Sign up to the Big Community Energy Switch

City of York Council is reminding residents to sign up to the Big Community Energy Switch by 2 February.

People will be joining together with over 170 other residents from York and 12,000 people from around the UK in the switch, that could help them save on average £169 on their gas and electricity bills.


The council and iChoosr held their first scheme between December 2013 and February 2014. A total of 751 York residents signed up, along with 36,000 people across the UK. Average annual savings for those York residents who switched was £169!

Supported by York’s Citizens Advice Bureau and Age UK York – the Save Money by Switching Energy campaign launched in December 2013. The scheme enables York residents to register for the assisted scheme through these four easy steps that can result in them being offered potentially cheaper alternative tariffs to consider switching to.

1) Anyone who pays a household energy bill can register for free. Registration is easy – you just need a recent fuel bill or annual statement.

2) Registration closes on 2 February 2015. The council’s switching partner iChoosr then gathers everyone’s registrations together and invites all the energy companies to offer their best prices. This is all done by iChoosr. You don’t need to do anything.

3) The cheapest tariffs win! Residents will receive an with details on the new tariff secured by the scheme from 16 February. It will tell you how much money you could potentially save if you accept.

4) Residents have until 16 March to decide to accept the offer or not. There is no obligation to accept and there are no fees or charges. You simply get a new offer that could potentially save you money on your energy bills. If you choose not to take up the offer, you can always register again in future schemes.

If residents are unable to sign up to this round of the Big Community Energy Switch they can join the next round, which runs from 24 March until 18 May.

To find out more or to register go to www.york.gov.uk/switchingenergy. If residents do not have access online please visit City of York Council’s customer service centre at West Offices or call us on 01904 551550.

From walking to jogging in 10 weeks.

Walkers who would like to speed up and start jogging are invited to join a new programme which transforms residents from striding out to jogging up to five kilometres after 10 weeks.

The Walk 2 Jog Programme, organised by City of York Council, starts on Tuesday 17 February at 6.30pm at Rowntree Park car park. The weekly sessions steadily increase in speed and distance, starting with a three kilometre walk which builds up to a five kilometre jog in week 10.

The fitness sessions are planned to be fun and sociable which participants really enjoy and feel the benefits of in terms of stamina, aerobic capacity and weight loss.

The course will be taken by Jonathan Nyman, qualifying as an England Athletics run leader. Jonathan first started jogging as a way of helping to control high blood sugar levels, which developed into setting up a social jogging group.

Jogging as an exercise is a great aerobic activity which can help weight loss and develop a healthy heart. While many people take up jogging to enter local races and raise money for charity, those who want to carry on will be given other options available, which includes joining other jogging and running groups held across York.

This Walk 2 Jog course is for adults and costs £10 for 10 weeks with each session lasting approximately 40 to 60 minutes. Participants are asked to bring a drink and wear trainers and comfortable clothes. For further information and to book contact Dean Sharp, Sports Participation Officer email dean.sharp@york.gov.uk or call 01904 553377.

New planning applications Westfield Ward

Gale Farm Court elderly persons sheltered accommodation to get new windows and doors see planning application ref AOD/15/00028

Gale Farm Court sheltered accommodation

Gale Farm Court sheltered accommodation

Below are the latest planning applications received by the York Council for the Westfield ward.

Full details can be found by clicking the application reference

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Acomb

None

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Westfield

Location:       93 Queenswood Grove York YO24 4PN

Proposal:       Two storey side and part two storey and single storey rear extensions

Ref No: 14/03020/FUL

Applicant:      Mr Mark Redding  Contact Mr John Funnell  Consultation Expiry Date        16 February 2015 Case Officer:   Carolyn Howarth Expected Decision Level DEL

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Location:       12 Askham Lane York YO24 3HA

Proposal:       Two storey side extension and single storey front extension to existing porch

Ref No: 15/00058/FUL

Applicant:      Mr Wayne Robinson     Consultation Expiry Date        16 February 2015 Case Officer:   Carolyn Howarth Expected Decision Level DEL

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Representations can be made in favour of, or in objection to, any application via the Planning on line web site.  http://planningaccess.york.gov.uk/online-applications/

  1. The Council now no longer routinely consults neighbours by letter when an application is received.

Westfield Liberal Democrats reveal their team for May’s local elections. 

The candidates – Sue Hunter, Sheena Jackson and Cllr Andrew Waller- all live in the ward.

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Andrew Waller who regained the seat in the by-election caused by the sad death of Cllr Lynn Jeffries in October with a 25% swing from Labour, will be joined by two fellow local residents.

Sue Hunter who runs the local Florists and former local youth worker Sheena Jackson.

Cllr Andrew Waller said

“I believe it is important that anyone who seeks to represent a local community should have a stake in  that community. 

We need mature Councillors with good all round experience of life and a commitment to improving local public services”.

 “This is a very strong team and will ensure that Westfield once again has three hardworking local councillors in May.

I am pleased over recent years to have worked with Sue and Sheena and their commitment to the local community has been demonstrated beyond doubt.

I have worked with Sue through Acomb Alive! and with Sheena through the youth groups in Chapelfields and the Urbie Bus which the council used to run. It has been the axing of these valued services which have drawn Sheena into working with the local Lib Dem team”.

The team will be supported by Steve Galloway who represented the Westfield area on the Council for 38 years. He will act as their election agent.

Further details of the candidates

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