Q: Why might we be witnessing the demise of traditional advent calendars?
A: Because their days are numbered.
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Emma Bridgewater mug
Two different approaches to celebrating Christmas
Vince Cable launches business survey in York
Vince Cable launching York Business survey
York born Business Secretary Vince Cable visited the city on Saturday to officially launch a major new business survey.
The Liberal Democrat survey looks at how local businesses can be supported and what more can be done to encourage employers to take on apprentices. It also asks businesses for their views on the Labour run Council’s decision to close Lendal Bridge and issues such as tax, barriers to taking on new staff and the impact of EU membership. The survey will initially be delivered to over 500 businesses across York in the coming weeks.
Vince Cable, Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, commented:
“I am delighted to support this effort to engage with local businesses in York. It is crucial that we listen to what employers are saying and ensure that everything is being done to support businesses locally as well as understanding the impact on the ground of national issues.
Speaking on the efforts to encourage employers to take-on apprentices, Vince Cable commented:
“Apprenticeships are one of this Government’s top priorities. Practical, technical and vocational skills should be valued as equals to academic achievement. Since 2010 1.2 million new apprenticeships have helped young people into work including over 4,000 in York. We need to continue this progress by highlighting successful schemes and by understanding what more can be done to encourage local employers to take on apprentices.”
As part of the survey the York Lib Dems will be establishing a new Local Business Forum. This will give employers in York an opportunity to discuss the local economy and the impact of City of York Council policies.
Council gets salt bin calculations wrong
The Council has published the “scores” that it gave when assessing which salt bins should be removed.
The list for Westfield can be viewed by clicking here.
The form used to allocate “marks” can be seen here (same for the whole of the City)
What is immediately obvious from the “scores” is that some potentially very hazardous routes (including St Stephens Mews and the Grove Terrace snicket) fared badly because they were judged to be on the normal precautionary gritting routes.
In reality the gritting Lorries never get near enough to these areas to have any effect on the ice.
Meanwhile our story last month about the poor take up of snow warden posts seems to have shamed some residents into action.
Some Tory Councillors are reported as having volunteered.
This news came soon after a question was tabled at last weeks Council meeting asking whether the responsible Cabinet member (Cllr Levene) would be out and about clearing snow?
Maps showing the general location of snow wardens can be found by clicking here.
Advice on clearing the footpath in front of your own home can be found here
The Council have been out and about replacing some of the grit bins (Linnet Way, Cornlands Road) which they threaten to remove, so the right hand doesn’t seem to know what the left hand is doing.
The Council’s map of salt bin locations can be found here.
All of which may be academic as the long term weather forecast shows mild weather continuing into January!!
Major planning applications to be considered on Thursday – Hungate, Askham Bryan, Windsor Garth, Terry’s, Lawrence Street.
As well as the controversial Our Lady’s housing development on Windsor Garth, several other major planning applications will be decided at a meeting taking place on Thursday.
Hungate
First up are the Hiscox insurance company plans for Hungate.
click for larger plan
The Haymarket car park and adjacent site – which was to have been the site of the new Council HQ – are set to become office blocks.
The Council was heavily criticised 18 months ago for selling off the sites for approximately half of their current value. In total taxpayers lost out on about £2.5 million as the Labour Council Leadership desperately tried to attract the Hiscox company to the City.
Now two sets of plans have been published.
The first concerns Haymarket Car Park, the Ambulance Station and the Peasholme Green Hostel site.
It is for the erection of part-three and part-four storey office building (Use Class B1a) of 6,545 square metres (GEA), new energy centre (49 square metres), landscaping proposals, improvements to public realm and highways.
English Heritage, who sabotaged the Council’s plans 6 years ago, have said they now support the development proposals.
The second application is for the site to the rear of the plot. It could be an office (Use Class B1a) with flexible ground floor uses (A1 Shops, D1 institutions or D2 Leisure), or hotel building (Use Class C1) with access.
The offices would be 4 storeys high and the hotel 5 storeys.
Both applications re recommended for approval.
