Lowfields battle goes on

The Council’s Executive has tonight endorsed plans to build on the Lowfields playing fields.

The decision was not unexpected.

Many residents were angered by a Council announcement that they intended to build on the Lowfields playing fields - braking a promise given when the school was closed 8 years ago. A petition is being collected and representations to the government are planned.

Petition sent to Council

However, it represents only the opening shots in what is likely to be a long war.

No Councillor attempted to explain why the proposal is being brought forward before objections to the draft Local Plan have been considered.

In reality it is a pre-emptive stike aimed at maximising the sale price of the site.

The meeting also heard that officials had been negotiating for some time with the communal building group although they omitted to include this development option in papers circulated to residents in the autumn.

Council officials continue to pretend that the majority of local residents support their plans. They have so far refused to respond to the views set by respondents to a survey collected by local Councillors in September

A residents group has been set up and they will be lobbying both local planners and central government in the fight to conserve the playing fields.

The issue will be discussed again at a Council meeting taking place on 15^th December.

Any building project outside the old-school building footprint will need central government approval and that is likely to be the next battlefield.

Nuisance neighbour’s York council tenancy ends

City of York Council has evicted a council tenant yesterday (Tuesday 6 December) for breaching the terms of his tenancy and after being successfully prosecuted for noise nuisance.

This follows a County Court Possession Order being granted to the council which stemmed from the conviction for breaching a noise abatement notice and the seizure of a CD player and speakers from the address.

The possession order and the prosecution of the breached abatement notice followed months of noise nuisance by the tenant Sean Harman (aged 37, of Bishophill Junior) who, the court heard, had been involved in other anti-social and criminal behaviour in the area.

Harman was served a noise abatement notice on 21May 2016 by council officers from the Community Safety Hub while on the weekend, late-night Noise Patrol. From a neighbouring home they witnessed ‘Sweet Home Alabama’ played so loudly it caused the floor to vibrate. The CD player used was seized from Harman’s home by officers on 24 May with support from North Yorkshire Police. On 27 July 2016, Harman was convicted in his absence at York Magistrates Court of breaching the notice and was fined a total £1,486.

The possession order allowed the council to end Harman’s council tenancy for having breached its terms by engaging in anti-social behaviour, nuisance and criminal activity.
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What’s on in York: Lucia in the Minster 2016

Music – Choir Concert,

Fri 9 Dec 2016,

Lucia in the Minster 2016

In collaboration with York Anglo-Scandinavian Society, York Minster hosts Swedish festival of light
A traditional Swedish service celebrating the bringer of light during the long darkness of winter will take place at York Minster on Friday 9 December.

Now in its fourth year, the atmospheric Sankta Lucia service features a candlelit procession and carols for all the family in celebration of St Lucy, a young Sicilian girl who was martyred for her Christian faith in the early fourth century. The service includes a procession led by a young girl wearing a crown of candles and is followed by traditional Swedish carols and songs. The crown of candles may symbolise a halo and the red sash martyrdom.
The procession will this year be led by the Swedish choir Järfälla kammarkör from a community just northwest of Stockholm and, as each year, they will be joined by girls from York Anglo-Scandinavian Society.

Sankta Lucia, Festival of Light, starts at 7.30pm on Friday 9 December (doors open at 7.00pm) and lasts for about an hour. Admission is free and no booking is required. There will be a collection during the service.