A wall of chocolate tablets is the mouth-watering medium on which people can etch their tales for York Stories 2012 from 25-30 September as part of this year’s Festival of Food and Drink.

As part of York Stories 2012’s Sweet Thoughts project, the out-size cocoa bars are housed in York Cocoa House’s marquee at St. Sampson’s Square from 9am-5pm daily and people can write or draw on it as part of York 800’s drive to collect people’s stories, thoughts or memories for future generations to enjoy.

So, what was your favourite chocolate bar? Or your weekly sweet treat? Did or do you work in York’s confectionary industry and have something to share about that? Tell your Sweet Thoughts on York’s unique chocolate wall.

Anyone can draw on the wall. The work on the walls will be photographed during the wall’s life.

City of York Council is joining forces with cities across Europe, including Dijon and Helsinki, by engaging local businesses and residents in tackling climate change.

In partnership with York Environment Forum, the council is launching a campaign this week (Tuesday 25 September) called ENGAGEd! which aims to encourage businesses and residents to understand the implications of a changing climate and take action by building a sustainable energy future for York.

The campaign will create tailor-made posters of residents and businesses in the city taking real actions, and hopes to encourage others to engage.
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The Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, Dr Vince Cable MP paid a visit to Nestlé York on Thursday to meet apprentices and see for himself the investment and transformation the site has undertaken in recent years.

The Nestlé York site is one of the World’s largest confectionery factories and over recent years been transformed in a world class facility producing up to 6 million chocolate bars a day. Nestlé has invested over £200 million into the site, £50 million in the last five years including a new AERO factory and upgraded KIT KAT wafer facility.

The Business Secretary Vince Cable was shown the Aero and Kit Kat factories where he met with Ed Wilson, and Jordan Phillips, engineering apprentices and Quintan Thornton who recently completed his apprenticeship and now a full time engineer. The apprentice programme is only one part of the Nestlé Academy launched nine months ago. Through the Academy, Nestlé UK & Ireland committed to double the number of graduates, apprentices and internships and supporting the economy through the training of skilled workers.

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City of York Council’s Eng-AGE 50+ Games will be kicking off next week and getting the ball rolling for a whole week of sporting opportunities for people over 50 years old.

The games aim to promote sporting opportunities across the city that are available for people aged over 50 to take part in, linked to the York 50+ Festival and supporting Move Week, an annual European-wide campaign which promotes wider participation in sport and physical activity by The International Sport and Culture Association (ISCA) and its partners.

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Mayfield Grove nature reserve

Council officials are recommending to a meeting which will take place on Thursday that the open space in Mayfield Grove is managed by the York Natural Environment Trust (YNET).

The recommendation will come as a surprise and disappointment to the Chase Residents Association who had put forward a detailed plan which would have seen them manage a site which lies at the heart of their community.

Although YNET has experience in managing local nature conservation areas, the proposal does seem to fly in the face of both Council and Government policy which seeks to involve local residents in maintaining neighbourhood facilities.

An officer report confirms that land, to the rear of Hob Moor Terrace which was sold in error by Taylor Wimpey, has now been secured by the Council.

It is to be hoped that a compromise can be found which will utilise the expertise of YNET while fully harnessing the drive and enthusiasm shown by the Chase Residents group.

Thursday’s meeting is open to public who can register to speak if they wish.

Details can be found at http://tinyurl.com/Mayfield-27th-Sept-12

Criminals are living it up at our expense – Why should they?

North Yorkshire Police is launching the 2012 Why should they? campaign today (21 September 2012) with another £25,000 of criminals’ cash up for grabs.

The Police media release reads, “This is the third year in a row that the force has made the cash available to local good causes, having seized it from crooks who have made money from their crimes.

Between Friday 21 September and 31 October 2012, non-profit making organisations, charities, volunteer and community groups whose work makes a positive contribution to reducing crime or anti-social behaviour can apply for up to £3,000 from the fund.

The Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) allows the police to take money and assets from criminals such as drug dealers, fraudsters and thieves if they have gained them as result of their criminal activity.

