York residents urged to stop smoking and get behind Stoptober

City of York Council is supporting this year’s Stoptober campaign and is urging the people of York to sign up to the 28-day stop smoking challenge.

Last year, nearly 400,000 smokers in England quit successfully,which is the equivalent to 1,069 smokers each day.

Despite new smokers starting and ex-smokers relapsing, there are now 1 million fewer smokers in England since 20142.

Of the 6.1 million smokers in England, six in 10 want to quitbut most try to quit using willpower alone (or ‘cold turkey’) despite this being the least effective method.

The best way to quit is with expert help from local stop smoking services together with stop smoking aids. In 2017-18, half (51%) of smokers who got this package of support managed to quit and among those who used an e-cigarette in their quit attempt, the success rate was up to 63%.4

Councillor Carol Runciman, executive member for adult social care and health said: “Our YorWellbeing service is there to support people who want to quit. Campaigns such as Stoptober, along with the support provided by local stop smoking services, play a huge role in helping people to kick the habit.

“Anyone who wants to join in the Stoptober campaign and stop smoking can get support by calling our team on 01904 553377 or visiting the Stoptober website.”

Dr Nigel Wells, a GP and NHS Vale of York Clinical Commissioning Group’s Clinical Chair, said: “Smoking increases your risk of developing many serious health conditions – some of which may be fatal, while others can cause irreversible long-term damage to your health.

“Giving up smoking could help you to live a longer and healthier life so if you’re thinking of stopping smoking, speak to your GP who can provide information and advice, or you can call the NHS Smokefree helpline on 0300 123 1044 for guidance.

“It’s never too late to give up and initiatives such as Stoptober can act as a huge motivator to help you succeed in quitting permanently.”

To contact the Yorwellbeing stop smoking service call 01904 553377 or visit: www.york.gov.uk/stopsmoking for more information.

For information on Stoptober, or to sign up visit: www.nhs.uk/oneyou/stoptober.

Major York brownfield site gets development boost

City of York Council welcomes a decision by the Secretary of State to set new conditions which will help unlock the former British Sugar site and other unused brownfield sites in the city.

Taking into account York’s emerging Local Plan and the Upper and Nether Poppleton Neighbourhood Plan, the Minister of Housing, Communities and Local Government has said that allocating 20% affordable housing to the site off Boroughbridge Road is reasonable.

Because of the scale of the development, the Minister has recognised that delivering that percentage would not be viable in the initial phases of development. So the recommendation proposes that a minimum 3% provision would be made with additional affordable housing provided based on reassessment evidence for each phase.

Sparks container village – deadline for disabled access lift passes

Street “art” still dominates Piccadilly

Anyone expecting to see the disabled lift installed at the Sparks site on Piccadilly may be disappointed. Users say that it is still missing despite public promises made to the planning committee in August that it would be available for use by the end of September.

The same meeting was told that the project was highly successful. Others have,however, claimed that many of the original tenants have now quit the site, with only alcohol sales thriving.

Anyone expecting to see the street art graffiti removed from the Piccadilly frontage will also be disappointed. There is no sign of the cladding which should have been provided before the site opened in April.

Sparks have enjoyed beneficial occupation of the site since September 2017

Responses by Council officials to a series of Freedom of Information requests by local architect Matthew Laverack may give rise to even more concern.

The requests probe the role of the York Council as the landlord for the site. They agreed that the shipping containers could be put on the land despite pressure to advertise the site for permanent development. Many regarded the terms of the deal as generous with the Council pitching around £60,000 into the project.

Insurance requirements in the lease have apparently not been met and the Council’s building control section haven’t signed off the site as complete.

The mainstream media have been very quiet about these planning and lease breaches, while the Councils planning enforcement team has so far been wholly ineffective.

The contract allows for the Council to take back the site if, after 21 days, the tenants have failed to pay the rent or complied with their obligations under the Lease.

The Council will likely face an Ombudsman referral unless it gets its act together

NB Empty properties nearby are being offered free of charge on a short-term lease to voluntary organisations. There have been no takers.

York Police spread the word about illegal motorcycles as action to target nuisance riders brings “significant results”

Officers at North Yorkshire Police will be working with schools, colleges, motorcycle dealers and instructors to cut down on the number of illegal and nuisance motorbike riders on our roads.

They are trying to reach younger riders to educate them about how to stay safe and legal – and warn them of the consequences if they break the law.

It’s part of Operation Confiscate, which was launched in response to residents’ complaints about antisocial motorcycle riders in York.

Residents are urged to help police crack down on nuisance riders by reporting offences on 101 or by emailing snayorknorth@northyorkshire.pnn.police.uk

If possible, please take details of the registration, make or model, colour or a description of the rider or the helmet they are wearing. Information will be passed on to North Yorkshire Police’s Roads Policing Group so offenders can be tracked down and dealt with.

Police Community Support Officers will be visiting the locations to hand out information and talk to riders and other members of the community about how they can help police tackle the issue.

Officers are also carrying out regular enforcement patrols with off-road police motorbikes. They are using information supplied by the public and are targeting hotspots. These currently include the suburbs of Clifton, Fulford and Heworth.

In the last month alone, a number of motorbikes and scooters have been stopped by police in York, including:

  • A motorbike that was seized in Huntington for being uninsured and ridden while it was declared off the road (SORN)
  • A scooter rider who had no tax or MOT. The rider was reported and the scooter has been seized
  • A motorbike rider who has been given a Section 59 warning notice for antisocial riding
  • A scooter rider who has been reported for having no MOT and incorrectly displaying a front L plate
  • A scooter rider who is due to be interviewed on suspicion of having no licence or insurance after a police stop in Clifton

York North PCSO Harl Pattison, who is working on Operation Confiscate, said: “As the operation continues,  we’re seeing some significant results. These results are making a real difference to residents’ quality of life and making their communities safer.

“But we want to prevent illegal riding happening in the first place. So we’re doing more and more work to reach young riders and influence the way they ride.

“By working with other people in the community, we’re spreading the word that riding antisocially or without tax, insurance, an MOT or a  licence is foolish and it won’t be tolerated.

“We’re enforcing the law too, and in the last month alone we’ve been sending riders to court, handing out official warnings or seizing motorcycles. We’re showing riders that the stakes are high, so chancing it could cost them dearly.”

Police are being supported by partner agencies such as the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency who can carry out roadside checks and make sure the vehicles are roadworthy. If not, prohibitions notices to remove the vehicle from the road can be issued.

North Yorkshire Police is reminding riders to check the following before taking to the road:
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What’s on in York: The Rowntrees and the Power of Reading

York Explore Library :

Oct _3Rowntree

Wed 3 Oct :

6.30pm – 7.30pm

:£3

The Rowntree family had a passion for making learning more widely accessible to all, through public libraries, adult literacy and leisure-time reading. They were instrumental in the creation of the city library (York Explore) and branch libraries, as can be seen on the foundation plaque found just inside the main entrance.

In her illustrated talk Bridget Morris will explore some of the fascinating aspects of the legacy left by the Rowntrees, both in their world-famous factory and more widely across the city of York.

The talk will take place in the Marriott Room

To book tickets please click here