Multi User Games Area – late development

Sport England have sent a late representation to the Councils’ planning committee reaffirming their views on the future of the MUGA on Kingsway West.

They say that they HAVE NOT agreed to it being demolished.

Council officials, in a report to the committee, had given the impression that a holding objection had been withdrawn.

Now Sport England have unequivocally said that, if the existing MUGA is demolished, then a replacement facility must be provided nearby.

Such a facility must be available before the existing MUGA is demolished and must be available for public use.

The planning committee is meeting tomorrow (Thursday) at 4:30pm

Stag Parties, Hen Parties now oldie parties set to hit New Earswick?

An application by JRHT to modify the license that they have for the sale of alcohol at Hartrigg Oaks elderly persons complex has run into opposition.

First the Police objected, then an action group of over 80’s declared the plan to be contrary to Quaker traditions.

The proposal is to permit the sale of alcohol to non-residents from 11:00 to midnight, Monday to Sunday.

Residents can buy and consume alcohol at any time.

A licensing committee will hear next week that some residents fear that the Trust intend to open up their on-site restaurant to casual users.

The Trust have denied this

A large number of residents have written to support the licence application

Major programme of mobile phone mast replacements in west York

Telephonica and Vodafone have started an upgrade of their mobile phone network in west York.

The programme involves upgrading their local phone masts and base stations.

Local Councillors are being consulted on the changes.

One – on Acomb Wood Drive – has already been subject of some comment as the height of the mast is being increased significantly.

Most of the others are more simple equipment replacements which the companies say will improve 3G phone coverage in the area.

Cllr Andrew Waller is keeping an eye on the plans. He has already pointed out that the location of the phone equipment outside the Acorn Rugby Club car park on Thanet Road, obscures sight lines for those exiting. He hopes that any new equipment might be set back a little to address this issue.

What’s on in York: Sankta Lucia at York Minster

An atmospheric, candlelit procession and carol service for all the family based on the traditional Swedish Lucia celebration.

In Sweden, Lucia is one of the most significant traditions in the calendar – a powerful symbol and celebration of light and an integral part of the Advent season.

The celebration of Sankta Lucia is based on the bravery and martyrdom of a young Sicilian girl – St Lucy – who died in the early fourth century. Her name and story reached Sweden along with Christianity, and she remained popular even after the Reformation as the bringer of light during the long darkness of winter.

The Lucia procession enters singing the traditional Lucia song, the tune of which was brought to Sweden from Italy in the middle of the 19th century. The singers are dressed in white gowns and carry candles, with Lucia herself as the focal point, wearing a crown of candles and a red ribbon round her waist, symbolising her martyrdom.

The service is run in partnership with the York Anglo-Scandinavian Society.

Booking is not required but please arrive early as this is a popular service. Doors open at 7pm.

Spark – Rates bill arriving

Looks like the Valuation Office has started to issue decisions on the rateable value of units at Spark on Piccadilly.

Units 1 and 2 are now listed as having a rateable value of £12,750 for their 30 sq. mtr ground floor sales area. The price per sq. mtr applied by the VO is £430 which is typical for the area.

The actual business rates payable would be around £6000, with a discount for small businesses.

It appears that valuations are being undertaken per container, so it is unclear precisely how much the Council will receive in total.

The rates are payable with effect from May 2018, so it appears that taxpayers will at last start to see some benefit from their investment.

Separately, Spark have now applied for planning permission to install the canvass roof on their enterprise. This has actually been in place for about 2 months already.

There is still no sign of the promised cladding to the Piccadilly frontage. This was a condition of the planning consent and has been outstanding for over 6 months now.

Outrage as York Council ignores its own planning condition

Newbury Avenue garage demolition starts before committee has opportunity to consider an application to change a planning restriction.

Two days before the Councils planning committee was due to consider whether a planning condition on the Newbury Avenue garage site should be changed, to allow for early demolition of the blocks, contractors have gone ahead and started the work anyway.

As previously reported, the Planning committee imposed a condition when granting planning permission for the erection of 5 bungalows on the site in May. The condition required alternative parking spaces to be constructed before demolition works commenced.

The provision of the parking spaces required a telecoms cabinet to be moved, but it appears that officials failed to issue the order for this work to be done. It takes about 8 weeks to complete.

It appears that they have compounded the error be letting, and now implementing, the demolition contract.

