Owners of suspected stolen coins sought in Acomb and Holgate

The Police say, “We are conducting enquiries and are requesting the public’s assistance to help identify the owner of two Silver crown coins that were recovered from a recent search conducted by North Yorkshire Police.

In particular, we are appealing for information in regards to any possible victim of the theft of these items.

There has recently been reported incidents in the Acomb / Holgate area of York of a female attending the addresses of elderly persons and it is believed that this property may be linked to an as yet unidentified victim

Anyone with information that could assist the investigation should contact us on 101, select option 2, and ask for PC 1681 Andy Chapman. You can also email andrew.chapman1681@northyorkshire.pnn.police.uk

If you wish to remain anonymous, you can pass information to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Please quote the North Yorkshire Police reference number 12150199579.

INCIDENT REFERENCE: 12150199579″

CCTV picture issued as river search for Rory Johnson concludes

CCTV images have been released as the search for missing Skipton man Rory Johnson continues.

Police investigating his disappearance hope the images will jog the memories of anyone who may have seen Rory in York in the early hours of Friday 20 November 2015.

The images show Rory in Tower Street, York at around 12.39am opposite Clifford’s Tower. A further sighting of Rory in the City Mills area at 12.47am has since been confirmed by family members.

Officers are following a number of lines of investigation with the recent river searches being one of several.

Superintendent Adam Thomson of North Yorkshire Police, said: “We must stress that the recent river searches are just one part of our enquiry and we ask people not to close their minds to other possibilities. We have still not identified the last pub that Rory was in and are appealing to anyone who believes they may have seen him in the early hours of Friday 20 November, to please contact us.

“We are also appealing to anyone who has private CCTV in the City Mills area that the police may not be aware of, to please contact the police.

“We have now concluded very extensive searches of the river, both on the surface and using underwater sonar equipment. At present there is no reason to continue the search of the river, however, if further information allows us to target a specific location then searches would be resumed.”

The Regional Underwater Search Team used towed sonar equipment to check the river from just above the City Mills area where Rory was last seen, along the Ouse to Naburn Marina.

A detailed 3D sonar survey of the river bottom has also been carried out in the area from City Mills to beyond Skeldergate Bridge.

Extensive foot searches along the river banks and water surface searches have also been carried out as far as Millennium Gardens with assistance from York Rescue Boat.
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Businesses in York vote YES to a Business Improvement District in the city centre.

Detailed figures for the vote were as follows:

· Yes by Number: 76%

· Yes by Rateable Value: 80%

A not-for-profit BID company will now be formed to carry out a wide range of improvements and services from April next year.

The York BID has been established following more than a year of consultations with businesses across York. Establishing a Business Improvement District in York was first mooted 10 years ago,

The yes vote has been secured after a higher than average turnout of 42% of York city centre businesses with 76% voting to establish a Business Improvement District for York.

Establishing the BID will create a fund of about £4m to spend on a series of projects and services over the next five years. The money will be raised by charging a 1% levy on the rateable value of each business premise in the city centre.

The BID business case promised a cleaner City centre, with improved safety, physical improvements and a year round entertainments programme.

The York Council has backed the BID process for a decade but has been criticised over recent months for ignoring the needs of sub-urban commercial and shopping areas.

The BID business plan can be viewed here: http://www.theyorkbid.com/proposal/
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Campaign to stop “Loan Sharks” reaches York on Monday

Many resident’s groups in York are supporting a campaign which starts on Monday and which is aimed at stopping illegal loan sharks.

The Facebook site for the campaign – which is being run nationally – can be accessed by clicking here “Stop Loan Sharks”

@loansharknews (tweet us, say hello!)

Time to get salt bins repaired and filled

A quick check of the salt bins in the Westfield area yesterday revealed that most have salt in them. In some cases this has been left over from previous years – last winter was particularly mild.

Most had been used as litter bins and several had been vandalised with the lid hinges broken in many cases.

The Council promised to complete a review of it’s salt bins in September but nothing seems to have come of this. No attempt was made during the summer to recover the bins for maintenance. We hope the new Council will order that the bins be refurbished in the spring.

In the meantime – before we get the inevitable snow – the litter needs to be removed and the bins topped up where necessary.