What’s on in York: Finding the Words with John Paul Burns, Emma Storr and Charlotte Wetto

York Explore Library :

Thu 25 Jan :

6.45pm – 8.00pm :

£3/£2 with a YorkCard

Jan _25Findingthe WordsFinding the Words is a regular poetry evening every month at York Explore Library. Each evening brings together three poets and we aim to include both published writers and those working towards a collection. We’ll have a bar available and readings last around an hour. The evening is also a chance to share and chat, so please feel free to bring any news or information about poetry local, regional or national.

John-Paul Burns is a writer of poetry and essays currently on the Creative Writing MFA program at Manchester Metropolitan University and lives in Manchester. His work centres around images of the road, the coast and fruit–of music history and the cinema–Federico Fellini wandering the earth spreading madness like Dionysus, Foley-sound artist as Demiurge, a dream of following Thelonious Monk. He has appeared in journals such as The North, Poetry Salzburg Review and 3AM Magazine and is featured in the Smith|Doorstop anthology Introduction X: The Poetry Business Book of New Poets.

Emma Storr lives in Leeds where she is a member of the Leeds Writers Circle. After working as a doctor and teacher for many years she is now giving more attention to poetry and writing. She is interested in where science and poetry intersect, particularly in relation to understanding the body. She has been published in The Hippocrates Prize Anthology 2016 and Strix 2 and her poem ’Spring Walk’ was highly commended in the Walter Swan Poetry competition in 2016. She recently completed an MPhil in Writing at the University of South Wales.

Charlotte Wetton is a poet based in West Yorkshire. Her first pamphlet, I Refuse to Turn into a Hat-Stand has been shortlisted for the Michael Marks award, following a spoken word album, Body Politic. She has published in Poetry Wales, Staple, Stand etc.  She regularly performs across the North and will run workshops if the opportunity sounds fun.

@CharPoetry

www.charlottewettonpoetry.wordpress.com

 

Prices

£3 or £2 with YorkCard

Book at any library or online

Future of Rowntree Park lodge to be decided

Councillors will make a decision about the future use and investment in Rowntree Park Lodge at a meeting of City of York Council’s executive on 25 January.

The report seeks an Executive decision to invest in Rowntree Park Lodge in order to keep this well used and valuable park asset in good condition. It also looks to ensure that it is used for public benefit and secures a long term income stream for the park.

Rowntree Park is one of the council’s most well used park and the city’s first Green Flag recipient.  The Lodge is the heart of Rowntree Park and is also used by York Explore as a Reading Cafe. It is considered that investment into the property will contribute significantly to maintaining the parks reputation amongst residents and visitors.

The report asks the Executive to recommend to Council the allocation of £150,000 capital budget to facilitate the regeneration of the upper floors of the Lodge. This capital allocation will be funded from the revenue receipts generated from future use. It is also recommended that any net revenue is ring fenced for the upkeep of the park.

Following the regeneration of the upper floors it is proposed to let it as a holiday letting following the correct consents being obtained. It is thought a market value hire fee of £1,000 to £1,300 per week could be achieved. Yearly income would be dependant on occupancy rates.

Other ideas explored included, selling the leasehold, leasing the property for private residential accommodation, leasing the property for social residential accommodation, commercial use or expanding the library and cafe. These options were found to not be appropriate after further investigation.

The Future uses of the Lodge have been discussed with the Friends of Rowntree Park who believe that the future use of the lodge should benefit the park and that it should not be sold. Discussions’ have also taken place with the Explore Library who support the Holiday Let for the Lodge, recognising that the flat does not meet the current standards for access for a library due to the age of the building and modest room sizes.