Deaths and test results
There have been no further hospital deaths or positive test results announced today
Coronvirus York updates; 15th August 2020
Fly-tipping blight near York
About 20 tyres have been dumped at the side of York Road mid-way between Askham Richard and Healaugh. The issue has been reported to the Selby Council. Another unnecessary blot on the rural landscape.
What & when at Monks Cross?
It isn’t just the Community Stadium (see story below) that is lying unused at Monks Cross.
The £12 million gym, swimming pool and outdoor all-weather sports pitches are also still under wraps.
Around £14 million of taxpayers money has been used to subsidise the complex on top of which were “developer” contributions of over £15 million (click).
The expectation was that the site would provide several hundred additional jobs for York – opportunities which look to be even more important as the post COVID-19 recession hits employment levels in the City.
Other sports and swimming facilities in the City reopened on 10th August (click).
The IMAX cinema recently reopened and two adjacent units have been taken up by a bowling alley/café (Hollywood Bowl) and an indoor putting green (Putstars). Opening dates haven’t been confirmed.
Both had been scheduled to open in April. Together they will create about 60 jobs.
Elsewhere the Council hasn’t issued any update on the progress made in letting the floor-space in the building that they have underwritten.
Three of the 4 nearby café units are now vacant following the demise of Frankie and Benny’s.
Costa Coffee remains open.
The has similarly been no word on the plans for a library and the NHS outpatient unit.
When will LNER Community Stadium be completed?
Building work is still continuing at the site of the LNER Community Stadium at Monks Cross. It seems that it will be some time before all the buildings can be brought into use.
The main area of concern remains the stadium itself. The authorities failed to stage the required test events before the lockdown led to a suspension of most work.
The test events – of varying capacities – are a prerequisite for the issue of a safety certificate. Without a certificate the stadium can’t be commissioned.
It is something of a paradox that – because of social distancing regulations – initially only a proportion of the capacity would be used. The (National League) football season is due to start at the beginning of October. That is only seven weeks away. Players will recommence training shortly and it is customary to stage friendly matches in the immediate run up to start of a season.
There is little clarify from the government at this stage about how social distancing might limit crowd numbers.
Some sports commentators have said that as few as 1 in 5 seats might be occupied.
Therein may be the rub for York City.
Social distancing is potentially much easier in an all seater stadium like the one at Monk Cross. If 20% of its 8512 seats were occupied then this would be enough to accommodate all season ticket holders plus a few more.
York City’s average attendance, during the last fully completed season (2018/19), was 2443.
In the same year the York Knights Rugby Team attracted 2125.
If one in three seats could be occupied (essentially respecting a 1 metre social distancing guideline) the all regular supporters could be accommodated.
Some other teams in the National League North have announced plans to ground share at stadiums with a larger capacity to accommodate all who wish to attend.
Hopefully the Council and its partners have plans in place to quickly finish off the remaining building work and find a way to open the stadium albeit possibly with a reduced capacity.