This time next week we'll all be enjoying a bank holiday! Acomb Explore will be closed from Saturday 2pm until Tuesday 9am.
— Acomb Explore (@acombexplore) August 19, 2013
Council Leader to open new York art gallery?
With work proceeding quickly on the refurbishment of the York Art Gallery, officials have denied rumours that the Council Leader will not be invited to the opening ceremony.
“He is the only one that we know who has an Ipad and we understand that he has already been practicing aerial shots”*.
The rumours started following an “incident” at another gallery in the area.
*we’re on the lookout for these- Ed
New Hob Moor Focus published
Page 1 click to enlarge
Pages 2 and 3 click to enlarge
Page 4 click to enlarge
Another family funday planned for Acomb
There will be another Acomb Alive! Family Fund Day on Saturday 7th September as part of the “Taster for York Food Festival”.
The theme is locally sourced food and drink from around the York and Yorkshire area. Shops will be displaying signs to show how local some of the local produce is.
There will be street entertainment, a colouring and poster design competition for children. Charity shops will be setting out Cook Books, cooking utensils and support for Home Baking.
Plus, plus, plus………… Friday 6th September : Tea on the Green : Expert Coffee Demonstration 3pm
York Council publishes rental received for Knavesmire, Parliament Street and other open space
The York Council has responded to a Freedom of Information request by publishing a list of the rents that it has received for allowing use of public open spaces in the City
The rents help to pay for the clean up costs and administrative work. A bond is required for some events and sometimes these are not reclaimed.
Most activities are free of charge with many providing an additional leisure choice for York residents and visitors.
The amounts paid for events on public open spaces range from £200 for dog training on the Knavesmire to £2000 paid by the circus also on the Knavesmire.
The Continental market on Parliament Street brings in a healthy £5600 a go while the Food and Drink festival is the top earner at £13,022.
The Council has also listed the organisations which have used the (free) “charity” stall on Parliaments Street.
It is an eclectic list dominated by the Baha’i Faith, Bible education and York Palestine Solidarity.
Celebrate ‘Celebrating Ability Day’ at Energise
DATE: Tues 20 AugustTIME: 10am to 5pm
VENUE: Energise, Cornlands Road
COST: Free
Celebrating Activity Day is a free celebration of disability sport in York and is open to everyone. Come along and watch or participate in the activities and find out where to continue doing them throughout the year.
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York Council empty home shame
The York Council is refusing to say when the former elderly person’s home at Oliver House will be brought back into use. The last residents moved out in April 2012.
Freedom of Information questions
Oliver House is located at the end of Priory Street in a prime City centre location near the Bar Walls. It has been valued at over £1 million.
Labour Councillors have refused to explain why the home has not been brought back into use.
It appears that the only occupants were a “secured by occupation” group who – in return for free accommodation – provide a security presence at the site.
York CVS announced in October 2012 an ambitious £1 million plan to house “22 charities” in the building. Media report
The planning application for the project was approved in February. The cost to remodel the building had by then increased to £1.3 million with most apparently to come from ”loans, grants and local businesses”.
It was unclear who would pay for the running costs of the project.
Despite being asked for an explanation of the delays at two successive Council meetings, Labour Councillors have remained tight lipped.
Now a Freedom of Information request has been submitted to the Council. This will force the Authority to reveal its plans within the next 4 weeks.
With over half the people registered on the housing waiting list requiring single bedroomed accommodation, many residents are puzzled why prime sites like these are not being scheduled for residential use ahead of green field sites.
To leave a building like this empty for over 18 months, and apparently with no prospect of occupation for at least another year, is shameful.
York Minster event today
Our 3rd #YMSummer organ recital takes place today – for tickets http://t.co/GQ9kFm9dhQ
— York Minster (@York_Minster) August 17, 2013
What’s On – Balsam bashing
DATE: Mon 19 Aug
TIME: 1pm to 3pm
VENUE: Rowntree Park
COST: Free
The Himalayan Balsam plant is a very invasive weed – come and help us eradicate it from the park.
First to run new Park and Ride services. Government funds electric buses
First has been awarded York’s Park & Ride (P&R) contract for a further three years.
Working in partnership with the council, First York has successfully operated all five P&R sites for more than 15 years and will continue to do so for another three years.
In addition, one of the city’s principle bus companies has now also been signed-up to operate the new P&R site at Poppleton, which is set to open in 2014.
Vehicles used in York eco bus trial in 2010
As part of the new agreement First will be operating a new electric bus service from the new 600-vehicle facility at Poppleton Bar, which is set to open in Spring 2014. The purchase of the buses has been part funded through the Coalition Government’s Green Bus fund, which awarded £594k to First in May.
Six electric buses are set to be deployed on the York Park & Ride network, though a bid submitted by First York. The new buses will provide cleaner and greener bus journeys for thousands of passengers across the city.
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