What’s on in York: Sad Poets’ Doorstep Club
Acomb Explore Library :
Thu 10 Jan :
5.30pm – 6.30pm :
Free
A poetry circle event with a mental health slant, this is a chance to explore your thoughts and feelings about mental health issues in a safe and supportive environment.
Please bring along a poem or short story that you have written to share with the group. Organised in an Open Mic format you will have the opportunity to read or perform aloud, or simply to listen.
There is a three minute limit for each piece, but there will be multiple rounds of the circle so plenty of opportunities to showcase your work.
Strictly 16+
Contains adult themes
Please visit our ticketing website to book a place.
What’s on in York: Irish dancing classes in Foxwood, Dringhouses and Huntington
What’s on in York: Foxy Crafters today from 10:00am
Happy New Year
York Libraries – call for more transparency over future
York Explore Library
Staff working in York’s libraries are understandably concerned about the lack of any announcement about the future of the service.
The libraries are currently run by “Explore Libraries and Archives Mutual Limited” company.
Their contract comes to an end in March 2019.
In June 2018 the Council decided to tender for the continuation of the service.
A report raised several worrying options including the introduction of “volunteer” run branches. Others were concerned that a large leisure management company based outside the City would take over the service.
The contract on offer is believed to be worth £32 million and covers a 15 year period.
Acomb Explore Library
The present management arrangements are essentially a development of the team that led the library organisation when it was run by the Council. They have had a generally successful 5 years with, against the national trend, user numbers stable and some useful innovations like the reading café in Rowntree Park introduced.
An updated report on the Libraries recent activities was published yesterday (it says that they can now handle visa applications – a role that the Post Office revealed, during consultations about the relocation of the Lendal office to W H Smiths, they were losing)
The Councils Forward Plan which lists all major upcoming decisions runs until 28th April 2019.
It does not include a decision item on the future of the library service.
Castlegate sale – Now Council and Civic Trust have more questions to answer
Castlegate
As long ago as 2012 The Council started negotiations to move its youth facilities centre from premises in Castlegate. Various other locations were considered for the centre before the Castlegate building was declared surplus to requirements about 3 years ago.
The youth facilities were subsequently relocated to Sycamore House.
A series of email exchanges revealed the extent of the “behind closed doors” dealings that the then Labour controlled council had been involved in during 2012.
By April 2017 a Council report revealed that the empty building was worth around £575,000 on the open market.
The report then went on to justify a sale to the York Conservation Trust for a reduced £431,000 claiming that major repairs were required.
The York Civic Trust promised a £2.8 million upgrade to the building and the adjacent Fairfax House (already owned by the Trust).
This would stimulate tourism for the general benefit of the City centre economy.
So, getting on for 2 years later, what progress has been made?
Very little it seems, with two peak shopping seasons having passed without what is a key location being exploited.
Taxpayers will want to be reassured that the deal, agreed nearly two years ago, is still on course to provide the benefits claimed by officials.
What’s on in York: Silver Screen Festival 2019
Fairfax House, February
Silver Screen 2019 takes a walk on the wild side, drawing inspiration from the animal kingdom: from Hollywood’s furry and four-legged acting legends, great and small, to the creatures who inspired cult classic titles such as Bringing Up Baby, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, and National Velvet to name a few. With 11 classic films being screened, there is sure to be something to tempt you!
Click here to secure tickets
What’s on in York: Health walk from Foxwood Community on Friday
Work starts on edging park footpaths – more on Lincoln Court
Dickson park footpaths being edged. Residents are seeking similar work in other areas
The Kingsway all weather games area is now in good condition and available for use. Unfortunately the Council has decided to scrap it and have ignored a request from Sport England that a replacement be provided elsewhere. The decision is now subject to a formal complaint
The scaffolding has been removed from Lincoln Court. We understand that work on installing a new boiler, pipework and a full rewire of the building – together with the construction of 10 additional flats – will not commenced until the late spring at the earliest. In the meantime most of the building is likely to remain empty.
Windsor House may also be empty for a period of time. Demolition work can’t start until a replacement central heating system has been provided for Lincoln Court