£70,000 investment to refurbish city centre toilets

City of York Council is investing £70,000 to refurbish Silver Street and Coppergate public toilets in York’s city centre – with the works starting next week.

Works to update the Silver Street facilities will start on Monday 5 November. They are expected to take around two weeks to complete – ahead of the lead up to the Christmas festivities and St Nicholas Fair.

The refurbishment will be carried out in stages, once Silver St is completed, works will then start on Coppergate. The disabled toilets (changing places) and market traders’ toilets at Silver Street will be refurbished first, followed by other facilities. There will be a full closure of Silver Street from Monday 5 November for two weeks.

There will be signage in place signposting visitors to alternative city centre facilities, which include Coppergate, Exhibition Square and Rougier Street.

The work will be managed by Healthmatic, the council’s toilet management contractor, who will be investing their money and time in the sites as well.

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Delays on street lighting and other York Council repairs

It looks like there is a backlog developing on street lighting repairs in York. Cllr Sheena Jackson has been pressing for a lamp at the end of Foresters Walk to be repaired but has now been told that it could be as long as a fortnight  before it is working again. Officials blame an increased number of fault reports for the backlog, although an extra member of staff has been taken on.

Elsewhere recycling collections have been erratic with several instances reported where cardboard has not been collected.

The Councils web site instructions on how much cardboard can be collected at the kerb are byzantine and really could do with simplification before the peak Christmas period arrives

We were disappointed to find that a “keep left” bollard on Gale Lane – reported 5 weeks ago – still hasn’t been repaired

We’ve asked for the repair to be expedited The darker nights, and potentially foggy weather, mean that illuminated bollards are often a key safety aid for drivers

There have also been problems in getting overgrown hedges cut back for some public footpaths.

We’ve asked for some self seeded bushes on the Thoresby Road garage area to be removed.

We reported the full litter bin on Askham Lane near the bus stop and asked it to be emptied.

What’s on in York – Book Launch: The Story of Museum Gardens Story

Nov _7Museum

York Explore Library :

Wed 7 Nov :

2.00pm – 4.30pm :

Free

Join us to meet Dr Peter Hogarth and Professor Ewan Anderson as they introduce this new copiously illustrated book.  Discover the story of the gardens, including the Roman fortress, the medieval St Mary’s Abbey, the Yorkshire Museum and the botanical garden.

Signed copies of the book, published by The Yorkshire Philosophical Society, will be on sale at a discounted price. Refreshments will be available.

The book will interest garden lovers, historians and anyone with treasured family memories of visiting the gardens.

This event will take place in The Marriott Room and there will be refreshments available.

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