Plant is on site today and garage doors have already been removed.

Local Councillor Andrew Waller is taking up the issue and the unlawful action is likely to be raised when the planning application is debated at Thursday’s meeting.

Even then officials will not be able to authorise the work until the statutory period for resident objections expires on 20th December.

The demolition will come as a major embarrassment to those involved in the planning system in York. They have already been criticised for allowing changes to developments like Spark in Piccadilly without the proper planning permissions.

However, a flagrant breech of a planning condition by one of the Council’s own departments sets a new low.

The Council has been heavily criticised for ignoring planning concerns at Lowfields on a similar site where it is the land owner, developer and planning authority.

At Newbury Avenue the York Council seems to have decided to ignore the planning laws altogether

York Council completes delivery of new 2018/19 waste and recycling calendar

City of York Council has sent all households a new waste and recycling calendar for 2018/19.

The new calendar includes information on when collections are taking place between December 2018 and November 2019 as well as collections over the Christmas and New Year period.

Cllr Andrew Waller, Executive Member for Environmental Services, said: “We’ve listened to residents and this year we’re maintaining collections over the Christmas period. Our front-line crews will continue to work over the Christmas and New Year week with the only exceptions being the bank holidays. This is just one example of how we are introducing a number of improvements to help residents recycle more, reduce waste and minimise fly-tipping.”

The new calendars provide tips and advice on what items can and can’t be recycled, including paper/cardboard, glass, plastic bottles, cans/tins and garden waste if applicable. As well as the paper copies, residents can also look up their collection dates and download a calendar, from mid-December, at: www.york.gov.uk/refuselookup .

The council is making Christmas waste and recycling collections simpler for residents this year.

Crews will continue to collect waste over Christmas and New Year, with the only exceptions being:

Collections due on Christmas Day will be on Saturday 22 December
Boxing Day will be collected on Saturday 29 December
New Year’s Day will be collected on Saturday 5 January

All other days will be as normal.

Extra festive recycling will be collected too including greeting cards, paper, wrapping paper (non foil), cardboard, plastic bottles, tins or glass. All residents need to do is correctly sort them and place them in separate untied clear bags or open boxes of a similar size to a recycling box and put out with their recycling, or simply take them to a recycling site. Full details of how to present extra items can be found here: www.york.gov.uk/ExcessAndAdditionalRecycling

Real Christmas trees and wreaths can also be taken to recycling sites at Hazel Court HWRC or Towthorpe HWRC. Please note that both sites are closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day.

It’s important that bins or boxes are presented by 7am on the day of collections, but no earlier than 7pm the evening before.

Residents can also look up their collection dates at: www.york.gov.uk/refuselookup

Residents who live in the city centre and have their recycling collected by St Nick’s will receive details about those service changes soon.

As we head into the winter season, garden waste collections will be coming to an end too. The last garden waste collections of the season will be in November and they will start up again next year in April.

Households which have not received their calendar by the end of November can look up their collections at www.york.gov.uk/refuselookup or if they don’t have online access, contact the council on 01904 551551 or ycc@york.gov.uk for a replacement copy.

What’s on in York: Yorkshire Volunteers Brass Ensemble at Christmas

Merchant Adventurers’ Hall :

Fri 7 Dec :

7.30pm – 9.15pm :

£15

What better way to venture into the Christmas season than with an abundance of festive favourites which are sure to get you into the seasonal spirit! The ensemble will take you on a celebratory journey of festive classics including pieces synonymous with the season along with carols and traditional songs; this enjoyable concert is a must for your Christmas calendar.

There will also be tasty festive snacks and refreshments available at an additional charge before and at the interval. Plus our shop will be open for present and stocking filler ideas!

Tickets: £15 (no concessions).

Tickets can be purchased either over the phone (01904) 654818 or in person from the Hall.

What’s on in York: Handel’s Messiah at York Minster

The York Minster Choir will be joined by internationally renowned soloists this Christmas for a special performance of Handel’s Messiah in the beautiful setting of York Minster’s Nave. The famous work was first performed in Dublin in 1742 and has since become one of the best-known and most popular English oratorios. What better way to celebrate Christmas than to experience the story of Christ through this moving and poignant choral performance?

Tickets priced at £25, £18.50 and £12.50 are available online, by telephoning 01904 557256 or in person from York Minster’s welcome desks.

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