A York project with Photo Voltaic (PV) panel specialists NWS to combat fuel poverty and serve as a national exemplar has won a national award.

To date, 8,511 Solar PV systems have been installed on 479 York council homes.

This week, The Green Organisation’s Green Apple Award was presented by Doreen Lawrence OBE to NWS which created and completed a ground-breaking, self-funded Solar PV project l.

A winner in the category of ‘Construction Companies: Energy Efficiency’, the project’s key aim was to create a viable model for providing free solar PV installations for housing authorities following the UK government’s reduction of the feed-in-tariff associated with micro-generation systems.

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The proposal to change the bookmakers shop at 48/50 Beaconsfield Street into residential accommodation will finally reach the planning committee on 4th July. The application is recommended for approval.

The proposal would see 3 two bedroomed and 1 single bedroomed flat created out of the converted building. The adjacent 2 story building would also return to residential use.

The flats would be for sale. Apparently the applicants originally mistakenly described the flats as “affordable housing” which gave rise to some objections.

48/50 Beaconsfield Street

The main issue raised, when the idea of the conversion was first suggested, related to the lack of car parking. It has now been suggested that the “developer will provide a free bicycle or a 12 month bus pass per dwelling to the first occupants of the properties to encourage non-car travel”!

The Council received 18 letters of objection to the plan. The predominant concern was lack of car parking while some mentioned noise problems.

The Council committee will have to consider whether it is possible to bring number 50 back into use as either a single or duplex building. There is a shortage of 3 and 4 bedroomed property in the City and opportunities to redress the imbalance come along only rarely.

The creation of 3 dwellings (instead of 5) would also have the advantage that it would reduce the pressure on nearby “on street” parking space.

The number of children in the care of the local authority has fallen in York.

An annual review shows that there were 243 children in care at the end of March 2013 compared to 258 in 2012.

Of the 248, 67% had been placed with Council appointed foster carers. A further 9% were living with people who had a previous connection to the child (e.g. an aunt)

The City has 113 approved foster carers at the end of the year.

Around 20 families apply to become foster carers each month.

Foster carers are paid a weekly fee of between £149 and £642 depending on the age of the child fostered and the skill level of the fosterer.

Income from fostering is tax free up to a limit of £25,000 a year.

The Council has provided a list of all the licensed Clubs (click here) and Pubs/Restaurants etc (click here) in the City

Edward McMillan-Scott MEP

Liberal Democrat MEP Edward McMillan-Scott will be meeting with residents on Friday to discuss their campaign to Save Acomb Moor from development.

The Green Belt site was a surprise inclusion in the Labour Councils draft development plan published in April.

It had been in the draft Green Belt for several decades and was widely regarded as unsuitable for development because of its raised position.

The field concerned is currently used to graze horses but there is also a wide variety of wildlife on the moor and in surrounding hedges.

There will be a “photo call” with Edward shortly after 12:00 noon at the proposed development site.

Over 200 residents have signed a petition aimed at conserving the moor.