A meeting tomorrow (Tuesday) is being asked to support a campaign by local residents who are seeking a change in the route that the number 4/5 bus service takes through Acomb.

Front Street in older times

Residents are asking that, rather than travelling to and from Green Lane via Acomb Green, the service travel along Wetherby Road, Ridgeway, Askham Lane and Front Street to intersect with the existing route on Green Lane.

This will restore the link for residents living in Acomb and the Cornlands area who wish to visit those services which are located in the old village (Library, Post Office, Chemist, Doctors Surgery etc.).

This link was lost when the old number 4 route was changed in October.

The revised route would offer a two way service. It is a commercial service so the change would require the agreement of the operators First

“It’s not uncommon for number plates to be stolen from parked cars, as it’s easy to remove them. But why would someone steal your number plates?

Of course, one possibility is that the culprits may just be doing it for mindless fun. But it’s just as likely that they have more serious intentions – ones that could affect you directly. Here are some possible motives, and their consequences for you:

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It looks like we will have to contend with snow and ice over the next couple of weeks. It will be the first test of the Labour Councils claims that they would “fill the salt bins quickly” in the event of poor weather.

Most bins in suburban areas are currently empty.

Andrew Waller with empty salt bin

Many are so damaged that any remaining salt is congealed and unusable.

Former Council Leader Andrew Waller reveals that a weekend inspection resulted in over 20 reports of problems to the Council’s help line.

As during the recent bin emptying controversy, Labour Councillors are no where to be seen.

Residents who want their local salt bin to be filled or repaired should Email the Council on ycc@york.gov.uk or report via the web click here

The Council map of salt bin locations can be found here. Please remember though that many of them were abandoned last year.

According to the latest census statistics there are now 1.1 cars per household in York. This includes 1000 households that have 4 or more vehicles.

There are a total of 90,126 cars or vans in York and 83,552 households.

Only 2202 of the 83,552 homes in York don’t now have central heating installed

According to the census we now have 117856 Christians, 2072 Muslims and 1016 Buddhists in York together with 750 JEDI KNIGHTS.

Now that’s a pretty impressive proportion of York’s 198,051 population. It takes some organisation (and a sad lack of something to useful to do) to orchestrate that many responses for a religion which is as dead as Luke Skywalker. The 750 York Jedi’s represent 0.38% of the population compared to only 0.29 % in the region and 0.32% nationally.

At the previous census in 2001 there was a campaign to encourage people to answer the religion question with Jedi, and around 330,000 did so. But the force is apparently on the wane according to the latest national figures with 176,632 describing themselves as Jedi Knights.

York also has 241 pagans, 33 “heavy metalists”, 13 Satanists, 10 heathens, 9 Druids, 9 believers in witchcraft, 3 Scientologists, and 1 “realist”.

The latter deserves to recruit a friend shortly; preferably at the Guildhall.

More results here

There is quite a lot of property available to rent at present.

2 bedroomed properties are available on Bellhouse Way (£625pm) and Acomb Wood Drive (£650pm).

A 1 bedroomed property in Moorcroft Road is available for £450 a month

£99,950 buys a 1 bed property in Walker Drive while a 1 bed flat in Foxwood Lane is yours for £109,950.

Some recent price reductions see a 2 bed flat in Cornlands Road available for £104,000

At the other end of the scale you can now purchase a 4 bedroomed property in The Horseshoe for £500,000

The seemingly large scale police activity in the Acomb and Dringhouses area on Saturday apparently resulted from a vehicle crime incident. We understand that arrests were made.

Residents wishing to make representations about the future electoral arrangements which will apply to the York Council have only a few hours remaining to make their views known. Click here

We are hoping that the Boundary Commission will agree to the introduction of smaller Wards and that a proportion of the Council should be up for re-election each year.

The irrepressible Friends of Acomb Green have announced that they hope to run an arts festival in the village on 20th July.

Venues being sought include Acomb Methodist Church, Acomb Library, Acomb Church Hall, Acomb Conservative Club, Acomb WMC, Gateway Church & Acomb Green.

It is hoped that the event will start in the pedestrian area on Front St where dancing and music may be played all day.

The organisers hope to incorporate painting, sculpture, mosaics etc. Craftsmen will be invited to show their skills in wood turning, carpentry, metal working etc.

Acomb Green might host a hog roast/BBQ talent competition with a couple of bands playing.

We’ll publish more details as they become available

@Adam_Festival

City of York Council will be extending its programme of drop-in advice sessions on ‘Housing Options for Older People’ following its successful introduction at the end of last year.

The sessions aim to offer advice for older people on making decisions about their future housing needs, and cover topics such as specialist accommodation, moving house, support in your home and home improvements.

The scheme began in November 2012 following the launch of the ‘Positive Ageing: Housing Guide for Older People’ during City of York Council’s first ever Housing Week. This guide was drafted in consultation with Age UK, York Housing Association, Yorkshire Housing, Older Citizens’ York and York Older Persons’ Assembly.

Drop-in sessions will be taking place at:
• Friday 18 January 10.00 – 12.00, Terrace café at Auden House,
Cemetery Road
• Wednesday 23 January 13.00 – 15.00, OCAY, 52 Townend Street
• Tuesday 12 February 10.00 – 12.30, OCAY, 52 Townend Street

No appointments are necessary.

The Bayers Tapestry created by residents as part of York 800 celebrations and the Big City Read 2012 will be on show to the public at York Art Gallery on 2 February 2012.

The Tapestry will be on show on Saturday 2 February from 10am-5pm and other opportunities to exhibit it are being considered.

This 60 metre-long frieze was painted by residents during a city-wide York 800 community arts project as part of last summer’s Big City Read celebrations and the York Stories 2012 project, which aims to encourage people to create and share stories that are personal and unique to the city.

The project, coordinated by artist Karen Winship, involved open workshops at York Explore, City of York Adult Education classes and independent artist groups creating a total 120 panels measuring over 60 metres.

The showing comes as part of a special one-day event to allow residents to have a last look round the Gallery, before it is closed for refurbishment.