Public meeting to explain plans for Foss barrier upgrade on Friday & Saturday

The Environment Agency will share its plans for upgrading the Foss Barrier and seek views on options for reducing flood risk throughout the City of York at a public exhibition this week.

The exhibition will be at Hotel 53, Piccadilly, York on Friday 20 May (12pm – 7pm) and Saturday 21 May (10am – 5pm), and will be an opportunity for residents and businesses to comment on flood defence proposals.

Environment Agency and City of York Council staff will be on hand to discuss the proposals and give advice on flood resilience.

There will also be a chance to see copies of the Foss Barrier Investigation report, released last week, which explained how water got inside the Foss Barrier during the floods on 26 December.

In York, a further £45 million has been secured to upgrade York’s flood defences. The additional funding means that areas of York will gain further benefit from reduced flood risk over the next five years.
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Crowdfunding appeal for more Christmas lights in Acomb

The, trader led, Acomb Alive organisation has been involved in the installation of small illuminated Christmas trees outside local shops (left) to create a festive atmosphere for the last few years. Christmas trees Green Lane

Acomb Alive has also funded a large Christmas tree outside the Gateway centre.

This year (2016) they would like to add to the festive atmosphere with the installation of festoon lighting in the main shopping areas.

Please support the project and help to get Acomb looking even more festive this year.

They are using the new “Spacehive” crowdfunding site which has already had at least one success this year.

You can access details of the project and follow its progress by clicking here.

York Libraries and Theatre Royal publish progress reports

Reports from two key leisure operators in York will be debated by the Council next week.

They cover the activities of the York Explore Library team and the Theatre Royal.

The Libraries now operate as an independent “community benefit society”. They receive funding of over £2 million a year from York taxpayers so it is disappointing that the report says little about the organisations financial position. Nor are KPIs tabulated. However, local libraries have maintained, and enhanced, their reputations over the last year. They are more outward looking with several – including Acomb – seeking to establish “Friends” support groups. They are also meeting the challenge of a, still expanding, technology sector.

Theatre Royal has re-opened following refurbishment

The Theatre Royal – which is an independent trust – has had a turbulent year with performances moved to the Railway Museum while the St Leonard’s Place building was completely modernised. The work ran 6 months behind schedule which was a major challenge for the theatre’s management. Early reactions to the recently reopened theatre have been generally positive. With the Council having paid their annual grant up front to help pay for the costs of the refurbishment the theatre faces a testing few years on the financial front. The Theatre Royal is an important part of York’s cultural heritage and most residents will wish it well as it seeks to re-establish itself.

What’s on in York: An Evening with Alison Weir

York Explore Library : Wed 18 May : 7.00pm – 9.00pm :

£5 /£4 to Loyalty Card holders

May 18_Alison Weir Popular historian Alison Weir will visit York on the publication of the her new novel, the first in a series of six about the wives of Henry VIII. Alison Weir tells the poignant story of Katherine of Aragon, the King’s first wife, drawing on new research and keeping closely to the historical record.

She approaches her tale from Katherine’s point of view, which affords an intimate psychological perspective on this indomitable, courageous and principled woman. Was Katherine’s union with Prince Arthur consummated? What happens when a happy royal marriage is overshadowed by dynastic pressures, doubts and the allure of an ambitious woman?

Alison Weir evokes a court peopled by the luminaries of the early Tudor age – Cardinal Wolsey, Thomas More, Thomas Cromwell and the magnificent figure of Henry VIII himself – a young and athletic Henry, not yet marred by frustration and disappointment.

They live in a lost world of splendour and brutality, dominated by faith and by momentous religious change – a world in which there were few saints. This was Katherine’s world, and we can only understand her properly within its context.

Tickets are available from Waterstones York on 01904 620784 or book online here.

There are a maximum of 200 tickets.