Trial changes to reduce the number of vehicles using footstreets in York

Following advice from North Yorkshire Police, City of York Council is putting measures in place to improve public safety across the city centre where there are a large number of pedestrians.

Following a decision by the Executive in February, the council commissioned independent security experts to develop a plan for long-term measures to combat the ongoing threat of ‘vehicle weapon attacks’ like those seen recently in Toronto, London and Nice.

A trial of the measures to reduce the number of vehicles in the city’s main footstreet area will take place before permanent measures are installed in the coming months.

The trial will include ending vehicle access to St Sampson’s Square during foot street hours (10.30am-5pm, seven days a week) by using an experimental traffic regulation order (ETRO).

The current restrictions will also be enforced along Coney Street with the introduction of bollards at the northern end of the street, close to the Mansion House.

After this initial trial, a wider consultation on the city centre will be commissioned by the Council and will provide an opportunity for everyone in the city to share their views on access to the city centre. (more…)

Acomb Jobs Fair set to host up to 25 local employers and agencies

City of York Council is offering local people job opportunities, information and advice at Acomb Job Fair, in partnership with Job Centre Plus.

The event, which is funded by 4 Community Growth, will see around 25 local employers, employment agencies and training providers offer assistance with job searches and arrange further training and support into employment.

Employers in attendance will include Tesco, The Grand Hotel & Spa, Gear4Music and Benenden Health, as well as agencies such as Work With York, who will be available at the Parish Church Hall on Front Street, Acomb, from 10am to 2pm, on Wednesday 7 November 2018.

City of York Council’s York Learning will also be at the job fair to offer educational and employment support, and help people to find the relevant training to pursue the right career path.

York had a five per cent growth in employment in 2017, with an increase of 5,000 new jobs – from 101,000 to 106,000.

For more information, please visit: https://www.york.gov.uk/YorkJobsFair

Spark still to submit planning appeal on cladding

Freedom of Information response confirms no rent or rates paid

Spark was closed yesterday

Despite receiving a decision notice which required the company to implement the original planning condition which included providing cladding on the outside of the containers on Piccadilly, Spark still haven’t started work.

The decision notice was issued on 21st August, over 2 months ago.

Spark were publicly quoted as saying that they would “appeal” to the Secretary of State against the Councils decision. They haven’t done so yet and indeed it could be another 4 months before they have to register an appeal.  Even then Planning Inspectors could take several months to determine the case. That might be close to the May 2020 end of their lease for the site.

The Council says, “It is the view of planning officers that it would be inappropriate and unreasonable for the planning authority to attempt to take planning enforcement action whilst they exercise their right to challenge the Council’s decision”.

Their position ignores the fact that the developers have been in breach of the planning conditions for over 6 months now and that they have failed to record an appeal against the August planning refusal.

With containers having been in place since September 2017, that would mean that the ugly frontage would potentially have been on public view for over 2 years.

A Freedom of Information response (ref: IGF/10492) has confirmed that Spark have not yet paid any rent or rates on their development. The rates issue is blamed on delays in the Valuation Office who have yet to respond to a valuation request issued to them in May 2018.

Developers call “foul”

It appears that the Council issued a contract to Spark which didn’t require any rent payments to be made until March 2019.  It is unclear whether the council collects rent 12 months in arrears on the other properties that it rents in the City (Council house tenants pay rent fortnightly).

The FOI does confirm that building control agreement hasn’t been issued

“The original building regulation application was approved at the site, however this has subsequently been amended to incorporate roof cover which is currently being assessed. As soon as this is complete a Completion Certificate will be issued for the site”.

Perhaps not surprisingly other developers in the City are now crying “foul” and are claiming that there is no longer a level playing field.

Work underway on Acomb War Memorial

Work has started on cleaning up the Acomb War Memorial on The Green. The project which, as well as cleaning and refurbishing the stonework, includes the provision of a new path, aimed at improving disabled access, is expected to be completed next week.

There will be a reading, by local Councillors, of names from the Kings Book of Heroes at the Memorial on Thursday 8th November 2018, at 11:00am .

The Kings Book of Heroes contains the names of nearly 1,450 men and 2 women from York who lost their lives because of the First World War. It was put together by prominent York citizens after the war as an act of remembrance. The names will be read publicly in chronological order of when they died.

On Saturday 10th November volunteers will be in the St Stephens Churchyard (just opposite the Memorial) from 10:00am cleaning the headstones of the 12 WW1 soldiers who  are buried there. Work starts at 10:00am and will be concluded by noon. Additional helpers are welcome.

On Sunday 11th November a Remembrance Service will take place at the War Memorial starting at 10:45am

St Stephens Churchyard

 

 

What’s on in York: The Worlds of Whedon

York Explore Library :

Thu 1 Nov :

6.30pm – 7.30pm :

£5

Few television producers have had the impact and influence both on TV and the broader fabric of popular culture in the early 21st century than Joss Whedon.

From his iconic Buffy the Vampire Slayer, to the complex Dollhouse; from creating universes entirely his own such as Firefly, to inhabiting the Marvel world as Executive Producer of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D, Whedon’s works have re-defined what long-form serial drama can do. He has done this against a backdrop of staggering technological, regulatory and financial change.

This talk Professor Matthew Pateman will celebrate, challenge, contest and debate this impact and legacy on 21st century televisual culture.

Author’s Biography:
Professor Matthew Pateman is the Head of the Media Department at Edge Hill University.
“I’ve made a career out of teaching, and writing about, the novels, poems, plays, films, TV shows, music, ideas, cultures and histories that enthrall, amuse, affect, delight, challenge, embolden and move me. This career has taken me around the UK and Europe, the USA and Canada, allowed me to teach in India, to meet heroes and icons. I have met and made friends with people of diverse backgrounds and differing aspirations whose minds have enriched mine, whose ideas have developed mine, whose generosity has thrilled me: these students and scholars – from Scarborough to Saskatoon; from Arkansas to Ahmedabad; from Oslo to Ormskirk – make each day a joy.”

Please visit our ticketing website to book a place.