Transport for the North invites York’s views on Strategic Transport Plan

Transport for the North has commenced a thirteen-week consultation on its Strategic Transport Plan for the North, inviting people’s views at an event being held in York next week.

Senior Transport for the North representatives will be visiting York as part of a dedicated session to outline the plan’s recommendations, advise on what this could mean for York and the surrounding area and invite questions and feedback that people may have.

The drop-in consultation is open to everyone and is an opportunity for members of the public to formally submit their feedback on the plan which will be analysed and fed into the final Strategic Transport Plan before its release later in the year.

Event schedule:

4pm – 5pm: Presentation from Transport for the North representative and Q+A

5pm – 6pm: Drop-in Q+A

6pm – 7pm: Presentation from Transport for the North representative and Q+A

The event will be held at National Railway Museum from 4pm – 7pm on Monday 12 February.

The thirty-year plan, which was released in draft on Tuesday 16 January, is the first of its kind and outlines how transport connections across the North of England need to be transformed by 2050 to drive growth and close the economic gap between the North and the rest of England.

Transport for the North’s public consultation runs until 17 April 2018 with similar engagement events taking place across the North. A final version of the plan will be published later in the year and submitted to the Government for ministerial consideration.

Find out more by visiting www.transportforthenorth.com.

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Dreamwell couple ordered to pay £917,287

A husband and wife from Leeds convicted of consumer protection offences against vulnerable people have been ordered to pay back £917,287 under the Proceeds of Crime Act following a hearing at Leeds Crown Court.

Claire Wray (aged 38) and Paul Wray (aged 51, both of Clayton Wood Close, Leeds) both received prison sentences in March 2017 following their convictions. They mis-sold mattresses, beds and mobility equipment to elderly consumers through their company Dreamwell Limited.

Claire Wray, the sole director of the company, received 12 months in prison after being found guilty of misleading, banned and aggressive commercial practices, and money laundering. She was also disqualified from being a company director for seven years. Her husband, Paul Wray, company secretary for Dreamwell Ltd, was sentenced to 28 months imprisonment for illegal commercial practices in July 2016 and was disqualified from being a company director for nine years.

Recorder Iqbal QC ordered that the proceeds of crime confiscation order is to be paid within 3 months or the Wrays would face a further 6 years imprisonment. He also ordered that compensation totalling £20,757 was to be paid to the Wray’s victims from the confiscated monies.

The couple was arrested on 9 December 2014 following over 50 complaints which triggered an extensive operation over an 18-month period by the National Trading Standards Yorkshire & the Humber Regional Investigations Team, based at City of York Council and the North East Regional Asset Recovery Team based with West Yorkshire.
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What’s on in York: Lecture about Arnold Rowntree

York Civic Trust have some interesting events scheduled for March and on into the summer.

Not least, is a lecture on the life and work of Arnold Rowntree who was the Liberal MP for York during the time of the First World War.

The event is taking place at the Merchant Adventures Hall on Wednesday 14th March

For details on how to join the York Civic Trust please click this link

What’s on in York: Shadow Puppet theatre and craft with Hoglets Drama

Acomb Explore Library :

Mon 12 Feb :

2.00pm – 2.30pm :

£2

Hoglets is theatre fun for small folk and we have Mama Hoglet coming to our libraries to perform a fun shadow puppet show.

You can also have a go at a craft yourself after the show.

This event is for ages 3-7 years.

Book early to avoid disappointment.

For each libraries telephone number or email to reserve a place please click here.