Clampdown on rogue waste carriers proves it a ‘Crime not to Care’

On 10 July 2017, City of York Council received a report of fly tipping on Mill Lane, Askham Richard, York. Officers traced the waste to a York-based charity which provided an invoice showing that it had paid a licensed waste removal carrier, York Waste and Rubbish, owned by Michael Pipes, aged 40 of Sowerby Road, Acomb, York.

Mr Pipes attended an interview under caution, admitting he was paid to remove waste from York Mind but denied fly-tipping it. Although Mr Pipes is licensed to carry waste he was unable to give officers waste transfer information to prove that he took it to a licensed waste site.

Mr Pipes was asked to show diary entries for his jobs requested under Section 108 of the Environmental Act 1995, which again he couldn’t do for this job.

As part of his mitigation, the defendant wrote to the magistrates: “I apologise for any hurt, distress I’ve caused to anyone involved in this situation. This again, was not my intention.”

The magistrate told Mr Pipes: “Depositing waste is an extremely serious offence. It is unpleasant to look at and can be dangerous to the environment. It is not to be taken lightly. The fines involved are high for that reason.”

The fines totalled £3,500 with a surcharge of £170 and a costs award of £1,000, adding up to a total £4,670.

Councillor Andrew Waller, executive member for environment, said: “The vast majority of licensed waste carriers in York act within the law. This continued action by our enforcement officers to clamp down on unlicensed or rogue waste carriers supports our #CrimeNotToCare campaign to reduce fly-tipping.

“We continue to ask residents and businesses to use licensed carriers or, for waste they can’t take to our household waste recycling centres, arrange for the council to collect it via https://www.york.gov.uk/BulkyWaste. We’ll take up to ten items so please join together with neighbours.”

Richard McIlwain, deputy chief executive of the charity Keep Britain Tidy, said: “I applaud the actions of City of York Council and the magistrates in getting this case to court and making sure the fine fits the crime. It’s great to see the council putting our Crime not to Care campaign into action.”

Acomb War Memorial restoration faces competition from Scarcroft School

The York Civic Trust has announced a “peoples vote” which will decide which of 5 City Enhancement projects will get the “go ahead”.

Generally we think that involving people in making choices like this is a good thing. However we had been led to understand that the York Civic Trust had already agreed to lead on the restoration of the Acomb War Memorial.

It appears not, as it is one of 5 schemes now competing for “peoples” votes.

Thus doubt has been cast on a scheme which it was intended should be completed by the November anniversary of the end of World War One. A local group (WW1 Acomb) had been set up to lead on local commemoration activities but had stood down from the War Memorial project when the Civic Trust said that they had adopted it.

The five schemes competing for votes, which vary wildly in cost, are:

Acomb Green: Conservation and repairs to the War Memorial
Monk Bar: Reinstatement of portcullis to working order
Monk Bar: Conservation of Ice House
Museum Street Water Fountain:
Scarcroft School: Reinstatement of timber finial posts to bell tower

More details can be found here http://yorkcivictrust.co.uk/home/city-enhancement-2/peoples-choice-award/

The vote closes at 5:00pm, 25th June 2018

We think that the City Enhancement Programme is one of the best initiatives that has taken place in the City in recent years. However the organisers perhaps need to reflect on the need to make decisions in a timely way and to encourage participation from all parts of the City.

Lord Collingwood Pub in Poppleton set to be added to community asset register

It seems likely that another local pub will be added to the asset of community value at a Council meeting next week

The Lord Collingwood pub is a 17th Century Grade 2 listed building in the Upper Poppleton Conservation Area and as such is an important part of the village’s historic and cultural identity. It is currently owned by Marstons.

The “Friends of The Collingwood” state in their nomination form that the Lord Collingwood is a long established pub on the village green at Upper Poppleton.

“It is a community hub for people in the village to meet and socialise in a pleasant environment, including those who have little social contact with other people. The pub is used by community groups and sports clubs as a meeting place and has in the past hosted men’s and women’s darts teams. Live sporting events are also screened at the pub.

