Chapmans Pond in Dringhouses closed to anglers following unexplained fish deaths

On the advice of the Environment Agency Chapman’s Pond has been CLOSED to all angling until further notice

Over the last 3 weeks there have been an increasing number of fish deaths particularly of large Mirror Carp, the cause of which is unknown. The Environment Agency is now engaged in identifying the cause of these deaths and has advised that the angling should stop until further notice. We are not aware of any implications for other wildlife or visitors.

Please ensure all angling equipment is air dried and preferably sterilised before transferring between waters, particularly if you have been fishing at Chapman’s Pond.

We will update through the ChapmansPond facebook site as soon as we have further information and open the site to an angling soon as it is advisable to do so.

Friends of Chapman’s Pond 07599 927632 or email friendsofchapmanspond@yahoo.co.uk

City of York Council 01904 551551 or email smarter.york@york.gov.uk

10 Council staff to be transferred to “Make it York”

In a behind closed doors decision, York Council officials have agreed to transfer 10 staff to the new “Make it York” company.

The transfers will be made on 1st July. They employees come from the economic development department, events and City centre management

46 staff have already been transferred to the company from “Visit York” and “Science City”

The last Council was heavily criticised for taking decision like this without firs publishing papers giving the reason for the proposals.

There are also outstanding issues with new organisation on governance and the need to establish and report on measurable performance goals for the company.

Make it York has been criticised for failing to involve sub-urban commercial areas like Front Street in its development plans.

Lib Dem Conference to return to York

York is to host the Liberal Democrats’ Spring Conference next year following the success of the 2014 event.

The conference will take place between the 11^th and 13^th March.

Tansey Beetles set up a field hospital for delegates when the conference was last held in York

The 2014 conference attracted more than 1,000 delegates and was estimated to boost the city’s economy by £600,000.

Details of the three-day event will be confirmed later this year after the party’s Autumn Conference takes place in Bournemouth.

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Tansy Beetle in a spin

After refreshing 8 weeks with no political spin included in media releases issued by the York Council, the humble Tansy Beetle seems to have broken the spell. LibDem Nigel Ayre has been driven to public eulogy about York’s unique insect resident.

It’s an unfortunate precedent as many residents had hoped that the Council would return to its pre 2011 protocol where the media team at West offices concentrated on providing factual information and left politicians to offer any commentary or spin they felt appropriate using their own channels.

The Tansy Beetle issue is largely uncontroversial but it does suggest that the Council needs to review its media protocol sooner rather than later.

The Council press release reads,

“Found along the banks of the Ouse in York, the rare Tansy Beetle has received another boost to its survival in the form of a dedicated Conservation Officer.

Buglife has received funding of £56,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) to run the Tansy Beetle Champions project, which will help improve the beetle’s habitat and work with local people to save ‘The Jewel of York’.

The Tansy Beetle is a beautiful, shiny green beetle that feeds on the Tansy plant. Although the plant is quite common along the banks of the Ouse, the beetles are not great flyers making it difficult for them to get to new areas. As a result they are now only found in a few small pockets in York which are prone to flooding, putting the insects at risk.

The new Tansy Beetle Conservation Officer Sophie Badrick said ‘It’s a very exciting project which is creating a huge amount of opportunities for people to get involved and become Tansy Beetle Champions. We’re hoping to get people doing a range of different activities. From growing tansy plants in your garden; to helping give guided walks; to getting out with Buglife to protect or improve existing habitat, there’s something for everyone.’

The 18 month project aims to get more people involved in helping the Tansy to thrive and expand its current range and will work closely with City of York Council and the long running Tansy Beetle Action Group.

Head of Heritage Lottery Fund, Yorkshire and the Humber, Dr Fiona Spiers, said “Few people realise that every lottery ticket has the potential to save the UK’s landscapes, countryside and creatures, but bats are as important a part of our heritage as Botticelli. Imagine if future generations don’t have the chance to enjoy the sight of the Tansy Beetle because we didn’t do enough to save them now.”

Cllr Nigel Ayre, Executive Member for Culture, Leisure and Tourism, said: “We’re delighted to be supporting BugLife’s project to work alongside them and with local people to help save the Tansy Beetle’s habitat here in the city. York is the only place in the UK where the beetle can be found, so it’s critical that we work together to ensure this ‘Jewel of York’ is protected.

“The council is committed to protecting York’s habitat and wildlife from extinction, including endangered species like the Tansy Beetle. Going forwards, the draft Local Plan will play an important role in achieving this by helping us to recognise and respond to the many other challenges to York’s particular natural environment.”

Anyone keen to volunteer or find out more about the project should contact Sophie Badrick on Sophie.badrick@buglife.org.uk or 07880 316027”

Author Sara Paretsky in York on 16th July 2015

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York’s Heatwave Plan is Up and Running

The council is encouraging residents to think about how it may impact on their health and that of their friends and family.

The council works to the nationally operated Heatwave Plan that includes a Heat-Health Watch alert system which operates from 1 June to 15 September and is based on Met Office forecasts and data. This system triggers levels of response from the NHS, government and public health systems and communicate risks.

The Heat-Health Watch system comprises five main levels (0-4) ranging from year round planning for warm weather to the declaration of a major incident due to a prolonged heatwave being experienced.

The Heatwave Alert system is based on temperature thresholds where there is a 15-20% increased risk of a heatwave being declared. For York the trigger criteria for declaring a heatwave are 29/15/29C (Day/Night/Day).
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Time for York estates to get regeneration money

With over £12 million sat in the bank the York Councils housing revenue account has never been healthier.

Freed by the last government from the requirement for any “surplus” Council house rent income to be put in a national pot, the York Council is free to make its own decisions on priorities.

It is unlikely that tenants will wait much longer for a statement of intent from the new coalition rulers at the York Council. The 4 month forward programme of topics, likely to be debated by the Council’s new Executive, was published yesterday. It noticeably fails to include any reference to estate regeneration plans.

Most estates are affected by neglect.

Foxwood tenants have been asking for better parking for several years and this is a demand repeated elsewhere in the City.

Lack of storage space for flat dwellers is another issue particularly for those who have families.

In Chapelfields the need for more parking space is now critical while the state of two of the three garage areas is shocking (see below).

Poorly maintained garages on Chapelfields Road

Detritus on access footpaths

Neglected garage site on Marston Avenue 1

Neglected garage area on Marston Avenue 2