22 arrests made in the first week of North Yorkshire Police drink and drug drive campaign

In less than a week of Operation Attention, North Yorkshire Police have already made 22 arrests for drink and drug driving offences, resulting in 14 people being charged to court.

The highest reading so far has been provided on the fourth day of the campaign, by a 44-year-old woman arrested in Scarborough who blew 141ug – four times the legal limit (35ug per 100ml of breath.)

Other high readings include a 29-year-old man arrested in Catterick who blew 87ug – over two times the legal limit and a 21-year-old man arrested in Catterick who blew 88ug – two and a half times the legal limit.

Another drink driving arrest was made in York on Friday morning, where a 32-year-old man provided a reading of 60ug, one and a half times the limit. He had a child in the car with him at the time.

With the festive season upon us and lots of Christmas nights out planned, North Yorkshire Police is encouraging people to plan how they will get home and if they are intending to have a drink, to leave their car and not risk driving whilst under the influence.

Alongside detecting drink driving, officers are also operating roadside drug screening tests. Already there have been two positive results for drug driving – a 67-year-old man who is currently on police bail and the other a 29-year-old man, who is also on bail.

Traffic Sergeant Andy Morton of the Force’s Roads Policing Group said:

“Every Christmas we try and educate people about the devastation and heartbreak that drink and drug driving can cause. We appeal to members of the public that if they have information about anyone who is driving under the influence of drink or drugs, please contact North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option 1 and pass the details to the Force Control Room.”

“For those who would prefer to remain anonymous, please contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555111. You could save someone’s life.”

“Anyone who is considering driving whilst under the influence of drink or drugs should know that we will be out and about waiting. If you are convicted, be aware that you face disqualification from driving a hefty fine and the possibility of a prison sentence.”

York Central development site – consultation starts

Taxpayers asked to provide £10 million subsidy for development

Papers released by the Council today suggest that York taxpayers will still be expected to contribute £10 million towards the development of the York Central site.

Enterprise Zone boundary

The expectation had been that this funding – provisionally allocated to fund an access bridge from Holgate Road by the last Council – would not now be required. The site has now got Enterprise Zone status and also has financial support from the Homes and Communities Agency

Instead, a separate delivery company would set up to fund all infrastructure work. In turn this company would recover its investment from the uplift in the value of the site (currently estimated at £623 million)

Officials are reporting that the Council has already committed £1/2 million to the scheme and are asking for a further £250,000 to fund the administration of the project. The Council could only fund initial infrastructure investment from borrowing leaving taxpayers with an annual bill of nearly £1 million a year. It could be decades before any return on the investment benefited local residents.

At the moment all the risk – from what is a complicated project – seems to be falling on York taxpayers

The York Council has only a very small land holding in the area at present although it is seeking compulsory purchase powers to acquire the UNIPART site.

York central land ownership. Yellow -Network Rail, Purple – Railway Museum, Red – York Council taxpayers

(more…)

Flooding in York – update

Provisions in place to protect the city from flooding

Provisions are in place and York is open for business – is the message following a multi-agency York Flood Group meeting which took place this morning.

The group is reassuring residents and businesses that provisions are in place should river levels rise. The group comprises of representatives from City of York Council, the Environment Agency, North Yorkshire Police, North Yorkshire Fire & Rescue, Yorkshire Water, Northern Powergrid and the Army.

The group only meets when the River Ouse levels reach 4.2 meters above normal summer level (asl).

River levels are currently at 4.25 meters asl and are expected to peak at 4.3m asl today and will remain at these high levels throughout the week.

As a result of the high river levels Rowntree Park, St George’s Field Car Park and Millenium Bridge are all closed.
City of York Council has erected sandbag defences at Peckitt Street, Tower Gardens and Tower Place. The access bridge to City Mills Residential Home has also been erected.

Front line teams are on standby from all organisations to work round the clock if required to protect residents, tourists and keep York open for business.

The Environment Agency is monitoring the situation. The Environment Agency Floodline number is 0345 988 1188 or visit http://apps.environment-agency.gov.uk/flood/31618.aspx

Latest planning applications for the Acomb & Westfield Wards

Below are the latest planning applications received by the York Council for the Acomb and Westfield wards.

