The council-owned tennis courts at Hull Road Park and Pike Hills Golf Course are the latest venues to hold sessions aimed at adults who are beginners to the sport or who may want to refresh their skills. This is the first time that these courses, starting in March, have taken place at these venues.
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Disability sport in York is set to receive a welcome £9,933 award from Sport England for the ‘York Cycling for All’ project.
The money will be used to purchase 10 adapted bicycles which will open up opportunities for disabled people in York to try cycling for the first time.
The much delayed outdoor velodrome at the University of York is set to gain approval at a Planning meeting which is taking place tomorrow.
York Council taxpayers are contributing £200,000 towards the project which is described in Council budget papers as a “closed cycle circuit”.
The application is for the construction of a 250m-long, 7m-wide, tarmac surfaced, outdoor “velodrome”.
The track would be oval-shaped and banked at each end. The base of the track and the central oval would be at existing ground level.
The banking at each end would rise to 4m above existing ground level and have a gradient of approximately 18%. The track profile would be achieved by creating earth banking to support the track.
The bank would be topped by a 2m-wide footpath for spectator viewing. A handrail and fence along the top of the bank would provide protection for spectators.
The centre of the oval would be partly hard surfaced and partly grassed.
The Council has now published the application that it has made (to itself) for a premises license for the use of Monk Stray.
There are no restrictions on the duration of the license which would allow plays, films, live music (till midnight), recorded music, performance of dance and “anything similar” together with the supply of alcohol for on and off site sales (until 2300 hours)
The application can be read here
Residents have until 24th February to submit any objections.
The Council have so far failed to explain why the event could not have been accommodated on the Knavesmire.
Larger events, such as Royal Ascot at York and a visit by the Pope, have been accommodated there without major difficulties.
Monk Stray
It appears that the York Council are going to approve the use of Monk Stray as a huge camping and caravan site to service the needs of Tour de France visitors.
Although there has been no consultation with local Councillors or residents, notices posted in the area suggest that the facility will be open for around a month.
The actual TdF start event in the City lasts only 2 days.
Most had expected camping facilities to be located closer to the Knavesmire where the start takes place.
Meanwhile the Council is remaining tight lipped on how it proposes to recoup at least some of the £1.6 million that it is putting into the event. At the last Council meeting, details were promised in “January” but they have not emerged.
The York Council taxpayers subsidy is the largest agreed by any Local Authority in the region.
The official Tour web site is markedly silent on issues like car parking and sponsorship.
The day is the first big sport and activity event of the 2014 health and fitness calendar, in a year when York residents are being encouraged and inspired by the Tour de France to do more physical activity.
With the Tour de France setting off from York on 6 July it’s only right that this year we have included some bicycle related activities for the over 50s such as beginners spin classes, cycle maintenance and cycle training. This is a great opportunity to try some activities, meet new people, have fun and become fitter all at the same time! (more…)
The Councils Cabinet is to consider an update on the much delayed Community Stadium at its meeting on 7th January.
The Council is seeking an operator who will design, build, operate and maintain the stadium. They will also manage and maintain the Councils other Leisure facilities such as the successful Energise sports centre on Cornlands Road.
Given the Council somewhat varied track record on Leisure centre management (the Barbican was costing taxpayers £800,000 a year until it was privatised), the Council is probably correct to seek a professional organisation to manage the Stadium.
Athletics layout – Heslington West click for original
Discussions with 2 preferred bidders are expected to continue until March. Their plans will be kept secret until later in the year.
The Council says that “All submissions were able to meet the basic minimum criteria set of 6,000 capacity all-seat stadium, community hub within the financial parameters of the project”
That is likely to please many football supporters but it would be at the expense of later expansion capability.
It seem likely now that a stadium with a capacity of 7000 will be provided but with the capability of expansion to 10,000 only if Championship (or Super League) promotion is achieved.
The report confirms that the costs of running the stadium will be covered “through a mix of the rentals from the sports clubs, the community hub tenants and other commercial income streams brought forward by each bidder. This will include full maintenance and lifecycle costs as part of a 13 year operational contract”.
The Council are now talking about opening the stadium in spring 2016.
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Final Tenders |
May 2014 |
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Planning & Project Agreement Live |
January 2015 |
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Work starts on site |
February 2015 |
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Stadium Opens |
February / March 2016 |
The £2 million athletics facility at Heslington West is expected to be opened in September 2014. A copy of the design specification for the athletics facility can be viewed here.
The Cabinet report includes a list of the risk factors that must be addressed. Not least amongst these is the need to meet the requirements of the Football Foundation who loaned York City £2 million in 2005.
Several families will be giving or receiving dogs this Christmas.
New figures published by the York Council – together with the alarming dog attack in Leeds – should provide food for thought.
In response to a Freedom of Information request, the Council has revealed that over the last 12 months it has collected on average 1 dog per day Monday to Friday (there is no weekend service).
Over 50 % of dogs are returned to the owners.
In the period January to September 2013 on average 1 dog a month was destroyed 2 because of very old age / ill health meaning that it could not be re-homed.
7 were of a breed (Staffy / Staffy cross) that no carer was prepared to take.
Kenneling stray dogs costs about £30,000 a year in York
Those dogs who are re-homed go to a mix of national charities or specialist breed rescue centres for further re-homing or long term care, or to individuals / families for permanent adoption.
Many charities are looking for good homes for dogs and cats that they receive during the festive period.
Click below for links.
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Although the closure – which is allowing staff to have a conference about the pending privatisation of the service – is mentioned on the Councils web site, many users have not noticed it.
Some are obviously seething after wasted journeys.
They are venting their disappointment by writing advice about good communications on the closure notice that has been posted on the library door today.
The privatisation move – which we believe does not enjoy widespread support either from staff or customers – is the brainchild of Cllr Crisp. Her report to tomorrows Council meeting also pointedly omits to mentions todays closures.
NB. User numbers at 14 of York’s 15 libraries has reduced since Cllr Crisp took responsibility for them.
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The Council is also saying that its electronic “report it” system may not be working this week.
