It isn’t just the Community Stadium (see story below) that is lying unused at Monks Cross.
The £12 million gym, swimming pool and outdoor all-weather sports pitches are also still under wraps.
Coming to Monks Cross – but when?
Around £14 million of taxpayers money has been used to subsidise the complex on top of which were “developer” contributions of over £15 million (click).
The expectation was that the site would provide several hundred additional jobs for York – opportunities which look to be even more important as the post COVID-19 recession hits employment levels in the City.
Other sports and swimming facilities in the City reopened on 10th August (click).
IMAX cinema has reopended
The IMAX cinema recently reopened and two adjacent units have been taken up by a bowling alley/café (Hollywood Bowl) and an indoor putting green (Putstars). Opening dates haven’t been confirmed.
Both had been scheduled to open in April. Together they will create about 60 jobs.
Bowling alley and indoor putting ready to open?
Elsewhere the Council hasn’t issued any update on the progress made in letting the floor-space in the building that they have underwritten.
Frankie and Benny’s closed
Three of the 4 nearby café units are now vacant following the demise of Frankie and Benny’s.
Costa Coffee remains open.
Costa Coffee is popular
The has similarly been no word on the plans for a library and the NHS outpatient unit.
Cycle racks at the Park and Ride site are not overused
The Council will be asked on 24th July to list the New Earswick and District Indoor Bowls Club, Huntington Road, Huntington, York as an asset of community value.
The same meeting is already scheduled to consider a similar request relating to the Murton Arms Public House.
The Executive Member will be asked to make a decision on whether the above listed property should be added to the list of assets of community value.
If they are added to the list then the community will have 6 months in which to put together a bid to buy the properties should they come onto the market.
Explore’s brand new café inHungate opens for the first time on 7 July and our cafes at Rowntree Parkand Homestead Park open 6 July for drinks and snacks to take away and enjoy outside.
Safety
All venues will have safety measures in place to protect customers and staff.
Explore is supporting a fantastic initiative using 3D printers to print safety visors to a design used across Europe and distributing them to frontline workers in York. The project is being led in York by two of Explore Labs digital makers.
Working as a collective they are mobilising local makers to use their skills and equipment to support frontline workers in the fight against Covid-19. Explore York has loaned the project three 3D printers and there is a network of at least 50 more printers today from a standing start of just two printers a week ago.
If you have a 3D-Printer and want to get involved, email interactandconnect@gmail.com with ‘I have a 3D printer’ in the subject line.
If you live in York or the surrounding area and need a visor, email interactandconnect@gmail.com with ‘visor please’ in the subject line. If you don’t live in York they will try and help you find a 3D-Printing group in your area.
The Council is urging residents not to fly tip or burn green waste during the current crisis.
Unfortunately there is still no mechanism, where those with mainly hard-surfaced gardens, can get composting containers. This was raised with the Council several weeks ago when the possibility of the green waste collections being suspended was first highlighted.
With the growing season now upon us, we expect to see the Council issuing advice to the owners of hedges bordering public footpaths to keep them trimmed back. This is essential to assist in implementing the social distancing guidelines
NB Waste crews are working as normal this Easter bank holiday to collect household waste and recycling.
Coronavirus response live stream
Four of the leaders of North Yorkshire’s
police, fire and crime response to the Coronavirus pandemic will give an and
take questions from residents and businesses, in a live broadcast tomorrow
(Tuesday 7 April):
North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime
Commissioner Julia Mulligan will lead the live update with:
Chief Constable Lisa Winward – North Yorkshire Police
Chief Fire Officer Andrew Brodie – North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service
Richard Flinton – Chief Executive of North Yorkshire County Council and Chair of the multi-agency North Yorkshire Local Resilience Forum
People are invited to watch the meeting from 1.30pm on Tuesday on YouTube and submit questions in advance by emailing info@northyorkshire-pcc.gov.uk, posting on Twitter using the hashtag #NYScrutiny or commenting on Facebook. Not all questions will be able to be used, but they will inform the Commissioner’s questioning and the general discussion.
City of York Council and Explore York Libraries and Archives have today announced a new temporary solution for Haxby and Wigginton library.
Exciting new plans have been agreed with Oaken Grove Trustees for the library service to be located there by summer. The current Haxby & Wigginton mobile service will stop once the new offer starts at Oaken Grove Community Centre.
The council is still committed to providing a new permanent library for residents which is bigger and better than the previous Haxby Library, is located with a partner organisation, and meets both residents’ expectations and Explore’s vision for a modern library service.
On March 16, 1820 the trial of ten of the leaders at Peterloo, charged with conspiracy to overturn the government, opened in York. The trial was nationally reported and the government’s position widely discredited. In spite this, five were convicted … but of the lesser charge of seditious intent.
Inspired by family history, The Road to Peterloo is about a Britain where the 1815 Peace has rewarded the few but penalised the many, where workers are drawn into mass protest meetings and soldiers, billeted in London to prevent revolution, become caught up in a secretive world of plots and spies.
Join local author, Jacqueline Everett, to discuss the historical background to the Peterloo massacre of August 16, 1820 and its aftermath, and hear readings from her novel The Road to Peterloo.
Join us in York International Women’s Week to celebrate the lives of four strong Yorkshire women.
An afternoon spent celebrating the lives of four Yorkshire women who lived life to the full, taking risks and standing their ground; introduced by their biographers, editors, or themselves. Wendy Rayne-Davis will talk about Saint Margaret Clitherow, Pauline Kirk will discuss the life and work of Rita Jerram, Children’s Rights activist and Githa Sowerby biographer Patricia Riley will talk about her own work, and about Leeds suffragist Isabella Ford who helped found the Independent Labour Party. The event will include short readings and the books will be available to purchase at a discount only at this event.
Harry Gallagher is widely published, both in the UK and overseas. His latest pamphlet ‘English Jack’ – a hard-hitting series of poems on where England now finds itself as a nation – has just been released through Black Light Engine Room Press. He was the 2019 BBC Tees poet for National Poetry Day and he runs the north east stanza of the Poetry Society.”
p.a. morbid runs The Black Light Engine Room Press. Middlesbrough poet, historian & outsider artist.
Susan Székely has been writing poetry for over 20 years. She has been a runner-up in BBC Wildlife Magazine’s poetry competition, a finalist in the Borderlines Festival, and has been listed in competitions for Shepton Mallet Snowdrop Festival, Wolverhampton Literature Festival, Ilkley Literature Festival and The Plough Prize. She has been published in Iota, Other Poetry and more recently in Strix. Susan loves reading poetry and the opportunities to learn more, regularly attending workshops, and is an enthusiastic member of the Leeds Stanza poetry group. She is working at putting together a first pamphlet.
Finding the Words is our monthly poetry evening featuring poets from Yorkshire and beyond. Discover new poetry in a welcoming and relaxed atmosphere. Bar available. Booking advised.
Exclusive book launch for the latest in Hilary Robinson’s wonderful series, featuring Charlie Tanner and his dog Jasper and their journey to explore established facts with belly laugh ideas about life as a Viking.
Meet the author and Viking Harold Bluetooth, go to Viking Art School with a book illustrator, take part in a Viking quiz and get your books signed!+
City of York Council and Explore York Libraries and Archives have today announced a new temporary solution for Haxby and Wigginton library.
