Pleased to see York City will be having their “kickabout” sessions on Chesneys Field (Foxwood Lane) this summer.
Also visiting Woodthorpe Green
What’s on in York; York City FC “kickabout” on Chesneys Field
York getting a little busier?
Coronavirus York updates; 17th July 2020
Deaths and test results
There have been no further positive test results or hospital deaths in the City according to government figures published today.
Sometimes “late” test results are retrospectively added to the daily totals but the trend may be encouraging.
–
Restrictions to be eased further
- From 25th July indoor gyms, pools and other sports facilities can reopen
- On 1st August the government will update its advice on going to work, asking employers to make decisions about how and where their staff can work safely
- From the same date, most remaining leisure settings, including bowling, skating rinks, casinos and all close contact services, such as beauticians, will be allowed to reopen
- Live indoor theatre and concerts will be able to resume with socially distanced audiences
- Wedding receptions for up to 30 people will also be allowed from next month
- From September, schools, nurseries and colleges will be open for all children and young people on a full-time basis, while universities are also working to reopen as fully as possible
- From October, the government intends to allow audiences to return to stadiums, while conferences and other business events can recommence, subject to the outcome of pilots
Shop local
City of York Council is encouraging people to shop local and stay safe this weekend.
Whilst face coverings are mandatory in shops from 24 July, city leaders are coming together to urge residents and businesses to consider the use of face coverings within the safety guidelines.
There is growing evidence that face coverings can stop the spread of Coronavirus. Face coverings, alongside regular hand washing, social distancing and staying home and getting tested, if you have symptoms, remain the best defence we have against the virus.
If you have a medical condition that means you are unable to wear a face covering, you do not need a letter from your healthcare professional to prove this. In this situation, you will still be able to enter shops and you will not be fined for not wearing one.
Councillor Keith Aspden, Leader of City of York Council said: “Our local business community have worked hard to reopen safely, and to support them, the council has been issuing guidance packs to businesses and licensing premises to support them through this difficult period”.
“If every resident spent £5 with a local business, we would add £1m into York’s economy, and that is why we are encouraging residents to shop local and stay safe this weekend.
“Supporting York’s local businesses and independents puts your money straight back into our local economy and helps support the businesses who make York such a unique city. So, let’s continue to shop local and stay safe.”
Andrew Lowson, Executive Director at York BID, said: “We have seen other countries successfully introduce the use of face coverings without it impacting on people’s ability to enjoy shopping and socialising within the safety guidelines. We hope residents will continue to support their local businesses as they continue on the road to recovery.”
Marc Bichtemann, Managing Director of First York, said: “We have been increasing our services over recent weeks to help more people to travel as retail and leisure opens in York, including more frequency on the park and ride network, so we are able to carry customers safely to their favourite shopping destinations.
“Wearing a face covering on the bus is already the law unless someone is exempt and we encourage everyone, especially customers who may be using the bus first the first time, to bring one with them and help fellow passengers and our drivers to keep safe.”
Information on face coverings, including how to make them and also information on those exempt from wearing a face covering for medical reasons are available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/face-coverings-when-to-wear-one-and-how-to-make-your-own/face-coverings-when-to-wear-one-and-how-to-make-your-own
How many will lose their jobs in York?
Post COVID-19 economic recovery plans
The Council has revealed that its forecast financial deficit for the current year is around £3.9 million. However, the biggest potential hit on its finances comes from a forecast £16 million loss of Business Rate and Council Tax income. This would be the result of businesses closing and unemployment rising.
The Council has still not identified how expenditure savings may be made nor has it attempted to reduce interest charge payments by trimming its capital programme.
The York Council economic development report says how it plans to help the York economy recover from the ravages of lock-down. It updates a previous plan which was criticised for a lack of identified actions, targets, and milestones.
The report says that the impact of the COVID lock down has varied across sectors but is most significant where “serving customers face-to-face is at the heart of the business model – retail, hospitality, cultural attractions and personal services”.
One aspect to the report which may cause concern is the lack of clarity on the medium-term impact on unemployment in the City. It highlights the view of the Local Enterprise Partnership which forecasts the loss of “17,500 jobs, including 6,500 in tourism and 2,400 in retail”. If true, then York would go from having almost full employment to a record 15% level.
The report says that around 15,000 people currently work in the care sector in York.
An alternative forecast, from Oxford Economics, says that if a vaccine is rolled out in 2020 then there will be a swift return to full employment. A core (more likely) forecast, based on re-openings on the current timetable and gradual lifting of all restrictions, suggests that employment will continue to grow in York despite the impact of the pandemic.
Only a second wave, and renewed lockdowns in autumn 2020, would result in permanent losses of around 3900 jobs.
So it seems, like the population as a whole, the Council doesn’t know what will happen next. The report concludes “What we are already seeing is sharp increases in benefits claims, and we need to plan for at least a short-term spike in job losses”.
Against that background it is possible to have some sympathy for the Council as they decide their short term economic recovery strategy.
One of the few measurable actions arising from the report is a request to central government for a business support grant of £15 million (possibly £10 million depending on which paragraph of the report you read, 51 or 60).
The council will also ask for £10 million for skills training.
Mostly the 1 year plan though is “talking”, “developing”, “working with”, “lobbying” and “facilitating”.
NB. The Council has revealed details of some of its visitor marketing plans. . As reported yesterday, £100,000 will be spent on marketing over the next 5 months.
Footpath obstructed
Such a shame that the York Council seems once again to have taken its eye off the ball. While endlessly agonising about – and focusing expenditure on – pedestrian activities in the City centre, the suburbs remain neglected.
One public footpath on the A59 near Poppleton is now blocked by overhanging branches. The same stretch had a similar problem last year. Pedestrians are forced to walk on what can be a busy carriageway. Makes a nonsence of “social distancing”
Nearby by weeds are growing in the gutters on the road and in the underpass at the junction with the A1237.
The council doesn’t seem to have an inspection regime in place which identifies issues (even those that reoccur regularly) before they become an inconvenience to residents.
British Sugar Site
Much of the British Sugar development site on Boroughbridge Road has now been levelled. It remains unclear when construction of the long delayed homes will start.
In the meantime one resident has commented that some of the trees on the site – scheduled for retention because they provide a wildlife habitat – seem to have disappeared. The Council has been asked to investigate.
The old Manor school site does not seem to have been affected,.
