims that research conducted in autumn last year showed all those consulted agreed that the market is in need of ‘sprucing up’ and that the new designs should complement the distinctive York character.

All those consulted agreed that the south-eastern end of the market needed to become more vibrant and that music and entertainment and more food on offer would enhance the market atmosphere.

In addition, improved signage, promotion and information about the market was needed for traders and city centre users.

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Huntington Stadium concert – license application submitted

click to go to list of applications published by the York Council

The application for a license, necessary before the Russell Watson concert can take place on 4th July, has now been published on the York Council’s web site

Residents have until 5th June to record any objections to the 10,000 capacity concert planned for the Huntington Stadium.

The Huntington Stadium usually has a 4000 capacity limit for Rugby League matches.

Quite why this application has been submitted by the Council so late in the proceedings – and after the commencement of ticket sales had been announced – is something of a mystery.

It is reminiscent of the plan to hi-jack Monk Stray for use as a campsite for the Tour event; a proposal which led to widespread public concern and eventually the imposition of addition restrictions by the licensing committee.

The main concerns at Huntington are likely to revolve around traffic management issues and public safety management both inside and outside the stadium.

The event is being held on a Friday which is one of the busiest days of the week in the shopping centre and on surrounding roads.

If the Licensing Committee turned down – or imposed a lower crowd limit – on the event then it is unlikely that any appeal against such a decision could be considered in the remaining time available before the event was scheduled to take place.

Skips on Saturdays

17th May 2014	12:30pm Burton Stone Lane
24th May 2014	8:30am Sanderson House Bramham Road 8:30am Kingsway West (Opp 70) 10:30am Stuart Road (nr 65) 12:30pm Windsor Garth nr Kempton Close 12:30pm Westfield Place
31st May 2014	8:30am Sanderson House Bramham Road 10:30am Bramham Road/Grange Lane junction
7th June 2014	8:30am Dringfield Close 10:30am Ganton Place

The skips are funded by the local residents association using their Estate Improvement Grant. The skips are removed once they are full so please make sure you arrive in good time if you intend to make use of them.

Please remember to take your waste to the site only on the dates advertised

If the skip is full or not on the site, please do not leave your waste. This is classed as fly tipping and is illegal

Bulky items including furniture, fridges and freezers are not accepted. To arrange disposal of one of these items please ring York (01904) 551551.

Plant sale tomorrow (16th May) at Foxwood Community Centre

click to enlarge

York reaches target in Apprenticeship challenge

The York Apprenticeship Challenge has reached its target, securing 100 pledges to create new Apprenticeship vacancies from local businesses in just 71 days.

The campaign, which started during National Apprenticeship Week and is led by City of York Council in partnership with local providers, sought to create 100 pledges from local businesses to create Apprenticeship vacancies in 100 days.

Businesses who have pledged to recruit an apprentice include; Minster Electrical, International Service, Papa Kata, Curtain Up Ltd and Business Support York and North Yorkshire.

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Energise officially amongst the best

Acomb’s leisure centre has been scored amongst the UK’s best!

Following the ‘Excellent’ score awarded by Sport England to Energise in November, recently released benchmarking figures from Quest, the Sport England quality scheme, show that Acomb’s Leisure Centre is 16th out of the 600+ leisure centres assessed in the UK annually.

The overall result is made up from 13 assessment areas – seven compulsory and five which Energise selected from a number of different choices.
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