Police appealing for two taxi drivers to come forward to assist the investigation into Micklegate death

North Yorkshire Police are appealing for further information to determine the events which lead up to the death of 21-year-old Robert Stephenson in the early hours of 26 March 2016.

Mr Stephenson, from the Pickering area, died following a collision with a Ford Mondeo taxi on Micklegate in York at 2.30am on Sat 26 March 2016.

Police have analysed CCTV footage and are keen to identify two taxis which are seen in the area.

The first taxi they would like to identify is believed to be a silver Toyota Avensis which was travelling down Micklegate on its way into York City Centre. The silver vehicle is seen to stop next to Robert just prior to the collision, pause and then drive off into town.

The second taxi they would like to identify is a black Mercedes S-Class which was travelling up Micklegate out of York, directly behind the vehicle which collided with Robert.

Police are appealing for the drivers of these vehicles or anyone who could assist with the investigation to contact them on 101 and quote reference 12160052322.

Westfield bus services face axe

Foxwood Lane (12 & 14), Gale Lane (20) and Hamilton Drive (16A) links could be lost

bus-stop1 The Council is organising “drop in” sessions at which the scale of the cuts that they plan to local bus services will be revealed.

The Council has decided to cut £350,000 from its public transport support budget so dramatic changes can be anticipated.

The Council says that members of the public will have the opportunity to give their views on the services proposed for withdrawal or alteration between Monday 11 April and Friday 6 May, either by emailing buses@york.gov.uk or through drop-in sessions (“details to be announced nearer the time”).

The Council claims that public feedback will be considered as part of a report which will be taken to an Executive Member Transport and Planning public meeting on Thursday 19 May.

A final decision on the services to be withdrawn or altered will be taken at this meeting and it is anticipated that the changes will take effect from Sunday 28 August.

The services which the council currently subsidises and which may be altered, reduced or withdrawn are:
• Monday to Saturday daytime services: 12, 19, 20, 27, 36, 627, 637 and 647
• Evening services: 10, 11, 14, 18
• Sunday services: 11, 12, 13, 14,16a and 19

For existing timetables click here

So far the Council has not released details of alternative provision. As a minimum, residents who depend on the bus service to get around will expect Dial and Ride services to be expanded. There is also likely to be a call for the option, for pensioners to be able to choose transport tokens (instead of a bus pass), to be reintroduced. The tokens can be used to pay taxi fares.

ftr bus in York

Eighty per cent of bus services are commercial in York and are not subsidised by the council. Local authorities across the country have the discretion to provide financial support for local bus services where the commercial bus market does not provide such services, but it is not a statutory duty.

Bus usage in York has increased during recent years following a slump when the last Labour Council pulled out of public transport modernisation plans like the ftr “superbus” project.

The Council has consistently refused to publish weekly reliability stats for bus services in the city

To find out more about the bus travel in York visit www.itravelyork.info

York Lib Dems oppose academy school plans

York Liberal Democrats have written to the Government opposing plans to force all schools to become academies.

In Westfield, the Hob Moor school recently announced plans to become an Academy amidst confusion about how its PFI debts would be paid.

Hob Moor School

Residents also questioned how parents and the local community would be able to influence the polices of what is a major neighbourhood asset sited in a relatively poor area.

Specialist services for those with Special Educational Needs are provided on the campus which is also a base for Surestart services.

The Conservative Government has said that all schools will be expected to become, or be in the process of becoming, academies by 2020, with all converted by 2022.

In a letter to the Education Secretary, local Lib Dems say they are opposed to “forced academisation” and raise concerns about the ending of the current accountability of schools to elected local councils.

The letter raises concerns about whether councils such as York will be able to fulfil their remaining education duties under the new system, such as school place planning and protecting vulnerable pupils including those with Special Education Needs. It also criticises the proposal to end the role of parent governors and says the Government has revealed no plans to help councils with the costs that they will face in the conversion of schools.
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Westfield to get jobs project funding from Europe

City of York Council is looking for volunteers to identify what would most improve people’s lives in five of the city’s less prosperous communities.

This project – 4CommunityGrowthYork – will benefit Bell Farm, Clifton, Navigation and Walmgate, Tang Hall and Westfield and is underway thanks to the council winning an initial £22,000 funding from the European Structural and Investment Funds, which the council has match-funded to £40k.

Once accepted onto this community-led local development project, the volunteers will focus on the needs of the five communities with special emphasis on supporting the more vulnerable into work. The £40k will go towards their training, research and consultations, as well as seeking expert advice and examples of best practice nationally and locally, such as the Tang Hall Big Local project which has similar objectives.

This feedback will help develop ideas on how to support and offer early help to families in need and to jobseekers and local enterprises. This will be looked at alongside existing work including with ward teams and residents’ associations.

4CommunityGrowthYork’s plans will be developed into a formal strategy which will be submitted to the EU by the end of August 2016, in a bid to win a further £1.29 million. This sum will be match-funded through the council, Government and Tang Hall Big Local funding to a total £2.58m, to realise the strategy and so help improve the quality of life of residents in the five communities.

Councillor Keith Aspden, Deputy Leader of City of York Council with responsibility for Economic Development and Community Engagement, said: “Applications to join the project will be especially welcomed from people living or working in the five key communities, and who have experience of both the private and public sectors. You’ll be warmly welcomed to the information sessions we are holding where you can find out much more. This is a significant project which could make a lasting difference to our communities.”

Information sessions for 4CommunityGrowthYork will be held at West Offices, YO1 6GA on:
• Friday 1 April at 12-1pm
• Tuesday 5 April at 4-5pm and at 5-6pm
• Friday 8 April at 12-1pm.

To book a place on the information sessions, or for more detail on the project, please email mora.scaife@york.gov.uk or call 01904 551834.

Green wheels – find out more about electric and hybrid vehicles at York event

City of York Council’s iTravel York are inviting residents and visitors to come and discover the very latest electric plug-in and hybrid vehicles at a ‘Green Wheels’ event.

The event will take place on Wednesday 6 April at south entrance of York Designer Outlet from 10am-3pm.

Cars of all shapes and sizes from supercars to family hatchbacks from many leading brands and dealers will be available to view.

Help will be on hand for people who are thinking about switching to an electric or hybrid vehicle with information about savings, recharging and running costs.

There will also be many different bikes, including mountain and hybrid e-bikes from several manufacturers for all the family to try out on a special test track throughout the day.

In January 2016 York was the only city in the region included in the governments Go Ultra Low cities scheme. This will see the city receive £816,000 to fund an ultra low emission programme including a city wide network of rapid charging hubs. These will provide state-of-the-art, ultra fast, reliable and convenient rapid charging for key vehicle groups such as taxis, private motorists and business users.

Cllr Ian Gillies, Executive Member for Transport and planning, said: “There are several great benefits to electric and hybrid vehicles including having lower emissions than traditional cars and also being cheaper to fuel. Now that York has been included in the recent Go Ultra Low cities scheme there has never been a better time to explore the possibility of driving an electric vehicle. The Green Wheels event will give people a chance to find out if an electric or hybrid vehicle can work them.”

Residents and visitors who are travelling to the Designer Outlet from the city centre can use the Number 7 Park&Ride or Arriva 415. For more help planning a journey in and around York use the iTravel York journey planner http://www.itravelyork.info/planner/

For more information on electric vehicles in York visit http://www.itravelyork.info/driving/electric-vehicles/

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