Programme
Choir
Magic
Taxtiles
ADAM Festival 2014 photos
ADAM arts festival programme
Please click above graphic to download your copy of the Acomb Arts Festival programme which takes place tomorrow (Saturday)
Commonwealth Open Days
Residents inspired by the Commonwealth Games are being encouraged to become more active by taking part in York’s first programme of Commonwealth Open Days.
Sports village swimming pool
Throughout July and August, 24 local sports clubs, gyms and organisations will be opening their doors to children, young people and adults and inviting them to find out more.
The exciting programme of events and activities include family fun days, free taster sessions, classes and introductory joining offers.
The open days will feature a wide range of sporting activities on offer from tennis, athletics, bowls, cricket, golf, martial arts, rugby, squash and volleyball to gym workouts, playdays and beginner running groups and cater for all ages and abilities.
Community Stadium opening date – York Council to hear latest fantasy league predictions
Leisure chief Cllr Sonja Crisp will be asked to give a firm opening date for the new Community Stadium at Huntington when the Council meets on Thursday.
Funding for the stadium (£12m) was agreed in 2010 and confirmed when planning permission for the new Monks Cross development was granted in 2011.
That development – which includes the John Lewis store -was finished and opened several months ago.
The Council has been very slow to start work on an alternative athletics facility having dithered over the precise location for the track on the York University campus.
Only an immediate start on the stadium in the autumn (when the athletics season comes to an end) would give some hope that it could be in use for the 2016/17 football stadium (the Football League frowns on Clubs that try to change homes mid season)
“I’ve still got a job in football. I’m building the Huntington Stadium” click for full interview
But the Stadium has yet to receive detailed planning permission and Cllr Crisp has been unable to even decide who will manage the stadium.
Cllr Ian Cuthbertson has now tabled the following question for the meeting next week,
“What is the Cabinet Member’s deadline for starting work on the ground at the new Community Stadium at Huntington and what is her current best estimate of its opening date?”
In April, Council Leader James Alexander tweeted to give an absolute guarantee that “construction work on the Stadium would start by March 2015”
Most stadia take at least 18 months to build.
Huntington Stadium “Grand Departy” costs to be questioned at Council meeting
Sparse crowd for Grand Departy
Cllr Crisp faces a grilling at the next Council meeting about her decision to add the “Grand Departy” event to the Tour de France programme.
The event was poorly supported by York residents with only around 1000 of the 10,000 tickets sold.
The event was dogged by inadequate planning with a License application only granted at the last minute.
Now LibDem Councillor Ian Cuthbertson has tabled a question for the next Council meeting (17th July) in the following terms.
“Regarding the “Grand Departy” held at Huntington Stadium on 4th July, how much was spent on this event (broken down by artist fees, charity contributions, equipment hire, stadium costs, traffic management, staffing costs, hospitality etc), how much income was derived (broken down by ticket sales, sponsorship etc), and who took the decision – and when – to add this event to the Tour de France calendar?”
Some leaks from West Offices are putting losses on the event as high as £100,000.
If the figure is correct, then it is likely to lead to calls for the Cabinet member to resign.
TdF conclusions
1.An amazing – if fleeting – spectacle.
2. France is now officially our second favourite country.
3. New 7 year old boys job ambition – become a NY Police motorcyclist
4. People seen dancing in the street are probably Skoda sales reps
5. Expect big increase in lycra sales. People who have recently finished crash diets should remember that the material will not stretch infinitely.
6. Many York residents believe cyclists can navigate through a 12 inch wide gap. Comes from a long tradition of avoiding cyclists on footpaths.
7. TdF competitors cycled the wrong way down one way streets during pedestrian hours. Another York tradition respected.
8. We were wrong about the “unfinished” landscaping next to the Poppleton Park and Ride site. It was part of a cunning plan to provide a grandstand for spectators.
9. The Councils decision to switch off the parking space availability information on its web site simply added to the air of mystery for visitors in the City.
10. Amongst the best publicity that a region has ever received. Almost certainly good news for the tourist industry. But the time for a final judgement will come in 12 months.
click to view
Tax Departy
Sparse crowd for Grand Departy
Around 1000 spectators turned up for last nights concert at the Huntington Stadium.
The event was hit by wet weather early in the evening.
However ticket sales had been disappointing for the “10,000” capacity event and there are now concerns about who will pick up the bill for, what is sure to be a 5 figure financial shortfall on, income.
The event had been described as a planning “afterthought” with the Council unable to allocate enough resources to its organisation.
The event was never discussed publicly through the Councils decision making structures.
The responsible Cabinet member (Cllr Crisp) has yet to issue a statement on what many people are labelling as a flop.
Meanwhile media reports have revealed that many who bought “seated” tickets for the event were forced to stand in the rain.
Adult learning in York prospectus published
click to download
Date: Courses run from September 2014 through to 2015
Time: Hopefully ones to suit you
Venues: Many wonderful locations across the city
Cost: Varied
Whilst you’re enjoying the summer don’t forget to book up your adult education courses for Autumn! Over 300 courses are available. More
Community hub set to grow in Acomb
City of York Council is starting new drop-in sessions as part of its support for a very successful community-led project being run from a church in Acomb.
The sessions will be held at Lidgett Grove Methodist Church which is developing into a community hub. There, council officers will offer information and advice to local people on housing issues, anti-social behaviour or housing-related debt, as well as offering advice and information to anyone wanting to get more involved in the community. These will run on Wednesday mornings between 9.30 and 11.30am from Wednesday 9 July.
The church’s work started by setting up a very successful Community Café inspired by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation’s work on loneliness: what causes it and how to combat it. In Carr the main causes of loneliness were aging, family issues, not knowing neighbours, a lack of community facilities and chances to get involved with the community. Among the solutions identified were establishing a central location where people can find information, meet others and get support and services.
In summer 2013, a community café offering company and activities started up as a pilot scheme. It was so well-supported and popular that it carried on and now runs every Wednesday from 9:30 to 11:30am.
(more…)
Media reports Ebay sales of “free” Tour de France event tickets….
………But Council still to explain missing 5000 tickets
#York Tour de France Free Tickets Being Sold on E-Bay http://t.co/iqW2qg3Da1 #tdf2014
— Minster FM (@minsterfm) June 30, 2014