The first phase of works started this week on Jockey Lane, leading to Monks Cross, which is programmed to last up to six weeks.
Works involve modifications to the kerb lines and improvements to the southern footway between The Range store and Sainsbury’s, which will widen the footway to accommodate shared use by cyclists and pedestrians. A new zebra crossing will also be introduced near the Sainsbury’s store entrance.
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The fifth annual York Apprentice Graduation Ceremony, organised by the York Apprenticeship Hub at City of York Council, is taking place on Thursday 19 November at the Royal York Hotel between 7.30pm and 8.45pm and young people are being encouraged to register their attendance.
This event is a celebration of the achievements of apprentices across the city and also highlights the benefits to businesses of recruiting and training apprentices. Each apprentice will be awarded a certificate by The Guilds of York as part of a formal ceremony to which family and friends are invited to reflect on the successes and hard work over the course of their apprenticeships.
Over 1,000 apprentices who have completed their apprenticeship training and qualification between August 2014 and September 2015 are eligible to graduate and employers are encouraged to register their own, eligible apprentices by emailing York.apprenticeships@york.gov.uk.
After the success of last year’s awards, this year’s event will also announce the winners of prizes for the categories of:
The York Council has gone ahead and launched a replacement for the “report it” system which it abandoned 3 years ago. The older system had worked well for over 8 years but was, apparently, a victim of the move to West Offices.
click to access Council forms
A Smarter York “App” was introduced but it lacked the functionality and flexibility of the old system. It gradually fell into disuse.
About 2 years ago the Council promised a system based on individual “customer accounts” and this was to have been launched in the spring.
However nothing materialised.
Now the Council has rushed out a minimalist reporting system for neighbourhood reports. It is intended to cover issues like street light faults, cleansing issues, footpath fouling, road/pavement defects, overgrown trees and problems with street furniture.
Unfortunately the system has not been properly tested with users and already a list of “bugs” has emerged.
These include:
These issues need to be resolved before the system is promoted by the Council. In the meantime, “Fix My Street” offers users much greater functionality and reassurance.
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Acomb
Location: 5 Melwood Grove York YO26 5RE
Proposal: Single storey side and rear extension
Ref No: 15/01618/FUL
Applicant: Mr Chris Hartley Consultation Expiry Date: 9 November 2015 Case Officer: David Johnson Expected Decision Level: DEL
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In additional the developers of the former recycling depot on Beckfield Lane have submitted documents to the Council’s Planning Department claiming that they have fulfilled sustainability conditions and required contaminated land remedial measures
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Westfield
None
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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/
The Council now no longer routinely consults neighbours by letter when an application is received
Older children waiting to be adopted are often likely to be in sibling groups or to have additional needs and there is currently a shortage of adoptive parents coming forward for these children.
Sadly, sibling groups, those with complex needs and children from black and minority ethnic families are amongst the children who wait longest to be adopted.
During National Adoption Week 2015, City of York Council is joining all its adoption partners to work together to highlight the need to find adoptive families for these children.
While it’s great news that York has no children waiting to be adopted at the moment, across the country there are brothers and sisters, older children and those with special needs or disabilities looking for forever families. Could that be you?
City of York Council is hosting an information event on 2 November from 6:30-8:30pm in central York where you can find out more about what adoption involves and whether it could be right for you. . To book a place please contact the duty adoption worker on: adoptiondutyworker@york.gov.uk or phone 01904 553525.
Anyone interested in adopting or who would like to know more can find lots of useful information onthe Yorkshire and Humber Adoption Consortium website: http://beingfamily.co.uk/ or can phone the national adoption information service – First4Adoption on 0300 222 0022 where the friendly advisers will be happy to answer questions. The First4Adoption information line is open Monday-Friday between 10am and 6pm. You can also find information on their website at http://www.first4adoption.org.uk/
Bouthwaite Drive site – click to access
The latter is owned by the Yorkshire Housing Ltd who are seeking to exchange it for an access strip adjacent to Severus Hill.
Apparently they hope to develop land there.
Yorkshire Housing are currently struggling to complete the Hob Stones development in Windsor Garth. No details of the Bouthwaite Avenue plans have been released.
Permission was recently granted for the demolition of the Reynard’s garage and the Council Executive meeting taking place on 29th October is expected to consider a master plan for the whole Piccadilly area (now dubbed the “Southern Gateway”)
The same meeting is being asked to remove a restrictive covenant which currently prevents some offices located at Clifton Moor from being converted into flats
NB Two pubs, The Derwent Arms in Osbaldwick and the Swan in Bishopgate Street, are likely to be added to the local list of “assets of community value“. The listing provides the local community with an opportunity to bid for the properties should they come onto the market.
The week runs from 19 to 25 October 2015, and is an opportunity for people to get involved in the fight against wildlife crime – both online, by raising awareness, and offline, by acting as the ‘eyes and ears’ of the police, particularly in rural areas.
Police are also marking the week by launching a dedicated wildlife crime Twitter account – the first of its kind in the region.
North Yorkshire Police has 16 specially trained Wildlife Crime Officers, who, along with their normal duties, investigate crimes against wildlife. They will either assist other police officers or take the lead role in the investigation of more intricate cases, and can also offer training and advice to colleagues. They also give talks to local schools and community groups, support local schemes such as Farmwatch and Rural Watch, and provide advice to the public alongside other organisations at countryside events like the Great Yorkshire Show.
The new Twitter account, @NYPWCOS (www.twitter.com/nypwcos), has already been used to share information and warnings about illegal traps, poaching offences and badger persecution.
Insp Vicky Taylor, who holds the portfolio for wildlife crime at North Yorkshire Police, said: “We take all reports of wildlife crime extremely seriously, and Wildlife Crime Awareness Week is an opportunity to highlight our commitment to tackling this criminality. Particularly in rural areas, members of the public and local Watch scheme volunteers provide valuable support, often acting as the ‘eyes and ears’ of the police, and I would urge anyone who wants to join us in the fight against countryside crime to get in touch by calling 101.”
The @NYPWCOS Twitter account is run by PC Gareth Jones, Ripon Rural Beat Manager and Wildlife Crime Co-ordinator. He said: “Wildlife crime is cruel and illegal. However, people may not always report it because they don’t know what to spot, or what constitutes a crime. Wildlife Crime Awareness Week and our new Twitter account is all about educating members of the public about wildlife crime, as well as asking people to come forward and report any suspicious activity to the police.”
Already this year, a number of wildlife criminals have been convicted thanks to the hard work and vigilance of police officers, local Watch schemes and members of the community – including a hare courser in Melsonby, poachers in East Cowton, sheep rustlers in Skipton and many more.
Other wildlife crime-related activity includes:
Wildlife Crime Awareness Week is supported by World Animal Protection in partnership with Crimestoppers.
