Police exhibition on tour

North Yorkshire residents are invited to discover the trends that are shaping policing through a special new exhibition that is touring across the county.

Policing in North Yorkshire roadshows icon

“Policing in North Yorkshire” will take place at the following venues throughout June and early July:

1 and 2 June – Milton Rooms, Malton
3 and 4 June – St Peter’s Church, Harrogate
11 and 12 June – Spurriergate Centre, York
15 and 16 June – Hawdon Institute, Selby
23 and 24 June – Town Hall, Skipton
25 and 26 June – The Street, Scarborough
29 and 30 June – Rural Arts Centre, Thirsk
1 July – Richmond Town Hall, Richmond

The exhibition will give an insight into the number and type of incidents the police deal with in a year, the different roles within policing, and how the police are using technology to target criminal activity.  It will also outline the way that North Yorkshire police plans to work in the community in the future.

Commenting on the exhibition, Chief Constable Dave Jones said:

“People are hearing a lot in the news about cuts to police budgets, and it is no secret that all police services are facing financial challenges.  But here in North Yorkshire we are working hard to find more efficient and effective ways to protect communities, and we want to share that approach with the public.  This exhibition is a great way for people to discover what is happening at North Yorkshire Police, so I hope that people will find a few minutes to come along.”

The Police and Crime Commissioner for North Yorkshire, Julia Mulligan, said:  

“The financial situation means that all public services are having to make some tough decisions – including the police – so it is important that we help everyone to understand the issues.  I’m looking forward to meeting people at these events, and sharing the direction of travel for the North Yorkshire Police.”

All “Policing in North Yorkshire” events are free to attend.  Event details and booking is available at:  www.nypolice.eventbrite.co.uk

Congestion “Commission” was an expensive gimmick

Although there has been no official statement from the new coalition rulers at the York Council, it seems likely that plans to establish a “congestion commission” will be scrapped when it holds its first Executive meeting on 25th June.

The Council leadership are right to get some of the detritus that it inherited, from the last administration, out of the way quickly.

Similar statements of intent would be welcome on issues such as the future of the Guildhall, the Knights rugby club, Coppergate fines. Oliver House etc.

Coppergate - Time to move on

Coppergate – Time to move on

The “Commission” idea was floated by a discredited administration which was desperately trying to recover from the Lendal Bridge shambles. Rather than face the criticism that is usually attached to taking any decision about transport in the City, Labour hoped to deflect the odium onto third parties. Hence the establishment of a Commission which would no doubt have agonised again about congestion charging and the like.

The debates would have been at a huge cost to taxpayers – £135,000 was quoted.

The Council already has a transport plan. It was agreed in 2011 and offers a balance of initiatives aimed at reducing congestion. It needs updating, not least because the decision to bring a trial cross river access restriction forward from 2025 to 2013 has seriously damaged its credibility.

But any transport strategy has to be affordable. With dualling of the northern by pass still elusively outside the resources of even the “combined authority”, talk of trams, tubes, extra river bridges and river buses would be just that – talk.

A1237 dualling still illusive

A1237 dualling still illusive

Any updated transport plan needs to build on what has been successful over the past decade when congestion levels have remained more or less stable.

There has been some modal shift to cycles and walking. Buses were becoming more popular until Labour made the grand gesture of evicting the ftr without having anything half as attractive to passengers to substitute, while new roundabouts on the A1237 have eased bottlenecks.

Now Labour have played an old – and discredited card – when claiming that “80 people a year” die in York as a result of poor air quality. This was the favourite claim of former transport chief Dave Merrett who – after much pressing – admitted that the figure was simply a local extrapolation of national respiratory death statistics.

No one knows how many local deaths, through respiratory diseases, are caused by the pollutants emitted by vehicles (or industry for that matter) but most would, no doubt,  support verifiable actions to address locations where pollution levels are sometimes high (mainly narrow terraced streets like Gillygate).

New electric bus fleet launched last week

New electric bus fleet launched last week

So some marks should be awarded to the last Council for beginning the roll out of the type of electric buses first trialled in the City in 2010.

More of this kind of thinking – making the best use of advancing technologies – will take the city forward in a measured and affordable way and with a reasonable chance of carrying the local population with it.

Mobile wardens provide help for elderly in York

Mobile wardens support customers to maintain their independence within their own homes for as long as possible.

Commissioned by City of York Council Supporting People Team and delivered by Yorkshire Housings Mobile Warden Team this service is available to people of retirement age and people with physical disabilities who live within City of York Council boundaries.
Mobile wardens support customers to maintain their independence within their own homes for as long as possible. Support may include promoting independence by developing life skills, accessing community and social activities, support to complete forms, financial assessments to maximise income/benefits, support to access healthcare and/or assistive technology. It’s all about customer choice and what support they would like.
Services we cannot provide but can signpost to include personal care, cooking, cleaning, shopping and transport.
A mobile floating support warden visits the customer in their own home and the service is available Monday to Friday between the hours of 8am and 5pm” (excluding Public Holidays).

If you need any more information or would like to discuss any aspect of the service please contact Sam Jones telephone 07848 011 260, email: samantha.jones@yorkshirehousing.co.uk

Barbican site – building activity steps up as new planning application is submitted.

New role for Terry’s factory building

187 apartments are set tot be built on two parts of the Barbican site. 57 one bedroomed and 130 two bedroomed flats would be built

Planning application sites. click to access

Planning application sites. click to access

155 car parking spaces will be provided.

Most of the flats will be built on land adjacent to the 5 star hotel which is currently under construction. The hotel is expected to boost the number of conferences that the auditorium hosts each year; underpinning the long term future of the entertainment venue.

A report to the Councils Planning committee says,

“The proposed housing block for the Barbican site maintains the layout previously approved in 2007. The building would have a varied roof height, being a mix of 4 and 5 storey high. The ridge height would be lower than the maximum height of the 197 bedroom neighbouring hotel. The elevations would be of brick (2 varieties) with a pitched roof.

The scheme has a more residential appearance, rather than the commercial appearance approved in 2007. There would be car parking at ground floor level, and it is also proposed to lease car parking spaces from the Q-park opposite”.

Kent Street development site

Kent Street development site

Hotel site entrance

Hotel site entrance

The developer is offering 12 of the properties for social rent.

Council official are recommending approval of the proposals which will be considered on 4th June.

NB. The same meeting will consider a proposal to provide 173 apartments by conversion of the old Terry’s chocolate factory building on Bishopthorpe Road. It is also recommended for approval