Council to spend £289,000 replacing concrete street light columns

A report which outlines proposals to upgrade York’s street lights will be considered on 9 June

The plans look to replace nearly 300 of the city’s 19,000 street light columns, with some of the columns ear marked for replacement dating back to 1970. The concrete columns have a manufacturer backed life of 20 years and will be subject to an annual programme of structural testing.

Funding has been allocated for the replacement of 289 concrete columns which have been identified through structural testing. The concrete columns will be replaced with tubular steel including PPA coating and a life expectancy of 35 years.

The cost of the column replacement programme is estimated at £289K and will be funded through the 16/17 Capital Programme.

Clarence Street bus improvements – project cut back

A report which outlines proposed amendments to the Clarence Street bus improvement scheme to provide better value for money and minimise disruption will be considered on Thursday 9 June

The Clarence Street Bus Improvement Scheme is a Better Bus Area Fund scheme, which aims to improve journey times for buses and other road users travelling towards York on Clarence Street.

Clarence Street

The delivery of the scheme has been delayed due to the relocation of the utilities equipment required in the previously approved scheme would be much more time consuming and costly than originally anticipated.

In light of this it has been recommended not to progress with the installation of 20m of cycle lane which would require the road to be widened and would require utilities equipment to be moved. This saves approximately £90,000 and negates the need to close the junction for four weeks, significantly reducing disruption to road users.

It has also been proposed that the existing crossing island south of the Clarence Street bus stops is retained instead of replacing it with a toucan crossing.

The cost of delivering the amended scheme is £270,000, including the cost of replacing and changing the phasing of life expired traffic signals at the Clarence Street/ Lord Mayor’s Walk junction, and replacing the carriageway surface of most of Clarence Street. The scheme is funded principally from the Better Bus Area Fund which was awarded to the council from the Department for Transport.

The Decision Session takes place on Thursday 9 June at West Offices from 10am and is open to members of the public or is available to watch later online from: www.york.gov.uk/webcasts

Scheme layout. click to access

Planning Committee to consider changes to Huntington Stadium

Derwenthorpe and Designer Outlet ice rink also on agenda

A planning committee meeting taking place on 8^th June will consider some significant changes to major projects in the City

Huntington Stadium

Stadium site

Amendments to the approved drawings including an increase in the height and length of the commercial development building with alterations to internal layout and an increase in cinema a (400 extra seats) and restaurant floor space; alterations to the internal layout of the East Stand and variations of permitted uses; alterations to the internal layout and permitted uses within the Leisure Centre.

“Be Independent” and York St John University would no longer occupy space and therefore a greater amount of floor space would be occupied by York NHS Trust.

The main objections to the changes have come from the owners of two of the other cinemas in the area. There is a strong implication that the future of these facilities may be in doubt if the new “super” screen gets the go ahead.

The changes will have to be referred to the Secretary of State for approval.

Unfortunately, this means more delays for a project that was “ready to go” as long ago as 2011.

Whether the new 2018 opening date for the Stadium will now be achieved remains to be seen.

What’s on in York: Eboracum Roman Festival at York Explore Library

Date: Thu 2 Jun – Sat 4 Jun
Time: 2.00pm – 3.00pm
Venue: York Explore Library
Cost: Vary

Romans in Huntington: Excavating the marching camps at Monks Cross, York

York Explore Library : Thu 2 Jun : 4.00pm – 5.00pm : £6 each (or £5 with a Yorkcard)

Romans In Huntington In 2015 York Archaeological Trust ran a successful community archaeology project at the former Ryedale Stadium in Huntington, York as part of City of York Council’s Community Stadium initiative.

Join Project Supervisor Arran Johnson as he explains how the local population got involved in the archaeological process, and learn more about the Roman temporary marching camps that they uncovered.

For more information please call York Explore Library on (01904) 552800 or archives@exploreyork.org.uk.

This event will take place in the Marriott Room.

To book ticket please visit www.visityork.org

The Pompeii of the North: Exploring Roman Binchester

York Explore Library : Fri 3 Jun : 2.00pm – 3.00pm £6 or £5 with a York Card

Jun 3_Binchester Exploring the archaeology of the Roman fort at Binchester (County Durham), where recent research has revealed some of the best preserved Roman remains in Britain

The Roman fort at Binchester was a major military site on the road between York and Hadrian’s Wall. In recent years a major campaign of archaeological excavation has uncovered the remains of an impressively preserved Roman bath-house, as well as parts of barracks, shops and latrines.

This talk by Dr David Petts (Durham University), leader of the team of archaeological research team, explores what these remains can tell us about day to day life for soldiers and civilians on the Roman frontier, and looks at plans for more work on the site.

Tickets are available from Visit York and there are a maximum of 60 tickets.

An Introduction to the History and Archaeology of Roman York with Patrick Ottaway

York Explore Library: Sat 4 Jun : 1.30pm – 2.30pm : £6 (£5 with a York card)

June 4_Patrick Ottaway Come discover Eboracum as never before with archaeologist Patrick Ottaway as he introduces the citizens of today to life in Roman York.

York (Roman Eboracum) was unique in Roman Britain in being both a military base and important urban centre for more than 350 years. Its remains are largely buried below the modern city, but archaeological investigations have revealed many of its secrets, including buildings and streets and details of the daily lives of its people.

This lecture will present an outline of the history and layout of Roman York using literary sources, inscriptions and archaeology. Some of the more significant excavations will be discussed.

Stories in Stones – tales of Roman Britain

York Explore Library : Sat 4 Jun : 3.00pm – 4.00pm £6.00 (£5.00 with a YorkCard)

Jun 4_Stories In Stone _Ruth Downie_ Ruth Downie is the author of the New York Times bestselling MEDICUS series featuring Roman Legionary medic Ruso and his British partner Tilla. Her fifth book, Semper Fidelis, is set in Eboracum. “Downie has a rare talent for combining great writing, razor wit and detailed historical research” (Lynne Patrick, Hey there’s a dead guy in the living room)

Come and discover bizarre Roman medical cures, find out why archaeology is like criminal investigation and why nobody can tell you a good Ancient British joke.

Ruth Downie left university with an English degree, a head full of Jane Austen and a plan to get married and live happily ever after. As a backup she learned typing and shorthand, in the mistaken belief that people would always need secretaries and that she might be quite good at it.

What’s on in York: Explore a story tomorrow (Thursday)

Explore a story 2nd June 2016