Over the last two financial years, North Yorkshire Police’s Financial Investigation Unit seized more than £2.3m from criminals under POCA. Some of this money is returned to North Yorkshire Police and other criminal justice partners, and it is by using some of this cash that the Why should they? campaign can help local communities.

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Thanks to a new injection of funding, City of York Council will be running additional ‘noise patrols’ this autumn to establish acceptable noise levels.

Additional funding from the Safer York Partnership is enabling the council’s environmental protection unit to carry out extra noise patrols at the start of the new academic year and during the autumn festivals of Hallowe’en and Bonfire Night.

These additional patrols will operate during Freshers’ Week and enable the Council to provide advice to students on how to control noise and assistance to those affected by noise. Patrols will operate from 10pm-1am in the weeks of 17-20 September for York St John’s University and 8-11 October at the University of York.

It is also planned that extra noise patrols will operate along similar lines and similar hours on Halloween and Bonfire Night to advise on and give support to people enjoying the festivities.

The Noise Patrol’s normal operating hours are from 9pm-3am, on Friday and Saturday nights and can be contacted on (01904) 551555.

Deangate works starting

Work has stared on a scheme which will see Deangate paved and the entrance to the south transept of the Minster improved.

The work forms part of the Minster Revealed project which has attracted financial support from both the National Lottery and the York Council.

During the works, access to Deangate will be limited and it is likely that cyclists will have to dismount and walk for a distance of about 25 metres.

click to enlarge

The area is to be paved with a gradual ramp making access to the Minster south door much easier for those with walking problems.

The Minster will also unveil a new “Orb” next month.

This is described on their web site (http://www.yorkminster.org/home.html) as “an elliptical treasure-house, showcasing some of world’s most important stained-glass, medieval art”.

The event starts on 31st October as part of the Illuminating York project

It is a precursor to the opening of an exciting new permanent exhibition in the Minster Undercroft next May which will tell – using modern technology – the story of York’s most famous building.

York Council's preferred cycle path route. Click to enlarge

The Council is advertising its preferred route for the Rufforth to Knapton cycle path.

Effectively it is trying to use existing rights of way to establish a Bridleway. This would allow cycles to use the route. The route passes to the north of the Harewood Whin waste disposal site.

However the route suggested, as well as being likely to attract objections from landowners, is approximately twice the length of a more direct, and flatter, route which could be established alongside the B1224.

The latter is the route which would have been facilitated by the land acquisition required to establish a salvage centre at Harewood Whin.

Another alternative, which would be quicker for cyclists wanting to access Acomb Front Street & York City Centre, would have been to use the Grange Lane/Airfield bridleway which was reopened a couple of years ago.

Moor Lane Knapton A1237 crossing point

In all cases the main problem involves cyclists crossing the A1237 safely. The Councils preferred line uses the existing crossing point at Moor Lane (Knapton) which is less than perfect.

Whichever route is preferred, there is a strong case for installing a foot/cycle bridge (or underpass) to minimise risks at the northern by pass intersection.

Full details of the Council’s plans can be found here: http://tinyurl.com/Rufforth-cycle-path

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Changes to the Ouseacres junction with Boroughbridge Road will go ahead although the final details of the plans are not being consulted on.

A private meeting took place on 11th September and considered objections to a new layout which is being funded by the developers of a nearby site.

The proposed works include –

• Widen the road on the outbound side of A59 Boroughbridge Road, opposite the Ouseacres junction, and amend the existing road markings to facilitate the introduction of a right turn lane at the junction.

• Extend the off-road cycle path by approximately 16m to allow cyclists to access the off-road facilities in advance of the junction.

• The alterations to the kerb line on the south side necessitate the relocation of one lighting column and a traffic signal duct, and alterations to three vehicular crossings.

Improvements to the off-road cycle facilities –

• Rationalisation of the existing arrangements to bring them in line with current standards, and to create a more easily understood and safer arrangement. The work comprises alterations to the tactile paving and resurfacing of the path, and improvements to the signing and markings.

One of the problems with the new secrecy culture surrounding the Guildhall is that only very limited consultation takes place.

In this case the 2 Acomb Labour Councillors failed to respond to requests for their views while other experienced Councillors were excluded from the process altogether.