York Mansion House gets snap happy with VisitYork

#OnlyinYork has already produced some wonderful images on all social media realms for York and now York Mansion House is working in collaboration with VisitYork to launch an amateur photography competition of the same namesake.

The brief for the contest has left it open ended asking York residents to send in submissions of the ‘places, spaces or snickleways’ which inspire them and capture their eye.

Cllr Keith Aspden, executive member for economic development and community engagement, said, “This is an exciting opportunity for York residents to engage with the city in a creative way offering the unique chance for their work to be displayed in the Mansion House. I look forward to seeing how places, spaces or snickleways inspire our community.”

Submissions are due by midnight on Sunday 27 May. There will be an initial selection process which will involve a panel of judges from The Press, York Camera Club, York St John University and the Lord Mayor Elect Cllr Keith Orrell and Sheriff Elect Verna Campbell.

Twenty photos will be selected to be displayed from Wednesday 6 June til Saturday 16 June and an awards ceremony will take place on the Saturday with prizes awarded from the judge’s panel and a people’s choice award.

Sally Greenaway, Head of Visit York, said, “York is an incredibly photogenic city, with amazing views and architecture from every period in history.  There’s no shortage of subject matter for a photography competition and we’re intrigued to see which aspects of the city will be captured that can truly only be seen here in York.”

Please submit your photographs digitally along with an entry form to mansionhouse@york.gov.uk. You can download your entry forms at www.mansionhouseyork.com.

New plans to cut congestion on York outer ring road roundabout near Monks Cross

City of York Council is sharing proposals to cut congestion and journey times on one of York’s busiest roads.

Residents and businesses have until Friday 1 June to view and comment on designs to upgrade the outer ring road’s Monks Cross roundabout. A leaflet can be downloaded from here

This will be the second of seven A1237 roundabouts set for major improvements over the next four years – a total £38 million programme funded through the West Yorkshire-plus Transport Fund. The council is starting work on the first junction improvement at Wetherby Road this summer.

The roundabout upgrades will mean more lanes and space on the approaches and exits. Where possible the road layouts will be designed to accommodate the potential future scheme to bring the outer ring road up to dual carriageway standard.  The Monks Cross roundabout improvement works are planned for early 2019, although some site clearance work could start earlier.

 

Plans can be viewed online at www.york.gov.uk/yorr, at the council’s West Offices on Station Rise, YO1 6GA, or at two special public exhibitions at Monks Cross Shopping Centre management suite (in the corner by New Look) between 1 and 6pm on Tuesday 8 May and Tuesday 22 May.

All comments will be reviewed and changes to the design made where possible.  The decision on the final layout will be taken at a public Executive Member for Transport and Planning Decision Session meeting later in the year.

The York Outer Ring Road improvements programme is being funded through the West Yorkshire-plus Transport Fund, and the Leeds City Region Growth Deal – a £1 billion package of Government investment through the West Yorkshire Combined Authority and Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership (LEP) to accelerate growth and create jobs across Leeds City Region.

Newbury Avenue garage demolition approved. No plans for better parking

Inadequate parking causes obstructions for buses and deliveries

The planning committee have approved the plan to demolish 28 garages in Newbury Avenue. They will be replaced with 5 bungalows.

The committee declined to impose a condition requiring the developer to contribute towards the provision of alternative off street parking provision in the area.

Some of the garages have not been let for several years following a decision by the housing department to leave them empty. This has already exacerbated the parking situation in the Windsor Garth area.

The only hope for more parking provision now rests with the use of a small delegated ward committee budget. However this would provide only a handful of spaces (on lay-bys situated on Windsor Garth) and it could be the autumn before the work is started.

The Kingsway area has been poorly treated by the York Council in recent years. It has only just begun to get over the extended (nearly 3 years) build period for the Hob Stone development. Roads are still showing signs of the effects that heavy building wagons had. Damage to speed tables has been very pronounced. 

Residents living in the area will be viewing with apprehension the possibility that the redevelopment of the Windsor House site could take place at the same time as the Newbury Avenue building works.

On the basis of yesterdays planning committee decision, they cannot look to that quarter for any support in addressing transport and planning problems in the area.