The pub is family friendly that welcomes children during the day. There is a garden and play area at the rear, which is well used during the summer months. Events hosted at the pub include regular quiz nights, live music and charity fund raising events. The pub also manages an information point which supports local organisations and businesses”.

If added to the register, community groups would have up to 6 months to raise the necessary funds to purchase the building.

Health and Wellbeing Board to discuss a suicide prevention strategy for York

Members of York’s Health and Wellbeing board will discuss a draft suicide prevention strategy for the city when they meet on Wednesday 9 May.

The strategy sets out the work the city will look to do with the ambition of the city getting Suicide Safer Community designation and sets out the aim for York to have a year on year reduction in the number of suicides in the city.

As well as comment on the draft strategy, board members will be asked to agree that the draft strategy go out to a 12 week public consultation.

Key objectives for the strategy include:

Reducing the risk of suicides in high risk groups
Tailoring approaches to improve mental health in specific groups
Providing better information and support for those affected by suicide
Reducing rates of self harm
Training and awareness raising.

By tackling many of the issues that sometimes lead to suicide the strategy looks at how York as a city can address the risks and triggers that can result in suicide.

The hope is that the plan will help create greater social cohesion, improved community links and availability of support leading to more open caring conversations and a desire for people to look after each other and talk to one another when they are struggling.

The presentation of the strategy comes after an audit of suicides in the city in late 2016 which found the number of suicides in York to be above the national and regional average. The findings from this audit have informed suicide prevention work and activities and have fed into this draft suicide prevention plan. (more…)

Police appeal following recent house burglary on Foxwood Lane

The victims of a York burglary are offering a £500 reward after their house was broken into and around £10,000 worth of jewellery stolen.

North Yorkshire Police is appealing for witnesses and information about a burglary at a property in Foxwood Lane.

Between 11.50am and 3.15pm on Tuesday 1 May 2018 Offenders have entered a property on Foxwood Lane, York after the occupants left their home for a hospital appointment.

A rear window was smashed, and numerous items of jewellery were stolen along with a safe which was forcibly removed from its wall mountings.

The offenders are believed to have left the scene, secreting stolen property within a distinctive black and white ‘zebra print’ throw that they have removed from the house.

Anyone who witnessed anything or who has information that could assist the investigation is asked to contact North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option 2, and ask for PC 445 Saggers. You can also email 000445@northyorkshire.pnn.police.uk

If you wish to remain anonymous, you can pass information to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Please quote the North Yorkshire Police reference number 12180075037

What’s on in York: 70 Years of Giving Art

May _470 Years York Art Gallery :

Fri 4 May – Sun 2 Sep :

10.00am – 5.00pm :

Admission charge

The Friends of York Art Gallery (FOYAG) will mark their 70^th anniversary with an exhibition of some favourite works this spring.

Since it was founded in 1948, the charity has pledged more than £600,000 which has aided the purchase of over 150 works for the gallery’s collections, including pieces by Albert Moore, David Hockney, Barbara Hepworth and Grayson Perry.

To celebrate their 70^th year, members of the Friends have chosen some favourite works from the gallery’s collections which have been acquired or restored thanks to their financial support.

Admission charges:

YMT Card Holder FREE
Adult (with 10% Gift Aid Donation)              £7.50
Adult (without donation)            £6.81
Child (16 and under)     FREE with a paying adult
Access Day Ticket     £4.00

For more information click here.

What’s on in York: YAYAS 175th anniversary celebration!

York Explore Library :

Fri 4 May :

10.00am – 3.00pm :

Free

Did you know that Yorkshire Architectural & York Archaeological Society (YAYAS) is celebrating its 175th anniversary this year?

Come and join us to find out more about their key personalities and campaigns dating back to the 1840s. This exhibition in the Archives Reading Room at York Explore will include digitised images from of the Evelyn Core and Hanstock Collections in the possession of YAYAS, as well as slides from the late 19th century until the 1940s.

Plus there will be display boards, examples of the glass slides, and publications. Why not pop in – there’s lots to see!

For more information call the library on (01904) 552828 or york@exploreyork.org.