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Askham Bryan College
click for larger plan
The college has applied to provide:
- • Two Animal Management Centres
- • Animal shelters, aviary and enclosures to the south of the animal management centre and within the arboretum (between the main campus building and the A64), perimeter fence to the wildlife and conservation area
- • Birds of prey centre
- • Following the demolition of the existing animal management buildings extension of existing parking facilities. The parking would become more formalised and would provide bus turning and waiting facilities
- • Conversion of the existing equestrian building to provide storage and winter housing for animals in relation to the animal management centre
- • The quadrangle of the main teaching block would be covered by a glazed roof
- • An entrance lobby to the main teaching block
- • Two rows of single storey portacabin student accommodation set between the existing student accommodation and the teaching blocks (retrospective) a 3 year temporary planning permission is sought for this development
- • A farm reception building
- • Extensions of an existing agricultural building
- • A general purpose/livestock building on the site of the existing silage clamp
- • A silage clamp
- • Conversion of existing cattle shed to equine loose boxes
- • An equestrian centre, with entrance from York Road and 2 no. two bed dwellings
- • Re-profiling of fields/hill to the west of the campus to create a polo field with associated landscaping
Student numbers are projected to nearly double over the next 5 years from 1200 to 2300. The level of car parking on site will increase from approximately 390 spaces to 530 spaces.
A second application involves an outline application for the erection of new building and conversion of existing building to provide student accommodation; the erection of teaching block following the demolition of a workshop; and the erection of an engineering building
The applications are for developments in the Green Belt. They are recommended for approval but will have to be referred to the Secretary of State for approval.
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Terry’s
A “reserved matters” application for Phase 1 of the development of the former Terry’s factory site. It comprises 57 houses, one 18 unit apartment building and one. 11 unit apartment building with ground floor retail unit. Details can be found by clicking here.
The plans are recommended for approval
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Lawrence Street
Site is the former Reg Vardy car showroom
The proposals involve the demolition of existing car showroom and the erection of 3 student accommodation buildings comprising of 220 studios with associated external works including a freestanding energy building.
Click here for details
Back lanes in Bishopthorpe Road area to be “gated”
Back lane gate locations. click for larger plan
The Council has agreed to put security gates on the following back alleys
- Millfield Road/Thorpe Street
- Thorpe Street/Russell Street
- Russell Street/Scott Street
- Scott Street/Nunmill Street
The change means that refuse will in future be collected from the front of properties.
The proposals were controversial but objections were overuled last week by the Cabinet member (Cllr Merrett)
The plan is expected to cost around £18,000 to implement and should improve security for properties backing onto the lanes involved.
The Nunmill Street/Bishopthorpe Road alleyway will remain open.
Changes to Heslington Road parking restrictions – cycle lane to be removed
click for larger map
A length of no waiting restriction with a limited waiting parking bay on Heslington Road is to be provided in the vicinity of St Lawrence’s Primary School.
The changes follows problems with parents parking in restricted areas near the school.
The Council wishes to encourage them to use a new limited waiting parking bay.
This will mean that the cycle lane will also be removed.
Woodland wanderings – West Bank park
DATE: Mon 16 Dec
TIME: 1pm to 3pm
VENUE: West Bank Park
COST: Free
We will be resurfacing the bark chip paths, which run through the woods, with fresh bark chip. Please come along and help.
Road works Heworth Green from tomorrow 16th December
3 way temporary signals in operation @ Heworth Green, Dodsworth Ave junction from 19:00hrs – 07:00hrs, 16th &17th Dec due to water works.
— York Travel (@york_travel) December 12, 2013
British Sugar Supermarket – false start
According to information provided at the York Council meeting on Thursday, it appears that no decision has been made on the size of any supermarket which may be built on the British Sugar site off Boroughbridge Road.
On November Council Leader James Alexander announced in the media that a large supermarket would form part of the development.
The publication of consultation plans a few days later showed no large store prompting concerns that the location of the “community hub” would be prejudiced by the extra traffic flow that such a store might generate.
Now it appear that , although a Tesco Express style “corner” store (with around 200 sq metres of floor space) was expected – and needed for the 1000 home development – no proposals for s superstore have actually been made.
A superstore can have a floor space of around 2000 sq metres.
On Thursday the Council Leader admitted that his comments had been premature.
Answering a question from Liberal Democrat Councillor Ann Reid, about the size and impact of a supermarket, he said,
“The quote from The Press was referring to a sentence in my speech given at the annual business conference. The sentence was “The site is likely to include a new supermarket, further boosting employment prospects”.
There has been interest expressed for a new supermarket in this locality but no deal is yet complete. Consultation will take place once there are firmer proposals.
Volunteers needed to spuce up Foxwood Park on 15th February
SATURDAY 15th FEBRUARY 2014 10am – noon
Foxwood Park, Bellhouse Way (opposite Community Centre)
We will have tools and training to cut down branches, open up the wooded area and clear the undergrowth and litter.
Also some bird-boxes.
Event will start at 10am and finish at noon.
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NB. Volunteers will be planting trees on Chesney’s Field tomorrow (Saturday 14th Dec) from 10:00am
Please come along and give us a hand