Full details can be found by clicking the application reference

Acomb

Location: 2 Lochrin Place York YO26 5QL

Proposal: Single storey rear extension and conversion of garage into habitable room

Ref No: 15/02595/FUL

Applicant: Ms Johnson Contact: Mr Philip Thompson Consultation Expiry Date: 28 December 2015 Case Officer: Elizabeth Potter Expected Decision Level: DEL

——

Location: 2 Church Gate York YO26 5BW

Proposal: Single storey rear extension and formation of rear patio with walls and bin store to front

Ref No: 15/02685/FUL

Applicant: Mr And Mrs Barnes Contact: Mr Paul Butler Consultation Expiry Date: 28 December 2015 Case Officer: Carolyn Howarth Expected Decision Level:

————–

Westfield

Location: 177 Chapelfields Road York YO26 5AD

Proposal: Single storey rear extension (retrospective)

Ref No: 15/02462/FUL

Applicant: Mr Michael Mcfarland Consultation Expiry Date 28 December 2015 Case Officer: Carolyn Howarth Expected Decision Level DEL

——–

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

Flooding in York – latest from the Environment Agency

Flood Warnings have been issued for the River Ouse at York for Skeldergate and Peckitt Street, St Georges Field, and Riverside Properties.

The current river level at the York Viking Recorder is 4.26m or 13 feet 12 inches and slowly rising. Levels are expected to peak between 4.3m or 14 feet and 1 inch, and 4.4m or 14 feet 5 inches during Monday.

We will see showery rain on Monday and we are expecting further rain overnight into Tuesday.

Our Incident Response teams are on 24 hour duty.

We will continue to monitor the situation and update this forecast as new information becomes available.

Situation last changed 7:45am Monday 07 December 2015

Skeldergate, Poppleton,. Clifton Green, Leeman Road flooding. Bus diversions affecting 3, 4 and 59

Location:	Skeldergate/Clifford Street and Nether Poppleton
Cause:	Flooding
Responsibility:	–
Dates:	7 Dec 2015

Skeldergate Flooding

From Blossom Street buses will divert via Nunnery Lane, Prices Lane, Bishopgate Street, Tower Street then as normal route.

Skeldergate and Clifford Street Flooding

Buses will follow normal route to Railway Station, where they will terminate, returning by turning at Station Road.

Nether Poppleton Flooding

Buses will divert in Poppleton as follows;

From Millfield Lane left on to Ebor Way, right onto Alllerton Drive, Riversvale Drive, left on to Main Street, then as normal route. Wait time at Upper Poppleton Green.

Clifton Green/Leeman Road Flooding

From Poppleton, buses will divert from Boroughbridge Road via Poppleton Road, Holgate Road, Blossom Street, Queen Street, Station Road, then as normal route.

To Poppleton, buses will divert from Rougier Street via Station Road, Railway Station, Queen Street, Blossom Street, Holgate Road, Poppleton Road, then as normal route.

Stamford Bridge Flooding

Buses will divert from Dunnington as follows; From Greyhound crossroads, left on to Common Road, left on to A1079, leftonto Long Lane, bear right Lofthouse Lane, follow road round, High Catton Road, to Stamford Bridge Terminus.

Returning; via Roman Avenue loop, left High Catton Road, Lofthouse Lane, Long Lane, right on to A1079, right on to Common Road, left at Greyhound crossroads, then as normal route.

More at http://manage.firstgroup.com/york/news-and-service-updates/current-issues/buses-3-4-and-59

What’s on: Molecules and manuscripts

Date: Tue 8 Dec
Time: 7.00pm – 8.30pm
Venue: York Explore Library
Cost: £6 or £5 with a YorkCard

Molecules What can ancient manuscripts tell us about medieval animals?

Join Dr Sarah Fiddyment as she reveals the hidden layer of biomolecular information just waiting to be read in medieval parchments in this exciting fusion of history and science.

Open to all.

Tickets can be purchased from any Explore Library, by phoning 01904 552800 or from www.feelinginspired.co.uk