“Thank York It’s Friday” sees introduction of late evening Park & Ride every Friday until Christmas

York’s city centre is supporting the high street with a new initiative bringing together York Business Improvement District, First York, City of York Council and York Retail Forum.

“Thank York It’s Friday” runs every Friday until Christmas, encouraging local people and visitors alike to spend Friday evenings in the city centre.

“This is a scheme driven by local traders and designed to get locals back into the city centre to start their weekend a little earlier.  With late night shopping until 7pm – and some stores until 8pm – and opportunities to socialise with friends whilst still taking advantage of the Park & Ride, the last bus to each Park & Ride site now departs at 11pm,” comments Andrew Lowson, executive director of York BID.  “We know that it takes joined-up thinking to make this kind of initiative happen, which is why we’ve worked so closely with First York and City of York Council to make York Retail Forum’s idea come to life.”

Key retail outlets have already confirmed that they will open until 7pm on Friday evenings, including Brown’s, Marks & Spencer, Next, Primark, TK Maxx, Whittards and WH Smith, the additional opening until 8pm at Debenhams, Crabtree & Evelyn, Love Cheese, Lush and Pavers Shoes.  More retailers are expected to follow suit in the run-up to Christmas.

The late night Park & Ride will initially be subsidised by York BID, though it is hoped that the number of additional people making use of the service in the coming months will enable it to be self-sustaining in the longer term.

Marc Bichtemann, Managing Director at First York, said, “We’re proud to operate one of the most successful Park & Ride sites in the country, which helps save customers the hassle and cost of parking in York with just a short bus trip to and from the city. We’re excited to be working with other local partners to develop the Park & Ride service and to offer later trips for customers wanting to spend more time in the city, or for those travelling back into York via train, wanting access to their car for their onward journey.”

Wetherby Road roundabout upgrades – Wetherby Road closed for 4 days from 24th September

The Wetherby Road roundabout upgrade will move a step closer to completion next week when we start resurfacing works on the roundabout and approach roads.

When it is completed it will be the first of seven roundabouts to receive wider entrances and exits as part of a £38m scheme to reduce congestion on the outer ring road.

To keep disruption to a minimum work will take place overnight from 8pm – 5am, weather permitting. The work is programmed to take place in three phases, these are:

Phase 1 (10 September – 14 September, 8pm – 5am): Work will be carried out off the carrigeway with the A1237 and Wetherby Road being open as normal. There may be short periods where portable traffic lights are utilised on the A1237 to allow for tie-ing into the existing road

Phase 2 (17 September to 21 September, 8pm – 5am): Work will be carried out off the carrigeway with the A1237 and Wetherby Rd being open as normal. There may be short periods where portable traffic lights are utilised on the A1237 to allow for tie-ing into the existing road

Phase 3 (24 September to 28 September, 8pm – 5am): Wetherby Road closed from the junction of Beckfield Lane to the A1237. 3-way traffic lights will be in operation on the A1237 and Rufforth arm of Wetherby Road with traffic down to a single lane.

In order to carry out the works in Phase 3 safely the use of a temporary road closure on Wetherby Road will be necessary whilst works are taking place. A signed diversion route will be in place.

As with any construction work, there is likely to be a certain amount of disruption and inconvenience to the public, however we will try at all times to keep any disruption to a minimum.

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.

For more information about the York Outer Ring Road improvements visit www.york.gov.uk/yorr

Flower bed in Foxwood gets make over from “Good Gym”

The flower beds in Corlett Court in Foxwood were refurbished earlier in the year. Unfortunately, during the recent dry spell,  one bed was taken taken over by a particularly pernicious form of weed. The weeds had strangled growth of the Lavender plants that had been cultivated.

Thanks to “Good Gym” for removing the weed then replanting the lavender and other low level plants.

18 bags of weeds were removed together with a bag of rubbish.

Great work by “Good Gym” who make a real difference to the appearance of our City

 

What’s on in York: York Mystery Plays

Mystery Plays

The Green – College Green :

The Fair – St. Sampson’s Square :

The Streets – St. Helen’s Square :

The Stage – King’s Manor

Sun 9 Sep : 11.00am – 5.30pm :

Wed 12 Sep : 7.00pm – 9.00pm :

Sun 16 Sep  :11.00am – 5.30pm

Ticket prices vary and included in the link below.

Originally a set of 48 plays performed by the medieval Guilds of York, the York Mystery Plays illustrate the Christian history of the world from the Creation to the Last Judgement. They contain stories of delight, humour, horror, temptation and resistance. The Plays will take to the streets of York on two consecutive Sundays and a Wednesday evening to perform this Medieval tradition, filling the streets with music, theatre and spectacle.

For more information please visit our website

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/Mysteryplaysyork/

Twitter – https://twitter.com/Yorkmysteryplay

Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/yorkmysteryplays/47

To book tickets please click here.